What to Do in Monterrey, Mexico: 12 Fantastic Plans (2026)

When you think of Mexico, your mind is probably drawn to beach cities like Cancún or Puerto Vallarta. But did you know there’s a very different Mexico well beyond the shorelines?

Monterrey, in Nuevo León, is known as the King of the Mountains. Nestled in a stunning bowl of dramatic mountain peaks, mixing sleek skyscrapers with the colorful Barrio Antiguo and its top-class restaurants. It’s modern, energetic, and outdoorsy to its core, with canyon hikes and wild landscapes practically spilling into the city limits.

Below, we’ve picked out 12 of the best things to do in Monterrey, combining the highlights of the historic center with the most spectacular hikes and day trips nearby, and, of course, plenty of Civitatis activities in Monterrey to help you make it all happen.

1. Wander the Barrio Antiguo

Start your exploration of MTY in the Barrio Antiguo, Monterrey’s most colorful quarter and the historic soul of the city.

Calle Morelos is the neighbourhood’s main artery, lined with indie boutiques, galleries, antique shops, and cool coffee spots, all contained within beautiful colonial buildings. If you’re visiting on Sunday, you’ll be met by a weekly open-air market known as the Corredor del Arte, which stretches all the way to Calle Mina, selling vinyl, crafts, and antiques. I stopped by Libros Café y Detalles, a cozy café with delicious coffee, homemade pastries, and sandwiches to enjoy as you read a book or get some work done.

By night, the Barrio Antiguo is the place to be in the city if you’re after good restaurants and buzzy bars. -For bars, Almacén 42 was my favorite option, a warm, relaxing vibe despite being located within a shipping container. Here they serve various craft beers, fantastic food, and they often have live music. The best restaurant I visited in the city was also in the Barrio Antiguo: El Belmonte. This trendy bistro serves fantastic breakfast/brunch (definitely try the chilaquiles, with added chicharrón), as well as lunch and dinner for delicious tacos, salads, and other creative dishes served with high-quality ingredients.

Check out the Barrio Antiguo and more on this free tour of Monterrey. Or, discover it at night on this night tour of Monterrey!

2. Eat Cabrito (And Other Monterrey Specialities)

Monterrey (and Nuevo León as a whole) is famous for its cabrito: young goat roasted over coals until it’s melt-in-the-mouth tender. The dish is thought to have Iberian roots, specifically early Spanish Settlers, including Crypto-Jewish Families who maintained traditional techniques from the Old World.

If you’re interested in trying traditional cabrito, it’s available in lots of restaurants across the city, from modest street food stands to higher-end restaurants. That said, El Rey del Cabrito is the most iconic spot in the city for cabrito: a cowboy-themed restaurant that serves leg, shoulder, or even half a goat to share. The meat comes with tortillas, salsas, totopos, and grilled onions.

Another staple in Monterrey is the Taquería Orinoco, which, due to its immense popularity, has now opened various spots in Monterrey, as well as in Mexico City. Taquería Orinoco keeps things fairly simple: beef, chicharrón, and chicken, all served on perfect flour or corn tortillas, with papas Orinoco on the side and absolutely insane salsas. The cult classic is certainly the chicharrón, and it was definitely my favorite of the bunch.

3. Explore the Macroplaza & Faro del Comercio

The Macroplaza is one of the world’s largest urban squares, surrounded by gardens, monuments, and some of Monterrey’s most important buildings. Developed in the 1980s, it intentionally prioritised public space over prime real estate, a decision that has shaped the city’s atmosphere ever since.

At the southern edge of the city you’ll find the gorgeous Palacio de Gobierno. which was dates back to 1895. The building’s façade is gorgeous, especially notable for its stately Corinthian columns, topped by a 9-foot (2.80-meter) statue of Winged Victory. Inside, the central courtyard opens onto the Old Congress Session Hall, a chamber with an ornate ceiling, chandeliers, and a carved wooden gallery that once hosted some of the state’s most heated debates. Since 2006, part of the building has housed a museum dedicated to the political institutions of Nuevo León.

The Macroplaza is also home to the Faro del Comercio, the city’s iconic 230-foot (70-meter) red brick tower that acts as a beacon of the city, shooting a green lazer in the night sky. Also check out the Mueso del Arte Contemporáneo (MARCO) and the Catedral Metropolitana de Monterrey which is just beside the Macroplaza.

4. Stroll Along the Paseo Santa Lucía Riverwalk

The Paseo Santa Lucía is gorgeous man-made riverwalk that runs from the historic centre to the Parque Fundidora. Along this 1.5 mile (2.5 kilometer) turquoise canal, you’ll come across with small waterfalls, bridges, sculptures, and bar terraces.

You can follow the path on foot or hop on one of the riverboats that shuttle between downtown and the park, offering a slow, scenic ride through the city’s most modern corridor. In the evening, the entire route is illuminated by soft, warm lighting that reflects off the water, creating a lovely atmosphere to round out the evening.

5. Visit MARCO and Monterrey’s Other Top Museums

If you’re into museums, Monterrey is well equipped, and a number of the city’s museums are within walking distance of one another.

Key museums to check out

• MARCO (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo): One of Mexico’s leading contemporary art museums, housed in Ricardo Legorreta’s iconic pink building.

• Museo de Historia Mexicana: A modern museum tracing Mexico from pre-Hispanic cultures to the 20th century.

• Museo del Noreste (MUNE): Focused on the history and cultures of northern Mexico and Texas; connected to the history museum by a glass bridge.

• Museo del Palacio: Inside the Government Palace, exploring the political history of Nuevo León.

• Museo del Obispado: Perched on a hill overlooking Monterrey, with exhibits on regional history and great city views.

Most of these sit along or near the riverwalk, so you can pair a museum visit with a relaxed stroll along the Santa Lucía afterwards. Or, visits to the Museo de Historia Mexicana, Museo del Palacio, and Museo del Obispado are included on Civitatis’ complete tour of Monterrey, if you want to check these museums out along with an expert guide!

6. Spend a Day in Parque Fundidora & Horno

At the eastern end of Paseo Santa Lucía, you’ll come across the expansive Parque Fundidora, a vast green space covering 280 acres (144 hectares). Built on the site of the city’s former steel and iron foundry, the park features paths and bike lanes weaving between lawns, lakes, playgrounds, as well as non functional remenants of the parks industrial past preserved as industrial art.

The star attraction is Museo del Acero Horno3, a former blast furnace converted into an interactive museum that explores the historical and industrial past of the city, as well as its and their scientific and technological future. The view from the top alone makes visiting worthwhile!

The best way to explore the park, however, is as part of this cycling tour of Parque Fundidora, which also brings you along the Paseo de Santa Lucía!

Pro tip: Afterwards, grab a drink or a meal at El Lingote, the rooftop restaurant with views over the park.

7. Take in the Views from Cerro del Obispado

For incredible panoramic views with minimal effort, head up Cerro del Obispado just west of downtown. I’d recommend taking an Uber to the Mirador del Obispado (Cerro del Obispado, Monterrey, NL), which will leave you just a few minute’s walk from the top. There, you’ll find a wide circular platform offers 360-degree views of Monterrey and the surrounding Sierra Madre Oriental, crowned by one of Mexico’s largest monumental flags flying from a 328-foot (100 meter) mast.

Just below the viewpoint sits the mustard-yellow Palacio del Obispado, once home to the bishop of Nuevo León and now the Museo Regional de Nuevo León, which has free entry and is well worth checkign out!

8. Go to a Rayados or Tigres Match

If you’re into soccer, going to a game is a must-do when in Monterrey.

The city is obsessed with football, and seeing a match here is one of the most intense experiences in the city. Rayados play in a modern stadium in the southeast, all sharp lines and big-match presentation. Tigres play to the north on the university campus in an older, louder venue with a very rowdy atmosphere.

For most home games, getting a ticket is fairly straightforward. Always buy through the official club platforms or verified resellers and avoid last-minute street sellers outside the stadium to avoid any difficulties. Also, be sure to arrive early, because security lines can move slowly and the atmosphere builds long before kickoff, so make the most of it!

9. Hike up an Icon of Monterrey: Cerro de la Silla

The saddle-shaped Cerro de la Silla is Monterrey’s most recognisable landmark – and one of its best hikes. On this guided hike of the Cerro de la Silla, you’re brought to the town of Guadalupe and follow a steep but manageable trail that climbs toward the old cablecar station, a relic from a short-lived 1960s project whose ruins remain on the mountainside. At the top, you’ll be rewarded with an epic lookout platform with sweeping views across Monterrey and the Sierra Madre Oriental.

Along the way, you’ll pass a few curious landmarks, including La Virgen, a 39-foot (12-meter) statue overlooking the valley, and the Table of the 10 Commandments, a pair of carved stone tablets tucked beside the trail. These breaks double as natural rest points, and the steady elevation gain means you’ll probably appreciate them. The full walk is roughly 1.55 miles (2.5 kilometers), but the altitude shift makes it feel more substantial, so be prepared for a workout!

10. See Your Favorite Artists at the Tecate Pa’l Norte Festival 2026

Tecate Pa’l Norte is one of Latin America’s biggest music festivals, pulling huge international and national acts for two days of incredible acts, food stalls, and crowds from across Mexico.

Who is headlining Tecate Pa’l Norte Festival 2026?

• Tyler, the Creator
• Guns N’ Roses
• The Killers
• Interpol
• Deftones
• The Lumineers
• Halsey

11. Take a Day Trip to the Grutas de García and the Pueblo Mágico of Santiago

Grutas de García

About an hour northwest of Monterrey, the Grutas de García are some of Mexico’s most striking limestone caves. A cable car (when operating) carries you up the Sierra del Fraile to the entrance, opening onto rugged mountain views before you even step inside. The caverns extend for roughly 1.2 miles (2 km), with stunning chambers of stalactites, stalagmites, and strange, named formations like the Christmas Tree, the Salón del Aire, and the Mirador de la Mano. Check it out for yourself on this Grutas de García day trip!

Santiago, Pueblo Mágico

Just south of Monterrey, Santiago is a quiet pueblo mágico with a compact colonial centre, a shaded plaza, and traditional Nuevo León restaurants. Views over the La Boca reservoir and access to nearby canyons, forests, and lookouts make it an appealing stop for anyone wanting a softer, slower contrast to the city. See it for yourself on this day trip to Santiago from Monterrey.

Cola de Caballo Waterfall

A short drive from Santiago, Cola de Caballo is an 82-foot (25-meter) cascade that fans out like a horse’s tail as it drops into a lush, shaded gorge. The walk to the viewpoints is easy and well-maintained, and the cool mist offers a welcome break from the heat. If you want to pair Santiago with the waterfall in one go, check out this Santiago & Cola de Caballo tour that covers both highlights with transport and a guide both included.

12. Visit La Estanzuela National Park

Around 30 minutes south of Monterrey, La Estanzuela is a lush protected area in the Sierra Madre Oriental known for its waterfalls, forested trails, and clear natural springs. The route climbs through shaded canyon walls before reaching open sections with wide views back toward the city. Along the way, you cross wooden bridges, stop at small cascades, and swim in turquoise pools that form in the rocks. It is one of the most pleasant hikes near Monterrey and a good choice if you want nature without committing to a full technical canyon. This fantastic La Estanzuela hiking tour includes hotel pick-up, guiding, and the option to stop for lunch to refuel post-adventure!

FAQs

Read on for some common questions and answers before you visit!

Is Monterrey safe for visitors?

Most travellers feel safe in the areas they actually stay in. Neighbourhoods like San Pedro, Valle, Obispado, Fundidora, and Barrio Antiguo are generally fine to walk around, especially in daylight. At night, keep to busy, well-lit streets and rely on Uber or Didi for longer hops. As with any large city, the main concerns are petty issues rather than serious crime. Stick to the usual visitor zones, and you’re unlikely to run into problems.

How do you get from Monterrey Airport to the city?

Uber and Didi cannot legally pick you up at MTY airport, so you will not be able to order a ride from the terminal. The easiest options are the official airport taxis or pre-booked transfers, both of which take 30 to 45 minutes, depending on traffic. Once you’re in the city, ride-hailing apps work perfectly and are the most convenient way to get around.

How long do you need in Monterrey?

Two full days give you the essentials: Barrio Antiguo, the Macroplaza, the riverwalk, and a viewpoint. A third or fourth day lets you add a proper hike or a day trip like Grutas de García or Santiago. Monterrey works best as a long weekend that mixes food, urban sights, and nature.

Do you need a car in Monterrey

Not really. Inside the city, Uber and Didi are cheap, safe, and reliable, and they get you everywhere you need to go. A car only becomes useful if you want total freedom to explore the Sierra Madre on your own. For most visitors, joining a day trip for the caves, waterfalls, or canyoning routes is far more practical than driving yourself!

What should you eat in Monterrey?

This is goat and beef country, so start with cabrito, arrachera, and machacado con huevo. Taquería Orinoco is a local obsession for a reason, especially the chicharrón taco. For something sweet, glorias (goat’s milk caramel) are a classic treat to bring home.

There you have it! Those are our picks for the best things to do in Monterrey, along with some top tips. For more ideas on what to do when in Monterrey, check out Civitatis‘ full catalogue of experiences in Monterrey. ¡Buen viaje!