Querétaro is a city in Central Mexico. It is the capital of the state of Querétaro. Its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the city is notable for the many ornate civil and religious Baroque monuments from its golden age in the 17th and 18th centuries.
The city's full name is "Santiago de Querétaro", and although it is spelled out fully on the doors of every taxi in the city, nobody uses the full name in conversation. The city is a strong business and economic center and a vigorous service center that has experienced high levels of migration from other parts of Mexico. The city is growing fast because of IT and data centers, logistics services, aircraft manufacturing and maintenance, call centers, the automotive and machinery industries, and the production of chemicals and food products. The region of Querétaro has a rapidly growing vineyards agriculture and hosts Freixenet, a wine producer from Spain.
The historical center of town is very compact. It's easy to walk around once you get there. Uber, Didi and Cabify cover the city. Google Maps and Moovit show you connections to your destination. There are many privately operated buses on the main roads. If you like, you can buy a route book on any newspaper stand. The minimum price for a taxi ride is M$40. Taxis do not have meters. Fares are established by the government and are determined by zone of pick up and zone of drop off, but might change from cab to cab. Try to ask the fare before boarding to make sure there are no misunderstandings.
The Centro Histórico (Downtown area) is considered a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO, and it includes the Cerro del Sangremal (Hill of Sangremal), crowned by the Convent of the Holy Cross and the flat area on the east that extends into the Cerro de las Campanas (Hill of Bells). There are also tour trolleys available. 1 Teatro de la República (Theater of the Republic). The most important theater in Mexico due to its role in national history: Emperor Maximilian I had his trial there, the 1917 Constitution was written there, and the national anthem was played there for the first time. (updated May 2016) Palacio del Gobierno del Estado (Casa de la Corregidora).
Enjoy a concert of the "Orquestra Filarmónica de Querétaro" the state philharmonic orchestra in the most important theater in the country "Teatro de la República" where the constitution was written, the emperor Maximilian I had a trial, and where the national anthem was first played. Take the "Leyendas" (legends) tour, where people dress like historical characters and explain everything in a very colorful way. Go to the colonial theater "Corral de Comedias" where you eat and enjoy mostly classical comedy plays in a Colonial Style place. Hay Festival is a large literary event with lectures, concerts, workshops and other activities around the city.
Typical food is the Gordita Queretana. It's round and bigger than usual gorditas. You can find it e.g. in some street food stalls. There it costs M$30 (Jan 2022) filled with meat or cheese. Filled with both it's M$45 (Jan 2022). 1 Food stalls on the plaza in front of the Iglesia De La Santa Cruz. They are open daily in the afternoon and evening. One stall has a big variety of what you want on your taco. On Friday to Sunday in the afternoon and evening there is also a stall serving Gorditas Queretanas. The budget eats are along the street C. Corregidora around the Hotel San Francisco. 2 Boyo's pizza. You get two slices of delicious fluffy pizza for M$29 (Dec 2021).
Querétaro has many nightlife districts where you can enjoy all kind of music and people, everything for everybody. Wicklow - Irish pub located downtown with various kind of beers Maximiliano Cantina Gay - Famous LGBTQ+ bar located in the Historic Center. Mezontle - Bustling nightclub located in Juriquilla with reggaeton music and exotic drinks. Cabaret - Exclusive nightclub located in Antea Lifestyle Center with a cabaret themed show and exotic dancers. Adios Amor - Popular cantina in Bernardo Quintana that offers traditional food and drinks and live "Mariachi" and "Ranchera" music.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
Top-rated tours and tickets from €44 — book ahead for the popular ones.
Tours and tickets provided by Viator (a Tripadvisor company). Some links earn Stayonomy a commission.
In Sep, Queretaro typically sees ~26°C daytime highs and 16 rainy days.
Cheapest destinations travellers searched recently — refreshed daily.
Flight prices are real fares travellers found in the last 48 hours, refreshed daily — the booking site confirms the final price. Train, bus and ferry fares are shown on the operators' booking sites. Weather data by Open-Meteo; exchange rates: ECB reference. Data updated 2026-09-08. Some links earn Stayonomy a commission at no cost to you.
stayonomy