Lying just about 160 kilometres from the Texan border, Mexico’s third largest city is more American than any other in the country, yet still offers that undeniable Mexican charm. It is presided over by the lofty Cerro de la Silla mountain and is surrounded by delectable country, while the climate is more agreeable than much of the country.
While there are more happening cities to visit in Mexico, Monterrey has plenty going for it. There are vibrant shopping and entertainment streets, iconic Mexican monuments, some superb museums and galleries and loads of kiddy-type attractions. Monterey also happens to be Mexico’s safest large city.
The likes of the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Alpha Arts Museum and Planetarium highlight the history and culture of Monterrey, featuring as they do renowned Mexican artists. Kids, on the other hand, have plenty to be happy about, with many amusement parks and recreational areas to keep them busy.
There are also many interesting areas to wander in Monterrey, including the nice looking old quarter, known as Barrio Antiguo, with its cobblestoned alleys, old buildings and cafés. The Grand Plaza is the highlight and features most attractions, while Cannery Row is the other area of interest.
On the shopping front, Monterrey is awash with American-style malls and fast-food joints, but also has streets full of boutiques and crafts shops and regular all-encompassing markets. There is also a huge collection of eateries in town where you can go for traditional northern Mexican fare.
The scope for enjoying the outdoors around the town is big. Nearby Chipinque Ecological Park has superb hiking and mountain biking as well as a playground for kids, while farther afield, the Cumbres National Park, with its jagged mountains, is known for its striking rock formations and makes a great daytrip.
On the accommodation front, Monterrey’s hotels range from budget establishments near the bus station to five-star quality hotels around Zona Rosa, the main thoroughfare. The city also comes with a good selection of midrange hotels, although these tend to get booked up fast. Booking Monterrey hotels ahead is a must year round and online booking saves money.
Monterrey has an international airport with direct flights from numerous US cities, as well as from limited European cities. Options for getting to the city from the airport include an airport bus and fixed-price taxis, while hire cars can be booked ahead online. Buses also come in from Texas or you could drive in over the borders there.
With its northeasterly, desert-like, lofty locale, Monterrey is slightly cooler than most other parts of Mexico, particularly during winter nights, although it does tend to get supremely hot in the summertime. Its climate is classed as temperate/desert and the summers (May to September) are not only the hottest but also the wettest months.
Keep in mind that August and September are the wettest months. May and June are a lot nicer although still pretty hot, with highs into the upper 20s°C. Off-season bargains can be had in the winter (December to March), although this is also the time when many Americans head here from the northern states.
