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    San Francisco de Campeche

    Mexico

    San Francisco de Campeche

    CityCulture

    San Francisco de Campeche, usually just Campeche, is the capital of its eponymous state on the Gulf of Mexico. Its Old Town is surrounded by a city wall with bastions, built in the 17th and 18th centuries to ward off pirate attacks.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
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    5. Mexico
    7. Yucatán Peninsula
    9. San Francisco de Campeche
    San Francisco de Campeche, usually just Campeche, is the capital of its eponymous state on the Gulf of Mexico. Its Old Town is surrounded by a city wall with bastions, built in the 17th and 18th centuries to ward off pirate attacks. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999. Compared to Cancún and Tulum, it is significantly quieter here.

    Sights in San Francisco de Campeche

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Fuerte de San Miguel

    1Fuerte de San Miguel

    Fortress on a hill southwest of the Old City, completed in 1779, with a moat and drawbridge. Inside, the INAH's Museo de Arqueología Maya displays jade death masks from the ruler's tombs of Calakmul and tomb figures from Jaina Island. From the walls, you look out over the city and the Gulf.
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    2Church of San Román

    Church in the eponymous district south of the Old Town. It houses the Cristo Negro, a revered black crucifix; its procession marks the start of the Feast of San Román, celebrated from September 14th to 30th.
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    Cathedral of Campeche

    3Cathedral of Campeche

    Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on the main square, with two towers and bright Baroque facade. Built over two centuries. Lit up at night.
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    Historic Landmark

    4Malecón de Campeche

    Waterfront promenade on the Gulf of Mexico, kilometers long. Evenings bring joggers, cyclists, and families to watch the sunset over the sea.
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    Park

    5Plaza de la Independencia

    Main square of the old town with a pavilion, benches, and cathedral views. Evenings draw families, and weekends often feature music.
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    Puerta de Mar
    Historic Landmark

    6Puerta de Mar

    One of the four historic city gates, once the harbour access to the walled city. Adjacent is a walkable city wall section with rooftop views.
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    City walks in San Francisco de Campeche

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    Colourful Campeche: A Walk Through the Colonial Era

    Discover the UNESCO-listed old town of San Francisco de Campeche on a relaxed walk. Immerse yourself in colourful colonial architecture, impressive fortifications and lively squares. Experience the unique flair of this historic port city on the Gulf of Mexico.

    ~2 Std.
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    Stops (6)

    Essen & Trinken

    1

    La María Cocina Peninsular

    Restaurant with peninsula cuisine on Calle 8. The menu features Pan de cazón, Cochinita, and Campeche-style fish.
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    2

    Chocol Ha

    Café on Calle 59 with chocolate drinks and desserts, plus breakfast. Good for a break while strolling through the old town.
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    3

    Luan

    Cafe on pedestrian street Calle 59 with coffee, breakfast, and light meals.
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    4

    Portals of San Martín

    Simple eatery in San Martín district, north of Old Town. Evenings offer regional Antojitos like Panuchos and Salbutes at low prices.
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    5

    La Pigua

    Seafood restaurant on Avenida Miguel Alemán, a well-established spot in the city for decades. Known for coconut shrimp and pigua, large freshwater crayfish.
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    6

    Marganzo

    Restaurant opposite the Puerta de Mar offering regional cuisine and seafood. A good spot to try Pan de cazón and fish with Achiote.
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    Food and Drink

    The cuisine of Campeche is influenced by the sea and the Gulf and differs from that of Yucatán with an abundance of fish and seafood.

    Pan de cazón

    Layered tortillas with beans and shredded shark, smothered in tomato sauce. The city's most famous dish.

    Shrimp with Coconut

    Shrimp in coconut breading, usually served with a sweet sauce.

    Panuchos and Salbutes

    Small fried tortillas with filling, evenings at street food stalls in the barrios.

    Heritage

    Port and PiratesThe Spanish founded the city in 1540 on the site of the Maya settlement Ah Kin Pech. As an important port for timber and goods, it repeatedly attracted pirates in the 16th and 17th centuries. After several devastating attacks, most recently in 1685, the construction of the city wall with eight bastions began in 1686.TodayParts of the wall and several bastions are preserved and house museums. The barrios around the old town celebrate their own church festivals; the most famous is the Festival of Cristo Negro in San Román in September.

    Exploring Locally

    In the CityExplore the old town on foot. For the forts and along the Malecón, take a taxi or bike. A tourist bus offers a round trip to the forts.Getting Here and Onward TravelADO buses connect Campeche with Mérida, Palenque, and Cancún. The Tren Maya stops at the station outside the city center. The small airport has connections to Mexico City.

    Accommodations in San Francisco de Campeche

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    Plan your trip to San Francisco de Campeche

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      Sunrise over alpine peaks and a sea of clouds
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      Trip to San Francisco de Campeche

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      • 1Fuerte de San Miguel3 days
      • 2Church of San Román4 days
      • 3Cathedral of Campeche5 days
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    Nearby

    Uxmal

    Uxmal

    Uxmal, about an hour's drive south of Mérida, was the political center of the Puuc region in western Yucatán from the 8th to 10th centuries. The site is known for its oval Pyramid of the Soothsayer and the finely decorated stone friezes of the Governor's Palace. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996.
    Mérida

    Mérida

    Mérida, capital of the state of Yucatán in the northwest of the peninsula, was founded in 1542 on the ruins of the Maya city T'hó. You come here for the colonial center with churches, plazas, and colorful townhouses, for the Yucatecan cuisine, and for a rich, often free cultural program in the plazas. The city is also a good base for excursions to Maya sites like Uxmal, to cenotes and haciendas.
    Yucatán Peninsula

    Yucatán Peninsula

    The Yucatán Peninsula in southeastern Mexico comprises the states of Yucatán, Quintana Roo, and Campeche. It is flat, covered by scrubland, and has few rivers; water flows underground through limestone and emerges in thousands of cenotes. Here lie the great Maya sites, the colonial cities of Mérida and Campeche, and the Caribbean coast from Cancún to Tulum.
    Chichén Itzá

    Chichén Itzá

    Chichén Itzá, in eastern Yucatán, 120 km from Mérida and over 40 km from Valladolid, was one of the Maya's most powerful centers from the 9th-12th centuries. You come for the stepped pyramid El Castillo, the 168m Great Ball Court, and the Sacred Cenote, a day trip doable from Mérida, Valladolid, or Cancún. Since 1988, it's been a UNESCO World Heritage Site; in 2007, El Castillo was chosen in a private vote as one of the New Seven World Wonders. Around the equinoxes, the afternoon light on the pyramid's north staircase casts the shadow of a descending snake.
    Bacalar

    Bacalar

    Bacalar is a small town in southern Quintana Roo, about 40 kilometers north of Chetumal, on the shore of the lagoon of the same name. You come for the Lagoon of Seven Colors, whose water changes from turquoise to deep blue depending on the depth, and for the living stromatolites in its canals. Overlooking the shore is the 18th-century Spanish Fort San Felipe. Since 2006, the town bears the title Pueblo Mágico.

    Sources & method

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