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    Santiago de Querétaro

    Mexico

    Santiago de Querétaro

    CityCulture

    Santiago de Querétaro was founded in 1531 and lies approximately 220 km northwest of Mexico City at about 1,820 m elevation.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Mexico
    7. Central Mexican Highlands
    9. Santiago de Querétaro
    Santiago de Querétaro was founded in 1531 and lies approximately 220 km northwest of Mexico City at about 1,820 m elevation. Its Old Town, with its squares, Baroque churches, and a 74-arch aqueduct, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996.In 1810, the conspiracy that triggered the War of Independence began here, and in 1917, Mexico's current constitution was proclaimed in the Teatro de la República.

    Sights in Santiago de Querétaro

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Acueducto de Querétaro

    1Acueducto de Querétaro

    The aqueduct was built from 1726 to 1738 under Marqués Juan Antonio de Urrutia y Arana to channel spring water from La Cañada into the city. Its 74 arches are up to about 28 m high and stretch for about 1,280 m east of the old town; you have a good view from the Mirador de los Arcos.
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    2Museo de Arte de Querétaro

    The Art Museum occupies the 18th-century former Augustinian monastery. Especially worth seeing is the cloister, its arches and columns featuring carved faces and figures; the collection focuses on paintings from New Spain.
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    3Museo Fundación Santiago Carbonell

    Art Museum of the Foundation of the Spanish-heritage painter Santiago Carbonell in an old town house on Calle 5 de Mayo, east of Plaza de Armas.
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    4Jardín Guerrero

    Small square with trimmed trees, a fountain, and a statue of President Vicente Guerrero in the Old Town's west. Next to it are the Santa Clara Church and the Museo de la Ciudad.
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    Templo de Santa Rosa de Viterbo

    5Templo de Santa Rosa de Viterbo

    The Baroque monastery church is considered the masterpiece by architect Ignacio Mariano de las Casas, its facade showing Mudéjar influences. Inside are preserved gilded altars, an 18th-century organ, and a pulpit with inlays of precious woods, silver, ivory, and tortoiseshell.
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    Templo de San Francisco

    6Templo de San Francisco

    The Franciscan Church at Jardín Zenea belongs to the city's oldest monastery; construction began in the second half of the 16th century. From 1856 to 1922, it served as Querétaro's Cathedral. Its baroque facade of pink stone is adorned with figures of saints and floral ornaments.
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    City walks in Santiago de Querétaro

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

    Querétaro's Historic Heartbeat: A Walk Through the Colonial City

    Discover the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Santiago de Querétaro on this pleasant 2-hour walk. Immerse yourself in the rich history, admire splendid Baroque architecture and experience the pulsating life of the city. From historic squares to venerable churches, an unforgettable insight into the soul of Querétaro.

    ~2 Std.
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    Stops (7)

    Essen & Trinken

    1

    Café Amadeus

    Café with a bakery and pastry shop on Calle del Puente de Alvarado, east of the Old Town, near the aqueduct. In addition to German and European style cakes and pastries, it offers breakfast and Mexican dishes.
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    2

    Tacos del 57

    Simple taqueria on Avenida del 57, on the western edge of the Old Town, serving tacos as its main dish.
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    3

    Querétaro Rico Fundadores

    Restaurant with Mexican cuisine and breakfast on Calle Independencia in the east of the Old Town, near the Templo de la Santa Cruz.
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    4

    Hacienda Laborcilla

    Restaurant in an 18th-century hacienda north of the Old Town, with a green dining terrace and fountain. Serving breakfast, as well as Mexican and international dishes.
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    Eating and Drinking in Querétaro

    Querétaro's cuisine combines dishes from Bajío with ingredients from the semi-desert and Sierra Gorda. Complementing this are wine and cheese from the state's east.

    Enchiladas Queretanas

    Tortillas in red chili sauce, usually filled with chicken or cheese and served with fried potato and carrot cubes, grated cheese and cream; the recipes differ from kitchen to kitchen.

    Gorditas de migajas

    Thick corn patties, filled with crumbled pork Chicharrón bits.

    Nopales

    Cactus pads from the semi-desert, filled or as a side dish.

    Wine & Cheese

    Besides Baja California, Querétaro is one of Mexico's best-known wine regions; many wineries and cheesemakers offer tastings.

    History and Culture

    Cradle of IndependenceQuerétaro was founded on July 25, 1531. In 1810, conspirators against Spanish colonial rule met at the home of Corregidor Miguel Domínguez and his wife Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez. When the plan was exposed in September 1810, Josefa Ortiz warned Miguel Hidalgo, who then called for an uprising in Dolores. In 1867, Emperor Maximilian was sentenced to death in Querétaro and shot on June 19 on the Cerro de las Campanas; in 1917, the constitution was proclaimed in the Teatro de la República.Baroque in StoneCharacteristic of Querétaro are its 18th-century churches with richly gilded altars, like Santa Rosa de Viterbo and Santa Clara, and the cloister of the former Augustinian monastery, now an art museum.ExcursionsPeña de Bernal: 433 m high monolith near the village of Bernal, about an hour's drive away.Tequisquiapan and Wine Region: Wineries and cheese factories in the east of the state.San Miguel de Allende: Colonial city in the neighboring state of Guanajuato, easily accessible by bus.Franciscan Missions of the Sierra Gorda: five Baroque mission churches in the north, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2003.

    Nightlife

    1

    Décadas Canta Bar

    Karaoke bar (Canta Bar) at Calle Independencia 55 in the Old Town, where guests themselves sing.
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    2

    Carranza 50

    Bar with Mexican cuisine in an old town house on Calle Venustiano Carranza 50, in the eastern part of the city center; the house is also used for events.
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    3

    Terraza La Grupa

    Terrace bar with cafe and restaurant service on Calle Luis Pasteur, a few steps from Plaza de Armas.
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    Traveling in Querétaro

    The Old Town is best explored on foot; many streets around the Plaza de Armas are pedestrian zones (Andadores). For the Aqueduct and Cerro de las Campanas, take a taxi or ride-sharing services like Uber and DiDi. City buses cover all neighborhoods.Long-distance buses arrive at the bus station (Terminal de Autobuses) southeast of the city center; the journey from Mexico City (Terminal Norte) takes around three hours. The international airport is located outside the city towards Colón; there is no direct public transport connection to the center; take a taxi.

    Accommodations in Santiago de Querétaro

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      Trip to Santiago de Querétaro

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      • 1Acueducto de Querétaro3 days
      • 2Museo de Arte de Querétaro4 days
      • 3Museo Fundación Santiago Carbonell5 days
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    Nearby

    San Miguel de Allende

    San Miguel de Allende

    San Miguel de Allende sits at roughly 1,900 meters in Guanajuato state, about four bus hours north of Mexico City. Its old town, with steep cobblestone streets, ochre houses and the pink Parroquia, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2008, along with the Sanctuary of Atotonilco. For decades, many foreigners have lived here, especially from the USA and Canada.
    Central Mexican Highlands

    Central Mexican Highlands

    The Central Mexican Highlands stretch from the Valley of Mexico to the Bajío and are mostly 1,800 to 2,400 m high. Here are Mexico City, colonial cities Puebla, Querétaro, Guanajuato, and San Miguel de Allende, and pyramid cities Teotihuacán and Cholula.The region is ideal for a bus tour: most destinations are two to four hours' drive from each other.
    Barrio de Pastita

    Barrio de Pastita

    Pastita is a residential district on the eastern edge of Guanajuato, traversed by an old aqueduct. Tourists rarely venture here, but you'll witness everyday life amidst colorful houses, small tiendas, and stepped alleys. The main point of interest is the museum, located in the former home of Olga Costa and José Chávez Morado. You can reach it by any city bus marked 'Pastita' at the eastern end of the city center.
    Barrio de la Presa

    Barrio de la Presa

    La Presa lies southeast of the Old Town, along the Paseo de la Presa, leading up to the Presa de la Olla reservoir. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, country houses of wealthy families were built here in the style of Italian villas or Swiss chalets; many now serve as schools, offices, or hotels. The district is greener and quieter than the center; at its upper end lie the reservoir and Parque Florencio Antillón.
    Guanajuato

    Guanajuato

    Guanajuato stretches at over 2,000 m altitude through a narrow gorge in the central highlands, approximately 340 road kilometers northwest of Mexico City. You come for the colorful Old Town from the silver mining era, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988, with steep stair-alleys, Baroque churches, and squares bustling with students. In the 18th century, the La Valenciana mine at times supplied around two-thirds of the world's silver production, making the city rich. Colorful houses cling to the slopes, and most traffic runs through tunnels beneath the Old Town.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Pexels. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI