During our summer break in July and August 2026, we spent three and a half weeks in Mexico on a family vacation and visiting family. Most of the time we stayed in Mexico City (CDMX) with my in-laws, exploring different parts of the city and places nearby whenever we had the chance.
For one week, we flew from Toluca to Ciudad Juárez, where we started our trip through Chihuahua. We rented a car and traveled south through the state, stopping at the Samalayuca dunes on our way to Chihuahua City, where we stayed with family. We used Chihuahua City as a base to visit Cuauhtémoc before continuing to Delicias, where we stayed for another two nights. From there, we returned to Chihuahua City, dropped off the car at the airport, and flew back.
This is a collection of 25 places from those three and a half weeks that we particularly liked or found interesting – from restaurants, bakeries, and ice cream parlors to museums, churches, landscapes, and some less obvious stops. I added a photo, location, and a short personal note for each place.
All the locations can also be found in my Google Maps list: Mexico 2026 .
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios
Historic basilica in the middle of a typical neighborhood, also featuring Voladores de Papantla performances.
Location:
Calle Zaragoza 1, Los Remedios
53400 Naucalpan de Juárez, Estado de México, Mexico
Pastelerías Esperanza
Excellent bakery.
Location:
Circuito Médicos 25, Ciudad Satélite
53100 Naucalpan de Juárez, Estado de México, Mexico
Los Arcos
Authentic taco restaurant.
Location:
Avenida Lomas Verdes 17, Ciudad Satélite
53100 Naucalpan de Juárez, Estado de México, Mexico
Restaurante El Rincón de los Saucos
Great restaurant in an alpine setting between Mexico City and Toluca, just off the modern toll highway.
Location:
Carretera La Marquesa–Tenango, km 8.5
52752 Ocoyoacac, Estado de México, Mexico
Basílica de Santa María de Guadalupe
See the Virgin of Guadalupe from the walkway.
Location:
Fray Juan de Zumárraga 2, Villa Gustavo A. Madero
07050 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Museo de los Ferrocarrileros
Free admission and good for a short visit.
Location:
Alberto Herrera s/n, Aragón La Villa
Gustavo A. Madero, 07000 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Pastelería La Palanca
Authentic local bakery with giant conchas.
Location:
Calzada México-Tacuba 735, Tacuba, Miguel Hidalgo
11410 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Plaza de la Constitución (Zócalo)
Fair featuring Indigenous products on the Zócalo.
Location:
Plaza de la Constitución s/n, Centro Histórico, Cuauhtémoc
06010 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Plus Code: CVM8+3M
Arena México
The place to see lucha libre.
Location:
Dr. Lavista 189, Doctores, Cuauhtémoc
06720 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Volcán Tetlalmanche
Great views from a volcano in Mexico City, especially in the morning.
Book a guided tour to Volcán Tetlalmanche with InlandMex.
Location:
Tláhuac, 13115 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Presa Lago Colina
Great for boat tours and jet skiing.
Location:
33682 Boquilla de Babisas, Chihuahua, Mexico
Plus Code: HJG9+G3
Helados Santi
Great ice cream parlor.
Location:
Avenida 4 Sur 1014, Sur 1
33000 Delicias, Chihuahua, Mexico
Presa Las Vírgenes (Francisco I. Madero)
Popular day-trip destination for locals.
Location:
Presa Las Vírgenes, De La Presa, Barrio de la Presa
33123 Chihuahua, Mexico
Plus Code: 5989+8G
La Gracia. Panadería Fina y Expendio de Productos Extraordinarios
Great café.
Location:
Calle 4a 1421-A, Zona Centro
31000 Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico
Museo Histórico de la Revolución (Quinta Luz)
Museum in Pancho Villa’s former residence.
Location:
Calle 10a 3010, Santa Rosa
31050 Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico
Centro Cultural Quinta Gameros
The building combines elements of Beaux-Arts, Rococo, Second Empire, and French Neoclassical architecture.
Location:
Avenida Paseo Bolívar 401, Zona Centro
31000 Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico
Plus Code: JWJG+WJ
Restaurante Mina Vieja
Authentic local restaurant.
Location:
República de Bolivia 4106, Los Frailes
31107 Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico
Gorditas Lupita Santa Isabel
Authentic quesadillas, very popular with locals.
Location:
Calle Centenario s/n, La Frontera
33270 Santa Isabel, Chihuahua, Mexico
Paletas Germania
Ice cream parlor said to have been founded by a German immigrant.
Location:
Calle Centenario, Santa Isabel, Chihuahua, Mexico
Plus Code: 8JVJ+5X
Museo Menonita
Learn about the Mennonites and their history on a guided tour.
Location:
Km 10, Corredor Comercial Manitoba 1024, Campo 21
31607 Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, Mexico
Panadería Aleman
Mennonite bakery.
Location:
31614 Ciudad Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, Mexico
Médanos de Samalayuca (Samalayuca Dune Fields)
Rent a snowboard and go dune surfing.
Location:
31834 Chihuahua, Mexico
Plus Code: 44R2+22
Museo de la Revolución en la Frontera
The museum is located in the historic border station.
Location:
Calle 16 de Septiembre s/n / Avenida Juárez, Zona Centro
32000 Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico
Plus Code: PGQ8+C9
Barrigas Pronaf
Good place for breakfast in Ciudad Juárez.
Location:
Avenida Benjamín Franklin 3220, Zona Pronaf
32315 Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico
Monumento a la Mexicanidad
Monument to Mexico, right in front of the border wall with El Paso.
Location:
Chamizal
32300 Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico
Plus Code: QH45+GW
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