Guide To Monterrey

About Monterrey

Mexico's third largest city is set in the spectacular Sierra Madre mountain region of north-west Mexico. Three million residents populate Monterrey's metropolitan area, and when you visit here, you realize that Monterrey is more like the United States and less like Mexico.

Monterrey is in fact, Mexico's current commercial and industrial powerhouse. Many of Mexico's biggest companies are headquartered here; it is also a huge area for maquliadoras, factories where goods are assembled, often from foreign components, to be exported once again for sale in the USA, Europe and Asia.

The City's square is one of the largest in the world; but it was created in the 1980's with efficiency in mind; people here don't stroll around admiring the architecture, they are probably late for their next appointment!

Most tourists bypass Monterrey, but in doing so they miss the opportunity to experience a perfect example of a city that combines the new and the old Mexico - and miss the enjoyment of many of the attractions waiting for them nearby.

There are several museums in Monterrey, including the famous museum of contemporary art. Monterrey is also home to the country's top University - Instituto Tecnologico de Monterrey - which now has several campuses throughout the country, including a huge complex in Mexico City. The Cathedral, and buildings centered around the main plaza are an excellent example of modern colonial architecture blending in with the old world.

Within an hour of Monterrey, you'll find some stunning ecological attractions too; including caves, waterfalls and of course, the majestic and famous Sierra Madre mountain range.

Don't write off Monterrey as a commercialized piece of the USA in Mexico - to do so would be denying yourself the chance to experience a great city; one which is vibrant and confident, and which is at the cutting edge of Mexico's drive to develop and grow into a more prosperous nation.

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Key Attractions

Gran Plaza

Sometimes referred to as the Makro Plaza, when you come here, you'll see why. Life in the plaza is packed full of energy and its size makes it one of the largest plazas in the world. It would overwhelm you were it not for the buildings, walkways and fountains that have been built-in to this central focus-piece.

The Plaza is host to many of the City's most important buildings: The Cathedral, The Palacio de Gobierno (Government Palace); The Museo de Arte Contemporaneo, the Palacio Municipal (Municipal Building), The Main Post Office, and the Palacio de la Justicia (Court House) to name a few!

Look up Monterrey in the mainstream Guidebooks for more information about these museums, or consult the local Tourist Information Office (see Practical Information).

Barrio Antiguo

Barrio Antiguo means "Old Neighborhood", and east of the Grand Plaza, you'll find this area of town, where you can wander around and look at the old world of Monterrey. This zone is starting to become trendy and fashionable with the locals as chic cafes, art galleries and antique shops set up shop in the area. It's also becoming a major night spot in Monterrey, especially at the weekends.

Zona Rosa

Modeled on Mexico City's Zona Rosa (meaning "Pink Zone"), this is the area where you'll find some of the top restaurants and hotels, expensive shops and boutiques. It's great for (window) shopping, and to find a good place to eat and drink, but there are other places too, see below:

Ultra-Modern Shopping Experiences

Monterrey's commercial scene has developed significantly in recent years. Where before, the Zona Rosa (see above) was the premier location for shops, hotels and restaurants, today there are various commercial centers and malls located in this modern city that offer new varieties and extended choice to visitors and residents alike.

Plaza Mexico, Gallerias Monterrey, Plaza Fiesta San Agustin and Plaza Quinta are top-quality modern shopping centers offering the latest styles, excellent food and drink and top fashion. If you have visited the United States and like its shopping malls, you'll love Monterrey's modern commercial centers which are modeled on them and include many of the top names in US Retail (e.g. JC Penney, Sears, Hugo Boss, et al)

Around Monterrey

The area surrounding Monterrey has a lot to offer visitors wanting to see some of Mexico's stunning northern deserts and mountains. Attractions include the Garcia Caves, Horse Tail Waterfalls, Rodrigo Gomez Dam, and gorgeous views from Chipinque on the Sierra Madre Mountains.

Museums & Art

Monterrey has several good museums. The main ones are listed below:

Museo del Vidrio - (Glass Museum) Features the history, manufacture and use of glass in Mexico. The museum includes an art glassware gallery and a shop selling fine glass.

Museo del Obispado - (Former Bishop's Palace) Is situated on a hill and offers fine views of the city on clear days (the pollution here can be bad at times). Today it's a small historical museum, principally about Mexico's revolutionary period.

Museo de Arte Contemporaneo - (Contemporary Art Museum) hosts major exhibitions, including those of top Mexican and International artists. Said to be one of the best Museums in the country.

Golf in Monterrey

Not just because of its business infrastructure is golf popular in Monterrey - the climate is also ideal! If you like golf, be sure to bring your clubs.

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Getting There & Around

Getting There

By Air - You can fly to Monterrey from the US and all other main cities in Mexico.

Connect to the Mexperience Travel Center for Airlines

By Bus - You can travel to Monterrey on a luxury bus from Mexico City - the trip takes around 12 hours. An overnight bus does run from Mexico City to Monterrey, arriving in time to enjoy the day there, although traveling by bus, even on a luxury bus, for 12 hours can be quite tiring.

Connect to the Mexperience Travel Center for National Buses

By Car - Monterrey is well connected by federal (free) and toll roads, connecting it to the colonial heartland and Mexico City in the south and the USA in the north. See additional information about Driving in Mexico and Mexico's Toll Roads on Mexperience.

Getting Around

From the Airport - The airport is about 10 miles north of the city, and taxis are available to take you into the centre of Monterrey; they are reasonably priced.

Taxis - Your hotel can arrange taxis for you; some post their rates on a board in the lobby. If you speak Spanish, you will have a distinct advantage and be able to negotiate a better price! Another good reason to Learn Spanish!

Metro - A very simple two-line system can take you to various places around the city. The over-ground tram (line 1) runs west-east and is designed to transport people from residential areas in the south to the city centre; the underground train (line 2) runs north-south and is good for all major attractions in and around the city's centre.

Rent a Car - Monterrey is very accessible by road, and there is plenty to see and do in the surrounding areas, including trips to nearby caves, ecological attractions and mountains. Hiring a car would be a smart option if you're thinking about exploring this region, as it will give you the freedom and flexibility to see more of the area and its surrounding attractions effectively.

See the Mexperience Travel Center for Car Rental in Monterrey

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Local Events Calendar

Besides the big national holidays like Independence Day, Easter and Christmas (see Mexico Events Calendar) Monterrey has some local festivals of its own:

Expo Monterrey - An annual trade and cultural fair in Monterrey, which takes place in September.

Festival Cultural del Barrio Antiguo - (Cultural Festival of the Old Neighborhood) features concerts, performances and conferences which all take place in the clubs and establishments inside Monterrey's 'old town' (Barrio Antiguo).  Late November.

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Practical Information

Telephone: Connect to the Communications in Mexico Page on Mexperience for full information about keeping in touch and the latest table of national dialing codes.

Exchanging Currency: Banks with ATM machines are found throughout the downtown area of Monterrey. During business hours, they and the local Casas de Cambio will buy traveler's cheques and cash from you as well. Read about currency exchange in Mexperience's Money Section.

Travel Insurance: We recommend that you are adequately covered with travel medical cover and/or travel assistance cover when you are visiting Mexico. Read the Mexperience guide to Travel Insurance in Mexico for full details and links to specialist insurance suppliers.

Internet Access: Internet cafes are commonplace in Mexico - new ones open and old ones close all the time - but you won't have to look too hard to find one downtown and in the main tourist areas.

Local Tourist Office: Connect to the Mexperience Travel Center for details of the nearest Tourist Information office.

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Accommodation

• Find a Hotel in Monterrey

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Restaurants

We have no specific restaurant recommendations at this time.

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When Night Falls

Monterrey has a selection of good night spots to suit those looking for culture and those looking for a party!

Locally Hosted Parties - Check with yours and other Local Hotels about public parties they may be hosting during your stay. Traditional Mexican theme night parties are popular with the locals, and there's a chance you could join a really special night out - the real Mexican way, and certainly on the eve of September 16th - Mexico's Independence Day! Hosted parties usually include dinner, dancing, a show and / or live music (usually authentic Mexican Mariachis) plus all drinks for a fixed fee and are always excellent value for money!  Ask at your hotel to find out what is happening locally.

Nightclub Scene - Big hotels with adjoining night-clubs have been the centre of attraction for night-clubbers in Monterrey. However, the "Barrio Antiguo" is becoming more popular as a night-spot, and providing an alternative to the 'big hotel scene'. Some night clubs charge an all inclusive cover fee; some a smaller cover and drinks on top. Drinks are served all night - don't even consider going to a nightclub before 11pm. Nightclubs keep going all morning and most people will start to leavebetween 5 and 7 am.

Night Bars / Restaurants - There's a good variety of Late Night Entertainment in Monterrey to keep you happy and entertained into the early hours.

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What to Buy in Monterrey

The choice of shopping in Monterrey is either large market-style complexes, or US-Style, colossal air-conditioned shopping malls.

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Local Climate

Monterrey in in Mexico's northern desert region and enjoys year-round, very hot weather in a very dry climate. The climate is ideal for taking part in a variety of outdoor sports and activities and for taking in the local attractions, architecture and scenery. Rain is seldom a feature here; when the rains do come they tend to manifest themselves as magnificent fierce and drenching thunder-storms. Monterrey is not affected by Mexico's rainy season.

Live Weather Report:

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