Top 5 Best Things to See and Do in Monterrey, Mexico

Top 5 Best Things to See and Do in Monterrey, Mexico

Full of natural parks and museums, Monterrey was founded more than four hundred years ago and has great cultural diversity. It’s one of the most important cities in Mexico, mainly because of the industry developed in the area. Monterrey is full of natural areas inside and outside the city, which makes it a unique place to explore at any time of the day.

The city is rich in historic monuments, museums, and recreational areas along with a rich culinary scene. The city offers accommodations options for every type of traveler, whereas the best hotels in Monterrey can be found in the upscale area of San Pedro Garza García.

Macroplaza

1. Macroplaza

Although it’s called Macroplaza, this is the name given to the central part of Monterrey, 40 hectares in size. It’s the largest square or plaza in Mexico and one of the largest in the world. There are shops, monuments, walking areas, and even a laser show at night.

In addition to several churches, the plaza is home to the Government Palace of the State of Nuevo Leon (of which Monterrey is the capital), several museums, markets, the State Library Fray Servando Teresa De Mier, and the Monterrey Mayor’s Palace. The main monuments are the Neptune Fountain (or Fountain of Life), as well as the Faro del Comercio (Beacon of Commerce), a monument designed by Mexican architect Luis Barragan.

Nube Cerro

2. The Three Museums

North of the Macroplaza is the beginning of the Paseo Santa Lucia, and an area known as the Tres Museos (“three museums”). These museums tell the history of Mexico and the region from different perspectives.

The MUNE (Museum of the Northeast) tells the regional history of the Mexican states of Nuevo Leon, Coahuila, Tamaulipas, as well as the state of Texas in the United States. The building was designed by architects Edmundo Salinas and Manuel Lasheras, their idea was to represent layers of the interior of the Earth, and at the same time, visually complement the Museum of Mexican History, which was designed by architects Oscar Bulnes and Augusto Alvarez. On the other hand, the Palace Museum has a neoclassical architecture since it’s part of the Government Palace of Nuevo Leon.

Paseo Santa Lucía

3. Fundidora Park and Paseo Santa Lucía

The Paseo Santa Lucia is an artificial river that runs from the Macroplaza to Fundidora Park. It’s the largest artificial river in Latin America, 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) long. One of the favorite places for locals and tourists to take a stroll in the evenings and weekends.

During the walk you can also enjoy fountains, trails, bridges, terraces and plazas, mural art by Monterrey artists, and green areas. You can take a boat ride along the river to experience the entire promenade in a short time.

At the other end of Paseo Santa Lucia is Fundidora Park. It was built between 1988 and 2001 on the site where the company Fundidora Monterrey was located. There are still structures and pieces of steel machinery that today are considered museum pieces. Fundidora Park was declared a Museum of Industrial Archeology because of the importance of the pieces and machinery still on site.

Fundidora Park is an entire complex with an area of 114 hectares in which museums, concert halls, restaurants, lakes, parks, fountains, as well as tracks for jogging and exercise combine. Today it is one of the most emblematic places in Monterrey.

Museum of Contemporary Art

4. Museum of Contemporary Art

South of the Macroplaza is the Museum of Contemporary Art, better known as MARCO Museum, designed by Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta and opened in 1991. The museum holds a large collection of contemporary art by international artists, as well as exhibitions, concerts, workshops, and events.

The very architecture of the building is a sample of contemporary art in itself, thanks to the style of the architect Legorreta. Exhibitions and projects are organized to offer a framework of reference regarding the current state of contemporary art. One of the main promoters of this type of work in Latin America.

Cola de Caballo Park

5. Cola de Caballo Park and the Caves of García

Monterrey is surrounded by mountains and green areas, so there are many choices for nature lovers. Two of these alternatives are located at extreme ends of the city. On one side, to the north, are the Grutas de García (Caves of Garcia), while to the south, the Cola de Caballo Park.

Cola de Caballo Park is in Villa de Santiago, a town on the outskirts of Monterrey. Its main attraction is the Cola de Caballo waterfall, named for its resemblance to a horse’s tail. In addition to the waterfall, there are horse and wagon rides, as well as different hikes, zip lines and hanging bridges. You can also find souvenirs and artisan crafts.

The García Caves were discovered in the mid nineteenth century and are believed to be more than 50 million years old. On the tour you can observe 16 different formations in the rocks. Some of them are the Christmas Tree, the Theater, the Chapel, the Crucifix, the Air Hall, and the Donkey’s Head.