All Mexico

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Mexico

565 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Mexico

Updated August 29, 2024

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Cities

Top Cities
All Cities
  1. Aguascalientes
  2. Angahuan
  3. Atotonilco
  4. Bacalar
  5. Bernal
  6. Campeche
  7. Cancún
  8. Chichen Itza
  9. Chihuahua
  10. Ciudad Juárez
  11. Cuatrociénegas
  12. Cuernavaca
  13. Cuilapam De Guerrero
  14. Dolores Hidalgo
  15. Durango
  16. Ensenada
  17. Guadalajara
  18. Guanajuato
  19. Isla Mujeres
  20. Izamal
  21. León
  22. Malinalco
  23. Mazatlán
  24. Mérida
  25. Metepec
  26. Mexico City
  27. Monterrey
  28. Morelia
  29. Nativitas
  30. Naucalpan
  31. Oaxaca
  32. Pachuca De Soto
  33. Palenque
  34. Papantla
  35. Pátzcuaro
  36. Playa Del Carmen
  37. Puebla
  38. Puerto Escondido
  39. Puerto Vallarta
  40. San Agustín Etla
  41. San Andrés Cholula
  42. San Cristóbal De Las Casas
  43. San Francisco Mazapa
  44. San Juan Teotihuacan De Arista
  45. San Luis Potosí
  46. San Miguel De Allende
  47. San Pablo Villa De Mitla
  48. San Rafael
  49. Santiago De Querétaro
  50. Taxco
  51. Tepoztlán
  52. Tequisquiapan
  53. Tijuana
  54. Tlalnepantla
  55. Toluca
  56. Tuxtla Gutiérrez
  57. Valladolid
  58. Valle De Bravo
  59. Villahermosa
  60. Xicotepec De Juárez
  61. Xilitla
  62. Zacatecas

Unusual Attractions in Mexico

See All 565 Things To Do in Mexico

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Mexico

See all 10 Places to Eat in Mexico
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Flavors of Oaxaca: Markets, Mezcal & Home-Cooked Meals

A Culinary and Cultural Journey Through Oaxaca.

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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

Mexico City's Centro Histórico

Anchored by the Zócalo plaza and the architectural splendor of the Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City's historic center rightfully draws scores of visitors from around the world. If you look, smell, and taste carefully, you’ll also find a universe of culinary offerings that tells stories of immigration, adaptation, and imagination. With the help of Culinary Backstreets, we assembled a primer on eating and drinking your way through the district.

View Itinerary

Explore Mexico

Museums 99
Architecture 74
Art 69
Archaeology 65
Ruins 55
Murals 46
Aztec 46
Sacred Spaces 45

Mexico Leaderboard

Recent Mexico Activity

Stories About Mexico

For the Ancient Maya, Cracked Mirrors Were a Portal to the World Beyond

Nobles of the powerful Mesoamerican civilization conjured gods and ancestors in rituals centered around the objects.
by James L. Fitzsimmons
Oaxaca is famous for its crafts, including alebrijes, colorful wood-carved animals.

Six Wondrous Reasons to Explore Oaxaca Right Now

Advice from an expert on what to see, drink, and eat in one of Mexico’s most exciting states.
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Macchu Piccu, Peru

Enter For Your Chance to Win a Summer Adventure (Submissions Closed)

We’re teaming up with Cayman Jack for an epic trip giveaway.
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Podcast: Toy Story

Check out a crazed collection of vintage playthings in Mexico City's vibrant museum scene.
by The Podcast Team
When fermented tuba gets distilled, just one fifth of the volume becomes vino de cocos.

Is This Mexico's Oldest Spirit?

In the state of Colima, one man is reviving vino de cocos, a distillate that disappeared in the 1700s.
by N.C. Stevens
Honeypot ants feed on sweet nectar and death.

All Winter, These Ants Make the Ultimate Sweet Sacrifice to Their Colony

Their syrupy death is medicinal for humans, too.
by Shoshi Parks

A 500-Year-Old Record of the Aztec Empire Comes to Life

The Digital Florentine Codex’s three languages and thousands of hand-painted illustrations provide a window into culture, war, and daily life.
by Roxanne Hoorn
When whale sharks congregate, tourists often do, too. Responsible tourism can help minimize the disruption.

Can We Swim With Whale Sharks Responsibly?

How to—and, more importantly, how not to—have an unforgettable wildlife encounter with the biggest fish in the sea.
by Roxanne Hoorn

Lists Featuring Mexico

Beside the auto shop's signage.

11 Marvelous Mexican Restaurants Hiding in Plain Sight

Sometimes, the best tacos are served inside an auto shop.

11

Including El Vilsito , Zaragoza Mexican Deli and Grocery, and La Morada

Red Seabeach
The otherworldly landscape of Padar Island.
Black Sand Beach

10 Unique Beaches From Around the World

From bright red grass to stranded shipwrecks, these beaches are anything but ordinary.

10

Including Driftwood Beach, Red Beach , and Padar Island

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