What to do in Veracruz

Activities, attractions and tours

Veracruz showing night scenes and heritage elements
Veracruz showing night scenes and heritage elements
Veracruz featuring a square or plaza
Veracruz
Veracruz

Veracruz Attractions

Let Expedia help you experience the best that Veracruz has to offer! If you’re looking for fun itinerary ideas, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Activities and Tours

Veracruz is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay, and make it a breeze to explore the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Veracruz to make sure that you enjoy your experience to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights.

Veracruz Attractions

Expedia has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions to keep you entertained. In addition to scheduling local tours, booking reservations and scoring advance event tickets, Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, all on one consolidated travel itinerary, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Veracruz.

Looking for things to do can be time consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Veracruz attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season.

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Top places to visit

1. Veracruz Harbour

Veracruz Harbor (Puerto de Veracruz) is a working harbor and the location of several significant city landmarks. On the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, Veracruz Harbor was a trading center during the Spanish rule of Mexico. Explore an imposing castle, built to store treasures and ward off pirate attacks. Witness modern-day maritime activities while strolling along the waterfront promenade.
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Veracruz Harbour which includes a square or plaza, a sunset and a bay or harbor

2. Veracruz Aquarium

Visit the Veracruz Aquarium (Acuarió de Veracruz) for fascinating insight into life beneath the world’s oceans. Walk between tanks and through glass tunnels, discovering marine life from the Gulf of Mexico and much farther afield. Stand face-to-face with colorful aquatic creatures and deadly underwater predators, watch acrobatic displays and attend educational programs.
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Veracruz Aquarium showing marine life and interior views

3. San Juan de Ulua Castle

Listen to stories about colonial riches, maritime expeditions and tumultuous battles at San Juan de Ulúa Castle. This imposing castle sits on an island that shares the same name, where it has operated as a fortress, gold storehouse, prison and royal palace throughout its almost 500-year history. Visit San Juan de Ulua Castle to wander around its battlements, across bridges and along corridors. Browse displays of colonial and pre-Hispanic artifacts at the castle museum.
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San Juan de Ulua Castle featuring a lake or waterhole and heritage elements

4. Veracruz Cathedral

Veracruz Cathedral, officially known as Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, is a striking landmark set on the edge of Veracruz’s liveliest square. Marvel at the neoclassical, whitewashed façade and head inside to explore an interesting assortment of religious artwork.
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Veracruz Cathedral which includes heritage elements and a square or plaza as well as a small group of people

5. Carranza Lighthouse

Rising above the Gran Plaza Malecón is the striking Carranza Lighthouse (Faro Venustiano Carranza), a whitewashed monument dating back to 1902. Learn about the history of the structure, bring a camera to take pictures of the port and begin a walk along Veracruz’s waterfront promenade from here.
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Carranza Lighthouse featuring a square or plaza, a city and a statue or sculpture

6. Naval Historical Museum

As one of Mexico’s most important port cities, Veracruz has a storied maritime history. This, along with the nation’s seafaring heritage, is documented at the Naval Historical Museum (Museo Historicó Naval). Explore more than 20 rooms containing artifacts from pre-Hispanic times to the modern era in this fascinating museum, set in the magnificent former building of the Heroica Escuela Naval Militar (Heroic Naval Academy).
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Naval Historical Museum which includes interior views

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Recommended things to do in Veracruz

Number of things to do
27
Cheapest thing to do on Expedia
Night Tour of Veracruz in a Double-Decker Bus: CA $7
Top 5 things to do
Half-day tours
With kids

What to do in Veracruz

Discover the most popular places to visit in Veracruz

Veracruz Harbour showing a sunset, a square or plaza and a city

Veracruz Harbour

4/5(10 reviews)

Watch the busy maritime activity, admire grand architectural structures and visit a 16th-century Spanish colonial fortress at this historic port.

Veracruz Harbour
Veracruz Aquarium which includes marine life and interior views

Veracruz Aquarium

5/5(4 reviews)

Spot exotic fish, dive with sharks, swim with dolphins and get up-close with tropical birds at this superb aquarium.

Veracruz Aquarium
Veracruz international commerce port in Mexico

Malecón de Veracruz

4.5/5(5 reviews)

Malecón de Veracruz is just one of the places to see in Veracruz, so why not enjoy the other things to explore during your travels? While you're in the area, stroll along the beautiful beaches.

Malecón de Veracruz
Zocalo or Plaza de Armas, the main square of Veracruz, Mexico

Zócalo

4.5/5(9 reviews)

You can learn about the history of Veracruz with a stop at Zócalo. While in this family-friendly area, you can savor the top-notch restaurants.

Zócalo
San Juan de Ulua Castle featuring a lake or waterhole and heritage elements

San Juan de Ulua Castle

Once the main landing point for new arrivals to Spanish-ruled Mexico, this 16th-century fortress is shrouded in the legends of explorers and pirate attacks.

San Juan de Ulua Castle
Veracruz Cathedral featuring a church or cathedral and heritage architecture

Veracruz Cathedral

4/5(6 reviews)

Discover the fine collection of religious art that decorates this 18th-century cathedral and relax at the sidewalk cafés of nearby Zócalo.

Veracruz Cathedral
Carranza Lighthouse featuring a square or plaza, a city and a statue or sculpture

Carranza Lighthouse

4.5/5(2 reviews)

Overlooking the port of Veracruz is a grandiose neoclassical building featuring a lighthouse that once guided ships around the city’s bay.

Carranza Lighthouse
Naval Historical Museum showing military items and a square or plaza

Naval Historical Museum

3.5/5(2 reviews)

Artillery displays, model ships and portrayals of historic battles bring Mexico’s naval past to life at this modern and informative museum.

Naval Historical Museum
Bastion of Santiago Museum featuring heritage elements

Bastion of Santiago Museum

Visit the sole surviving fort from Veracruz’s ancient city wall. Today, the structure houses a museum of pre-Hispanic and colonial-era relics.

Bastion of Santiago Museum

Explore areas of Veracruz

Carranza Lighthouse featuring a bay or harbour and a city

Malecon

4.5/5(5 area reviews)

Malecon is known for its ample dining options, and you can make a stop by Veracruz Harbour and Veracruz Aquarium while in the area.

Malecon
Naval Historical Museum which includes signage and military items

Old Town Veracruz

4/5(1 area review)

Waterfront views, historic sites, and spas are just a few things travelers enjoy about Old Town Veracruz. Check out Veracruz Harbour or Zócalo while you're exploring the area.

Old Town Veracruz
Veracruz international commerce port in Mexico

Zona Centro

When in Zona Centro, you can plan a visit to Veracruz Harbour and Zócalo, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Zona Centro
Boca del Río, Veracruz architecture.

Ignacio Zaragoza

While visiting Ignacio Zaragoza, you might make a stop by sights like Villa del Mar Beach and Veracruzano Coral Reef System National Park.

Ignacio Zaragoza
Naval Historical Museum featuring interior views

Faros

While visiting Faros, you might make a stop by sights like Veracruz Harbour and Carranza Lighthouse.

Faros
Veracruz Cathedral which includes heritage elements and a square or plaza as well as a small group of people

Los Portales

While visiting Los Portales, you might make a stop by sights like Zócalo and Palacio Municipal.

Los Portales

 

Looking for fun things to do nearby? Check things to do near me to find and book the best things to do, fun activities, and top attractions wherever you happen to be.

 

 

Day trip destinations from Veracruz

Mocambo Beach which includes a beach as well as a large group of people

Boca del Río

La Antigua showing a church or cathedral, flowers and a garden

La Antigua

Frequently asked questions

Is Veracruz worth visiting?
One of the most common things to do in Veracruz is visit Mocambo Beach. Tick this top attraction off your itinerary, then discover more of the area's coastal beaches and culture.
How do I spend a day in Veracruz?
Mocambo Beach and San Juan de Ulua Castle are two great places to begin your getaway adventures. Remember to check out the dining and shopping options in Veracruz while you're in town too.
What is the top tourist attraction in Veracruz?
Mocambo Beach is one of the top tourist attractions in Veracruz and deserves a spot on every sightseeing itinerary of the area.
Is three days enough to stay in Veracruz?
Three days in Veracruz is more than enough to visit the city's major attractions. Many guests spend two days on average. Mocambo Beach, San Juan de Ulua Castle and Veracruz Cathedral are top-rated sights. Like to discover more? Stick around a while longer to visit nearby hotspots such as Boca del Río.
Is Veracruz a walkable city?
Some top sights in Veracruz, such as San Juan de Ulua Castle and Veracruz Cathedral, are within walking distance. You can also explore several of the city's neighbourhoods on foot. Only 0.48 kilometres from the city centre of Veracruz is Malecon and Old Town Veracruz is 0.64 kilometres away.
What are some activities to do in Veracruz with kids?
If you're looking for sights and activities for all the family, we've got some terrific ideas for what to do in Veracruz with kids.

What to do in Veracruz for adults?
From local cuisine and cultural attractions to outdoor adventures and unique experiences, there are loads of exciting things to do in Veracruz for adults.
Are there free things to do in Veracruz?
One of the best ways to discover free things to do in Veracruz is to chat to a local tour guide. You'll get insider advice on hip neighbourhoods, parks and other attractions you can experience without opening your wallet. Mocambo Beach is one spot that doesn't charge an entrance fee.

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