Getting there & around

Getting there

Fly. This is the move we recommend. Zacatecas has its own airport (ZCL), about 20 to 30 minutes north of the center, with domestic flights to Mexico City and a handful of other cities plus some seasonal US routes. Flying lets you skip long drives across the state, which is the whole safety logic of this trip. From the airport, take an authorized taxi into town, roughly a half-hour ride.

Bus. Zacatecas is a major stop on the northern bus network, with comfortable first-class coaches from Mexico City (roughly 7 to 8 hours), Guadalajara, Aguascalientes and San Luis Potosí. The buses themselves are comfortable and reliable. The honest caveat is that this means crossing highway distances by land, so if you go by bus, travel in daylight and stick to first-class lines. The bus station sits outside the center, so grab a taxi in.

Drive. Possible, and the toll roads are decent, but this is the option we are most cautious about given the state’s highway security. If you drive, stay on toll highways, travel only in daylight, and check current road conditions before setting out.

Getting around

Once you are in the center, you walk. It is compact and most sights are within ten minutes of each other, so you will barely need a vehicle. The catch is that this is genuinely hilly, steep cobbled lanes at 2,400 meters, so pace yourself and wear real shoes. For anything farther out, or getting back to your hotel late at night, use registered taxis or a ride app rather than walking long distances after dark. You don’t need a rental car for a city stay.