What do they call this place? “Cuauhnahuac!”, someone replied. I guess whoever got the answer was hard of hearing as they wrote “Cuernavaca” (pronounced kwer-nah-VAH-kah). This city, located in the state of Morelos and roughly 75 kilometres (46 miles) south from the capital, is famous for its architecture from the early colonial period.
“The City of the Eternal Spring” is also famous thanks to its mild climate year-round.
I visited Cuernavaca as a day trip from Mexico City, which was enough to explore the main points of interest around the centre. If you want to visit the attractions nearby, you may need to stay overnight.
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Here are the things to do in Cuernavaca in 1 day
Table of Contents
See the Cuernavaca Cathedral (Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption)
Covered in yellow and pink swirls, the Cathedral in Cuernavaca reminded me of an elaborate cake topper.
The impressive Baroque-style building dates back to the mid-16th century, making it one of the oldest churches in Mexico built by the Franciscan order.
Cuernavaca’s cathedral, along with 14 other buildings built as monasteries in the states of Morelos, Puebla, and Tlaxcala, is part of what’s known as “The Earliest 16th Century Monasteries on the Slopes of the Popocatepetl”.
They’re representative of the predominant architectural style during the initial phase of colonization in Mexico, and they’re inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Also known as the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, the building has frescoes with images of martyr St. Philip of Jesus.
Miguel Hidalgo, 17
Visit the Regional Museum of the Peoples of Morelos at the Palace of Cortes
I want a big palace that resembles a fortress to show I’m the new boss in town!, yelled Hernán Cortés when he arrived in Cuernavaca in the early 16th century.
After destroying the pre-Hispanic city built by the Tlahuicas he ordered the indigenous people to use the rubble to build his castle-looking residence.
But he didn’t manage to destroy everything as some elements survived his raid.
Outside the palace you can see several monoliths recovered during excavations across the city, carved by the Tlahuicas between the 14th and the 16th century. The carvings depict animals representing gods and war-related events.
Renovations over the years transformed the building into a workshop, a prison, and a summer residence for Maximilian of Habsburg, the short-lived second emperor of Mexico who lived in Chapultepec and died in Queretaro, in an execution.
Later it housed government offices, and it’s now a regional museum where you can learn about the history of the state of Morelos.
Inside you’ll find fossils from the prehistoric era, objects from local archaeological sites, items from the colonial period, and exhibits about Morelos’ indigenous culture and traditions.
The cherry on top is the Diego Rivera’s mural painted in 1930, titled “History of Morelos, Conquest and Revolution”. The fresco shows the struggles of the indigenous people after the arrival of Cortés and a representation of the liberation movement led by Morelos-born Emiliano Zapata.
Francisco Leyva 100; Open Tue. to Sun.: 9AM-6PM.
See the Creations at the Artisan’s Market
The artisan’s market is right next to Cortes’ Palace and it’s where you’ll find a large selection of handicrafts from Morelos and from nearby states.
There’s plenty of beautiful silversmithing works from the town of Taxco -mainly jewelry-, but also decorative pieces and housewares.
In this small, colourful market you’ll also find textiles, hand embroidered clothing, woodwork, pottery, and traditional masks.
Short on time? Check out the most popular tour that combines a trip to Cuernavaca, Taxco (also known as the Silver City), and a pre-Hispanic mine in one day.
Book this tour here, with a rating of 4.5 stars based on more than 460 reviews.
Hang Out at Plaza de Armas (Zocalo-Main Square)
Plaza de Armas is the main square in Cuernavaca (known as Zócalo), where major cultural events, street performances, and people watching take place.
It’s surrounded by big trees, cafés, and the imposing Government Palace from the 17th century. It’s the place to go if you want to snap a picture with the Cuernavaca letters.
See Art from Around the World at the Robert Brady Museum
Robert Brady was an American artist, world traveller, and collector who after falling in love with Cuernavaca decided to set up shop in what is known as The House of the Tower (La Casa de la Torre).
After renovating the property he acquired in the 1960s (which was part of the Cathedral in the 16th century), he brought in his eclectic collection comprising more than 1400 pieces from Mexico and around the world.
They all live meticulously arranged in this house -which was visited by famous artists- next to his own creations.
Following his instructions, the house became a museum after his death.
Robert Brady Museum
Netzahualcóyotl 4; Open Tue. to Sun.: 10AM-6PM; General Admission: MXN$60
Ride the Cuernabus
For a quick overview of Cuernavaca hop on the Cuernabus, a panoramic bus that makes a 1-hour trip around the city.
The trip starts and ends in front of the Palace of Cortes, where you can get your tickets.
This isn’t a hop-on-hop-off bus and the guided tour is only in Spanish, so this will work for you only if you want a bird’s eye view of Cuernavaca.
There’s also a minimum number of passengers required per trip.
Daily trips start at 11AM. Tickets: MXN$100.
Stop at the Borda Garden Cultural Center (Jardín Borda)
José de la Borda wanted a big summer house, and thanks to all the dough he got from silver mining in the 18th century he was able to get it.
With a big house he also wanted a big garden with a big lake and fountains and many native and exotic plants.
A century later, Emperor Maximillian remodeled the gardens, where he loved to throw epic parties.
Today you may not be able to party with the royalty, but you can attend concerts, see art exhibits at the house (which was transformed into a cultural centre), or stroll the gardens and spot wildlife.
Av. Morelos 271; Open Tue. to Sun.: 10AM-5:30PM; General admission: MXN$30.
How to Get to Cuernavaca from Mexico City by Bus
From any of the three major bus terminals in Mexico City (Terminal Central del Sur, Central de Autobuses del Norte, Central de Autobuses Observatorio) you can take the ETN bus to Cuernavaca.
ETN has the most comfortable buses (just a little bit more expensive).
If you leave from the southern terminal (México Sur), the trip is around 1.5 hours.
Also from México Sur (you can get there taking the subway to the Tasqueña station) you can hop on the Futura buses or Pullman de Morelos, which make frequent trips to Cuernavaca.
Make sure you select the route that stops at “Cuernavaca Centro”.
www.etn.com.mx
Visiting Cuernavaca is a great day trip from Mexico City to enjoy art, beautiful gardens, and unique architecture. Do you have time for another day trip? Go to San Miguel de Allende, a charming town with an awesome urban landscape.
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These are some great ideas whether you are there for one day or several. Love the photos! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for reading!
Cuernavaca looks like an interesting place. I love Mexican culture and architecture. We visited Mexico 3 years ago and I can not wait til our next trip.
It happens to me too. Every time I leave Mexico I start thinking about my next trip to Mexico.
The architecture is stunning! And the Borda Garden is so serene.
Borda Garden and the exhibit they were showing was one of my favourite things
Cuernavaca looks like a beautiful place. In spite of traveling so much, I am amazed at the number of hidden gems that still need to be explored. Thank you for the detailed post. I will bookmark this for our next trip to Cuernavaca!
You’re right. So many hidden gems and so little time.