Escape the Crowds in Mexico’s ‘Most Beautiful City’: A Haven of Cobbled Streets and Colonial Charm

Move over Italy! Mexico’s hill towns can dazzle, too, especially the enchanting enclave of Taxco de Alarcón (also known as Taxco), which is located 110 miles southwest of Mexico City. Draped over a steep mountainside at an altitude of 5,758 feet, Taxco is a jumble of colonial-style buildings, set along twisting, cobblestone streets. Jutting up from its center are the enormous pink stone towers and dome of the Santa Prisca de Taxco, one of Mexico’s most stunning Baroque churches. These mesmerizing visuals, along with its charm, warmth, and cultural authenticity are just a few reasons why Taxco made our list of the 16 most magical towns in all of Mexico and why travel blog Food Fashion Party called Taxco Mexico’s “most beautiful city.”

For travelers, this town remains somewhat of a hidden gem. This means you’ll see fewer busloads of foreign tourists speaking every language but Spanish and encounter fewer long lines and overpriced meals and accommodations, compared to many other destinations. For example, while an average hotel room in the Italian hill town of Assisi costs more than $100 per night, beautiful accommodations are available in Taxco for less than $50.

Affordable meals here won’t disappoint, either, if you enjoy traditional Mexican dishes. One Taxco specialty is pozole, a hearty, spicy soup of meat and hominy, garnished with fresh cabbage, avocado, and lime. For some of the tastiest pozole in town, travel blogger Bronwyn Kienapple recommends heading to Pozoleria Tia Calla: “Oh maaannn. We went to Pozoleria Tia Calla twice it was so good! Definitely order the pozole. It comes with avocado and chicharron (fried pork skin) and is bargain-basement cheap.” The restaurant is also known for serving up delectable bowls of bugs known as jumiles, if you’re craving a high-protein accompaniment to your soup. Gulp. 

Besides strolling its charming streets and munching on creepy crawly delicacies, Taxco is the perfect place to shop for silver jewelry, which is famous around the world for its high quality and striking designs. You won’t have any trouble finding stores that sell silver here, as there are several hundred scattered around town. To ensure the quality of any silver item you’re considering purchasing, be sure to check for a tiny “925” quality mark engraved on the metal. This indicates that the product is at least 92.5% silver. 

The story behind Taxco’s silver trade is actually pretty interesting. Silver mining started in Taxco in the mid 1500s, and by the mid 1700s, the area had become a prolific producer of the shiny metal. An owner of a local mine, José de la Borda, became so prosperous from the silver trade that he paved roads through the hills all the way to Mexico City. He also donated substantial amounts of money to the Catholic Church and funded the construction of the town’s main church, the Santa Prisca de Taxco, to thank God for his vast fortune. Stop into Taxco’s free Museo de la Plateria (Museum of Silver) to learn more. 

Other quintessential Taxco sights include the remarkable Santa Prisca de Taxco church and the bustling town market, where vendors in jampacked rows of stalls peddle fruits and vegetables, street foods, baked goods, clothes, and more. To top off your Taxco experience, take a short ride on the cable car (the Teleferico de Montetaxco) up a hill to a spectacular panoramic viewpoint. From here, you can admire this Mexican hill town and surrounding mountains in all their sun-kissed glory.