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Cuernavaca packs a surprising amount of history into a compact, walkable center, from a palace built by Hernán Cortés to a Diego Rivera mural, a 16th-century cathedral and pre-Hispanic pyramids. Most of the main sights sit within 10 blocks of the Plaza de Armas, and several museums are free on Sundays. Here are the best things to do in Cuernavaca, with hours and prices for each stop, and you can orient the whole list against our complete guide to Cuernavaca guide.
Things to Do in Cuernavaca: The Historic Center
Palacio de Cortés (Museo Regional Cuauhnáhuac)
Hernán Cortés began this fortress-palace in 1526 and finished it in 1535, making it one of the oldest civil buildings in the Americas still standing. Today it houses the Museo Regional Cuauhnáhuac, whose highlight is Diego Rivera’s 1930 mural “Historia de Morelos, Conquista y Revolución” wrapping the upstairs loggia. It’s on the Plaza de Armas, open Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 6pm, with admission around 85 pesos and free entry on Sundays.
Cuernavaca Cathedral (Catedral de la Asunción de MarÃa)
The cathedral, begun by the Franciscans in 1529 and consecrated in 1552, is one of the oldest churches in Mexico. Its standout feature is the open-air chapel, or capilla abierta, a wide stone arcade built so that indigenous converts could attend mass outdoors. It’s free to enter and sits on the corner of Hidalgo and Morelos, a block from the plaza.
Robert Brady Museum
The American artist Robert Brady turned a 16th-century house, the Casa de la Torre, into one of Mexico’s most personal art collections. Inside are around 1,300 works, including a Frida Kahlo self-portrait, pieces by Diego Rivera and Rufino Tamayo, and Asian and African art. Find it at Netzahualcóyotl 4, open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 6pm, with a 50-peso entrance fee.
JardÃn Borda
This 18th-century garden was built by the silver magnate José de la Borda and later became the summer residence of Emperor Maximilian I in 1866. Terraced gardens, fountains and shaded paths sit behind the entrance on Avenida Morelos 271. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5:30pm, costs 30 pesos and is free on Sundays.
Plaza de Armas and the Zócalo
The main square is Cuernavaca’s living room, anchored by a wrought-iron bandstand kiosk attributed to Gustave Eiffel and shaded by tropical trees. Street vendors sell helados and esquites, and on weekend evenings the plaza fills with families, especially during the events and festivals in Cuernavaca that center here through the year.
Things to Do in Cuernavaca: Archaeological Sites
Teopanzolco
Teopanzolco is a small Tlahuica pyramid complex tucked inside the Vista Hermosa neighborhood, uncovered in 1910 during the Mexican Revolution. You’ll see twin temples atop a single base dedicated to Tlaloc and Huitzilopochtli. It’s on RÃo Balsas s/n, open Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 5pm, with a 55-peso fee and free Sundays. The surrounding district is covered in our Cuernavaca neighborhoods guide.
Xochicalco
Xochicalco, a UNESCO World Heritage site 38 km southwest of Cuernavaca, was a fortified city that flourished from about 700 to 900 AD. The highlights are the Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent with its carved plumed-serpent reliefs, and an underground observatory reached through a cave. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 5pm with an 85-peso ticket, and there’s a light-and-sound show on select evenings. The dry months are the most comfortable for the exposed site, so check our best time to visit Cuernavaca guide before you go.
Things to Do in Cuernavaca: Gardens, Waterfalls and Day Trips
Salto de San Antón
Salto de San Antón is a 40 m (130 ft) waterfall on the western edge of the city, reached by a short stairway through tropical vegetation. It’s a quick, free stop, though the falls run strongest right after the rainy season, from July through November, a pattern the Cuernavaca weather by month page explains in detail.
Tepoztlán and the Tepozteco Pyramid
The Pueblo Mágico of Tepoztlán sits 17 km northeast of Cuernavaca under a jagged cliff. The climb to the Tepozteco pyramid takes about 45 to 90 minutes up a steep stone staircase of roughly 1,200 steps, and the archaeological zone charges about 55 pesos. Afterward, browse the weekend market and eat a traditional green mole in town. Bus details for the trip are in our Cuernavaca travel tips guide.
Taxco
Taxco, 55 km south, is a colonial silver town built on a hillside, dominated by the twin towers of the Santa Prisca church. Silver workshops line the cobbled streets, and it’s a straightforward day trip by bus from Cuernavaca’s terminal. If you want to stay overnight instead, see our where to stay in Cuernavaca guide for where to base yourself.
