Region: Veracruz region · Mexico
Where to stay in Xalapa
Xalapa is a city in Veracruz, Mexico, home to about 443,000 people.
- Best months
- December to February
- Nearest airport
- VER88 km · General Heriberto Jara International Airport
- Currency
- MXNpeso
- Time zone
- America/Mexico City
- Plugs
- A, B · 127 V
- Emergency
- 911
- Language
- Nahuatl, Spanish, Yucatec Maya
About
About Xalapa
Xalapa or Jalapa, officially Xalapa-Enríquez, is the capital city of the Mexican state of Veracruz and the name of the surrounding municipality. In 2020 census the city reported a population of 443,063 and the municipality of which it serves as municipal seat reported a population of 488,531.
Xalapa is known as the "Athens of Veracruz" because of the strong cultural influence of its major university, Universidad Veracruzana (the main public university in the State of Veracruz). General Enriquez is known for policies encouraging the educational system in Xalapa. Culturally, Xalapa has a wide variety of events associated with its theatres, museums, and street art. Many musicians and dancers frequently perform in the center in the nights, especially on special occasions and events of celebration or commemoration; they often dance the fandango. Art has a keen following in Xalapa.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Xalapa
See
- Xalapa Catedral
- Anthropology Museum of Xalapa
- Juárez Park
- Botanical Garden Francisco Javier Clavijero
- Patio Muñoz
- Jardín de Esculturas
- Pinacoteca Diego Rivera
- Museo El Lencero
- Kana Museum of Science and Technology
Do
- Teatro del Estado "Gral. Ignacio de la Llave"
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Xalapa to stay in
Xalapa has a wide choice of budget hotels. The city should really be a lot more popular with backpackers than it is. The fact most stay on the Pacific and Caribbean coasts is their loss and can be your gain.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Xalapa
3 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Capital O Hotel Central OYO Rooms | 1.4 km | |
| OYO Hotel El Arabe OYO Rooms | 0.9 km | |
| OYO Hotel Museo OYO Rooms | 3.0 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Xalapa
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Xalapa are December to February. May is the warmest month, with average highs of 30 °C; September is the wettest, with about 319 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Public holidays in Mexico, 2026
Shops and offices may close on these dates.
Getting there
Getting to Xalapa: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is General Heriberto Jara International Airport (VER), about 88 km from the city centre in a straight line; El Tajín National Airport (PAZ, 132 km) is also within reach.
Getting in
The Lencero Airport (JAL) is a very small airport. It is situated outside the city but is used only for helicopters and small planes (including private jets). The closest airport with commercial service is the Veracruz International Airport (VER). It's about 2 hours from Xalapa. Xalapa lies about midway between Puebla and Veracruz on federal highway MEX 140D (toll road). It is just under 2 hours to Veracruz and about 2-1/2 hours to Puebla. Almost-hourly buses go from Mexico City to Xalapa in several bus lines (ADO, AU), departing from TAPO station. The trip takes about 4 hours.
Getting around
Hilly, densely constructed Xalapa is one of the world's great scooter cities. Rent one and the back areas of the city really open up for exploration.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
VER · General Heriberto Jara International Airport
PAZ · El Tajín National Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Xalapa
Eat
Xalapa is the place of origin of the famous Jalapeño peppers. Dishes made with maize: gorditas, tostadas, pasties, enfrijoladas, and chicken are common. The desserts that are consumed in the region are typically sweet such as cake and cocadas and craft candies like candied fruit, dulce de leche and jamoncillo.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Xalapa: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Xalapa?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Xalapa are December to February. May is the warmest month, with average highs of 30 °C; September is the wettest, with about 319 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Xalapa?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is General Heriberto Jara International Airport (VER), about 88 km from the city centre in a straight line; El Tajín National Airport (PAZ, 132 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Xalapa?
peso (MXN).
Nearby
Destinations near Xalapa
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; public holidays from the OpenHolidays API (ODbL); places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.