14 Best Sights in Querétaro, San Miguel de Allende and the Heartland

If you have time to visit just one vineyard in the region's increasingly acclaimed wine country, consider heading to this respected operation in the Ezequiel Montes countryside, which offers a variety of tours and tasting experiences, including one that lets you horseback around the property's 125 acres of fields and plantings. Freixenet is especially known for its champagne-style sparkling wines, but the winery also produces some excellent still wines, including a dry white blend of Macabeo, Chardonnay, and Muscat, and an inky Malbec that pairs well with steak and pastas.

Querétaro has a number of smaller museums with idiosyncratic themes, and this one with an impressively extensive collection set among the many rooms, courtyards, and gardens of a historic house in the city center is one of the best. Exhibits touch on the history of calendars and calendar-making in different cultures around the world. You'll also find a vast array of framed calendars from the past century or so, including quite a few kitschy ones depicting pets, families, and suggestively posed women that were often distributed as advertising material. There's a nice view of the city skyline from the rooftop terrace, and a small café in the peaceful back garden serves coffee and light food.

This elegant 17th-century Franciscan monastery displays pre-Hispanic and indigenous artifacts from cultures of the region plus rooms dedicated to the colonial history of Querétaro and the general history of Mexico. There are early copies of the Mexican Constitution and the table on which the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed.

Also known as Plaza de la Independencia, this immaculate square is bordered by carefully restored colonial mansions and is especially lovely at night, when the central fountain is lit-up. Built in 1842, the fountain is dedicated to the Marqués de la Villa del Villar, who constructed Querétaro's elegant aqueduct. The old stone aqueduct, with its 74 towering arches, stands at the town's east end. Patio tables under the portico in front of Hotel Mesón de Santa Rosa are the perfect place for a respite from shopping and museum hopping.

Just a short hop from Tequisquiapan and the state's growing wine country, and about an hour's drive northeast of Querétaro, this officially designated Pueblo Mágico is famous for its scenic peña, one of the largest rock monoliths in the world, which rises 1,150 feet above the town and can be seen for miles away. Though some people come to climb it, many more come for an invigorating walk up its lower half, or just to bask in its supposedly mystical aura. The village itself, with about 4,000 people, makes for a sweet stopover, with its lively restaurants, cafés, and shops selling very nice woolen blankets and clothing in addition to minerals, jewelry, and tchotchkes.

Renowned Mexican architect and Bajío native Eduardo Tresguerras built this fountain in an orchard of the San Antonio monastery in 1797. According to one story, the monks sold some of their land and the fountain along with it when they were facing serious economic problems. It now stands next to the Templo de Santa Clara.

This plaza is prominently marked by a statue of its namesake and War of Independence heroine, Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez. Behind the monument stands the Arbol de la Amistad (Tree of Friendship). Planted in 1977 in a mixture of soils from around the world, the tree symbolizes Querétaro's hospitality to all travelers. This is the town's calmest square, with plenty of choices for patio dining.

Although less visited than some of the city's better-known attractions, this excellent (and free) art museum shows thoughtful and well-curated rotating exhibits of contemporary art. It's on a hilltop in the attractive La Cruz neighborhood, in a beautiful historic building beside the imposing Santuario de la Santa Cruz de Los Milagros. There are two floors of galleries, and the art is by a mix of regional and international artists.

Focusing mostly on European and Mexican artwork, this baroque 18th-century Augustinian monastery-turned-museum exhibits paintings from the 17th through 19th centuries, as well as multiple rotating exhibits of contemporary art. Ask about the symbolism of the columns and the figures in conch shells atop each arch on the fascinating baroque patio.

Dubbed La Casa de la Corregidora, this building now houses the city's municipal government offices, but in 1810 it was home to Querétaro's mayor-magistrate (El Corregidor) and his wife, Josefa Ortíz de Domínguez (La Corregidora). La Corregidora's literary salon was actually a cover for conspirators—including Ignacio Allende and Father Miguel Hidalgo—to plot a course for independence. When he discovered the salon's true nature, El Corregidor imprisoned his wife in her room, but not before she alerted Allende and Hidalgo. Soon after, on September 15, Father Hidalgo tolled the bell of his church to signal the onset of the fight for freedom. A replica of that bell caps this building, and two contemporary murals in the central courtyard depict key players in Querétaro's history.

This former convent, constructed from 1727 to 1752 and attributed to the Queretano Don Ignacio Mariano de las Casas, is noteworthy for its whimsical arches and the Arab influence of its facade. Inside, the church is one of the joys of the Mexican baroque, famous for its five fantastically carved, gold-leaf altarpieces as well as its rich paintings and statues.

Drenched in sun, bougainvillea, and flowering trees, Tequis (as the locals call it) is a pleasant stop for a day or overnight trip---it lies about an hour's drive east of Querétaro, and is also close to the region's wine country. Join the many families who come to stroll through the main square with its neoclassical Templo de Santa María de la Asunción, whose facade has been said to resemble swirls of cotton more than stone. Stop for lunch in one of the outdoor cafés under the arcades that front the plaza and visit the surrounding streets and the Mercado de Artesanías to shop for handicrafts. Tequis has a well-deserved reputation for high-quality craftwork, including wicker baskets, opal jewelry, woven goods, wood, and ceramics. The town is also known for its mineral swimming pools (many of the hotels have them) and spas.

This elegant boutique winery in a contemporary building on a mesa with stunning views toward Peña de Bernal is known both for its excellent wines and its outstanding restaurant, Envero, which is open for lunch and dinner. You can book a classic tour and tasting of two wines, which lasts about 90 minutes, or opt for the sensory experience in which you'll try three different wines blindfolded, along with small tapas to better understand the relationship foods have on wine tasting. Vinaltura makes a wide range of wines, from crisp and minerally Chenin Blanc and Gewürztraminer with floral notes to a bold Bordeaux blend called Terruño Ladera. 

Fairly close to Freixenet México and therefore popular to visit when heading there or to the nearby town of Bernal, La Redonda is one of the most prestigious and popular wineries in central Mexico. The sprawling property is laced with pathways and beautiful landscaping, and it's very accommodating of families and even visitors with dogs. You can come and sample the many varieties of wine produced here by booking a full meal in the restaurant or opting for a more casual experience in the wine garden and wine bar. La Redonda also offers overnight winery glamping experiences, and festivals and events open to the public take place throughout the year.