Things to do in Veracruz

Activities, attractions and tours
Veracruz featuring night scenes and heritage elements
Veracruz featuring a square or plaza
Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz as well as a small group of people

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Top places to visit

1. Veracruz Harbour

Veracruz Harbor (Puerto de Veracruz) is a working harbor and the location of several significant city landmarks. On the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, Veracruz Harbor was a trading center during the Spanish rule of Mexico. Explore an imposing castle, built to store treasures and ward off pirate attacks. Witness modern-day maritime activities while strolling along the waterfront promenade.
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Veracruz Harbour featuring a sunset, a square or plaza and a city

2. Veracruz Aquarium

Visit the Veracruz Aquarium (Acuarió de Veracruz) for fascinating insight into life beneath the world’s oceans. Walk between tanks and through glass tunnels, discovering marine life from the Gulf of Mexico and much farther afield. Stand face-to-face with colorful aquatic creatures and deadly underwater predators, watch acrobatic displays and attend educational programs.
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Veracruz Aquarium which includes marine life and interior views

3. Veracruz Cathedral

Veracruz Cathedral, officially known as Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, is a striking landmark set on the edge of Veracruz’s liveliest square. Marvel at the neoclassical, whitewashed façade and head inside to explore an interesting assortment of religious artwork.
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Veracruz Cathedral featuring a church or cathedral and heritage architecture

4. San Juan de Ulua Castle

Listen to stories about colonial riches, maritime expeditions and tumultuous battles at San Juan de Ulúa Castle. This imposing castle sits on an island that shares the same name, where it has operated as a fortress, gold storehouse, prison and royal palace throughout its almost 500-year history. Visit San Juan de Ulua Castle to wander around its battlements, across bridges and along corridors. Browse displays of colonial and pre-Hispanic artifacts at the castle museum.
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San Juan de Ulua Castle showing heritage elements and a lake or waterhole

5. Carranza Lighthouse

Rising above the Gran Plaza Malecón is the striking Carranza Lighthouse (Faro Venustiano Carranza), a whitewashed monument dating back to 1902. Learn about the history of the structure, bring a camera to take pictures of the port and begin a walk along Veracruz’s waterfront promenade from here.
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Carranza Lighthouse which includes a city, a square or plaza and a statue or sculpture

6. Naval Historical Museum

As one of Mexico’s most important port cities, Veracruz has a storied maritime history. This, along with the nation’s seafaring heritage, is documented at the Naval Historical Museum (Museo Historicó Naval). Explore more than 20 rooms containing artifacts from pre-Hispanic times to the modern era in this fascinating museum, set in the magnificent former building of the Heroica Escuela Naval Militar (Heroic Naval Academy).
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Naval Historical Museum showing a square or plaza and military items

What to do in Veracruz

Popular places to visit

Veracruz Harbour featuring a sunset, a square or plaza and a city

Veracruz Harbour

Watch the busy maritime activity, admire grand architectural structures and visit a 16th-century Spanish colonial fortress at this historic port.

Veracruz Harbour
Veracruz Aquarium which includes marine life and interior views

Veracruz Aquarium

Spot exotic fish, dive with sharks, swim with dolphins and get up-close with tropical birds at this superb aquarium.

Veracruz Aquarium
Veracruz Cathedral featuring a church or cathedral and heritage architecture

Veracruz Cathedral

Discover the fine collection of religious art that decorates this 18th-century cathedral and relax at the sidewalk cafés of nearby Zócalo.

Veracruz Cathedral
San Juan de Ulua Castle showing heritage elements and a lake or waterhole

San Juan de Ulua Castle

Once the main landing point for new arrivals to Spanish-ruled Mexico, this 16th-century fortress is shrouded in the legends of explorers and pirate attacks.

San Juan de Ulua Castle
Carranza Lighthouse which includes a city, a square or plaza and a statue or sculpture

Carranza Lighthouse

Overlooking the port of Veracruz is a grandiose neoclassical building featuring a lighthouse that once guided ships around the city’s bay.

Carranza Lighthouse
Naval Historical Museum showing a square or plaza and military items

Naval Historical Museum

Artillery displays, model ships and portrayals of historic battles bring Mexico’s naval past to life at this modern and informative museum.

Naval Historical Museum
Bastion of Santiago featuring heritage elements

Bastion of Santiago Museum

Visit the sole surviving fort from Veracruz’s ancient city wall. Today, the structure houses a museum of pre-Hispanic and colonial-era relics.

Bastion of Santiago Museum

Malecón de Veracruz

Malecón de Veracruz is just one of the places to see in Veracruz, so why not enjoy the other things to explore during your travels? While you're in the area, stroll along the beautiful beaches.

Malecón de Veracruz

Zócalo

You can learn about the history of Veracruz when you stop by Zócalo. While in this family-friendly area, you can savour the top-notch restaurants.

Zócalo
Mocambo Beach featuring a sandy beach as well as a large group of people

Boca del Río