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Morelia
City of Michoacán, Mexico

Morelia

Morelia is the capital and most populous city of the Mexican state of Michoacán.

Plan a trip to Morelia→From Silao

Situated in the Guayangareo Valley in the north-central part of the state, it is the municipal seat of the municipality of Morelia. The main pre-Hispanic cultures here were the Purépecha and the Matlatzinca, but no major cities were founded in the valley during this time. The Spanish took control of the area in the 1520s. The Spanish under Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza founded a settlement here in 1541 with the name of Valladolid, which became rival to the nearby city of Pátzcuaro for dominance in Michoacán. In 1580, this rivalry ended in Valladolid's favor, and it became the capital of the viceregal province. After the Mexican War of Independence, the city was renamed Morelia in honor of José María Morelos, who hailed from the city. In 1991, the city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved historical buildings and layout of the historic center. It is tradition to name people born on September 30 after the city.

Get in

Getting to Morelia

Deluxe buses serve Morelia from all parts of the Republic. Morelia's state-of-the-art bus station is located in the northern part of the city and consists of separate terminals for first-class and second-class buses. The cost of a taxi going from the bus station to downtown is about M$70 (Dec 2021), you can buy a ticket from the kiosk inside the station and then give it to the taxi driver.

  1. 01
    Terminal de Autobuses Morelia

    Paseo de la República 5555, Félix Arreguín (on the Periferico, northwest side of town),.

  2. 02
    Morelia International Airport
See

Worth seeing

There are a lot of interesting and beautiful colonial buildings to see in Morelia, most of them are open to the public for at least part of the day. There are at least two "information" booths in the area of the square. They are staffed with students who are very helpful. Highlights of a Morelia city tour will include:

  1. 01
    Cathedral

    One of the downtown highlights is the baroque cathedral with its surrounding gardens and parks.

  2. 02
    Casa Natal de Morelos

    Hero of the Mexican War for Independence, native son Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon, was born, raised, and lived his life in Morelia.

  3. 03
    Casa de Morelos

    The second museum dedicated to Jose Maria Morelos.

  4. 04
    Museo de Arte Colonial

    A collection of colonial art painting that date from the 18th century, as well as a collection of sculptures comprised in large part of representations of Christ on the cross.

  5. 05
    Cupola Aqueduct

    Running down the center of Avenida Acueducto is an enormous aqueduct built in the 17th century to bring water into the budding young city.

  6. 06
    Santuario de Guadalupe

    One of the most serenely beautiful churches in Mexico, adorned in soft pink and white with gold trim, the church is a work of art in itself.

Do

Things to do

Take some time to stroll around Morelia, particularly near the Cathedral. You'll stumble on to one gorgeous colonial building or plaza after another. Be sure to find out about other local festivals. Morelia frequently hosts outstanding events, like a regional foods festival in late fall, and music or cultural festivals at other times of the year.

  1. 01
    Conservatory of the Roses

    Listen to a concert by the Morelia Boys Choir at the spectacular Conservatory of the Roses.

  2. 02
    Estadio Morelos

    Leandro Valle (other side of the Periferico from the bus station).

Eat

Where to eat

Morelia is one of the most exciting places in Mexico for innovative yet traditionally based cuisine. Avoid chain restaurants in Morelia because the wealth of outstanding restaurants not only offer unique regional flavors found nowhere else in Mexico, they are shockingly affordable for the quality they deliver.

  1. 01
    Cocina Económica Virrey

    Calle Virrey de Mendoza (antonio) 694.

  2. 02
    Tacos El Lic

    Juan Ruiz de Alarcón 26-A.

  3. 03
    Mirlo

    C.

  4. 04
    Japanese Food Bonsai

    C.

  5. 05
    D'gusta Pizza

    C.

How locals move

Getting around Morelia the local way

  • Get aroundCombis (also called colectivos or peseros) are small vans that run nearly continuously along popular routes throughout the city.

From Wikivoyage: Morelia, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.

Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see file page), Wikimedia Commons.