Zacatecas

As a state capital with a population of 135,000, Zacatecas toes the line between city and town. There are some good restaurants and museums, and nightlife includes partying in an old silver mine deep underground. Each year during the Festival Cultural de Zacatecas, the city comes alive with dance, theater, music, and art.

Most town-center attractions are accessible on foot, although you may want a taxi to visit farther-flung sights like the Cerro de la Bufa, a dramatic limestone outcropping visible from most strategic points in town. There's an efficient and inexpensive bus system with clearly marked buses and 30¢ rides. The city's principal avenues such as López Velarde and González Ortega often change names as they proceed through the town, and the traffic is divided by islands decorated with carved limestone vases and lampposts, occasional statues, and ornate fountains.

We suggest you get your bearings first on the Tranvía Turístico, a trolley bus that departs on the hour from 10 am to 9 pm daily in front of the cathedral. The 45-minute tour costs $5.