Reasons to Include Puebla in your Mexico Itinerary

Not many might have heard of Puebla. Yet, believe it or not Puebla is the 4th biggest city in Mexico and it is getting increasingly important in Mexico’s economy. Today, it mainly attracts national tourists, but foreigners are starting to get to know that Puebla Travel should certainly be included in their Mexico itinerary. 

A view on two active volcanoes, culture, many and various good restaurants and hotels, Puebla is definitely a city to include on your Mexican Itinerary, if you’re looking to see more than the amazing Caribbean Beaches. 

First of all, it is very well located, just 2 hours south the capital city Ciudad de Mexico. It is easy to reach by bus from the capital and from the other main cities. It also has an international airport from which you can continue your trip to other Mexican destinations if you’re short on time. 

Puebla is characterised by charming and colourful streets and colonial buildings. It is immersed in culture, food and Mexican traditions. It offers a lot to its visitors, not only a beautiful and full of history centre, but also typical food which will make you think twice about those burritos you thought were “real Mexican food”.  You should definitely try the “cemitas”, sandwiches filled with avocados, cheese and meat, and of course some spicy sauce. It sounds simple and not as tasty, but trust me, you’ll fall in love! 

Puebla is also home to many charming “Pueblos Magicos”, or magical towns. One of those is Cholula, where you can find the largest-base pyramid in the world. Yes, you’ve heard it right! On top of it stands a beautiful and colourful cathedral from where you can admire the volcanoes and the city from above. 

Additionally, Puebla is considered to be the capital of Barocco art and hosts an interactive and fairly new museum on the history of this art style which characterises so much the buildings of the city. 

Istanbul to Cappadocia, Turkey Travel

Istanbul is about 730 km (or 454 miles) from Cappadocia. Istanbul to Cappadocia is about 11-12 hours of a bus ride. But there are other options to get there. 

By Plane 

The fastest and not so expensive option to travel, when booking your tickets in advance, is to take a plane. Air companies such as Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Air organizing daily trips from Istanbul Airport to the two Cappadocian airports:  Nevsehir-Kapadokya Airport (NEV) and Keyseri’s Erkilet Airport (ASR). Before arriving, it is recommended to arrange a shuttle with the accommodation you’re staying at. Many hotels do offer shuttle services. Otherwise, there are bus and taxis leaving from the airport. 

By Bus

A cheaper way to get to Cappadocia, but more time-consuming is the bus. It takes approximately 11-12 hours. The most recommended trip is the night one, as it allows you to save on a night in a hotel or a hostel, in case you are on  a budget. Travelling from Istanbul, a recommendation is to take the bus at the Harem Bus terminal, which will shorten your trip by almost an hour. Alternatively, Otogar is the main bus station in Istanbul, located north-West of the city centre. Metro Turizm has night buses leaving almost daily. Check the time table online, or ask the hotel to help you booking your tickets, they usually are very happy to help!

By Train 

There is a number of high-speed trains connecting Istanbul to Ankara and Konya. From there, to get to Cappadocia, you can either take a bus or rent a car. This will shorten the travel time, since you’ll get to Cappadocia in around 5 hours, instead of 12. 

By Car

If you’re planning to do a self-guided tour of Cappadocia, then renting a car is your best option. You can rent a car directly at the airport for a price of around $20 per day. If you are into road trips and not afraid of the expenses for fuel, you can get wonderful mountain sceneries.