Monterrey

THE STORY OF MONTERREY

Monterrey is the third largest city in Mexico and is more beautiful with every visit. In 2007, the city hosted the Universal Cultural Forum and became one of the country's most important cultural locations. Originally known as an industrial town, Monterrey is now a modern city, with attractions like the Barrio Antiguo (Old Neighborhood), Fundidora Park and several new museums transforming the city into a true metropolis. The city sits within the "Cerro de la Silla" hill and rock formation that looks like a saddle. It is recognized as the capital of the northern part of the country of Mexico.

FEEL THE ART & CULTURE

Monterrey's cultural offerings compare to the great cities of New York and Mexico City. It offers a variety of museums that safeguard the cultural and historical heritage of the city. There are also many venues for art shows, concerts and major expositions.

• Monterrey  Metropolitan Museum. Documents the history of the city, from its founding to the point where it became the industrial capital of Mexico.

• Government  Palace Museum. Expositions to teach everything about the history of the state of Nuevo León.

• Obispado  Museum.With eight exposition rooms, this "Bishops Hill Museum" teaches about Mexico's colonial period. The building was built in 1787.  

• Mexico  History Museum. This stately museum has installations covering Mexico's history from the Pre-Hispanic times to the modern day.

• Northeast  Museum. This newly opened museum presents the history of the region, including the states of León, Coahuila, Texas and Tamaulipas.

• Contemporary  Art Museum (MARCO). The building was designed by architect Ricardo Legorreta and features the sculpture "La Paloma," donated by Juan Soriano, at the entrance. Visitors can see a variety of works by artists from Mexico and around the world.

• Glass  Museum. Located inside the Monterrey Glass Factory, this small museum presents a history of the business, known as "Vitro," and promotes the glassworks of innovative artists.

• Iron  Museum. Located inside Fundidora Park, this museum offers a history of the role of iron in the city's industrialization and the importance of iron in the region's economy. Guests can explore the iron furnace and witness the incredible view from the museum's highest point.

• Alfa Planetarium. This interactive science museum has an IMAX movie theater (the first in Latin America), a planetarium and a range of science exhibits. 

• Barrio Antiguo "Old Neighborhood" District. This area of downtown Monterrey has several blocks of old homes belonging to the city's founding families that were protected by decree in 1988. Area attractions include the Metropolitan Cathedral, the MARCO and the Macroplaza commercial and cultural center.

• Paseo Santa Lucía Waterway. Built by the government for the Universal Culture Forum, this 6'-deep canal is great for boat tours from the Explanada de los Héroes all the way to Fundidora Park. The little river is bordered by a walking trail and has 22 fountains, green areas and great spots for family gatherings.

• Macroplaza. One of Monterrey's emblematic locations, the Macroplaza is home to many special events, the Faro de Comercio (Mexico's tallest monument), fountains, parks, trees, informative kiosks, government buildings, museums, the city theater and the central library.

SAMPLE REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CUISINE

Monterrey is well-known for its delicious cabrito (goat), carne asada (grilled beef) and machaca con huevo "ground beef with egg" – all of which are well worth a try. And since it's a metropolitan city, there area a large variety of cuisines available, including regional specialties and international gourmet meals.

• El Rey de Cabrito. This regional restaurant has specialties like cabrito and beef.

• El Tío.Serves regional cuisine, including cabrito and meats.

• Riviera. Features Asian cuisine and has a bar with live jazz music.

• Granero Grill. International cuisine, specializing in fine cuts of meat.  

• Pancracio. This innovative restaurant specializes in beef ravioli.  

• Pangea. Contemporary restaurant with gourmet meals and a large wine selection.

NATURAL ATTRACTIONS AND RECREATION

There are many places near the city to enjoy nature and escape the bustle of town with a little peace and eco-adventure. Popular destinations include:

• ChipinqueNational Park.  This natural paradise is located 20 minutes from Monterrey and is ideal for nature lovers and eco-adventure fans. There are a wide range of excursions available, including camping, rock climbing, birdwatching, hiking and mountain biking.  

• Grutas García. Mexico's largest cave system is just 20 miles from Monterrey and features an amazing display of stalactites and stalagmites dating back more than 60 million years. The cave is 320 yards wide and is more than 35 yards deep.  

SHOPPING

Monterrey has a wide range of shopping centers, with great stores, restaurants and movie theaters.

• Galerías Monterrey. One of the city's largest and most popular has many shops, movie theaters and restaurants.

• Galerías Valle Oriente. This shopping center on the other side of town has sophisticated boutiques, artisan shops, movie theaters and restaurants.

• Plaza La Silla. This mall is not as large, but it still has a good variety of shops, boutiques, movie theaters and restaurants.  

• Plaza México. This shopping center fits in nicely with the architecture of the Historic District. It has more than 100 shops, with a wide range of items available. 

• Plaza Fiesta San Agustín. Offers a wide range of specialty shops, department stores, movie theaters and even a supermarket.  

EXPERIENCE THE NIGHTLIFE

Monterrey offers a great variety of options for nightlife. The most popular areas for both young and old is the Barrio Antiguo district.

• Alebrije. This large nightclub can host up to 2000 people. There is a massive dancefloor and a broad range of music.

• Akbal Lounge. Relaxing bar good for conversation. Perfect spot for a drink by candlelight.

• Luva. Nightclub with a great dancefloor. Very unique ambiance with lots of personality.

• Don Quintín Live. This popular club has live music every night, plus a large outdoor terrace.

• Bar-Río. Located in Barrio Antiguo, this modern bar and club is a popular place after dinner for top 40 music, refreshing cocktails and dancing until dawn. There is also live music on some nights.  

• El Zócalo. This entertainment complex has five bars with different styles: Club 22 (reggaeton), La Chavela (pop), Manaus (live music), Nirvana (alternative) and Lola (cantina).

• Far WestRodeo. Enjoy country music, live rodeo performances and mechanical bull riding. It's the largest nightclub in the state.