How to get from Mexico City to Puebla
Why visit Puebla?
If you’re looking to continue your journey into central Mexico, then Puebla is a city you shouldn’t miss! It’s a must-see for tourists who enjoy beautiful streets filled with music, crafts and other cultural activities. Puebla is the home of the traditional Talavera ceramics, crafted out of an impressive technique to produce intricate patterns.
If you particularly enjoy history and architecture, you’ll be enthralled by Puebla’s stunning buildings and cathedrals, not to mention Cholula, one of the biggest pyramids found in Mexico. Puebla’s food scene is also something worth talking about, with its delicious dishes like Mole Poblano and Chiles en Nogada.
What are the 4 ways to travel from Mexico City to Puebla?
There are 4 ways to travel the 135 kilometre (84 miles) distance from Mexico City to Puebla. You can choose between the bus, minivan, private transport and car rental. The journey takes 1 hour to 4 hours 30 minutes and the quickest way is by minivan. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by car rental with tickets starting at 225 MXN ($12.60).
Mexico City to Puebla by Bus
Bus companies from Mexico City to Puebla depart from a number of terminals around Mexico City. As a tourist, you’ll most likely be using one of these three:
Most people depart from TAPO because this is the closest to the city centre. Central Mexico Norte is only convenient if you’re staying close to a metro that connects directly with this station. If you want to go straight from the airport, don’t bother going to the centre first. You can find buses to Puebla leaving from both airport terminals.
Step 1: Getting to the bus station in Mexico City
How to get to TAPO
Terminal de Autobuses de Oriente, known as TAPO, is on the east side of Mexico City, in between the city centre and the airport. You can access it by Metrobus or Metro and tickets cost around 5 MXN ($0.30) - 6 MXN ($0.30).
If you’re not quite sure what the difference is, here is a little help: The Metro is a train that goes underground, whilst the Metrobus is a big bus that has its own lane on the roads and has set stops. Most of the time, this makes the Metrobus a quicker transport option than normal buses.
To get to TAPO Station by Metro, you need to use Line #1. If you’re using the Metrobus, you need to take bus Line #4, which comes from the city centre.
In both cases, you should get off at San Lazaro Station.
How to get to Central Mexico Norte Station
The northern bus station in Mexico City is accessible by Metro, but if you’re coming from the city centre you’ll probably have to switch lines twice.
For some people, this might be too much hassle, just grab a taxi or an Uber instead. An Uber ride will cost you around 125 MXN ($7).
In the city centre, the closest station to the main square is called Zocalo and it’s on Line #2. From there you need to reach Line #3 and then switch to #5. You are to get off at the Metro station Autobuses Norte, which is just in front of Mexico Norte Bus Station.
To help you plan your trip, we recommend using an app called Moovit. It’s a specialised public transport app that will help you plan your trip more accurately by comparing different options.
Departing from Mexico City Airport (Benito Juarez International Airport)
If you’re flying into Mexico City, you can travel directly from Mexico City Airport to Puebla.
Just look for one of the many ADO counters at the airport to buy your ticket. If you already have one, the personnel at the airport will kindly point you to the departure point.
The buses to Puebla depart from both terminals 1 and 2, so make sure you pick the right one when booking. But if you’ve already booked, don’t worry — free shuttles and a train connect both terminals.
Departures from Mexico City Airport are much less frequent than those from the city though, so if the bus schedule doesn’t fit your own, consider taking Metrobus line #4 to TAPO station and depart from there instead.
Step 2: Mexico City to Puebla by Bus
Buses from Mexico City to Puebla depart frequently from any of the stations mentioned above.
ADO and AU are the bus companies operating on this route. ADO offers a more comfortable ride with better seats and onboard toilets, while AU is the cheaper option with simpler buses and no restrooms. Check out our Mexico Transport Guide for a full comparison of their bus types and amenities.
This route from Mexico City to Puebla has high demand so it’s better to book ahead online, especially during the holiday season. If you’d rather buy your tickets at the bus station, try to get there at least 30 minutes before your departure time to avoid any last-minute stress.
Step 3: Puebla Bus Terminal to the City Centre
Most buses will arrive at Centro de Autobuses Puebla or CAPU, northwest of the city.
The easiest and fastest way to get to the city centre is to take an authorised taxi from right outside of CAPU Station. If you have a sim card and data, you can also order an Uber. The 20-minute ride to the city centre should cost around 80 MXN ($4.50).
Local Buses
It’s also possible to go by bus from Puebla Bus Terminal to the city centre. To hop on one, just head to the bus stop near the terminal entrance. Look out for any of these routes:
- RUTA 10 (9 stops): Passes spots like Fayuca, Plaza San Pedro, TELMEX, and Wal-Mart San Manuel and Ciudad Universitaria (C.U.).
- RUTA BLVD-C.U. (16 stops): Covers destinations such as Centro Escolar Morelos, Mercado Hidalgo, Blvd. 5 de Mayo, and Plaza Dorada and C.U.
- ENLACE 2010 (14 stops): Includes Blvd. Norte, China Poblana, Parque Ecológico, and La Margarita.
The bus ride takes about 50 minutes to reach the last stop, depending on traffic.
If you’re heading to Zócalo de Puebla (the main square), you’ll have to get off at Fuente de las Garzas Bus Stop and walk about 1 km to the main square. This takes around 5 to 10 minutes — not ideal if you’re carrying a lot of luggage.
Still, bus tickets are super cheap, starting at just 6 MXN ($0.30).
IMPORTANT: RUTA buses don’t accept cash. If you don’t have one yet, you’ll need to get a prepaid RUTA card from a vending machine at the terminal.
Mexico City to Puebla by Minivan
If you are departing from Mexico City Airport, a minivan ride costs around 760 MXN ($42.50). The minivan journey takes about 1 hour, depending on traffic.
There is one company operating on this route: Turismo Tlaxcala.
What we like about this option is that it offers free drop-off at any hotel in Puebla. This saves you the hassle and extra cost of finding your way to your hotel.
Minivan options from Mexico City to Puebla
Mexico City to Puebla by Private Transport
If you’re coming from Mexico City Airport and prefer your own ride to Puebla, a private transfer is the easiest and most convenient transport option. The journey takes 2 to 3 hours, and you’ll be dropped off right at your accommodation — no need to worry about extra transfers.
Taxi apps Uber and Didi are also available on this route. They are usually the cheapest private transfer, with prices starting at 960 MXN ($54) for a 4-seater. Split it with your group, and it’s about 240 MXN ($13.50) each.
If you prefer booking in advance, BookAway is a great choice. It’s a reliable platform, but a bit more expensive with prices from 2,820 MXN ($160).
Private Transport options from Mexico City to Puebla
Mexico City to Puebla by Car Rental
Renting a car from Mexico City to Puebla is also a great option if you’re travelling in a group and returning back to Mexico City after a few days. You’ll have the freedom to travel at your own pace and stop wherever you like.
Car rental prices start at around 225 MXN ($12.60) per day, including insurance. You can find cheaper deals if you’re renting the car for three or more days. Just a heads up — if you’re not planning to return to Mexico City and need to drop the car off at a different location, the rental cost can jump quite a bit.
We recommend checking out Skyscanner for the best rates and an extensive list of car rental companies.
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Mexico City to Puebla. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
Frequently Asked Questions about Mexico City to Puebla
What is the distance from Mexico City to Puebla?
The distance from Mexico City to Puebla is 135 kilometre (84 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Mexico City to Puebla?
The fastest way to get from Mexico City to Puebla is by minivan and takes 1 hour.
What is the cheapest way to get from Mexico City to Puebla?
The cheapest way to get from Mexico City to Puebla is by car rental with ticket costs starting from 225 MXN ($12.60).
Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
Faye is a writer and full-time mom. She loves planning trips to the beach, tasting new cuisines and discovering gems in the Philippines. But if she had to choose, London is her favourite place in the world and she can't wait to travel there again with her hubby and baby!
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
