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How to get from Mexico City to Puebla
Situated in the centre of Mexico, under the shadow of the volcano Popocatepetl, you’ll find Puebla. This gorgeous city has made its way onto the UNESCO World Heritage Site list due to its spectacular colonial and baroque style architecture, as well as its rich cultural life.
Alongside this, Puebla has firmly been put on the map due to its delicious and thriving food scene. Dishes like Chiles en Nogada and Mole Poblano are popular in this region and a must-try!
On the weekends, don’t miss the open-air fair at the independence square, which celebrates Pueblas’ love of food, crafts, music and dance.
It’s also the perfect place to get your hands dirty and practise their traditional ceramic technique, Talavera, at one of the workshops in the city.
3 ways to get from Mexico City to Puebla
The most popular way to cover the 135 km (83 miles) from Mexico City to Puebla is a 2.5 to 3-hour bus ride with fares from 330 MXN ($17). Alternatively, you can get a 2-hour private transfer for 2,630 MXN ($135) or rent a car for 575 MXN ($30) per day.
The bus is a cost-effective option that you can easily fit into your plans. Buses operating from Mexico City to Puebla depart often and have set schedules that you can check in advance.
Adding to the convenience, no matter where you are within Mexico City, you probably won’t be far from one of the locations where the buses depart from. One of these set locations is from the airport, which means you can land in Mexico City and head straight to Puebla without having to go into the city centre.
Coming from Mexico City Airport? If budget is not a problem, you can also take a private transfer with rates from 2,630 MXN ($135). This is the most convenient option from Mexico City to Puebla, especially if you just arrived from a long flight.
Car rental from Mexico City to Puebla
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. It will give you the flexibility to travel at your own pace and stop wherever your heart desires.
Renting a car can be as low as 575 MXN ($30) per day. You’ll be able to find cheaper deals if you’re renting the car for three or more days. However, keep in mind that if you’re not planning to travel back to Mexico City, the rate can increase significantly if you return the car to a different location. We recommend checking out Skyscanner for the best rates and an extensive list of car rental companies.
Itinerary from Mexico City to Puebla
Bus
- Mexico City
- 15 – 30 minutes
- Mexico Bus Terminal
- 2 hours
- Puebla Bus Terminal
- 15 minutes
- Puebla City Centre
Mexico City to Puebla by Bus
Bus companies from Mexico City to Puebla depart from lots of places around Mexico City. As a tourist, you’ll most likely be using one of these four:
- Terminal de Autobuses de Oriente ‘TAPO’.
- Central Mexico Norte
- Benito Juarez International Airport
- Historical Centre
Only one bus company, Autotravel, departs from the historical centre in Mexico City. This should be only within walking distance or a short taxi ride for tourists, but Autotravel offers luxury buses so fares are more expensive.
For the other choices, 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 station
Terminal de Autobuses de Oriente, known by everyone as TAPO, is located in the east of Mexico City, in between the city centre and the airport. You can easily access it by Metrobus or Metro and tickets cost 6 MXN ($0.30) for both transport options.
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, so if your budget allows it, you can just take a taxi or an Uber to get there instead.
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. If it’s already too late, don’t worry about it. There are free shuttles and also a train connecting 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.
The bus companies serving this route are Mexico’s most popular company, ADO and its sub-branch AU, as well as Autotravel. ADO and AU buses both include AC, reclining seats and a toilet. Autotravel offers a more luxurious service with the addition of charging ports, Wi-Fi, as well as food and drinks.
When choosing between the standard buses (ADO and AU), it’s worth noting that ADO buses tend to be more comfortable, having more space between seats and a greater reclining range, but the price difference isn’t significant.
Bus schedule from Mexico City to Puebla
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 prefer to buy your tickets directly at the bus station, make sure to get there about 30 minutes prior to your preferred departure time.
Step 3: Puebla Bus Terminal to the City Centre
Most buses will arrive at Centro de Autobuses Puebla or CAPU. This Puebla bus station is located northwest of the city and is around 15 minutes from downtown Puebla by car.
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. A ride to the city centre should cost around 80 MXN ($4.20).
It’s also possible to go by bus. To hop on one, just go across the street from the bus station and wait at the bus stop for the bus that says Centro de Convenciones. A bus ticket costs 6 MXN ($0.30), which you pay directly to the bus driver.
Since public transport is restricted from going into the city centre, you’ll have to get off in front of the convention centre and from there, walk towards the main square for around 5 to 10 minutes.
Mexico City to Puebla by Private Transfer
If you’re coming from Mexico City Airport and prefer your own ride to Puebla, you can also take a private transfer. They’re quite expensive but definitely convenient.
Taxis are easily available from the airport with rates from 2,260 MXN ($115).
But for a more comfortable ride with spacious cars and trusted drivers, we highly recommend that you pre-book your ride online via BookAway. This way, your driver will be waiting for you at the airport. Rates for a 2-seater private transfer from Mexico City Airport to Puebla start from 2,630 MXN ($135). You can also get a 9-seater minivan from 3,100 MXN ($160).
Check Private Transfers with BookAway
About the author(s)
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.
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.
