Is Campeche Mexico Worth Visiting? Yes! Here’s Why
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Last updated on June 26, 2025
Campeche, Mexico isn’t the first place to come to mind when dreaming up a Mexico vacation. Popular areas like Cancun, Tulum, or Merida in the Yucatan or Quintana Roo are the typical go-to destinations. But the charming colonial Campeche City is one of Mexico’s top up-and-coming destinations that travelers should be exploring!
This small coastal town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site just 2 hours north of Merida. Serving as Campeche’s capital, it has everything travelers could want – safety, loads of charm, great food, fun nightlife, and a fascinating history.
If you’re looking for a new Mexico destination to enjoy, here are 10 reasons you should visit Campeche, Mexico on your next Mexico vacation.
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Is Campeche, Mexico worth visiting?
We first visited Campeche on our year-long road trip across Mainland Mexico in our Class C RV. We didn’t know much about Campeche City, since most people only talk about Merida and Valladolid. We quickly realized this was a seriously underrated destination with so much to offer.
While I do think visitors looking for a laid back all-inclusive vacation should stick to the beaches of Cancun, history buffs, adventure lovers or those looking to for a more authentic city to visit in the Yucatan Peninsula would love a trip to Campeche, Mexico.
To help you discover the magic of this wonderful city, here are the 10 reasons we feel Campeche, Mexico is worth visiting for your next Mexico trip.
1. It’s super safe
Safety is a huge concern for a lot of people visiting Mexico. You’ll be glad to know that Campeche City is one of the safest places in all of Mexico. It often ties in with Merida for the title of “safest city in Mexico”. Crime here is virtually non-existent, which is one of the many reasons I feel it’s worth visiting.
🚑 Even though Campeche is extremely safe to visit, don’t forget to secure travel insurance! We always have travel insurance to cover the what-ifs or travel. Get a free quote from Safety Wing here.
2. It’s Mexico’s only walled city
Campeche, Mexico is the only walled city in the country. Many Spanish territories in Latin America and the Caribbean during the 16th and 17th centuries were fortified to protect the ports from pirate attacks.
Many walled cities remain in Florida, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico, among others, but Campeche, Mexico is the only place you can still see remnants of the once-Spanish-fortified city.
The walls protect the historic center of Campeche, where the wealthy and elite would have lived during Spanish colonization. Puerta de Mar is a gate on the coast which once butted up against the ocean. The other gate, Puerta de Tierra connects to the land on the northern edge of the historic center.
Calle 59 (pictured above) is a straight shot from one wall to the other. This is Campeche, Mexico’s pedestrian-only street lined with shops and restaurants, and is a must on a trip here.
Don’t miss the opportunity to walk on top of the fortress walls! You can walk up two entrances to the top or visit the Puerta de Tierra museum which also gives you access to the top for $20 pesos. It’s awesome to learn a bit about the pirate attacks, and the fort’s history, and get a vantage point of Campeche from above.
3. Gorgeous waterfront views
Campeche, Mexico is on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. Its waters aren’t the Caribbean blue like in Quintana Roo, but it’s still a gorgeous coastal retreat. You’ll often spot dolphins and other sea life hanging out near the Malecón.
Campeche’s Malecón is 7 kilometers (around 4.4 miles) long with a bike path and walking lane. It’s where you’ll find the iconic colorful letters of Campeche as well as several unique statues like the angel of Campeche.
We’ve been to a lot of coastal cities in Mexico and Campeche’s Malecón is by far the best!
Top 3 hotels in Campeche City, Mexico
- Hacienda Campeche ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, 9.2 rating ($225)
- Narrative Lofts ⭐⭐⭐⭐, 10 rating
- Las Lupitas Hotel Boutique ⭐⭐⭐⭐, 10 rating
Explore all hotels >
4. It’s extremely walkable
Campeche, Mexico is extremely walkable. You don’t need a rental car and can walk to most major tourist sites, restaurants, or bars. The city is built in a checkerboard grid system which is unique. It makes the streets straight, organized, and extremely easy to navigate.
The city has large sidewalks that are raised about 2 to 3 feet above the street. The high sidewalks make it easy to get around and are there to prevent potential flooding from storm surges and other storm-related risks.
5. Delicious food and local specialties
Campeche is home to a host of traditional regional foods that you likely won’t find elsewhere in Mexico. I’ll be honest Campeche’s food wasn’t our favorite, but we are always game to try regional foods and there were several dishes we loved!
Fish is a huge part of Campeche cuisine thanks to its proximity to the sea. You’ll also see a lot of coconut and a Mayan plant called Chaya in their dishes. Chaya is similar to spinach and is often served in tamales, empanadas, or sauteed in eggs.
A few things you have to try when you’re visiting Campeche, Mexico are:
- Pan de Cazon: Thinly layered tortillas smothered in a red sauce with dogfish.
- Coconut shrimp: This is the most popular dish in Campeche and will be on every menu! It’s SO good.
- Tamales: There are several different types of Campeche tamales. The image below is stuffed with cochinita pibil, a Mayan dish from the Yucatán. (Learn more about Yucatán food here).
- Jaiba: Crabs served in a spicy sauce, garlic, or traditionally steamed.
🌶️ You’ll also notice a bright orange salsa served with most dishes. This is a mango habanero that originates in Campeche! It’s spicy but has a sweet finish to it.
A few recommended restaurants in Campeche are La María Cocina Peninsular, Aduana 59, or Marganzo (good for traditional Campeche cuisine), Santo Taquito y Otros Milagrito (great tacos and ceviche), and Casa Vittoria (Italian).
Always have Mexican pesos on you when you go out to eat. Many restaurants (especially mom-and-pop spots) will not accept credit cards. We found most restaurants and bars on Calle 59 will accept debit or credit cards, just make sure the card does not charge international fees.
✈️ We love using travel credit cards because we earn points and miles as we spend to redeem for future travel. Certain travel cards even give us access to airport lounges along with other perks like car rental insurance and trip interruption.
Capital One Venture X has a great sign-up bonus right now and doesn’t have international fees when abroad. You can explore the current deal for the Capital One Venture X and other cards below.
6. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site
San Francisco de Campeche, the official name of Campeche City, is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It gained this title in 1999 thanks to its rich history, fortified walls, Baroque colonial architecture, and traditional checkerboard streets.
The city’s historic role in military defense in the Caribbean in the 16th to the 18th centuries makes it a super unique place to visit in Mexico.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site covers the historic center inside the fortified walls. One of the top places to visit in that area is the Maya Museum, where you can see the Jade Mask from Calakmul Ruins. You can also visit Palacio Centro Cultural to learn more about Campeche’s history.
Independence Square is the largest square in Centro Historico. It’s where the two museums mentioned above are located and the city’s kiosk. I love seeing the kiosks in Mexico, which are slightly different in each town but can be found all across the country in the town center. Often, it’s a gathering place for music and events and is a fun place for families to meet.
The plaza is also where you’ll find the Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Inmaculada Concepción, the largest and oldest church in Campeche City.
Another beautiful church in the historic center is the Templo de San José. Aside from its gorgeous tile work, you’ll find an unusual light at the top. The Templo de San José was originally a lighthouse for this New World port city. Despite being blocks from the ocean today, it would have been one of the closest buildings to the sea in 1767 when it was constructed.
7. Beautiful sunsets and beaches nearby
The one drawback of Campeche compared to other coastal cities is that it doesn’t have a sandy beach in the city center. If you want a tropical beach day you have to drive 20 minutes west of Campeche’s historic center to Playa Bonita, meaning beautiful beach.
The beach is, in fact, beautiful – with palapas, palm trees, and soft white sand and is an awesome free activity to do on your vacation. No matter what though don’t miss the epic sunsets. As a west-facing city, Campeche City has epic sunsets over the water!
8. Unique history + colorful forts
Aside from the fortified walls surrounding the historic center, you can visit two forts in Campeche. Fort San Miguel is on the far side of Campeche City at the end of the city center. It has great sea views with cool canons and an Archeological Museum inside. The museum shares interesting facts and artifacts from across Mexico and Campeche State.
Another fort to visit is Fuerte de San Jose el Alto. This iconic fort is known for its colorful yellow entrance which is super striking against the grey of the building and green hills surrounding the fortress. Fuerte de San Jose is the tallest fortress in Campeche giving the best views. It also has an underwater archeology museum to enjoy there.
9. Beautiful colonial buildings and charming streets
We are a sucker for colorful colonial towns. I never get tired of walking past ancient doors painted in a bright hue with unique door knockers and lush greenery. Campeche’s streets are filled with charming streets and historical buildings.
We love getting lost down every Calle, popping into shops, and museums, or taking the historic trolly for a different view. If you’re like us and love history and color – you’ll love Campeche, Mexico!
10. It’s close to ancient ruins (with way less tourists)
Chichen Itza is the most famous archeological site in the Yucatan Peninsula. Being one of the Seven World Wonders it receives millions of visitors per year making it one of the most crowded tourist sites to visit.
But there are loads of other awesome archeological zones in Mexico to explore.
Luckily, Campeche is close to several Mayan ruins that are equally beautiful but with half the crowds. One of the easiest sites to get to from Campeche is Edzna. It’s around a 45-minute drive with several bus routes and tour companies offering transportation there if you’re without a car.
There’s also Calakmul, one of the hidden ruins recently discovered in the heart of Campeche. This site is massive and unlike any other due to its dense jungle surroundings.
How to get to Campeche, Mexico
Campeche is in the Yucatan Peninsula along the Gulf Coast. Most people rent a car from Merida or Cancun to Campeche City. The drive from Cancun is 5 and a half hours on a nicely paved toll road. The drive from Merida is only 2 hours and also on a very easy-to-navigate, well-paved highway.
➡ Read Next: 🚗 Everything You Need to Know About Driving in Mexico ⬅
Don’t forget to secure your car rental through Discover Cars here!
🚅 If don’t want to rent a car you can take the Mayan Train from Cancun Airport (or other location in the Yucatan Peninsula) to San Francisco de Campeche (Campeche City).
Mexico launched the “Tren Maya” (Mayan Train) in December 2023. This tourist train connects major cities and archeological zones throughout the Yucatan Peninsula. There are three trains; a passenger-only train, a food-focused train with a restaurant, and one sleeper train.
The goal is to help visitors seamlessly travel between Campeche, Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, and Chiapas.
🚊 Book your tickets for the Mayan train here. Click on the button at the top that says “Compra tu boleto aqui”. Then, select the route.
The origin spot should correspond with where you are departing from which can be Cancun Airport “Cancún Aeropuerto”, Merida Teya, or another location along the Mayan Train route. The final destination should be “San Fco Campeche”.
Maya Train tickets aren’t cheap. The cost for tickets from Cancun airport is around $80 for “tourist class” or just under $100 for “premier class” one-way.
🚍 If budget is a concern you can also get to Campeche City, Mexico by bus. The ADO bus will take you from Merida or Cancun to Campeche for relatively cheap. The ride from Merida is around two and a half hours and 6 to 7 hours from Cancun.
Bus fares vary depending on where you are traveling from, but the cost at the time of this writing is $350 MXP or roughly $20 to $1,070 MXP or $55.
How long do you need to visit Campeche, Mexico?
You can see the historic center of Campeche, Mexico in a day. However, we loved having multiple days to visit new restaurants and sites and just enjoy the charm and character of the Campeche’s colorful streets. We recommend three nights and two full days to enjoy Campeche City.
If you have more time, stay longer and get to know places more like a local. You can also take more day trips from Campeche, for example to Edzna or Calakmul ruins this way!
The best time to visit Campeche City, Mexico
The best time to visit Campeche, Mexico is in winter from November to early April. Being a sub-tropical climate, the summer months, late April to early November, are extremely hot and humid. It’s also hurricane season. While Campeche doesn’t see a lot of tropical storm activity, storms can happen and daily rain showers are expected during these months.
Winter is the dry season and has more favorable weather overall. While it’s still warm in the winter months, the humidity is lower making it a “bearable” heat.
Where to stay in Campeche City
The historic center of Campeche is the main attraction here. There isn’t much to see outside of that core area, so stick to the historic center when picking hotel accommodation. One of the top reasons we love visiting Campeche over other colonial cities like Merida and Valladolid is how affordable it is.
Since it’s still an up-and-coming destination, you can get a luxury hotel for a fraction of the cost compared to more popular destinations. You can find budget stays for well under $40 and more luxurious stays for around $100 to $150.
- Best overall Campeche hotel: Hacienda Campeche
- Runner-up for best hotel in Campeche: Las Lupitas Hotel Botique
- Best hotel on the Malecón: Gamma Campeche Malecon
- Best apartment-style boutique hotel in Campeche (with a kitchen): Narrativ Lofts
If you prefer to explore alternative hotels in Campeche use the map below to find the right stay for your budget and travel dates.
FAQ about visiting Campeche, City
🚓 Is Campeche, City safe to visit? Yes! It’s one of the safest cities in Mexico.
🩻 Should you get travel insurance for traveling to Campeche, Mexico?
Yes! We always have travel health insurance when we go abroad. Healthcare is extremely affordable in Mexico, we visited the doctors multiple times and each trip was $100 or less. However, if something serious happens it’s great to have a more thorough plan to cover expenses. Plus, SafetyWing‘s travel insurance also covers trip interruption, theft, and other issues that can arise when traveling to Mexico.
🏨 Where to find the best accommodations in Campeche, Mexico?
Hotels are a great option in big cities and small towns. You can also opt for a short-term vacation rental like on Airbnb. We always look for accommodations in Mexico on Booking.com which often has the best deals for both accommodation styles in Mexico.
💸 Getting cash out in Campeche, Mexico
Convert your money to Mexican pesos before arriving. Your local bank normally does this for free with a better exchange rate compared to the airport or other services in Mexico. If you need more pesos, you can withdraw it at an ATM with a debit card. I use a Revolut card like a debit card which has no ATM or bank fees when traveling abroad.
🗣️ Do you need to know Spanish to travel to Campeche, Mexico?
Yes and no. Fewer people speak English in Campeche than Merida or Quintana Roo so having some basics will go a long way. Also, knowing Spanish makes it a more enjoyable experience. If you want to practice some Spanish before you go here is a detailed guide with our favorite language learning resources.
✈️ How can I find cheap flights to Mexico?
I love to use Google Flights to compare the best time to travel. However, Skyscanner is another great tool to find cheap flight deals and get alerted when deals come up from your local airport.
🚗 Best way to find rental cars in Mexico?
We use DiscoverCars to search for car rentals when traveling. You can book a car with DiscoverCars from Cancun or Merida airport and then drive to Campeche City. Just be wary of car rental scams and always look at online reviews before booking!
🪇 How do I find fun activities and cultural tours in Campeche, Mexico?
We use GetYourGuide or Viator to book our tours in Mexico when possible. Viator has more tours than GetYourGuide in Mexico, but we always check both. Many tour companies aren’t on these platforms, so you may book with a local company directly (over the phone or in the office, it’s rarely done over the computer).
Hopefully, this post has shown you why Campeche, Mexico should be at the top of your travel bucket list on your next Mexico vacation. Since it is a smaller town with not as much to do as other areas, consider adding this a stop on a greater Yucatan Peninsula road trip visiting places like Merida, Valladolid, or even parts of Quintana Roo.
Want more Mexico content? Check out our popular posts near Campeche below.
- The 27 Best Tips for Traveling to Mexico (From an Insider)
- Skip Tulum: Visit These 10 Mexico Destinations Instead
- Is Bacalar Lagoon Worth Visiting? Yes! Here’s Why
- 17 Delicious Yucatan Dishes to Try on Your Mexico Vacation
- The Perfect 2 Days in Merida, Mexico (Itinerary with Map)
- How to Visit Palenque Ruins in Chiapas Mexico
- A Guide to Mexico Pueblos Magicos + 10 Magic Towns to Visit
