Stand on Calle Libertad in the centre of Chihuahua and you can see the towers of the Chihuahua Cathedral a block away, with the Government Palace and the City Hall of Chihuahua within an easy walk of each other. The city keeps its 19th- and 20th-century monuments close together, so a day on foot covers a great deal.
Chihuahua suits travellers who want revolutionary history, religious art and a walkable historic centre rather than a resort. It also works as a base for a half-day trip out to the caves and the mountain above them.
This guide covers the sights in the city and municipality, the museums and mansions that are explicitly named, and the outdoor excursions that are documented. It does not attempt to list everything in the state.
Top things to do in Chihuahua
1. Museum of the Revolution (Museo Histórico de la Revolución)
This is the former home of Pancho Villa, and the collection covers Mexico's fight for freedom, with artifacts that include the car Pancho Villa was killed in. It is the strongest single stop for understanding the city's place in revolutionary history.
It sits on Calle 10a, away from the tight cluster of sights around Calle Libertad, so plan it as its own leg of the day rather than squeezing it between downtown stops.
2. Chihuahua Cathedral (Catedral de Chihuahua)
The cathedral on Calle Libertad is a sample of Baroque art in northern Mexico and the anchor of the historic centre. Come here first to orient yourself, then walk out to the buildings around it.
It shares its address with the Museum of Religious Art, so the two are naturally done together.
3. Museum of Religious Art (Museo de Arte Sacro)
A large hall in the basement of the Chihuahua Cathedral, at the rear of the Capilla del Rosario, was conditioned to install the Religious Art Museum. It is a compact visit that pairs directly with the cathedral above it.
It opens Monday to Friday 08:00-13:00 and 15:00-17:00, so time your cathedral visit to fall inside those windows.
4. Grutas de Nombre de Dios
A huge system of caves with stalactites and stalagmites. The visit is easy going, as everything has concrete floors and handrailings.
To get there, take the bus marked 'Nombre de Dios/Ojo' to the grutas. The bus costs M$6 and the entrance fee is M$50.
5. Hike Colorado Peak
Close to the exit of Grutas de Nombre de Dios, you can hike up 300 m to Colorado Peak and start after visiting the caves. The reward is a great view over the city.
Do not get into the bus at the cave exit. Walk the street about 100 m, then turn right roughly 500 m along a 4WD road, cross the street and look for the small path that goes straight up the mountain in front of you. It is only a few km up and down but very strenuous, so wear good shoes, take plenty of water and be prepared for some climbing. You can return by the path on the other side of the mountain, which is a bit less steep and ends at a shopping mall where you can get pizza, ice-cream and stop taxis. You can find the way on OsmAnd or Mapy.cz.
6. Museum of Contemporary Art Casa Redonda (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Casa Redonda)
What was once the National Railways of Mexico workshops is now this museum, known as Casa Redonda for its building structure dating from the early 19th century. The building itself is as much the reason to come as the exhibitions.
It is on Colon avenue and opens Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-19:00, with a US$1.50 entrance fee.
7. Federal Palace of Chihuahua (Museo Casa Chihuahua)
Now a modern art museum, this building on Calle Libertad was the former jail cell of Fr Miguel Hidalgo. History and contemporary art share the same address here.
The Dancing Fountains, a lights and water show, are located beside the Federal Palace, so a late-afternoon visit lets you catch both.
8. Government Palace (Palacio de Gobierno)
The State House, on Venustiano Carranza, is one of the civic buildings that gives the centre its weight. It is a short walk from the cathedral and the City Hall of Chihuahua.
Pair it with the Torre Legislativa de Chihuahua in front of the Plaza de Armas, which is the legislative tower of the Chihuahua-state legislators office building.
9. City Hall of Chihuahua
The historical City Hall on Av Independencia is part of the same downtown circuit as the Government Palace and the cathedral. Stop by as you cross the centre rather than making a separate trip.
Its position makes it a convenient marker when you are navigating between the Plaza de Armas and Calle Libertad.
10. Mansión Quinta Gameros
An Art Nouveau style mansion that now serves as the City Museum for the Decorative Arts. It is one of the pre-revolutionary residences that give the city its architectural character.
Several of these mansions are on Avenida Zarco, so group them into a single walk rather than visiting them one at a time.
11. Mansión Creel
One of the named pre-revolutionary residences, and part of the group of impressive houses on Avenida Zarco. Walk the avenue to see the exteriors together.
Treat the Zarco mansions as one outing; the value is in the street as a whole.
12. Mansión Terrazas
Another of the named residences on Avenida Zarco, in the same group as Mansión Creel and Mansión Quinta Gameros. It belongs to the same walk.
Combine it with the rest of the avenue rather than seeking it out on its own.
13. Mansión Quinta Carolina
The former summer estate of Don Luis Terrazas. It is now in semi-ruined condition and in process of restoration, so what you see is a building mid-recovery rather than a finished museum.
Go with that expectation; the interest is in the estate itself and its state of restoration.
14. Temple of San Francisco
This temple was the original burial place of Fr Miguel Hidalgo. It is a short stop but a meaningful one if you are following the Hidalgo thread that runs through the Federal Palace as well.
Do it in the same stretch as the cathedral and the Federal Palace, all within the centre.
15. Church of Santa Rita (Templo de Santa Rita de Casia)
Saint Rita of Cascia is the patroness of the city, and this church on 1o. de Mayo is dedicated to her. It is a quieter stop away from the main plaza circuit.
Add it if you have time after the central sights, or on a second day.
16. El Palomar Park (Parque del Palomar)
Once one of the worst neighbourhoods in the city, this is now the largest city park, and art, concerts and massive events are held in this modern park. It is the city's main outdoor gathering space.
Check what is on before you go, since the park's appeal depends on the events being held there.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start at the Chihuahua Cathedral on Calle Libertad, then go down to the Museum of Religious Art in its basement, which opens Monday to Friday 08:00-13:00 and 15:00-17:00. Walk the short distance to the Federal Palace of Chihuahua and the Temple of San Francisco, then cross to the Government Palace and the City Hall of Chihuahua, with the Torre Legislativa de Chihuahua in front of the Plaza de Armas.
Afternoon. Take the bus marked 'Nombre de Dios/Ojo' out to the Grutas de Nombre de Dios and walk the cave system. If you have the energy, start the hike up Colorado Peak from near the cave exit, following the route described above, and return by the less steep path on the other side of the mountain to the shopping mall where you can get pizza, ice-cream and stop taxis.
Evening. Back in the centre, see the Dancing Fountains beside the Federal Palace. If time remains, walk Avenida Zarco for the pre-revolutionary residences, including Mansión Quinta Gameros, Mansión Creel and Mansión Terrazas.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Chihuahua?
Concerts, art and international festivals take place all year-round, but mostly in mid-October, when you will find the city and its people very charming and down to earth.
How do I get to the Grutas de Nombre de Dios?
Take the bus marked 'Nombre de Dios/Ojo' to the grutas. The bus costs M$6 and the entrance fee is M$50.
Is the cave visit difficult?
No. It is easy going, as everything has concrete floors and handrailings. The hike up Colorado Peak nearby is a different matter and is very strenuous.
Where can I see the city's pre-revolutionary residences?
Some of the most impressive pre-revolutionary residences in the city are on Avenida Zarco, including Mansión Quinta Gameros, Mansión Creel and Mansión Terrazas.
Work out which of these fit your dates, check the museum hours before you travel, and start building your days around the centre.