Stand on the hill above the city and the figure of Christ opens its arms over the rooftops, the desert flatness stretching away to the mountains on the southern horizon. That view is the clearest introduction to Torreón, a city built on irrigation, cotton and railroads in the Laguna region of Coahuila.
Torreón suits travellers who are passing through the Comarca Lagunera, sports fans following Club Santos Laguna or the local baseball and basketball teams, and anyone curious about a young Mexican city with an industrial past and a compact historic core. The climate is desert: hot by day, cool at night, with scarce rain that falls mostly in summer.
This guide covers the sights and experiences the sources describe, plus a one-day plan that strings the best of them together.
Top things to do in Torreón
1. The Christ of the Noas
A sculpture of Christ with extended arms stands on top of a hill, symbolising protection for the inhabitants of the city. The hilltop also has a Catholic church and shrines related to the Holy Land, and it offers a panorama in which much of the city can be seen.
It is visited by many local and foreign people at Holy Week, so plan around that period if you prefer quieter conditions. The view is the reason to come, so allow time to take it in rather than treating the statue as a quick stop.
2. The Pearl Channel (El Canal de la Perla)
This channel was built in the late 19th century as an irrigation canal, bypassing the waters of the Nazas river to irrigate the south east of the city. It was re-discovered in 2003 and re-opened in 2014, and it now passes under the oldest part of the city.
It can be visited and walked through, and it is used as an underpass by the population as well as for temporary art exhibitions and demonstrations. Combine it with time in the Historic Center above, since the canal runs beneath that part of the city.
3. The Historic Center (Centro Histórico)
The Historic Center is the oldest part of the city, the area beneath which the Pearl Channel passes. It is the natural starting point for a walk that takes in the city's central streets and squares.
Pair it with the Pearl Channel and with the theatres listed below, all of which sit in or near this part of the city.
4. Plaza Mayor
Plaza Mayor, on Avenida Allende 333 Poniente, is the city's main square. It is the setting for the most important Independence Day celebrations in Torreón, when people wear traditional Mexican clothes, eat traditional dishes and "Antojitos", and the city mayor performs the traditional celebration of "El Grito" at night.
If you are in the city on 15 or 16 September, this is where to be. On 16 September there is a parade on the Morelos Avenue.
5. Teatro Isauro Martínez
Teatro Isauro Martínez, on Galeana 73 Sur, is one of the city's historic theatres and a fixture of its cultural life.
It sits in the centre, so it fits neatly into a walk that also takes in the Historic Center and Plaza Mayor. Check what is on during your dates before you go.
6. Teatro Nazas
Teatro Nazas, on Calle Cepeda 155, is another of the central theatres worth building an evening around.
Like Teatro Isauro Martínez, it is in the centre, so the two can be considered together when you are planning a cultural evening.
7. Venustiano Carranza Forest (Bosque Venustiano Carranza)
The Venustiano Carranza Forest is one of the city's green spaces, and it hosts the Lala Marathon between February and March, a regional sporting event in which residents of the Lagunera Region and even nationals and foreigners have participated.
Revolution Stadium is one block from the forest, so the two are easy to combine on the same outing.
8. Revolution Stadium (Estadio Revolucion)
Revolution Stadium, on Av. Juárez in the Centro, is described as a beautiful art deco stadium and the oldest baseball stadium in Mexico. It is the home field for the Algonderos de Union Laguna baseball team of the Liga Mexicana from spring through early fall, and it sometimes serves as a venue for popular concerts and other events.
It is one block from the Venustiano Carranza Forest, which makes for an easy pairing. Time your visit to the baseball season if you want to see a game.
9. Estadio Corona
Estadio Corona, on Carretera Torreón-San Pedro Km 7 y Av at Territorio Santos Modelo, is the home field for Club Santos Laguna, a top-tier professional soccer team playing year-round in Mexico's Liga MX. The modern stadium was built in 2009.
Stadium tours are available, so you can visit even outside a matchday. It lies north of the city between the Federal 30 and Coahuila 60 highways.
10. Centennial Coliseum Torreón
The Centennial Coliseum Torreón, on Highway to San Pedro and Periférico S/N in E. Ignacio Allende, is a bullring and entertainment centre.
Check the schedule for events during your stay, as it operates as an entertainment venue as well as a bullring.
11. Museo Arocena
The Museo Arocena holds art collections from pre-Hispanic times to the present, and it also has a section dedicated to Mexico's and Torreón's history. There are temporal expositions, conferences, book fairs, movies, and activities for children.
Because the programme changes, it is worth checking what temporary exhibitions or events coincide with your visit before you set aside time for it.
12. Ignacio Zaragoza Grove (Alameda Ignacio Zaragoza)
The Ignacio Zaragoza Grove is one of the city's central green spaces, listed among the sights of Torreón.
It works well as a pause between the surrounding central sights rather than as a destination on its own.
13. Door of Torreon (Puerta de Torreón)
The Door of Torreón is one of the city's named sights, a landmark to look out for as you move around Torreón.
Treat it as a point on a wider walk rather than a standalone stop.
14. Founders Park (Parque Fundadores)
Founders Park is one of the city's parks and is listed among the sights of Torreón.
It is a straightforward place to break up a day of sightseeing in the city.
15. Urban Forest (Bosque Urbano)
The Urban Forest is another of Torreón's green spaces, listed among the city's sights.
Like the other parks here, it is best used as a restful interval in a day built around the centre and the hilltop.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the Christ of the Noas, where the hilltop church and the view over the whole city make the clearest introduction to Torreón. Come down and continue to the Historic Center, walking through the Pearl Channel beneath the oldest part of the city.
Afternoon: Spend the middle of the day around Plaza Mayor and the central theatres, Teatro Isauro Martínez and Teatro Nazas, then give the Museo Arocena its own slot for the art collections and the sections on Mexico's and Torreón's history. If you want green space, the Venustiano Carranza Forest is close to Revolution Stadium, one block away.
Evening: Choose between a match or event at Estadio Corona, home of Club Santos Laguna, and the Centennial Coliseum Torreón, the bullring and entertainment centre. If your visit falls on 15 or 16 September, end the day at Plaza Mayor for the Independence Day celebrations and the traditional "El Grito".
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Torreón?
The climate is desert, with very hot days and cool nights and scarce rainfall that is more prominent in the summer. If you want to attend the main annual festival, the Cotton and Grape Fair (Feria del Algodón y La Uva) takes place in September, and the Lala Marathon is held in the Venustiano Carranza Forest between February and March.
How do I get to Torreón?
Torreón is served by Francisco Sarabia International Airport, which has flights to several cities in Mexico and the United States. The city borders Gómez Palacio and Lerdo to the west, and the Nazas River separates it from Gómez Palacio, Durango.
What can I see in Torreón if I am not interested in sports?
The Christ of the Noas, the Pearl Channel, the Historic Center, Plaza Mayor, the Museo Arocena and the theatres Teatro Isauro Martínez and Teatro Nazas are all sights in their own right, along with the city's parks and groves.
Is there anything to do in Torreón in the evening?
Club Santos Laguna play year-round at Estadio Corona, and the Centennial Coliseum Torreón operates as an entertainment centre as well as a bullring. Revolution Stadium sometimes serves as a venue for popular concerts and other events.
Decide your dates around the Cotton and Grape Fair or a Santos Laguna fixture, then start mapping the hilltop, the canal and the centre into a single day.