Getting Around Morelia
Morelia's public transportation system is made up of buses, combis and taxis. The city is compact enough that most visitors can combine walking in the historic center with short, inexpensive rides for anything farther out.
Walking the Historic Center
Central Morelia is highly walkable, and much of the historic center is cobbled and stepped throughout — which also means accessibility is limited for visitors with mobility difficulties. The Centro Histórico is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its well-preserved historical buildings and layout, so it rewards exploring on foot. Note that the center suffers from a severe shortage of parking spaces, another good reason to leave the car behind while sightseeing.
Rail, Metro and Tram
Morelia has no metro, light rail or tram network for visitors to use. Rail service does not form part of the city's public transportation system; the modes available to travelers are buses, combis and taxis.
Buses and Combis
Combis — also called colectivos or peseros — are small vans that run nearly continuously along popular routes throughout the city. They are a good way to see the smaller roads and backstreets of Morelia. Destinations are usually indicated on the windshield of the mini-vans, and several dozen routes are available across the city. Moovit provides current information about routes and schedules.
- Pay your fare directly to the driver, or pass your money to someone else to hand forward (a polite "Si no le molesta, por favor" works).
- Get in, grab a handle and sit down before the driver speeds off.
- To get off, press the buzzer above your head for the next corner, or simply say "en la próxima esquina, por favor."
- It is common to greet other passengers when boarding, according to the time of day ("Buenos días," "buenas tardes," "buenas noches").
Morelia also has a state-of-the-art bus station in the northern part of the city, with separate terminals for first-class and second-class buses. Deluxe buses serve Morelia from all parts of the Republic, and it is easy to reach the city from Mexico City or Guadalajara. Local buses also connect Morelia to regional destinations such as Pátzcuaro, the Purépecha villages, and Uruapan.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are plentiful and inexpensive, operating on zone fares. As elsewhere in Mexico, determine the price before getting into the taxi. Sitios are located throughout the city, and hotel staff will be happy to call a radio taxi for you.
Uber is available in Morelia, and rides can be scheduled in advance through the app. DiDi also operates in the city. Ride-hailing services are generally recommended over street taxis, and rides cost only a few dollars outside the core.
Driving
Driving in the city is not easy but, with patience, it is doable. Drivers use their horns to excess, to prod others and at the numerous blind intersections. That said, driving in and around Morelia differs little from driving in any urban area. One local custom worth knowing: an "uno y uno" protocol is in place, and drivers are actually quite respectful and obey this "one and one" rule — at an intersection, you fall into line, with one vehicle at a time from each direction driving through, rather than charging into any open space.
If you plan to drive between towns in Michoacán, self-driving on toll roads is straightforward in daylight, but do not drive or take buses between Michoacán towns after dark — this applies to Pátzcuaro, Uruapan, and the butterfly reserves.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Morelia International Airport (MLM, General Francisco Mujica International Airport) is a relatively new, modern airport at the edge of town. There are daily international flights from Los Angeles, Houston and Chicago, and less frequent scheduled flights from San Francisco and San Jose, as well as domestic flights from Guadalajara, Mexico City, León and Guanajuato, and Tijuana.
After arriving at the airport, buy a taxi ticket in the terminal and take it to the taxi area, where you will be directed to a vehicle. The airport primarily serves the US migrant corridor, and direct flights from Los Angeles, San Jose, and Chicago are often cheap and useful.
If you cannot fly directly to Morelia, a common alternative is to fly to Mexico City and take a first-class coach from Terminal Poniente — frequent service, with a trip of roughly four hours. Coaches from Guadalajara take about three and a half hours.
Arriving by Bus
Morelia's bus station sits on the Periférico on the northwest side of town and is open 24 hours. It is large, spotlessly clean, very modern, and served by a large number of first-class and ejecutivo-class bus lines, with some smaller second-class terminals nearby. To get from the bus station to downtown, you can buy a taxi ticket from the kiosk inside the station and then give it to the taxi driver.