Taxco, Mexico.

Dare to let the picturesque capital of silver enchant you for a few days.

Looking for details and tips? Head straight to the Practical Information section.

For as long as I could remember, Taxco had been on my list of places to visit in Mexico. It is consistently ranked as one of the most beautiful pueblos mágicos, these notable towns within Mexico known for their beauty, historical or cultural significance. There are now 177 of them, but Taxco was among the first awarded with the distinction, in 2002 (the program was created in 2001 and featured three towns, Tepoztlán, Huasca de Ocampo and Real de Catorce).

There was one big reason I hadn’t been to Taxco yet, and it was another explanation for the low numbers of Western tourists in town. Taxco sits in the state of Guerrero, which is labeled a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” state by the US State Department, discouraging any tourism activity anywhere within the state’s borders. Guerrero has long been a place with heavy cartel influence, but Taxco had been spared the Level 4 label - it was among a few towns that the State Department deemed safe enough to travel.

This changed at the beginning of 2024 (I go into more details as to why in the safety section further down). Since then, Taxco has actually been called out as one city to avoid in the state, so visitors don’t think that its tourist fame trumps safety concerns.

The situation was indeed complicated in 2024, but got better with a new municipal administration coming in, and it felt like 2025 was a good moment to finally see for myself what the town was all about.

A street after the rain in the historic center of Taxco.

On a sunny summer morning in August, I got on a Costa Line bus service from the southern bus station, Taxqueña, in Mexico City, and watched as the scenery went by. I knew the route, as highway 95 leads to Tepoztlán and Cuernavaca, but as soon as we passed the Morelos state capital, we left the highway and started gaining elevation gradually, as urbanization gave way to miles of dense forests within the Sierra Madre.

Getting to Taxco was fairly easy - and even easier as a bus passenger with no driving responsibility whatsoever. Most of the route happened on toll roads, even deep in the mountains. This must have been one of the most winding tolls roads I have ever taken. The town is located in a fairly rural corner of the state of Guerrero, and losing cell service quickly after leaving highway 95, south of Cuernavaca, added to the feeling of being isolated, far away from the bustle of Mexico City.

Taxco stayed invisible for a while, even as we got closer, and only a mile or so before getting into town did I see a sign calling out a viewpoint, and then the city offered itself to us. Right away, I knew I would enjoy my time there. The city was built on abrupt hills, and most of the older buildings in the center were painted bright white. It gave an extraordinary sense of unity to the urban landscape, even more so on a sunny day.

We were dropped almost on time at the Costa Line terminal, on the edge of Taxco’s historic core, and I quickly started walking towards my hotel. The very first thing I noticed was how steep and slippery the streets were, a testament to both the topography of the place and the uneven cobblestones that made every step somewhat risky. I was out of breath in seconds, even though Taxco sits at a lower elevation than Mexico City.

The dome of the Santa Prisca church up close.

After checking into my hotel and getting rid of my luggage, I started exploring somewhat randomly. I usually like to dedicate my first day to unplanned activities, to get the lay of the land, and discover a place on my own. I had penned down a few things to do in town, but they could wait until the next day, if chance didn’t bring them to me on the first.

Given that my hotel was about a block away from Taxco’s main square, it didn’t take long for me to end up there, looking up the incredibly tall baroque church standing on its southern side. Plaza Borda, as it is known, is a charming hubbub of tourists, souvenir sellers and cab drivers, mixed in with locals moving on through their day. It felt busy in the best sense, yet somewhat small: the buildings around it made it seem like they were gathered in a tight, cosy circle.

You never have to walk far in Taxco to shop for silver.

Most of the major silver stores were set up on the square, and it was a great spot to hunt for jewelry to bring back. On my first day, this wasn’t my focus, and mesmerized by the Santa Prisca church, I decided to hunt for a higher vantage point from which to see it, and take a few nice shots.

It turned out that the forecourt of the Guadalupe church, a few streets above, was a perfect spot to admire how the Santa Prisca church was presiding over the town - although it got me out of breath fairly quickly.

Santa Prisca church, seen from calle de Altillo in Taxco.

Taxco’s history is intimately linked to the silver trade, and it helps to get to know two characters that played an outsized role in the history of the town. It is believed that the Spanish conquerors discovered silver mines near Taxco around 1534, fairly soon after the fall of Tenotchitlán (now Mexico City). In all fairness, the Spaniards only furthered exploration done by the Aztecs, who had already discovered silver deposits around town, that they used for jewelry.

Taxco’s mines were quite important from then on, but it’s only in the 18th century, however, that its silver riches created the wealth we can still see to this day in town, with the arrival of one of these two famous characters, Jose de la Borda. Having joined his older brother, who was already exploiting mines in the region, Borda sought more places where silver could be extracted, and upon his brother’s death, ordered digging deeper within existing mines, and found incredible additional silver deposits there.

Beyond his Taxco wealth, Borda remains a key part of the town’s history thanks to his architectural legacy. He was the one who financed the construction of the Santa Prisca church, on the square that now bears its name. This stunning church, one of the best expressions of Ultra Baroque (or Churrigueresque) architecture in Mexico, which was New Spain’s tallest building for a few decades, was built in the second part of the 18th century, in only seven years, thanks to the unlimited financial support afforded by Borda. His vision was to build a church where his son, a priest, would be able to officiate mass.

The World Heritage website describes the church eloquently: “Its great artistic value lies in the total unity achieved between the whole and each of its parts, ranging from furniture […] to the smallest detail. Its single cross shaped nave is very narrow due to the confined site where it was erected. The interior is magnificent. Nine Churrigueresque baroque altarpieces embellish the nave and transept […]. Santa Prisca's innovations represent a revisionist and retrospective concert of the characteristic features of the baroque style, but at the same time they display a renewing spirit. It is one of the most important baroque works of art in the world, in which the best painting, architecture and sculpture techniques of a period were brought together […].” As a side note, the church sits on the UNESCO’s tentative list of sites, and as such, has not been awarded the coveted World Heritage seal yet.

A famous view of Taxco in Spratling street, with the Santa Prisca church in the background.

I got to visit the church later, and even climbed the 114 steps of the clock tower to enjoy the view over town, which I recommend.

I spent the rest of then afternoon getting lost in the narrow, cobblestone streets, and checked out a few known spots (listed in the Practical Information section below). Beyond a few streets around Borda square, where most tourists congregated, the rest of the historic center felt oddly quiet, with the occasional street dog saying hi, and the ubiquitous VW Beetle taxis passing by.

Day 2 would be dedicated to more cultural endeavors. My first stop was the Casa Humboldt, also known as the Museo de Arte Virreinal, an old, somewhat decrepit palace with a ton of charm, a stone’s throw from my hotel, showcasing the town’s history and many relics from the New Spain era. It was a small yet fascinating museum to learn a little more about Taxco and its past and to enjoy a building dating back from the same decade as the Santa Prisca church.

I then walked a few blocks to Borda square to check out the Casa Borda. Near the church, this building was notable for having two stories on the square’s side, but five from the other side, on calle de Alarcón, given the topography. Initially built by Borda, around the same time as the Santa Prisca church, to house his family, the building is now a cultural center, and is definitely worth a look.

Santa Prisca church, seen from calle Miguel Hidalgo, with Christ the Redeemer in the background.

Further up in town, I ventured into the Casa Figueroa museum. Named after the artist who purchased it in 1943, the building was previously know as the House of Tears for a series of sad events that had happened there. Today, the house, beautifully preserved, serves as a reminder of how life used to be a couple of centuries ago (including escape hatches hidden in small closets in case of trouble at the front door).

My big achievement of the day, however, was climbing to the Christ the Redeemer statue. Located close to the top of Atache hill, the 20-foot monument was visible from almost any point in town. It has little historic value (it was built in 2002), but its viewpoint afforded the most encompassing view over Taxco and the surrounding area.

Taxco’s history is intimately linked to the silver trade.

It was possible to take a taxi all the way up, but I decided to walk. Google Maps announced a 50-minute trek, but the city was full of somewhat hidden stairs unknown to the app that provided shortcuts (courtesy of several locals who, seeing a confused and sweaty gringo looking around, helpfully guided me towards my endpoint). It took me a little over 30 minutes to get up there, and it was well worth it. In front of me sat the whole town, bathed in pre-sunset golden light. The city seemed to revolve around the Santa Prisca church, which looked almost as if it was levitating. All around were steep, verdant hills seemingly hugging the town and protecting it from the outside world. There were only a few people with me on the platform, and very few tourists.

On day 3, I chose to shop for silver, and visited a few stores leisurely. A Wednesday isn’t the best day to do that - the silver market happens every Saturday and is a great opportunity to see many stalls selling a variety of silver jewelry, but the amount of permanent stores and workshops in town was pretty staggering, so I never felt like I was missing out.

Overview of Taxco from the Christ Redeemer platform.

You never have to walk far in Taxco to shop for silver, and the historic center is chock-a-block full of stores where finding just about anything you could possibly want is achievable (cosmonaut-shaped silver pendant? Check). It wasn’t always that simple, though, so this is the perfect way to introduce the second notable character in Taxco’s history.

During the Viceroyalty, silver was shipped to Spain as bullions and coins, but rarely transformed locally, just like many other raw materials during the colonial trade. In 1926, a young American teacher, William Spratling, arrived in Taxco to study its baroque architecture. Instead of leaving, he stayed, swayed by the potential he saw in helping local Mexican artisans leverage the incredible potential of silversmithing. He created the town’s first workshop, Taller de las Delicias, and set off to design original pieces, inspired by Mesoamerican art.

Beyond creating his own designs, Spratling helped train and grow a generation of local silversmiths - at some point, his workshop employed several hundreds them, in Taxco. He became known as the father of Mexican Silver.

Today, Taxco is still a major center of silversmithing, and a lot of the silver jewelry you can purchase in Mexico, including in other silver towns like Guanajuato, was made in Taxco.

I was able to find a few pieces, at very reasonable prices, and felt like it was the perfect ending to a brilliant three-day stay in what is, to this day, one of my favorite pueblos mágicos in Mexico.

A typical VW taxi in a steep Taxco street.

Practical information (updated as of September 2025)

Getting to Taxco

How to get to Taxco from the United States: getting to Taxco, in the state of Guerrero, involves first getting into Mexico City (instructions on how to get to Taxco from the Mexican capital are below). Many Mexican and American airlines fly between the US and Mexico City, making it an easy endeavor. On a random day this month, I counted 80 flights between the United States and Mexico City’s main international airport, Benito Juarez (MEX). From the airport, you’ll need to make your way to the Central de Autobuses del Sur (Southern Bus station), which also goes by the name of Taxqueña (which actually means “of/from Taxco” in Spanish).

Getting from the airport to the South terminal is best done via Uber or DiDi, should cost between USD15 and USD30 depending on traffic, and last anywhere between 25 to 45 minutes. It is feasible to get to Taxqueña by public transit. From terminal 1, the easiest way is to take subway line 5 (the yellow line) to Pantitlán, change there for line 9 (the brown line) to Chabacano and then on to like 2 (the blue line) all the way to the Tasqueña station. This would cost USD0.30 and take about one hour. From terminal 2, where there are no subway station, you’d have to walk to the Pantitlán station for about 10 minutes, in an area that’s not super safe or tourist friendly especially after dark, and that’s hard to navigate with a suitcase, so unless you’re fairly familiar with packed city streets and only carry a backpack, I wouldn’t recommend it. Still, it can be done: in Pantitlán, take subway line 9 to Chabacano, change there to line 9 and get off at Tasqueña (0.30 USD, 1 hour).

Note that Mexico City’s subway gets very crowded during rush hour, in a way the NYC or Chicago subways can’t even get close to, so it may not be a good idea to do this around 9am or 5pm. Also note that in a very Mexican quirk, the subway station is spelled Tasqueña while the actual bus terminal is Taxqueña. It is the same place though.

How to get to Taxco from Mexico City: make your way to the Southern Bus Terminal (terminal Taxqueña) via subway (the bus station is by the last station of line 2, Tasqueña) or Uber/DiDi. Two main companies offer non-stop service to Taxco: ADO, via its subsidiary Estrella de Oro, and Costa Line. The trip lasts between 2h30 and 3h depending on traffic. Both companies have pros and cons.

My Costa Line bus to Taxco at the Taxqueña terminal in Mexico City.

Estrella de Oro is my favorite, as it offers an executive service (called Pluss, with ample legroom, private screens at each seat avoiding the loud overhead movies sometimes played on first class buses) but their timings to Taxco aren’t the best, with service either early in the morning or late afternoon (coming back, services are more widespread during the day). You can check timing and prices here. A day-of travel ticket should cost around USD15, less if purchased in advance (but it may be non-cancelable). Estrella de Oro’s terminal in Taxco is here, fairly close to the historic center.

Costa Line offers a first class service which is fine, but not as good as Estrella’s: the seats in my bus could have used a little TLC and the movie broadcast on the overhead TVs was very loud. That being said, Costa offers service to Taxco every 60 to 90 minutes throughout the day, which makes it easier to schedule a trip, say, around noon. Schedule and prices available here. Ticket should cost a little under USD15. Costa Line’s Taxco terminal is not far from the Estrella de Oro one, and close to the town’s main attractions as well.

If you’re unclear on what a first class bus offers versus an executive bus, this article with photos should tell you all you need to know.

I do not recommend going to Taxco by rental car. I cover this more in detail in the Safety section, but Taxco is located in Guerrero, a level 4 “do-not-travel” Mexican state according to the US Department of State. Bus travel offers safety in numbers, drivers know the roads and would be aware if any section is deemed risky on a given day, finding an alternative route. You may not have that luxury or knowledge going there in your own car, and bear in mind cell service is spotty to non-existent on the mountain roads once you leave the highway south of Cuernavaca.

Inside the Costa Line bus to Taxco.

If you don’t have a lot of time or don’t feel comfortable going to a level 4 state on your own, day tours are available. Most include a stop in Cuernavaca, which means you won’t get a lot of time in Taxco, which is a shame. If you’re able to stay at least two days, consider it.

When to go to Taxco

Taxco’s climate is fairly similar to Mexico City’s. It’s a temperate highland climate with a rainy season between June and September. You can visit Taxco year round, bearing in mind the holidays and Semana Santa will bring the crowds. February to April and October to November are the best months, but I went in August and enjoyed gorgeous weather. It did rain for a bit one day, and each night, but it didn’t prevent me from making the most of the town’s sights.

The most critical part of the trip isn’t which month to go, but rather which day. Taco is a very famous town that gets a lot of Mexican tourists on weekends. The crowds are noticeably bigger on the last three days of the week, so if you’re able to go between Monday and Thursday, you’ll have a more relaxed experience. This was something that was drilled into me by every single store attendant I spoke with.

If you want to check out the silver market, however, you have to make it a weekend trip as the market only operate on Saturdays.

The Estrella de Oro terminal in Taxco.

Safety in Taxco

Taxco, although relatively close to Mexico City, is located in the northern part of the state of Guerrero, which is one of the most dangerous states of Mexico, according to the US State Department. It has been labeled a Level 4 state, meaning “Do Not Travel”, for a while now. That being said, the reality on the ground is more nuanced than the US State Department’s advisory.

There is a lot of cartel activity in Guerrero, as it is a state where poppies are heavily cultivated, and is also a drug transit route. The consensus had been, for a while, that cartel activity happened away from the tourist zones, and as long as you didn’t get deep into Guerrero’s countryside, you’d be fine. However, violence reached the tourist areas of Acapulco in the 2010s and prompted more serious travel warnings.

The US State Department specifically called out Taxco as a city to avoid for US citizens on January 26, 2024, “due to recent security incidents” and to this day, the Department’s advisory recommends against traveling to the state, even to its most visited parts (it specifically calls out Acapulco, Zihuatanejo and Taxco as places that should not be considered safer because they are more touristy). A few days before January 26, 2024, two Mexican police detectives had been found dead in Taxco, apparently killed by cartel operatives. This followed a long simmering crisis where opposing cartels targeted Taxco’s taxi drivers, with each faction accusing cabbies of working as lookouts for the other one. It caused local transportation strikes and the police had to offer rides to people that truly needed to get out of town.

I was planing to travel to Taxco in 2024, but postponed my plans due to the stronger travel warning. In 2025, Taxco’s Semana Santa happened without incidentin April. Many locals attributed the improvement to the new local administration. The drug violence is still there, like in many Mexican cities, but it doesn’t seem to happen in the historic center, close to tourists, any longer. As such, it felt like going to Taxco in 2025 would be much less risky.

Once in town, I never felt unsafe (understanding that sometimes, violence can happen even in the most tranquil settings). Every local I spoke with confirmed the situation had indeed improved (I didn’t disclose I would write about it, so they had no incentive to paint a rosy picture for me). I chose a hotel in the center of town, a couple of blocks from the main square, to be sure, but I went out at night and never felt I shouldn’t have.

If you’re comfortable with safety protocols in Latin America (such as checking the local news beforehand, knowing where you’re going, keeping your wits about you, not flashing expensive clothes or phones, not doing things you shouldn’t do), you will be fine in Taxco. That being said, the situation could change overnight, but there was hope, in the population, that the changes instituted by the new local administration would make that cartel peace last for a while.

Inside the Estrella de Oro Pluss service from Taxco to CDMX.

Food & lodging in Taxco

For safety and convenience purposes, lodging in the historic center makes the most sense. There are quite a few well-rated options available. I picked Hotel Los Arcos, a nicely-rated 3-star hotel very close to the main square.

Built in the 17th century, the hotel checked all the boxes one could expect from a historic hotel: incredibly well-preserved architecture, a large, quiet patio and functional but somewhat basic rooms, some of them with a view of the town. It felt like the perfect place to stay three nights in Taxco. Just know you won’t find 5-star luxury there. It was the perfect hotel for me. Rooms start around USD75 per night, without breakfast.

Just on the other side of the street sat Hotel William, which felt more luxurious even room design looked a little tacky to me. The rooms cost almost twice as much and it didn’t feel worth it to splurge, but this hotel constantly gets good reviews.

For breakfast, I wasn’t overly impressed by Central Cafe. The food was OK, although the view made it worth it. Cafe Punta del Cielo, on the main square, gets really good review, and an even better view (although note it is part of a national chain).

My favorite meals were had at La Hacienda and Rosa Amaranto. Just off the main square, La Hacienda is one of the restaurants of the Agua Escondida hotel, and unlike others, doesn’t offer a terrace with expansive views of town. Instead, it is sort of hidden from view, in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it building on the edge of Spratling street. I loved the food and the service, which is fairly formal (think white cloth and white napkins) without taking itself too seriously.

Further from the center of town but close enough to let you enjoy a fantastic view over the hill and the Santa Prisca church, Rosa Amaranto was another treat. Part of the Pueblo Lindo hotel, it sits at the top of the building on a sprawling terrace (with umbrellas). I would have enjoyed my meal even if the food had been meh, because of the views. Thankfully, my chile en nogada was delicious and made me want to come back for seconds.

What not to miss in Taxco

Santa Prisca church: a jewel of Churrigueresque architecture and one of the most beautiful churches in Mexico. On Borda square, in the historic center of town. Free to visit. MXN50 to get up the church tower and enjoy the view (114 narrow steps, but worth it).

Great views over the church can be had from the Guadalupe church or, with an even nicer perspective, through a gate on Segunda Mesquite, just below.

Museo de Arte Virreinal: a small but charming museum telling the history of the town, housed in a beautiful if slightly worn-out building that, in itself, is worth a visit.

Museo Casa Figueroa: another small museum in a small, well-maintained home, testament of how life was in old Taxco.

Casa Borda: on Borda square, this building previously housed the Borda family, and is now a regional cultural center.

One of Taxco’s most famous image, the 180-degree turn on Palma street is here.


Inside the Santa Prisca church in Taxco, Mexico.

What to bring back

Taxco being the Mexico’s silver capital, the obvious choice of souvenir is going to be jewelry. Going to Taxco during the week means you’ll miss the Saturday silver market, which I am told is worth the visit, with hundreds of stalls - but there are plenty of other outlets in town to satisfy your plata cravings during the week.

Lots of stores and workshops scattered around town will sell hundreds of different combinations of chains and pendants, bracelets and earrings. My advice would be to walk around and stop whenever something catches your eye. Most stores will sell you 925 silver (silver with a purity of 92.5%) and I wouldn’t worry about getting scammed on quality but do check if you’re buying browsing one of the tiny stalls dotting the main streets.

My favorite silver stores in Taxco were:

Hecho a Mano Idearte: This workshop has two locations in town, one in Casa Borda on the main square and one in the Hotel Los Arcos building, just up the street from the hotel entrance, although it doesn’t show up on Google Maps (I swear it was there, that’s the one I checked out). Their silver pieces were beautiful, extremely well made and had original designs (after checking out a few of Taxcos traditional workshops, I noticed many offered the same standard designs in the same sizes - this wasn’t the case here). It’s obviously on the pricier side given the sophistication of the pieces, but it is well worth it.

- Luna Solé. On Taxco’s main square, opposite the Santa Prisca church, this boutique offers lots of premium silver jewelry, for both men and women. It’s pricier than your average workshop but the quality and designs make it worth it. They offer tons of choices in designs, patters and even colors. Very recommended. The brand is part of the Linda de Taxco jewelry group, which has several other shops on the square.

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