Americans Can Fly Nonstop To This Record-Breaking Colonial City In Mexico

If all-inclusive resort getaways in Cancun, and week-round partying in Puerto Vallarta no longer sound that exciting on your fifth, or maybe sixth visit to Mexico, maybe all you need is a cultural getaway filled with amazing food and authentic vibes.

Here at Travel Off Path, we love shining a light on lesser-known destinations that are due their recognition, yet are often skipped by tourists in favor of the same tried-and-true vacation hotspots. When it comes to Mexico, it’s no different.

Though it rarely makes the headlines, Morelia is rising fast in popularity at the moment, and it’s high time we looked into some of the main reasons why:

1.5 Million Visitors So Far This Year

The capital of Michoacán, a landlocked state in central Mexico hundreds of miles away from both the Caribbean and Pacific coastlines, Morelia is heading for a record-breaking year in tourism.

It may not have the sparkly seas, the world-class hotels, and it’s far from being known as a bachelor destination, but Morelia Airport has recorded 1.5 million passengers so far this year, up from 1.3 registered in the whole of 2024.

That’s already a 14.9 percent increase year-on-year, and we’re still only in August! ‘Oh, but these must certainly be domestic Mexican travelers, because what could Morelia possibly have to offer if it’s not even coastal?‘

That’s where the naysayers have got it wrong.

According to Morelia’s own Municipal Tourism Secretary Thelma Aquique Arrieta, the regional airport ranks ninth in Mexico for the influx of international travelers. In the words of Arrieta herself, it could either ‘easily maintain’, or even surpass this peak.

So what is it about Morelia that’s drawing in a growing number of foreigners?

There Are Places Like Cancun… And Then There Is Mexican Mexico

When we keep telling you culture and authenticity have become decisive factors for Americans in picking out their next destinations, those weren’t simply unfounded conjectures.

Morelia is simply one of the best-preserved colonial capitals in all of Mexico, and that’s a huge part of the ‘why’. It’s not often a North American metropolis closely resembles the Old Continent, and in walking around Morelia’s vast Historic Center, you’ll feel at times like you’re in Europe:

This is hardly surprising, as the city was originally built by Spanish settlers, and it closely resembles their ancestral homeland across the pond.

Picture narrow streets paved with cobbles, lined with stone-built edifices, leafy plazas, and a soaring cathedral.

Morelia Cathedral, a Baroque monument with a distinctive pink hue, sits among the most magnificent in the country, with its twin towers looming over a picturesque Plaza de Armas, and a delicately carved main portal.

Beautiful Colonial Landmarks Everywhere You Look

That’s only one of several surviving structures of the colonial period scattered around Morelia. In fact, the entire downtown zone was classed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site back in 1991:

It is ringed by an 18th-century aqueduct, which formally functioned as the municipality’s boundaries. With 253 arches and built from the same pink stone that helped erect the cathedral, it is one of Morelia’s most impressive sights.

Formelly a Jesuit college, now a cultural center, Palacio Clavijero has a fairytale-like inner courtyard, surrounded by arcaded hallways and with a romantic fountain at its very center. The same layout can be found in the stately Government Palace, dating back to the 18th century.

Regarding the former, however, the most noteworthy feature is, without question, the collection of murals painted by Alfredo Zalce, depicting Mexican history.

History buffs are also sure to appreciate their time in Morelia, given that José María Morelos, the hero of Mexican independence, and a patron of sorts, was born here, and his birthplace, Casa Natal de Morelos, now hosts visitors.

Then there’s the beautiful Templo de Santa Rosa de Lima, yet another Baroque jewel with an opulent interior, and Colegio de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, one of the oldest colleges in the Americas, established all the way back in the 16th century.

We could go on and on, but you get the gist of it.

Lush Parks & Delicious Street Food

Morelia is not only about old buildings and museums, though:

Its Bosque Cuauhtémoc is possibly one of the most picturesque urban parks south of the border, comprising winding pathways through lush landscaped gardens, fountains, and playgrounds.

Over at the well-frequented Mercado de San Juan, you’ll find a vibrant public market with rows upon rows of food stalls, where you can get everything local, from Morelia’s nationwide-famous carnitas (the crispy, slow-cooked tender pork served in warm tortillas) to corundas (triangular tamales wrapped in corn leaves).

To all our fellow sweet fiends out there, you simply can’t miss out on the Mercado de Dulces y Artesanías: as the name indicates, it combines traditional candies and handicraft souvenirs, so what’s not to like? Oh, and to be honest, you haven’t really been to Morelia until you’ve tried their cajetas de celaya (goat milk caramel).

Looking for an epic mezcal bar where you can sample different-flavored spirits and gorge on home-cooked food? The laid-back, no-frills Tata Mezcalería is the place to go. Now, if you’re hoping for something a little dressier for a dinner out, look no further than La Conspiración de 1809.

It has the historic setting, the regional cuisine, the gorgeous presentations (and the best sopa tarasca in town), and it just ticks every box.

How Safe Is Morelia?

We know how important safety is for Americans traveling in Mexico, as there is a lot of misrepresentation online, and travel advisories can at times exacerbate local risks, so here’s the truth about Morelia:

The U.S. Department of State advises against all but essential travel to the state of Michoacán, but there’s nuance to be found here.

While it’s true gang activity and crime are more prevalent in Michoacán than other Mexican states, most notably Yucatán and Campeche, the city of Morelia itself is perceived by travelers as being ‘on the safer side’.

You should always take these with a grain of salt, but based on numerous firsthand accounts seen on Reddit threads, tourists generally feel safe in Morelia despite the security alerts, so long as they ‘don’t push their luck’.

One traveler who spent two weeks across Michoacán, Morelia included, wrote to others that they’ll be fine, and advised them to ‘just do the obvious’: stay in touristy areas, avoid carrying expensive items, and steering clear of suburban zones where crime levels are higher.

In general, the Historic Center is widely trusted, with an expat residing in the heart of downtown calling it ‘very secure‘. This may not hold up for other areas, but then again, it’s not like tourists have any business in run-down zones of Villas del Pedregal or Eduardo Ruiz.

Fly Nonstop To Morelia From The U.S.

Oh, and as you could tell from the title of this article, if Morelia’s caught your eye, you can fly there direct from a number of U.S. airports, with round-trip fares starting from as low as $113:

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.