Monterrey/Centro

Centro is the central downtown area of Monterrey. It includes popular tourist areas like the Macroplaza and Barrio Antiguo. For the purposes of this district article, it is bounded by Ruiz Cortines on the north, Churubusco on the east, Carranza on the west, and the Santa Catarina River to the south.

Understand
El Centro is the traditional downtown area of Monterrey. It is home to most state and local government facilities as well as most of the Monterrey area's significant tourist attractions (museums, monuments, and historical sites). Although new shopping malls in the San Pedro area have become retail magnets, the traditional shopping area of Monterrey is downtown, particularly along Padre Mier, where department stores like Sears and Nuevo Mundo remain popular Many major hotels are in el Centro, with the Barrio Antiguo providing some good hostels for budget travelers seeking rooms with local color and flavor.

Get in
See the main article for a more detailed discussion of urban transportation in the Monterrey area.

By metro
Use Metrorrey Line 2 or 3 to get to el Centro.

Zaragoza is the best stop for travelers going to see the sights around the Macroplaza or the Barrio Antiguo, (though Padre Mier may be more convenient for Zona Rosa shopping). The entrance to the Zaragoza station is on the Macroplaza on Padre Meir, in between Zaragoza and Zuazua.

Santa Lucia (line 3) and Parque Fundidora (line 2) are the best stops for attractions in Parque Fundidora.

The Parque Fundidora station is 2 blocks walk from Arena Monterrey or 4 blocks to park entrance 4, close to many of the park's main attractions. The Santa Lucia station is convenient to the southwest end of park, near the Baseball Hall of Fame (from the Santa Lucia station, walk 50m north on Av. Gomez, then turn right on Gregorio Torres and walk about 250m. Enter the park through the parking garage for the Baseball Hall of Fame (the guards will point you to the elevators that will take you up to park level).

Get around
Walking is the best way to get around the downtown area, and several pedestrian-only options make el Centro increasingly enjoyable for walking. The Macroplaza is criss-crossed with sidewalks, Calle Morelos is closed to vehicle traffic, and the Paseo Santa Lucia offers quiet, safe walkways beside the waterway from the Museo de la Historia Mexicana all the way to Parque Fundidora.

Taxis and buses are plentiful and are good options for getting out of the Macroplaza area. See the main article about Monterrey for details.

See




Do

 * Ride a Bike: Monterrey is not a particularly bike-friendly city, but the Parque Fundidora is very bike friendly with wide, paved pathways and rental bikes available. You could also rent a bike and venture out on your own, or you could join an organized bike tour and see the downtown area in the company of other 2-wheel friends. Rentals and tours are both available from BCPK Bike Shop. Tours ride through the downtown area starting at 7pm. Most tours are in Spanish, but the Monday bike tours are in English.
 * Ride a Bike: Monterrey is not a particularly bike-friendly city, but the Parque Fundidora is very bike friendly with wide, paved pathways and rental bikes available. You could also rent a bike and venture out on your own, or you could join an organized bike tour and see the downtown area in the company of other 2-wheel friends. Rentals and tours are both available from BCPK Bike Shop. Tours ride through the downtown area starting at 7pm. Most tours are in Spanish, but the Monday bike tours are in English.
 * Ride a Bike: Monterrey is not a particularly bike-friendly city, but the Parque Fundidora is very bike friendly with wide, paved pathways and rental bikes available. You could also rent a bike and venture out on your own, or you could join an organized bike tour and see the downtown area in the company of other 2-wheel friends. Rentals and tours are both available from BCPK Bike Shop. Tours ride through the downtown area starting at 7pm. Most tours are in Spanish, but the Monday bike tours are in English.

Street food
You can find street food everywhere in el Centro. Near the central bus station, there are some vendors as you walk towards the nearby Soriana hiper. There is a with delicious food, for example a gringa for M$40 (March 2022). It's the last food stall on the street C. Julián Villagrán between the 7-eleven and Michoacana.

There is also in the middle of the centro, for example at Calle Aramberri / Calle Juan Méndez Nte with a gordita for M$10 (March 2022) during day-time. At the end of Morelos in the Zona Rosa, there are several street food vendors as you walk up Hidalgo (away from Macroplaza). Some are there during the day, more open up at night.

In Barrio Antiguo, dozens of street food vendors set up on street corners. They aren't out during the day, but when the party crowds come out at night, the food vendors are everywhere.

in the Zona Rosa

 * Interplaza Food Court Peatonal Morelos at Av. Benito Juarez - levels 2 and 3, dozens of fast food options
 * Plaza Mexico Food Court Peatonal Morelos - level 2, dozens of fast food options
 * Interplaza Food Court Peatonal Morelos at Av. Benito Juarez - levels 2 and 3, dozens of fast food options
 * Plaza Mexico Food Court Peatonal Morelos - level 2, dozens of fast food options

Drink
The east side of Macroplaza constitutes Barrio Antiguo (Old Town). At night, you will find plenty of bars with live music that stay open until early in the morning. Keep an eye out for people handing out "No Cover" passes on the street, as well as flyers advertising events and special offers (example: 2x1 on bottles before midnight, girls 50% off cover fee) at the different nightclubs.

Coffee
Whether it's a morning necessity, or an alternative to alcoholic beverages, coffee is increasingly becoming a social drink of choice. Monterrey is blessed with many independent coffee houses that offer a refreshing change of pace from over-marketed ubiquitous coffee chains.

Connect
Broadband internet is ubiquitous and all major hotels and restaurants offer free WiFi service. Cell reception is excellent throughout the area with 5G coverage in all parts of the city. See main article for details.