Places to visit in Morelia

Morelia, the capital of the state of Michoacán in México, is a city full of history, culture, and beauty. This beautiful city has activities for all tastes. These suggestions are just the beginning. Below, we recommend some activities to make the most of your visit. For more information see this link (Spanish) or this link (English).

• Visit the Morelia Aqueduct: The Acueducto de Morelia is an impressive structure dating back to the 18th century. Walk along its arches and admire the engineering of the time. There are many coffee shops along the way.
• Discover "The Rose Garden": A serene space surrounded by the delightful colonial architecture of the ``Conservatorio de las Rosas´´--the first conservatory in America-- and the impotent sculptures of Tata Vasco de Quiroga and Miguel de Cervantes. Several restaurants and bars offer a pleasant environment in their terraces.
• Explore Museums: You can learn about Mexico’s history by visiting the house where José María Morelos y Pavón, one of the heroes of the Independence, was born: ``Morelos´ Birth House Museum´´.  Visit the Museo de arte contempoáneo Alfredo Zalce (MACAZ), which offers a wide collection of visual art from national and international artists from the XIX century till the present day. Temporary exhibitions of painting, photography, sculpture, and other visual arts, are offered in the Centro Cultural Clavijero. Find the list of the museums in Morelia here.
• Taste the Local Gastronomy: Don’t miss the opportunity to taste the delicious Michoacán food, go, e.g., to La Azotea de los Juaninos and enjoy the view of the cathedral from the terrace of this restaurant, eat a “gazpacho” in La cerrada de San Agustín. Vegetarian options are also proposed in many restaurants in the city center  (more in the Restaurant subsection).
• Discover "The Candy and Craft Market": The Mercado de Dulces y Artesanías de Morelia offers an incomparable sensory experience. Let yourself be enveloped by the unique flavours and aromas of its varied selection of products. In addition, you can explore and purchase artisan pieces that reflect the cultural richness of several regions of Michoacán.
• Discover the "Museum of Sweets": Visitors can explore the history, manufacturing methods, and taste a wide variety of traditional sweets, which provide a delicious journey through the local gastronomic culture.
• Want to take a walk in green areas in the city? Morelia has several parks where you can relax on the green grass or stretch your legs while walking or running: Cuauhtémoc Park,  Morelia's Planetarium, Morelia's Zoo, Bulevar García León.

Mexican cuisine is one of the most important worldwide. In 2010 it was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In the State of Michoacán, you can taste a variety of dishes with native ingredients. Below is a list of some of the best restaurants in Morelia.

Food & Drinks in Morelia

Mexican and fusion:

• Cielo cocina fusión
• Tata Mezcaleria + cocina de autor
• Restaurante LU Cocina Michoacana
• Macazaga Cava & Grill
• Restaurante Diego
• Chango Restaurante
• Cenaduria La Lupita

Coffee bar and small diner:

• Origo, Panaderia de Origen
• Panoli
• Café Galería del Teatro Ocampo
• Latitud Desconocida
• Therai - Specialised in Tea 
• Mechuacan
• La Guarecita
• La Casona de las Rosas
• Viandante Restaurante

Beer, Cocktails, After Hours:

• Beer bank - craft & local beer
• Santuario LA BRU
• Dos Tigres Fábrica de Cerveza 
• Patria - craft & local beer
• Nameless hidden Bar
• Xaneque Cocktail Room
• Ruso Blanco
• Tata Mezcaleria - Mezcal and Tequila
• Rojas (LGBTTTIQA+ bar)
• Morrison Bunker

 Good Tacos:  

• Carnitas Los Tabachines
• Tacos Mula
• Tacos al Pastor León Ruso
• La Guelaguetza
• Tacos el Infierno

Other cuisines:

• Romatella
• Ran Ramen
• Komakai
• Luca cucina italiana  
• Mammut Pizza Madero

Excursions - Morelia and surrounding

During the conference, one free afternoon is planned. Feel free to discover Morelia downtown or the nearby villages of the lake of Patzcuaro (roughly an hour's drive from Morelia) by yourself or using the guide created for you (soon available on this site). Once the link is open, you can explore the maps of Morelia or Patzcuaro and follow the suggested itineraries. Some information at some points of interest is available. 

If you stay in the city, you can also consider taking the historic tour with the tramway. Tours leave from Plaza de Armas, just on one side of the Catedral de Morelia (the main cathedral in the downtown), and they take 1 hour approximately.

It is recommended to visit the Palacio de Gobierno (palace of the governor, open from 11am to 7pm) and the ancient Palacio de Justicia (the justice palace, open from 10am to 7:30pm) both located in the main square of the downtown, Plaza de Armas. There you can admire several wall paintings from some of the most important Mexican artists of that era. 

If you choose to visit the villages around the lake of Patzcuaro (via Uber), we recommend visiting the archeological site of the Yácatas (site closes at 5pm), in the small village of Tzintzuntzan (the last capital city of the Purépecha empire). From there, go to Patzcuaro city, the name of which means the ''Door to Heaven'' (Puerta del cielo), and enjoy the view of this Mexican treasure. 

If you plan to stay in Morelia after the conference, we recommend you to take a tour to see the monarch butterflies. Just contact the tour guide Deborah using the following email: deborahlg@hotmail.com ; she will take care of every aspect needed for the event.