Places to Stay - Click here for price key

Four-star Hotel Emily ($$, Plaza Independencia s/n, tels. 771/715-0828 and 771/715-0849, 01800/501-6339 toll-free in Mexico, www.hotelemily.com.mx) has underground parking, free Wi-Fi, a restaurant, and a professional staff. It’s located facing the main plaza and the Reloj Monumental.

Across the plaza from the Emily is three-star Ciros ($$, Plaza Independencia 110, tels. 771/715-4083 and 771/715-5351, www.hotelciros.com.mx). This hotel offers parking, a restaurant, free Wi-Fi, laundry service, and room safes, as well as a good downtown location.

Business-oriented Fiesta Inn ($$$, Carretera México-Pachuca, Km. 85.5, Col. Venta Prieta, tels. 771/717-0700 or 771/717-0714, www.fiestainn.com) offers a restaurant, bar, business center, free Wi-Fi, outdoor parking, a gym, and an indoor pool.

Pachuca’s fanciest hotel is Camino Real ($$$$, Camino Real de la Plata, Zona Plateada, tels. 771/717-8500 and 771/715-8505, www.caminoreal.com), in the Silver Zone near government and financial offices and institutions, shopping centers, the Ben Gurion Park, and Convention Center. Part of the upscale Mexican hotel chain, the Camino Real has a gym, parking, Internet, shops, restaurant, and a bar, among other services.

Places to Eat - Click here for price key

Don’t miss the pastes (pronounced PAH-stays), imported by the Brits during the mining heyday of the 19th century. In addition to traditional ones of potatoes (vegetarians take note: these also have a bit of ground beef), you’ll find pastes of beans and mole verde and a wide variety of delicious seasonal fruits.

Pastes Kiko ($, Av. Juárez 804, centro, tel. 771/713-2385) is a chain of paste shops found in Pachuca and outlying areas. Eating one of these sweet or savory turnovers is a must while in Hidalgo’s mining area, including the capital city.

For evening snacks (antojitos) at an unassuming, friendly and clean little restaurant, see Tacos Kaluga, the Pachuca Meal Deal

Booths line two sides of Restaurant La Blanca ($$, Matamoros 201, centro, tel. 771/715-1896, www.restaurantlablanca.com.mx), while large TVs blare from four corners. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this family-owned restaurant in the center of town serves typical Mexican (and some American) food, breakfast combos, soups, and monthly regional specials. They have takeout food as well, and purportedly home delivery.

A bright and cheerful eatery, Bice Bistro ($$$--$$$$, at the Hotel Camino Real, Zona Plateada, tels. 771/717-8500 and 771/715-8505) specializes in Italian food.

La Mansión ($$$--$$$$, Blvd. Luis Donaldo Colosio s/n, Col. Booths 771/719-7630 and 719-7631, http://www.lamansionmex.com) is one of a chain of steak restaurants popular with business executives. It’s located in the Zona Plateada, the city’s main shopping area. They have grilled T-bone, filet mignon, and other cuts, as well as Ben&Jerry’s ice cream!

Sweet, Snacks, and Coffee

Chikita Café ($, Av. Revolución 1200, Col. Constitución, tel. 771/718-0909) is a popular pit stop for the locals for coffee and conversation.

Facing the main plaza, Mi Antiguo Café ($, Matamoros 115, tel. 771/107-1837) has an abbreviated menu of yummy looking cakes and savory items for a nosh.

The chain ice cream and coffee shop Santa Clara ($, Allende 106, tel. 771/717-7700) has several locations; the one mentioned here is just across from the main plaza. Open daily 10AM to 9PM.

Things to Do & See

Tranvía Turístico: on the main plaza, tel. 771/718-7120, www.tranviaturisticopachuca.com

former Bank of Hidalgo: Calles Zaragoza at Leandro Valle, Centro

Foro Cultural Efrén Rebolledo (Cultural center with changing exhibitions): Calle Nicolás Bravo 202, Centro

Casa Rule: Plaza Pedro María Anaya at Calles Morelos and Leandro Valle, Centro

Ben Gurión Cultural Park: Near Perisur Commercial Plaza, south side of town

Photography Museum and Archives (Calle Casasola s/n, at Ex-Convento de San Francisco, centro, tel. 771/714-3653 or 771/719-1273, www.sinafo.inah.gob.mx).

Shopping

Plaza Galerías (Carr. México-Pachuca km. 85.5, Col. Venta Prieta, tel. 771/133-0154, www.galerias-pachuca.com), Plaza Gran Patio (Carr. México-Pampico, Ex-Hacienda de Coscotitlán, www.granpatiopachuca.com.mx), and Plaza Q are among the important malls in town. Each has a movie theater, restaurants, and shops.

Hidarte (Av. Juárez at Calle Vicente Segura s/n, Col. Periodistas, tel. 771/193-5425, www.artesanias.hidalgo.gob.mx) sells art from the various regions of Hidalgo, including silver jewelry; handcrafts and house wares of wood, reeds, or ceramic, and textiles.

How to Get There & Away

Sample distances (with basic highway information) between nearby cities and Pachuca, Hidalgo. For more specific driving directions, go to http://www.mexicoguru.com/mexico-driving-distance.php.

Mexico City, D.F. to Pachuca: 61 miles via Mexico Hwys 150D, Arco Norte, and 85D
Puebla, Puebla to Pachuca: 95 miles via Hwy Mexico 88
Veracruz, Veracruz to Pachuca: 265 miles via Hwys Mexico 150D and Mexico 88
Querétaro, Querétaro to Pachuca: 144 miles via Hwys Mexico 57D and Arco Norte
Guanajuato, Guanajuato to Pachuca: 240 miles via Hwys Mexico 57D and Arco Norte

Located on Boulevard Rojo Gómez near the soccer stadium and the main market, Pachuca’s Central Camionero (Bus Station; Blvd. Rojo Gómez s/n, tel. 771/713-3449) has the following bus lines: ADO, Estrella Blanca, Futura, Autobuses del Valle de Mezquital, Flecha Roja, Toltecas, and Omnibus. For more info go to http://www.mexicoguru.com/buses-in-mexico.php.

You can purchase bus tickets (or plane tickets, or rent a car) at Destiny Travel & More (Hotel Camino Real, Zona Plateada, tells. 771/212-5192 or 771/211-7966).

More Info

You can pick up information and maps of Hidalgo state at the Secretary of Tourism (Av. Madero 702, Col. Real de Minas, tel. 771/718-4454 or 771/718-3937, 01800/718-2600 toll-free in Mexico, www.hidalgo.travel) or at Casa Rule (Plaza Pedro Ma. Anaya at Calles Morelos and Leandro Valle, tel. 771/713-6100). Closer to the main plaza, get information about the city and surroundings at Dirección de Turismo Municipal (Plaza Independencia 106, Edificio Orba, 3rd floor, tel. 771/717-6400, ext. 1916).