Thousands of people flock to the Much like everything else in sprawling Mexico City, the scale of the Festival de México is enormous. Some 50 venues are scattered throughout the capital, staging top-notch national and international acts, including dance, music, theater, and opera.

Held in March or April, most of the action for the two-week event unfolds in the downtown Historical Center.

Guanajuato ranks among the crème-de-la-crème of Mexican colonial cities, and the Cervantino festival in October takes it to another level.

Once a relatively small festival dedicated to the works of Spanish novelist Miguel Cervantes of Don Quijote fame, the Cervantino has morphed into one of Latin America's foremost arts extravaganzas. 

The Morelia film fest brings this city to life come mid-October. Created as a platform for documentaries and first- and second-time fiction works, the programming offers an up-close look at Mexican society as seen through the eyes of a new generation of filmmakers.

Funky bars and sidewalk cafes are buzzing with activity around the main square, where crowds gather nightly for open-air screenings and other cultural events.

Each year on November 1 and 2, Mexico turns its thoughts to the departed during the Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) festivities, a colorful tradition deeply rooted in indigenous culture.

For Mexicans, death is more a cause for celebration than mourning, and that spirit has been kept very much alive in Pátzcuaro, the Día de Muertos mecca. Prepare yourself to battle large crowds of the living.

Mexico hosts numerous Carnaval celebrations every year featuring flamboyant parades, dance performances, live music, and of course, big-time partying. The nine-day event in Veracruz, Mexico's biggest Carnaval, usually kicks off in March, right around the same time that festivities get started on the Pacific coast in Mazatlán.

Take your pick: you can shake your hips to salsa music in Veracruz or get down to the brass band sounds of Mazatlán.

A Zapotec word meaning offering, the Guelaguetza Festival in Oaxaca City, showcases regional folkloric dance and music, keeping alive a tradition that has been handed down for centuries. Held in July, most of the events take place at a large amphitheater perched atop a hill.

For a more intimate experience, many surrounding towns host more miniature versions of the festival.

The odds are that if you've heard anything about Guadalajara, it probably has something to do with mariachis, tequila, or Mexican cowboy culture. You'll be happy to know that the city also has a non-traditional contemporary side.

Guadalajara, known for a vibrant independent music and arts scene, lets it all hang out in October at the month-long Fiestas de Octubre, which programs modern art shows and alternative rock gigs.

On November 22, an exceptional gathering took place in Mexico City's famed mariachi square to pay homage to St. Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians.

Mariachis, along with regional musicians from northern Mexico and the Gulf Coast state of Veracruz, descend on Plaza Garibaldi for a tribute concert and an open-air party that usually involves dance, drink, and song.

As part of the festivities of La Morisma, usually held in late August, an all-out war erupts on the streets of colonial Zacatecas. OK, well, it's a mock battle with well over 2000 participants reenacting battles between the Christians and Moors in old Spain.

The faux soldiers attack one another while accompanied on the streets by bands of musicians, much to the delight of the hundreds of raucous spectators.

The Pyramids of Teotihuacán are about an hour north of the city center but can be easily visited by public bus from the Northern Bus Terminal or by booking a tour that picks you up from your hotel in the downtown area. The pyramids are one of the only sights around Mexico City that are open 365 days a year, and it costs 75 pesos per person to enter. 

The main path of this ancient city is known as The Avenue of the Dead. At one end, you’ll find the Pirámide de la Luna (Pyramid of the Moon), which stands 141ft. Visitors can climb roughly halfway up this pyramid for views over the valley. The larger of the pyramids, the Pirámide del Sol (Pyramid of the Sun), stands at 213ft, and you can climb to the top to get an insight into the scale of this kingdom when it was home to more than 100,000 people.

Chapultepec Park is the largest city park in the Western Hemisphere, and once inside, you'll discover a plethora of activities to keep you busy. The park is home to the National History Museum, which also happens inside the only castle in North America where actual royalty has lived. 

Chapultepec is also home to the city's central zoo, free to enter, and the Papalote Museo del Niño (Children's Museum). Sunday is the park's big day, as vendors line the main paths and crowds of families come to picnic, navigate the lake on rowboats, and group into the museums. Tours in English (four daily except Sunday, 10:30 am to 5 pm; reservation recommended), which are very worthwhile to make sense of Mexico's complicated history.

Palenque, a magnificent specimen of the Mayan civilization, is a place full of mystery and history. It is the ruins of a Maya city that thrived during the 7th century and contains some of the most genius Mayan architectures and monuments with many mysterious sculpting and carvings.

For a long time, this ancient city was covered in jungle, and most of its areas are yet to be uncovered. It is a place of great interest for historians, archeologists, and tourists alike. Temple of the Count, Temple of the Inscriptions, and Temple of the Cross are just a few of the incredible architectures lying here. Very quickly, Palenque is one of the top tourist attractions in Mexico. Great Ballcourt, El Caracol, and Temple of the Warriors are other significant attractions. Many of these structures were used as astronomical observatories during ancient times and is precious ground for the astrologers

One of the largest Maya cities located in Mexico, Chichen Itza in the Yucatan region is the most prominent one among all. With origins dating back to the 6th century, it is easily among the 3 most visited tourist attractions in Mexico, attracting over a million visitors each year. Here, the temple pyramid of El Castillo is one of the most exclusive archeological remains in the world. It is a four-faced Mayan Pyramid with a 91 step stairway on each face. Along with the top step, which makes a total of 365 steps, the exact number of days in a year.

The Great Ballcourt, El Caracol, and Temple of the Warriors are other significant attractions. Many of these structures were used as astronomical observatories during ancient times and is precious ground for the astrologers

Tulum is one of the last cities that the Mayan civilization left behind. During the 12th century, it was quite a busy seaport for the Mayans. Most of the structures of this former city on the east coast of Yucatán Peninsula stand on the rocky cliffs by the shore.

Although a great archeological site, today, it is more prominent for the tropical beaches. With a bit of touch of Mayan backdrop, these beaches offer the visitors exciting experiences. Temple of the Frescoes and the Temple of the Descending God are some of the popular attractions here.

Perched atop the Chapultepec Hill in Mexico City, the Castillo de Chapultepec is an incredible 18th-century colonial-era palace that bears witness to history both inside and out. Originally constructed in 1785, it was later become the home of Emperor Maximilian of Habsburg and many of Mexico’s presidents.

Today most of Chapultepec Castle is occupied by Mexico’s National History Museum, which charts the country’s diverse history, from the Pre-Hispanic era through to Spanish colonialism and Mexico’s independence. A remarkable complex and easily one of the best visitor attractions in Mexico City itself, you’ll be overwhelmed by both the magnificence of the building and the quality of the museum.

Playa del Carmen has carved its Euro-chic niche along the Yucatán Peninsula. Sophisticated ex-pats and vacationing Europeans relax at the beachside lounges, upholding this small enclave's budding reputation as the place in Quintana Roo to see and be seen. The area's nerve center is El Zócalo, and similar to Mediterranean beachfront towns like Nice, the funky little public square is within walking distance of the beach.

Cancún is Mexico's vacation of the past – today's savvy beachgoers choose the cosmopolitan "Playa." La Quinta Avenida features several blocks worth of delicious eateries and quirky shops just off the square and running parallel with the shore. And with proximity to the ancient ruins of Tulum and expansive natural landscapes to explore (like Río Secreto, Xel-Há, and the underwater depths of the Caribbean Sea), Playa del Carmen caters to history buffs and outdoor enthusiasts alike. And, of course, Playa's swaths of white sand and brilliantly turquoise water impress even the most selective beach bums.

Cozumel's clear turquoise waters and powdery sands coax travelers from cold winter climates to this roughly 185-square-mile island off the Yucatán Peninsula. Cruise ships are a constant feature of Cozumel's coastal views, and the atmosphere on this charming island is often interrupted by tourist chatter. Cozumel's charms are so compelling that the shopping plazas along the waterfront stay congested much of the year.

But crowds shouldn't deter you from discovering what this tiny Yucatán island has to offer, especially as Cozumel's natural allure is far away from the downtown area. You can hire a fishing or diving charter boat to discover the shallow reefs along the coast (this is arguably one of the best diving destinations in the world). Take a glass-bottom boat on tour around the island, or find a quiet beach where you can relax and do nothing. Once the cruise ships clear out, you should head down to a local bar for live music and the real skinny on this tiny island.

Boasting nine bays and 36 beaches, Huatulco is a pristine town near Oaxaca that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. Visitor accommodations are upscale without being flashy, and protecting the environment is one of the town's top priorities.

As such, buildings cannot be taller than six stories, and much of the lush natural landscape remains untouched. Popular activities include snorkeling and ecological tours. If you'd rather take it easy, you can spend your days lounging on the beach and dining at the town's variety of seaside bars and restaurants.