Mexico State (Estado de México) is the country's most populous state, a horseshoe-shaped territory wrapped around Mexico City that ranges from the dense urban sprawl of the Toluca and Mexico City metropolitan zones to pine forests, volcanoes, colonial silver and monastery towns, and monarch butterfly wintering grounds. It holds more of the Teotihuacan archaeological site than Mexico City does, along with the lakeside town of Valle de Bravo, the ceramics town of Metepec, and the state capital, Toluca de Lerdo, Mexico's highest state capital.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Metepec Árbol de la Vida (Tree of Life) Sculptures
Price: MXN 200-6,000 per piece depending on size (approx USD 12-353)
Where: Centro de Exposición y Venta Artesanal, Metepec; Barrio de los Alfareros workshops, Metepec
Metepec Glazed and Natural-Clay Pottery
Price: MXN 100-1,500 per piece (approx USD 6-88)
Where: Barrio de los Alfareros workshops and the Metepec artisan market
Tenancingo Rebozos (Hand-Woven Shawls)
Price: MXN 400-3,000 per piece (approx USD 24-177)
Where: Tenancingo workshops and Sunday tianguis
San Antonio la Isla Lathe-Turned Wooden Toys
Price: MXN 30-400 per piece (approx USD 2-24)
Where: San Antonio la Isla Sunday market and household workshops
San Antonio la Isla Carved Cattle-Horn Chess Sets
Price: MXN 800-5,000 per set (approx USD 47-294)
Where: San Antonio la Isla household workshops
Toluca Chorizo Verde (Green Chorizo)
Price: MXN 90-180 per kilo (approx USD 5-11)
Where: Portales arcade shops, downtown Toluca
Obleas (Toluca Wafer Sweets)
Price: MXN 15-40 per package (approx USD 1-2)
Where: Portales arcade shops and street vendors, downtown Toluca
Tenancingo Cut Flowers and Arrangements
Price: MXN 50-500 per bunch or arrangement (approx USD 3-29)
Where: Mercado de Flores Xochiquetzal, Tenancingo
Chalma Devotional Souvenirs (Rosaries, Candles, Palm Crosses)
Price: MXN 30-300 (approx USD 2-18)
Where: Stalls along the approach to the Santuario del Señor de Chalma, Malinalco
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Centro de Exposición y Venta Artesanal "Árbol de la Vida"
A purpose-built artisan exhibition and sales center in Metepec gathering roughly 90 artisan families across about 95 stalls, centered on the town's signature Árbol de la Vida (Tree of Life) painted clay sculptures alongside general pottery, leather, glass, and basketry work.
Where: Col. Santa Cruz, Metepec
Hours: Daily 8AM-10PM (some workshop stalls close earlier, around 6PM)
Barrio de los Alfareros (Potters' Quarter), Metepec
The historic potters' quarter of Metepec, where multi-generation family workshops along Calle Progreso shape and paint the clayware, including Árbol de la Vida pieces, that the town is known for across Mexico.
Where: Calle Progreso and surrounding streets, Metepec
Hours: Most workshops daily 9AM-7PM (varies by family workshop)
Mercado de Flores Xochiquetzal (Tenancingo)
The largest flower market in Mexico State, gathering growers from Tenancingo, Villa Guerrero, Coatepec, and Ixtapan de la Sal to sell roses, gladiolas, chrysanthemums, gerberas, and dozens of other cut flowers and potted plants in a market organized by flower type.
Where: Centro, Tenancingo de Degollado
Hours: Daily, wholesale trading heaviest Tue-Fri early morning; retail stalls open through the day
San Antonio la Isla Sunday Toy and Craft Market
A small town roughly 35 minutes from Toluca where about 650 families work wooden lathes to produce traditional toys, and a smaller number of workshops carve cattle-horn chess sets and figurines; Sunday is the town's market day, when workshops display their full weekly output.
Where: Centro, San Antonio la Isla
Hours: Sunday, morning through early afternoon; household workshops sell most other days by asking directly
Portales de Toluca (Chorizo and Embutidos Arcade)
The arcaded colonial-era Portales lining Toluca's historic center hold long-running shops selling the city's signature chorizo verde and other cured meats, alongside obleas and traditional sweets, next to Plaza González Arratia and the cathedral.
Where: Centro Histórico, Toluca de Lerdo
Hours: Daily, most shops 9AM-8PM
Galerías Metepec
A large open-air shopping center on the Toluca-Metepec boulevard with more than 130 branded stores, a cinema, and a broad restaurant selection, offering a modern retail contrast to the craft markets nearby.
Where: Barrio Coaxustenco, Metepec
Hours: Daily 11AM-9PM
Valle de Bravo Artisan Market, Plaza Independencia
Stalls ringing Valle de Bravo's central plaza sell wood carvings, wool sweaters and blankets suited to the town's cool lakeside evenings, and local honey and preserves, drawing heavy weekend traffic from Mexico City day-trippers.
Where: Centro, Valle de Bravo
Hours: Daily 10AM-8PM, busiest on weekends
Chalma Devotional Market
Stalls lining the road leading to the Santuario del Señor de Chalma sell rosaries, candles, palm crosses, and other devotional items to pilgrims, with the largest crowds and widest stall selection during major pilgrimage dates such as Pentecost and the Day of the Holy Cross.
Where: Approach road to the Santuario del Señor de Chalma, Malinalco
Hours: Daily, extended hours during major pilgrimage dates
Ixtapan de la Sal Souvenir and Craft Stalls
Informal stalls and small shops near Ixtapan de la Sal's thermal-water park and central streets sell general travel souvenirs, woven goods, and salt-themed novelty items reflecting the town's identity as a spa and thermal-water destination.
Where: Centro, Ixtapan de la Sal
Hours: Daily 9AM-8PM