Zacatecas is a landlocked state on Mexico's north-central high plains, built on more than four centuries of silver-mining wealth. Its capital, also named Zacatecas, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for pink cantera-stone Baroque and Churrigueresque architecture spilling down steep hillsides, the Cerro de la Bufa cable car, and the former Mina El Eden silver mine. Beyond the capital, the state offers the Pueblos Magicos of Jerez, Sombrerete, and Pinos, the pre-Hispanic ruins of La Quemada, and the mining hub of Fresnillo, the state's most populous municipality.
- Public
- City buses (urbanos) cover Zacatecas city and its conurbated neighbor Guadalupe, but service to outlying Pueblos Magicos like Jerez, Sombrerete, or Pinos runs on separate, less frequent intercity lines rather than the municipal network
- Taxi
- Metered and radio taxis are widely available in Zacatecas city; ranks cluster around the Central de Autobuses, the Jardin Independencia, and major hotels
- Rental
- A rental car is the most flexible way to reach Sierra de Organos National Park, La Quemada, and the more distant Pueblos Magicos, since several of these sites have limited or no scheduled public transport
- Walking
- The steep, hilly centro historico around the Cathedral and Plaza de Armas is compact but demanding on foot, with a real change in elevation between the lower plazas and the Cerro de la Bufa
Transport at a glance
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Zacatecas is a mountainous, historically mining-rich state in north-central Mexico, and getting around means combining a handful of transport modes. Zacatecas International Airport (General Leobardo C. Ruiz) sits about 27 km north of the capital and handles a modest domestic and limited US route network. The Central de Autobuses de Zacatecas is the workhorse for regional and long-distance travel, with frequent first-class service to Aguascalientes, Guadalajara, Fresnillo, Jerez, and Mexico City. Within the capital, city buses, taxis, and (since April 2026) DiDi and Uber cover most needs, while the historic teleferico cable car crosses the centro historico between Cerro del Grillo and Cerro de la Bufa. A rental car is the most practical way to reach Sierra de Organos National Park, La Quemada, and the state's more distant Pueblos Magicos, several of which have thin or no scheduled public transport.
Airports
Zacatecas International Airport (General Leobardo C. Ruiz)
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
DiDi began operating in Zacatecas city in April 2026, the first rideshare service in the state, with Uber following soon after; coverage outside the capital and Guadalupe remains limited
The Central de Autobuses de Zacatecas (Calle Transito Pesado s/n, Fraccionamiento Lomas de Isabelica) is the hub for all intercity travel, with ETN, Omnibus de Mexico, and other first-class lines running frequent departures to Aguascalientes, Guadalajara, Fresnillo, Jerez, and Mexico City
The teleferico (cable car) crossing the historic center between Cerro del Grillo and Cerro de la Bufa runs 10am-6pm daily (later during high season) and is as much a transport link as an attraction
A taxi from the bus terminal or the airport into the centro historico should be agreed or metered in advance; official taxi modules operate at both
Federal Highway 45 runs the state north-south through Fresnillo and on toward Chihuahua, while Federal Highway 54 heads south toward Jerez, Villanueva, and Guadalajara
The centro historico's steep cobbled streets and altitude above 2,400 meters make walking more tiring than the compact map suggests; pace uphill sections and carry water
Car rental is close to essential for Sierra de Organos National Park and La Quemada, neither of which has frequent public transport from the capital