hello all,
Me and my husband are travelling from Uk to Mexico city beginning of September for 3 weeks.
We need to decide where to go, we don't want to stay in Mexico city. We want a bit of sightseeing, beach, shopping and chilling.. Not too touristic as we do prefer local things.
I know Mexico is huge but we wouln't mind going to 3-4 places for a visit. Any ideas please?!

Inland I highly recommend Guanajuato recently voted the most colorful city in the World. Great architecture, very sophisticated, clean, lovely city. Mexico's best university is there with great theaters, restaurants & sights
I would avoid the Caribbean coast as September is the height of the hurricane season. If you wish some beach time I recommend Zihuatanejo or Puerto Vallarta with my personal nod going to Zihua. Better beaches & far less touristy.

thank you so much for your reply. I will look into it!
Many thanks again
Angela

look at mexico on gmaps, you really give pretty much no info to go on.

thank you

Definitely Guanajuato and Puerto Vallarta, ofcourse - I live here ? BTW I'm originally from London.

I think it'd be a good idea to pick a general area.

There's lots to see and do along the "Mayan Riviera" (Caribbean coast) or along the Pacific Coast (Cabo, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta). Or any of many beautiful colonial towns (like Guanajuato mentioned already).

Mexico IS huge. September is "rainy season" in most coastal areas.

These are the places I 've heart we must go: Mexico city, San Miguel de Allende, Oaxaca, Guanajuato, chichen itza, Xcaret park, Acapulco. Any ideas how to put all these in order as I really have no idea of Mexico!!!

I suggested you look at Mexico on gmaps on a prior post.

Do you have a map of Mexico? I think it would really help if you looked at one.

The places you name are literally "all over the map"! Plus I'm not sure why some are on your msut-do list (I would not visit Acapulco at the present because of safety concerns).

Guanajuato and San Miguel are great choices in my opinion.

Some of the places are close enough you could travel by bus. Some are too far apart so you will need to arrange flights.

thank u guys. I will check on google maps

I would advise staying in the mountains at the time of year. As mentioned above, the coats will be hot and sticky, and the Yucatan will be at the height of the hurricane season. Also agree with Suze's advice to skip Acapulco.

I think you ought to spend a few days in Mexico City. There is a great deal to see (Aztec Temple, Diego Rivera murals, Teotihuacan, the Anthropology Museum) as well as good shopping for crafts. And, of course, you will never see anyplace where so many locals are living locally.

Oaxaca is a six hour bus ride south. It is perhaps my favorite place in Mexico. You will find many craft villages, a very chill zocalo, and Monte Alban, an ancient Zapotec city, as well as a famous local cuisine. Also a few spectacular churches.

Guanajuato, another beautiful city, is about a five hour bus ride north, and near SMdA and Queretaro, another interesting colonial city.

Can't comment on the Pacific coast but Suze and Stew are experts.

Maybe something like this would work: Fly to MC, immediately fly on to Oaxaca. Chill. Take bus back to MC (perhaps stopping for a day or two in Puebla). Spend three or four days in MC. Bus to Queretao and then to SMdA and Guanajuato, taking five or six days, maybe more. Then make your way to the Pacific and finally, back to MC for your flight home.

Meant to say that SMdA and the others are about five hours north of MC -- eleven or twelve north of Oaxaca.

I'm crazy for Puerto Vallarta and go there often. BUT I don't think it fits this trip. I'd skip the Pacific Coast entirely, especially because September is not going to be pleasant at all weather-wise there (very hot, very humid, and possibly raining).

thank you guys!
Fra_Diavolo your reply really helps!

I personally do NOT do either coast in September. Many places there close for their vacations & repairs. So even if you like very hot humid weather many of the more popular cafes & attractions are shut down that month.

(I think) That's (at least part of) why people are recommending the mountains and colonial cities instead.

i see... maybe it wasn't a good idea then going to mexico in sept?

Just generally speaking, no it's not the best weather month in many places. But I think it's fine inland and some of the places you are looking at. Just not the coastal resort towns.