How To Get From Mexico City To Puebla – Prices & Info

I really think that Puebla is an underrated destination. Puebla is the fourth largest city in Mexico, but it still conserves a town kind of vibe. Its charming city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, thanks to its baroque buildings and its many beautiful churches. You can find a church at every corner here!

Most tourists will stick to Mexico City and other famous destinations in Mexico such as Tulum and Cancun, even if Puebla is just two hours away from the capital Mexico City.

The few that do visit this charming location mostly go for a day trip, but between street art and good traditional food, you can easily spend days in Puebla, and I highly recommend adding it to your Mexico itinerary.

The distance between Puebla and CDMX is 80 miles (130 km), so it only takes 2 hours by car to reach this beautiful town. There’s a variety of transfers available to get to your destination besides driving, though.

Check out here how to get from Mexico City to Puebla, Mexico – you’ll find all the options with information about travel time, cost, and convenience.

TAKE A BUS FROM MEXICO CITY TO PUEBLA

Taking the bus is the best available option for getting from Mexico City to Puebla for almost everyone. Buses in Mexico are reasonably priced and are often more comfortable than the buses you’d take in Europe or the US.

There are buses continuously between these two cities from as early as 5 AM and as late as 1 AM, and the bus ride takes around 2 hours. The two main bus companies that run this route are ADO and AU.

In reality, AU is a sub-company of ADO as well, and I always recommend taking buses from the ADO umbrella because ADO is Mexico’s leading bus company, and I always had a great experience on their buses (and I’ve taken quite a few in 3 months!)

In this specific case, ADO has first-class buses, while AU buses are second-class. The seats recline less and there are no bathrooms on board the bus. The price difference is very small, so I’d suggest you take a regular ADO bus.

▶️ To catch a bus from Mexico City to Puebla, head to the TAPO terminal (Terminal de Oriente). There are occasional ADO buses that run from other terminals in the Mexican capital such as Central del Norte but they are a lot less frequent, so I suggest sticking to the TAPO terminal.

The nearest metro station to TAPO is San Lazaro Station, which is accessible via both Line 1 (Pink Line) and Line B.

Buses typically leave for Puebla every 15-30 minutes from the TAPO terminal. The ticket cost is $18 for the AU buses, and $22 for ADO buses at the time of writing. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

The main bus terminal in Puebla is called CAPU, and there’s also Terminal Paseo Destino, a shopping mall and bus terminal.

They’re both located approximately 3.7 miles (6 km) from the historic center, CAPU to the north, and Terminal Paseo Destino to the south. From both terminals, you can easily find taxis to reach the city center.

If you get to the Puebla CAPU terminal, you can book a prepaid taxi at the station, or else call an Uber. The ride from either station shouldn’t cost more than 130 MXN.

You can consult the ADO website for the Mexico City – Puebla bus schedule, but the website is only in Spanish. Even if you do speak Spanish, you won’t be able to book online on the ADO website unless you have a Mexican debit or credit card.

You could buy the bus tickets at the ADO office ahead of time, but I recommend purchasing them online on the third-party site GuateGo, which is the one I use whenever I’m booking transportation in Mexico. I’ve used it multiple times with zero issues. ➥ BOOK YOUR BUS HERE

Going in the opposite direction and need a bus from Puebla to Mexico City? There are also dozens of buses a day that serve this route, and the price stays the same. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Bus From Mexico City Airport to Puebla

▶️ Are you getting to Mexico City airport and want to go directly to Puebla without passing through the city center? No problem. There are buses to Puebla from Benito Juarez International Airport every one or two hours. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

The only company serving this route is ADO and a ticket at the time of writing costs $35. The buses arrive either at CAPU Terminal or at Terminal Paseo Destino in Puebla, located outside the city.

▶️ If you’re going back and need a bus from Puebla to Mexico City Airport, buses leave from Terminal Paseo Destino. There are buses almost every hour, even during the night. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Pros and Cons of the ADO Bus

✅ The Mexico City to Puebla bus is the cheapest way to make the journey, ideal for solo travelers and those on a tight budget.

❌ After reaching Puebla by bus, you’ll then have to take a taxi to the city center, which adds to the travel time and the cost.

❌ The price per person is only slightly cheaper than renting a car, which accommodates 4-5 passengers, so if you’re a group of 3 people or more, taking the bus ends up being a pricier option.

RENT A CAR IN MEXICO CITY

The bus network in Mexico is pretty great, but road-tripping in Mexico is also a great adventure. If you’re an independent and experienced traveler and don’t want to depend on the bus’ timetable, consider renting a car.

In Mexico City, you can find a wide range of car rental companies where you can rent a vehicle to drive to Puebla, Mexico. Car rentals are available both in the city and at Mexico City airport. If you want to travel at your own pace, driving a car definitely gives you more freedom to explore.

If you choose to rent a car, you can get to Puebla from Mexico City via the Puebla/Mexico 150D Highway, and be there in approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes.

I usually use and recommend Discover Cars to book a car in advance. This search engine compares all the major rental car companies in the city to get you the best deals. ➥ COMPARE PRICES HERE

Discover Cars is a car rental booking service offering a wide range of rental options from numerous car rental agencies in Mexico City, which makes it easier to find a vehicle that suits your expectations.

The reason I particularly recommend it, though, is their cancellation policy. Typically, you can cancel your booking for free up to 48 hours in advance with Discover Cars – a way more generous cancellation policy than other platforms. However, it’s always important to read the specific terms and conditions of your rental agreement to find the exact details, as based on the rental company and the rate you choose policies can vary.

Pros and Cons of a Rental Car

✅ It puts you in charge of everything. You’ll get to choose when to leave Mexico City, the places you want to explore around Puebla, and what time you’re ready to return. No matter if it’s a day trip or just the start of a longer Mexico road trip, you’ll have ultimate freedom to do with it as you please.

❌ The road to get to Puebla is not very straightforward, and it’s easy to take a wrong turn or miss an exit.

❌ Driving out of Mexico City is quite a hassle. The traffic can be absolutely crazy, and traffic jams are quite frequent.

TAKE A DAY TRIP TO PUEBLA FROM MEXICO CITY

I really enjoyed my time in Puebla, and I always recommend spending a couple of days here as there are quite a few things to do. But sometimes you simply don’t have the time!

A good alternative is to join an organized Puebla and Cholula tour. I’ve compared a few Puebla tours from Mexico City and these particular day tours stood out.

▶️ By booking the Puebla, Cholula, and Tonantzintla Day Trip you’ll get to explore Cholula, the largest pyramid of the New World, and enjoy a guided visit around the beautiful city of Puebla. A stop at the gorgeous Tonantzintla church is included. It’s the perfect Mexico City to Puebla day trip! ➥ BOOK IT HERE

▶️This Private Tour to Cholula and Puebla caters to groups of up to 15 people. You’ll explore both towns with a professional guide, and stop for a quick visit at the church of Tonantzintla. All entrance fees are included, as well as lunch and hotel roundtrip transfers. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Pros and Cons of a Day Trip

✅ Everything is organized for you, so you don’t have to worry about transportation, entrance fees, or planning an itinerary. You’ll also be picked up and dropped off from your accommodation.

❌ It’s a more expensive option than traveling by public transportation.

❌ You’ll have to share the trip with tens of other people unless you choose the small group or private alternatives, which means you won’t have a very personalized experience.

PRIVATE TRANSFER FROM MEXICO DF TO PUEBLA

A private transfer from Mexico City to Puebla is another (more expensive) transportation option. If budget isn’t an issue and the priority is comfort and convenience, this is the way to go.

Rather than going by taxi, I suggest booking a private transfer in advance, so your driver will pick you up at the airport or hotel at a predetermined time.

▶️ I looked up a few options and this transfer from Mexico City to Puebla seems to be the best option. The cars come with air-conditioning, comfortable seats, and professional drivers, and the journey takes 2 hours.

You can either book a Sedan car for up to 3 passengers, or a Toyota Hiace van that can accommodate up to 9 passengers. The cost of the transfer from Mexico City to Puebla is 266 USD if you choose the sedan, and 399 USD for the van.

The price stays the same regardless of how many passengers are going, so it’s especially convenient for larger families or groups. ➥ BOOK IT HERE

Pros and Cons of a Private Transfer

✅ It’s the most straightforward transportation method, as it takes you directly from your hotel or the airport to your accommodation in Puebla.

✅ A professional driver will manage the roads and traffic, so all you have to do is relax in the comfortable vehicle and enjoy the ride.

❌ The only downside I can think of is the price. It’s by far the most expensive transfer on this list, even if it is the most comfortable.

FLIGHTS TO PUEBLA, MEXICO (Not Recommended)

There’s an international airport in Puebla, and multiple airlines fly to Puebla, Mexico, making it easy to find convenient flights from other destinations in Mexico or abroad.

However, there are no direct flights from Mexico City to Puebla, and with a layover flying would take you double the time than the bus, so it makes zero sense.