Mexico

It may not be the most happening city for travelers, but self-confident Monterrey is an energetic place that ranks as perhaps the most Americanized city in Mexico. Downtown Monterrey has plenty of metropolitan élan: iconic modern architecture, world-class museums, urbane restaurants and hip bars.

Before the 20th century

After several unsuccessful attempts to found a city here, Diego de Montemayor christened his 34-person settlement, in 1596, after the Conde de Monterrey, then the viceroy of Mexico. Monterrey struggled as an outpost, but its importance grew with the colonization of Tamaulipas in the mid-18th century, since it was on the trade route to the new settlements. By 1777, Monterrey had about 4000 inhabitants and became the seat of the new bishopric of Linares.

In 1824, Monterrey became the capital of Nuevo León state in newly independent Mexico. During the Mexican-American War, Monterrey was occupied by US troops led by Zachary Taylor, and the city was occupied again in the 1860s by French troops.

Monterrey's proximity to the US gave it advantages in trade and smuggling: first as a staging post for cotton exports during the US Civil War, and later its railway lines and industrial tax exemptions attracted significant inward investment. By 1910 Monterrey was one of Mexico's biggest cities with a population of about 80,000.

Modern history

The city was the site of the first heavy industry in Latin America. A vast iron and steel works (now the site of the Parque Fundidora) dominated the cityscape, while the conglomerate Monterrey Group controlled much of the business world.

Economic success and distance from the national power center have given Monterrey's citizens, called regiomontanos, an independent point of view. The city resents any 'meddling' in its affairs by the central government, which in turn often accuses the city of being too capitalist or, worse, too friendly with the US. Monterrey has undoubtedly profited considerably from Nafta: over 500 US and Canadian firms base their regional operations in Nuevo León's capital.

Recent history

Today Monterrey commands an excellent international reputation for education - with four universities and a prestigious technological institute. The city has also been feted by Fortune magazine readers as 'the best city in Latin America to get business done.' Monterrey remains the pillar of the Nuevo León state economy, which generates over 8% of Mexico's GDP and attracts over 10% of all foreign investment.

Top Accommodation

Top Restaurants

The geographic diversity of northeast Mexico - expansive deserts, remote coastal areas and the highlands of the Sierra Madre Oriental - produces tremendous climatic variation. Monterrey is warm year-round and can get very hot and humid in the summer months from May to September, peaking at around 37°C in July and August. Most of the rain falls in August and September. Winter (Dec-Mar) can bring the occasional 'norther' with cold temperatures and sometimes even snow.

Average weather

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Transport

Getting there and away

There are direct daily flights from Monterrey to all major cities in Mexico, and connections to just about anywhere else. Most international destinations are best routed via Houston or Mexico City.

Monterrey's huge bus station, Central de Autobuses occupies three blocks along Av Colón, between Villagrán and Rayón. First-class lines include Sendor, Ómnibus de México, and Futura; deluxe services are provided by Turistar. Autobuses Americanos is the main company for Texas destinations. Daily services from Monterrey include the following: Chihuahua (12hr), Ciudad Victoria (3.75hr), Matamoros (4.5hr), Mexico City (11hr), Nuevo Laredo (2.5hr), San Luis Potosí (7hr), Tampico (7.25hr), Torreón (4.75hr), Zacatecas (6hr). First-class buses also serve Acapulco, Ciudad Juárez, Mazatlán, Puebla and Querétaro. Car hire companies include Budget, Hertz and Payless.

Getting around

There's no public transportation direct to Monterrey Airport, 15km (9mi) northeast of the city center. If you can't afford a taxi, look for any Pesquería bus with 'airport' indicated on the windshield on Villagrán, just around the corner from the bus station. It will drop you off on the airport access road from where you can flag down a taxi for the remaining few kilometers.

Monterrey has a modern, efficient two-line metro system. The elevated Línea 1 runs from the northwest of the city across to the eastern suburbs, passing the Parque Fundidora. The underground Línea 2 runs north to south from near the Cuauhtémoc brewery, past the bus station (metro Cuauhtémoc), and down to the Zona Rosa (metro Padre Mier) and the Gran Plaza (metro Zaragoza).

Frequent buses go almost everywhere in Monterrey, but often by circuitous routes. Useful routes include Bus 18 and 1 from the bus station to the center.

Metered taxis are ubiquitous in Monterrey and very reasonably priced.