In Durango there is always something to do. From visiting museums of beautiful designs, to knowing the settings of the old west where some blockbuster movies have been filmed.
In this article, you will learn about the 15 best things to do in Durango, including its main natural attractions and funniest tours.
Let's start with what is considered one of the most beautiful and interesting museums in Mexico; the Francisco Villa Museum.
1. Visit the Francisco Villa Museum
The Francisco Villa Museum is dedicated to the Mexican Revolution and to “Pancho” Villa, an iconic character from Durango. It has 10 themed rooms with photographs, computer graphics, videos, models and objects that show the childhood and revolutionary struggle of the general also known as the "Centaur of the North.
Located in the Zambrano Palace, the museum also has a beautiful baroque-style façade. It is on Avenida 5 de Febrero number 800 west, on the corner with Bruno Martínez and in front of Plaza IV Centenario.
The entrance for adults, children and children under 5 years, is 20 pesos, 10 pesos and is free, respectively.
Learn more about the Francisco Villa Museum here.
2. Get to know the Old West park
Theme park built in the 1970s as a movie set by American actor, Billy Hughes, known for playing roles in Old West movies.
The ride serves as a weekly tourist attraction with live shows featuring cowboys, Apache Indians, and Can-Can girls.
Around 150 national and foreign films have been filmed on this set, such as “Las Bandidas”, starring Salma Hayek and Penélope Cruz.
The shows are held on Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 pm and 5:30 pm. During the holidays they take place from Monday to Friday at 2:00 and 4:00 pm.
To get to the Paseo del Viejo Oeste, near the Pan-American highway, you can travel on the free transport that departs from the Plaza de Armas, with departures at 1, 2 and 5 in the afternoon.
Admission for adults and children costs 40 and 30 pesos, respectively.
3. Get on the Tourist Tram
One of the best ways to get to know the beautiful Historic Center of Durango is with the guided Tourist Tram, which will take you through the main attractions of the city in 50 minutes.
You will visit the Cathedral, the Old Railway Station, the Ricardo Castro and Victoria theaters and the Civil School and the Old Normal School. The Temples of Analco and Santa Ana and the Palaces of Escárzaga and Gurza, also make up the route.
The tram departs in front of the Kiosk in the Plaza de Armas from Monday to Sunday at 5:00, 6:00 and 7:00 pm. The ticket costs 27 pesos.
4. Visit the Mining Tunnel Museum
The Mining Tunnel Museum is 10 meters deep and offers tours with which, in addition to knowing the machines, clothing and tools that miners use, you will learn about the history of mining in the state. They will also explain you about some minerals.
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. The entrance costs 20 pesos. It has two entrances: the Plaza de Armas and the Placita Juan Pablo II.
5. Get to know the Historic Center
The Historic Center of Durango is beautified by its many baroque-style works of art, which you will see just walking through its streets. You will visit the Palace of the Count of Súchil, the Plaza de Armas, the Palace of Tears and the Plaza IV Centenario.
6. Ride the cable car
From the Durango cable car you will have a fantastic view of a part of the Historic Center of the state, at a distance of 750 meters and more than 82 meters high.
The cable car has two stations, one in Barrio del Calvario and the other in Cerro de los Remedios. In the latter you will find a viewpoint with a wonderful view of the city, an open-air cinema and different cultural events.
You can take the booth from Tuesday to Sunday next to the Central Library or at the Mirador, from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm. The round trip ticket costs 20 pesos.
7. Get to know the Basilica Cathedral
The Basilica Cathedral of Durango was built in 1695 after the fire of the old Asunción parish.
Inside you can find 18th century real estate and enjoy frescoes and Byzantine motifs from the beginning of the last century. It has a sober baroque style.
Learn more about the cathedral here.
8. Visit the Interactive Museum of Bebeleche
The Bebeleche Museo Interactivo is one of the best in Durango to spend a fun day with the family. In its 5 rooms where there are very interesting interactive exhibitions and workshops, you will also find a 3D projection room with contents on science, technology, art and culture.
The museum is on Armando del Castillo Franco boulevard, at kilometer 1.5, in front of Guadiana Park. General admission costs 50 pesos.
Visit it from Tuesday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and from Saturday to Sunday from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm.
Learn more about the Bebeleche Museo Interactivo here.
9. Enjoy the Tecuán Ecological Park
If you love nature then you will love to spend a day inside El Tecuán Ecological Park, a protected natural environment. You can go cycling, hiking, camping and fishing.
In Tecuán you will find a variety of animals such as elk deer, wolves, coyotes, squirrels and foxes, with a cool but pleasant climate. Still, wear comfortable and warm clothing.
The park is at kilometer 54 of the Durango-Mazatlán highway just 40 minutes southwest of Durango. It opens from Thursday to Sunday from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Its entrance is free.
10. Visit the Mexiquillo Natural Park
The spectacular rock formations of volcanic origin in the Mexiquillo Natural Park, make it one of the best natural attractions in Durango.
The park is in the middle of a beautiful forest full of conifers and near the Mexiquillo waterfall, with a waterfall of 20 meters. You can spend a day in the field, ride a bike, walk, take a ride on horseback or in all-terrain vehicles.
The entrance costs 30 pesos and is open all year from 8 am. Its address is kilometer 145 of the Durango-Mazatlán highway, two hours from Durango in the town of La Ciudad.
11. Visit the town Nombre de Dios
Nombre de Dios is one of the oldest and most visited towns in the state, being part of the Camino Real Tierra Adentro, one of the patrimonies of humanity in Mexico.
After having been an evangelizing center, you will find numerous churches such as the Amado Nervo church, the ruins of the Ex-Convent of San Francisco and the Parish of San Pedro Apóstol.
Nombre de Dios is also a great producer of mezcal with a gastronomy rich in flavors.
12. Walk the Paseo Constitución
Paseo Constitución is a pedestrian corridor where you will get to know the Historic Center of Durango. You will have different types of restaurants, temples, bars and craft shops.
From the walk you can see the ghostly silhouette of the nun Beatriz that appears on the bell tower of the cathedral during the full moon.
On every weekend you can enjoy fun shows that the whole family will love.
13. Learn at the Regional Museum
The Regional Museum of Durango was built during the 19th century and is inspired by the Parisian palaces.
Inside you will find more than 1,400 pieces of art that narrate the history of the Durango region, from the colony to the present, detailing its archaeological, geological and cultural aspects. They are spread over 18 showrooms.
The museum is at Victoria number 100 Sur corner with Aquiles Serdán, in the historic center. Admission for adults costs 10 pesos, for children, 5 pesos and for children under 7 years, free.
It is open Monday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Tuesday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
14. Things to do in Gómez Palacios, Durango
Founded in 1905 in honor of Don Francisco Gómez Palacios, famous writer and governor of Durango, this city is the second most important in the state of Durango.
It is an industrial metropolis that has grown due to tourism that attracts people from all over Mexico and abroad, for its natural riches and historical value, such as the Gómez Palacios Parish and the Casa del Cura de Dolores.
15. More things to do in El Salto, Durango
Known as the “Wooden Town”, “El Salto” is famous for its zip-lining, mountaineering and rappelling activities.
The town is full of wooden houses that add a picturesque touch to the community, something that will leave you fond memories.
Durango natural attractions
Durango has numerous natural tourist attractions that attract Mexicans from the interior of the country and foreigners.
In summary, these include:
- La Michilia Biosphere Reserve.
- Bolson de Mapimí Biosphere Reserve.
- Grutas del Rosario, 20 kilometers from Mapimí.
- El Saltito, near the town of San Juan de Berros.
- Zone of Silence, 65 kilometers east of Ceballos.
- Cáscada Charco Verde, near the town of Pueblo Nuevo.
- Tres Molinos Canyon, southwest of the city of Durango.
- Mexiquillo Natural Park in the municipality of Pueblo Nuevo.
- El Tecuan Natural Park, within the Sierra Madre Occidental.
Types of tourism in Durango
As we have already seen, Durango is rich in tourist attractions that are ideal for all types of tourists. You will be able to admire a beautiful architecture in the Historic Center of the city or contemplate the Minor Basilica Cathedral; enjoy art in its many theaters and even know a little about cinema at the Rafael Trujillo Museum or the Thematic Cinema Museum.
Durango Tours
There is a variety of tours that cover the most important tourist attractions in Durango, tours of between, one and two days.
The best midday tour is where you can admire the exhibitions of the Banamex House of Culture, get to know the historic center by traveling on the tourist tram, and visit the Gómez Palacio Market to buy cajeta, cheeses, quince wine, and handicrafts.
The tour for 2 consists of walks through the Plaza de Armas and the Paseo de la Constitución, visits to the City Museum and the Francisco Villa Museum, as well as tours to the archaeological zone of the Hacienda Ferrería de las Flores.
On the second day, you can take a tour of the Mining Tunnel Walk, the Plaza IV Centenario and the Guadiana Park. Learn more about the tours here.
Durango Museums
In the following list you will find the best museums in Durango that you should not miss:
1. Francisco Villa Museum.
2. Francisco Serabia Museum.
3. Bebeleche interactive museum.
4. Regional Museum of Durango.
5. Museum Walk Tunnel of Mining. Museum of Popular Cultures.
Why visit Durango?
Durango has everything for you to spend a pleasant weekend or vacation. It is a beautiful city recognized for its historic center that adds Mexican and colonial buildings in the Baroque style. It has a good climate and a friendly population that knows how to make visitors feel good.
Although these are the 15 best things to do in Durango, there are really more activities to undertake and places to visit. Go ahead and visit this fantastic place that combines tradition with Mexican modernity.
