Tlaxcala, Mexico
Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl
Tlaxcala is a regional capital of 84,670 people in Tlaxcala, Mexico, founded in 1525.
Why visit Tlaxcala
Townapedia lists 19 museums and landmarks, 26 parks and trails, 34 places to eat, 14 places to stay and 6 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Autonomous University of Tlaxcala, Teatro Xicohténcatl, Palacio de la Cultura and Ocotelolco.
Weather in Tlaxcala
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Tlaxcala
Tlaxcala (UK: tlə-SKAH-lə, tla-, US: tlah-, Spanish: [tla(ɣ)sˈkala] ), officially Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl, is the capital city of the Mexican state of Tlaxcala and seat of the municipality of the same name. The city did not exist during the pre-Hispanic period but was laid out by the Spanish as a center of evangelization and governance after the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire. The city was designated as a diocese but eventually lost that status to Puebla as its population declined. The city still has many of its old colonial structures, including the former Franciscan monastery, and newer civic structures like the Xicohtencatl Theatre.
From the Wikipedia article Tlaxcala (city) (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Tlaxcala on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Things to do6
Autonomous University of Tlaxcala
School · 1.9 km
University in Mexico
Cinema City Plaza Inn
Cinema and theater · 1.0 km
Mo-Su 09:00-21:00
Museums and landmarks19
Ocotelolco
Monument and historic site · 1.3 km
Political entity in pre-Columbian Mexico
Tizatlan
Monument and historic site · 3.1 km
Political entity in pre-Columbian Mexico
7 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds26
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14 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes34
Los Tarascos
Restaurant · Tacos · 2.4 km
Mo-Th 15:00-24:00; Fr-Sa 15:00-24:00; Sa-Su 00:00-01:00; Su 15:00-24:00
Cafe Artesanal 99 Cafe Gourmet
Cafe · Regional
· 37.B Guridi y Alcocer, Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl
09:00-20:00
restaurante WONG Comida China
Restaurant · Chinese · 2.1 km
14 Avenida Ingenieros, Tlaxcala
La Concepción
Bakery
Panadería tradicional de Tlaxcala, deliciosas conchas rellenas de queso o de mermelada.
22 more on the map.
History
The name Tlaxcala most likely comes from a Nahuatl phrase which means "place of corn bread." The Aztec glyph for the Mesoamerican dominion is two hills from which emerge a pair of hands making a tortilla.
The site of the modern city did not have a settlement for most of the pre Hispanic era. The area was ruled by a coalition of four dominions called Tepeticpac, Ocotelolco, Tizatlan and Quiahuiztlan which united in the 14th century to defend themselves against the Aztecs and other enemies. In the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, Tlaxcala was one of the most important areas of Mesoamerica with commercial ties to the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean as well as Central America.
As the Aztec Empire grew, it conquered Tlaxcala's neighbors but left the dominion in order to perform annual ritual combat called the "flower wars" which aimed to not conquer but capture soldiers for sacrifice. The conquest of the surrounding area also cut off Tlaxcala's commerce. This remained the case until the arrival of the Spanish in the early 16th century. Hernán Cortés took advantage of this situation, enlisting the Tlaxcalans as allies against the Aztecs, giving them a base to attack from and regroup after the La Noche Triste when they were initially expelled from Tenochtitlan.
From the History section of Tlaxcala (city) on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay14
Churches and places of worship16
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Ocotlán
Church · Roman Catholic · 1.1 km
La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días
Church · Mormon · 1.0 km
Shopping10
Gas and EV charging4
Schools, colleges and libraries54
Prepa Ibero Tlaxcala
School · 2.2 km
52-2 Boulevard Desiderio Hernández Xochitiotzin, San Sebastián Atlahapa
Centro de Bachillerato Tecnológico Industrial y de Servicios No. 3
School · 1.9 km
Avenida Universidad
UATx: Facultad de Ciencias para el Desarrollo Humano
School · 2.1 km
Carr. Federal Puebla - Tlaxcala Km 1.5, La Loma Xicohtencatl, Universidad, Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl
Healthcare15
Map of Tlaxcala
198 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Hermanos Serdán International Airport (PBC) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 23 km away.
- Santa Ana Chiautempan 5 km east, about 5 min by car
- Apizaco 15 km northeast, about 15 min by car
- San Martin Texmelucan de Labastida 21 km west, about 21 min by car
- Huejotzingo 25 km southwest, about 25 min by car
- Cholula 29 km south, about 29 min by car
- Puebla 30 km south, about 30 min by car
- San Andrés Cholula 30 km south, about 30 min by car
- Huamantla 33 km east, about 33 min by car
- Atlixco 50 km southwest, about 50 min by car
- Ixtapaluca 68 km west, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Malinche and Ciudad de Tlaxcala, Veronica Pulido, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Detalle de edificio en Tlaxcala, Koffermejia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Centro, Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl, Tlax., Mexico - panoramio (47), AaLaNd Legram, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Obras de remodelación de la Plaza de la Constitución en Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl 01, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Edificio en Tlaxcala, Koffermejia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Obras de remodelación de la Plaza de la Constitución en Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl 02, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Obras de remodelación de la Plaza de la Constitución en Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl 03, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Centro, Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl, Tlax., Mexico - panoramio (112), AaLaNd Legram, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Centro, Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl, Tlax., Mexico - panoramio (305), AaLaNd Legram, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Parroquia de San José en Tlaxcala en el día de su fiesta patronal 04, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Parroquia de San José en Tlaxcala en el día de su fiesta patronal 01, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Parroquia de San José en Tlaxcala en el día de su fiesta patronal 05, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Parroquia de San José en Tlaxcala en el día de su fiesta patronal 03, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Parroquia de San José en Tlaxcala en el día de su fiesta patronal 02, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Obras de remodelación de la Plaza de la Constitución en Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl 07, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Obras de remodelación de la Plaza de la Constitución en Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl 06, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Obras de remodelación de la Plaza de la Constitución en Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl 05, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Obras de remodelación de la Plaza de la Constitución en Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl 04, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Centro, Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl, Tlax., Mexico - panoramio (103), AaLaNd Legram, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Centro, Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl, Tlax., Mexico - panoramio (104), AaLaNd Legram, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Centro, Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl, Tlax., Mexico - panoramio (254), AaLaNd Legram, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Centro, Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl, Tlax., Mexico - panoramio (251), AaLaNd Legram, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Centro, Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl, Tlax., Mexico - panoramio (102), AaLaNd Legram, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Atardecer en Tlaxcala - panoramio, Octavio Alonso Maya …, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Centro, Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl, Tlax., Mexico - panoramio (252), AaLaNd Legram, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Iluminación nocturna de la Parroquia de San José, Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala 02, Isaacvp, CC0
- Centro, Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl, Tlax., Mexico - panoramio (253), AaLaNd Legram, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Parroquia de Tlaxcala en reparación, Igdfpro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Centro, Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl, Tlax., Mexico - panoramio (255), AaLaNd Legram, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Centro, Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl, Tlax., Mexico - panoramio (256), AaLaNd Legram, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Murales de los héroes 2023 en Palacio de Gobierno de Tlaxcala 02, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Murales de los héroes 2023 en Palacio de Gobierno de Tlaxcala 01, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Adorno de fiestas patrias en antiguo congreso de Tlaxcala 01, Isaacvp, CC0
- Adorno de fiestas patrias en antiguo congreso de Tlaxcala 02, Isaacvp, CC0
- Centro, Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl, Tlax., Mexico - panoramio (301), AaLaNd Legram, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Zona Arqueologica de Tizatlan Tlaxcala, Miguel Tamayo 12343434342, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capilla Campanario, David S. Aguirre Palestina, CC BY-SA 2.5
- UAT2, Donaciano Blanco Flores, CC0
- Basilica-de-Ocotlán-Tlaxcala, Juan de la Malinche, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Estadio-Tlahuicole-Tlaxcala, Zack de la Rocha, CC0
- Indios conquistadores, exposición en el Palacio de Cultura de Tlaxcala 02, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Page built November 4, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.