In a nutshell
- Cancún is a resort destination known for stunning beaches in Mexico, large hotels, and plenty of luxury.
- It’s perfect for a beach vacation — but you can also go shopping, visit theme parks, and take day trips to places like Chichén Itzá, Tulum, and Cozumel.
- In this article, we cover the top Cancún sightseeing highlights, the best day trip destinations, and practical advice on getting there, staying safe, and the best time to visit.
These Are the Top Sights in Cancún
Cancún is one of the most popular travel destinations in Mexico. Broadly speaking, there are two types of travelers in Cancún: those who stay at a hotel for one or two weeks and road trippers who stop in Cancún for a few days.
Whatever brings you here, these are the top Cancún sightseeing highlights that work for every type of visitor.
- Beaches in Cancún
- Downtown Cancún
- Theme parks in Cancún
- Isla Mujeres and MUSA
- Torre Escénica viewpoint
- Laguna Nichupté
If you’re staying for at least a week, you should definitely take a few day trips to other places on the Yucatán Peninsula. On a road trip through Yucatán, it’s best to plan overnight stops along the way.
Here are our picks for day trips from Cancún:
- Chichén Itzá
- Tulum
- Playa del Carmen
- Cozumel
- Cenotes
Orientation: Our Map of Cancún Sights
For a better overview, we’ve marked the top things to do in Cancún and the surrounding area on a map.
Beaches in Cancún
The standout highlight in Cancún is, without a doubt, the beaches. Brilliant turquoise water and fine white sand — seriously a dream. You’ll find the most beautiful stretches in the Zona Hotelera.
The area is almost completely lined with massive hotel complexes, so most beaches are private and everything has a pretty commercial feel. Alongside beaches and hotels, you’ll also find casinos and shopping centers, like the well-known La Isla Cancún – Paradise Experience.
That said, there are a few beaches that are public and a little more relaxed. Our top pick is Playa Delfines.
We go into much more detail about the beaches in a separate article.
Read our tips for beaches in Cancún too:
Downtown Cancún
While the Zona Hotelera is all about luxury and tourism, downtown Cancún gives you a much more authentic taste of Mexico. Around the central Parque de las Palapas, you’ll find plenty of affordable restaurants, street food, and nightlife options.
Honestly, downtown doesn’t have many traditional tourist attractions. You can visit the Plaza Las Americas shopping center or grab a coffee at a charming café on Avenida Carlos Nadar — but it’s more about soaking up the local atmosphere than ticking off sights.
Theme Parks in Cancún
Cancún is a city of theme parks. The most popular ones are Venturapark and Xoximilco.
Venturapark is a water park and a great pick for a family vacation with kids. It’s located in the south of Cancún and is best reached by car or taxi. Admission prices start at around 700 MXN for adults. You can find more information on the Venturapark website.
Get tickets for Venturapark with open bar and lunch
Xoximilco is a recreation of the Xochimilco neighborhood in Mexico City. That district is famous for its floating gardens — a canal system where colorful trajineras (boats) cruise the waterways.
In Cancún, you’ll find the same concept in theme park form. If you’re in the mood for a ride on a colorful party boat, Xoximilco is the place to be. The park is located south of Cancún, and ticket prices start at around 100 euros.
Book the Xoximilco boat tour including transfer from Cancún
A bit farther out is the Xcaret theme park. This is arguably the most famous attraction on Yucatán — a nature park with beaches, cenotes, wildlife, and a huge variety of activities.
Get tickets for Xcaret Park including the evening show and transfer from Cancún
Isla Mujeres and MUSA
Even more stunning than Cancún’s beaches are the beaches on Isla Mujeres — and it’s conveniently just a short trip away.
You’ll also find the MUSA (Underwater Museum of Art) here — one of the most unique Cancún attractions out there. This museum isn’t a building; it’s the open sea.
Scattered across the ocean floor are various sculptures that you can explore while snorkeling or view from a glass-bottom boat. Seriously, how cool is that?
To visit, you’ll need to book a tour.
Book the MUSA snorkeling tour
Book the MUSA glass-bottom boat tour
Beyond the museum, Isla Mujeres is ideal for relaxing, swimming, and sunbathing. You can book a day trip from Cancún that also includes a visit to Isla Contoy.
Book the day trip to Isla Mujeres
Torre Escénica Viewpoint
The Torre Escénica is Cancún’s most popular observation tower. It stands 80 meters tall, and you ride up to the top in a cabin on the outside of the structure.
You stay in the cabin the whole time and take in a spectacular 360° panorama — the Caribbean coastline, Cancún, and Laguna Nichupté all at once.
Admission costs 20 USD. If you’ve already visited the Xcaret theme park, you can get in for free with your ticket or wristband.
The same goes for ferry tickets to Isla Mujeres with Xcaret’s boats. So buy your ferry ticket first and use it to ride the tower for free. The ferry terminal is right next to the tower.
Book the ferry ticket to Isla Mujeres including Torre Escénica
Laguna Nichupté
Laguna Nichupté is the vast lagoon that lies between downtown Cancún and the Zona Hotelera. You can go kayaking on the lagoon or take a glass-bottom boat tour.
The lagoon is surrounded by mangrove forests and is home to an incredible variety of wildlife. For animal lovers especially, a trip out on the water is a real standout. You’ll spot birds, lizards, and if you’re lucky, crocodiles.
We especially recommend the sunset kayak tour — but honestly, it’s a great experience any time of day.
Book the kayak tour on Laguna Nichupté
Book the sunset kayak tour on Laguna Nichupté
If kayaking isn’t your thing, the glass-bottom boat is a totally relaxed alternative.
Book the glass-bottom boat tour on Laguna Nichupté
Day Trips from Cancún
Yucatán has so much to offer beyond Cancún itself. If you want to explore a bit further, make sure to squeeze in a few excursions to the must-sees around Cancún.
Chichén Itzá
Chichén Itzá is THE sight in Mexico, full stop. The ancient Maya city is one of the seven new wonders of the world — right up there with Machu Picchu and the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio. There are plenty of tours to the Maya ruins departing from Cancún.
We recommend booking a tour that combines Chichén Itzá with a visit to a cenote and the charming town of Valladolid — it makes for a really well-rounded day.
Book the guided Chichén Itzá tour from Cancún including cenote and Valladolid
We’ve also written separate articles on Chichén Itzá and Valladolid.
Also read our tips for Chichén Itzá and Valladolid:
Tulum
Like Cancún, Tulum is a popular seaside resort town — and you can absolutely stay overnight there if you want a few extra days.
That said, it’s absolutely worth making the trip as a day excursion from Cancún to see the Maya ruins. You can easily combine it with a visit to the Maya site of Cobá and the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.
Book the guided tour to Tulum & Cobá from Cancún
Book the guided tour to Tulum & the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve
Read all our tips for Tulum:
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is known for its beautiful beaches, but beyond that, there isn’t a huge amount to keep you busy. Honestly, we wouldn’t make a special trip just for Playa del Carmen.
However, if you’re already heading to Tulum or Cozumel, it makes for a great stopover.
If you enjoy shopping, though, Playa del Carmen is fantastic. The town has the long pedestrian street 5th Avenue, lined with shops and restaurants — great for an afternoon browse.
Read our tips on Playa del Carmen too:
Cozumel
Just off the coast of Playa del Carmen lies the Caribbean island of Cozumel. You can reach it by ferry from the Muelle de Playa del Carmen — the crossing takes about 45 minutes.
Ferry tickets are available on the websites of operators Ultramar and Winjet. You can also purchase Ultramar tickets through GetYourGuide.
On Cozumel, you’ll find stunning beaches that are usually far less crowded than those along the Riviera Maya. The island is also great for snorkeling, cycling, and just relaxing.
Your best bet is to book a guided tour on Cozumel — most depart directly from the ferry terminal in San Miguel de Cozumel.
Book the El Cielo beach tour with Palancar Reef snorkeling and beach party
Book the private buggy tour on Cozumel
Cenotes
Cenotes are karst sinkholes found all across the Yucatán Peninsula. They’re filled with water and you can swim in them — some are even suitable for diving.
Some cenotes have a cave ceiling, while others are completely open to the sky, so they can look wildly different from one another.
We recommend visiting the cenotes near Tulum, Valladolid, or Mérida. If you don’t want to travel that far, there are also some near Playa del Carmen.
We share more tips on the most beautiful cenotes on Yucatán in a separate article.
Read our article on the best cenotes in Mexico:
Practical Tips for Cancún
To wrap things up, here are a few helpful pointers for your trip to Cancún.
#1 Where to stay in Cancún?
There are a huge number of hotels and accommodations in Cancún — from upscale resorts to apartments to budget hostels. Our hotel articles for Cancún cover everything you need to know about where to stay.
Read our hotel article for Cancún:
#2 Is Cancún safe?
Yes, you can vacation in Cancún without any problems. Both the Zona Hotelera and the downtown area are very safe neighborhoods, and you can walk around in the evenings without any issues.
In the early morning hours and in neighborhoods farther from the tourist areas, avoid walking and take a taxi instead. Those streets are quieter and less safe than the tourist zones.
We share more advice on safety in Mexico in a separate article.
Also read our tips on safety in Mexico:
#3 Getting to Cancún
Cancún has a large international airport with many flights arriving from Europe and North America. The best way to search for flights is through Skyscanner.
From Cancún airport, you can reach various destinations such as downtown Cancún, Playa del Carmen, or Tulum by public ADO bus. You can book tickets on the ADO website. If that doesn’t work, you can also book through ViajoMucho or Checkmybus.
Alternatively, you can take a taxi or book a private transfer.
Book your Cancún airport transfer
#4 Getting around Cancún
Exploring Cancún entirely on foot isn’t always practical — the distances between the beach and downtown are quite long. Within the downtown area itself, though, you can easily get around on foot.
To get between the beaches and downtown, a bicycle is a great option. You can often rent one from your accommodation. The bus is another solid choice and runs very frequently.
Buses in Cancún
To get from downtown to the Zona Hotelera or the beaches, stand along Blvd. Kukulcan and flag down a bus with an outstretched arm.
When you board, ask whether the bus is going to your destination — for example, Playa Delfines. A bus ride costs 12 MXN, paid in cash to the driver.
There are also plenty of colectivos in Cancún. These are minibuses that follow a fixed route and stop wherever someone wants to get on or off. They cost 10 MXN and run throughout all of Cancún.
The front of the vans shows where they’re headed. If you’re not familiar with Cancún and don’t speak Spanish, finding the right route can be a bit tricky.
Uber and taxis in Cancún
If the bus system feels too complicated, you’re better off taking a taxi or using Uber. Taxis are more expensive but much more convenient — Uber is the more affordable option.
For day trips to the surrounding area, booking a private transfer is the easiest way to go.
#5 When is the best time to visit Cancún?
The best time to visit Cancún is from November through April. This is the dry season, which also means lower humidity.
That said, visiting during the rainy season is very doable — it usually doesn’t rain all day and it’s always warm. Just keep in mind that hurricane season runs from June through November.
Read our tips on the best time to visit Cancún:
