Monterrey

The capital city of Nuevo León, also known as "Sultana del Norte," Monterrey is Mexico's third-largest metropolis and an economic colossus, spearheaded by an entrepreneurial spirit. The city was originally founded in 1579 by the Spanish, but it would be a long time before Monterrey would soar to infamy as one of the nation's most developed and wealthy cities, despite being rocked by natural calamities and political unrest over the years. Today, the city strikes a balance between the old and the new, with the towering high-rises of the Central Business District competing with the traditional charm of Barrio Antigua. The rugged peak of Mount Silla rises above the scene, this vast swathe of the wilderness a hotbed for adventure sports of every stripe. Meanwhile, the red-hued Lighthouse of Commerce symbolizes the city's lofty ambitions, a stark triumph of contemporary design that has come to be iconic of the city itself. As for museums, the Museo de Historia Mexicana and the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo are the cradles of the city's cultural wealth. There are a plethora of restaurants, bars and boutiques too, as well as elaborate historic edifices like the Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lady of Monterrey and several prestigious universities. The close-knit environs of Barrio Antigua form the core of the city and it is here you will find a majority of Monterrey's most popular attractions. Paired with the best nightlife in northern Mexico, the urbanized Monterrey is unlike any other Mexican metropolis.