A modern vibrant city with streets full of traffic, Monterrey has excellent hotels, huge stores, and fine museums. The locals point out that Monterrey, at least in atmosphere, more closely resembles San Antonio, Texas, than other cities in Mexico. In fact, there are more Texas newspapers on sale in Monterrey than there are papers in Spanish.

In spite of its location in the desert, the city has become the great industrial center of northern Mexico, the gateway to the south and the most dynamic urban center in the country. With a population of nearly 4 million, it's Mexico's third-largest city.

Situated in the Santa Catarina Valley in the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range, Monterrey is flanked by the hulking 7,800-foot Cerro de la Mitra (Mitre Peak) to the west and the distinctive 5,700-foot Cerro de la Silla (Saddle Peak) — the city's emblem — to the east. Legend says a local citizen lost a peso on the topmost ridge of Cerro de la Silla and kept digging frantically until he discovered it, thus forming its saddle-shaped crest.

As northern Mexico's powerhouse, Monterrey is a bustling, hard-driving, hard-working, wealthy city, which boasts an opera season longer than in any center twice its size in the United States, as well as one of the highest literacy rates in Mexico. The city has nine newspapers, seven television channels, and over twenty radio stations, making its citizens some of the best informed in Mexico. It's also frequently chosen as sites for Lions Club, Rotary, and Kiwanis Club conventions and regional meetings.

Best Time to Go

An average day in Monterrey is in the low 90s. Though the air is hot by any measure, it's also dry and not oppressive. Temperatures range from highs of 68ºF in January to 100ºF in August. It can dip below freezing on winter nights. The best months to visit are March, April, and October. May and September are the rainiest months.

Cuisine

Northern Mexico is considered cattle country, and you'll discover beef's influence in its unique cuisine. Fajitas and cabrito, or baby goat, are favorites. Norteño-style cooking means charcoal-broiled steaks and thin tortillas made of wheat flour rather than cornmeal. Another favorite is cortadillo norteño, cuts of beef stewed in tomato sauce.

Another delicious dish, machacado con huevo, scrambled eggs mixed with dried beef and salsa and tortillas, will get your day off to a nutritious start. And be sure to order one of the local beers — Bohemia, Tecate, Carta Blanca, and others. Finally, don't forget to satisfy your sweet tooth with glorias, marquetas, natillas, turcos, pumpkin in tacha, and camote (sweet potato) en piloncillo and semi-tas, as well as luscious pecan turnovers.

Cautions and Safety Concerns

Though walking around Monterrey's lighted streets is safe, it's best to take precautions and not to walk alone on darker streets. And while you can certainly hail a taxi during the day, avoid doing so at night. Ask the restaurant to call one for you.