Monterrey Shopping and Districts

(Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico)

Monterrey is a good place to shop for handicrafts and traditional Mexican souvenirs. In recent years, the shopping scene in Monterrey has expanded and improved beyond expectation, due to the arrival of a number of imposing air-conditioned shopping centres and malls, which offer the perfect place to while away an afternoon, or entire day.

For a little more character and soul, downtown Monterrey offers two main markets, the Mercado Juárez and also the Mercado Colón. Both sell a mixture of everyday goods, collectibles, clothing and gift ideas, and provide a good place for a little hard bargaining.

Where to Shop

The Zona Rosa is a good place to begin your shopping in downtown Monterrey, with many outlets based on the western side of the Plaza Zaragoza. This part of the city is where many locals choose to do their shopping and features a notable pedestrianised boulevard.

Most tourists prefer to head to Monterrey's glitzy shopping malls, such as the Plaza Fiesta San Agustin. Founded in 1998, this excellent shopping centre caters for all needs and features various department stores, speciality shops, boutiques and high-tech electric goods. This is also a good place for a coffee, bite to eat or trip to the cinema.

Other notable shopping malls and centres include the:

• Galerias Monterrey - along the Avenida Insurgentes on the western side of town
• Plaza la Silla - on the Avenida Garza Sada, on the southern side of Monterrey
• Plaza Mexico - located within the very heart of central Monterrey and known for its glass dome
• Plaza San Pedro - a shopping centre located within the south-westerly suburb of San Pedro, on Humberto Lobo