Hotel Imperial

Veracruz City


Claiming to be the oldest hotel in the Americas, the Imperial has been in business since 1794. Its suites and public areas are suitably ornate (check out the 1904 stained-glass elevator!) and will certainly please colonial history buffs, and you can't beat the location. The standard rooms, however, are as bland as unseasoned porridge.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Veracruz City attractions

1. Zócalo

0.02 MILES

Any exploration of Veracruz has to begin with its zócalo (also called the Plaza de Armas and Plaza Lerdo), the city’s unofficial outdoor ‘stage’ where…

2. Palacio Municipal

0.05 MILES

This handsome 17th-century building, occupied by local government offices, faces onto the zócalo.

4. Fototeca

0.06 MILES

On the southeast side of the zócalo, this small arts center has rotating photographic and video exhibitions. It’s spread over three floors of a restored…

5. Museo Histórico Naval

0.24 MILES

Occupying a former naval academy, this high-tech museum offers a titanic lesson in Mexico’s maritime heritage, with plenty of interactive displays and an…

6. Museo de la Ciudad de Veracruz

0.27 MILES

Housed in a charming colonial-era building, this museum recounts Veracruz’s history from the pre-Hispanic era. Standout exhibits include some Totonaca and…

7. Altar a la Patria

0.29 MILES

Two blocks inland from the malecón is the 1998 Altar a la Patria, an obelisk marking the buried remains of those who defended Veracruz during its numerous…

8. Centro Cultural La Atarazana

0.3 MILES

This colonial-era warehouse has been beautifully converted into an exhibition space and sports a striking mural by Melchor Perado. Worthwhile temporary…