Ciudad Juárez

El Paso, Texas, lies on one side of the Río Bravo (Rio Grande) and Ciudad Juárez on the other, and together the two cities form one of the largest cross-border metropolitan regions in the world. A trip to Juárez takes you to a city with a long history, a strong industrial culture, and a cuisine that made burritos and margaritas famous – but also to a city with safety concerns that visitors should know about.

From Paso del Norte to Industrial City

In 1659, Franciscans founded the Mission of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe here at Paso del Norte, a crossing of the Río Bravo that connected the Camino Real to Santa Fe in New Mexico. For centuries, the place was a waystation for traders and settlers. In 1888 it was renamed Ciudad Juárez after Benito Juárez, who took refuge here during the French intervention. During the Revolution, Madero and Pancho Villa captured the city in 1911, which helped bring down Porfirio Díaz. Beginning in the 1960s, maquiladoras – assembly plants producing for the U.S. market – set up shop here, drawing hundreds of thousands of people and turning the city into one of Mexico's largest industrial centers.

Sights in Ciudad Juárez

The oldest building is the Misión de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe from the 17th century, a plain adobe church with a wooden ceiling right next to the cathedral. Commerce crowds in around the Plaza de Armas and Avenida Juárez, which leads to the border bridge. The Museo de la Revolución en la Frontera, housed in the former customs building, tells the story of the 1911 battles. Parque Central and Parque El Chamizal on the border are large green spaces; El Chamizal commemorates a border dispute that was settled in 1963, when the U.S. returned a piece of land to Mexico. The large Monumento X, a red sculpture by Sebastián, is visible from far away.

Eating in Ciudad Juárez

Juárez is considered one of the birthplaces of the burrito: slender wheat tortillas filled with meat in chile sauce, beans, or chile relleno and sold at stands all over the city. Another legend holds that the margarita was invented in the 1940s at a bar on Avenida Juárez. Also typical of the north are carne asada with wheat tortillas, discada, and sotol. The restaurant scene has expanded in recent years, and modern restaurants, breweries, and cafés have sprung up around Avenida Tecnológico. At the markets you'll find dulces de leche and regional sweets.

Getting Around Ciudad Juárez and Safety

Abraham González Airport (CJS) lies southeast of the city, but many travelers use El Paso Airport (ELP) on the U.S. side instead. Several border bridges connect the two cities, including the Paso del Norte Bridge for pedestrians. In Juárez, the Juárez Bus rapid transit system operates, and otherwise taxis and ride-hailing services are the norm. Around 2010, Ciudad Juárez was considered one of the most dangerous cities in the world; the situation has improved since then, but the crime rate remains high. Visitors should stick to the center and busy areas, travel during the day, avoid displaying valuables, and heed current travel advisories.

Culture and Nightlife

Border culture is bilingual, and it shows everywhere: in bars, patrons switch effortlessly between Spanish and English, and radio stations broadcast to both sides. The music scene ranges from norteño to rock and electronica. The Centro Cultural Paso del Norte, a modern cultural center, offers concerts, theater, and dance. In recent years, galleries and initiatives have emerged in the old town that aim to change the city's image with murals and festivals. Memorial sites play an important role, such as the crosses for the murdered women of Juárez, which recall the femicides of the 1990s and 2000s.

Best Time to Visit and Surroundings

Juárez lies in the Chihuahuan Desert; summers are hot, and winters are cool and dry. The best time to visit is between October and April. Excursions lead to the Médanos de Samalayuca, a field of pale-sand dunes about 50 kilometers (31 miles) to the south, where you can hike and sandboard. On the U.S. side, Franklin Mountains State Park in El Paso and the missions along the Mission Trail are worth a visit.