Without doubt, the pride of Xalapa is the Anthropology Museum, also known by the acronym MAX. It is the second-largest museum of its kind in Mexico after the vast National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. Opened in 1986, the museum is affiliated with the University of Veracruz and is home to exhibits from three of the state’s most important cultures: the Olmecs, Totonacs, and Huastecs. Divided into six rooms and three open spaces, the museum houses one of the most important Mesoamerican collections – a staggering 27,000 artefacts. Its gardens are also well worth a visit if you're in want of some fresh air.

If you're in the area, why not visit the lovely Los Lagos Cultural Center, the city's Contemporary Art Gallery, or the Auditorium of the Colegio Preparatorio de Xalapa (Xalapa High School), where musicians- and dancers-in-training put on inexpensive and high quality performances for locals and tourists. If you're looking for something cutting-edge and contemporary, the Museum of Science and Technology is an ideal choice. Opened in 1992, the museum boasts 39,000 square feet of interactive exhibitions, a giant screen and a planetarium.