I have done this itinerary with two different groups of friends and it works well. One thing I would change is the coffee stop on day 1. Cafe Iguana is fine but it gets loud and the seating is cramped. Walk one more block to La Casa de la Abuela on Calle Corregidora 822, they have a quiet courtyard and the cafe de olla is 35 pesos and actually tastes like cinnamon, not just sugar water.

For the Fundidora park evening, the Paseo Santa Lucia restaurants are convenient but the tourist pricing is real. If you walk past the canal toward the park's east entrance there is a taco stand called Tacos El Chino that sets up around 7pm. They do trompo tacos for 15 pesos each and the salsa verde is the best I have had in the city. No seating, just eat standing by the metal counter like everyone else.

The Metro tip for day 2 is good but be careful with the timing. The line 1 trains run every 8 minutes during rush hour but drop to every 15 minutes after 8pm. If you are coming back from San Pedro after dinner you might wait longer than expected. The Uber is 80 to 100 pesos and saves the headache.

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this is a solid itinerary, covers all the big spots. one thing i'd add is that the mercado juarez cabrito can be hit or miss depending on the stall. if you want a really solid one without the tourist markup, walk a couple blocks north to El Pastor del Norte on Calle Guerrero. cheaper and the tortillas are handmade.

for day 2, the sendero del pino hike is good but gets crowded by 9am. if you can drag yourself out of bed for a 6am start, you'll have the views mostly to yourself and the morning light over the city is unreal. just bring water, there's nowhere to buy it on the trail.

one thing nobody tells you about the cola de caballo area is that the bus from central de autobuses drops you off at the highway entrance, then you gotta take a local pesero up the hill. it's like 15 pesos and runs every 20 minutes but the drivers will try to charge you gringo price if you look lost. just say "a la cascada" and they'll point you to the right one.

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yeah this is a well-thought-out plan, hits all the right notes without being exhausting. one thing i'd add about day 1 is that the macroplaza itself is huge and kinda empty in the middle of the day, the real charm is the edges with the fountains and the faro del comercio light beam at night. if you're there around sunset the light hits the government palace windows and it looks like gold, great photo spot

for day 2, the galerias monterrey mall is fine but if you want something more local, walk two blocks east to the mercado de artesanias on av. constitución. it's small but has actual handmade stuff from the region, not the same chinese-made souvenirs. the lady at the third stall from the entrance does beautiful rebozos for like 200 pesos, way cheaper than any store

on day 3, if you take the bus to cola de caballo, the pesero drivers up the hill will try to charge you 30 or 40 pesos but the real fare is 15. just hand them a 20 and say "quince" and they'll take it. also the waterfall itself is best after a rainy week when it's really flowing, if it's been dry for a while it's more of a trickle. still pretty but just know what you're getting into

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Good list, the MARCO mention is right but don't skip the bookstore inside it. They have a solid selection of architecture and photography books about the city that you won't find in regular shops, and the cafe in the courtyard is a good spot to rest for a bit.

For the cabrito, I'd actually send people to El Pastor de la 15 on Avenida Venustiano Carranza instead. It's a no-frills spot that's been there forever and the cabrito en salsa is what locals order, not the roasted whole one. About 180 pesos and you get a bowl of frijoles charros on the side.

One thing missing here is the Grutas de García, which is about 45 minutes south of the city. It's a cave system with guided tours that run every hour, and the walk through the chambers takes about 90 minutes. The formations inside are impressive and it's a cool break from the city heat.

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museo del palacio is a good shout from that other comment, but the real hidden gem is the rooftop bar at the hotel santa lucia on the canal. you don't have to stay there to go up, just take the elevator to the top floor and grab a drink. the view of cerro de la silla at golden hour is unbeatable and it's way less crowded than the mirador spots everyone talks about

for the fundidora park bike rental, skip the main booth near the lake and walk 5 minutes to the one by the old furnace. same price but they have better bikes and less wait. i grabbed a cruiser there last month for 100 pesos an hour and had the whole east side of the park to myself

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solid write-up, the Fundidora Park tip is spot on but I'd add that you can also rent those little electric scooters near the lake for like 150 pesos an hour. way more fun than walking if you're covering ground fast, and you can zip over to the old blast furnace they preserved as a museum piece.

for the Barrio Antiguo nightlife, skip the main strip on Calle Colima if you want cheaper drinks. head one block over to Calle Guerrero where the dive bars have micheladas for 40 pesos and the same live music without the tourist markup. El Trece on that street has a killer patio.

also the cabrito recommendation is good but ngl, it's not for everyone. if you're not into goat, try the machacado con huevo at Mercado Juarez for breakfast instead. it's dried beef scrambled with eggs and it's a real regio staple, costs like 80 pesos and will fill you up for that hike

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