Getting there
By air — San Luis Potosi’s airport, Aeropuerto Ponciano Arriaga (SLP), sits about 20 km northeast of the center, roughly a 30 to 45 minute drive depending on traffic (approximate). It’s a modest airport with mostly domestic routes, Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Cancun, plus a handful of US connections (Houston, Dallas), so many travelers connect through CDMX or Monterrey. There’s no train or cheap shuttle worth the hassle; take an authorized airport taxi or a ride-hail (Didi and Uber both work in the city) into town.
By bus — For most travelers this is the practical way in, and the network is excellent. Buses use the Central de Autobuses (Terminal Terrestre Potosina, or “la TTP”), southeast of downtown. First-class operators here include ETN, Primera Plus, Omnibus de Mexico and Futura/Grupo Estrella Blanca. Approximate ride times and fares:
- Mexico City (Terminal Norte): about 5 hours, roughly 600 to 900 MXN
- Guanajuato or Queretaro: about 2.5 to 3 hours, roughly 300 to 500 MXN
- Zacatecas: about 2.5 hours, roughly 300 to 450 MXN
- Guadalajara: about 5 to 5.5 hours
- Monterrey: about 6 to 7 hours
First-class buses are air-conditioned, reliable and comfortable; ETN and Primera Plus have the roomiest seats. From the terminal, take a ride-hail the last stretch into the center rather than walking.
By car — San Luis Potosi sits at the crossing of major highways (the 57 spine between Mexico City and the northern border, plus routes west to Guadalajara and east to the Huasteca), so it’s a logical driving stop. The toll roads (cuotas) are in good shape and worth paying for. Standard regional advice holds: drive between cities in daylight, keep the tank up, and stick to toll roads over free ones. The mountain road east toward the Huasteca and the switchbacks up to Real de Catorce are slow and winding.
Getting around
Once you’re in the center you won’t need transport at all. The historic core is flat, compact and made for walking, and everything on your list, the plazas, the Templo del Carmen, the markets, the museums, is within a few blocks. Watch the uneven cantera-stone sidewalks and steps more than anything else; they’re the real hazard, especially after dark.
For the bus terminal, the airport, or outlying spots like the Centro de las Artes Centenario, use Didi or Uber, both of which are cheap, plentiful and remove any fare haggling. Street taxis exist and are fine, but agree the price before you get in. City buses are cheap but not worth decoding for a short stay. There’s no useful bike-share or metro. If you’re prone to motion sickness, note that the day-trip roads, not the flat city, are where it bites: the tunnel-and-switchback climb to Real de Catorce and the mountain descent toward the Huasteca both twist hard. See day trips for what those drives involve.