Dating in Puebla: Best Free Sites & Apps for English Speakers

Puebla’s singles scene

Puebla de Zaragoza is one of Mexico’s largest cities and one of its most historic. Its colonial centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is full of churches, tiled façades and Talavera pottery, and the city is famous for its cuisine, starting with mole poblano and chiles en nogada. It is also an industrial centre, home to a large Volkswagen plant and an Audi factory in the region, which bring engineers and managers from Germany and elsewhere.

Above all, Puebla is a student city. The Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP) is one of the largest universities in Mexico, and the Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP), in Cholula, has a long tradition of international exchanges. That makes for a young, lively dating scene, while the wider city remains fairly traditional and family-oriented.

The right site for you

Outside the universities and the international companies, English is less common in Puebla than in Mexico City or the beach towns, so the Spanish-language sites in our Mexico ranking are a good way to meet locals, especially if you are working on your Spanish.

• be2 for long-term relationships based on personality.
• Solteros con Nivel (Academic Singles) for graduates, academics and professionals in the automotive industry.
• Solteros 50 (Singles50) for over-50s.
• Amigovios and ContactosRapidos for casual contacts.

Tinder, Bumble and Badoo are free and especially busy around the universities. Badoo is widely used in Puebla and works in English as well as Spanish.

From the zócalo to Cholula

The historic centre is perfect for a first date: a walk around the zócalo and the cathedral, a look at the Biblioteca Palafoxiana, then a coffee or a craft beer in one of the old houses. The Callejón de los Sapos and the Barrio del Artista have antiques, artists’ studios and small bars, and they come alive in the evenings and at weekends.

San Andrés Cholula and San Pedro Cholula, just west of Puebla, are where students go out. The streets near the Great Pyramid and the church on top of it are lined with bars, and the view of the Popocatépetl volcano on a clear day is spectacular. Angelópolis, the modern district with shopping centres and restaurants, is popular with young professionals.

University sports, cultural activities, language exchanges and hiking groups heading to the volcanoes or to Atlixco are good ways to meet people beyond the apps.

Etiquette and safety

Poblanos tend to be polite and somewhat reserved at first. Being punctual, courteous and genuinely interested in the city and its food goes a long way. Meet in public, use app-based rides at night and never send money to a match you have not met.

Which site fits you in Puebla?

Puebla is a student city with a traditional core. Four different starting points:

Jonas, 34, engineer at a car plant, living in Angelópolis

He moved from Wolfsburg and wants a real relationship. Solteros con Nivel (Academic Singles) matches his profile. Free tip: a Sunday walk in the historic centre, with lunch at a market stall, is a great first date.

Emily, 21, exchange student at UDLAP in Cholula

Here for a semester and wants to meet people. Bumble and Badoo are free and full of students. Free tip: the walk up to the church on the Great Pyramid at sunset costs nothing.

Fernanda, 33, lecturer at BUAP

She wants someone who shares her values. be2 matches people on personality. Free tip: a coffee in the Barrio del Artista is calm and charming.

Héctor, 59, widowed architect in the centre

He would like companionship again. Solteros 50 (Singles50) is designed for him. Free tip: a weekend trip to Atlixco makes a relaxed second date.

Dating in Puebla: FAQ

Do people in Puebla speak English?

Students and staff at international companies often do, but day-to-day life is in Spanish. Some Spanish will make dating much easier.

Which dating apps are free in Puebla?

Tinder, Bumble and Badoo let you match and chat for free. Our ranked sites offer free registration and paid options.

Where do young people go out in Puebla?

The bars of San Andrés and San Pedro Cholula, the historic centre and the Angelópolis area.