Laredo is the largest inland port of entry in the United States — billions of dollars of trade cross the international bridges here every year, connecting the NAFTA/USMCA supply chain between the United States and Mexico. The city of 250,000 is simultaneously a US city and a binational commercial hub, and the culture that has developed on the US side of the Rio Grande reflects this dual identity completely: over 95% of the population is Hispanic or Latino, Spanish is the working language of daily commerce, and the family connections across the river are as old as the international boundary itself.
The San Agustin Historic District along the Rio Grande preserves Laredo’s Spanish colonial and Mexican heritage — the 1762 San Agustin Church anchors a plaza that has been the civic center since Spanish settlers established Villa de San Agustín de Laredo in 1755. The Republic of the Rio Grande Museum occupies the building that served as the capital of the short-lived 1840 republic that declared independence from Mexico before being suppressed — a piece of Texas history so obscure that most Texans have never heard of it, and so specific to Laredo that no other place can claim it.
The Washington’s Birthday Celebration — two weeks in February centered on George Washington’s birthday — is Laredo’s defining annual event and the largest such celebration in the United States. The Abrazo Ceremony at the international bridge, where a child from Laredo and a child from Nuevo Laredo embrace as a symbol of the binational relationship, has been performed since 1898. Four hundred thousand visitors attend the festival over its two-week run.
Nuevo Laredo, the city of 400,000 across the bridge, is one of the most important commercial cities in Mexico. The Guerrero Avenue market area and traditional restaurants reflect the Tamaulipas cooking tradition — the mole, the cabrito, and the border cuisine that is distinct from northern or central Mexican food.
The Arrival
Drive I-35 south from San Antonio through the South Texas brush country and arrive at the largest inland port of entry in America, where Spanish is the working language and the bridge to Mexico is a 10-minute walk.
Why Laredo is quintessentially Texas
Laredo is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Texas — founded as Villa de San Agustín de Laredo by the Spanish in 1755, it predates the Texas Republic, the Mexican government, and the United States by generations. The city has been under six flags (Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of the Rio Grande, the Republic of Texas, and the United States) — more than any other city and one more than the standard “Six Flags of Texas” count acknowledges.
The binational character is not a tourism narrative — it’s a lived reality. Families have relatives on both sides of the Rio Grande. Workers cross legally every day for employment on both sides. The commercial relationship between Laredo and Nuevo Laredo is one of the most economically significant points of contact between the US and Mexican economies. The bridges handle $200 billion in trade annually.
The Washington’s Birthday Celebration reflects Laredo’s specific identity: a Mexican-American community that embraces an American patriotic symbol with genuine enthusiasm because the relationship with the American republic has, despite everything, been their identity for 177 years. The colonial costumes, the Princess Pageant (a debutante tradition with 80+ years of history), and the Abrazo at the bridge express something real about what it means to be from Laredo.
What To Explore
San Agustin Plaza and the colonial historic district, the Republic of the Rio Grande Museum, the international bridges to Nuevo Laredo, and the Washington's Birthday Celebration in February.
What should you do in Laredo?
San Agustin Historic District — Free to explore. The 1762 San Agustin Church, the colonial plaza, and the surrounding historic buildings are the oldest continuously inhabited civic space in Texas.
Republic of the Rio Grande Museum — $5. The 1830s building that served as the capital of the short-lived Republic is now a museum covering this obscure but fascinating chapter of Texas/Mexican border history.
International Bridge Walk to Nuevo Laredo — US passport required. The Gateway to the Americas Bridge is the main pedestrian crossing. Guerrero Avenue market area, traditional restaurants, and the Nuevo Laredo shopping district are the primary draws.
Lake Casa Blanca International State Park — 5 miles east. 1,700-acre lake with swimming, fishing, and camping. The most accessible outdoor recreation near Laredo.
Washington’s Birthday Celebration — February. Two-week festival with parades, the Princess Pageant, and the Abrazo Ceremony at the international bridge. The biggest event in South Texas.
The Mall del Norte — The primary shopping mall in Laredo. A significant retail destination for Mexican shoppers crossing north for US goods.
Laredo Center for the Arts — Local gallery and performance space with rotating exhibits and cultural programming.
- Getting There: San Antonio is 2.5 hours north on I-35 — the most heavily-traveled trade corridor in North America. Fly into Laredo International Airport for direct access.
- Best Time: February for the Washington's Birthday Celebration — the signature event. October–April for comfortable temperatures. Avoid the summer heat (100–110°F).
- Crossing to Nuevo Laredo: Check State Department advisories before crossing. The crossing has been variable — verify current conditions. US passport required.
- Don't Miss: The Republic of the Rio Grande Museum. The 10-month republic that declared independence from Mexico in 1840 with Laredo as its capital is one of the most obscure and interesting events in Texas history. The museum tells it well.
- Avoid: Coming to Laredo in July or August without a plan for the heat. The South Texas summer is genuinely extreme and the outdoor historic district exploration is best in the morning.
- Texas Truth: Laredo is the city that has been under six flags — one more than the standard Texas count. The Republic of the Rio Grande is the sixth flag. The Republic lasted 283 days before Mexican forces ended it. The museum is worth the $5.
The Food
Authentic South Texas and Tamaulipas border cuisine — best and most authentic when you cross to Nuevo Laredo, but excellent on the US side too.
Where should you eat in Laredo?
- Taqueria El Taco Tote — Laredo’s most famous taqueria chain, started here before expanding across the border. Authentic border tacos with house-made tortillas and salsa. $
- La Mexicana Bakery — The best pan dulce and bakery goods in Laredo. The concha and empanadas are the morning essentials. $
- El Dorado Mexican Restaurant — Traditional Mexican-American cuisine with mole, enchiladas verdes, and the border cooking tradition. $$
- Sirloin Stockade — The Laredo steakhouse tradition. Generous cuts at prices that reflect the city’s affordability. $$
- Nuevo Laredo restaurants — Cross the bridge for the most authentic Tamaulipas cooking. The Cadena Street area near the Guerrero market has the best traditional options — carnitas, mole negro, and cabrito.
- Vera’s Mexican Restaurant — Border Tex-Mex serving Laredo’s working population. The carne guisada and the chiles rellenos are the signature dishes. $
- La Posada Hotel Restaurant — The historic hotel restaurant with the best setting in the historic district for a sit-down meal. $$
Where to Stay
Affordable border city lodging — Laredo runs cheap by Texas standards except during the Washington's Birthday Celebration.
Where should you stay in Laredo?
Budget ($50–$85/night): Chain hotels on Saunders Street and the commercial corridors at very affordable rates. The Hampton Inn and La Quinta are reliable options.
Mid-range ($85–$150/night): La Posada Hotel in the historic district is the atmospheric choice — a restored historic hotel near the San Agustin Plaza and the international bridge.
Washington’s Birthday Warning: Hotel rates in Laredo double or triple during the February celebration. Book months in advance if visiting for the festival.
Before You Go
Everything you need to know before visiting the oldest city in Texas and one of the most important trade gateways in North America.
When is the best time to visit Laredo?
February for the Washington’s Birthday Celebration — the defining annual event with 400,000 visitors and the Abrazo Ceremony that has been performed since 1898. October through April for comfortable temperatures and the most pleasant conditions for exploring the historic district and crossing to Nuevo Laredo. Summer (June–September) is extremely hot (100–110°F) and the outdoor activities are best done in early morning.
Laredo is the South Texas destination that gives you the oldest continuously inhabited city in Texas, the most significant US-Mexico trade crossing, and the Washington’s Birthday Celebration in a package that no other Texas city can replicate. Combine with Eagle Pass 90 miles north (Fort Duncan, Kickapoo culture) for a complete South Texas border circuit. Find more South Texas destinations on our destinations page or plan your trip at our Texas travel guide.