Orizaba sits in the cool highlands of Veracruz, halfway in mood between colonial mountain city and busy regional centre. Rivers cut through town, churches and Porfirian buildings fill the centre, and the volcano that shares its name rises beyond the valley. It is one of those Mexican cities that rewards a full day on foot.
The obvious first stop is the Palacio de Hierro, a Belgian iron building often linked to the Eiffel era and now used for tourist information and small museums. From there, the Teleferico de Orizaba and Cerro del Borrego give the best city view, while the Rio Orizaba walk turns the river into a linear park through town.
Orizaba is especially good if you want a Veracruz stop that is not the port. It has mountain air, an easy centre, and enough oddities, viewpoints, and museums to justify breaking the trip between Mexico City, Puebla, and Veracruz.