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How to Plan a Trip to Mexico City — Including the Best Restaurants, Hotels, and Things to Do

Discover the best hotels, restaurants, and things to do in Mexico City with this travel editor–curated guide.

travel guide to mexico city

Best Hotels and Resorts

Best things to do, best shopping, best restaurants, best time to visit, how to get there, cities and neighborhoods to visit, how to get around.

Stephanie Pollak/Travel + Leisure

Tenochtitlan, el Distrito Federal, la Ciudad de México — Mexico City has been known by many names in its centuries-long history. Home to more than 21 million residents, this sprawling metropolitan area is the capital of Mexico and one of the  best cities in the world , as determined by Travel + Leisure's reader-voted 2022  World's Best Awards .

"You can’t understand Mexico without first understanding Mexico City," Zachary Rabinor , a T+L A-List advisor and the CEO of Journey Mexico , said. "The vibrant capital encapsulates the country’s diversity culturally, historically, politically, artistically, musically, creatively, and more. If you want to know what is going on in Mexico, start with Mexico City."

Museums, cultural experiences, and incredible food can be found around every corner in CDMX. Even if you're in town for a single day, try to balance your itinerary with old and new. Head downtown to admire classic Mexican murals inside the Palacio de Bellas Artes and to grab an elote from a street vendor along the Zócalo, Mexico City's main square. Museum hop through town, stopping at Museo Frida Kahlo, Castillo de Chapultepec, and Museo Soumaya. And once you've worked up an appetite, get tacos al pastor from a local taquería — it won't be hard to find. And if you can't see everything in one trip, Mexico City will happily welcome you back. Here are our top recommendations for travelers in this incredible capital city.

Top 5 Can’t Miss

  • Casa Azul was once the home of famed artist Frida Kahlo and now functions as a museum filled with her work.
  • Stop in at Mercado de Artesanias La Ciudadela for handmade goods from all over Mexico.
  • Café de Tacuba in Mexico City's center is more than 100 years old and has been frequented by many famous guests.
  • Museo Soumaya houses one of the most impressive art collections in the city, and it has a stunning exterior made of more than 16,000 reflective hexagons.
  • Galería Mexicana de Diseño sells incredible home goods, perfect for those looking to take a little of Mexico City back home.

The St. Regis Mexico City

The St. Regis Mexico City sits on Reforma Avenue, one of capital's busiest streets and a hub for business headquarters and embassies. It also puts you close to a number of key landmarks, including the iconic Ángel de la Independencia statue and Chapultepec Park. Check out on-site restaurant Diana — named after the fountain of the Greek goddess just outside — for classic Mexican dishes like tuna tostadas, or modern creations like avocado pizza and cauliflower ceviche. This hotel is consistently voted one of the best hotels in Mexico City by T+L readers.

Courtesy of The St. Regis

Casa Decu Condesa

On the tree-lined streets of Condesa, you will find Casa Decu , an art deco dream filled with funky tile floors, private patios, and a rooftop restaurant and garden space. The 27-room boutique hotel is pet-friendly and offers continental breakfast each morning. Its location is great, too; it's just a short walk from Parque México, a former horse-racing track turned into a park, plus lots of cozy cafés and the famous Esquina de Chilaquil, a street stand serving up only-in-Mexico City tortas de chilaquiles that locals line up for.

Ignacia Guest House

At Ignacia Guest House , guests choose from black, yellow, pink, blue, or green rooms, each one decked out from floor to ceiling in its named hue. This historic estate house is in La Roma, one of Mexico City's trendiest neighborhoods, and just blocks from Metro and Metrobús stations and across the street from the cool community space and outdoor garden, Huerto Roma Verde .

Las Alcobas, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Mexico City

Las Alcobas , a 35-room boutique hotel, is in the posh Polanco neighborhood, right near Chapultepec Park. It was voted the  No. 2 city hotel in Mexico  in T+L's 2022 World’s Best Awards, and travel writer Sophie Dodd reported for T+L that her favorite part of the hotel is its bath service. "I ordered a 'Jet Lag' bath, which meant a staff member came to run the bath for me (a spectacular luxury) and infused it with a sachet of herbs designed to help me relax and reset after the nearly six-hour flight."

El Patio 77

Each accommodation in the eight-room El Patio 77 is named and styled after states surrounding Mexico City. It's an intimate space, occupying an 1890s mansion in the San Rafael neighborhood, and the hotel prides itself on its eco-friendliness, with a rainwater collection system and gray water recycling program. Even some of the furniture is upcycled, giving the hotel an eclectic (yet still luxurious) feel.

El Centro Histórico

Mexico City's Centro Histórico, or Historic Center, is where centuries-old constructions clash with American-inspired skyscrapers, street markets, and more museums than you can count. "From ancient Aztec times to modern-day Mexico, the square has been an important gathering place through the centuries," Rabinor said. "Within the Zócalo, you'll see symbolic buildings from pre-Colombian, colonial, and contemporary Mexico."

Highlights here include the Palacio de Bellas Artes , filled with Diego Rivera murals and fine arts exhibitions; the Zócalo and its Metropolitan Cathedral ; and Mercado Ciudadela, home to aisles and aisles of craft stalls selling artisan goods. Rabinor also recommends visiting Avenida Francisco Madero, a pedestrian-only street where "you can best soak in all the energy of the busy capital."

La Casa Azul/Museo Frida Kahlo

Get your tickets well advance to tour Casa Azul , which is where Frida Kahlo lived most of her life. Expect to see many pieces of her artwork here, plus rooms left so untouched that it feels like the artist could return at a moment's notice. A ticket to this museum also gives you entry to Diego Rivera's Museo Anahuacalli , a 15-minute drive away.

Stephanie Pollak/Travel + Leisure

Bosque de Chapultepec

Not even New York's Central Park can beat this green space, a massive urban forest spanning nearly three square miles. The Bosque de Chapultepec is packed with gems, including the Castillo de Chapultepec (the only castle in the Americas ever occupied by European royalty), Museo Nacional de Antropología , and Museo Tamayo Arte Contemporáneo .

Museo Soumaya

Arguably the most dazzling museum in Mexico City, with an exterior that twists to the sky and is made of more than 16,000 reflective hexagons, Museo Soumaya houses one of the most impressive art collections in town. Not-to-miss works include Auguste Rodin's "La Porte de l'Enfer" and "The Thinker."

Parque México

Parque México is sometimes called "the lungs of the city" — the tree-lined green space can either be a place to pick up the pace for a good walk, or a place to catch your breath and slow way down. Head to the park's main plaza to watch break dancers, musicians, and quinceñeras collide. When you're ready for a snack, go to Churrería El Moro for delicious ready-made churros and a Mexican hot chocolate

Read More: 26 Best Things to Do in Mexico City, From Fine Art to Fine Dining and Shopping

Mercado de Artesanias La Ciudadela

If you're looking for handmade goods, Mercado de Artesanias La Ciudadela is the place to go. This market in Colonia Centro has ceramics, silver jewelry, wool blankets, and art made from all over Mexico. Be sure to bring some cash, as not all vendors accept credit cards.

Barrio Alameda

The Barrio Alameda , constructed in the late 1920s, bills itself as an "urban meeting point," where food, drink, fashion, and art mingle. Shop for vintage clothes, old-school vinyls, and handmade patches from various storefronts, all under one roof.

Jorge Castro/Travel + Leisure

Galería Mexicana de Diseño

If you're looking to take a piece of Mexico back home, hit up this gallery for its variety of modern Mexican wares. Whether you opt for an Acapulco chair, hand-felted print rugs, or a monstera-leaf gold lamp, every item can be shipped home for you.

Routinely picked as one of the best restaurants in Mexico City, Contramar serves the freshest seafood in town. Make a reservation beforehand, and be sure to order the tuna tostadas, and pescado a la talla — Contramar's signature snapper, split in half and topped with red chili sauce on one side and parsley sauce on the other.

Pastelería Maque

Make your brunch dreams come true at this French-inspired pasterlería near the leafy Parque México. Sip on a cappuccino and people watch from the wide-open windows, or head upstairs, where you can tear open a fresh-baked concha and dig into a steaming plate of enmoladas .

Café de Tacuba

Mexico City's historic center has a number of well-known restaurants, but perhaps none as famous as Café de Tacuba . More than one hundred years old, this restaurant has been popular among presidents and artists alike, and is even where Diego Rivera had his (first) wedding reception. If you're looking for a true, traditional Mexican meal, you'll find it here.

Taquería Orinoco

Get a taste of northern Mexico at Taquería Orinoco , a chain from Monterrey with seven locations. Try tacos de chicharrón , bistec , or al pastor , all served up on flaky flour tortillas. Corn tortillas are an option, too, as is a  costra , or a crust of cheese layered across the top. Since these taco shops are sometimes open until 4 or 5 a.m., they're very popular with the city's late-night partygoers.

Los Danzantes

Snag a patio spot at Los Danzantes in Coyoacán, one of the best places in the neighborhood's central square to grab a bite and watch as street performers, vendors, and locals pass you by. Here you can try dishes like chapulines (fried grasshoppers) served with queso fresco and guacamole, duck tacos, and squash blossom–stuffed chicken breast.

Mexico City is always bustling, no matter what time of the year you decide to go. According to Rabinor, the sunniest and driest months are the end of October through March.

In late October, you'll see Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations and decor. Orange and pink marigolds pop up all over town, adorning altars to the city's departed. If you check-in before Sept. 15, that's the day that Mexico's president yells out in celebration at 11 p.m. from the National Palace, marking the country's independence from Spain and ushering in further cries (and parties) from locals. If you're looking for a more low-key time to visit, wait until spring, when the purple jacarandas bloom all over town.

Rabinor also noted that locals go to the beach during major holidays and in the summer, so while this "diminishes the local color," it also means visitors can enjoy a "quieter time, with less people and traffic in our famously congested city."

Mexico City is best reached by flying into its international airport: Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez (MEX). While there are direct flights from U.S. hubs like Los Angeles (LAX), New York City (JFK), and Phoenix (PHX), travelers can get better fares with layovers closer to the border, like the Dallas/Forth Worth area (DFW) and Miami (MIA).

Mexico City is a little bit like New York in that it's made up of  alcaldías , which are similar to boroughs. There are 16 total, but during your stay, you'll most likely only stop through three or four. Each  alcaldía  is made up of  colonias , or neighborhoods. Below are five that are popular with guests.

El Centro Histórico : Mexico City's downtown is always bustling, and it's where many of the city's residents go on weekends. You might see protesters in the main square, vendors hawking their wares through the streets, and visitors brunching among the surrounding terraces. According to Rabinor, "[Centro Histórico is] the beating heart of not just the city, but the entire country."

La Roma : Filled with fin de siècle mansions, art deco dwellings, and art nouveau–style storefronts, any architecture lover needs to stroll through this colonia . Originally a middle-class residential neighborhood, it was left destroyed after a massive earthquake rocked Mexico City in 1985. Today, La Roma has found new life as a hot spot for artists, 20-somethings, and tourists from all over.

La Condesa : La Roma's fancier cousin next door, La Condesa is a tree-lined paradise built for walking. Parque México and Parque España are popular places for residents to relax, and cafés, bookstores, and restaurants abound in this neighborhood. (Note: Rabinor's expert advice to travelers is to remember that "Mexico City is much more than Roma, Condesa, and Polanco.") Coyoacán : This is the neighborhood that Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera called home, and Coyoacán has built a reputation for itself as a bohemian haven. Don't miss the performers around the main square's kiosco and the Parroquia San Juan Bautista Coyoacán next door – which has a cafe in the back if you're ready to take a break – along with the Mercado de Artesanias and the Mercado de Coyoacán, each selling snacks, artisan goods, and more.

Polanco : A trip to Mexico City isn't complete for any shopping lover without a visit to Polanco's Avenida Presidente Masaryk. If that's not your style, a number of Michelin-worthy restaurants like Pujol and Quintonil are just down the road, and the neighborhood's brick-lined streets are just a few blocks from the Bosque de Chapultepec. Rabinor recommends this neighborhood for first-time visitors, noting that it's ideal for "those who prefer their travel scenery and vibe very manicured and posh."

Cars and bikes : You most likely won't need a car to get around in Mexico City, though it can be more convenient if you're making a day trip to a neighboring town. (Rabinor swears by Waze to manage the congestion and traffic.) You can also rent bikes from the city's Ecobici program, or apps like Dezba .

Trains: Mexico City's Metro system is one of the most expansive and affordable in the world. Buy a reloadable card to get around (for 15 pesos, or about 75 cents). This card will work across the city's transit system, and you can load it up in Metro ticket booths or the machines outside Metrobús stations. Each ride costs five pesos, which is roughly 20 cents. Note that both the Metro and Metrobús have women-only cars, and that they usually have separate boarding zones.

Buses: In Mexico City's central neighborhoods and wherever the Metro doesn't go, the Metrobús does. They have their own lane of traffic, so they can be faster than taking a car or taxi, and a ride is just six pesos. The city's trolebús functions similarly, while the RTP buses (for Red de Transporte de Pasajeros , or Passenger Transport Network) cost between two and seven pesos. At the same bus stops, you may see non-city buses or vans taking passengers. If you're curious where these go, they'll have their stops scrawled on the windshield.

Taxis: It won't be hard to flag down a pink and white taxi in most parts of town. You can also order one by downloading the city's official "App CDMX," available on iPhone and Android. You can use the app to pay with a debit or credit card, but most drivers still prefer cash.

Ride service: Uber, Beat, and Cabify are just a few of the rideshare apps in town. (Pro-tip: Rabinor said the quickest and easiest way to get a taxi in Mexico City is Uber.) If Uber's surge rate seems pricey during rush hour, check Beat or Cabify to see if you can find a deal.

Travel Mexico Solo

Mexico City Travel Guide

Your ultimate guide to mexico city, mexico, mexico city travel guide contents.

Location | Getting There | Where to Stay  |  Things to Do  |  Mexico City Tours  |  Travel Safety  | Mexico City Blogs |  FAQ

mexico city travel guide

Mexico city travel: at a glance.

Mexico City (aka CDMX or DF) is the fifth largest city on Earth, and North America’s biggest (and coolest ) city!

From hip neighborhoods  and Aztec history, to Xochimilco ‘s colorful boats, the amazing Teotihuacan UNESCO World Heritage Site, and of course, delicious tacos , there’s nowhere on Earth quite like Mexico City DF.

🤔 What is CDMX and DF?

You’ll often see Mexico City abbreviated as CDMX. This stands for Ciudad de Mexico en español, which means “Mexico City.”

You may also hear it called “DF,” which is short for  distrito federal , or federal district. 🗣 Note: DF is pronounced day-effay , not dee-eff.

Mexico City DF is about the equivalent of the “DC” in Washington DC. However, Mexico City is both a state and a district in Mexico, unlike Washington DC, which is only a U.S. district.

Mexico City Travel: Know before you go

downtown mexico city historic center

  • ✈️ Airport: Benito Juarez International Airport AKA Mexico City International (code: MEX)

⏰ Time Zone: Central Daylight Time (GMT-5)

  • 💰 Currency: Mexican Peso
  • 🗣 Language: Spanish, though English is common, and you may even hear some indigenous languages
  • 🎫 Mexico Visa: The vast majority of travelers do not need a visa for Mexico — this includes Americans, Canadians, Japanese and most Europeans. Head here to see if you need a Mexico travel visa.
  • 🔌 Electricity Socket : You’ll mostly find Type A (two-prong) and Type B (three-prong) — the same as used in the United States. For visitors from other countries, you’ll need this  universal travel adaptor .
  • 📲 Mexico SIM Card : Wondering, Do I need a SIM card for Mexico? The answer is yes, every traveler will want a one for the reasons explained in this article all about the best Mexico SIM cards .
  • 🚙 Car Rentals : The Mexico rental car process can be a bit daunting, and many people are apprehensive to drive in a foreign country. I get it! Check out this guide to Renting a Car in Mexico for info on the process.

What’s the best time to visit Mexico City?

With its temperate weather, Mexico City is a year-round destination. However, October to April are the ideal months for Mexico City travel because this is the dry season.

It can be cold during the winter nights (think 45°F or 7°C at night from December to February), so some prefer the rainy season of May to September because it’s much warmer.

Where is Mexico City located?

Mexico City is located in Central Mexico — in ( about ) the dead center of the country! It borders seven other states, and makes for a great home base to explore Central Mexico on all these great Mexico City day trips .

Mexico City Map

What state is Mexico City in?

Mexico City is actually its own state — one of the 32 states in Mexico . However, this was a somewhat recent change, and before it became its own state, it was a part of Estado de Mexico (Mexico State).

What’s the best way to get to Mexico City?

teotihuacan tours hot air balloon tour

The Mexico City Airport is the largest airport in Mexico, and you can find direct flights to Mexico City from many places all over the world.

The easiest, safest and best way to get from Mexico City Airport to your hotel is via private shuttle service , but you can also catch a taxi or Uber, or take the Metro, bus or other public transportation.

🚕💨 Note: If you’re planning to take Uber, make sure you have a Mexico SIM Card so you can call one. Trust me on this, the free Mexico City Airport WiFi is always spotty, so you’ll need data to call your Uber.

Best neighborhoods in Mexico City

Wondering where to stay in Mexico City? The majority of visitors stick to the Roma and Condesa area, or Polanco and Reforma area. These are safe and central neighborhoods, close to many things to do in Mexico City !

The four areas highlighted below are where I recommend all travelers stay, but Coyoacan and Centro Historico (Downtown) are also good options.

parque mexico in la condesa | mexico city travel guide

Roma & Condesa

From beautiful architecture, pretty parks, walkability, cute cafes, street art, street tacos, and a chill vibe, Roma and Condesa are two of the best Mexico City neighborhoods. These sister neighborhoods are located next to one another. 

Colonia Roma (Rome Colony) consists of Roma Norte  (North Rome) and Roma Sur (South Rome); many prefer Roma Norte, though both are nice. You’ll sometimes see Condesa referred to by its official name,  La Condesa (The Countess).

golden angel statue on reforma avenue | mexico city travel guide, angel de la independancia

Polanco & Reforma

While Roma and Condesa have a hip feel, Polanco and Reforma are all about luxury. In fact, Polanco is known as the most posh area in Mexico City, and its main street, Avenida Presidente Masaryk, is called the Rodeo Drive of Mexico City .

Reforma is the name of one of Mexico’s main streets, Avenida Reforma , but also the neighborhood’s name. In Reforma, you’re right next to Chapultepec Park , and surrounded by skyscrapers, upscale hotels, cool street art and more.

Best things to do in Mexico City

Besides all the mouth-watering  Mexico City tacos 🌮 you’re going to want to devour, there are also a good amount of Mexico City day trips just outside of the city to see the beautiful nature, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, colorful colonial cities, pueblos magicos (magic towns), and much more.

Discover some of the Mexico City highlights below ⤵

travel guide to mexico city

Xochimilco Boat Cruise

travel guide to mexico city

Teotihuacan Pyramids

travel guide to mexico city

Chapultepec Park & Castle

soumaya museum mexico city

Mexico City Museums

travel guide to mexico city

Mexico City Day Trips

Lucha Libre masked Mexican wrestler

Lucha Libre Mexican Wrestling

beautiful large european-style building with golden dome in mexico city

Stroll Centro Historico

tacos al pastor

Eat ( way too many ) Tacos

Las Grutas Tolantongo natural hot spring pools near Mexico City

Grutas de Tolantongo

Best mexico city tours.

Tours in Mexico City are a great way to see the sites and all the surrounding areas — and unless you’re planning to rent a car in Mexico City (I don’t recommend this!) , tours are the best way to get around because transportation costs can add up quickly.

Is Mexico City safe for tourists?

According to experts, you are statistically quite safe while visiting Mexico, including Mexico City. That’s not to say bad things don’t happen in Cancun Mexico City; they do.

As with all big cities, it has good and bad areas. If you stick to these  best neighborhoods in Mexico City , and avoid ones like Tepito and Doctores, you’ll likely be be safe in Mexico City.

Millions of Americans go to Mexico on vacation every year, so if we play the numbers game, the number of incidents is very small… When I’m asked if Mexico is a safe place to go travel on vacation, my response is  yes . —Carlos Barron, FBI Veteran (source:  Forbes )

As with traveling anywhere, you’ll also need to follow general travel safety measures, like not walking home alone at night and staying aware of yourself and surroundings. For an added safety measure, pack these  travel safety items , dress in a way so your Mexico City outfits blend in with the locals, and buy a Mexico SIM card .

Is Mexico City safe for solo travelers?

On a personal note, I lived in Mexico City by myself for one year, and felt quite safe. Now, this wasn’t magic; I made it a priority to stay safe by not walking home alone at night, never drinking too much, etc. Check out my Mexico City Solo Travel Guide for more info on Mexico travel safety for solo female travelers.

What’s the best travel insurance for Mexico?

travel insurance for mexico paperwork

This is a question I get a lot as a Mexico travel writer and Mexico expat. To determine which Mexico travel insurance is best for you , consider factors like the policy’s total cost, your deductible, the coverage you need, your medical benefits, etc.

🏆 In general, I only ever recommend three companies to purchase Mexico travel insurance from:

  • World Nomads — For general travelers and adventure travelers.
  • SafetyWing — For general travelers and digital nomads in Mexico.
  • Travel Insurance Master — Mexico travel insurance search tool, for those who want to compare policies.
  • 👉 Click on any of the links above to get a FREE quote on your policy!

Mexico City Blogs: Learn more about Mexico City travel 🇲🇽

people in the Mexico City Day of the Dead Parade

Mexico City Day of the Dead Parade 2024: Ultimate Guide

two people in the mexico city day of the dead parade

Mexico City Day of the Dead 2024: Best Things to Do & More

teotihuacan pyramids on a mexico city to teotihuacan trip

Mexico City to Teotihuacan: 5 Best Ways to Get There in 2024

Mexico city travel: frequently asked questions, can you drink the water in mexico city.

No — Unfiltered Mexico tap water is not safe for human consumption. However, you will need to keep drinking water and to stay extra hydrated, as Mexico is quite close to the Equator. In fact, dehydration is one of the most common ways people get sick in Mexico. So what can you do?

  • If you’re renting a Mexico City Airbnb or VRBO with a kitchen, you can boil the water before drinking it.
  • You can keep buying bottled water — Though this gets expensive, and is horrible for the planet!
  • Use the Water-To-Go Filterable Bottle . This refillable bottle not only keeps you hydrated, but also filters your water so you don’t get sick in Mexico, and is good for the planet ♻️ Get 15% OFF with code SOLO15!

water bottles

The Water-To-Go Bottle has a built-in, three-stage filtration system that removes 99.9999% of all water-borne contaminants. These include bacteria, microplastics, viruses, heavy metals, chemicals and more. I personally own one, as you can drink Mexico water from any source (even the tap), and be completely safe.

Will I get altitude sickness in Mexico City?

Maybe — Altitude sickness is very random, and can happen to anyone who’s at a high elevation. In case you didn’t know, Mexico City is about 1.5 miles above sea level, a half-mile higher than Denver, Colorado, “The Mile High City.”

For this reason,  everyone  who’s traveling to Mexico City should come prepared. Check out this guide — Mexico City Altitude Sickness: How to Prevent & Treat It .

packing list for mexico

🧳 Mexico Packing list

Wondering what else you need on your packing list for Mexico? Check out this guide — Ultimate Packing List for Mexico + FREE Checklist Download !

What’s the Mexico City weather like?

mexico city weather chart

Weather-wise, Mexico City has what is known as the Eternal Spring climate, meaning it’s never super hot or super cold — so you really can visit year-round. However, during the Mexico City rainy season from about April to September, it can rain quite a bit.

The best time for Mexico City travel is during the dry season, from about October to April . The summers are nice as well, just with a much higher chance of rain.

  • The prettiest time of year in CDMX is from (approx.) February to early-April, when the bright purple jacaranda trees are in bloom!
  • This also coincides with the Mexico butterfly migration at the Piedra Herrada Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary , located in the nearby town of Valle de Bravo . From about November to March, millions (maybe even billions ) of monarchs travel to Mexico from Canada.
  • The city hosts the annual Parade of Alebrijes , the Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) parade, and other festivities during the last week in October.

Is Mexico City worth visiting?

travel guide to mexico city

Yes — Mexico City CDMX is a unique Mexico destination that so many types of travelers will want to check out.

If you love big cities, you must visit Mexico City — the 5th largest city on Earth! For travelers who love culture, there are three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Mexico City, and abut 150 Mexico City museums .

Foodies will also fall in love with Mexico City, famed for both its street food tacos and Michelin Star Mexico City restaurants alike.

How many days do I need in Mexico City?

Mexico City is one of the biggest cities in the world — and the largest city in both Mexico, and all of North America. Realistically, you could spend a whole year there, and never run out of incredible things to do in Mexico City ! For a first time trip, four full days seems to be a sweet spot.

As with all big cities, you’ll want to have a great itinerary in place to make the most of your trip. This 4 Day Mexico City Itinerary takes you neighborhood by neighborhood, so you don’t miss any of the best things to see in Mexico City.

🗣 Mexico Language

Mexico Fun Fact : There’s actually no official language of Mexico!

Spanish is the most widely-spoken, so some mistakenly say Spanish is the official language of Mexico. However, the government actually recognizes 68 national languages, including the Nahuatl Aztec language, and the Maya language.

💰 Mexico Currency

Mexican Peso — Exchange rates vary, but have hovered around $18-21 pesos to $1 USD for about the last decade. You will find some places that take U.S. dollars, but usually at an unfavorable rate, so stick to using pesos in Mexico .

☀️ Mexico Weather

Mexico is a big country — the 7th largest on Earth, in fact! It’s hard to generalize the weather in Mexico, because it will vary greatly by where you’re traveling.

In general, temperatures are mostly mild everywhere all year long, though summers on the coast are hot and humid, and winters in Central and Northern Mexico are on the colder side. Throughout the whole country, the rainy season runs from (about) April through September.

✈️ Mexico Busy Season & Slow Season

• Mexico Busy Season: The busy season in Mexico runs October to March, as this is the dry season and you’ll get the best weather. December is the busiest month for tourism in Mexico.

• Mexico Slow Season : If you don’t mind some rain, you’ll often find the best travel deal during the Mexico slow season of April to September. Do keep in mind that June 1-November 1 is Hurricane Season, and Mexico beaches are all susceptible.

• Mexico Shoulder Season : The shoulder season is that magical time when prices are still low and the weather is good. The Mexico shoulder season is from about mid-October to November and January to early-April.

🧳 Download your FREE Mexico Packing Checklist here!

Check out this Ultimate Packing List for Mexico — so you know what to pack and what NOT to pack for Mexico! This article offers advice on packing for Mexico cities, and packing for a Mexico beach vacation.

Beyond what Mexico outfits and clothing you’ll want to bring, here are a few extra things to consider:

• Filterable Water Bottle: Mexico is close to the Equator, so you’ll need to stay extra hydrated. In fact, dehydration is one of the most common ways people get sick in Mexico.

A filterable, refillable water bottle not only keeps you hydrated, but also filters your water so you don’t get sick in Mexico.

The Water-To-Go Bottle has a built-in, three-stage filtration system that removes 99.9999% of all water-borne contaminants. These include bacteria, microplastics, viruses, heavy metals and chemicals.

• Mexico SIM Card: Want to be able to use your phone in Mexico?! Of course you do! Pick up a TELCEL Mexico SIM card before your trip, and swap it out on the plane while you’re waiting to exit, so you have phone and data service the second you arrive in Mexico.

•  Anti-Hangover Meds: Planning to party hardy?! Make sure you’re not wasting any of your precious travel time with a hangover. Liquid I.V. has about 70,000 reviews on Amazon, and is considered the best defense against a hangover.

•  Sun Hat: No matter if you’re headed to the beach or a city, you’ll want to wear a hat to shield yourself from the strong Mexican sun. This cute sun hat is the perfect stylish and practical accessory for your Mexico vacation.

•   Sunscreen: As you’ll want to reapply a few times throughout the day, a light, Mineral-Based Sunscreen is ideal.

Headed to the beach? Do your part to practice responsible tourism in Mexico by only using an eco-friendly reef safe sunscreen while swimming. You can even ditch the sunscreen altogether and opt for a long sleeve swimsuit (AKA rash guard) instead.

•   Bug Repellent: Mosquitoes are common throughout Mexico — especially on the beaches! REPEL Insect Repellent is an eco-friendly brand that’s DEET-free and plant based, with a pleasant lemon and eucalyptus scent. Don’t want to use a spray? Pick up some Mosquito Repellent Bracelets .

The vast majority of travelers do not need a visa for Mexico — this includes Americans, Canadians, and most Europeans. Head here to see if you need a Mexico travel visa.

🤔 What is the mexico FMM ?

When you go through Customs & Immigration to enter the country, you’ll receive your Forma Migratoria Multiple , or FMM Tourist Card (sometimes listed as FMT). If you’re coming by plane or cruise ship, there is no charge; for those driving across the border, the FMM costs about $30USD.

In most circumstances, all visitors get a 180-day (six month) visa — so you can legally stay up to six months!

🚨 Have your FMM on you at all times

Keep in mind that though it’s called an FMM card , it’s actually just a small piece of paper. Keep your FMM on you at all times in your wallet, as this proves your legal status in Mexico. It’s rare, but if an officer stops you, they can ask to see your FMM.

🎫 Don’t lose your FMM!

You need to have your FMM on you at all times, as proof of your legal status in the country.

Be sure to keep track of your FMM, as you’ll have to give it back to an Immigration officer at the airport, cruise port, or land crossing when you’re leaving the country.

If you lose your FMM, there is a $600 peso ($30 USD) cost to replace it, and some paperwork you’ll need to fill out before you can leave the country.

If you’re flying home, plan to arrive at the airport about one hour earlier than you normally would to do the paperwork and pay the fine.

As this question doesn’t have a yes/no answer ( I wish it did! ), I do my best to answer it in depth in this article, Is Mexico Safe for Travelers Right Now ? However, for the most part, Mexico is actually statistically quite safe for all travelers — including solo travelers.

Check my Solo Female Mexico Travel page for more info.

💃 Mexico solo travel guides

Mexico is a big country, and it has plenty of amazing solo female travel destinations — like the ones featured in this article, Mexico Solo Travel: 20 Safe Destinations for Female Travelers .

In it, you’ll get recommendations of places to visit in Mexico, from solo travelers who have actually been to them.

🎧 solo travel podcasts

• Ep. 34 |  Planning your first Mexico solo trip • Ep. 40 | Tips for safe solo travel in Mexico • Ep. 53 | 30 Solo female travel tips, Pt. 1

To answer the question, Is it safe to drive in Mexico? — YES , it’s considered safe to rent a car and drive in Mexico.

As the country is quite large, road trips are a great way to see a lot in a little time, and especially popular in the Yucatan Peninsula and Baja California Peninsula.

The one caveat to Mexico driving safety is that you’ll be in a foreign country, unfamiliar with their laws and customs. Head here for a complete guide to Renting A Car in Mexico: Everything You Need to Know , where you’ll also get 10 useful Mexico driving tips!

🚙💨 Looking for the best Mexico car rental company? Discover Cars works with both local Mexican companies and international companies to get you the best rates. Not only do I recommend them — I also use them!

Find Your Rental Car

As a general rule, you’ll want to know at least a few words of Spanish when visiting anywhere in Mexico. This is both a sign of respect, and will also help you have a better, smoother trip.

If you stick to the more touristic places in Mexico, you should be fine with basic Spanish. For those planning to venture off the beaten path, be advised most people in pueblos  (small towns) speak little to no English.

🗣 Here are some options:

  • Brush up on your Spanish: Use a language-learning program like Rocket Spanish , so you’re confident, and conversational, before your trip.
  • Download the Google Translate App: For this to work at all times, you’ll need a Mexico SIM card with data — as the app won’t work when you’re off-WiFi.
  • Travel with a Mexico phrasebook: This Lonely Planet Spanish Phrasebook is an Amazon best seller, and a great non-digital language assistant!
  • Save this infographic an image on your phone. This way, you have access to these common words, phrases and questions, even when you’re off-WiFi.

Mexico

25 Mexico City Travel Tips for a First-Time Visitor: Local’s Guide

If you are planning to visit Mexico City for the first time, the Mexico City travel tips contained in this post will help you stay safe and make the most of your vacation.  

You are in good hands here because I have been living in Mexico for the last two years, have travelled the country extensively, and have spent a significant amount of time exploring all the different districts of Mexico City (CDMX).

I understand that Mexico is a place that a lot of people are nervous about travelling to for the first time (I definitely was when I first arrived here). So I have compiled a comprehensive list of Mexico City travel tips that I wish I had had when I first visited. 

travel guide to mexico city

Table of Contents

25 Mexico City Travel Tips for a First-Time Visitor 

Spend time exploring the city’s different neighbourhoods .

Mexico City’s various neighbourhoods (“barrios”) are one of the major draws of travelling here. Each one is like a different village in itself, and each one has its own distinctive personality and charm. 

Roma Norte, Roma Sur and Condesa are popular choices among the Digital Nomad and expat crowds and are known for their eclectic boutique stores, quirky coffee shops, craft breweries and colourful street art. Nearby Polanco is an upscale district that could be likened to being Mexico City’s answer to Beverly Hills or New York’s 5th avenue. 

Yet while being home to many luxurious malls and designer stores, Polanco manages to be elegant without being pretentious. There are also lots of great coffee and lunch spots here, with leafy views of Chapultepec Park. 

Coyoacan, while a little out of the way, is another great district that is too frequently overlooked. Coyoacan is to Mexico City what Greenwich Village is to New York. 

Frida Kahlo’s Casa Azul is by far the most famous attraction in this area. However, once you arrive and start meandering around Coyoacan’s leafy streets, you will quickly find that the artist’s former home is the tip of the iceberg of what Coyoacan, with its European-style outdoor cafes and independent art galleries, has to offer. 

Polanco, CDMX

Know which areas to avoid

One key distinctive difference in exploring Mexico City and other Mexican/Latin American cities is that you have to be mindful of where you are walking and which districts you are venturing into. You cannot mindlessly follow Google Maps as you might on say, a sleepy Greek island. 

The Mexico City districts outlined above are generally very safe. The city centre and the area around Palacio de Bellas Artes are mostly safe, but as you may expect in a very crowded area that is popular with tourists, it is definitely somewhere where you need to watch your bags, as pickpockets do operate in this area.

Mexico City is a place where you can be in one area which is completely safe, and then walk a couple of blocks further down the road and find yourself in a sketchy district where you don’t want to be. 

The Plaza Garibaldi district in the centre is known for its live mariachi performances but it is certainly a little rough around the edges. Absent-mindedly walk a couple of blocks further and you can end up in Tepito, a dangerous market area that is known as a place where criminal groups go to purchase basically anything they need, and fake/stolen goods are sold. 

Iztapalapa, Ciudad Neza, Doctores and La Merced Market are other areas that are best avoided. However, these regions are a little further out of town so it is not the case that you could accidentally wander into them. 

travel guide to mexico city

Think carefully about where you want to stay 

Choosing where to stay in Mexico City is an important decision as the location where you base yourself can really impact your trip. You might think that staying as central as possible is the best choice, but the area around the Zocalo and the Palacio de Bellas Artes can be sketchy at night and you likely won’t feel comfortable walking back after going out for dinner. 

Roma Norte and Sur, Condesa, Anzures and Polanco are great areas for first-time travellers. Coyoacan is great if you want something a little quieter and you want to hang out in a creative district loved by artists and writers. 

However, Coyoacan is a bit of a trek from the centre of town and Mexico City traffic is often horrendous, especially at peak times, so you might find it annoying to be spending so much of your trip in transit and stuck in lines of traffic. 

travel guide to mexico city

Check which airport you are flying into 

There are now two airports in Mexico City after the Mexican capital’s second airport “Felipe Ángeles International” (NLU) opened in March 2022 to handle the significant overcrowding experienced by the principal airport. Most international and domestic flights generally still fly to the main Mexico City airport (MEX). 

However, it is important to check the airport code when you book your flights so that you can see exactly where you will be arriving. NLU is almost 40km north of Mexico City, while MEX is 16km east. 

If you have a couple of flight options available, scour through them and try and fly into MEX where possible. It will significantly cut down your travel time and overland expenses getting into the city centre. 

My hotel room with a panoramic view in Anzares/Polanco

Dress appropriately for a Mexican city 

Do check the weather before planning your trip to Mexico City so that you can plan your Mexican packing list accordingly. A lot of people assume that Mexico = constant heat, humidity and sunshine but that is not true of all of Mexico. 

There are so many different climates and geographies encompassed in this vast country and Mexico City is at a much higher altitude than coastal destinations like Cancun, Tulum and Puerto Vallarta so it is generally much cooler. 

During the spring and summer months, it seldom gets hotter than around 77°F-82.4°F (25°C-28°C) here. Temperatures drop in the Fall and in the winter, you are looking at daily averages of around 15°C/59°F so you absolutely need to layer up like an onion and wear a coat at this time. 

I often see online travel guides state that women should wear jeans, not wear skirts, or dress a certain way in Mexican cities and honestly, you should dress however you please and feel comfortable. (Within reason). 

Mexico City is a wonderfully diverse city made up of residents from every race and background from all over the globe. You should feel free to embrace your individual style and sense of expression here. 

That said, I would say that people don’t generally wear flip-flops or beach-style sandals here, even when it is super hot. (Partly due to hygiene concerns in the city, etc). So if you do so, you might find you draw attention to yourself as a tourist. 

Sculpture on display in the Anthropology Museum, CDMX

Make the most of Mexico City’s museums 

There are tons of great museums in Mexico City and in fact, Mexico City is actually believed to be the city with the most museums in the world. (It is a close competition between Mexico City and London, UK and nobody is 100% certain which snags the title). 

It is believed that there are around 170 museums and over 40 galleries in Mexico. That’s enough to keep you occupied for almost a year! 

It can be overwhelming to know which ones to prioritise and choose but there are a few places that stand out. Even if you don’t consider yourself a “museum person”, you should stop by the National Museum of Anthropology.

This is the most visited museum in Mexico (for good reason) and contains extensive exhibition halls that showcase artefacts belonging to various ancient civilisations that have been excavated from across Mexico. If you enjoy art (or you just want to learn more about Mexican artists and culture), check out the MUAC (University Museum of Contemporary Art) , Museo Tamayo and the Palacio de Bellas Artes. 

A restored ancient tomb in the gardens of the Anthropology Museum, CDMX

Check which days Mexico City’s museums are free

Many Mexico City museums are constantly free to enter (such as the Soumaya Museum and Museo Jumex). 

Others are free on certain days of the week. It is worth checking when and where you can get free admission so that you can plan your itinerary accordingly – especially if you are hoping to stick to a budget. 

This article shares several Mexico City museums which are permanently free. Check the websites of the specific museums that interest you to see which days of the week they are free. 

Many museums offer free entry for children under a certain age and are often free for Mexican nationals on Sundays. 

Street art in downtown CDMX

You cannot drink the tap water

You cannot drink the tap water in Mexico City or anywhere else in Mexico for that matter. Although it is purified at the source, it gets contaminated with bacteria, dirt and other bugs en route to your tap so it isn’t safe to drink.

(Even Mexicans don’t drink it). Drinks and ice in bars and restaurants are always perfectly safe to consume because they are prepared with mineral water and businesses get ice delivered. 

Most hotels will give you 2 complimentary bottles of water for each day of your stay. You can also purchase mineral water from any convenience store or kiosk. 

Book your visit to the Frida Kahlo Museum in advance 

Some Mexico City tourist attractions are so popular that you absolutely need to reserve your place to visit in advance and Frida Kahlo’s house is one of them. Tickets to Casa Azul, the home of the late Mexican icon, often sell out a day in advance and there is always a snaked queue down the street to get inside. 

Book your ticket and timeslot online in advance and then show up 15-20 minutes before your time. If you just rock up at the museum without a ticket reservation, you will be turned away. 

It is honestly a good idea to reserve most tours, museums and attractions in advance here, especially if you are travelling in spring and summer. 

Palacio de Bellas Artes on a cloudy day

Read up on the earthquake risk 

A scary reality of travelling to Mexico City is acknowledging that the city is in an area with a lot of seismic activity. CDMX was built on an ancient lake bed so the ground here is not the most stable. 

Not to mention, Mexico as a whole is located in a subduction zone where the Cocos oceanic plate and the North American continental plate meet. Don’t terrify yourself worrying about earthquakes but it pays to read up on what to do in the event of one. 

An earthquake could essentially rock Mexico City at any time. On April 3rd 2023, a mild 5.3 magnitude quake rocked the city , and a major earthquake caused many fatalities and injuries in 2017. 

The Cholula pyramid is a great day trip from CDMX: Woman in floral dress standing in front of Cholula pyramid

Make time to take day trips out from Mexico City 

Mexico City is such a wonderful, culturally rich city with so much to do and see that you could easily spend weeks here and still feel like you haven’t gotten enough time. And with so much to offer, it can be hard to tear yourself away and see other parts of Mexico if you only have a limited amount of time in the country. 

However, since there are literally dozens of wonderful day trips that you can take from Mexico City to archaeological sites, pueblo magicos , hiking trails and cute towns and villages that you can reach in an hour or two, it would be a shame to confine yourself to just one place. 

Some great suggestions are as per the below. 

  • Teotihuacan – An impressive Aztec city known for its grand pyramids
  • Xochimilco canals – Take a gondola ride through the canal network while drinking beers and listening to music
  • Puebla de Zaragoza – Cultured capital of the state of Puebla
  • Cholula – Puebla state pueblo magico home to the world’s largest pyramid
  • La Isla de la Muñecas – Creepy island within the Xochimilco canals where a local man decorated the trees with hundreds of dolls to supposedly appease a child ghost
  • Tepotzotlán – Pueblo magico known for its handicraft markets and baroque churches 

Street art of an indigenous woman playing a flute surrounded by birds in Mexico City. Comex 2021

Carefully plan out your itinerary 

There is so much to see and do in Mexico’s capital that even if you plan a 4-5 day Mexico City itinerary , you won’t be able to fit it all in. Nobody likes to over-plan to the extent that they have a rigid schedule that doesn’t allow them any flexibility or time to relax.

However, it is a good idea to roughly draft out what you want to see and do each day so that you make the most of your time and don’t spend too much time stuck in traffic, going back and forth across town, etc.

Artisanal work on display in the indigenous section of the Anthropology Museum

Suggested first-time Mexico City itinerary

A suggested (super condensed) four-day itinerary for CMDX is as follows:

  • Day one: Have breakfast in Polanco, explore Chapultepec, visit the Anthropology Museum, dinner in an acclaimed CDMX restaurant  
  • Day two: Spend the morning visiting Teotihuacan, explore central CDMX, visit Palacio de Belles Artes, stop by Museo Mural Diego Riviera, walk down Av. 5 de Mayo and see the Casa de Los Azulejos. Experience Mexico City by night
  • Day three: Spend a day in Coyoacan and visit Frida Kahlo’s house
  • Day four: Take a gondola ride at the Xochomlico canals and spend your afternoon admiring the street art and the quirky cafes of Roma and Condesa

travel guide to mexico city

Don’t hesitate to use the metro 

A lot of people seem to be afraid of using the metro in Mexico City and assume that it is dangerous. While you definitely need to watch your belongings and be aware of pickpockets, the same could be said of riding the metro in London, Paris, or anywhere else in the world. 

Taking the metro can save you a fair amount of money too. (Ubers are affordable here but if you are taking Ubers multiple times a day, it quickly adds up). 

Statues of famous mariachi encircle Plaza Garibaldi, CDMX

Pick up a Mexico City Metro card 

Pick up a metro card from a kiosk at any station and top it up with 50-100 pesos or so initially. With a CDMX metro card, you will be able to ride across town for just 5 pesos a journey. 

Avoid the metro at rush hour

The Mexico City metro is the second largest metro network in the Americas (second only to New York) and is used by millions of people every day. While you may not always be able to get a seat, it is usually not overly crowded except at rush hour.

Rush hour is anywhere from around 8 am until 9.30 am, and from around 4 pm until 7 pm. When people are on their daily commute (like in any city), people are often crammed in carriages like sardines at this time. 

travel guide to mexico city

Use Uber to get around safely 

Uber and other domestic Mexican ridesharing apps like Didi and Indrive are the most popular ways for Mexicans to get around. In Mexico City, Uber is considered safer than using street cabs which might come as a surprise. 

However, with the app, you can see a driver’s past references, rating and driver and vehicle information which you simply cannot see if you hail random taxis. Since scams and even “express kidnappings” (where a tourist is held at knifepoint and forced to hold over valuables) are problems in Mexico, you should always use Uber here and never jump into a random taxi. 

travel guide to mexico city

Spend an afternoon in Chapultepec Park 

Chapultepec Park is a gorgeous leafy green space in the heart of Mexico City that offers a welcome respite from the concrete jungle. Chapultepec is actually twice the size of New York Central Park and it is so full of attractions and activities, that you really could dedicate an entire day to exploring it. 

The Museum of Anthropology should be your first stop. Sometimes, you will catch “Danza de los Voladores” performers in the little plaza just outside it. 

Browse through the street stalls selling all manner of snacks, artisanal goods and bric-a-brac, walk along the length of Chapultepec Lake, and stop by the 18th-century Chapultepec castle. This is the only castle in North America to have housed royalty.

Mexican Emperor Maximilian I and Empress Carlota lived here from 1864 until Maximilian’s death three years later. You should buy tickets to the palace online in advance to save waiting if you can. 

Try to spend at least five days in town if you can 

4 or 5 days is a good amount of time for a first visit to Mexico City. You will still have an ultra-jam-packed schedule, but it is enough time to experience the different neighbourhoods, the key museums, and a couple of the highly-rated restaurants that the city has to offer. 

If you dedicate only 2-3 days to Mexico City, you will be rushing around too much and you will find that you have to chop things out of your schedule. If you can spend a week in Mexico City, you can also do a couple of day trips to the villages and archaeological sites nearby. 

Use your common sense safety-wise 

When I visited Mexico City for the first time, even my Mexican friends in the Yucatan were a little concerned about it because historically, the city hasn’t been considered the safest place in the world. Mexico City can be safe , even for solo female travellers, provided you use your common sense. 

Choose to stay in one of the areas recommended above, never walk alone at night (take an Uber instead), be mindful of which areas you are walking into, purchase a theft-proof backpack/money belt, and be aware of your surroundings. 

A lot of this is common sense wherever you go. When you arrive in Mexico City, you might be surprised by just how comfortable you feel here. 

travel guide to mexico city

Be mindful of your budget 

Mexico is not necessarily as cheap as people seem to assume. This is particularly true of Mexico City and in tourist destinations like Cancun, Tulum and Playa Del Carmen. 

You should expect to pay between 100 and 250 pesos for a meal out in neighbourhoods like Coyoacan, Roma and Condesa.

In chic cocktail bars and rooftop bars, a cocktail can cost well over 100 pesos too. For a mid-range budget, you can easily find an Airbnb in Condesa or Coyoacan for less than $50 USD a night, while more upscale hotel rooms and suites close to Chapultepec and Polanco tend to start from around $100 USD. 

You can definitely find dorm beds in centrally-located hostels for as little as $10-$15 a night, and you can save a lot of money if you choose to cook for yourself, eat street food, or seek out cocina economicas. Just don’t assume Mexico is Southeast Asia-level dirt cheap because you will be in for a surprise. 

The admission prices for most museums tend to be between $5 and $15 but of course, many are also free. 

Don’t be afraid to experiment with street food 

People often associate street food with getting sick and being a victim of Montezuma’s revenge but that isnt always the case. (I have been living in Mexico for 2 years and have only been sick twice, and I already have IBS and stomach problems). 

Frankly, if you don’t experiment with the street food in Mexico, you are missing out on a huge part of the experience. Just use your common sense when choosing a tiangui or market to eat from. 

Choose places where there are lots of locals dining or waiting to be served and never eat anywhere where the food looks like it has been left out a while. Some of the best places to sample street food eats in Mexico City are: 

  • Mercado La Merced – Mexico City’s largest market, which dates back to 1936 
  • Mercado de San Juan – Great for exotic types of meat, burgers and steaks
  • Medellin Market – Flavors from Colombia and wider Latin America
  • Sullivan market – great for tacos, pambazo bread and antojitos

Consider taking an organised tour to get your bearings 

Taking an organised tour is a great way to get your bearings in any new city and the same rings true of Mexico City – especially if you are nervous about exploring Mexico. Better still, exploring with a local means that you have a Mexico City “expert” on hand to help you find places you never would have discovered independently. 

A number of local companies offer free (tip-based) walking tours. This free tour runs every day of the week and leads tourists to non-touristy parts of the city. 

You can also find a lot of great tour options via Viator and Get Your Guide. 

Cute cafe in Roma, CDMX

Enjoy Mexico City’s social scene 

If you are travelling to Mexico City solo like I did (or even if you aren’t and you just want to meet new people), you will be pleased to hear that it is very easy to meet fellow travellers, expats and locals. 

There are a lot of Facebook groups which are very active and where you can simply create a post introducing yourself, and see who wants to hang out/grab coffee, etc. 

Many often organise events and a lot of these groups also have their own Whatsapp chats where you can make plans with other people with similar interests. 

Some good ones to add to your radar are summarised below:

  • Foreigners in Mexico City
  • Foreigners & Expats in Mexico City (CDMX)
  • Foodies in Mexico City (CMDX)
  • Women in CDMX (Mexico City)
  • Hiking in Mexico City 

Sculpture outside the National Anthropology Museum, CDMX

Managing your money in Mexico 

It is always a good idea to exchange a small amount of money for Mexican pesos before your trip. 

However, rather than carrying wads of cash, just take a couple of hundred dollars worth or so and then withdraw more at an ATM when you arrive. 

It is a good idea to open a borderless bank account with Revolut, Charles Schwab or Wise. That way, you will not be charged foreign conversion fees.

Street art murals cover virtually every surface in the Roma district

You may need to pick up a Mexican SIM card 

If you have a US or Canadian phone plan, it may include calls and data coverage for Mexico so do check before you travel. However, if you are travelling to Mexico from further afield (UK, Europe, etc), it pays to pick up a Mexican sim card so that you can stay connected. 

Not all bars, restaurants, etc have free wifi here. While it is nice to disconnect when you travel, don’t underestimate how useful it is to be able to check directions on a map, search recommendations, etc. 

There are a couple of different network providers in Mexico but I would recommend Telcel. You can pick up a sim card from any Oxxo convenience store and you are looking at around 200 pesos for a 30-day “paquetes amigos” plan with unlimited social media use, texts and calls, and a generous amount of data

Americas Park, Polanco, CDMX

Final thoughts on these Mexico City travel tips

I hope that you find these Mexico City travel tips useful! I have been living in Merida in the Yucatan for the last couple of years and after travelling to 13 Mexican states and dozens of cities, Mexico City is one of my favourite places in the country by a mile. 

After your trip, I am sure that it will be one of yours too. Stay safe and have a wonderful time in Mexico!

If you need anything, please do not hesitate to reach out to me! Buen Viaje! Melissa xo 

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Melissa Douglas

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The Ultimate Mexico City Travel Guide (51 Best Things to Do and See)

Written by Becca

Updated on December 26th, 2023

A wrestler in Mexico City holding a firework.

Dreaming of how to explore Mexico City during your trip or long weekend? The best way to see Mexico City is through the famous sights and off the beaten path alternative experiences.

This article may contain affiliate links. We earn a small commissions when you purchase via those links — and it's free for you. It's only us (Becca & Dan) working on this website, so we value your support! Read our privacy policy and learn more about us .

Posted in Mexico

Things to Do in Mexico City

  • Sinagoga Justo Sierra
  • Mercado San Juan
  • Mercado De Artesanías La Ciudadela
  • Barrio Chino
  • Cantina El Tio Pepe
  • Alameda Central
  • Palacio Bellas Artes
  • SEARS (Finca Don Porfirio Cafe, to be specific)
  • Zócalo (Plaza de la Constitución)

Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana)

  • Museo del Estanquillo
  • Casa de los Azulejos
  • Museo de Arte Popular
  • Terraza Catedral
  • Templo Mayor
  • Calle Regina
  • Frida Kahlo Museum (Casa Azul)
  • Mercado de Coyoacán
  • Cafe Avellaneda
  • Mercado de Comida, Coyoacán
  • Parroquia San Juan Bautista
  • Parque Centenario & Jardín Centenario
  • Cineteca Nacional
  • Create Your Own Coffee shop Tour
  • Mercado Roma
  • Parque México
  • Parque España
  • Avenida Alvaro Obregón
  • Avenida Ámsterdam
  • Nevería Roxy
  • Cafe Péndulo
  • Bosque de Chapultepec
  • Museo de Arte Moderno
  • Museo Nacional de Antropologia
  • Castillo de Chapultepec
  • Jardín Botánico del Bosque de Chapultepec
  • Museo Soumaya
  • Avenida Horacio
  • Antara Fashion Hall & Cinepolis VIP

Biblioteca Vasconcelos

  • Mercado de Lagunilla
  • Our favorite Mexico City Food Tour
  • Lucha Libre
  • Xochimilco Canal Boating
  • Teotihuacán Ancient Pyramids
  • Selina Hostel & Selina CoWork
  • The Red Tree House
  • Four Seasons Mexico City
  • Hotel Condesa DF
  • The Mexico City Metro

Introduction to what to do in Mexico City

Mexico City is undoubtedly overwhelming. You can choose to explore Mexico City with a food tour , by its bar scene and through its food and amazing tacos .

Luckily for travelers, the sights can be broken down into several main areas that can be explored on foot. Exploring Mexico City should include cultural and historic sites, present-day trendy (and safe) neighborhoods , museums and of course, FOOD!

Scattered throughout the neighborhoods are some very nice parks and plazas as well. We’ve noted which ones should not be missed and which have sights of their own inside of their boundaries.

For a long weekend or three-day trip, we recommend spending a full day walking in Condesa and Roma, followed by an afternoon in Coyoacán.

A second full day should be spent in Mexico City’s historic downtown area, getting your fill of the hustle and bustle, the history, cultural places of interest and seeing markets.

If you have a third full day, we recommend taking a day trip to Teotihuacán and/or doing a hot air balloon experience to see the pyramids from above.

So, how do I get up in a hot air balloon at Teotihuacan?

If you're not afraid of heights, grab a spot in a hot air balloon tour for an unforgettable sunrise.

If you have additional days or a week, you can take short trips to the surrounding pueblos like Tepoztlán, Puebla or Cholula. If you don’t want to leave the city, that’s no problem!

We’ve listed heaps of attractions in the main neighborhoods , and you can always opt for a food tour, walking tour or relaxing day to enjoy the cafe scene . Don’t forget to throw in a rooftop bar from our list when the weather is nice!

Get your walking shoes on and brush up on your Spanish , as Mexico City is a great city for any type of traveler!

What is the tallest building in Mexico City Centro Historico downtown

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Things to do in Mexico City’s Historic Center & Downtown

Sinagoga justo sierra.

Possibly one of the more surprise sights that we saw in our final days in Mexico City, the Sinagoga Justo Sierra is a beautifully-restored historic synagogue that was originally built in 1941. This was the original center of community for Mexico City’s Ashkenaz (Eastern European) Jewish immigrant population, and it was here that they celebrated Bar Mitzvot, weddings and other joyous occasions.

The synagogue was restored to its current splendor between 2008 and 2009. What’s interesting is that from the outside of the street, you’d never know there was a white building reminiscent of Israel behind the large wooden doors from the street. This was a great place to visit for an afternoon. Visiting hours close daily at 5 pm. Admission is free and donations are accepted.

Mercado San Juan

There are lots of “Mercados San Juan” in Mexico City, but the biggest one of all is in the heart of downtown Centro near Chinatown. Go here for everything produce-related and also for its gastronomic section, where you can order a ceviche from seafood vendors and have some sit-down service, or try some wines and cheeses in the Italian-themed vendors.

Mercado De Artesanías La Ciudadela

This market is where you go to pick up your huaraches, Day of the Dead-themed trinkets, beaded jewelry, woven clothing items, dolls, candles and anything that qualifies as a craft. Bargaining is welcome.

Barrio Chino

Mexico City’s Barrio Chino (Chinatown) has been minimized down to really only two or three city blocks. Don’t worry, though - you can get fortune ‘galletas’ (cookies), Chinese food at some of the eateries like Hong King and get ‘pan chino’ (bao) on the street for a few Pesos.

Cantina El Tio Pepe

Cantina El Tío Pepe is one of the bars we feature in our CDMX bar guide , but it’s more than a bar. It ironically nearly became like our neighborhood bar, even though we didn’t live in the ‘neighborhood’ (the neighborhood being Centro) until having been in CDMX for an entire month.

This historic cantina is no-frills and the waitstaff are friendly. They’ll tell you a bit of history about the place if you ask (in Spanish). Drinks are no-nonsense, and the menu comes in a dual-column spreadsheet type of format. Where else can you throw back a shot or a beer at a place that’s been in business since the 1870s?

Alameda Central

Alameda Central is a big city park with lots of criss-crossing walkways. There are street vendors everywhere, so if you want potato chips or a ‘sangria’ (sweet soda in a plastic cup with chili around the rim, garnished with a Mexican lemon slice), this is your place.

Go on weekends for some serious people-watching. It’s also rather safe in the early evenings past dark, but use caution.

Palacio Bellas Artes

We’ve seen the outside of Palacio Bellas Artes for sure (see below, “SEARS”), but we have a confession: we have not been inside Palacio Bellas Artes . We’ve heard great things, nonetheless. This is Mexico City’s gem of an art institution, and hosts cultural events like dance and opera. It is best known for its murals by Diego Rivera inside. Worth a visit!

SEARS (Finca Don Porfirio Cafe, to be specific)

If you want to get straight to the ninth-story view of Palacio Bellas Artes (it has a beautiful multi-colored roof) and you’re also craving a coffee, you’re in luck because you can enter SEARS and go to the cafe on the top floor. We featured this cafe in our cafes guide because we liked the view so much. Note: you can only enter if you get seated by a hostess, and then you do have to order something, even if it’s only a can of seltzer.

Palacio de Bellas Artes golden hour rainbown rooftop in Mexico City Centro Historico downtown

Zócalo (Plaza de la Constitución)

The Zócalo is one of the largest public squares on Earth. It’s surrounded on all sides by government buildings, the National Palace and the giant cathedral. You can reach the Zócalo by metro, to Zócalo station! Surrounding this area are lots of pedestrian-only streets lined with shopping and food vendors.

This cathedral is massive, and sits on the Zocalo square. Get this: the full name of it is “Catedral Metropolitana de la Asunción de la Santísima Virgen María a los cielos.” It’s pretty big, and pretty old, too. You can admire the architecture of the outside and the inside as well. Apparently you can climb to the roof, but we haven’t done this. If you get to do it, let us know!

Museo del Estanquillo

Museo del Estanquillo was a late addition to our CMDX repertoire, but guess what - the entrance is free and they have a rooftop with a bookshop and small cafe. Take the elevator up as high as you can and then turn right to walk up a flight of steps.

The result is a cool rooftop with the tops of old stone buildings in view. The museum itself deals a lot with the film history of Mexico, so that’s cool as well!

Vistas de las iglesias en Museo del Estanquillo secret rooftop Mexico City downtown centro historico

Casa de los Azulejos

This beautiful and historic building looks more like it would be in Lisbon than in Mexico City! Decorated in blue and white tiles, it’s one of our favorite places to take photos in CDMX . You can find it at Av Francisco I. Madero 4, in Centro.

An ornate building in Mexico City.

Museo de Arte Popular

This art museum has a collection of exceedingly interesting Mexican heritage in the form of art from different regions. You can see Day of the Dead figurines and sculptures, unique alebrijes (Mexican folk sculptures) in a variety of sizes and media, cultural masks from different regions and eras and the excellent gift shop, which is an attraction of its own.

The building itself is an art deco relic from the earlier half of the twentieth century and was originally a firehouse. Inside, there is tons of natural light and an open center where you can look up at all the floors. We highly recommend that art enthusiasts not miss this one.

Terraza Catedral

Terraza Catedral is more a portion of our Mexico City Bar Guide than not, but we’re including it on sights to see. That’s because the view from this rooftop bar (which we brand as “non-pretentious,” by the way, as it’s on top of a hostel) is quite a sight to see, especially at sunset!

Templo Mayor

The Templo Mayor historical site is another place we didn’t actually go to, but we’ve walked by it, having been frequent visitors to the Zocalo area. The Templo Mayor archaeological site is a place you can visit to see what lies below Mexico City in terms of ancient ruins and structures. Sounds fascinating!

Calle Regina

Also a late addition to our go-to list, Calle Regina starts near Bolivar and ends a few blocks later to the east. It’s a pedestrian street, where first you’ll hit the Regina church and its cafe, and then you’ll see Cafe Regina on your left.

Sit down here for an americano - they’re GOOD! Continue on Calle Regina as long as you like, and you’ll see street art (some of it political, but some of it sappy and colorful) and sit-down restaurants and bars with sidewalk seating.

Sights to see in Coyoacán

Coyoacan is a cool neighborhood to Mexico City’s southwest. While you may choose to get there by Uber or by metro, consider that it’s not exactly a stone’s throw from Centro or Condesa. You’ll need a dab bit of time to get there.

Frida Kahlo Museum (Casa Azul)

The Frida Kahlo Museum , also known as Casa Azul (Blue House), is where Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera lived and worked. In this museum, you can learn all about Frida’s life, as the main focus is on her. You can see her early works, learn about her family history, see her clothes and her medical apparatuses.

The house itself is nice to visit because the exhibits revolve around a leafy courtyard. This museum can be a bit controversial for Mexicans, who note that the hefty entrance fee (more than $12 USD) makes it so that most Mexicans cannot afford to visit. The museum is privately-run, and you’ll notice some corporate sponsors like Bank of America, Samsung and Vogue on some signage. We strongly suggest getting tickets in advance (you have to pick a time and date to visit).

Mercado de Coyoacán

The Mercado de Coyoacán is pretty big, but not big enough to get lost in. The main food here is the tostada, a dry toasted corn tortilla that you eat flat with toppings on top.

You can choose from any of the types of toppings that you see in big pots - chicken, mushrooms, beef, seafood and more. They don’t break the bank, either, but watch out - they are filling!

Cafe Avellaneda

Cafe Avellaneda was one of Mexico City’s first third-wave cafes, and it’s always busy. There aren’t all too many seats inside, but if you wait, you can get a seat at the coffee bar and watch the masters do their craft.

The menu is fun, too - you can get coffee cocktails (non-alcoholic) like the one Becca tried, which had espresso, tonic water, juniper and tamarind!

Mercado de Comida, Coyoacán

The choices at this food market (think: food in terms of lunch, not grocery shopping) are overwhelming, but thankfully, the place isn’t too big overall. We had quesadillas (did you know that in Mexico City, a quesadilla does not necessarily need to have cheese? Mind blown!) and tamales.

You can also order fresh juices. Prices are set, so you won’t get ripped off if you don’t speak Spanish! You can also have pozole at the stands in the center of the market. Cash only!

Parroquia San Juan Bautista

You can’t really figure out how big this Catholic church is until you walk inside (it’s free to enter). Located in the heart of the Coyoacán neighborhood, the church and its ex-convent are worth a peek.

Parque Centenario & Jardín Centenario

This park and garden in Coyoacán’s commercial center are great for people-watching and passing through. You’ll see that the fountain has coyotes in the center, and that’s because Coyoacán means “place of the coyotes.”

Cineteca Nacional

A local friend took us to Cineteca Nacional , not to see a movie, but instead to marvel at this architecturally-worthy cinema. What we also liked about the complex was that in addition to a movie theater, it has a bookstore, a cafe and a lawn where people hang out in the sun.

What to see and do in Condesa & Roma

Condesa and Roma are great neighborhoods in the heart of Mexico City where most travelers tend to stay.

Create Your Own Coffee shop Tour

You’re in Condesa and Roma, so you obviously have to see all the cafe culture in these two neighborhoods of Mexico City! Start with our coffee shop guide to CDMX and star these cafes in your maps so that when you pass by, you can say that Becca and Dan from Half Half Travel sent you!

Pretty latte art in Blend Station Mexico City cdmx Condesa neighborhood best cafe

Mercado Roma

Mercado Roma is something to see as well as something to do (the doing is the eating), and at Mercado Roma, which is also featured in our Mexico City Nightlife Guide , you can try cuisine from many parts of Mexico, and pizza as well. Mercado Roma is a place to be during the day, and also at night on weekends when the kiosks are open late.

Parque México

Parque México is the larger of the two main Condesa parks, and it’s several blocks long. We love it for its variety - there’s a children’s playground, some quiet paths, a lot of great greenery and lots of people with cute dogs.

Parque España

Parque España is the smaller of the two Condesa parks, and here, you’ll find nice trees and paths, some man-made ponds and lots of kids and dog-walkers. We usually cross through Parque España when walking toward other parts of the neighborhood.

Avenida Alvaro Obregón

Avenida Alvaro Obregón is a commercial strip that we didn’t truly discover until it was nearly time to leave our stint in Roma Norte. What a shame! It took a distant cousin of Becca’s who was visiting to get us out on Alvaro Obregón. This is where you’ll find bars, restaurants and cafes all lined up next to each other, and the side streets are nice as well. One of our favorite spots in this area is Quentin Cafe .

Avenida Ámsterdam

It’s easy to obsess over Avenida Ámsterdam. Home to classic art deco architecture, old buildings next to new ones, some historic mansions, and a leafy middle path (great for running and dog-walking!), Avenida Ámsterdam runs in a circle around Parque Mexico and believe it or not, used to be a horse-racing track back in the day.

Nevería Roxy

More of a place to experience Mexican old-school culture and less of a sight, Nevería Roxy is an absolute classic for ice cream treats. This feels like a time warp! They have a great selection of sorbets that come in the flavors of Mexican fruits. The place is cash-only.

Cafe Péndulo

We listed Cafe Péndulo in our list of Mexico City cafes , but it’s a thing to do in its own right. Cafe Péndulo is a beautiful bookstore (and has more locations than this Condesa one). You can browse literature in Spanish, and some in English, and look at their cool section of funny knick-knacks to buy as gifts (much like the “stuff” section in Urban Outfitters).

Bosque de Chapultepec

Bosque de Chapultepec is a giant park in the center of Mexico City. It separates Roma and Condesa from Polanco, which is located on its north side.

Bosque de Chapultepec is a city park that is massive, and has it all - the city’s museums, botanical gardens, amusement parks, lakes with boats for rent, quiet groves where couples set out picnics, statues with poetry, running paths and even a “quiet section” where people go for some peace and there’s no talking allowed. You can find history, wildlife and some fresh air (it seems), and you can spend hours in the whole place, especially in some of our favorite parts, the pedestrian avenues lined with vendors selling stuffed animals, face-painting, snacks, fried food and other Mexican goodies.

Street snacks vendor selling cups at Bosque de Chapultepec Mexico City CDMX

Museo de Arte Moderno

We went to the Museo de Arte Moderno (Museum of Modern Art) on a Sunday, when it was free. The museum has four major wings, all themed a bit differently. This is where you can see the original (we asked) of Frida Kahlo’s ‘Las Dos Fridas,’ one of her most famous works.

It’s also where we saw the most about Diego Rivera we had seen so far in all of Mexico City (note: you can go many other places to learn about Diego Rivera, but we didn’t get to them).

Museo Nacional de Antropologia

This is a museum we never actually got to go to, but we’ve heard it is pretty interesting. It’s not free, but the entrance fee isn’t too hefty, either. Located inside Bosque de Chapultepec, this is somewhere good to stop if you have a rainy day, or if you’re passing by. You can learn all about the history of the Mexican people through anthropology.

Castillo de Chapultepec

Would you believe that we never made it to Castillo de Chapultepec (Chapultepec Castle)?

Mexicans call this their version of a castle, with the disclaimer that, “It’s not like castles in Germany, but it’s our version of a castle.” If you go, let us know! It’s located in Bosque de Chapultepec with a lot of signage leading to it.

Jardín Botánico del Bosque de Chapultepec

This is probably our favorite aspect of the entire Bosque (“forest,” in Spanish). The Jardín Botánico is free to enter, and serene once you’re in there. We entered from the more populated parts of the park, and our first stop was the succulents garden.

We also liked the vegetable garden, the cactus garden, the banana tree grove and the “Garden of the Future,” which was created by local artists entirely of recycled plastic items.

Succulents in Jardín Botánico del Bosque de Chapultepec Mexico City CMDX botanic gardens

What to do in Polanco, Mexico City

Museo soumaya.

Museo Soumaya was our major destination the day we went (in truth, we walked three miles from Roma Norte) to the upscale Polanco neighborhood.

Museo Soumaya is unique because on the outside, its exterior is composed of thousands of hexagonal aluminum pieces, and it’s quite a sight to see. Inside, it’s likely not what you’d expect (we were surprised), as you’ll find ancient Chinese and Japanese ivory sculpture, turn-of-the-century French art and an entire floor of sculptures from centuries past in an open floor plan with natural light.

On the first floor are some noteworthy Diego Rivera murals and mosaics. There’s also a Botero sculpture housed in the Museo Soumaya - can you find it?

Avenida Horacio

Avenida Horacio is one of the main thoroughfares of Polanco, and what’s so nice about it is that it’s like a boulevard with a leafy walkway in the middle. You can walk through Polanco nearly uninterrupted by traffic and admire all the plant life and sporadic vendors throughout your walk.

Antara Fashion Hall & Cinepolis VIP

Want to transport yourself into the modern and new-wave shopping malls of Mexico City? Antara Fashion Hall is an upscale mall, where you’ll find Western brands, a large grocery store, several bars and restaurants that cater to the Western style and probably our favorite aspect of this mall, Cinepolis VIP, where we saw Spiderman on Christmas Day. If you’re in Mexico City and you want to see a movie, this was a very comfortable experience!

Sights North of Zócalo and Centro Histórico

This biblioteca , or library, is one of the most beautiful in Mexico City. Entrance is free, and it’s usually open til 7:30 pm on most days. Go for its photographic qualities - its six floors of boxy metal cubic design will have you looking up and up. Take the steps (or elevator) to the top floor, and then get the dizzying view down!

This library is one of our top ideas for the best places to take photos in Mexico City , among some other great spots in the region.

Mercado de Lagunilla

We’re not sure where we heard about Mercado de Lagunilla , but we are sure glad we went.

We walked toward Lagunilla, a very local neighborhood where we saw no other foreigners nor tourists, and made it all the way to the Mercado de Tela, where we entered right before closing hours to see rows of quinceañera dresses, custom suit shops, decorations for parties and wedding dresses. Outside the fabric market, in the market itself, we found street food, toys, dolls, shoes, clothes and you name it.

Given that this is not a typical tourist attraction of any sort, we recommend taking a responsible level of safety precaution in order to keep your bag and pockets safe. Check out our Mexico City safety guide to see exactly what we mean.

Mercado de Lagunilla traveler list in Mexico City things to do CDMX

Entertainment and tours in Mexico City

Our favorite mexico city food tour.

If you’re a foodie, we suggest taking a Mexico City food tour with Eat Like a Local. After our month and a half in Mexico City, we still learned some new things by going to the markets with our awesome local guide, Rocio. We visited markets we had never stepped foot in, and ate foods we had never tasted. Above all, our guide made us feel safe and informed. We also had so much fun!

Eating a taco Mexico City food tour with Eat Like a Local CDMX

Lucha Libre

Lucha Libre is a dramatic and exciting version of wrestling-meets-entertainment and it is a true Mexican tradition. Lucha Libre (meaning ‘free fight’ in Spanish) takes place in an arena with the fighters in a ring, in a series of rounds, starting with female fighters, then some one-on-one fighting and finally lots of teams-taking-on-each-other fighting.

The performance is theatrical and the aim is to rev up the audience, but the fighting is also very physical and in fact, very dangerous. You have to give these guys credit for doing what they do! Lucha Libre takes place most nights of the week and tickets are not expensive and are in the range of 200 pesos each ($10 USD). You can buy tickets on Ticketmaster.

Lucha Libre women fighting in arena Mexico City CDMX Things to do

Attractions outside Mexico City and beyond

Xochimilco canal boating.

If you want to have a day with a group floating on a multi-colored boat down the canals of Xochimilco , take an Uber out to this region of Mexico City and hop on a boat for a morning or afternoon.

You will float through the canals and you can buy your own food and drink to bring, or buy things from vendors who pass in boats. You can buy micheladas, pulque, tamales and more, and you can pay mariachi bands to play a song for your group! Many people consider this one of the best day trips from Mexico City , even though it’s technically in the Federal District.

How's everyone getting to Xochimilco?

Xochimilco is like a day trip within CDMX, so going with a group is great! Plus, see Frida Kahlo's house in Coyoacan.

Teotihuacán Ancient Pyramids

These ancient Mexican pyramids were built by civilizations way before the Aztecs had control of the region, and you can visit them for a day trip. Beware that LOTS of tourists come here, and weekdays will be less crowded than Saturday and Sundays. Want to see them from above? We went with Sky Balloons Mexico for a very early morning hot air ballooning experience and it was awesome.

Line of tourists climbing Teotihuacan Ancient Pyramids Mexico

What's the best way to see Teotihuacan?

As Teotihuacan is a bit far, going with a guide in the early morning is a great choice!

Our Mexico City Yoga Recommendations

OV Yoga is a boutique yoga studio located on Avenida Amsterdam in Condesa. Classes run several times a day and with several different teachers.

You can drop in, or reserve in advance. Note: prices differ for payments on cash and credit, and classes with the studio’s founder cost slightly more than with other teachers.

Greenyoga operates in several different locations in Mexico City and the teachers are great.

Becca tried the Roma-Juarez location! Note: the studio itself is up two flights of dizzying spiral staircase steps, so if you have a fear of open staircases, choose a different studio. Downstairs near reception, there is a tiny cafe with healthy and gluten-free snacks. You can rent mats.

Walk-ins are fine, but be sure to check the schedule because the classes are specified by level, so it’s best to choose which suits your skill level.

Where to Stay in Mexico City

Selina hostel & selina cowork.

Selina Mexico City Downtown is a new hostel-hotel in a vintage and iconic Mexico City hotel, formerly Hotel Virreyes. This massive property was converted into the backpacker and digital nomad accommodation in early 2018. There’s WiFi throughout the property, two different communal kitchens (one is specifically for apartment guests), and rooms come in a variety of dorm bed options, privates and studio apartments.

In addition, Selina Mexico City has a coworking space. You can book a hot desk for a day, week or month, and there’s even a private outdoor patio for CoWork members to use!

Selina Mexico City Downtown CDMX backpacker hostel interior lobby

The Red Tree House

The Red Tree House is a beautiful boutique hotel full of character in Condesa, right off Avenida Amsterdam. Rooms are all built off of a central courtyard that makes you feel like you left the city. You’ll be surrounded by greenery, tables with umbrellas and angular staircases painted yellow, red and orange.

The lobby and common areas for guests are like being home in a mansion, with a fireplace (great for winter chilly nights), dining area for the morning breakfast hours and lots of books to read.

Casa Decu is a boutique hotel located several steps away from The Red Tree House, but with a very different vibe. Casa Decu is an art deco building transformed into an Instagrammable art-deco-meets-modern haven for the trendy traveler.

If you’re into roof decks, you’ll love hanging out on the sunny rooftop, which has places to sit and have a coffee.

Four Seasons Mexico City

The Four Seasons Mexico City is top-notch, with an interesting location right near Bosque Chapultepec and Avenida Paseo de la Reforma, a major road. It is sandwiched between Cuauhtémoc and Roma, making everything pretty accessible.

The Four Seasons is unique because it has a leafy courtyard where the restaurant is located, and at night it feels a bit like an urban jungle. If you look up, you can see lit-up neon skyscrapers nearby. Even if you don’t stay at the Four Seasons, we recommend having a drink at Fifty Mils , the hotel bar.

Hotel Condesa DF

We love the location of Hotel Condesa DF , and based on their fabulous rooftop bar, we can only expect that the rest of the hotel is just as wonderful.

Hotel Condesa DF is located across from Parque España in the neighborhood of Condesa, with loads of cafes, restaurants and bars nearby. Hotel Condesa is chic yet defined, and classy yet not pretentious. It seems like a good bet for a trendy traveler who wants good access to lots in the neighborhood.

How to get around Mexico City

There are so many ways to get around a massive metropolis like CDMX. Let’s look at a few of the easiest ways to get around with transport.

We heard from some Mexicans that Uber changed Mexico City. With the start of Uber in CDMX, locals started going out at night more, because getting a cab home would be safe and affordable.

We took Uber during our first month in Mexico City (that is, when we didn’t feel like walking!) and Uber Pool as well (gotta stay green!). All the drivers were really nice and most were very friendly, too.

The Mexico City Metro

If a metro system can’t scare you, then try out the Mexico City metro .

There are lots of fun facts about it. For example, did you know that each station has a pictograph symbol? You’ll see a guitar and scarf to symbolize mariachi bands for the Garibaldi stop, a cricket for Chapultepec (the Spanish word “chapulín” came from the Nahuatl word chapultepec, meaning cricket) and two doctors for the neighborhood stop in Doctores.

Each ride costs 5 Pesos, which is approximately $0.25. For each ticket, you can go an unlimited amount of stops as long as you stay within the system by transferring and not leaving the paid area. To get a ticket, you can enter at any entrance of any stop and head to the Taquilla (ticket booth), where you slide your bill or change through a window and receive your change and a paper ticket. Paper tickets get fed right-side up into the turnstiles, and then you’ll be in!

Read signs carefully to ensure that you’re going in the correct direction for your destinations, and watch your pockets!

While we did not experience any crime in the Mexico City metro, it’s true that at rush hour, it’s more difficult to see who has access to your pockets and your bag when you’re crammed in a crowded train car.

The metro runs until midnight most days of the week, but we don’t suggest taking it much after 10 pm for safety reasons. During daytime, there’s no problem.

The Mexican Peso: What to know and expect

The currency in Mexico is the Mexican Peso. In any given year, the exchange rate might be between 17 and 22 Pesos to a US Dollar. For something that costs 20 Pesos, it’ll be about $1.15 USD.

You’ll find that most street tacos cost between 10 and 15 Pesos, while tacos in restaurants (depending how nice the place is and which type of meat you are ordering) will be priced at 20-70 Pesos.

A bottle of water usually costs 10 Pesos. A beer at a dive bar will be around 35 to 55 Pesos, and at a fancier bar, upwards of 80-90 Pesos.

Can you bargain in Mexico City? You can bargain sometimes on items that do not have a set price. We’ve tried bargaining for some things, and haven’t won. Other times, buying a second of something and asking for 10 Pesos off as a discount works (mostly with artisan vendors who have their goods laid down on a tarp on the street).

Denominations of bills come starting at 500 Pesos, and this is what you’ll get when you withdraw from an ATM. From there, there are 200-Peso bills, 100-Peso bills, 50-Peso bills and 20-Peso bills.

For amounts less than 20 (approximately 1 USD), there are 10-Peso coins, 5-Peso coins, 2-Peso coins, 1-Peso coins and 50-cent-Peso coins. We didn’t see any that were smaller than a 50-cent coin, and we mostly only received them as change in markets.

Safety in Mexico City

In the 45 days we spent in Mexico City, we did not experience any crime. Given, we carry backpacks and purses with zippers, we don’t travel with too many flashy electronics unless we’re taking photos with our cameras and we don’t hang out in dangerous areas!

Still, we’ve developed some helpful habits from spending more than four months in Latin America, for both our second times. We detail all of that in our guide that answers the question, “ Is Mexico City Safe for Travel ?”

Here are a few basic tips

  • Never leave your phone on the table when sitting at an outside cafe.
  • Never let your bag out of your sight at a restaurant.
  • Avoid drinking tap water in Mexico City (order bottled water when dining out).
  • Don’t forget about altitude sickness, and take altitude medication from home if you’ve experienced altitude sickness when traveling in the past.

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Neighborhoods to Know

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Your Trip to Mexico City: The Complete Guide

travel guide to mexico city

Mexico City is a huge and vibrant megalopolis with a fascinating history dating back to the time of the Aztecs. As one of the world's largest cities by population,   Mexico City can be intimidating, but it’s a vibrant, engaging place with an abundance of attractions and services for travelers of all types. This Mexico City travel guide will give you an introduction to the multi-faceted destination and has the information you need to plan your stay.

Planning Your Trip

Best Time to Visit: If you can, plan your trip for the springtime, specifically late March or early April. At this time of year, the weather is warm during the day and cool at night, and the jacarandas are in bloom throughout the city. Language: Spanish is the main language spoken but there are several indigenous languages spoken in Mexico City (mainly Nahuatl, but also Mixteco, Otomí, Mazateco, and others). Many people who work in the tourism industry speak English, but the general population does not, so learn some Spanish phrases before you go! Currency: The Mexican peso (MXN) is the currency. The symbol is the same as a dollar sign ($), so be sure what currency prices are listed in (it will usually be pesos, but occasionally services offered to tourists are listed in US dollars ). Getting Around: A great way to explore Mexico City is by taking the Turibus , a hop-on-hop-off, double-decker, open-air sightseeing bus with stops at several of the city's main sights. However, the most economical way to get around is with public transportation. The Mexico City metro is large but fairly easy to navigate. When taking taxis, it's best to take authorized taxis or ask your hotel to call one for you. Alternatively, get an Uber. Travel Tip: On Mondays, most museums ( but not all! ) are closed, as is the first section of Chapultepec Park , so plan alternative activities if you’re in town on a Monday. Some ideas: go shopping, visit churches, go to Tlatelolco archaeological site (which doesn't have a museum), or visit the floating gardens in Xochimilco .

Things to Do

There is something for everyone in Mexico City. You can learn about the country's history, enjoy art in public spaces and museums, sample delicious food, shop until you drop, or enjoy a fun night out on the town. Art lovers, foodies, history buffs, and museum geeks will all be over the moon. As the site of the first Olympic games in Latin America and in a Spanish-speaking country,   sports history fans will be plenty entertained and even nature lovers will find something of interest (start by checking out the botanical garden on the UNAM campus )!

There is much more to do in Mexico City than you will have time for, so when planning your itinerary, do your research and prioritize. Be sure to leave plenty of time for getting from one place to the other—and for meals! Here are a few activities to get you started:

  • Visit the Historic Center of Mexico City on foot, making stops at the Templo Mayor archaeological site which was the main temple of the Aztecs, the Metropolitan Cathedral which is Latin America’s largest and oldest cathedral, and the Palacio Nacional to see murals by Diego Rivera. The Historic Center is one of four UNESCO World Heritage sites in the city along with Xochimilco, the house of Luis Barragán, and the Central University City Campus.  
  • Visit the National Anthropology Museum to learn about Mexico’s rich history and current ethnographic makeup.
  • Go to the luchas ! Spend a fun evening watching a lucha libre wrestling show.

Explore more attractions with our full-length articles on the top Mexico City sights , the best free things to do and Mexico City day trips . 

What to Eat and Drink

Mexico City is the country's cultural and geographical hub, and you'll find a wide variety of specialties from all over the country, as well as international options. From street side taco stands to gourmet restaurants like Pujol and Quintonil (which are considered among the world's top 50 restaurants), and everything in between, you're bound to eat well here. If street food intrigues you but you find it intimidating, take a street food tour to get an introduction so you’ll know what to order when you venture out on your own.

As for drinks, you can try some of the traditional beverages made with agave , mezcal and pulque (not to mention tequila), or check out one of the city's stylish cocktail bars for the latest mixology creations. Some of the most iconic places to grab a drink include Bar La Opera (which has bullet holes in the ceiling from the time of the Mexican Revolution), and Miralto bar on the 40th floor of the Torre Latinoamericana overlooking the Palacio de Bellas Artes.

Explore our articles on the top dishes to try in Mexico City , the city’s best dining experiences , and the best bars .

Where to Stay

There are endless options for accommodations in Mexico City including Airbnbs, boutique stays, and luxury hotels. Decent economical options abound in the historical center and Colonia Tabacalera (near the Revolution Monument). Stay at Hotel Zocalo Central or Downtown Mexico for a home base in the center of town with nice views. If you’d rather be a bit further away from the hustle and bustle, check out boutique hotels in La Condesa and Roma neighborhoods such as Red Tree House or La Valise. If you’re looking for luxury, you can enjoy an upscale stay at the St. Regis or the Four Seasons on Paseo de la Reforma, or Las Alcobas in swanky Polanco district. Explore the different neighborhoods you can stay in, and our recommendations for the best boutique hotels.

Getting There

You will most likely fly in to the Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) or perhaps Toluca (TLC). If you’re arriving over land from a different destination in Mexico, your point of arrival will probably be one of Mexico City's four major bus stations which are situtated in four corners of the city. From your arrival point, take an authorized taxi or Uber to your accommodation ⁠— although hailing a cab on the street is not as risky as it used to be, it's better to play it safe. Driving in Mexico City is not recommended for first time visitors as it’s not an easy city to find your way around and traffic tends to be congested.

Culture and Customs

There are a few cultural differences and customs that you should be aware of in Mexico City. In general, Mexicans tend to be more formal than people from the United States and Canada. Even though you're on vacation, it's a good idea to dress somewhat conservatively—Mexicans rarely wear shorts or tank tops in the city, so if you don't want to stand out too much, try to dress like the locals. It’s important to greet people before asking a question with a buenos días (good morning), buenas tardes (good afternoon), or buenas noches (good evening), depending on the time of day. Also, keep in mind that por favor (please) and gracias (thank you) are words that you cannot over use.

Mexican mealtimes may be on a different schedule than what you're used to, with the main meal of the day taken in the afternoon between 2 and 4 p.m. In restaurants, the server will not bring you the bill until you request it. Ask for “ la cuenta, por favor, ” or make a sign of writing in the air. Check your bill to make sure, but usually the tip is not included, and you should add 10 to 20 percent tip depending on the level of service. Tipping is customary in bars and restaurants, but not so much in food stalls and markets (though always appreciated). It's also customary to tip bellhops and cleaning staff at your hotel.

Money-Saving Tips

Mexico City is a truly affordable city and offers outstanding value at all price points. It's an excellent vacation destination for anyone on a budget. Of course each traveler will have to decide for themselves what's worth a splurge and where they want to cut back, but there are a few simple ways to maximize savings during your stay:

  • Follow the Mexican mealtime schedule: have a big breakfast, which is generally the least costly meal of the day, then hold out until 2 or 4 p.m. for another large meal—you can find restaurants serving a multi-course " comida corrida " fixed price meal, and then if you're hungry at night, grab some tacos.
  • Get around using public transportation. The Mexico City metro only costs a few pesos and is fairly easy to figure out. Consider it part of the adventure!
  • Don’t buy overpriced drinking water and snacks at your hotel or tourist sites. Hopefully your hotel offers purified drinking water so you can refill your own bottle, but if not, make sure you buy your water, drinks and snacks at a corner store to carry with you or to have at your hotel during the night.

Learn more about the cheapest ways to have fun by exploring these free things to do in Mexico City and consider some budget travel tips.

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. " World Urbanization Prospects 2018: Highlights." Page 17. 2019.

Visit Mexico. "Mexico City: Brief History."

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Before You Travel to Mexico

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The Ultimate Travel Guide To Mexico City: What To See & When

Visit Mexico's most underrated destination — its capital! Mexico City has historical attractions, lively markets, and delicious cuisine.

Quick Links

What to know when visiting mexico’s capital, best time to go, must-see mexico city attractions, where to stay in mexico city, must-eat spots in mexico city, mexico city’s historic locations, tips for staying safe in mexico city, tips for exchanging currency, how to spend the perfect day in mexico city.

Mexico City (CDMX) is the capital of Mexico and is a lively destination unlike anywhere else in the country. The city has a population of more than 8 million people and the surrounding metropolitan area is home to more than 21 million people. As travelers can imagine, this is a busy destination where there is never a dull moment.

Although Mexico City doesn’t boast the beautiful beaches that most people visit Mexico for, it is rich in culture and history. Find out where to go for the best food, when to visit, and how to stay safe while exploring this bustling metropolis.

Mexico City is the center of Mexico in a landlocked state. Many travelers may not realize that Mexico has 32 states, one of which is Ciudad de Mexico (Mexico City).

The capital city became its own state in Mexico’s federation in 2016. The capital of Mexico typically receives more than 3 million tourists annually .

For most travelers, the best time to visit will be between March and May. While the winters in Mexico City are cooler and the summers are when the rainy season occurs, March to May brings dry skies, sunshine, and warm temperatures.

The average high temperature in March in Mexico City is 26ºC and in May it increases slightly to 27ºC.

Related: Why A Vacationer Traveling To Mexico Might Want To Stay In Mexico City (Over An All-Inclusive)

In November temperatures are colder, at an average high of 23ºC with a low of 7ºC. The coolest month of the year in Mexico City is January, with an average high temperature of 21ºC.

Mexico City is a bustling destination with plenty of attractions to see and activities to experience. It’s impossible to see and do it all in a few days, a week, or even a month. However, when travelers have a limited time in CDMX, these are a few of the top attractions they can check out.

The Frida Kahlo Museum is a quirky building with vibrant blue walls that earned it the nickname “The Blue House” in the city. This beautiful museum is dedicated to displaying the works of Mexican painter, Frida Kahlo.

  • Hours : Tuesday 10 AM to 6 PM, Wednesday 11 AM to 6 PM, Thursday to Sunday 10 AM to 6 PM.
  • Entrance Fee: ~$12 USD (~$230 MXN)

Book this tour

Related: 10 Unique Things To Experience In Mexico City

Museo Nacional de Antropología is the biggest museum in Mexico, and it’s also the most visited. The museum first opened its doors in 1964 under the rule of president Adolfo López Mateos.

  • Hours : Tuesday to Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM
  • Entrance Fee: ~$4.30 ($85 MXN)

Travelers seeking green space rather than artwork or historical information can head to Bosque de Chapultepec. This is a massive city park that is one of the largest in Mexico.

Travelers can relax here and enjoy something free when visiting on a budget.

  • Hours : Open 24/7
  • Entrance Fee: Free

When visiting Mexico City, there are a variety of neighborhoods to choose from for accommodation. The area of the city travelers choose to base themselves from will determine how costly their experience in CDMX becomes.

Some popular neighborhoods for digital nomads visiting the city on a budget are La Condesa, Roma Norte, and Roma Sur.

Tourists who want to see the major sites of Mexico City and pay premiums for a trendy neighborhood often prefer Coyoacán. Zona Rosa is a vibrant area for shopping and nightlife.

Luxury hotels:

  • Address: 297 Avenue Paseo De La Reforma, Mexico City, Mexico City Federal District
  • Amenities: Indoor Pool, Restaurant, Spa, and Wellness Center
  • Address: Paseo de la Reforma 439, 06500 Mexico City, Mexico City Federal District
  • Amenities: Indoor Pool, Spa, and Wellness Center, Bar/Lounge

Budget accommodation:

  • Cost: $89 per night for 2 adults
  • Address: 38 San Ildefonso Centro, 06000 Mexico City, Mexico City Federal District
  • Amenities: Game Room, Restaurant, Bar/Lounge
  • Cost: $70 per night for 2 adults
  • Address: República de Guatemala No 4 Colonia Centro, 06020 Mexico City, Mexico City Federal District
  • Amenities: Airport Shuttle, Laundry Facilities, Night Club

Mexico City is one of the best places in the country that travelers can visit for authentic Mexican cuisine. There is an abundance of restaurants for all budgets, street stalls selling tacos, and street food markets happening year-round.

Street food like tacos, tortas, and pambazo are popular in this part of Mexico, as are churros served with hot chocolate.

Related: 10 Best Food Tours You Can Take In Mexico City

The food markets in Mexico City are the heart of the city’s culture, with vibrant colors, a lively atmosphere, and delicious local cuisine at affordable prices.

One of the largest food markets in Mexico City is called Mercado La Merced. It was originally built in the 1860s and today, it occupies multiple buildings spanning several city blocks.

Travelers can spend hours here shopping, exploring, and sampling local street food.

  • Date: Year-round
  • Hours : Monday to Sunday, 5:30 AM to 6 PM

Another popular market to visit that is less traditional and more contemporary is Mercado Roma. This Mexican food market is more like a gourmet food court and first opened its doors to the public in May 2014.

It’s got local cuisine, coffee, beer bars, and more. Mercado Roma is the perfect place to spend an afternoon or evening trying street food and having a beer with new friends.

  • Date: Open year-round
  • Hours: Monday to Wednesday, 10 AM to 10:30 PM, Thursday 10 AM to 12:30 AM, Friday to Saturday, 10 AM to 1 AM, Sunday 10 AM to 7:30 PM

Besides the food markets, there are plenty of restaurants that travelers should add to their list of things to try in Mexico City.

  • Best restaurants for breakfast: Café Nin, El Cardenal, Café de Tacuba, Lardo
  • Top eateries for lunch and dinner: Contramar, Quintonil, Café de Tacuba, El Pescadito, Migrante, Limosneros
  • Greatest bars: Hanky Panky Cocktail Bar, Licorería Limantour, Baltra Bar
  • Best coffee shops: Café Passmar, Chiquitito Café, Blend Station, Finca Don Porfirio

Mexico City is one of the oldest mega cities in the Americas, so there is a rich history to explore here. Travelers must visit Plaza de La Constitución, locally referred to as El Zocalo, to see the historic heart of the city.

El Zocalo is the main city square and in addition to the impressive architecture, there is also plenty to do there in the way of entertainment and restaurants.

Related: Long Before The Aztecs, This Ancient City Was One Of Largest In The World (And It's A Day Trip From Mexico City)

Casa de Los Azulejos is another must-see historical attraction in Mexico City. Translated from Spanish, this is the House Of Tiles, an 18th Century building with unique architecture that is now home to a popular restaurant.

  • Hours : Monday to Sunday, 7 AM to 1 AM
  • Entrance Fee: Free (Order food at prices listed on the restaurant menu)

Related: Templo Mayor: The Aztec Temple In Mexico City That You Probably Haven't Heard Of Yet

History buffs and anthropology enthusiasts will appreciate a visit to the city’s archeological site called Templo Mayor. This site also has a museum with Aztec artifacts, so travelers can learn about Mexico City’s past.

Before it became the modern-day capital, Templo Mayor was an important structure in Tenochtitlan, the ancient city that Mexico City is built on. This area is now the historic center of Ciudad de Mexico.

  • Hours : Tuesday to Sunday, 9 AM to 5 PM
  • Entrance Fee: From $8 (Skip-the-line ticket)

Mexico City is often regarded as a dangerous place to travel. But the reality is that, like most major cities, crime exists but typically doesn’t impact tourists.

As long as travelers use their common sense and exercise caution, they can enjoy a safe and fun trip to Mexico City.

Related: 10 Must-Do Things When Visiting Mexico City

Some practical safety measures when visiting Mexico City include:

  • Sticking to areas that are popular among travelers and locals
  • Avoid walking alone at night
  • Try not to look like a tourist (plan a route in advance to avoid looking lost/consulting maps)
  • Watch out for pickpockets
  • Limit the amount of cash and valuables travelers are carrying

As with any major city, it’s a good idea for travelers to know the local emergency contact numbers in case they, or someone around them, requires immediate assistance.

Overall, Mexico City is a safe place to travel when visitors are smart, alert, and stick to the popular areas.

Mexico uses MXN (Mexican Pesos) as its form of currency, so travelers will need to exchange their USD or CAD before paying with cash in Mexico City.

The current exchange rate is 1 USD to 19.62 MXN , however, the exchange rate travelers receive will depend on where they exchange their cash.

Doing so at a bank at home before departure is a good option. However, for travelers coming from another international destination who need to exchange their currency in Mexico, consider doing so at the bank ATMs in the city.

There are opportunities to exchange currency at the airport, but these typically result in less beneficial exchange rates for the traveler.

Mexico City is a common layover destination for travelers flying to other cities in Mexico or South America from Canada or the United States via Aeroméxico. Whether visitors are spending a month working remotely in Mexico City or only have 24 hours on a stopover, the perfect day is easy to replicate.

Start the morning with breakfast or brunch at a popular restaurant like El Cardenal. Then, visit Mercado la Merced for some shopping and sampling of local cuisine during the morning.

By lunchtime, travelers will have made their way to Mercado de Comidas within the market, which is a small food court area to have lunch.

During the afternoon, splurge on museum tickets and appreciate the rich history and culture of the city at the Frida Kahlo Museum and the Museo Nacional de Antropología.

Visit El Zocalo or the stunning Palacio de Bellas Artes before grabbing dinner at Migrante or Quintonil, for those feeling fancy. End the night with fun cocktails at Hanky Panky.

Q: How safe is Mexico City?

Mexico City is fairly safe, especially when travelers use common sense during their visit. However, Merida earns the title of the safest city in Mexico .

Crime rates and levels of safety in Mexico City are comparable to Chicago, Illinois , a popular travel destination within the United States.

Q: Is Mexico City worth visiting?

Absolutely, Mexico City is worth visiting. Many people skip over this vibrant city in favor of Mexico’s coastal destinations like Puerto Vallarta or Tulum. Mexico City offers travelers a chance to experience a different side of the country away from the resort towns.

Mexico City   Travel Guide

Courtesy of Torresigner | Getty Images

travel guide to mexico city

16 Best Things To Do in Mexico City

Mexico City, officially known as Ciudad de México (CDMX), is a growing and vibrant metropolis nestled in the heart of Mexico. The capital city of Mexico offers a blend of history, culture and gastronomy that attracts millions of annual visitors. From

  • All Things To Do

travel guide to mexico city

Museo Nacional de Antropología Museo Nacional de Antropología

Located within the sprawling Chapultepec Forest , the Museo Nacional de Antropología (National Museum of Anthropology) showcases artifacts from Mexico's pre-Columbian era, dating from about 100 B.C. to A.D. 1521. Housed within the facility’s 22 rooms are artifacts, including the famous Aztec Calendar Stone, known as Piedra del Sol, as well as the ancient statue of Xochipilli, the Aztec god of art, games, beauty, dance and maize (among others). The museum offers a look at how tradition, culture and life were formed in all regions of Mexico, and it also educates visitors on how Mexico’s indigenous descendants live today. 

Past visitors said this is a must-see if you’re interested in the ancient cultures of Mexico/Mesoamerica. Reviewers appreciated that the explanatory text features English translations. The museum is so extensive that many travelers said you can spend a whole day exploring the many collections and exhibits and recommend giving yourself plenty of time to visit. As one of the largest and most visited museums in Mexico, the grounds are also home to a gift shop, a cafeteria and the National Library of Anthropology and History. 

travel guide to mexico city

Bosque de Chapultepec Bosque de Chapultepec free

The main park in Mexico City, Bosque de Chapultepec (Chapultepec Forest) was once the temporary home of the Aztec empire after its citizens migrated to modern-day Mexico City in the 13th century. Today, the 1,600-acre Chapultepec is Mexico City's largest park and is popular among families seeking respite from the busy and crowded city.

Divided into three sections, the park is home to many cultural interests, such as the presidential residence, the former presidential palace, a zoo and several museums (including the highly recommended Museo Nacional de Antropología ). The park also hosts numerous military monuments and effigies of Aztec kings, as well as restaurants and playgrounds, plus lots of green space for stretching. What's more, the park features a large lake, where visitors and locals alike can rent pedal boats to cruise around the water (a particular highlight for kids). On the weekends, local vendors fill the park and sell everything from souvenirs to art to snacks.

travel guide to mexico city

Palacio de Bellas Artes Palacio de Bellas Artes free

Considered the cultural center of Mexico City, the Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts) is a must-visit. The exterior of this 20th-century palace showcases art nouveau and art deco-style architecture, while the inside features marble floors and vaulted glass windows. 

In addition to its architectural grandeur, the building hosts cultural events in the national theater, including music, dance, theater, opera and literary performances. The museum at the palace also houses several famous murals, including the work of the famous Mexican muralist Rufino Tamayo. On the top floor, you'll find the National Museum of Architecture, which showcases the work and lives of famous Mexican architects, and multiple art museums and galleries. 

travel guide to mexico city

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travel guide to mexico city

Zócalo (Plaza de la Constitución) Zócalo (Plaza de la Constitución) free

U.S. News Insider Tip: The Zócalo attracts throngs of visitors and locals, so visit in the early morning or afternoon during a weekday to avoid the heaviest crowds. – Kayla Hui

Officially known as Plaza de la Constitución, El Zócalo is the main public square and one of the most recognizable places in Mexico City. It’s also one of the world’s largest city squares. It contains a giant Mexican flag at its center and has been the centerpiece of public gatherings since the days of the Aztec empire (it was considered the ceremonial center of Tenochtitlán). The site also hosts annual, widely attended religious events during Holy Week and for Corpus Christi, as well as fairs, concerts, and parades. Several historic buildings also border the square, including the city's national cathedral , the National Palace  and federal buildings.

travel guide to mexico city

Museo Frida Kahlo Museo Frida Kahlo

One of the best-known museums in Mexico City exhibits the life and work of its most famous artist: Frida Kahlo. The museum, located in the Coyoacan suburb, is also known as La Casa Azul (The Blue House), and was Kahlo's former residence. It hosts some impressive examples of her works, but travelers say that the best part of visiting the house is seeing where the artist lived and painted with her husband, artist Diego Rivera. Along with paintings by both artists, folk art, photos, documents, books and furnishings, the house also displays personal objects.

Recent visitors to the property said it's a must-see for fans of the artist, saying it shows her life and work in a very personal light. Reviewers were particularly impressed with the display of her clothing and dresses. If you want to take photos, there is an additional modest “permit” fee. 

travel guide to mexico city

Basílica de Santa María de Guadalupe Basílica de Santa María de Guadalupe free

U.S. News Insider Tip: During the summer months, pack a hat and water bottle (there is little shade within the complex). If you plan to use the bathroom on site, bring a couple of pesos with you to use the bathroom and buy toilet paper. – Kayla Hui 

The Basílica de Santa María de Guadalupe (Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe) is an important religious site in Mexico City. Construction for the first shrine built to honor the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe started in 1695 on Tepeyac Hill. However, nearly 300 years' worth of construction and environmental damage threatened the integrity of the basilica, so a new basilica was built on the same plaza in the 1970s.

travel guide to mexico city

Templo Mayor Templo Mayor

Before Spanish colonization, Templo Mayor served as the religious center for the Aztec people. When Spanish conquistadors arrived in the early 16th century, the temple was among many structures that were destroyed and a new cathedral was built on top of the ruins. It wasn't until 1978 that the temple dedicated to the Aztec gods Huitzilopochtli and Tláloc (gods of war and water) was unearthed in the heart of Mexico City. Today, the area remains an active archeological site and the adjoining museum houses thousands of  artifacts, including 2,500 wooden objects from the site. 

Recent visitors said it's fascinating to see the ancient ruins that are tucked away in the center of the city. Many said it's worth spending time in the museum as well, but the site and scale can't match up to the massive Museo Nacional de Antropología . Still, the whole complex has been deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of Mexico City's most popular attractions. If you’re visiting during the summer months, travelers suggest you time your visit for the morning to avoid the sweltering midday heat. Reviewers also warn that most of the information is listed in Spanish only.

travel guide to mexico city

Museo de Arte Popular Museo de Arte Popular

U.S. News Insider Tip: Ditch the large bags and water bottles prior to your visit as you may be denied entry. – Kayla Hui

This folk art museum features handicrafts from all across Mexico and details the country's history and its many cultures. If you want to find out more about the country’s indigenous communities, this is the place to go, according to travelers. Exhibits include glasswork from Tecali, pottery from Michoacán, masks from Chiapas and alebrijes , the colorful painted animal figures from Oaxaca, among other treasures. Make sure to take time to admire the building itself – the 1920s art deco building was the former headquarters of the fire department.

travel guide to mexico city

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Chalpultepec Castle Chalpultepec Castle

U.S. News Insider Tip: Sundays are free for all residents of Mexico and expats living in Mexico, so try to avoid visiting that day if you can. It can get crowded, so it’s recommended to go in the morning when the castle first opens. – Kayla Hui

Constructed beginning in 1725, Chalpultepec Castle has served many purposes in its centuries of use; it was a military academy, an observatory, and the only castle in North America to house rulers, including Emperor Maximilian I and his wife Empress Carlota. It would later be established as the National Museum of History by Lázaro Cárdenas in 1939, which would open the castle to visitors. Located at the entrance of Chalpultepec Park , it’s a historical site that can’t be missed on your next visit to Mexico City. 

travel guide to mexico city

Catedral Metropolitana Catedral Metropolitana free

Mexico's national cathedral – the vaulting, austere, ornate church on the Zócalo' s north end – was once the site of an ancient Aztec precinct, so it has housed the city's spiritual core for centuries. The cathedral was built between 1573 and 1813 after the Spanish conquest of Tenochtitlan and is considered one of Mexico City's many must-see attractions. What’s more, the cathedral is one of the largest churches in Latin America. It’s believed that the materials used to construct the church were taken from the destroyed pyramids and structures belonging to the Aztecs. Highlights of the massive cathedral include five naves, 14 chapels, two of the largest 18th-century organs in the Americas, 150 windows and a painting by famed Spanish artist Bartolome Esteban Murillo.

Depending on your interest in Mexican history and architecture, you could spend anywhere from an hour to a half a day at the cathedral (it’s free to enter). Past visitors recommended paying to take a tour of the interior with a member of the cathedral’s staff, who reviewers say offer a wealth of information about the cathedral’s far-reaching history. According to recent visitors, tours cost approximately 100 Mexican pesos (about $6). Recent visitors said the massive structure is stunning to behold, and even if you don't want to take the time to explore the inside, it's worth the photo-op of the exterior. The cathedral is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and admission is free. Many of the best Mexico City walking tours make stops here, which can be another way to hear an in-depth retelling of the cathedral’s history and significance.  For more information, including Mass times, visit the cathedral's website (in Spanish).

travel guide to mexico city

Museo Soumaya Museo Soumaya free

From exceptional architecture to more than 66,000 featured works, Museo Soumaya is one of Mexico City’s most iconic museums. Established in 1994, Museo Soumaya’s main goal is to preserve and exhibit Mexico and Europe’s artistry. Currently, it houses the largest collection of works by Auguste Rodin outside of France, in addition to artwork by Diego Rivera, Titian, Picasso, Monet and more. 

Beyond the art, the architecture alone is worth seeing. The exterior of the six-story building is wrapped in mirrored hexagons, and the building is the brainchild of Mexican architect Fernando Romero. Recent travelers say Museo Soumaya is reminiscent of New York City’s Guggenheim (both museums are architecturally stunning and feature a circular interior with each floor organized by art type). Some reviewers recommend starting your visit at the top and winding your way down. 

travel guide to mexico city

Palacio Nacional Palacio Nacional free

The National Palace holds the federal executive branch of the Mexican government and sits along Mexico City's main public square, El Zócalo . The palace itself is a massive, ornate building that contains several gardens, murals and fountains in the Spanish Renaissance architectural style. Its highlights are several Diego Rivera murals painted in panoramic style across the palace's walls, which past visitors say are a must-see. These murals depict the stages of Mexican history, from pre-Columbian days to the current age.

Because the Mexican president lives and works within the palace, visitors can only access the site on a guided tour. Tours are free, but can’t be booked in advance online. According to recent visitors, you must go to the ticket office at the Museum of Art of the Ministry of Finance & Public Credit, where you can inquire about tour availability and make reservations in person (this is also where tours depart from). Some reviewers reported success booking tickets in advance by emailing [email protected] with information about the preferred tour date and number of people attending. Along the approximately hourlong tours, you’ll see the Rivera mural collections and the courtyards. You may also get the chance to glimpse the exterior of the legislative chambers. 

travel guide to mexico city

Museo Casa Luis Barragán Museo Casa Luis Barragán

Luis Barragán was a prominent Mexican architect renowned for his modernist style, and his former home – which was first constructed in 1947 and now functions as a museum – is one of the finest examples of his work. The museum is an off-the-beaten-path attraction that travelers say will please all, even those not schooled in architectural history. The house is known for its vivid colors, brilliant use of natural light and its impressive garden with a maze of corridors and trees. In 2004, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Recent visitors said the history of the house, in addition to its interesting architecture, is captivating. However, a handful of recent reviewers were disappointed with the ticket reservation process. To visit, you must book a self-guided or guided tour (available in Spanish and English). Self-guided visits are only available on Thursdays at select times. Tickets for self-guided tours cost 450 Mexican pesos (about $26) per person (note that children 12 and younger are not permitted in the house). Guided tours are available at select times Monday through Wednesday, Friday and Saturday Tickets for guided tours cost more. Tickets are released every Tuesday at noon (Mexico City time).  

travel guide to mexico city

Private Tour: Teotihuacan and Guadalupe Shrine

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Balloon Flight in Teotihuacan with Breakfast in Natural Cave

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Torre Latinoamericana Torre Latinoamericana

Open since 1956, Torre Latinoamericana, the 44-story skyscraper in Centro Histórico, is the place to go if you want the best views of the city. Similar to the Empire State Building in New York City , this tower offers visitors jaw-dropping views from its observation deck and restaurant, making it the perfect opportunity to pull out your camera for that Instagram-worthy picture. 

Recent visitors recommended heading up to the top of the tower during sunset to admire the shifting light as it illuminates buildings like the neighboring Palace of Fine Arts. Travelers also warned that if smog levels are high, you won’t be able to see much from the tower’s peak. Some reviewers recommend spending time in the on-site museum, which details the history of Mexico City and the construction of the tower. 

travel guide to mexico city

Teotihuacán Teotihuacán

U.S. News Insider Tip: There is no shade inside the archeological site, so you’ll want to wear a hat. It’s also helpful to have a small backpack to hold a water bottle, sunscreen and toilet paper to use in the washrooms at the site. – Kayla Hui

One of many UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Mexico City region, Teotihuacán ( teh -o-tee-wa- can ) contains some of the largest pre-Hispanic pyramids in all of Mexico. The site contains many popular constructions, including the Palace of the Plumed Butterfly, which showcases various columns of winged creatures, and the awesome Pyramid of the Sun, which sits at the heart of the small city. The nearby museum, Museo de la Sitio, also holds many artifacts from the period.

travel guide to mexico city

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) free

The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (Central University City Campus of the National University of Mexico) includes 32 academic programs, the Mexican Olympic stadium, a Mexican cultural center, a nature preserve and the city's Central Library. The main campus is now designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The city's famous muralists have made their mark on the campus, and travelers recommend you check out the work of famous painter David Alfaro Siqueiros at the Rectorate Tower or the work of Juan O'Gorman at the Central Library. The campus also holds the University Museum of Contemporary Art, an excellent spot for viewing Mexico's more recent cultural offerings. The sculpture garden at the art museum is a particular highlight for past visitors, as is the botanic garden.

travel guide to mexico city

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11 things to know before going to Mexico City

Natalia de la Rosa

Oct 20, 2023 • 8 min read

travel guide to mexico city

From dealing with altitude to tipping well, we share local tips on what you should know before traveling to Mexico City © Tais Policanti / Getty Images

With a population of over 21 million people, Mexico City  is a densely packed metropolis with Indigenous origins dating back to the 1300s, when it was called Tenochtitlan.

This beautiful yet chaotic city is my hometown. After a lifetime spent here, CDMX (as it's often referred to) still surprises me with its sense of community and how locals – known as chilangos –  own and enjoy public spaces such as parks and plazas. People-watching is a thing here, and just going out for the sake of walking around and having a late-night snack is a form of social entertainment.

In recent years, Mexico City has become a sought-after destination for travelers seeking to indulge in Mexico's rich culinary heritage, admire the city's stunning architecture, or stroll around the central and most picturesque neighborhoods such as Roma, Polanco, Juárez and Condesa.

Yet, throughout my years as a travel writer and fixer in Mexico , I still hear questions that reflect particular misconceptions about the city. So, here are some answers to help you plan your trip to Mexico City and feel more confident and at ease before boarding the plane.

A young loving couple sharing an umbrella in heavy rain

1. What should I pack for Mexico City?

Mexico City is privileged in the weather department since it enjoys a consistent temperature averaging the low 20°Cs  most of the year . Summer is considered the rainy season. It will likely rain during the evening from late June until mid-October, either a massive 20-minute downpour or just a sprinkle here and there, but rest assured: it will rain. 

Pack a light, waterproof jacket, but skip the umbrella. If you get caught in the rain, street vendors sell umbrellas for 60 pesos on average. Pack comfortable shoes since you might do lots of walking as you explore the city . Bring a button-down shirt or a summery or casual dress if visiting high-end restaurants. Chilangos tend to be dressier and chic when going out.

2. Some restaurants and museums should be booked months in advance

The Mexico City dining  and bar scene is lively and includes some of the best restaurants in North America, and the world. You should book lunch or dinner reservations in advance if you have Pujol or Quintonil on your list of places to eat. 

If traveling to Mexico City with friends or family, it's also worth booking lunch and dinner reservations in advance because it will be harder for sought-after restaurants and bars to accommodate walk-ins of large parties.

Buy tickets to the Frida Kahlo Museum or the Luis Barragan House with plenty of time, and plan the itinerary of your trip around the reservations that are harder to get.

February to early May and September to December are usually the busiest months to visit Mexico City, so plan around that if you prefer to avoid crowds.

Tourists walk down an avenue leading to a large stone pyramid

3. How long should I stay?

Plan a four- to five-day trip to have enough time to explore the city's most popular neighborhoods and attractions. If you wish to visit Teotihuacan  – an archaeological site located 39km  northeast of Mexico City  – or Xochimilco's Cuemanco ecological area in the southern part of the city, set aside an entire morning for each activity since it can take around 1.5 hours to reach each destination coming from the central areas of the city.

The National Museum of Archaeology and the Chapultepec Castle deserve at least four or five hours of your time. Allow a full day to walk around  Centro Histórico (Mexico City's downtown area), visiting sites such as  Bellas Artes , the Diego Rivera murals , Catedral Metropolitana  and Templo Mayor .

Give yourself some time to experience Mexico City's pace of life. It can be hectic but quiet enough to enjoy a coffee or a cocktail and unwind.

4. How much should I tip and when?

Mexico City is a predominantly working-class city, and there is a lot of economic disparity in the service and hospitality industry. Consider a 15% tip as the standard and even 20% based on the full tab at restaurants, bars and coffee shops or the amount paid for booking experiences and services. 

Service staff at restaurants and bars will ask if you wish to add a tip before swiping your card. On the other hand, if you decide to take a tour or hire a city guide, tip with cash, preferably in pesos. 

Tipping an Uber driver is not common, but if you hire a personal chauffeur throughout your trip, tipping will be expected. If you visit a supermarket and someone assists you in packing your groceries, tip 10 to 15 pesos.

5. Mexico City is not cheap

Several international travelers and remote workers have been called out on social media for posting: "Mexico City is so cheap!". If you earn USD, Euros or GBP, you will find that your income or travel budget goes further in Mexico City than, for example, New York, San Francisco, or London. 

However, Mexico City is not cheap for Mexicans, and the cost of living has risen considerably for locals in the last five years, especially in housing costs due to short-term rentals and Airbnb. Chilangos are generally welcoming and hospitable, but comments from tourists about the lower relative costs in the city are unlikely to be appreciated.

A woman takes a photo of her food that she's ordered from a nearby street-food trader

6. Mexican street food is delicious, but not very accommodating

Unfortunately, strict veganism or vegetarianism, gluten intolerance, severe allergies or other religious or cultural-related food restrictions will be hard to accommodate in most places, especially when visiting street food stands. 

Taco stands or quesadilla vendors might cook vegetarian dishes with lard or near animal proteins; some mole and salsas could have peanuts or other nuts. Most local markets have sections where traditional butchery is on full display. If you're a meat-eater, be open to the idea and exercise a degree of flexibility. You might end up trying delicious Mexican food.

When visiting a taco stand, locals might warn you about the spiciness of the salsas, and it might be a bit more spicy than what you are used to. In Spanish, picante means spicy. 

Mexican eateries –  fondas  – cook mostly from scratch and always have a vegetarian dish on the daily menu. Corn tortillas are everywhere in Mexico City, so you will be good to go if your restriction is gluten.

Nowadays, most restaurants are mindful of food restrictions and allergies and might make suggestions based on their current menu. But expect them to keep a dish the same, accommodating your request in the best way possible.

7. How safe is the water?

A good rule of thumb is that you can brush your teeth, but do not swallow any water. Depending on the city borough, the quality and sanitation of the tap water might change. 

Consequently, Mexico City residents drink only filtered or bottled water. Since 2014, Mexico City restaurants have been required by local authorities to serve filtered water to consumers at no extra cost.

Any ice used to prepare drinks, aguas frescas (fruity beverages) and cocktails is made with filtered water. Coffee shops and juice stands prepare beverages with filtered water as well. 

8. What about crime? Is Mexico City safe?

The answer to this question really depends on where you are coming from. Strolling around central neighborhoods like Roma, Polanco, Coyoacán or Condesa is way safer than walking, for example, in certain areas of cities such as San Francisco, Philadelphia, Phoenix, LA, Washington DC or Chicago. In recent years, Mexico City's government has increased security patrols in most areas, and overall, the city is safe. 

As in any major city, be aware of your surroundings and always be mindful of your belongings. Watch out for petty crime and pickpocketing in tourist areas. If you end up in a crowded place like a soccer stadium, a concert or a music festival, keep your valuables close to you. Leave any flashy jewelry or watches at the hotel.

If taking public transportation like the Metro (as the subway system is called) or buses, be aware of pickpockets. Stay away from regular taxis and opt for Uber instead.

There are, for sure, neighborhoods in Mexico City where even residents advise caution, so always refer to local intel if you are planning to explore the outer areas of the city. If an area feels edgy and unsafe, staying away is best.

9. Don't drink alcohol in the streets and avoid weed

Drinking in the streets of Mexico City is illegal. Mexico City is not Tulum , Cancún or Los Cabos. If you get caught by the police drinking alcohol in the streets, you may face a fine or jail time. 

In 2009, the Mexican government adopted legislation to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of drugs  for personal and immediate use. However, it's best to avoid consuming any type of drugs in Mexico to avoid the legal gray matter. 

10. Stay hydrated to help with the altitude

Mexico City sits in a valley in the high Mexican central plateau with an elevation of 2240m. You might notice you are more tired than usual after a day or two of arrival. Drink enough water and stay hydrated at all times. You might also experience that alcohol hits you faster here, and it is all because of the high elevation. 

Luckily, you can find bottles of electrolytes in every OXXO or 7-11 store. Locals call them electrolitos , and once you recognize the bottles, you will catch them everywhere. Electrolitos come in different flavors: coco, lime, strawberry etc, and are great for curing a hangover. 

11. There’s a chance of earthquakes 

Mexico City experiences earthquakes occasionally, and the city and its residents are prepared to handle the situation. Mexico has a sophisticated seismic alarm system that gives up to a 60-second warning before an earthquake hits the city. 

If you hear the alarm, stay calm, don't run, and follow the locals' lead to a safe place to see the earthquake through. Hotels, restaurants, government buildings, apartment buildings, offices and schools follow a safety protocol. 

Mexico City schedules earthquake drills once a year to reinforce first responders' safety measures and allow residents to practice earthquake safety protocols. If you happen to be in Mexico City during an earthquake, staying calm is the most crucial step to staying safe.

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The 27 Best Things to Do in Mexico City

By Scarlett Lindeman

Mexico City is changing rapidly from the influx of foreigners who have recently discovered the city’s infinite charms. There are dozens of new restaurants, parties, and projects that keep the vibrancy of this capital city (with a population of over 22 million) surging while the storied museums, ancient bars, and cultural sites maintain their standing. An intoxicating mix of ancient and new, you could spend a lifetime here and barely scratch the surface. While there's no way you’ll manage to cover all of the must see and dos in one trip, sticking to one neighborhood a day keeps things manageable. No matter how you end up spending your time in Mexico's capital, one thing is for sure—you’ll be scheduling your second trip before your first is even finished.

Read our complete Mexico City travel guide here .

This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

travel guide to mexico city

Colonia Juárez Arrow

The Juarez neighborhood has evolved in recent years. Once gritty, the area is now teeming with great boutiques, bars, parks, and restaurants like Masala y Maiz, which blends Mexican and Indian cuisines, and Niddo, a sunny corner spot that serves a divine brunch. There are loads of hotspots around the leafy central Plaza Washington: La Rifa for artisanal chocolates, Loose Blues for vinyls and vintage denim, and Elly's for natural wines and handmade pastas.

Luis Barragan House and Studio

Luis Barragán House and Studio Arrow

The former home and studio of Pritzker-Prize-winning architect Luis Barragán has been transformed into a museum in Mexico City's Hidalgo District. Architecture and design lovers frequent the estate to study the artist's ingenious use of color, light, shadow, form, and texture. From the street, you'd never guess the personality that lies inside: The stark-gray façade humbly blends in with neighboring homes, but walk to the interior of the estate and you'll find striking walls in a kaleidoscope of bright colors, fountains, and pools.

Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico  Mexico City

Gran Hotel Ciudad de México Arrow

Even if you're not staying at this hotel on the Zócalo, it's worth stopping just to see the jaw-dropping interior. The building originally opened as a department store in 1899. Since then, its art nouveau bones have been carefully maintained: The curving staircase is a replica of the one at Paris's Le Bon Marché , and the antique elevator, made of iron and concrete, was the first of its kind in Mexico City. But the pièce de résistance is the incredible Tiffany stained-glass ceiling, imported from France in 1908.

El Moro Churerria Restaurant Mexico City

El Moro Churerría Arrow

Early evening is churro time in Mexico City—families, couples, and friends all go out for a taste of sweet fried dough and chocolate. You'll often find lines snaking around the block outside this beloved churrería (churro shop). There are shops in Roma, Centro Historico, Condesa, Polanco, and Cuauhtémoc.   Most have spiffy interiors with blue and white tile, bright lighting, and long communal tables. Watch the cooks dip, fry, and sugar-coat your long, spindly churro, which is paired with hot chocolate in a flavor of your choosing.

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Floating Gardens of Xochimilco Mexico City

Floating Gardens of Xochimilco Arrow

Drive 40 minutes south of the city and you'll witness the closest approximation to the Valley of Mexico (in which Mexico City lies) before the arrival of the Spanish. The World Heritage Site of Xochimilco, the extensive lake and canal system that once connected most of the settlements in the valley, is an incredible vestige of the area's pre-Hispanic past. Start at the Embarcadero Belem dock to board a colorful gondola -like boat, called a trajinera , and explore the waterways and artificial islands or chinampas .

Palacio NationalDiego Rivera murals Landmark murals art landmark Mexico city

Palacio Nacional Arrow

Diego Rivera's famous mural The History of Mexico, showcases the Aztec era to the conquest to the Revolution to the development of industry. It's grandiose and captivating, a unique opportunity to learn about Mexico's past. Not to mention it's free: The mural is housed in a distinguished building east of the Zócalo that operates as a government office. Among the office workers milling about, you'll see a mix of local, national, and international tourists who come to be awe-stricken by Rivera’s masterpiece.

Temple Mayor Mexico City

Templo Mayor Arrow

Templo Mayor (translation: main temple) was the centerpiece of Tenochtitlán, the ancient Aztec capital, constructed in 1325 in the marshes of Lake Texcoco. The temple was mowed over and replaced by a cathedral during the Spanish conquest in 1521. Today, the hulking stone ruins lie at the heart of Centro Histórico, embedded in the blueprint of downtown. Surrounded by streets and buildings, it is hard to imagine the temples in their original Aztecan glory, but the nicely organized museum helps paint the full picture.

Casa Azul Museo Frida Kahlo Museum Mexico City Blue House

Museo Frida Kahlo Arrow

The museum, also known as "Casa Azul" for its shocking cobalt blue exterior, is where Frida Kahlo was born, raised, lived, and died. Visitors can take in a few paintings by Kahlo and her husband, Diego Rivera, in addition to other contemporary artists of their era. But perhaps more interesting is the voyeuristic window into their creative world. The home is carefully preserved and maintained; it's easy to image the spaces as they were during Kahlo's time. In addition to their personal effects and domestic materials, the collection of clothes and corsets Frida needed to support her body after her traumatic accident give an intimate look at the artist's daily struggles.

Sculpture Garden at the Museo Universitario Arte Contemporneo Mexico City

Sculpture Garden at the Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo Arrow

Located on the outskirts of Mexico City proper, at the National Autonomous University of Mexico campus, the Sculpture Park is totally off the tourist track. Featuring a range of grand outdoor sculptures, the park is best explored by foot. The sculpture space, which looks like a giant crater, is one the top things to spot. It's built around lava (which can be seen in the center) and has wonderful views from the ledge.

flower market. red and orange flowers

Mercado Jamaica Arrow

The city’s principal flower market offers visitors a fragrant, colorful walk through much of the region’s native flora and fauna, available to be bundled into a bouquet and taken back to your home. Available for your admiration are roses, lilies, daisies, ferns, and violets galore, among other rare and special species. Visit during Dia de Muertos to see trucks carting in pink and orange cempasuchil , or Mexican marigolds, for family members to buy to decorate their ofrendas at home or their loved ones’ graves. Build a bundle to decorate your hotel room with—or better yet, to dry and frame as a memory for when you return home.

Building the Revolution in Mexico City with water features

Monumento a la Revolución Arrow

This landmark, located in the heart of Mexico City, commemorates the Mexican Revolution and is the largest triumphal arch in the world. The main structure evolved over twenty-five years of stops and starts and a major redesign. It was finished in 1938, to comprise an eclectic blend of art-deco and Mexican socialist realism styles. A visit to the top observation deck only costs 110 pesos ($5) and there's a museum underground. You don't need much time to witness the glory of the monument. Saunter around, gawk at the creative architectural stylings of the structure, and walk under the arches. History nerds may be more interested in the small museum below, but more than anything it's an architecturally significant piece, and the observation deck has great views. If you keep your eyes peeled while exploring around town, you'll most likely catch a glimpse of the monument down a main street—but a quick glimpse isn't enough, and it's worth the quick 15-minute trip to walk underneath it.

outside omusubi restaurant Mexico City

Omusubi House Arrow

In a small storefront in Roma Norte, the husband and wife team, Ichiro Kitazawa and Varia Gonzáles Manuel work side-by-side in the miniscule kitchen, cupping steamed rice into palm-sized balls. They will sink sauteed sweet potato into the omusubi which are speckled like confetti with purple and wild rice, a marriage of Mexican ingredients and Japanese technique. They met while working at a Japanese restaurant years back when Mexico City was still called DF, the federal district. He had arrived ten years earlier by way of Osaka, as a hippy backpacker intent on photographing Latin America but fell into cooking; and she, from Puebla. “Omusubi translates to tying up or to bring together” Kitazawa explains, “which is how we wrap the rice”—and a sound metaphor for the forging of connections between their two countries.

Tlaloc Fountain and Dolores Carcamo MuseumMuseo del Carcamo de Dolores Diego Rivera Mexico City Mexico

Cárcamo de Dolores Arrow

Second or third-time visitors to Mexico City who think they've seen everything will find something new here. This historic but infrequently-visited site was constructed in 1951 as a hydraulic water system connected to the city's main water lines. And while it no longer acts as a municipal water work but rather a museum and cultural landmark, it underscores the city's complicated relationship with water. In the lesser-traveled section of Chapultepec, it is currently under renovation and closed to the public, though the massive Rivera sculpture of the Azteca water god Tlaloc out front can still be admired.

travel guide to mexico city

Eat Like a Local Arrow

Eat Like a Local, a Mexico City–based company, runs culinary tours that immerse visitors in the city's vast food scene. Rocio, the guide, has long been a food blogger , and her knowledge about the Mexico City's food scene is totally on point. She's also passionate about connecting tourists with locals, and impacting Mexico City in a positive, sustainable way. There's a set itinerary, but she's flexible—so go on, order another mezcal or pork carnitas, if you like.

Museo Jumex Mexico City Museum

Museo Jumex Arrow

Museo Jumex houses one of Latin America's largest private contemporary art collections, which includes works by Andy Warhol, Martin Kippenberger, Cy Twombly, and Damien Hirst. Mediums range from paintings and drawings to light and video installations. The building is as distinctive as the art: British architect David Chipperfield designed the 15,000 square-foot white-concrete cube with a sawtooth top. (Plus the Soumaya Museum is just across the square, so you can feed two birds with one scone.) 

Cantina Bar Mexico City

Self-Guided Centro Historico Cantina Crawl Arrow

It's easy to pop around in Centro, hitting up a few cantinas to have a drink or two and to soak up the style of these classic, dive-y spots. The more friends you bring and make, the better. Locals and regulars alike hit the cantinas, which maintain a storied baseline for the drinking culture of Mexico City. Musicians pass through, sorrows are drowned, and gains celebrated. Many cantinas serve food, some better than others, and will often gift snacks and small plates if you consume around three drinks, though each spot has its own rules. Beer and tequila prevail. Simple cocktails, built-in-the-glass rum and cokes, margaritas, sangria, rum, brandy, and mezcal. Some cantinas are known for certain drinks, but craft cocktails this is not.

Mexican wrestlers take part in a tribute to Mexican fighter Silver King  who died after collapsing during a show in...

Lucha Libre at the Arena Coliseo Arrow

A giant venue that hosts sporting and entertainment events, the Arena seats as many as 23,300 spectators. It's best known for hosting Lucha Libre wrestling matches. The stadium is sprawling, and some seats are certainly better than others, depending on how much money you're willing to fork out. If you're here because you're a true Lucha Libre fan, make sure to sit in the front row; if you're here to have a fun night out with friends, the cheap seats will do just fine.

Teotihuacan Pyramids Mexico City

Teotihuacán Arrow

The ancient Mesoamerican pyramids of Teotihuacán, in the Valley of Mexico, once served as the largest city in the pre-Columbian Americas. It is thought that during the first millennium A.D. the city had around 125,000 people, including multi-ethnic groups such as the Otomi, Zapotec, Mixtec, Maya, and Nahua. If you have a few days in Mexico City, it's worth the day trip . (Teotihuacán is about an hour outside the city by car.) Leave early in the morning so you can be back in the city by mid-day—and bring sunscreen!

Shoe shine stands in the historic Zocalo or plaza in Oaxaca Mexico.

The Centro Zocalo Historico Bodealores   Arrow

The boleadores are dotted around the perimeter of downtown's main square (and almost every other park and plaza in the city) but you'll have a great view of the cathedrals, flagpole, and Palacio Nacional if you get your shoes shined here. Climb up on the elevated perch of the boleador's chair and they will make your boots shine anew. At 50 to 100 pesos ($3 to $6), it's one of the cheapest shoe-shine experiences around. Boleadores are an important part of Mexican street culture and a fixture of pedestrian avenues, a living-breathing mid-century heritage that is not in danger of dying out. But with the proliferation of cheap plastic shoes and mass-market tennis sneakers, "limpiabotes" are a hand-crafted service for giving leather shoes a new life.

MEXICO CITY MEXICO  OCTOBER 30 Terracotta Daughters sculptures a work of art by French visual artist Prune Nourry...

Museo Anahuacalli Arrow

Awesome, grand, and out-of-the-way, Anahuacalli is part studio, part museum, and part shrine for Mexican art that Diego Rivera built as an architectural piece uniting past, present, and future to the natural environment. Rivera's personal and expansive collection of pre-Hispanic figurines, carvings, and totems accumulated over a lifetime. The museum itself was constructed around a swath of rocky terrain Rivera and Khalo had purchased for a farm. The main collection features nearly two thousand figurines representing Olmecs, Toltecs, Nahuas, Zapotecs, the people of Teotihuacan, and those of northeastern Mexico as well as Rivera's sketches for murals. There are also temporary exhibits of more modern Mexican artists, with a recent rotation of 30 textural works by Robert Janitz—paintings, large-format sculptures, and an NFT.

travel guide to mexico city

Patrick Miller Arrow

From the outside, this dance club looks like dumpy warehouse hidden behind a black gate in Roma Norte. But come on a Friday (the only day it's open), and you'll find a raging party that offers a glimpse of the city's extant disco subculture. An eclectic mix of party-goers show off their moves in dance circles to all kinds of music, from '80s and '90s classics to sub-genres of disco, such as Hi-NRG, Italo, and electro.

Museo Anthropologia Mexico City

Museo Nacional de Antropología Arrow

This massive building in Chapultepec Park is among the city's most famed museums, second only to perhaps the Museo Frida Kahlo . Though the late Mexican architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez designed it in 1964, the mammoth building still looks as avant-garde today as it did then. (How exactly does that giant concrete slab float above a pond?) The museum holds the world's largest collection of ancient Mexican artifacts. Some of the most iconic Mesoamerican artifacts discovered to date can be found across 23 rooms. If you want to understand Mexico's history, then a visit here is a must.

Plaza Garibaldi night mexico city musicians

Plaza Garibaldi Arrow

Mexico's roving mariachi bands have been found in this plaza, a few blocks north of the Palacio de Bellas Artes , since the mid-1900s. Though the plaza has deteriorated over the years, it's seen a resurgence thanks to a city-driven effort to clean up the neighborhood by installing new sidewalks and street lamps. It's a cultural meeting point of sorts, where travelers can come day or night (though the best time to go is after 11 p.m.), to watch bands solicit bar patrons, cars, and passersby to buy a song .

Torre Latinoamericana Mexico City

Torre Latinoamericana Arrow

This 44-story skyscraper, built in 1965, is the tallest building in Centro Histórico . The tower miraculously withstood both the 8.1-magnitude earthquake of 1985 and the 7.1-magnitude quake of September 2017, making it a rare feat of engineering. The Torre defines Mexico City's skyline (much like the Empire State building in New York) and is a useful tool for orienting oneself in downtown. Head to the top-floor observation deck for jaw-dropping 360-degree views of the city, or to the newly renovated bar/restaurant (one floor below), which has equally impressive views and is almost always empty.

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Salón San Luis Arrow

The dance floor at this old-school salon, cloaked in red light, comes alive as locals, tourists, and old timers twirl and shuffle to a live band . Try your hand at salsa, merengue, cumbia, and norteña numbers as waiters in crisp whites with black bow ties circle the room serving liquid courage. There's no shame in bad dancing, so try and learn the steps. (The pros might even show you a thing or two.)

travel guide to mexico city

Iglesia San Ignacio de Loyola Arrow

A surprisingly tranquil stop in a high-energy city, this infrequently-visited modernist church is tucked away in plain sight in residential Polanco. Designed by famed architect Juan Sordo, it was completed in 1961 and features a sharp triangular structure covered in handmade yellow ceramic tiles. Show up during visiting hours and you can tour the grounds inside and out. Indoors, the Jesuit temple is encased by multi-colored stained glass windows that catch vibrant fractals on sunny days, with an effect almost like being trapped in a kaleidoscope. It's a place of worship and quiet contemplation, yes, but also a haven for architecture nerds.

travel guide to mexico city

La Rifa Chocolateria Arrow

Indigenous to Mexico, cacao has been consumed in the country and played an important role in Mesoamerican societies since 19th BCE; La Rifa continues the tradition with a small roaster on-site. There are a handful of tables sprinkled in the tree-shaded plaza out front, optimal perches for spending an hour or two. Ask to see their production in the back and they will most likely give a tour. The main event is sipping chocolates—water-based and closest to how cacao was consumed, pre-Columbian, before the introduction of the Spanish (and thus cows and milk). The front-of-house folks are happy to explain the finer nuances of their roasting process, flavor-profiles, and history of Mexican chocolate.

travel guide to mexico city

Ahuehuete Arrow

This six-seat collection room is a distillate library, a stunning space housed in a centuries-old building in one of Mexico City’s oldest neighborhood. The Porfirio Díaz-era bar and backbar were found in a Puebla antique store and are over 100 years old (once you book here , you'll be notified of the exact location) It'll cost you $75 per-person for a six-spirit sampling, light snacks, and water. Inside, there are only six seats and a knowledgable barkeep/tour guide crafting a rich journey for you and your fellow spirit geeks. While tequila and mezcal are some of Mexico's greatest exports, there are dozens of other plant-based spirits like bacanora, sotol, raicilla, and charanda, distilled in micro-batch quantities in rural communities that never make it into commerical circulation—nor are they intended to. The team behind Ahuehuete has been collecting bottles throughout the years, traveling to rural villages to find interesting batches for their private collection.

Recommended

Las Alcobas, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Mexico City

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Jessie on a Journey | Solo Female Travel Blog

Solo Travel To Mexico City: Your Ultimate Guide (With Map!)

By Trisha Velarmino. This guide to traveling alone in Mexico City contains affiliate links to trusted partners!

Considering solo travel to Mexico City , but need help with the planning?

Then you’re in the right place!

Mexico City is one of the world’s largest and most vibrant metropolises. It offers an extraordinary fusion of ancient history and modern life, housing numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as the historic center and Xochimilco, alongside contemporary architecture and cutting-edge restaurants.

Its rich culture is reflected in countless museums, vibrant street art, traditional markets, and festivals, which vividly showcase the country’s artistic heritage and culinary diversity.

Exploring Mexico City offers an immersive experience of warm hospitality, a diverse food scene, timeless traditions, and captivating history, providing an enriching travel destination for any traveler.

As someone who lives in Mexico and has lived in Mexico City, I can provide insights into traveling alone as a woman in this Latin American capital that has a notorious safety reputation.

Along with travel tips, this Mexico City solo travel guide will give you a general feel of what’s it like to travel here alone from a foreign woman who has lived here.

Mexico City Solo Travel Itinerary (Quick List) If you’re short on time, here are a few top picks and tips for solo travel to Mexico City. You can find even more in the full itinerary below! Best Neighborhoods To Stay: – Roma hotels – Condesa hotels – including excellent hostels like Casa Pancha & Roomies Hostel Condesa – Polanco hotels – Click here for a full list of Mexico City hotels & rentals Top-Rated Tours: – Xochimilco, Coyoacán, and Frida Kahlo Museum Tour – Hot Air Balloon Flight over Teotihuacan – Chapultepec Castle & Anthropology Museum Tour – Click here for a full list Mexico City tours Culinary Experiences: – Private Food Tour of Mexico City – EatWith (eat in a local home) – Click here for a full list of Mexico City food experiences Mexico City Safety Tips: While Mexico City is safe for solo travel, it’s still smart to pack travel safety essentials . One top pick is the She’s Birdie Personal Safety Alarm , which is TSA-approved and can help scare away potential attackers. Other recommendations include Clever Travel Companion Pickpocket-Proof Garments and Speakeasy Travel Supply Hidden Pocket Scarves .

Table of Contents

Resources For Solo Travel In Mexico City [Free Course]

But first, before we get into our Mexico City solo female travel guide, I invite you to grab a seat in Jessie’s  free Savvy Solo Traveler E-Course .

The 6-day course is designed to help you feel confident about booking your first solo trip and exploring the world alone.

Lessons include:

  • Common solo travel fears and how to overcome them
  • How to choose your perfect solo trip
  • How to tell loved ones you’re hitting the road solo
  • Mentally preparing for your solo journey without losing your mind
  • Essential steps for staying safe on a solo trip
  • How to take amazing solo selfies

Once you’ve  grabbed your seat , read on to learn about solo female travel in Mexico City.

solo travel in Mexico City

Solo Travel In Mexico City: Is It Worth It?

Mexico City may not be your first destination in mind when it comes to solo female travel so let’s kick this guide off by answering the question, “is it even worth it?”

Mexico City offers an engaging blend of diverse cultures, fascinating history, and unique attractions catering to solo travelers.

It’s one of the top places to travel solo in Mexico – especially as it’s home to some of the world’s best museums, such as the Museum of Anthropology and the Frida Kahlo Museum, showcasing a rich cultural and artistic history.

mexico city solo travel

The city’s culinary scene is also world-renowned, from street food to Michelin-starred restaurants.

In 2021, Mexico City became a top spot for digital nomads due to the lower cost of living. From then, the digital nomad community of foreigners kept growing, which may be a reasonable justification for you to visit.

Meaning, you can easily make friends and meet people here as a solo traveler. It’s a melting pot – everyone’s here!

Where Is Mexico City?

Mexico City, the capital of Mexico , is located in the southeastern part of the country. It is situated in the Valley of Mexico, also called the Basin of Mexico, a large valley in the high plateaus in the center of Mexico, at an altitude of 2,240 meters or about 7,350 feet.

The city is surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, creating a uniquely beautiful landscape. Geographically, it’s roughly in the middle of the country, making it a significant hub for transportation and travel in Mexico.

Best Time To Visit Mexico City

The best time to visit Mexico City for good weather is during the dry season, which runs from late November to April .

During these months, the city experiences less rainfall and has an average temperature of around 20-24°C (68-75°F), providing a pleasant climate for exploring the city’s outdoor attractions.

Remember that Mexico City is at a high altitude, so the city can have warm days but cooler nights. Packing a jacket or sweater is advised even during these months.

Actually, make sure to always pack a jacket because the weather in Mexico City can be really unpredictable. It also can have occasional rain showers even in the dry season so expect different layers of weather when you visit.

I personally think that Mexico City is an all-year-round destination, but I love rain so it might be different for you. I also live in Cabo where we don’t experience rain at all, so visiting Mexico City with a different climate is always a joy for me.

The rainy season in Mexico City typically begins in May and ends in October, with the heaviest rainfall usually occurring from June to August. Keep this in mind if you want to avoid a wet trip to Mexico City.

Mexico City cityscape

Getting To Mexico City

Mexico City, being the capital, has all the transportation types that make travel from here to other parts of the country easy. For instance, if you are going to other parts of Mexico, flights will always stop in Mexico City.

Mexico City International Airport is the main flying hub, not just for Mexico but for Latin America. Most flights from the USA, Canada, Europe, and even Japan are direct!

Once you arrive at the airport, it’s relatively easy to get to your hotel; however, remember that Ubers are not allowed to operate in Mexico City or any other airports in Mexico.

You have to pay for a licensed taxi to get to your hotel, which can be double the price of an Uber. There is no airport train, unfortunately, and if you want to take the bus, you have to walk out of the airport (which is quite a walk).

The good news is you can take Uber to the airport to save on costs. They are allowed to drop off passengers but not pick them up.

Getting Around Mexico City As A Solo Traveler

Mexico City is a big city and as a tourist, you will most probably focus on the trendy neighborhoods of Condesa , Roma , and Polanco . These are the top three areas for tourists and are labeled as the safest areas.

Within these neighborhoods, you don’t need public transportation. You can even walk from one neighborhood to another. The bulk of your things to do in Mexico City are here, so get ready to do a lot of walking!

If you need to go to another tourist attraction outside these areas – like the Frida Kahlo Museum in Coyoacan – Uber is cheap and easy to hail.

solo female traveler exploring Mexico City

As unpredictable as the weather is, heavy traffic in Mexico City is also inevitable. Personally, when taking Uber, I always expect traffic jams no matter what time of the day.

Mexico City has a train but I don’t take it because Uber is cheap and more convenient. The city’s train is not well-maintained and in the last few years there have been many incidents of collisions and accidents.

Buses are also common and can be found everywhere, but you need to speak very good Spanish to be able to navigate or ask around if you are on the right bus.

I would only recommend buses if you are going to nearby cities like Queretaro or San Miguel de Allende. These are first-class buses and are really easy to hop into. Within the city, just take an Uber.

Mexico City Travel Map

To help give you a lay of the land, here is a map for visiting Mexico City solo. It includes most of the main points and activities mentioned below pre-plotted:

Mexico City solo travel map

Click here for an interactive version of the map .

Is Mexico City Safe For Solo Female Travelers?

According to Travel Safe-Abroad , while Mexico City does experience crime, travelers who stay aware of their surroundings and practice common sense should be fine – especially as tourists are rarely targeted. That being said, pickpocketing is common, so make sure you know how to avoid pickpockets .

In my opinion, solo female travel safety is objective and personal. I do feel safe in Mexico City because first, I have been living in Mexico for the last five years; I know how to behave and move here like I am a Mexican.

Additionally, I also speak Spanish which makes locals not mistake me as a foreigner. Sure, they know I am a foreigner by looking at me but when I start speaking to them in their language, they treat me as a local.

As in many other destinations, solo female travel is often daunting if it’s your first time, especially in a city with a bad press when it comes to safety.

solo female traveler in Mexico City in front of a Mexico Mi Amor sign

I also believe that safety is not dependent on the places we travel to but on our behavior when we are traveling. In Mexico, I learned that the more you lay low and don’t draw too much attention to yourself, the more that travel becomes safe.

What do I mean by “drawing attention?”

For many of our North American neighbors, Mexico is a place to party, and partying often means drugs. I always tell my friends that buying drugs is the only reason why you will get into trouble anywhere in Mexico (or in the world).

When it comes to how to stay safe in Mexico City, know this: you can enjoy the city without drugs. Do not get too drunk and do not walk alone after 10pm. Sure, you can drink and have fun as this is also a party city; but, make sure you can handle yourself and bring yourself home safely.

Where To Stay On A Solo Trip To Mexico City

Mexico City is a big city, so the best areas to stay in are within the areas where tourists frequent.

Known for its artistic and bohemian vibe, Roma is home to indie boutiques, art galleries, and a thriving culinary scene. Here, you can wander down tree-lined streets, explore vintage markets, or dine in trendy eateries.

Roma is walkable and has good public transportation options, including the metro and buses.

Click here for a full list of Roma hotels!

Known as Mexico City’s most upscale neighborhood, I recommend staying in Polanco if you’re looking for high-end shopping, luxury hotels, and top-tier restaurants.

It’s one of the city’s safest neighborhoods. Public transit is readily available, though the area is also walkable.

Click here for a full list of Polanco hotels!

woman traveling solo in Mexico City relaxing in a hotel

Popular among young professionals, Condesa offers a mix of vibrant nightlife, lush parks, and Art Deco architecture. Enjoy the cafe culture, stroll in Parque Mexico, or get into its vibrant nightlife.

Condesa is pedestrian-friendly, and you can also use the EcoBici bike-sharing system.

Here you’ll also find some of the best hostels in Mexico City, like Casa Pancha and Roomies Hostel Condesa . If you don’t like the idea of sharing a room with strangers, keep in mind that many hostels also offer private rooms.

Click here for a full list of Condesa hotels!

Steeped in history, Coyoacan is the place to explore the Frida Kahlo Museum, or visit the vibrant Coyoacan Market. It’s one of the best places to stay for small-town charm, with cobbled streets and colonial architecture.

Safety can vary, so it’s advised to take common precautions. The neighborhood is served by the light rail system and buses. Walking is also an enjoyable option here.

Click here for a full list of Coyoacan hotels!

Hotels & Rentals In Mexico City

If you want to research local Mexico City hotels as well as self-contained stays, this map   can help you compare your options. It’s set to show hotels and rentals in the Roma neighborhood, but you can easily change this based on where you’re staying:

Are you a plant-based traveler? Here are some of the best vegan-friendly resorts in Mexico !

Top Things To Do Alone In Mexico City

As a large city, you will never run out of things to do in Mexico City. To help you with planning your solo itinerary, here are the best things you shouldn’t miss, especially if it’s your first time.

1. Frida Kahlo Museum

Located in the vibrant neighborhood of Coyoacan, the Frida Kahlo Museum , or “Casa Azul” (Blue House), is the childhood home of the famous Mexican painter.

It was transformed into a museum in 1958, four years after Kahlo’s death. The museum houses an extensive collection of Kahlo’s work, personal belongings, and pre-Hispanic artifacts she collected.

Tip: it’s one of the most visited museums in Mexico City, so buy your tickets 1-3 months in advance. You can click here to purchase them . If you’re interested in exploring art in Mexico City , this is a must-do.

exterior of the Frida Kahlo Museum

2. Teotihuacan

When exploring Mexico City as a solo female traveler, you can’t miss Teotihuacan .

Known as the “City of the Gods,” it’s an ancient Mesoamerican city located 50 kilometers (31 miles) northeast of Mexico City. It flourished from the 1st to the 7th century AD, making it one of the most significant archaeological sites in Mexico.

Here, you can explore the immense Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon , and stroll down the Avenue of the Dead .

Tip: go early to avoid the midday sun and bring plenty of water. Wear comfortable shoes – it’s a lot of walking!

You can also opt for one of the many guided tours that visit here, like:

  • Teotihuacan Early Access Tour with Tequila Tasting
  • Hot Air Balloon Flight over Teotihuacan
  • Teotihuacan Private Tour from Mexico City
  • Teotihuacan, Guadalupe Shrine, Tlatelolco & Tequila Tasting Tour

visiting the Teotihuacan pyramids during Mexico City solo travel

3. Xochimilco

Xochimilco , a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is known for its extensive network of canals and artificial islands, or chinampas . Traditionally decorated, colorful flat-bottomed boats called trajineras navigate these canals.

The area offers a glimpse into the ancient agricultural practices of the Aztecs and is a popular spot for festivities.

You can visit the site on its own, or combine the experience with others on a guided tour from Mexico City like a Xochimilco, Coyoacán, and Frida Kahlo Museum Tour or a City Tour and Xochimilco Floating Gardens Experience .

woman visiting Xochimilco's floating gardens while traveling solo in Mexico City

4. Anthropology Museum

The National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City is one of the world’s most renowned anthropology museums.

It houses artifacts from Mexico’s pre-Columbian era, including the famous Aztec Calendar Stone and the replica tomb of the Mayan ruler Pakal .

The museum is a stunning modernist architecture with a massive stone umbrella at its center. It’s also vast, so allot at least half a day to explore.

5. Grutas Tolantongo

Grutas Tolantongo is a natural paradise in the Mezquital Valley of Hidalgo , approximately 180 kilometers (112 miles) north of Mexico City.

It’s a unique resort set in a canyon, famous for its strikingly beautiful hot spring caves and turquoise-blue, mineral-infused pools situated on the cliffs.

solo female traveler in Mexico City swimming in Grutas Tolantongo

You’ve probably come across this on Instagram as it is one of the most popular Instagrammable spots in Mexico!

6. Chapultepec Park

Chapultepec Park , often compared to Central Park in New York, is one of the largest city parks in the Western Hemisphere. It’s an amazing place housing numerous attractions, including Chapultepec Castle, several museums, a zoo, and a lake.

The park has been a site of significance since Aztec times and offers a welcome respite from the city’s hustle and bustle.

I recommend visiting on a weekday if possible, as it can get crowded on weekends. Don’t miss the view from Chapultepec Castle !

solo traveler in Mexico City visiting Chapultepec Castle

7. Centro Historico

Centro Historico , or the Historic Center, is the heart of Mexico City and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Established on the ruins of Tenochtitlán , the capital of the Aztec empire, it became the center of New Spain after the Spanish conquest.

The neighborhood showcases the city’s rich history – with buildings dating from the 16th to the 19th centuries – and is a living testament to Mexico City’s cultural evolution.

Key attractions include:

  • the Zócalo , one of the largest public squares in the world,
  • the stunning Metropolitan Cathedral , the largest cathedral in the Americas,
  • and the National Palace , which houses Diego Rivera’s famous murals depicting Mexico’s history.

Nearby, the Templo Mayor , an Aztec archaeological site, offers a glimpse into pre-Hispanic times.

The area is also known for its bustling markets, boutiques, and eateries, where you can sample local cuisine. A maze of streets, brimming with architectural treasures, museums, and art galleries, make the Centro Historico a must-visit in Mexico City.\

mexico city solo travel

8. Chinatown

Mexico City’s Chinatown , known as “Barrio Chino,” is a small two-block area located in the historic city center on Dolores Street . While modest in size, it’s a vibrant district with a rich history.

Its development began in the late 19th century with the influx of Chinese immigrants to Mexico. It’s a great place to experience Chinese-Mexican culture, explore shops selling Asian goods, and enjoy Chinese cuisine with a Mexican twist.

The district is known for its colorful archway, street food stalls, and annual Chinese New Year celebrations.

9. Eat street food

Fun fact: there are 46,000 taquerias in Mexico, of which 2,862 are in Mexico City!

Mexico City’s street food culture is an integral part of its identity, reflecting its rich culinary tradition. From taco stands to tlacoyos (oval-shaped cornmeal patties topped with a variety of ingredients), the city’s streets are teeming with mouthwatering food.

One of the most beloved street foods is the taco al pastor, a Lebanese-inspired dish made with marinated pork cooked on a vertical spit and served with pineapple.

solo traveler eating tacos al pastor in Mexico City

Also worth trying are churros (fried dough dusted with sugar) and elotes (corn on the cob served with chili, lime, cheese, and mayo).

One of the best ways to explore local street food is on a guided tour, such as a Mexico City Street Food Experience or a Private Food Tour of Mexico City . You can click here for a full list of Mexico City food tours .

10. Eat in a local home

If you’re still hungry after your tour, a guaranteed way to meet people as a solo traveler in Mexico City is to book a dining experience in a local home. One company that offers this is EatWith , which also offers culinary tours, classes, and experiences.

11. Discover Mexico City nightlife

Mexico City’s nightlife is as diverse as its daylife, with a mix of traditional cantinas, dance clubs, mezcalerias, and jazz lounges.

Zona Rosa and Polanco are known for stylish bars and dance clubs, while Roma and Condesa offer a bohemian vibe with craft beer pubs, mezcalerias , and live music venues.

The city’s nightlife is a blend of modern and traditional, with the age-old cantinas in the historic center serving tequila and pulque , a fermented maguey sap drink.

two mugs with pulque

Mexico City is a night owl, and bars are open until 5 AM! There will be street food all over the city operating until late, too.

Top Tours For Solo Travelers In Mexico City

While traveling to Mexico City alone as a woman can feel daunting, one way to immerse yourself in local culture while meeting other people is by booking a guided tour. A few top-rated options include:

  • Xochimilco, Coyoacán, and Frida Kahlo Museum Tour
  • Puebla, Cholula & Tonantzintla Day Trip from Mexico City
  • Private Food Tour of Mexico City
  • Chapultepec Castle & Anthropology Museum Tour

Click here for a full list of tours in Mexico City !

Tips For Solo Dining In Mexico City

Exploring food in Mexico City is one of the top local experiences – even if you’re eating alone. Here are some tips for dining out when traveling alone to Mexico City:

Opt for street food. Street food in Mexico City is communal so you will often find yourself standing or sitting with locals. Along with giving you the opportunity to connect with locals and meet other people, it also helps you save money and stick to a solo travel budget .

Every cafe is a digital nomad hub. Particularly in Roma and Condesa, you will often come across foreigners – who are also traveling solo – working on their laptops while eating. Even if you are not sharing a table, the conversation will flow naturally.

solo traveler in Mexico City eating street food tacos

Ask for a bar seat. Bartenders are often chatty, welcoming, and entertaining, especially to solo travelers. Plus, fellow solo travelers also tend to sit by the bar, so don’t be surprised if you end your meal with a new friend.

Always say hola. Mexico and the Latin culture generally have strong greeting cultures. Everyone says hola (hello) to everyone, and it’s not weird. They will say hola back. Try entering a restaurant and say “hola, buenos dias!” (hello, good morning!), even to diners. You’ll see that Mexico City locals will typically respond.

Go on a food tour . When traveling to Mexico City alone or even in a group, at least one food tour is obligatory. Apart from meeting other travelers on a tour, you’ll get to taste delicious Mexican food. Additionally, you might opt to eat in a local home to have a true taste of local culture.

Treat yourself to a fine dining restaurant. Mexico City is home to many best restaurants in the world with affordable 9-course tasting menus from $140 USD. Go to Pujol or Quintonil to get an interactive meal.

Estimated Mexico City Solo Trip Cost

For a solo traveler, a decent hotel in Mexico City starts at $55 USD. Street food is around $3 USD while a meal at a nice restaurant can cost $9 USD.

If you want to splurge on accommodations, many five-star hotels start from $90 USD. Tasting menus in very popular restaurants cost $90 – $120 USD.

All tours range from $25-$125 USD, depending on the activity that you are doing. There are many free things to do in Mexico City, too!

Not including accommodations, $30 USD per day is a very good budget for solo travel to Mexico City.

And if you’re looking for budget-friendly accommodation in Mexico City, check out this map   to peruse a mix of hotels and holiday rentals in the Roma neighborhood:

Travel Insurance For Solo Travel In Mexico City

When visiting Mexico City solo — or anywhere else in the world — it’s wise to get travel insurance.

One of the  best travel medical insurance for travelers  is SafetyWing as they’ve got a large network and offer both short-term and long-term coverage — including coverage if you’re traveling for months as well as limited coverage in your home country.

Additionally, SafetyWing is budget-friendly and offers $250,000 worth of coverage with just one low overall deductible of $250.

Click here to price out travel insurance for your trip in just a few clicks .

Frequently Asked Questions About Mexico City Solo Travel

Still have questions about visiting Mexico City alone? Here are answers to common queries:

Q) Is Mexico City safe to travel alone?

Like any major city, Mexico City has areas that are safe and others that are less so, but overall, it is generally safe for solo travelers who take standard precautions such as avoiding less secure areas, especially at night, and being mindful of their belongings.

Q) How many days do you need in Mexico City?

For a first-time visitor, a trip of about 4 to 5 days is usually sufficient to explore the key attractions of Mexico City, such as the historic center, the Frida Kahlo Museum, the pyramids of Teotihuacan, and Xochimilco. However, if you wish to delve deeper into the city’s culture, and explore its diverse neighborhoods, museums, and cuisine at a more leisurely pace, you might want to consider a week or longer.

hot air balloons over Teotihuacan

Q) What are the top things to do alone in Mexico City at night?

Mexico City at night offers a range of activities for solo travelers. You can immerse yourself in the vibrant culinary scene, enjoy traditional mariachi music at Plaza Garibaldi, attend a Ballet Folklorico performance, or partake in cultural events at various museums. Always remember to stay in well-lit, busy areas and exercise standard precautions for your safety.

Q) Is Mexico City a walkable city?

Mexico City is quite expansive, but many of its central neighborhoods, such as Condesa, Roma, Polanco, and the historic center, are indeed walkable with many attractions, restaurants, and shops close to each other. However, given the city’s size and the distance between some attractions, you’ll likely need to use public transportation or taxis at times.

Q) Can I use Uber in Mexico City?

Yes, Uber is widely available and commonly used in Mexico City, providing a convenient and often safer alternative to traditional taxis. It’s an efficient way to navigate the city, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the public transportation system.

exterior of the Palacio de Bellas Artes at sunset

Final Thoughts On Solo Travel To Mexico City

Mexico City is a world-class city despite its bad press. It is easy to travel here alone as a woman because there’s always an opportunity to meet people.

You’ll see that you will keep coming back after your first solo trip to Mexico City! Consider your source and only ask people who have been instead of browsing the news.

The situation on the ground is always different, so take advice from someone who knows Mexico City well.

Bonus  Mexico Travel Guides :

15 Best Beach Clubs In Holbox Island, Mexico

6 Best Beaches In Holbox, Mexico (Stunning!)

23 Best Things To Do In Holbox Island, Mexico (+ Sample Itinerary!)

14 Travel Tips For Puerto Vallarta For A Fun & Safe Trip (In-Depth Guide!)

Solo Travel In Puerto Vallarta: The Ultimate Guide

5 Active Ways To Explore Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula

Puebla, Mexico: The World’s Only To Make Talavera Ceramics

12 Things You Didn’t Know About Puebla, Mexico

21 Best Vegan Resorts In Mexico

Solo Travel In Mexico City: The Ultimate Guide

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About The Author

Currently living in Mexico, Trisha Velarmino is an award-winning journalist who produced TV and radio shows for major channels like BBC and CNN. She’s given TEDx talks about creating genuine content and making the Internet a better place for learning and development. She’s the founder of P.S. I’m On My Way and Mexico Insider . You can follow her adventures on Instagram and TikTok .

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Mexico City Travel Guide

Last Updated: September 2, 2023

a view overlooking the bustling Mexico City from above

Founded in the early 14th century by the Aztecs, Mexico City is one of the oldest capital cities in the Americas. Today, it is one of the most fascinating cultural destinations in the world, with eclectic art galleries, animated food markets, bustling nightlife, and grandiose historic buildings on tree-lined streets.

I was late to visit Mexico City, but once I spent time here I fell in love. The museum, parks, and food scene make this a world-class city in my view. It’s also super affordable and has a growing expat/digital nomad scene so it’s easy to visit long-term and make connections.

This travel guide to Mexico City can help you make the most out of your trip, save money, help you stay safe, and ensure you have an amazing visit!

Table of Contents

  • Things to See and Do
  • Typical Costs
  • Suggested Budget
  • Money-Saving Tips
  • Where to Stay
  • How to Get Around
  • How to Stay Safe
  • Best Places to Book Your Trip
  • Related Blogs on Mexico City

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Mexico City

A drooping Mexican flag near one of Mexico City's iconic historic buildings

1. Walk through the Zócalo

Encompassing the Templo Mayor, Palacio Nacional, and Plaza de la Constitución, the Zócalo is the heart of Mexico City’s Historic Center. Originally the site of an Aztec Temple, the Templo Mayor was destroyed to make room for a new Spanish cathedral in 1521. Rediscovered in the 1970s, you can now view ancient artifacts uncovered from the site alongside the stunning Spanish colonial architecture of La Catedral Metropolitana. Exploring the Zócalo area is the perfect introduction to Mexico City’s rich culture and history. Start your visit here.

2. Relax in Chapultepec Park

Spanning 1,695 acres in the heart of Mexico City, here you’ll find a zoo, La Feria amusement park, and nine unique museums. Chapultepec Park is one of the world’s most visited urban parks, and you can spend days strolling around forest paths and relaxing by the water. Here you’ll find the Museum of Anthropology, which houses a vast collection of sculptures, jewels, and artifacts from ancient Mexican civilizations (admission is 70 MXN). You can also rent a rowboat or paddle boat and go out on Chapultepec Lake for 60 MXN. And history buffs will love a visit to Chapultepec Castle, the former home of Emperor Maximilian I and Empress Carlota. It was built on a sacred Aztec site. Admission costs 80 MXN and is free on Sundays.

3. Participate in Day of the Dead

Every November, on the 1st and 2nd of the month, the entire country joins in a mass celebration of the dead. Everywhere you go, there are decorated sugar skulls, candy treats, and baked goods known as Pan de Muerto . The festival is a vibrant and lively affair with celebrations for those who are gone but not forgotten, including parades of elaborate and colorful costumes. It’s a must-do and an incredibly vibrant cultural experience you will never forget. All you have to do is show up!

Frida Kahlo and her husband Diego Rivera are two of the biggest names in Mexican art. Frida was particularly famous for her portraits and self-portraits. A tour of their old home (the “Casa Azul”) is a worthwhile experience to see where and how she lived, as well as some of her original artwork. Caza Azul also hosts a variety of artistic workshops monthly, so check out the schedule if you’re interested in learning a new skill during your Mexico City trip. Tickets are 250 MXN. Buy tickets in advance because tickets are high in demand.

5. Check out the art and history museums

There are tons of museums and galleries in Mexico City, perfect for art enthusiasts and history buffs alike. Worthwhile museums include the Museum of Anthropology, the National History Museum, the Modern Art Museum, the National Art Museum, and the Museo do Arte Populare (folk art museum). Mexico City can compete with any other culturally rich city so be sure to spend some time admiring these massive collections. Tickets start at 70 MXN.

Other Things to See and Do in Mexico City

1. visit castillo de chapultepec.

The only castle in North America to house sovereigns, Chapultepec Castle was built in 1725 as a large manor house for the Viceroy (the colonial administrator from Spain). Abandoned during the Mexican War of Independence in 1810, Chapultepec later became the residence of Emperor Maximilian I and Empress Carlota in 1864 during the Second Mexican Empire (1864–1867). Today, Chapultepec Castle is home to Museo Nacional de Historia, which tells the story of Mexico from the time of Tenochtitlan to the Mexican Revolution. It costs 85 MXN.

2. Explore Templo Mayor

Mexico City is a hotbed of historical landmarks, particularly those dating back to the Aztec period, and there is no finer example than the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan. Located in the heart of the Historic Centre of Mexico City and Xochimilco, Templo Mayor is an example of life in Mesoamerica before the arrival of the Spanish in 1519. The Aztecs believed the area to be the literal center of the universe, and it was here where they sighted the eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its beak — the symbol of Mexico today. Admission is 85 MXN and includes entrance to the museum and the archeological site.

3. Feast in the Zona Rosa

One of the most popular neighborhoods in Mexico City, Zona Rosa is historically known for being the heart of the city’s gay community and boasts an array of bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. This is the best nightlife area in the city. Make sure to dress well here too. Try places like Cafeteríra El Péndulo, Xaman Bar, and Cabaretito Fusión. If you have a taste for Korean barbeque (Zona Rosa has a huge Korean community!), head to BiWon.

4. Visit the Museo Nacional de Antropología

Found within Chapultepec Park, this world-class anthropology museum is the largest museum in Mexico, at 45,000 square meters (it’s also the most-visited museum in the country). Open since 1964, the museum houses a vast collection of sculptures, jewels, and artifacts from ancient Mexican civilizations. There’s an exhibition on the culture of Native Americans in Mexico as well as numerous rotating temporary exhibitions (often on other great cultures from around the world, such as Iran, China, and Greece). Admission is 85 MXN.

5. Tour a megalibrary

Situated among gardens, the Biblioteca Vasconcelos is a temple to books, often referred to as a “megalibrary”. Opening its doors in 2006, the library features transparent walls and intentionally mismatched floors, six floors, and houses over 600,000 books! The library also offers cultural activities like concerts, plays, and dance performances, and there’s also a 26,000-square-meter garden filled with trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. Admission is free. Check the website to see what events are happening during your visit.

6. Check out the Basilica de Guadalupe

The Basilica de Guadalupe is a Catholic church, basilica, and world-famous shrine, drawing thousands of pilgrims every year from all over Mexico. The yearly celebration of the shrine is on December 12th, which makes this a crazy, festival-like place to be during that time. Take time to explore the grounds, as well as the basilica and shrine. The old basilica was constructed from 1695-1709, built on the spot where the Virgin of Guadalupe had first appeared to the peasant-turned-saint Juan Diego in 1531. The old basilica began to sink in its foundation, and a new basilica was constructed from 1974-1976. Just make sure to dress respectfully during your visit as it is a place of worship.

7. Marvel at the Soumaya Museum

Housing 66,000 pieces of Central American and European art, the Soumaya Museum displays works not only by Mexican artists like Diego Rivera and Rufino Tamayo, but also by famous masters like Botticelli, Dalí, and Rodin, to name a few. The museum was donated and constructed by one of the world’s richest men, Carlos Slim Helú (a Mexican business magnate). In Northern Mexico City, the Soumaya Museum is a stunning building covered with 16,000 aluminum hexagonal tiles, which sparkle in the sunlight. It’s considered to be the most beautiful modern building in Mexico City. Admission is free.

8. Attend a lucha libre

Mexican free wrestling is a favorite pastime among locals. Extremely entertaining and affordable, Lucha libre takes wrestling to a whole new level, and the cheers and heckles from the crowd add to the fun. Grab a beer or a shot of tequila, and get ready to holler some Spanish jeers – and whatever you do, do not look away during a match as anything can, and will, happen. General seating tickets can be as little as 56 MXN each. Don’t go with a tour or book ahead of time as you’ll pay a lot more. Do not buy from scalpers either, because the police are always around and you’ll get in trouble. Look for a tequila (ticket booth) sign to be sure that you are paying the right price. Do not bring your camera, as you will be forced to check it at the door.

9. Visit the UNAM Botanical Garden

If you need to escape the hustle and bustle of Mexico City for a little while, The Botanical Garden at the National Autonomous University of Mexico is the perfect place. Keeping with the Aztec traditions of having gardens for both medicinal and ornamental purposes, there is also an added focus on conservation and environmental education. Built on top of and around lava formations from the eruption of the volcano Xitle, visitors can explore the naturally formed grottoes, ponds and waterfalls. This garden has the most diverse cactus collection in the world (800 different kinds!), ponds full of koi and turtles, an orchidarium, and a medicinal garden.

This green space is not only a haven for people but the local wildlife as well. Keep an eye out for woodpeckers, owls, hummingbirds, rattlesnakes, lizards, and the Pedregal tarantula, which is a species only found in this small area of Mexico City. Admission is free.

10. Have some tacos at Taqueria los Cocuyos

There are tons of taquerias (taco stands) around Mexico City, but this 50-year-old establishment in the Historic Center has a vast array of meats to choose from. They have standard fillings like carnitas or chorizo, but why not try a tripe, brains (they have a creamy consistency), or tongue (this melts in your mouth like pot roast) taco? Anthony Bourdain absolutely loved this taqueria so need I say more?

  For information on other cities in Mexico, check out these guides:

  • Cancun Travel Guide
  • Oaxaca Travel Guide

Mexico City Travel Costs

The famous Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, Mexico

Hostel prices – During peak season, the price per bed in a 4-6-bed dorm starts at 300 MXN per night, whereas a private room for two ranges from 600-1,900 MXN per night. In the shoulder season, those prices drop to 225 MXN and 850 MXN respectively. Free Wi-Fi is standard and many hostels also include free breakfast.

Budget hotel prices – Budget two-star rooms in Mexico City start around 300 MXN, while a three-star hotel ranges from 500-900 MXN. Expect basic amenities like free Wi-Fi, TV, AC, and occasionally free breakfast.

Airbnb is also an option in Mexico City, with private rooms starting at 220 MXN per night (though most are around 600 MXN). Entire homes and apartments start at 700 MXN and go up from there. Book early to find the best deals.

Food – Typical Mexican dishes include tacos, mole (a sauce with lots of ingredients, often including chocolate), salsa, enchiladas, tamales (stuffed corn pockets), pozole (hominy stew topped with onion, avocado, and chili) guacamole.

Street stalls and markets are the best way to go for authentic and inexpensive food. Tacos, quesadilla, sopas, tortas, and other street foods are generally 15-45 MXN. Sometimes, you’ll find tacos for as cheap as 10 MXN.

A cheap meal at a restaurant costs around 150 MXN. Look for the ones filled with locals as that is generally a sign that the food is really good. If you want to splash out, a three-course meal costs around 325 MXN.

Fast food (think McDonald’s) costs around 130 MXN for a combo meal. Pizza starts at 400 MXN while Chinese food costs around 200 MXN for a main dish.

Beer is 50-80 MXN while a latte/cappuccino is 55 MXN.

Tap water is not safe to drink in Mexico. Bring a portable water purifier or use bottled water ( LifeStraw makes a good one.)

If you plan to cook your meals, expect to pay between 500-585 MXN per week for groceries that will include rice, vegetables, chicken, tortillas, and beans. However, with street food so cheap and most hostels and hotels without kitchens, it’s best to simply eat local rather than cook.

Backpacking Mexico City Suggested Budgets

If you’re backpacking Mexico City, expect to spend 1,050 MXN per day. This budget gets you a hostel dorm, street food and self-cooked meals, public transportation, and a few attractions (such as museums and galleries) each day. If you plan on eating out more or drinking, you’ll need to add another 100 MXN per day.

On a mid-range budget of about 1,900 MXN per day, you can stay in a private hostel room or Airbnb, eat out at restaurants serving cheap traditional cuisine for every meal, visit more attractions, enjoy a few drinks, and take the occasional taxi to get around.

On a “luxury” budget of 3,800 MXN or more per day, you can stay at a hotel, eat out for all your meals, have plenty of drinks, take taxis everywhere, and do some guided trips and tours. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages — some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in MXN.

Mexico City Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Mexico City is a really affordable city to visit. While prices have risen in the last couple of years, there’s tons of affordable street food and accommodation. Plus, lots of free activities to help keep your costs down. To help keep your budget intact, here are some ways to save in Mexico City:

  • Eat street food – Save money on food by eating at the big markets or from the vendors on the street. You’ll get big, flavorful, and filling meals for only a few dollars. If you’re wary, just eat wherever you see children eating. If kids can eat that food, you’ll be fine!
  • Stay with a local – Use Couchsurfing to stay with locals who have extra beds and couches for free. Not only will this lower your accommodation costs but you’ll get to connect with a local insider who can share their tips and advice.
  • Go on a free walking tour – Learn the history behind the places you are seeing and to avoid missing any must-see stops in Mexico City. Estacion Mexico Free Tours has a historic downtown tour that can show you what the city has to offer. Just remember to tip your guide at the end!
  • Save money on rideshares – Uber is cheaper than taxis and is the best way to get around a city if you don’t want to wait for a bus or pay for a taxi.
  • Drink less – Alcohol is cheap in Mexico City, but it’s definitely more expensive at bars and clubs. Try to buy your alcohol from a local store instead of drinking at the bar if you’re on a budget.
  • Take public transit – Public transportation is the most affordable way to get around. You can purchase a rechargeable Smartcard at any of the metro stations and you can use the card for the metro and metro buses.
  • Being a water filter – Since the tap water here isn’t safe to drink and single-use plastic is bad for the environment, bring a water bottle with a built-in filter. LifeStraw is my go-to choice as it ensures your water is always clean and safe.

Where to Stay in Mexico City

Mexico City has a bunch of affordable hostels that are fun and safe. Here are some of recommended places to stay:

  • Suites DF Hostel
  • Mexico City Hostel
  • Massiosare El Hostel
  • Hostel Home

How to Get Around Mexico City

A tree-lined walking path in bustling Mexico City, Mexico

Public transportation – Mexico City is very large and the best way to get around is the subway (metro) system. It’s usually busy and crowded but it’s efficient. You can buy a rechargeable smart card at any of the Metro stations for 16 MXN (this includes the first 5 MXN ticket), and you can use the card for the metro and metro buses. A public city bus costs 6 MXN. You also can ride a Microbus (or a pesero as it’s commonly known), which are privately-run. A ticket for these costs 2.50-4 MXN.

Alternatively, Turibus is a touristy hop-on hop-off bus with four routes in Mexico City. These buses can be a good way to get your bearings and discover areas of the city you may want to explore further. A 1-day ticket is 160 MXN on weekdays and 180 MXN on the weekends.

Bicycle – For bike rentals, check out EcoBici, a bike-sharing program. It offers the first 45 minutes free. After that, your first hour is 25 MXN and each hour after is an additional 50 MXN. A full day is 118 MXN. After you’re done riding, you can return the bike to any kiosk with an open dock (indicated by a green light).

Taxis – Taxi fares start from around 25 MXN and then each kilometer is an additional 16 MXN. Don’t hail a taxi which is passing on the street. Instead, take one from outside a hotel or restaurant as these are authorized taxis and safer to use.

Ride-sharing – Uber, an alternative to taxis, operates in Mexico City and is generally cheaper than taxis.

When to Go to Mexico City

Summer (June to October) is the rainy season in Mexico, but mostly in the center of the country. You can expect it to rain each day heavily, but the downpour is usually short. It hardly ever rains in the northern part of the country, and humidity is thick in the south and along the coastal areas. Temperatures during this time are somewhere between 26-32°C (79-90°F).

April to June are typically the hottest months with temperatures averaging a high of 27°C (80°F). This is also one of the busiest times of year so be sure to book early.

Semana Santa is one of the biggest holidays in Mexico, next to Christmas and Day of the Dead. It takes place the week before Easter, when a re-enactment of the crucifixion takes place. Día de la Independencia takes place September 16th, but the celebrations begin the night before in Mexico City’s Zócalo, complete with fireworks. This is Mexico’s independence day, not Cinco de Mayo which is a celebration of the battle of Puebla which takes place in the state of Puebla, to the south of Mexico City.

In November, the streets and cemeteries of Mexico come alive as locals celebrate Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead), a time when locals hold all-night vigils and commune with loved ones who have died. It’s also a time of parties and parades and sugar skulls. An unforgettable experience, especially in Mexico City. If you want to visit for the festival, book well in advance. The city books up fast and accommodation prices rise.

How to Stay Safe in Mexico City

The media (especially the American media) likes to paint Mexico City as a dangerous place to visit, but the reality is that a lot of Mexico City is completely safe. While petty theft (including bag snatching) is common here, most of the serious conflict is between the authorities and Mexican drug cartels, which will have little impact on your trip.

Stay away from neighborhoods like Tepito and Iztapalapa, and be aware of your surroundings in large crowded markets where it is easy to be targeted by pickpockets. Do your best to blend in and always keep your valuables secure and out of reach.

The people who tend to get in trouble are often involved in doing drugs or taking part in sex tourism. Stay away from that stuff for many reasons.

Locals are friendly and helpful. If you’re not sure about a neighborhood, ask a local. They can tell you whether or not it is a good idea to go there.

A local once described the city as a night city, which meant that, since there are lots of people out at night, there are eyes everywhere which helps reduce the likelihood of crime. I’ve never felt unsafe walking alone, especially when I’m in areas like Condesa, Roma Norte, or Jaurez, which are the areas you are likely to be in as a tourist.

Solo female travelers should generally feel safe here, though I would take extra caution at night. The standard safety precautions apply (never walk home alone intoxicated, never leave your drink unattended at the bar, etc.). Be sure to read one of the many solo female travel blogs for specific tips.

Keep an eye out for common scams against tourists , such as fake ATMs, taxis that don’t use a meter, and questionable tour operators.

If you need emergency services, dial 911.

While Mexico’s water purification and treatment systems have improved, it’s still not safe to drink tap water when visiting. Use a LifeStraw to avoid single-use plastic and ensure your water is safe. It has a built-in filter to purify your water.

Always trust your gut instinct. Avoid isolated areas at night, and be aware of your surroundings at all times. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past.

Mexico City Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

  • Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
  • Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
  • Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
  • Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
  • SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
  • LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
  • Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
  • Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

Mexico City Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on backpacking/traveling Mexico City and continue planning your trip:

The 20 Best Things to Do in Mexico City

The 20 Best Things to Do in Mexico City

The 5 Best Hotels in Oaxaca

The 5 Best Hotels in Oaxaca

Where to Stay in Oaxaca: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

Where to Stay in Oaxaca: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

How to Spend 5 Days in Oaxaca

How to Spend 5 Days in Oaxaca

The 15 Best Things to Do in Oaxaca

The 15 Best Things to Do in Oaxaca

Is Tulum Safe?

Is Tulum Safe?

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  • Where To Stay
  • Transportation
  • Booking Resources
  • Related Blogs

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Mexico City

Don’t be intimidated by Mexico City’s size. It’s easy to find a corner of CDMX—formerly known as the Distrito Federal—for you, and one visit is rarely enough. Visitors quickly fall under the city’s spell: the music, the people, the street food and murals, and the thrilling juxtaposition of grand European-style boulevards, ultramodern architecture, and ancient Aztec sites. As journalist David Lida asserts: “Mexico City is the capital of the 21st century.” Give in to its siren song.

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Palacio De Bellas Artes

Palacio De Bellas Artes

Photo by Ramiro Reyna Jr/Shutterstock

When’s the best time to go to Mexico City?

Weather-wise, it’s almost always a good time to visit Mexico City. Because of the altitude (7,382 feet), temperatures remain fairly stable throughout the year, averaging in the mid-50s to low 70s. (Bring a light jacket and scarf and you’ll be fine.) But our favorite time to visit is between Christmas and Epiphany (January 6), because while almost everything’s open, the pollution and traffic are mellower because of the business holidays. Another great time to come is in the days around September 6 for the Independence Day festivities.

How to get around Mexico City

Mexico City’s Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX) is the primary point of arrival and departure for international flights. Taxis into the city center are affordable and take only about 20–30 minutes, depending on traffic.

Mexico City is massive, which can be overwhelming even to experienced visitors. AFAR’s partner, Context Travels offers visitors a private, historian- or architect-led introduction to downtown Mexico City from its roots as a center of government and ritual in the Aztec Empire to its commercial and cultural modern present.

Once in town, you can get around easily on the Metro, Metrobus, taxis, Uber, and the city’s bike-share program, Ecobici. The Metro and the Metrobus are extensive and very inexpensive. Taxis are a good option, to, but stick to the official pink cabs when hailing from the street. Uber is very affordable in CDMX and the app makes it easy for non-Spanish speakers to get around.

Can’t miss things to do in Mexico City

- Two pilgrimage sites for art- and design-minded tourists—architect Luis Barragán’s House and Studio and Frida Kahlo’s Casa Azul —require tickets and often are sold out. Secure your tickets before you leave home. - Cinco de Mayo is not a big deal in Mexico. If you’re looking for a party, come for Mexican Independence Day (September 16), Day of the Dead (November 1), or the Gay Pride parade in late June instead. (The annual December 12 feast day of the Virgin of Guadalupe is more somber, but still pretty epic in scope.) - Try and catch a Luche Libre match at Arena Mexico . You’ll get ridiculously fun entertainment, as well as recognize many of the same motifs you’ve seen in the city’s churches and cultural sites—good and evil, vivid primary colors, capes, and masks.

Food and drink to try in Mexico City

  • Local lunchtime is around 3 p.m., and dinner after 8.
  • Tip bartenders and restaurant servers 20% of the bill. You can get away with 15%, but live large and do your part for the economy.
  • Reservations for most of the big-name restaurants are available on apps like OpenTable and Resy. Book ahead and don’t wait until you get to town to get a table.
  • As in seemingly every other modern city, there are craft beer and artisanal cocktail scenes in CDMX. Jardín Chapultepec , a chill beer garden hidden between industrial buildings at the edge of the Condesa neighborhood, offers impressive examples of Mexican craft beers, as well as food stalls and picnic tables. Licorería Limantour , in Roma Norte, is our favorite destination for cocktails. The elegant Art Deco-inspired space is slightly less packed on weeknights so you can give your meticulously crafted drink the attention it demands.

Culture in Mexico City

There’s no better place to witness Mexico City’s sometimes confusing clash of culture than at the Zócalo . Here, in the main square of the city, you can relish centuries of history, grandiose architecture, and exceptional people-watching. The whole tension of the city’s past, present, and future is here, with the cathedral revealing the Catholic and colonial history and the Templo Mayor , right next door, practically throbbing with the violent Aztec past. The square is a swirl of activity with noisy street performers, vendors, local teenagers, and traffic all fighting for your attention.

Local travel tips for Mexico City

  • Cantinas will always serve snacks (called botanas ) with your drinks.
  • This is not a city where you wear shorts.
  • Protests happen from time to time and are annoying and occasionally paralyzing (at least when it comes to traffic), but as long as they’re peaceful, police are not allowed to intervene.

Guide Editor

Julie Schwietert Collazo

People walking on a cobblestone street on a sunny day

Mexico City Travel Guide

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One of the world’s mega-cities, with over 25 million people occupying a shallow mountain bowl at over 2400m above sea level, Mexico City has to be seen to be believed. Bursting beyond the official federal district, the sprawling city is edgy, yet laid-back and cosmopolitan. Around the city lie the chief relics of the pre-Hispanic cultures of central Mexico. Here you'll find the massive pyramids of Teotihuacán and the main Toltec site at Tula . Read our Mexico City travel guide for everything you need to know before you go.

A brief history of Mexico City

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Tailor-made travel itineraries for Mexico, created by local experts

The Magic of the Yucatan and Mexico City

17 days  / from 1590 USD

The Magic of the Yucatan and Mexico City

Explore the magic of the Yucatan Peninsula: from colonial towns like Merida to Archaeological sites like Uxmal and Calakmul, close to the Guatemala border, to beaches in Bacalar and Tulum, this itinerary shows you the real Yucatan before heading out to explore Mexico City.

Mexico City, Oaxaca & the Yucatan

15 days  / from 1430 USD

Mexico City, Oaxaca & the Yucatan

Explore Central Mexico with its ever-busy capital Mexico City, visiting Teotihuacan and the famous museums in the city. Further on to Oaxaca City, the gateway to the Archaeological Site Monte Alban. Afterwards, continue to the white beaches of the Yucatan: Cancun and Isla Holbox await.

Fascinating Mexico: From Guanajuato to the Yucatan

18 days  / from 1735 USD

Fascinating Mexico: From Guanajuato to the Yucatan

Discover Mexico from fascinating San Miguel de Allende over busy Mexico City all the way to the Yucatan Peninsula. This itinerary combines public transportation with domestic flights to ensure you can make the most of discovering fascinating Mexico within two weeks.

Marvelous Mexico: From Yucatan to Mexico City

18 days  / from 2190 USD

Marvelous Mexico: From Yucatan to Mexico City

Your trip starts on the wonderful coast of Yucatan, exploring the beaches and archaeological highlights like Chichen Itza and Tulum. From there on continue the exploration to Palenque and Oaxaca before taking a flight to Mexico City - 3 days in the capital await your discovery.

Mexico's Highlands and Coast

10 days  / from 2147 USD

Mexico's Highlands and Coast

Discover Mexico City's historic highlights and the wonders of sites like Teotihuacan, Campeche and Palenque before you jet off to the Central HIghlands. Discover archeological ruins and traditional tribal villages, then fall for the charms of Mexico's old colonial cities and glitzy Caribbean coast.

Mexico's Mayan Trail

7 days  / from 1499 USD

Mexico's Mayan Trail

Follow the Mayan Trail around Mexico on this archaeological adventure. Begin your journey with a refreshing taste of sea and salt air in the Yucatán Peninsula on one of Playa del Carmen's gorgeous Caribbean beaches before heading off to discover magical Mayan ruins and glorious colonial towns.

Magnificent Mexico and Mayan Treasures

12 days  / from 3057 USD

Magnificent Mexico and Mayan Treasures

From Mexico City down to the southern state of Oaxaca, this trip packs in all of Mexico's colonial charms and archeological wonders. You'll also get to take to the beach at Playa del Carmen, swim in the Caribbean Sea and under cascading waterfalls and boat along lovely Sumidero Canyon.

Mexico's Churros and Chiapas

7 days  / from 1518 USD

Mexico's Churros and Chiapas

Arrive in exciting Mexico City and get a taste of its surprising charms, imposing plazas and beautiful colonial old town. Then jet off to Chiapas where you'll spend your days exploring canyons, waterfalls and national parks. Then finish with a dose of Mayan culture deep in the jungle at Palenque.

Los Cabos Self Drive

10 days  / from 890 USD

Los Cabos Self Drive

Take your rental car and explore the beaches and islands of Cabo. Located in Baja California Sur, Los Cabos, Todos Santos, and Cabo San Lucas do not only have excellent beaches to offer for your exploration but also a fascinating wildlife.

From Mexico City over Chiapas to Cancun: The Best of Mexico

15 days  / from 1450 USD

From Mexico City over Chiapas to Cancun: The Best of Mexico

This itinerary combines the metropolitan glamour of Mexico City with its fabulous museums and pyramids with an outdoor adventure in Chiapas visiting the Sumidero Canyon and the fascinating wildlife and cultural heritage of the Yucatan. Two weeks showing you the true highlights of Mexico!

Mayan Heritage Tour in Yucatan

9 days  / from 1670 USD

Mayan Heritage Tour in Yucatan

Yucatán is calling you, and this trip is the way to do it; go into the jungle and know it like no one else has ever known it; enjoy incredible food, beautiful sunsets, and the warmth of its communities that will do everything possible to offer you a dream experience. Are you ready?

Mexico City to the Yucatán

8 days  / from 1516 USD

Mexico City to the Yucatán

Enjoy a whirlwind tour of Mexico City, taking in the museums, churches and colonial plazas of Mexico's vibrant capital. Then relax on Playa del Carmen's Caribbean beaches before you take off to explore some of the country's most amazing archeological treasures.

Mexico's Nature and Beaches

10 days  / from 2307 USD

Mexico's Nature and Beaches

Explore the nature and wildlife of Chiapas and Tabasco by visiting the Sumidero Canyon and Agua Azul waterfalls before heading off to the Yucatan Peninsula: Chichen Itza awaits to impress you with its magnificent pyramids before ending the trip at the white beaches of Holbox.

Chiapas, Tabasco, Yucatan: Explore the Eastern Highlights

14 days  / from 1350 USD

Chiapas, Tabasco, Yucatan: Explore the Eastern Highlights

Explore the wide depths of Sumidero Canyon in Chiapas, the fascinating archaeological site of Palenque in Tabasco before moving on to the Yucatan to explore Merida, Chichen Itza and the peaceful island of Cozumel. This itinerary offers adventure and relaxation in 14 days.

Discovering Central Mexico: from Guanajuato to Oaxaca

20 days  / from 1280 USD

Discovering Central Mexico: from Guanajuato to Oaxaca

With this itinerary, you will get to know the real Mexico: from magic towns to archaeological sites all the way down to the beautiful beaches of Huatulco - this itinerary combines history, cuisine, and relaxation, all compactly available in a 3-week trip.

Enchanting Mexico: from the capital to the beaches

21 days  / from 1490 USD

Enchanting Mexico: from the capital to the beaches

Discover Mexico's capital before heading to your first Mexican beach: Puerto Escondido. After some days relaxing in the sun, head to Cancun to pick up your rental car and explore the Yucatan Peninsula in your own car. From archaeological sites to stunning beaches, the peninsula awaits.

Culture & Jungle in Chiapas

11 days  / from 2415 USD

Culture & Jungle in Chiapas

Get ready for an adventure through Chiapas with hosts who are prepared to welcome you and discover the natural beauty of canyons, waterfalls, lakes, and rivers! The magnificent archaeological sites will amaze you as well as the charming towns.

Mexico City and the Yucatan - from the city to the beaches

16 days  / from 1850 USD

Mexico City and the Yucatan - from the city to the beaches

Take this trip to explore the best of Mexico City: From the museums to the pyramids of Teotihuacán. Afterwards continue to Merida to explore the famous Pink Lake and the Haciendas of the Yucatan. At the ed, take your time relaxing on the beaches in Playa del Carmen and Cancun.

Authentic and unique Mexico City

7 days  / from 925 USD

Authentic and unique Mexico City

Mexico City seems to have it all - over 50 museums, a beautiful historic city center, an extensive city park with a majestic castle, upscale neighborhoods like La Condesa or La Roma, bohemian Coyoacan and mouth-watering cuisine. This trip shows you the best of this mega city.

Mexico City Explored

7 days  / from 590 USD

Mexico City Explored

Mexico City is one of the most fascinating cities in North America. This week-long itinerary grants you an insight to the museums, restaurants, and events in the capital, as well as exploring surrounding cities such as Taxco or Puebla. Get ready for a true Mexican adventure!

Mexico's Tomb Raider Experience

12 days  / from 3405 USD

Mexico's Tomb Raider Experience

Explore the caves, cenotes, pyramids, and beaches of the Yucatan Peninsula. Inspired by the famous Tomb Raider video game, this itinerary takes you exploring across the pyramids of Chichen Itza, Ek Balam, and Coba, before relaxing at the white beaches of Cozumel.

Oaxacan Coast Adventure

10 days  / from 1695 USD

Oaxacan Coast Adventure

Adventure awaits you on this trip to the Oaxacan coast, a place as spectacular as the activities you will do. From a boat trip to the beautiful bays of Huatulco to a warm horseback ride on the seashore in Puerto Escondido. Enjoy freedom of traveling with your own rental car.

The Gems of Yucatan - a Self Drive Trip

12 days  / from 850 USD

The Gems of Yucatan - a Self Drive Trip

Go at your own pace and discover the Peninsula de Yucatan with its many archaeological sites, its colonial villages, and stunning beaches. Having your own car allows you the maximum freedom to explore and the easy road access makes driving yourself a breeze.

Amazing Mexico

11 days  / from 2846 USD

Amazing Mexico

This 11-day trip takes you from Mexico City, where you will enjoy the La Merced Market to Merida where you can discover Maya ruins...with more adventure along the way, such as Hierve el agua where nature will surprise you and Oaxaca city a great cosy UNESCO World Heritage City.

Baja: Pacific Coast Paradise

7 days  / from 2251 USD

Baja: Pacific Coast Paradise

Baja California is an off-the-beaten-track unspoiled paradise. The area is home to mountains, deserts and thousands of kilometers of gorgeous Pacific coastline. Come here to explore, snorkel, dive or do a spot of whale watching (in season). Otherwise, sit back and relax on its soft sandy shores.

Taste of Mexico

9 days  / from 1475 USD

Taste of Mexico

Discover the most unique places in Mexico City before heading out to Puebla and Oaxaca, tasting the best Mexico has to offer: mole poblano, chocolate, a corn workshop - this is a hands-on tour, showing the variety Mexico has to offer, both in food and culture wise.

Small Group Tour: Yucatán Off the Beaten Path

8 days  / from 2230 USD

Small Group Tour: Yucatán Off the Beaten Path

This is a trip immersed in Maya culture, considering visits to essential places, accommodations in different Maya communities, and cultural and outdoor sports activities. Trip starts February 1st & April 29, 2024 - prefer to do this trip in private? Send us a request for individual pricing.

Mayan Heritage on the Yucatan Peninsula

9 days  / from 3035 USD

Mayan Heritage on the Yucatan Peninsula

Embark on a Yucatan self-drive adventure, blending renowned treasures like Tulum and Chichen Itza with hidden gems. Wander off the beaten track to discover local communities, engaging in community-based experiences. Delve into Mayan culture, sample authentic cuisine, and explore the region.

Immersive Mexico City

7 days  / from 1800 USD

Immersive Mexico City

Discover the vibrant heart of Mexico City in 7 unforgettable days. A stroll through historic downtown, explore colorful markets, and savor delicious street food. Day trips to Teotihuacan's ancient pyramids and Chapultepec Park's museums offer cultural enrichment.

Flavours of Central Mexico

10 days  / from 3275 USD

Flavours of Central Mexico

Start in Mexico City, exploring its rich history and vibrant markets. Journey to Cholula to uncover ancient pyramids and partake in cooking classes. Conclude in Oaxaca, where you'll dive deep into local markets and culinary traditions, forging unforgettable memories.

Authentic Mexico City & Yucatan Peninsula

12 days  / from 3140 USD

Authentic Mexico City & Yucatan Peninsula

Start your trip in fascinating Mexico City - special views guaranteed during your hot air balloon ride over Teotihuacan. Continue to the Yucatan Peninsula with Merida, Valladolid, the famous Chichen Itza site and then to the dreamy beaches of Puerto Morelos. This trip has it all.

The Aztecs founded their capital of Tenochtitlán in 1325 on an island in the middle of a lake. From here their empire grew to cover the whole of central Mexico. Hernán Cortés and his troops arrived in 1519, taking the Aztec emperor, Moctezuma II, prisoner and attacking Aztec temples. Growing unrest led to rebellion, and in 1520, Moctezuma was killed – according to the Spanish, by his own people. The Spaniards fled but returned, stronger, a year later to lay siege to Tenochtitlán.

The Spanish systematically destroyed Aztec culture and created a new, bigger city. A turbulent period of disease and sinking buildings followed, and by the 1850s, the city comprised little more than the area around the Zócalo and Alameda.

From late 1870 to 1911, however, the dictator Porfirio Díaz presided over an aggressive building programme that fuelled growth. By the 1910 Revolution, Mexico City’s residents numbered over 400,000, regaining for the first time in four centuries the pre-Conquest population.

During the Revolution, thousands fled to rapidly industrializing Mexico City for work. By the mid-1940s the city’s population quadrupled, and shantytowns began springing up and then mushrooming. This expansion strained the transport system, resulting in the construction of a Metro system in the late 1960s.

Urban growth continues today, spilling out beyond the limits of the Distrito Federal. Despite the spread, Mexico City remains one of the world’s most densely populated cities. It has an long list of social and physical problems, including a vulnerability to earthquakes. The last big one, in 1985, killed over 9,000 people, made 100,000 homeless and skewed many of the city’s buildings.

The eternal heart of the city, the capital’s main plaza is surrounded by its cathedral and the ruins of Aztec Tenochtitlán . The excellent Museo del Templo Mayor helps set the temples in context.

Not only an architectural masterpiece in its own right, with a smashing Art Deco interior, the Palacio de Bellas Artes is also home to some of the city‘s most impressive murals.

Museo Mural Diego Rivera is the home of Rivera's most famous Mexican mural, depicting just about everybody from Mexican history, all out on a Sunday afternoon stroll in the Alameda.

  • Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe The Basílica is in fact a whole series of churches, chapels and shrines set around an enormous stone-flagged plaza. It's little wonder that it can take a 5-hour tour to see the lot!

The Museo Nacional de Antropología is the country’s finest museum, with displays on all of Mexico’s major pre-Columbian cultures.

  • Mariachi You’ll find mariachi played the length and breadth of the country but most notably in Mexico City’s Plaza Garibaldi.

Visit the houses where Frida Kahlo and León Trotsky lived, spend an evening checking out the local bars, then come back for the colourful Sunday market. You can book onto tours that take in the major sites.

Teotihuacán is the largest pre-Hispanic site in the country, dominated by the huge Pirámide de Sol and only slightly less huge Pirámide de la Luna. If you're feeling flush, splash out on a hot-air balloon flight over the pyramids.

Once a silver-mining centre, now a silver-buying centre, this whitewashed hillside town makes a welcome stop on the road to Acapulco. You can go on a tour and admire its silver jewellery, which is made in hundreds of workshops here.

A huge collection of works by Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo.

Rent a boat and soak up the carnival atmosphere, flowers and traditional floating gardens at the Mexico City suburb of Xochimilco .

The frenetic site of massed mariachi bands competing for your attention.

Explore Mexico City’s largest and most vibrant market.

Mexico’s crazy, high-octane capital may initially seem to lack the colour and charm of some of the country’s smaller towns, but it can be pretty too, and there’s certainly no denying its dynamism. Visit Mexico City and you’ll be rewarded with museums, murals and markets galore, while beyond the bustling colonial core lies a cluster of upmarket districts and leafy neighbourhoods.

Here are some of the best places to visit in Mexico City.

The Zócalo and around

The heart of Mexico City is the Zócalo, built by the Spanish right over the devastated ceremonial centre of the Aztec city of Tenochtitlán . Extraordinary uncovered ruins provide the Zócalo’s most compelling attraction, chief of which is the Templo Mayor. There’s also a wealth of great colonial buildings, among them the huge cathedral and the Palacio Nacional with its striking Diego Rivera murals. West of the Zócalo the centro histórico stretches through the main commercial district past the Museo Nacional de Arte to the sky-scraping Torre Latinoamericana and the Palacio de Bellas Artes with its gorgeous Art Deco interior.

Around the Alameda

Originally an Aztec market and later the site where the Inquisition burned its victims at the stake, the formal Alameda parkland you see now dates from the nineteenth century. Around the Alameda is a clutch of museums, including Museo de Tequila y Mezcal, which tells the story of Mexico’s best-known liquors, and the Museo Mural Diego Rivera, with the artist’s famed Sueño de una Tarde Dominical en la Alameda .

The Monumento a la Revolución heralds the more upmarket central suburbs, chiefly the Zona Rosa. You’ll know you’re there as the streets are all named after famous cities. Packed into this tiny area are hundreds of bars, restaurants, hotels and shops, all teeming with a vast number of tourists and a cross-section of Mexico City’s aspiring middle classes. Mexico City’s gay village can be found around the northern end of Amberes.

Roma and Condesa

South of the Zona Rosa lie the leafy residential districts of Roma and Condesa. Both suburbs were developed in the 1930s and 1940s, but as the city expanded they became unfashionable and run-down. That all changed in the 1990s when artists and the bohemian fringe were drawn here by low rents, decent housing and proximity to the city centre. Small-time galleries sprang up and the first of the bars and cafés opened. Condesa, in particular, is now one of the best areas for good eating in the city, brimming with pavement cafés and bistro-style restaurants.

Accommodation in Mexico City ranges from budget hostels to some of the swankiest hotels in the country. Book ahead, as the best-value places can fill up quickly. Most places have 24hr reception desks and are geared for late arrivals and early departures. With reasonably cheap taxi fares into the Zócalo or Zona Rosa, it seldom makes financial sense to stay near the bus stations or airport. If you arrive especially late, there are places to stay that are very handy for the airport and Terminal del Norte.

There are reasonably priced restaurants, cafés, taquerías and juice stands on every block. The choice of where to eat in Mexico City ranges from traditional coffee houses to on-the-go lunch counters, taking in expensive international and rock-bottom Mexican cooking along the way. Food stalls can be found in markets throughout the city; Merced is the biggest, but not a terribly pleasant place to eat. At the back of Plaza Garibaldi, there’s a whole market hall given over to nothing but food stands, each vociferously competing with its neighbours.

Club-oriented nightlife starts late in Mexico City. Live acts often hit the stage after 11pm and few places really getting going before midnight. Cuban music is particularly popular, and with Cuba just a short flight away, Mexico City hosts a lot of the island’s emerging talent. Bars range from dirt-cheap pulquerías and cantinas to upscale lounges and hotel bars. As elsewhere in the country, cantinas and pulquerías are still largely a male preserve. The Zona Rosa (pink zone) is Mexico City’s gay zone, and in particular the northernmost section of Amberes between Hamburgo and Reforma, where you’ll find a slew of gay and lesbian bars.

An odd hangover from Aztec times is the practice of devoting a whole street to one particular trade, which occurs to some extent throughout the city. There are blocks where you can buy nothing but stationery, while other areas are packed exclusively with shoe shops and still others only sell musical instruments. To buy crafts, there is no need to visit the place of origin – shops in Mexico City and all the big resorts gather the best and most popular items from around the country. For bargain hunters, the mercado (market) is the place to head; La Merced is Mexico City’s largest and most vibrant market.

This section of the Mexico City travel guide will look at some of the best activities in the capital.

Lucha libre

Though its popularity has waned in recent years, lucha libre , or wrestling, remains one of Mexico’s most avidly followed spectator sports. Mexican wrestling is generally faster, with more complex moves, and more combatants in the ring at any one time than you would normally see in an American or British bout. More important, however, is the maintenance of stage personas, most of whom, heroes or villains, wear masks. Catch a 3.5-hour show if you can.

There is no event more quintessentially Mexican than the bullfight . Rooted in Spanish machismo and imbued with multiple layers of symbolism and interpretation, it transcends a mere battle of man against animal. If you don’t mind the inherent cruelty of the spectacle, it’s worth attending a corrida de toros to see this integral part of the Mexican experience. Plaza México, a giant 48,000-seat arena in Mexico City, is the largest bullring in the world.

Ask any local what to see in Mexico City and they’ll say fútbol, which is undoubtedly Mexico’s most popular sport. The capital is one of the best places to see a football match. The biggest game in the domestic league, “El Clásico”, between Chivas from Guadalajara and América from Mexico City, fills the city’s 150,000-seater Aztec stadium to capacity. There are usually at least two games every Sunday afternoon from January to June and August to November.

Taking part in a local fiesta is one of the most exuberant things to do in Mexico City, and the following is just a teaser of the country’s jam-packed event programme:

  • Día de los Santos Reyes (Jan 6). Celebrations include a fiesta with dancing at Nativitas, a suburb near Xochimilco.
  • Bendicíon de los Animales (Jan 17). Children’s pets and peasants’ farm animals are taken to the cathedral to be blessed.
  • Día de San Pedro (June 29). Marked by traditional dancing in San Pedro Actopan, on the southern outskirts of the DF.
  • Día de Santa Marta (July 25). Celebrated in Milpa Alta, near Xochimilco, with Aztec dances and mock fights between Moors and Christians.
  • Independence Day (Sept 15). The president of the republic proclaims the famous Grito at 11pm in the Zócalo, followed by the ringing of the Campana de Dolores and a huge firework display.
  • Día de Santa Cecilia (Nov 22). Santa Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians, and her fiesta attracts orchestras and mariachi bands from all over to Santa Cecilia Tepetlapa, near Xochimilco.
  • Día de la Señora de Guadalupe (Dec 12). The saint’s day of Mexico’s favourite Virgin heralds a massive pilgrimage to the Basilica of Guadalupe, running for several days, with a more secular celebration of music and dancing.

The capital is where the Mexican extremes of wealth and poverty are most apparent. Such financial disparity fuels theft, but just take the same precautions you would in any large city. Keep your valuables – especially credit or debit cards – in the hotel safe. Don’t flash large wads of money around and keep an eye on your camera and other valuables in busy market areas.

At night, avoid the barrio known as Doctores and the area around Lagunilla market - both centres of the street drug trade, and therefore opportunist crime.

Note that mugging is not the only danger – abduction for ransom is increasingly common too.

Taxis have a bad reputation and, though drivers are mostly helpful and courteous, it is best not to hail one off the street. Read our Mexico City Guide for more safety advice .

Look beyond the capital’s frenetic, high-octane core, and you’ll discover a raft of enticing places to visit around Mexico City. Spreading itself furthest to the south, the urban sprawl has swallowed up a series of old villages. These harbour the colonial suburbs of Coyoacán and San Ángel, the archaeological site of Cuicuilco and the canals of Xochimilco. The area north of the city centre has less to offer, but two sites of compelling interest are the emotive Plaza de las Tres Culturas and the great Basílica de Guadalupe. Further out, you’ll find the pyramids of Tenayuca and Santa Cecilia Acatitlán, the city’s two most dramatically preserved remains of Aztec architecture.

With its markets, ancient mansions and high-priced shops around flower-draped patios, San Ángel is a very exclusive place to live. It is also one of the most inviting places to visit around Mexico City, packed with little restaurants and cafés where you can sit outside and watch the crowds go by.

Around 3km east of San Ángel lies Coyoacán , another colonial township that has been absorbed by the city. Cortés based himself in Coyoacán during the siege of Tenochtitlán , and continued to live here while the old city was torn down. While the Plaza Central is the focus of the town, no visit to Mexico is complete without strolling out to the northern reaches to the Frida Kahlo and Leon Trotsky museums.

The floating gardens adjoining the suburb of Xochimilco offer an intense carnival atmosphere every weekend. Renting a colourful boat is one of the top things to do in Mexico City, as you’ll be ferried around the picturesque canals while marimba players and market stallholders compete for your attention.

The Plaza de las Tres Culturas is the site of the ancient city of Tlatelolco, located to the north of Tenochtitlán . Today, a lovely colonial church rises in the midst of the city’s excavated ruins, exemplifying the second of the three cultures from which the plaza takes its name.

The 20m-high pyramid in the main square at Tenayuca, a suburb just outside the city limits, is another site that predates Tenochtitlán by a long chalk. Indeed, there are those who claim it was the capital of the tribe that destroyed Tula . The pyramid that survives dates from the period of Aztec dominance and is an almost perfect miniature replica of the great temples of Tlatelolco and Tenochtitlán.

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Top image: Palacio de Bellas Artes or Palace of Fine Arts, a famous theater,museum and music venue in Mexico City © Kamira/Shutterstock

Soccer and wrestling may be more popular, but there is no event more quintessentially Mexican than the bullfight . Rooted in Spanish machismo and imbued with multiple layers of symbolism and interpretation, it transcends a mere battle of man against animal. If you don’t mind the inherent cruelty of the spectacle (essentially you’re watching an animal being artfully tortured to death), it’s worth attending a corrida de toros to see this integral part of the Mexican experience. It is a sport that transcends class barriers; every Sunday afternoon during the winter season men and women from all walks of Mexican society file into the stadium – though some admittedly end up in plush sombra (shade) seats while the masses occupy concrete sol (sun) terraces.

Each corrida lasts around two hours and involves six bulls, all from one ranch, with each of three matadors taking two bulls. Typically there will be two Mexican matadors and one from Spain, which still produces the best performers. Each fight is divided into three suertes (acts) or tercios (thirds), each announced by a trumpet blast. During the first tercio , several toreros with large capes tire the bull in preparation for the picadores who, from their mounts atop heavily padded and blindfolded horses, attempt to force a lance between the bull’s shoulder blades to further weaken him. The toreros then return for the second tercio , in which one of their number (and sometimes the matador himself) will try to stab six metal-tipped spikes (known as bandilleras ) into the bull in as clean and elegant a manner as possible.

Exhausted and frustrated, but by no means docile, the bull is now considered ready for the third and final tercio , the suerte de muleta . The matador continues to tire the bull while pulling off as many graceful and daring moves as possible. By now the crowd will have sensed the bravery and finesse of the matador and the spirit of the bull he is up against, and shouts of “¡Olé!” will reverberate around the stadium with every pass. Eventually the matador will entice the bull to challenge him head-on, standing there with its hooves together. As it charges he will thrust his sword between its shoulder blades and, if it is well executed, the bull will crumple to the sand. However barbaric you might think it is, no one likes to see the bull suffer and even the finest performance will garner the matador little praise without a clean kill. Successful matadors may be awarded one of the bull’s ears, rarely two, and perhaps two or three times a season the tail as well. An especially courageous bull may be spared and put out to stud, a cause for much celebration, but this is a rare spectacle.

Puebla’s expansion in recent years has made Cholula , 15km to the west, virtually a suburb. Nonetheless, it retains its small-town charm and has one abiding reason to visit: the ruins of Cholula . A rival of Teotihuacán at its height, and the most powerful city in the country between the fall of Teotihuacán and the rise of Tula, Cholula was, at the time of the Conquest, a vast city of some four hundred temples, famed as a shrine to Quetzalcoatl and for the excellence of its pottery (a trade dominated by immigrant Mixtecs). But it paid dearly for an attempt, inspired by its Aztec allies, to ambush Cortés on his march to Tenochtitlán: the chieftains were slaughtered, their temples destroyed and churches built in their place. The Spaniards claimed to have constructed 365 churches here, one for each day of the year. Although there are a lot of churches, the true figure certainly doesn’t live up to the claim. There may well be 365 chapels within the churches, though, which is already a few hundred more than the village population could reasonably need.

Arriving in Cholula, you can’t miss the Nuestra Señora de los Remedios , picturesquely sited atop a hill with Popocatépetl in the background. If you climb up to it, you can buy snacks such as chapulines (fried grasshoppers) on the way. What’s not immediately apparent is that the hill is in fact the remains of the Great Pyramid of Cholula – the Pirámide Tepanapa – the largest pyramid ever constructed, though it’s now ruined, overgrown and really not much to look at. At 66m, it is lower than the largest of the Egyptian pyramids but with each side measuring 350m it is also squatter and bulkier. As at other sites, the outer shell was built over a series of nested pyramids, constructed between 200 BC and 800 AD.

The archeological site

The archeological site around and underneath the pyramid is usually accessed from an entrance on San Andrés through a 400m-long series of tunnels dug by archeologists. Though undoubtedly fascinating, the ruins are a good deal less impressive than some of the more famed sites around the Valley of México. The ring of superimposed structures around the Patio de los Altares is certainly worth a look and there are some fine murals , but these can be better appreciated in the site museum where replicas are kept.

The tunnels

Even when you can go inside, the section open to the public is just a fraction of the 8km of exploratory tunnels which honeycomb the pyramid. They’re well lit and capacious enough for most people to walk upright, but there’s still a palpable sense of adventure as you spur off down side tunnels, which reveal elements of earlier temples and steep ceremonial stairways that appear to go on forever into the gloom. Emerging at the end of one tunnel, you’ll find an area of open-air excavations, where part of the great pyramid has been exposed alongside various lesser shrines with explanations in English of their importance.

Mexico City comes with an unenviable reputation for overcrowding, grime and crime, and to some extent this is deserved. Certainly there is pollution. The whole urban area sits in a low mountain bowl that deflects smog-clearing winds away from the city, allowing a thick blanket of haze to build up throughout the day. Conditions are particularly bad in winter, when there is no rain, and pollution levels (reported daily in the English-language newspaper, The News , thenews.com.mx ) tend to peak in the early afternoon. In response, the Hoy No Circula (“Don’t drive today”) law prohibits car use from 5am to 10pm for one day in the working week for vehicles over six years old, the day depending on the car’s numberplate. Nonetheless, those prone to respiratory problems may have some difficulty on arrival, due to the city’s air quality and altitude.

The capital is where the Mexican extremes of wealth and poverty are most apparent, with shiny, valet-parked SUVs vying for space with pavement vendors and beggars. Such financial disparity fuels theft, but just take the same precautions you would in any large city; there is no need to feel particularly paranoid. Keep your valuables – especially credit or debit cards – in the hotel safe (even cheap hotels often have somewhere secure; muggers who catch you with an ATM card may keep hold of you till they have extracted enough cash with it), don’t flash large wads of money around and keep an eye on your camera and other valuables in busy market areas. At night, avoid the barrio known as Doctores (around the Metro station of the same name, so called because the streets are named after doctors), and the area around Lagunilla market, both centres of the street drug trade, and therefore opportunist crime. Note that mugging is not the only danger – abduction for ransom is increasingly common too.

Taxis have a bad reputation and, though drivers are mostly helpful and courteous, there are reports of people being robbed or abducted (often in stolen taxis). If possible, get your hotel to call you a cab (more expensive), or call one yourself. If you do have to hail a cab in the street, always take one whose registration, on both the numberplate and the side of the vehicle, begins with an L (for “libre” – to be hailed while driving around), and which has the driver’s identification prominently displayed. Better still, find a taxi rank and take a sitio taxi that can be traced to that rank (with a number beginning in R, S or T, and again with the driver’s ID prominently displayed). Do not take taxis from the airport or bus terminals other than prepaid ones, and avoid taking those waiting outside tourist spots.

COYOACÁN is a colonial township that has been absorbed by the city. Even before the Conquest it was a sizeable place. Originally the capital of a small lakeshore kingdom, it was subjugated by the Aztecs in the mid-fifteenth century. Cortés based himself in Coyoacán during the siege of Tenochtitlán, and continued to live here while the old city was torn down and construction began on the capital of Nueva España. The focus of the area is the spacious Plaza Central, but no visit to Coyoacán is complete without strolling out to the northern reaches of the suburb to the two main sights, the Frida Kahlo and Leon Trotsky museums.

The Museo Frida Kahlo is just a few minutes’ walk from the centre of Coyoacán. The appropriately named Blue House was the Kahlos’ family home and this is where Frida was born and spent most of her life, sporadically with husband Diego Rivera, who donated the house to the nation shortly after her death. It was during Frida and Diego’s tenure here in the late 1930s that they played host to the newly arrived Leon Trotsky and his wife. Trotsky, ever fearful of assassins, apparently expressed his concern about the ease of access from a neighbouring property, and in a typically expansive gesture Diego simply bought the other house and combined the two. Continually at the centre of the capital’s leftist bohemian life, Diego and Frida hosted a coterie of artists and intellectuals at this house; D.H. Lawrence was a frequent visitor, though he had little political or artistic sympathy with Kahlo, let alone Trotsky.

Several rooms have been set aside as galleries. The first features around twenty relatively minor (and less tortured) examples of Frida’s work, from some of her early portraits through to her final work, Viva la Vida, a still life of sliced watermelons. She painted it in 1954, when the pain and trauma of her recent leg amputation had taken their toll on her painterly control, if not her spirit. Look too for a beautiful charcoal self-portrait from 1932 and the more political El Marxismo Dará la Salud a los Enfermos (Marxism Will Give Health to the Sick) from 1954. A room full of Frida’s signature tehuana dresses leads to more paintings, including over a dozen by Rivera, such as Paisaje de la Quebrada, which shows a rock face at Acapulco into which Diego painted his own face in purple. Alongside are several works by Velasco and Orozco, as well as a Klee and a Tanguy.

Interior and artefacts

Other sections of the house faithfully show the artesanía style that Frida favoured. Witness the blue and yellow kitchen with “Diego” and “Frida” picked out in tiny ceramic mugs on the wall. Its extraordinary decoration continues with bizarre papier-mâché animals and figures, and an impressive collection of retablos around the stairway. This leads up to Frida’s airy studio where her wheelchair is artfully set next to an easel and, of course, a mirror. Diego’s influence in the house is seen more through his interest in Mexico’s pre-Hispanic culture. Artefacts are scattered throughout the house and a small collection is displayed in the courtyard on a small two-step pyramid he had constructed there.

Museo Casa de León Trotsky

Trotsky’s House, or the Museo Casa de León Trotsky, where the genius of the Russian Revolution and organizer of the Red Army lived and worked, is about four blocks away and represents virtually the only memorial to Trotsky anywhere in the world. After Lenin’s death, Trotsky was forced into exile and condemned to death, and as increasing numbers of countries refused him asylum he sought refuge in Mexico in 1937, aided by Diego Rivera (at the time an ardent Trotskyite), who petitioned President Lázaro Cárdenas on his behalf. Here Stalin’s long arm finally caught up with him (see The assassination of Trotsky), despite the house being reinforced with steel gates and shutters, high walls and watchtowers. Today the fortified building seems at first a little incongruous, surrounded by the bourgeois homes of a prosperous suburb, but inside it’s a human place, set up as he left it, if rather dustier: books on the shelves, his glasses smashed on the desk and all the trappings of a fairly comfortable ordinary life – except for the bullet holes.

Since the 1970s, Frida Kahlo (1907–54) has been considered Mexico’s most internationally renowned artist, outshining even her husband, Diego Rivera, who recognized her as “the first woman in the history of art to treat, with absolute and uncompromising honesty, one might even say with impassive cruelty, those general and specific themes which exclusively affect women”. Julie Taymor’s 2002 biopic Frida, starring Salma Hayek, further consolidated her role as a feminist icon. Her work is deeply personal, centred on her insecurities and her relations with her family, her country and her politics. “I paint myself,” she said, “because I am so often alone, and because I am the subject I know best.” Her relatively short painting career was never prolific and the largest collection of her work is at the Museo Dolores Olmedo Patiño.

The daughter of a mestizo Mexican mother and Hungarian Jewish father, Frida was born in the Blue House in Coyoacán (now the Museo Frida Kahlo). When she was 6, she battled a bout of polio that left her right leg withered. She rebounded and, as a precocious 14-year-old at Mexico City’s top school, first met Diego Rivera (twenty years her senior) who was painting a mural there. She shocked her friends by declaring that she wished to conceive his child “just as soon as I convince him to cooperate”, but they didn’t meet again for many years.

Marriage to Rivera

At 18, and already breaking free of the roles then ordained for women in Mexico, Frida had begun to pursue a career in medicine when she suffered a gruesome accident. The bus she was riding in was struck by a tram, leaving her with multiple fractures and a pelvis skewered by a steel handrail. It was during the months she spent bedridden, recovering, that she first took up a paintbrush. Later in life, she reflected “I had two accidents in my life. One was the bus, the other Diego.” After her recovery she fell in with a left-leaning bunch of artists, free-thinkers and Communists where she again met Rivera. Within a year they were married: she a striking, slender woman of 21; he a massively overweight man twice her age with a frog-like face and an unparalleled reputation for womanizing. Diego went about his affairs quite publicly (including briefly with Frida’s sister, Cristina). He was furious when Frida took up with other men, but her several affairs with women seemed to delight him. After her death he wrote, “Too late now, I realized that the most wonderful part of my life had been my love for Frida.”

Artistic career

Encouraged by Diego, Frida pursued her painting career. Over half of her canvases are self-portraits: imbued with sophisticated personal symbolism, with themes of abortion, broken bones and betrayed love explored through the body set in an unlikely juxtaposition of elements.

In 1932 Frida miscarried and was hospitalized in Detroit where she painted Henry Ford Hospital. This disturbing depiction of her grief shows her naked body lying on a bed in an industrial wasteland, surrounded by a foetus, pelvic bones and surgical implements all umbilically tied back to her. After returning to Mexico, her circle of friends expanded to include Trotsky (with whom she had a brief affair), Cuban Communist Julio Antonio Mella and muralist David Siqueiros (later implicated in an attempt to kill Trotsky). By now Frida and Diego were living in paired houses in San Ángel, which allowed them to maintain relatively separate lives. In 1939 they divorced, a devastating event Frida recorded in Autoretrato con el Pelo Cortado (Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair), in which her trademark long tresses and indigenous tehuana dresses (both much loved by Diego) are replaced by Diego’s oversized suit and cropped hair. They remarried a year later, with Frida insisting on financial independence and a celibate relationship.

The injuries from her accident dogged her throughout her life, and as her physical condition worsened she found solace in her work (as well as drink and painkilling drugs), painting La Columna Rota (The Broken Column), in 1944, with her crushed spine depicted as an Ionic column. Despite increasing commercial and critical success, Frida had only one solo exhibition of her work during her lifetime, in Mexico City just a year before she died. In her later years she was wheelchair-bound, but continued the political activism she had always pursued, and died after defying medical advice and taking part in a demonstration against American intervention in Guatemala while she was convalescing from pneumonia in July 1954. By this stage, she knew she was dying; defiantly, on her last work, she daubed the words “Viva la Vida” – “Long Live Life”.

The first attempt on Trotsky’s life, in his house at Coyoacán, left more than seventy scars in the plaster of the bedroom walls. At 4am on May 24, 1940, a heavily armed group led by painter David Siqueiros (who had been a commander in the Spanish Civil War and was working under the orders of the Stalinist Mexican Communist Party) overcame the guards and pumped more than two hundred shots into the house. Trotsky, his wife and son survived only by hiding under their beds. After this, the house, already heavily guarded, was further fortified. Unknown to all, though, the eventual assassin had already inveigled his way into the household, posing as a businessman being converted to the cause. Although he was never fully trusted, his arrival at the house on the afternoon of August 20, with an article that he wanted Trotsky to look over, seemed innocuous enough. Trotsky invited him into the study and moments later the notorious ice pick (the blunt end), which had been concealed under the killer’s coat, smashed into Trotsky’s skull. He died some 24 hours later, in the hospital after an operation failed to save his life. The killer, who called himself Frank Jackson and claimed to be Belgian, served twenty years in jail, though he never explained his actions or even confessed to his true identity, Jaime Ramón Mercader del Río.

With its refreshing spring-like climate, CUERNAVACA has always provided a place of escape from Mexico City, but it isn’t always as refreshing as it claims to be. The state capital of Morelos, it is rapidly becoming industrialized, and the streets in the centre are permanently clogged with traffic and fumes. The gardens and villas that shelter the rich are almost all hidden away or in districts far from the centre, and many of them belong to narco-barons, whose rivalries brought a spate of violence in 2010. The spring of that year saw discotheques attacked and castrated corpses hung from bridges as deputies of a local kingpin fought for succession in the wake of his assassination by Mexican marines. The ensuing conflict left some fifty people dead, although the situation has calmed down somewhat since then.

The Aztecs called the city Cuauhnahuac (“place by the woods”), and it became a favourite resort and hunting ground for their rulers; the Spaniards corrupted the name to Cuernavaca (“cow horn”) simply because they couldn’t pronounce Cuauhnahuac. Hernán Cortés seized and destroyed the city during the siege of Tenochtitlán, then built himself a palace here. The palace-building trend has continued over the centuries: Emperor Maximilian and the deposed Shah of Iran both had houses here, and the inner suburbs are packed with the high-walled mansions of wealthy Mexicans and expats.

Though its popularity has waned in recent years, lucha libre , or wrestling, remains one of Mexico’s most avidly followed spectator sports. Over a dozen venues in the capital alone host fights several nights a week for a fanatical public. Widely available magazines, comics, photonovels and films recount the real and imagined lives of the rings’ heroes and villains, though the nightly telecasts are now a thing of the past.

Mexican wrestling is generally faster, with more complex moves, and more combatants in the ring at any one time than you would normally see in an American or British bout. This can make the action hard to follow for the uninitiated. More important, however, is the maintenance of stage personas, most of whom, heroes or villains, wear masks . The rudos tend to use brute force or indulge in sneaky, underhanded tactics to foil the opposition, while the técnicos use wit and guile to compensate for lack of brawn. This faux battle, not at all unlike WWE on-screen antics, requires a massive suspension of disbelief – crucial if you want to join in the fun.

One of the most bizarre features of wrestling was the emergence of wrestlers as political figures – typically still in costume. The most famous of these, Superbarrio , arose from the struggle of Mexico City’s tenant associations for fair rents and decent housing after the 1985 earthquake to become part of mainstream political opposition, even challenging government officials to step into the ring with him, and acting as a sort of unofficial cheerleader at opposition rallies.

The most famous wrestler of all time, however, was without doubt El Santo (“the Saint”). Immortalized in more than twenty movies, with titles such as El Santo vs the Vampire Women , he would fight, eat, drink and play the romantic lead without ever removing his mask, and until after his retirement, he never revealed his identity. His reputation as a gentleman in and out of the ring was legendary, and his death in 1984 widely mourned. His funeral was allegedly the second best-attended in Mexican history after that of President Obregón.

In Mexico City, fights can usually be seen on Tuesdays at the Arena Coliseo , Peru 77 (Metro Allende) and on Fridays at the Arena México , Dr Lucio 197 at Dr Lavista, Colonia Doctores (two blocks south and one east of Metro Balderas, but not a good area to be in at night). Tickets are sold on the door.

Paseo de la Reforma is the most impressive street in Mexico City, lined by tall, modern buildings. It was originally laid out in the 1860s by Emperor Maximilian to provide the city with a boulevard to rival the great European capitals, and doubled as a ceremonial drive from his palace in Chapultepec to the centre. It also provided a new impetus, and direction, for the growing metropolis. The original length of the broad avenue ran simply from the Bosque de Chapultepec to the junction of Juárez – at 5km a very long walk, but there are plenty of buses and peseros – and although it has been extended in both directions, this stretch is still what everyone thinks of as Reforma.

“Reforma Norte”, as the extension towards Guadalupe is known, is just as wide (and the traffic just as dense), but is almost a term of disparagement. Real Reforma, however, remains imposing – ten lanes of traffic, lines of trees, grand statues at every intersection and perhaps three or four of the original French-style, nineteenth-century houses still surviving. Twenty or thirty years ago it was the dynamic heart of the growing city, with even relatively new buildings being torn down to make way for yet newer, taller, more prestigious towers of steel and glass. The pulse has since moved elsewhere, and the fancy shops have relocated, leaving an avenue now mostly lined with airline offices, car rental agencies and banks, and somewhat diminishing the pleasure of a stroll.

The elegant colonial city of PUEBLA, the republic’s fifth-largest city (after Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey and Tijuana), is an easy forty-minute trip from Tlaxcala, or a couple of hours by bus from Mexico City – with glorious views of the snowy heights of Popocatépetl and Ixtaccíhuatl on the way. Known for its fine cuisine, Puebla has a remarkable concentration of sights – a fabulous cathedral, a “hidden” convent, museums and colonial mansions – while the mountainous surrounding country is in places startlingly beautiful. The city centre and Cerro de Guadalupe, where all these sights are to be found, form quite a compact area, easy to get around, and you can see the best of the city and nearby Cholula in a couple of leisurely days, or even – at a brisk trot – in one packed day.

Military defeat seems to play a larger part in Puebla’s history than it does in most of Mexico – the city fell to the Americans in 1847 and to the French in 1863 – but that isn’t what’s remembered. Rather, what’s remembered and commemorated here is the greatest victory in the country’s history, at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, when a force of some two thousand Mexicans defeated a French army three times its size. The French were trying to make the Austrian prince Maxamilian emperor of Mexico, but when they tried to occupy Puebla, Mexican troops based in the two forts on the Cerro de Guadalupe (the Fuerte de Loreto and the Fuerte de Guadalupe) beat them off, forcing them to withdraw back towards their base at Veracruz and putting a serious dent into French plans. To this day, Puebla commemorates May 5 (Cinco de Mayo) with a massive fiesta, and there’s a public holiday throughout the country.

Fourteen kilometres north of Pachuca, draped across pine-clad hills, sits REAL DEL MONTE (aka Mineral del Monte), a once very wealthy silver-mining town, and, at over 2700m, a nice retreat from Mexico City. It’s a quietly appealing place where you can wander around the well-tended streets, and carefully explore mining relics in the surrounding hills. The town’s architecture is largely Spanish colonial, but is given an odd twist by the almost exclusive use of red corrugated-iron roofing, and the existence of Cornish-style cottages with their double-pitched rooflines.

As in much of Latin America, fútbol in Mexico is a national addiction, if not an obsession. Turn on the TV and often as not you’ll find a match. If you can get to see a live game, it’s a different experience entirely. For up-to-date information on Mexican league teams, fixtures and tables, visit futmex.com or futbolmexicano.net .

Football was introduced to Mexico in the nineteenth century by Cornish miners in Real del Monte, Hidalgo, and it was in that state, by descendants of those same Cornishmen, that Mexico’s first football club, Pachuca, was founded in 1901. The football league was created six years later. Mexico’s football league follows a complicated ladder system: the first division is divided into three tables of six teams each, which are decided by the previous season’s placings, with the league champions placed first in table one, second placed top of table two and so on. The top two teams of each table compete in a play-off for the league championship.

There are two seasons a year: Apertura (Aug–Nov) and Clausura (Jan–June). At the end of the Clausura season, the two seasons’ winners (if they are different) compete to decide that year’s champion of champions. Relegation to a lower division is decided over a two-season (yearly) loss average, so it is, in fact, technically possible to come first in the league and be relegated in the same season. However, relegation need not be the disaster that it might seem. Take, for example, Puebla C.F., who when relegated in 1999 simply bought the team promoted from Primera B (Curtodores), changed their name to Puebla and relocated them, which is perfectly legal under Mexican financial regulations. Similarly, there are no regulations preventing anyone from owning more than one team, which can lead to a clash of interests that are never more than speculated upon; suspicion of corruption is rife but rarely, if ever, investigated.

Matches are always exciting and enjoyed by even the most diehard “anti-futbolistas”. Music, dancing and, of course, the ubiquitous Mexican Wave make for a carnival atmosphere, enhanced by spectators dressing up and wearing face paint. They’re usually very much family affairs, with official salespeople bringing soft drinks, beer and various types of food at fixed prices to your seat. Stadiums tend to be mostly concrete, with sitting room only, and can sometimes be dangerously overcrowded, though accidents are thankfully rare.

The bigger clubs are those of Mexico City (América, Cruz Azul, Pumas – the national university side – Necaxa and Atlante) and Guadalajara (Chivas, Atlas and Tecos) and the games between any of these can draw crowds of up to eighty thousand, while smaller clubs like those of Puebla, Irapuato and Celaya may get no more than ten thousand or fifteen thousand spectators per game. The vast distances between clubs make travelling to away games impossible for many fans, one reason why smaller, more out-of-the-way clubs don’t get as much support. Opposing fans aren’t generally separated, but an atmosphere of self-policing prevails – making it an ideal family occasion. The greatest risk is often to the referee, who is frequently escorted from the pitch by armed riot police.

For national games the whole country is united, and football has many times been shown to rise above partisan politics. In 1999, despite being outlawed by the government, the EZLN football squad even played an exhibition match against the national side in Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca.

In 1824, a British firm took over the old silver mines in Real del Monte, which had first been opened by the Spanish in the mid-sixteenth century. Needing some mining expertise, the British brought over some 350 Cornish tin miners to help run the pits, but pulled out in 1848, to be replaced by a Mexican successor firm. Most of the tin miners stayed on however, and their legacy in Pachuca and Real del Monte lives on too, in the form of some surprisingly authentic Cornish pasties, and the introduction of fútbol (soccer), which was played for the first time on Mexican soil in Real del Monte. A plaque in the car park at the southern end of Hidalgo marks the spot where that first game was played, and it was this same Cornish community who went on to found Pachuca football club and the Mexican football league.

Silver has been mined in TAXCO since before the Conquest. Supplies of the metal have long been depleted, but it is still the basis of the town’s fame, as well as its livelihood, in the form of jewellery, which is made in hundreds of workshops here, and sold in an array of shops ( platerías ) catering mainly to tourists. The city is an attractive place, like some Mexican version of a Tuscan village, with a mass of terracotta-tiled, whitewashed houses lining narrow, cobbled alleys that straggle steeply uphill. At intervals the pattern is broken by a larger mansion, or by a courtyard filled with flowers or by the tower of a church rearing up; the twin spires of Santa Prisca , a Baroque wedding cake of a church in the centre of town, stand out above all.

Though it might seem a prosperous place now, Taxco’s development has not been entirely straightforward – indeed on more than one occasion the town has been all but abandoned. The Spaniards came running at the rumours of mineral wealth here (Cortés himself sent an expedition in 1522), but their success was short-lived, and it wasn’t until the eighteenth century that French immigrant José de la Borda struck it fabulously rich by discovering the San Ignacio vein. It was during Borda’s short lifetime that most of what you see originated – he spent an enormous sum on building the church of Santa Prisca, and more on other buildings and a royal lifestyle here and in Cuernavaca; by his death in 1778 the boom was already over. In 1929 however, the silver trade saw a revival, sparked by the arrival of American architect and writer William Spratling , who set up a jewellery workshop in Taxco, drawing on local traditional skills and pre-Hispanic designs. With the completion of a new road around the same time, a massive influx of tourists was inevitable – the town has handled it all fairly well, becoming rich at the expense of just a little charm.

The Aztec capital of Tenochtitlán was built on an island in the middle of a lake traversed by great causeways, a beautiful, strictly regulated, stone-built city of three hundred thousand residents. The Aztecs had arrived at the lake around 1325, after years of wandering and living off what they could scavenge or pillage from settled communities. According to legend, their patron god Huitzilopochtli had ordered them to build a city where they found an eagle perched on a nopal cactus, and devouring a snake. It is this legend that is the basis of the nopal, eagle and snake motif that forms the centrepiece of the modern Mexican flag.

The lake proved an ideal site: well stocked with fish, it was also fertile, once the Aztecs had constructed chinampas, or floating gardens of reeds. These enabled them to grow crops on the lake, as a result of which they were self-sufficient in food. The lake also made the city virtually impregnable: the causeways, when they were completed, could be flooded and the bridges raised to thwart attacks (or escape, as the Spanish found on the Noche Triste).

The island city eventually grew to cover an area of some thirteen square kilometres, much of it reclaimed from the lake, and from this base the Aztecs were able to begin their programme of expansion: initially dominating the valley by a series of strategic alliances, war and treachery, and finally, in a period of less than a hundred years before the brutal Spanish Conquest of 1521, establishing an empire that demanded tribute from, and traded with, the most distant parts of the country. Yet almost nothing of this amazing city survived the Conquest. “All that I saw then,” Bernal Díaz later wrote of his account of Tenochtitlán, “is overthrown and destroyed; nothing is left standing.” It is only relatively recently – particularly during construction of the Metro, and with the 1978 discovery of remains of the Templo Mayor beneath the colonial Zócalo – that a few remains of Tenochtitlán have been brought to light.

The city’s defeat, moreover, is still a harsh memory: Cortés himself is hardly revered, but the natives who assisted him, in particular La Malinche, the Veracruz woman who acted as Cortés’ interpreter, are non-people. Tributes to Moctezuma are rare, though Cuauhtémoc, his successor who led the fierce resistance, is commemorated everywhere; Malinche is represented, acidly, in some of Diego Rivera’s more outspoken murals.

Most visitors to Mexico City head out at some stage to the pre-Columbian pyramids at Teotihuacán: there’s a constant stream of tours, buses and cars heading this way, and the ruins can get quite busy, especially on a Sunday. As it’s an extensive site that can easily take up most of a day, it’s best, if possible, to head out here as early as you can manage and do most of your exploration in the cool of the morning, before the crowds arrive.

The ruins reveal a city planned and built on a massive scale, the great pyramids so huge that before their refurbishment one would have passed them by as hills without a second look. At its height this must have been the most imposing city in pre-Hispanic America, with a population thought to have been around 150,000 (though estimates vary), spread over an area of some 23 square kilometres (as opposed to the four square kilometres of the ceremonial centre). Back then, every building – grey hulks now – would have been covered in bright polychrome murals.

The main entrance, by Puerta 1, is at the southern end of the 2km-long Calzada de los Muertos (Causeway of the Dead), which originally extended 1.5km further south, and formed the axis around which the city developed. A broad roadway some 40m wide and linking all the most significant buildings, it was built to impress, with the low buildings that flank most of its length serving to heighten the impact of the two great pyramid temples at the northern end. Other streets, leading off to the rest of the city, originally intersected it at right angles, and even the Río San Juan was canalized so as not to disturb the symmetry (the bridge that then crossed it would have extended the full width of the street).

Its name is somewhat misleading, as it’s more a series of open plazas linked by staircases than a simple street. Neither is it in any way linked with the dead, although the Aztecs believed the buildings that lined it, then little more than earth-covered mounds, to be the burial places of kings. They are not, and although the exact function of most remains unclear, all obviously had some sacred significance. The design, seen in the many reconstructions, is fairly uniform: low three- or four-storey platforms consisting of vertical panels (tableros) supported by sloping walls. In many cases several are built on top of each other – clearly demonstrated in the Edificios Superpuestos (superimposed buildings) on the left-hand side shortly beyond the river. Here, excavated structures underneath the present level may have been the living quarters of Teotihuacán’s priests.

Directly opposite the entrance at Puerta 1 lies La Ciudadela, the Citadel. This enormous sunken square, surrounded by stepped platforms and with a low square altar in the centre, was the city’s administrative heart, with the houses of its chief priests and nobles arranged around a vast meeting place. Across the open space stands a tall pyramid construction inside which, during excavations, was found the Temple of Quetzalcoatl. With the back of the newer pyramid demolished, the elaborate (Miccaotli phase) temple structure stands revealed. Pyramids aside, this is one of the most impressive sections of the whole site, rising in four steps (of an original six), each sculpted in relief and punctuated at intervals by the stylized heads of Quetzalcoatl, the plumed serpent, and Tlaloc, the rain god. Traces of the original paint can be seen in places.

The great Pirámide del Sol (Pyramid of the Sun) is Teotihuacán’s outstanding landmark, a massive structure 70m high and, of Mexico’s ancient buildings, second in size only to Cholula (itself a total ruin). Its base is almost exactly the same size as that of the great Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt, but the lower-angled sides and its stepped nature make it very much lower. There are wonderful views from the top nonetheless, and the bulk is all the more remarkable when you consider the accuracy of its alignment: on two days a year (May 19 and July 25), the sun is directly over the pyramid at noon, and the main west facade faces the point at which the sun sets on these days. This alignment just off the cardinal points determined the line of the Calzada de los Muertos and of the entire city. Equally remarkable is the fact that the 2.5 million tonnes of stone and earth used in its construction were brought here without benefit of the wheel or any beast of burden, and shaped without the use of metal tools. The pyramid you see was reconstructed by Leopoldo Batres in 1908, in a thoroughly cavalier fashion. He blasted, with dynamite, a structure that originally abutted the south face, and stripped much of the surface in a search for a more complete building under the present one. In fact, the Pirámide del Sol, almost uniquely, was built in one go at a very early stage of the city’s development (about 100 AD), and there is only a very small older temple right at its heart.

You approach the pyramid by a short staircase leading to the right off the Calzada de los Muertos onto a broad esplanade, where stand the ruins of several small temples and priests’ dwellings. The main structure consists of five sloping layers of wall divided by terraces – the large flat area at the top would originally have ebeen surmounted by a sanctuary, long disappeared. Evidence of why this massive structure came to be raised here emerged in 1971 when archeologists stumbled on a tunnel (closed to the public) leading to a clover-leaf-shaped cave directly under the centre of the pyramid.

This, clearly, had been some kind of inner sanctuary, a holy of holies, and may even have been the reason for Teotihuacán’s foundation and the basis of its influence. Theories abound as to its exact nature, and many fit remarkably with legends handed down through the Aztecs. It’s most likely that the cave was formed by a subterranean spring, and came to be associated with Tlaloc, god of rain but also a bringer of fertility, as a sort of fountain of life. Alternatively, it could be associated with the legendary “seven grottoes”, a symbol of creation from which all later Mexican peoples claimed to have emerged, or to have been the site of an oracle, or associated with a cult of sacrifice – in Aztec times the flayed skins of victims of Xipe Totec were stored in a cave under a pyramid.

At the end of the Calzada de los Muertos rises the Pirámide de la Luna (Pyramid of the Moon), a smaller structure built slightly later (but still during the Tzacualli phase), whose top, thanks to the high ground on which it’s built, is virtually on a level with that of the Pirámide del Sol. The structure is very similar, with four sloping levels approached by a monumental stairway, but for some reason this seems a very much more elegant building: perhaps because of the smaller scale, or perhaps as a result of the approach, through the formally laid-out Plaza de la Luna. The top of the pyramid offers the best overview of the site’s layout, looking straight back down the length of the central thoroughfare. It is perfect for sunset, though as it is then close to closing time the guards will soon chase you down.

The Palacio de Quetzalpapálotl (Palace of the Quetzal-butterfly) lies to the left of the Plaza de la Luna, behind the low temples that surround it. Wholly restored, it’s virtually the only example of a pre-Hispanic roofed building in central Mexico and preserves a unique view of how the elite lived at Teotihuacán. The rooms are arranged around a patio whose elaborately carved pillars give the palace its name – their stylized designs represent birds (the brightly coloured quetzals, though some may be owls) and butterflies. In the galleries around the patio several frescoes survive, all very formalized and symbolic. Mural art was clearly very important in Teotihuacán, and almost every building has some decoration, though much has been removed for restoration.

Palacio de los Jaguares and Templo de los Caracoles Emplumados

Two earlier buildings, half-buried under the palace, still have substantial remains. In the Palacio de los Jaguares, jaguars in feathered headdresses blow conch shells from which emerge curls of music, or perhaps speech or prayers to Tlaloc (who appears along the top of the mural); in the Templo de los Caracoles Emplumados (Temple of the Plumed Snail Shells), you see a motif of feathers and seashells along with bright green parrots. Other murals, of which only traces remain, were found in the temples along the Calzada de los Muertos between the two pyramids.

Mural art was not reserved for the priests’ quarters – indeed some of the finest frescoes have been found in outlying apartment buildings. The famous Paradise of Tlaloc mural (reproduced in the Museo Nacional de Antropología) was discovered at Tepantitla, a residential quarter of the old city across the road from the back of the Pirámide del Sol. Only a part of it survives here, but there are others in the complex depicting a procession of priests and a ball-game. All have great vitality and an almost comic-strip quality, with speech bubbles emerging from the figures’ mouths, but their themes always have a religious rather than a purely decorative intent. More can be seen at Tetitla, to the west of the main site, and Atetelco, a little further west, just off the map.

Plan to spend at least some of your time in Teotihuacán’s excellent Museo del Sitio, situated behind the Pirámide del Sol and surrounded by a lovely sculpture and botanical garden. In the first room, artefacts from the site are well laid out and effectively lit to highlight the key features of each item in the cool interior. There’s just about everything you would expect of a ritual site and living city, from sharp-edged obsidian tools and everyday ceramics to some fine polychrome vessels decorated with animal and plant designs, and a series of five ceremonial braziers or censers ornamented with appliqué flowers, butterflies and shields.

Vast windows framing the Pirámide del Sol take up one entire wall of the second room, where you walk across a glass floor over a relief model of the entire city as it might once have been. The glass floor leads you to the third room, where burials from under the Temple of Quetzalcoatl have been relocated, along with statues of gods (often bottom-lit to accentuate the gruesome features), including a trio of braziers carried by the sun god Huitzilopochtli.

The rise and fall of Teotihuacán is almost exactly contemporary with imperial Rome. There is evidence of small agricultural communities in the vicinity dating to around 600 BC; by 200 BC a township had been established on the present site. From then until 1 AD (the period known as the Patlachique phase) the population increased, and the city assumed its most important characteristics: the great pyramids of the Sun and Moon were built, and the Calzada de los Muertos laid out. Development continued through the Tzacualli and Miccaotli phases (1–250 AD) with more construction and the blossoming of artistic expression. Then through the Tlamimilolpa phase (250–450 AD) there is evidence of the city’s influence (in architecture, sculpture and pottery) occurring at sites throughout modern Mexico and into Guatemala and Honduras. From 450 to around 650 AD (Xolalpan phase) it reached its peak in both population and power, with much new building and addition to earlier structures.

By the end of this period, however, there were already signs of decline, and the final phase, the Metepec, lasted at most a century before the city was sacked, burnt and virtually abandoned. This may have been the result of invasion or internal strife, but the underlying reasons could have been as much ecological as military. Vast forests were cut down to build the city (for use in columns, roof supports and door lintels) and huge quantities of wood burnt to make the lime plaster that coated the buildings. The result was severe soil erosion that left the hillsides as barren as they appear today. In addition, the agricultural effort needed to feed so many people (with no form of artificial fertilizer or knowledge of crop rotation) gradually sapped what land remained of its ability to grow more.

Whatever the precise causes, the city was left, eventually, to a ruination that was advanced even by the time of the Aztecs. To them, it represented a holy place from a previous age, and they gave it its present name, which translates as “the place where men became gods”. Although Teotihuacán features frequently in Aztec mythology, there are no written records – what we know of the city is derived entirely from archaeological and artistic evidence, so that even the original name remains unknown.

Allied to Cortés in his struggle against the Aztecs, as well as with colonial Spain in the War of Independence, TLAXCALA , the capital of a tiny state of the same name, has become a byword for treachery. Because of its alliance with Cortés, the town suffered a very different fate from that of nearby Cholula, which aligned itself with the Aztecs, and in the long run this has led to the disappearance of its ancient culture. The Spaniards founded a colonial town here – now restored and very beautiful in much of its original colonial glory, but whether because of its traitorous reputation or simply its isolation, development in Tlaxcala has been limited.

The town lies 131km west of Mexico City and 30km north of Puebla in the middle of a fertile, prosperous-looking upland plain surrounded by rather bare mountains. It’s an exceptionally pretty and much rehabilitated colonial town, comfortable enough but also fairly dull. Most of the interest lies very close to the zócalo, with its cluster of banks, post office and central bandstand, where the terracotta and ochre tones of the buildings lend the city its tag of “ Ciudad Roja ”, the Red City.

The capital of the state of México, TOLUCA DE LERDO is today a large and modern industrial centre, sprawling across a wide plain. At an altitude of nearly 2700m, it is the highest city in the country, and is surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery, dominated by the white-capped Nevado de Toluca . It is probably not a place you’ll want to linger, but on Fridays it is the site of what is allegedly the largest single market in the country.

Unusually for a Mexican city, Toluca’s centre is marked not by an open plaza, but by a central block surrounded on three sides by the nation’s longest series of arcades, built in the 1830s and known as portales , lined with shops, restaurants and cafés: Portal Madero is to the south along Hidalgo; Portal 20 de Noviembre is to the east along Allende; and Portal Reforma is to the west along Bravo. The fourth side is taken up by the nineteenth-century cathedral and, to its east, the mustard-yellow church of Santa Cruz . Most of the central sights are clustered north of the portales and the cathedral, close to the two massive open plazas: Plaza de los Mártires , north of the cathedral, which is dominated on its north side by the Palacio del Gobierno, and to its east, Plaza Garibay , which is rather prettier, with shrubbery and fountains.

The modern city of Tula de Allende lies on the edge of the Valley of México, 50km north of Mexico City. A pleasant enough regional centre with an impressive, if fortress-like, mid-sixteenth-century cathedral and Franciscan monastery, Tula is most notable for its wonderful pre-Hispanic pyramid site, located 2km north of the town centre.

Only a small part of Tula’s archeological site itself is of interest: though the city spreads over some considerable area only some of it has been excavated, and the outlying digs are holes in the ground, meaningful only to the archeologists who created them. The ceremonial centre, however, has been partly restored. The significance of the site is made much clearer if your Spanish is up to translating all the information presented in the museum by the entrance, and filled with fragments of Atlantes, Chac-mools and basalt heads, along with assorted bits of sculpture and frieze.

The site’s centrepiece is the low, five-stepped pyramid of the Templo de Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli (Temple of the Morning Star, or Pyramid B), atop which stand the Atlantes – giant, 5m-tall basalt figures that originally supported the roof of the sanctuary and represent Quetzalcoatl in his guise as the morning star, dressed as a Toltec warrior. The figures wear elaborately embroidered loincloths, sandals and feathered helmets, and sport ornaments around their necks and legs – for protection, each bears a sun-shaped shield on his back and a chest piece in the form of a stylized butterfly. Each also carries an atlatl, or spear-thrower, in his right hand and arrows or javelins in his left.

Other pillars are carved with more warriors and gods. Reliefs such as these are a recurrent theme in Tula: the entire temple was originally faced in sculpted stone, and although it was pillaged long ago you can still see some remnants – prowling jaguars and eagles, symbols of the two great warrior groups, devouring human hearts. In front of the temple is a great L-shaped colonnade, where the partly reconstructed pillars originally supported a huge roof under which, perhaps, the priests and nobles would review their troops or take part in ceremonies in the shade. Part of a long bench survives, with its relief decoration of a procession of warriors and priests. More such benches survive in the Palacio Quemado (Burnt Palace – it was destroyed by fire), next to the temple on the western side. Its three rooms, each a square, were once covered with a small central patio to let light in. The middle one is the best preserved, still with much of its original paint and two Chac-mools.

The main square of the city stood in front (south) of the temple and palace, with a low altar platform in the centre and the now ruinous pyramid of the Templo Mayor on the eastern side. The larger of two ball-courts in the central area is on the western side of the square: although also largely ruined, this marks one of the closest links between Tula and Chichén Itzá, as it is of identical shape and orientation to the great ball-court there. To the north of the temple stands the Coatepantli (Serpent Wall), elaborately carved in relief with images of human skeletons being eaten by giant snakes; beyond this, across an open space, there’s a second ball-court, smaller but in better order.

In legend at least, the mantle of Teotihuacán fell on Tollan, or Tula, as the next great power to dominate Mexico. The Aztecs regarded the city they constructed as the successor to Tula and hence embellished its reputation – the streets, they said, had been paved with gold and the buildings constructed from precious metals and stones, while the Toltecs, who founded Tula, were regarded as the inventors of every science and art. In reality, it seems unlikely that Tula was ever as large or as powerful a city as Teotihuacán had been – or as Tenochtitlán was to become – and its period of dominance (about 950–1150 AD) was relatively short. Yet all sorts of puzzles remain about the Toltec era, and in particular their apparent connection with the Yucatán – much of the architecture at Chichén Itzá, for example, appears to have been influenced by the Toltecs. Few people believe that the Toltecs actually had an empire that stretched so far: however warlike (and the artistic evidence is that Tula was a grimly militaristic society, heavily into human sacrifice), they would have lacked the manpower, resources or any logical justification for such expansion.

One possible answer lies in the legends of Quetzalcoatl. Adopted from Teotihuacán, the plumed serpent attained far more importance here in Tula, where he is depicted everywhere. At some stage Tula apparently had a ruler identified with Quetzalcoatl who was driven from the city by the machinations of the evil god Texcatlipoca, and the theory goes that this ruler, defeated in factional struggles within Tula, fled with his followers, eventually reaching Maya territory, where they established a new Toltec regime at Chichén Itzá. Though popular for a long time, this hypothesis has now fallen out of fashion following finds at Chichén Itzá that seem to undermine it.

West from Toluca, the road towards Morelia and the state of Michoacán is truly spectacular. Much of this wooded, mountainous area – as far as Zitácuaro – is given over to villas inhabited at weekends by wealthy refugees from the capital, and nowhere more so than at the small lakeside town of VALLE DE BRAVO. Set in a deep, pine-clad valley, the town sits on the eastern shore of an artificial lake, Lago Avandaro. With terracotta-tiled roofs, iron balconies affixed to many of the older buildings and a mass of whitewashed houses all huddled together, it is an immediately appealing place, something that has drawn a coterie of artistic refugees from the big city. They mostly keep to themselves, leaving the water’s edge for weekenders who descend for upmarket relaxation: boat trips, sailing, swimming, waterskiing, riding, paragliding, hiking and golf.

The zócalo, ringed with restaurants and centred on a twin-towered church, sits on a rise a fifteen-minute walk from the waterfront, where most of the action is centred, and sees spectacular sunsets. Here there’s a wharf ( embarcadero ) from which you can take boat rides to the parts of the lake inaccessible by road: either rent one, or join a lancha colectiva .

Valle de Bravo is a good base for visiting the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary areas in the State of Mexico, which receive fewer visitors than those over the state line in Michoacán, and are more unspoilt, if less scenic. The easiest sanctuary area to visit from Valle de Bravo is at Los Saucos, whose gate is right on a main road and served by hourly buses between Valle de Bravo and Mexico City – make sure you get on a “por Saucos” bus. There are also organized tours every day in season, which can be booked through the tourist office or the tourist information kiosks in Valle de Bravo. Cerro Pelón, which is considered by many to be the prettiest of all the butterfly sanctuary areas, is slightly more remote, but can be reached on hourly Tepascelptepec-bound buses from Valle de Bravo.

The floating gardens adjoining the suburb of Xochimilco offer an intense carnival atmosphere every weekend and are likely to be one of your most memorable experiences of the city. Considerable effort has been expended in recent years to clean up the canals and maintain the water levels that had been dropping here, so Xochimilco (“place of the flower fields” in Náhuatl) looks set to remain the most popular Sunday outing for thousands of Mexicans. It’s also the one place where you get some feel for the ancient city and its water-borne commerce, thriving markets and dazzling colour – or at least an idealized view of it. Rent any of the colourful boats and you’ll be ferried around many kilometres of canals, continually harangued by women selling flowers, fruit and hot food from tiny canoes, or even by larger vessels bearing marimba players and entire mariachi bands who, for a small fee, will grapple alongside you and blast out a couple of numbers. The floating gardens themselves are no more floating than the Titanic : following the old Aztec methods of making the lake fertile, these chinampas are formed by a raft of mud and reeds, firmly rooted to the bottom by the plants. The scene now appears like a series of canals cut through dry land, but the area is still a very important gardening and flower-producing centre for the city. If you wander the streets of Xochimilco town you’ll find garden centres everywhere, with wonderful flowers and fruit in the market that enlivens the town centre for much of Saturday (though whether it’s healthy to eat food raised on these dirty waters is open to question).

Off the huge central plaza is the lovely sixteenth-century church of San Bernardino , full on Sundays with a succession of people paying homage and leaving offerings at one of its many chapels; in the plaza itself there are usually bands playing or mime artists entertaining the crowds.

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updated 26.04.2021

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4 Days in Mexico City: Epic Itinerary and Travel Guide

Mexico City 4 day travel itinerary for the best trip.

Mexico City is a unique place. Not only is it huge, being the largest city in North America, but it’s also packed full of history, amazing restaurants and tons of fun things to do. While you could easily live in Mexico City for months and never run out of things to do, for a first trip, I recommend 4-5 days. This is enough time to get a feel for the city and experience many of the wonderful attractions, restaurants and historical sites that it has to offer. Let’s get right into your 4 day Mexico City itinerary and travel guide. 

Note: these days are packed pretty full of activities! 4 days is a good amount of time for a first trip to CDMX, but because there’s so much to do and see, this itinerary is pretty busy. The good news is, it’s totally customizable, so it’s easy to take things out if you want more low-key days, or if you decide you want to spend more time at any of the stops!

Where to Stay in Mexico City

There are many great neighborhoods to stay in when visiting Mexico City. My favorite is definitely Roma Norte, followed closely by Coyoacan, Polanco and Condesa. The Historic Center, Centro Historico, while fun to visit, isn’t necessarily where I’d recommend basing yourself. This is just my personal preference, but I found the other neighborhoods to be nicer and quieter with just as much to do and even better restaurants and cafes. 

Hotels in Mexico City:  

  • NaNa Vida CDMX – Roma Norte 
  • ULIV Colima – Roma Norte
  • Brick Hotel Mexico City – Roma Norte
  • W Mexico City – Polanco 
  • Pug Seal Allan Poe – Polanco
  • Casa Tuna – Coyoacán
  • H21 Hospedaje Boutique – Coyoacán 

Hostels in Mexico City   

  • Casa Pepe – Historic Center 
  • Viajero CDMX Centro Hostel – Historic Center
  • Casa Pancha – Condesa 

Itinerary for 4 Days in Mexico City

Note: This day involves quite a bit of walking. Instead of walking between stops, Ubers and DiDis (ride share app) are available and inexpensive. Just be aware that with traffic you may spend the same amount of time in a car that you would walking between destinations. 

On your first day in Mexico City I recommend exploring the Centro Historico and Zocalo. Hop in an Uber or DiDi and get ready for a fun morning. 

Enjoy Breakfast at a Delicious Cafe 

Start your day at Cafe Regina for a delicious coffee and breakfast. This cafe is located on a pedestrian only street and is a wonderful place to grab a quick meal. From Cafe Regina, you’re close to many of the major attractions in the Centro Historico. 

Note: Farmacia Internacional is another amazing place to grab coffee or breakfast, and it’s very close to the next stop on the day’s itinerary – just 6 minutes walking to Mercado de la Ciudadela. 

Cafe Regina, Historic Center, Mexico City.

Wander Through Mercado de la Ciudadela

From Cafe Regina, walk 15 minutes to Mercado de la Ciudadela. On the way, Mercado San Juan is also worth a quick walk through. 

This is my favorite market in Mexico City! In Mercado de la Ciudadela, you’ll find tons of artisan items, handicrafts, jewelry and other souvenirs. I found this market to be much less crowded than other markets in the area, and most of the vendors were so kind. Mercado de la Ciudadela is also a great place for photography. It’s colorful, bright and a fun place to snap some photos. I recommend going early, right when it opens at 10am. 

Mercado de la Ciudadela, Historic Center, Mexico City.

Visit the Palacio de Bellas Artes 

From Mercado de la Ciudadela take a 15 minute walk to the beautiful Palacio de Bellas Artes. This cultural center is absolutely stunning and, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful buildings in Mexico City.  

Take in the Views from the the 8th Floor of Sears 

If you want even more beautiful views of the Palacio de Bellas Artes, head across the street to Sears Department Store. Head to the 8th floor and you’ll find the Finca Don Porfirio coffee shop with absolutely breathtaking views of the Palacio de Bellas Artes. 

 Finca Don Porfirio opens at 11am, and I recommend being there as close to opening as possible to avoid a long wait. The coffee at Finca Don Porfirio is pretty good and it is 100% worth it for the views. 

Palacio de Bellas Artes Mexico City, view from Sears Department Store Cafe.

OPTIONAL: Pasteleria Ideal and Mirador Torre Latino 

If you’re still hungry, or have room for a little snack, walk over to Pasteleria Ideal – just 5 minutes from Sears. This famous pastry shop is known for their incredible variety of inexpensive pastries. It’s fun to walk through and pick up a few sweet treats. 

After securing your treats, head over to the Mirador Torre Latino, but only if it’s a clear day. If it’s cloudy, you won’t have good views. There is often a line for Mirador Torre Latino, so I’ve added this as an optional stop. It’s 160 Pesos per person to enter, so it’s definitely affordable. If you enjoy viewpoints, and it’s a nice day, then this is probably worth the stop. 

Check out the House of Tiles (Casa de los Azulejos )

From Sears or Mirador Torre Latino, take the one minute walk to the beautiful 18th century House of Tiles. This beautiful building reminds me so much of Portugal, and it’s a great place to snap some photos. The interior of the building is equally beautiful, and is home to a Sanborns restaurant. While the food at Sanborns, a chain restaurant, isn’t necessarily fantastic, the ambiance is lovely and it’s a beautiful place to have a drink and appetizer. 

House of Tiles, Historic Center, Mexico City.

Shop along Francisco I. Madero Avenue

After visiting the House of Tiles, you’re just one street away from Francisco I. Madero Avenue, a pedestrian-only shopping street that will take you right to the Zócalo, Mexico City’s main square. The Zócalo has roots and visible ruins that date back to the Aztecs!

Check out the Beautiful Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral

This Cathedral is one of the focal points of the Zocalo. The cathedral is truly beautiful inside and out and it’s definitely worth a visit. It’s free to enter, but you can leave donations or purchase candles to light. 

Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral.

Explore the Templo Mayor Museum

This museum is fascinating. Located just behind the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, the Templo Mayor Museum showcases archeological finds and ruins from the Aztec civilization. The museum is just 90 pesos to enter and free entry is available for children, students and  teachers. If you don’t have time to visit the entire museum, there is a terrace area that is free to visit. From the terrace, you can view some of the ruins, and they are so interesting to see. 

Templo Mayor Museum, Historic Center, CDMX.

Grab a Drink at a Rooftop Bar 

After exploring the Historic Center of Mexico City, start your evening with a drink on a rooftop bar overlooking the Zocalo. 

A great option is on the roof of Librería Porrúa, a bookstore in the Centro Historico. On the roof of the bookstore you’ll find a casual rooftop bar with beautiful views, as well as the El Mayor restaurant. The bar is a great place to enjoy a drink and watch the sunset. 

In addition to the bar on the rooftop of Librería Porrúa, Terazza Catederal (located on the 6th floor of Hostel Mundo Joven)  is another great rooftop bar to check out with views of the Zocalo. 

Views of the Templo Mayor from Librería Porrúa, CDMX.

Have Dinner at Cafe de Tacuba

Cafe de Tacuba is one of the oldest restaurants in Mexico City, opening its doors in 1912. Just a quick walk from the Zocalo, it’s right in the hustle and bustle of the Centro Historico. The restaurant is a former convent, and to honor the building’s history, the waitresses are dressed as nuns. The decor in Cafe de Tacuba is truly beautiful, with its colonial architecture, art and stained glass windows. To make it even better, in the evenings a mariachi band plays. Overall, it’s a wonderful place to have dinner. 

They have a wide selection of traditional Mexican dishes on their menu, including numerous vegetarian options. 

Cafe de Tacuba, Historic Center, CDMX.

End Your Day with Churros at Churreria el Moro

A trip to Mexico City certainly isn’t complete without visiting Churreria el Moro – a favorite since 1935. The original Churreria el Moro is still open today, just a 10 minute walk from Cafe de Tacuba, in the Historic Center. 

There will likely be a line for these delicious churros, but it’s definitely worth the wait. I recommend eating in, instead of doing take out, so you can admire the beautiful interior. The blue and white tiles and design are a beautiful piece of history.  Be sure to also get some hot chocolate to dip the delicious churros in – it’s the best combination. 

Churreria el Moro, Mexico City.

Start your Day at a Cafe in Roma Norte  

There are tons of great coffee shops in the Roma Norte area. Pick any of them to start off your day and enjoy a coffee and some breakfast. There are so many great cafes to choose from, but a few of my favorites include: 

  • An adorable, old world style cafe. This is a great place to have a relaxing breakfast before a full day of exploring. Cafe Nin opens at 7am. 
  • A bookstore with an indoor/outdoor cafe and multiple locations. They don’t open until 10am, but it’s a great place to have brunch. 
  • A beautiful, elegant cafe with both indoor and outdoor seating. The ambiance is relaxing and they have a wonderful menu. They serve a variety of beautiful coffee drinks. 
  • This bakery has become TikTok famous, so there will likely be a line for their delicious pastries. If you don’t want to wait for a table, there’s also a take out line. Whether you eat in or takeaway, be sure to try their guava roll pastry! 
  • With three locations in the Roma area, Qūentin Café serves delicious coffee and pastries. This is a great stop for a quick coffee and breakfast before a day of exploring. 

Cafebreria el Pendulo, Roma, Mexico City.

Note: if you prefer to go on a guided bus tour that includes most of the day’s activities as well as transportation, check out the below options. Just keep in mind that they are large bus tours that offer limited flexibility. 

  • Xochimilco, Coyoacán and Frida Kahlo Museum Tour
  • Xochimilco & Coyoacán Private Tour
  • Xochimilco, Coyoacán and Frida Kahlo Museum Private Tour

Take a Ride on a Trajinera in Xochimilco 

Taking a trajinera boat ride in the Xochimilco neighborhood is one of the most iconic things to do in Mexico City. These colorful, rowed boats (gondola style), are taken through a system of canals. While on the trajineras, you can purchase food, drinks and souviners from other floating boats (how cool right??) You can even hire a mariachi band to perform and they’ll come (literally jump) onto your boat to play a few songs. 

The trajineras boats in Xochimilco, Mexico City.

Important things to know about the Trajineras:

The trajineras are open from 9am-6pm daily. I recommend going in the morning, on a weekday if possible, as the trajineras get very, very busy and you can get stuck in boat traffic. 

Trajineras are BYOB (you can also bring snacks), which is a great way to save money. If you don’t want to pack snacks, no problem, you can purchase tons of items from vendors in boats along the canals. 

Each trajinera can fit up to 20 people, so grab some friends and split the cost! 

You can rent a trajinera for as long as you’d like, but a great amount of time is 1.5 hours (this is also, often, the minimum). In 1.5 hours you can have a lot of fun, but still save time for other sightseeing and other activities during the rest of the day. 

From downtown Mexico City (Roma Norte, Centro Historico, etc), an Uber ride will be anywhere from 1 hour to 1 hour and 45 minutes each way. Ubers will likely cost anywhere from $10-$14 each way.

How to get to Xochimilco

While you can Uber to Xochimilco and find a trajinera on your own, this can be stressful. To start, there is very limited cell service in Xochimilco, therefore calling an Uber can be difficult. Second, unless you speak Spanish, or are great at bargaining, you will likely pay way more than the standard $600 peso per hour rate. 

While it is more expensive, I recommend a guided tour – especially if you’re in a smaller group. This will make the experience less stressful and easier to navigate. The downsides to tours, however, is that they are less flexible with timing and more expensive. Additionally, many tour providers combine the trajineras in Xochimilco with other activities, like visiting Coyoacan. This can be good for some travelers, but others prefer to explore Coyoacan on their own. In the end, it is all up to your personal preference as a traveler and how you prefer to spend the day.

Xochimilco Tours:

  • Includes transportation and pick-up in Mexico City! 
  • Includes transportation to Xochimilco, but not back to CDMX. 
  • Xochimilco and Mexican Fiesta

Head to the Coyoacán Neighborhood

Coyoacan is about 55-60 minutes from Xochimilco. You’ll spend the rest of the day exploring this area. 

Visit the Frida Kahlo Museum 

Make sure you book timed tickets in advance for the Frida Kahlo Museum , spots fill up quickly. This is one of the most popular museums in Mexico City. La Casa Azul (The Blue House, aka the Frida Kahlo Museum) is located just a few minute’s walk from the center of Coyoacan. 

La Casa Azul was Frida Kahlo’s home, where she was born, grew up, lived with her husband Diego Rivera, and later, died. Now, the house is a museum dedicated to her art and incredible life.  

Frida Kahlo Museum, La Casa Azul, Coyoacan, Mexico City.

Wander Through Mercado Coyoacán (Coyoacán Market)

Not far from La Casa Azul, Mercado Coyocan is a local market that features souvenirs, artisan items, fresh produce and local food. It’s a fun market to walk through and do some shopping, grab a quick snack, or just enjoy the atmosphere. 

Coyoacan Market, Mexico City.

Visit the Artisan Market in Jardin Allende Park 

Directly across the street from Mercado Coyoacan, you’ll find Jardin Allende park. On the weekends, this park turns into an art market, where local artists sell their work. This was one of my favorite stops in Coyoacan. You’ll find beautiful art and it’s a great experience to be able to talk with the artists about their work.

Jardin de Allende, Coyoacan, weekend artisan market.

Relax in Jardin Centenario 

After a full day of activities, a short rest in Jardin Centenario, Coyoacan’s main square, is needed. Admire the beautiful Parroquia San Juan Bautista (Catholic Church), the Coyote Fountain, the colorful COYOACAN letters, and the beautiful Alcaldía Coyoacán (town hall). 

This town center is so beautiful and there is always a ton going on. Surrounding the town square there are also a great variety of shops, restaurants and cafes to pop into. 

Jardin Centenario, Coyoacan, Mexico City.

Have Dinner in Coyoacán or Juarez 

If you’d like to stay in Coyoacan for dinner, there are some great restaurants to check out. 

La Coyoacana is a fun pick with mariachi music and an outdoor courtyard. TIP: if you choose La Coyoacana make sure you get a seat in the courtyard, the ambiance is much more fun and lively, and the decor is more beautiful. On the menu you’ll find a variety of traditional Mexican dishes with a few vegetarian options. 

One thing to note about La Coyoacana, although the overall experience was good, the service is pretty poor. Don’t let that stop you from dining there, just don’t expect excellent (or even very good) service. They don’t take reservations, so there may be a wait for a table.

Other restaurants to check out in Coyoacan: 

  • Los Danzantes
  • Corazon de Maguey

Elly’s Restaurant in Juarez 

If you’re willing to take an Uber to Juarez, 30-40 minutes from Coyoacan, Elly’s restaurant is one of my favorites in Mexico City. Although a little far from Coyoacan, if you’re staying in or near the Roma Norte neighborhood, this restaurant isn’t too far away (10-15 minutes by Uber.)

Elly’s restaurant feels like somewhere you’d find in NYC (in a good way). Interestingly, they describe themselves as “Elly’s es dónde la Ciudad de México y Nueva York se encuentran” – Elly’s is where Mexico City and New York City meet. 

Their menu is unique and delicious (including a fun variety of cocktails!) and the Mediterranean inspired dishes were some of the best food I had in Mexico City. The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated, very chic and modern, and, overall, it’s a fantastic place to have a meal. If you can, I recommend making reservations in advance. 

Ellys Restaurant, Juarez, Mexico City.

Take a Half-Day Trip to Teotihuacan

Located about an hour (30 miles) outside of Mexico City, Teotihuacan is an impressive pre-Hispanic archeology site dating back thousands of years. Interestingly, it is still unknown who the original inhabitants of this impressive city were. It is known, however, that Teotihuacan was one of the largest and most important cities in the Americas during its peak. 

Teotihuacan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the pyramids, ruins and plazas are incredibly impressive. Among the most notable sites, you’ll find the Pyramid of the Sun, connected to the Pyramid of the Moon via the impressive Avenue of the Dead. 

Teotihuacan, Mexico City. Visiting the pyramids.

To visit Teotihuacan you have a couple options : 

The first is to go on your own in an Uber (or on the bus if you’re close to the bus station.) An Uber/DiDi to Teotihuacan should cost around $20-35 USD each way. 

Once you’ve arrived, there will be tons of tour guides who approach you offering their services. Some will offer to show you just around Teotihuacan, and others will offer services to other ruins and local tequila tasting spots. If you don’t want a guided tour, simply walk to the entrance and pay 80 pesos to enter. From there, you can walk around and read the signs to learn about the interesting history of the city.

If you choose to hire a tour guide on site, expect to pay around $50 USD for a 1-2 hour long tour. You will  likely need to negotiate these prices, but with a tour guide you really do learn more about the ancient city and its history. 

One important thing to note is that  the cell service at Teotihuacan isn’t great, so it can be a little difficult to call/meet up with your Uber for the ride back. 

Option 2: Go on a Guided Tour with Transportation  

This option is more expensive, and offers less flexibility, but it is less stressful. There are a plethora of tours to choose from that include different stops and activities. 

Teotihuacan Tour Options:

  • Teotihuacan: Private Tour From Mexico City
  • Teotihuacan Express Private Tour from Mexico City
  • Teotihuacan, Tlatelolco, Guadalupe Shrine and Tequila Tasting Tour
  • I wasn’t able to do this on my last trip, but it is item #1 on my list next time I’m in CDMX.  
  • This option doesn’t include a guided tour of Teotihuacan, but is instead a view of the archeological site from the hot air balloon. 

Eat Lunch at La Gruta  

If you decide to visit Teotihuacan on your own, or if you have free time on your guided tour, head over to La Gruta (The Cave) for lunch. This unique restaurant is located in a cave just a few minute’s walk from Teootihuacan entrance 5, behind the Pyramid of the Sun.

To enter La Gruta you’ll walk downstairs into a semi-exposed, decorated cave – and it is truly a unique place to dine on pre-Hispanic influenced food. It’s a touristy destination, but one that makes for a very unique experience. 

Note: La Gruta gets very busy, so make reservations ahead of time. 

La Gruta restaurant, Teotihuacan, Mexico City.

Enjoy an Early Dinner  

Depending on what time you get back from Teotihuacan, it will likely be time to start getting ready for dinner and Lucha Libre! 

Azul Historico  

Located in the Historic Center of CDMX, Azul Historico is one of the most famous and popular restaurants in the city. Located in the Downtown Hotel, this 17th-Century open air courtyard is a stunning place to dine. They have a large menu with a good selection of vegetarian options. 

Azul Historico books up quickly, so advanced reservations are recommended. 

Plantasia 

Plantasia , located in Roma Norte, is plant-based, but don’t let that deter you, it’s so good! The menu focuses on Asian inspired dishes and everything I tried was so delicious. 

The restaurant itself is beautifully designed in a minimalist, modern style with some sunken tables and tons of greenery. This was one of my favorite meals in Mexico City. 

Watch a Lucha Libre Fight 

Watching a Lucha Libre fight while in Mexico City is such a fun experience! Even if you’re not a fan of professional/performative wrestling, the matches are fun to watch and such a unique experience. 

Lucha Libre fighters (luchadores) wear colorful masks and their wrestling routines are planned and choreographed in advance. As such, there’s almost always a predetermined winner. There are both male and female fighters who perform in matches throughout the evening. 

Lucha Libre fights often tell a story that the announcer shares with the crowd throughout the fights. If you don’t speak Spanish, you won’t fully understand the stories, but you’ll definitely get the gist from watching. Even if you don’t understand the commentators, the fights are still fun to watch. 

In the stadium you can buy drinks, beer and snacks to enjoy while watching the fights.

Lucha Libre isn’t boxing (I was worried about this beforehand), so no one is actually getting hurt. It’s all staged to be a fun performance. 

The matches take place Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays at Arena Mexico at 7:30pm, and tickets start as low as $7 USD. Good(ish) seats will cost anywhere from $10-$15 USD and the best seats will go for $25 or more. 

The fights usually last about 2-3 hours, but I ended up leaving after about 1.5. I’m very happy I went, and had a lot of fun, but that was long enough for me! 

You can book tickets on Ticketmaster , but make sure you’re getting them for Arena Mexico.

Lucha Libre fight, Mexico City.

NOTE: Lucha Libre fights, at Arena Mexico, are located not far from Roma Norte or el Centro Historico. However, it’s important to note that the fight is held in the Doctores neighborhood, which is regarded as one of CDMX’s most unsafe areas. 

Ubering to/from the match is absolutely safe, especially because it’s such a big tourist attraction, but I wouldn’t recommend walking there – especially if it’s a long distance. 

If you prefer to go with a tour group, there are many options available:

  • Lucha Libre Experience and Mezcal Tasting
  • Lucha Libre Experience in Mexico City

Check Out a Cute Breakfast Spot 

After breakfast, hop in an Uber or take the 45ish minute walk to Chapultepec Castle and the Anthropology Museum. 

Note: these museums, along with tons of others, are located in the beautiful Bosque de Chapultepec (Chapultepec Forest). Bosque de Chapultepec is a 1,700 acre park area that houses museums, playgrounds, bathrooms, green spaces and lakes. It is beautiful and makes for a great place to spend the day exploring. 

Explore the National History Museum, Chapultepec Castle 

Chapultepec Castle is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Mexico City. The castle was built in 1785 and has served a variety of purposes throughout history, including the Presidential home, a military school, and its current use, the National Museum of History. 

The museum showcases artifacts and art from different eras throughout Mexico’s history. In addition to the interesting exhibits, the castle itself is beautiful inside and out. From its balconies and terraces you have amazing views of downtown Mexico City. Make sure you give yourself at least an hour and half to explore this museum. 

Note: Chapultepec Castle is closed Mondays, and entrance is approximately $4 USD. 

Chapultepec Castle, History Museum, Mexico City.

Visit the National Museum of Anthropology 

From Chapultepec Castle, take the 20 minute walk to the National Museum of Anthropology . This is a beautiful walk through a lovely park area where you’ll pass by a variety of museums. On the way you’ll see the Modern Art Museum , the Botanical Gardens , and the Contemporary Art Museum , just to name a few. 

You’ll also pass by stands selling food and drinks if you’d like to pick up a snack before spending a couple hours at the Anthropology Museum. 

This museum is both the largest and most visited in Mexico, and with good reason, it is so well organized and interesting. The museum has 23 exhibits that explore Mexico’s history and ancient civilizations, including popular exhibits about the Mayans and Aztecs. 

There are so many interesting artifacts to see and, in addition, the museum features impressive recreations of anthropological sites. You could easily spend a full day here and not see everything, but  for a first visit I recommend at least two hours. 

Entrance to the National Museum of Anthropology is around $4.50 USD and is open Tuesday-Sunday. You can buy tickets in advance online, or at the door when you arrive. 

Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City.

Go Shopping in Polanco 

From the Anthropology Museum, take the 15-20 minute walk to Polanco. You can also Uber, but it will almost certainly be just as fast to walk. 

Polanco is an upscale neighborhood known for its shopping. On the main shopping street, Avenida Presidente Masaryk, you’ll find tons of luxury stores and brands. In addition to the designer stores, you’ll also find more affordable options like Zara and The North Face. 

It’s easy to spend a couple hours wandering around Polanco, grabbing a coffee in a cafe, and enjoying the shops. Be sure to also stop by Tane Jewelry Store to check out their “Mexico Mi Amor” wall – it’s a great photo stop. 

Mexico Mi Amor wall at Tane Jewelry Store in Polanco, Mexico City.

Relax and People Watch in Parque Lincoln 

Parque Lincoln is a great place to stop and relax after a few hours of shopping. Here you’ll find tons of dogs, nice shaded areas and a small pond where kids race model boats,

Enjoy a Fancy Dinner  in Polanco

For your last night in Mexico City, Polanco is a great place to be as it’s home to a number of well known restaurants. The  most famous is Pujol , which was named by the Wall Street Journal as the best restaurant in Mexico City – so it’s definitely worth a visit, if you can get a reservation. 

Could I get a reservation when I was in Mexico City? Unfortunately, no. However, this restaurant came recommended by so many of my friends and fellow travelers, that I still wanted to include it in this post. You will likely need to make a reservation at least 6 weeks to 2 months in advance.  

If you can’t get a reservation at Pujol, don’t worry, there’s many other great restaurants in the Polanco area.

Restaurants in Polanco: 

  • Comedor Jacinta   

Polanco is known for being an expensive area and many of the restaurants are definitely on the pricey side. However, there are certainly more affordable options as well. 

  • El Turix – a hole in the wall taco stand featured in Bon Appetit  
  • Cafe Toscano
  • La Casa de Toño (a popular chain) 

4 days in Mexico City will fly by! The city is packed full of such fun and unique things to do, see and eat. I hope this CDMX itinerary has been helpful and please let me know if you have any questions. 

Other posts to check out:

  • Your Go To Mexico Packing Guide: FREE Printable Packing List for Mexico
  • What to Wear in Mexico – Vacation Lookbook and Outfit Inspiration

Things to Know When Visiting Mexico City

  • The short answer is yes. Mexico City is safe to visit, but like with any major city you need to be aware of your surroundings and belongings. The major touristy areas are very safe to explore and walk around in, but if you ever feel nervous, Uber instead of walking.
  • While more expensive than other areas in Mexico, Mexico City is still extremely affordable. It’s a great place for budget travelers as food, activities, accommodations and transportation are all very affordable.
  • I did and it was totally fine. If you’re nervous about the water quality, however, many travelers use bottled water to brush their teeth.
  • For a first trip you’ll want at least 4 days. However, Mexico City is huge and full of things to do, so you could easily spend weeks exploring!
  • In major stores and restaurants, yes. But always carry pesos for buying street food, souvenirs and for other small purchases.

Travel guide and itinerary for 4 days in CDMX.

Note: This guide to 4 days in Mexico includes affiliate links. Read our disclosure  here .

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A local’s guide to Mexico City

  • By Issa Plancarte
  • Photos by Alicia Vera

One of the largest urban centers in the world, Mexico City overflows with life, traffic and great food. It’s a city of contrasts, a place where you’ll find street vendors and world-class fine dining on the same block. There’s always something happening, a new restaurant to try, a new museum or art exhibit, a concert from artists who travel from around the globe.

Residents are known as “chilangos,” and while the roots of that nickname have been scrutinized, many of us carry it with pride. It’s like a badge that means we can endure anything. Even though it rains most afternoons from June to October, we never carry an umbrella. We take long drives to work, eat quick lunches and stretch out long chats with post-meal coffee and desserts. At this sobremesa, or roundtable, there is always room for a carajillo, a coffee spiked with sweet liqueur. We are loud, warm and friendly. We love to show off our city.

Meet Issa Plancarte

Issa is a food writer who was born and raised in Mexico City. She loves to travel new places, find stories and write for magazines.

Want to get in touch?

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  • Phone 011-52-55-5578-2001 Phone
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  • The best time to visit is in spring, when the whole area is full of trees with purple jacarandas flowers in full bloom. It is so pretty.
  • Lunch time is at 2 p.m., which is why our breakfast is humongous. Dinner on the contrary is really light. We prefer to go out for drinks and finish with late-night tacos.
  • We are well known as an unpunctual people, so be ready to wait 15 to 30 minutes for any appointment. Sorry.
  • Phone 011-52-55-5616-0082 Phone
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CITY GUIDES

Mexico City Travel 2024: The Complete Guide

travel guide to mexico city

Traveling to Mexico City? You're going to have an amazing time, but we know you've got questions. Luckily, we’re here to help.

Here’s the guide to everything you need to know about Mexico City travel in 2024, with information on safety, transportation, and budget, plus tips on where to eat, neighborhoods to explore, and what to pack (and so, so much more).  Any questions after reading? You can always feel free to message us !

Want to explore Mexico differently?  Have a local plan your trip .

You probably don’t need a visa

Got a passport? Then you’re ready to go to Mexico City. Americans traveling to Mexico can spend 180 days in-country on a standard tourist visa (aka the normal stamp you get at the airport). The same goes for citizens of any country on this list .

You don't need a visa for Mexico City travel

You most likely have all your necessary vaccines already

As long as you’re up to date on routine vaccinations, you’re good to go! If you’re planning on traveling way into the countryside, the CDC recommends getting the hepatitis A and typhoid vaccines (which most people already have) in case of bad food or water.

The tap water isn’t great, so drink bottled instead

The tap water in Mexico City is, shall we say, dicey. Unless you have an iron stomach, it’s much safer to just buy bottled—it’s quite cheap anyway, almost always less than a dollar. In restaurants, you can ask for agua or filtered water. Most Mexicans don’t drink the tap water either, so you won’t have any problems there. Ice in drinks is likely fine since it’s usually made with filtered water, but if you’re super-concerned you can always ask for drinks without ice ( sin ).

Pro tip: You *can* brush your teeth with tap water, but you have to be careful not to swallow. It’s easier/safer to just use bottled water for this, too.

The exchange rate is excellent

$1 USD converts to about 19.3 Mexican pesos (hello, one dollar beers!). With that in mind, it’s super easy to keep meals under ten dollars—especially if you’re indulging in street food (which you definitely should be). How far will your money go? Let’s put it this way—you can buy a big water bottle for (much) less than a Big Mac.

Pro tip: The Mexican peso (Mex$) is Mexico’s unit of currency. That said, it uses the same symbol ($) as the US dollar. Don’t let this confuse will see the “$” sign on menus etc., but it indicates the price in pesos, not in dollars!

Lots of places are cash-only, but ATMs are common

Be sure to have plenty of pesos in your pocket—lots of places in Mexico City are cash-only. To be safe, withdraw money from an ATM in a bank (or at the airport) rather than on the street. And be sure to let your bank know about your travel so they don’t put a hold on your account.

Just make sure to tip!

Tipping culture is so different around the world, it can be confusing to know what’s normal. In Mexico, a 10% tip is fairly standard. For excellent service, you can tip between 15–20%. A lot of places are cash only, so just leave bills or coins on the table. Check out this guide to tipping in Mexico City for more info.

Mexico City is actually really safe—all you have to do is stay aware

Safety is one of the biggest concerns people have before traveling to Mexico City. While it’s true that certain parts of the country should be avoided, Mexico City itself is quite safe . All you have to do is take the same precautions you’d take anywhere else.

People can walk around safely during Mexico City travel

In fact, the US State Department puts Mexico City in the same safety risk category as the UK and France . If you feel good about traveling to London or Paris, then you’ll be absolutely fine in Mexico City.

If you still have questions, here are some helpful tips for keeping safe:

  • Be careful with cash and valuables. This is just common sense. Don’t flash a lot of cash, and leave valuables at home. By far the #1 crime in Mexico City is pickpocketing.
  • Drink bottled water. Drinking water in Mexico City is not safe. Buy bottles of water instead—they’re cheap, and anyway, peace of mind is priceless.
  • Avoid “bad” areas. Is with any other city, there are definitely some parts of Mexico City you’ll want to avoid. We’ll get into that later, and you can always chat with a local to discuss which areas are safe and which aren’t.
  • Know emergency numbers in Mexico City. This one is easy! Mexico recently transitioned to using 911 for emergencies .
  • Take Uber. Uber is everywhere in Mexico City, and it’s a safe and easy way to get around, especially at night. Avoid unmarked taxis (or, really, taxis , but we’ll get into that later as well). Uber is easy because you won’t have to use a lot of Spanish. Plus, it’s really cheap—just a couple of dollars.
  • Learn some Spanish. Knowing how to say basic phrases in Spanish will go a long way.
  • Get local recommendations . Mexico City is full of locals who want you to have a fun, authentic stay in their hometown. Ask them for advice on keeping safe.

Zika isn’t a risk in Mexico City

Zika is a risk in Mexico as a whole, but Mexico City is considered safe from Zika . Why? Mosquitos are almost never found at elevations above 6,500 feet—and Mexico City is at such a high elevation (roughly 7,400 feet) that mosquitos are very, very rare. No mosquitos=no Zika. If Zika is still a concern, though, you can always chat with your doctor.

Neighborhoods

Mexico city full of amazing neighborhoods.

Mexico City is packed with incredible neighborhoods , or colonias  as they're locally known—over 350. Here are some of the ones you need to explore:

Centro Historico: Mexico City’s historic downtown center is full of beautiful plazas, fantastic colonial architecture, and plenty of delicious food. It can be sketchy at night, though, especially if you wander away from the more popular areas.

Roma and Condesa : Roma, and its sister neighborhood, Condesa, are the hipster heart of Mexico City. Full of great bars, Art Deco mansions, and vibrant street art, these two neighborhoods are colorful, must-see destinations. Spend an afternoon strolling through their enormous parks, admire the colorful old homes, and indulge in some craft beer. Condesa and Roma are just south of Centro Historico.

Pro tip: Since Condesa and Roma are close to each other, it’s easy to spend an afternoon exploring both neighborhoods. Alternately, they’re fantastic places to !

The neighborhoods are beautiful in Mexico City travel

Polanco : If you’re looking for posh, you’ll find it in Polanco. Just west of Centro Historico, Polanco is full of gorgeous parks, world-famous restaurants, and awesome street markets.

Coyoacan : Nestled in a quiet part of Mexico City, Coyoacan nevertheless has tons of great food, beautiful parks, and a fantastic selection of museums. South of Centro Historico, It’s a bit further out than other neighborhoods (which accounts for its chill urban vibe).

Juarez and San Rafael : Once one of Mexico City’s grandest neighborhoods, Juarez has seen better days. But the barrio is in the midst of a revival, and you’ll find plenty of new bars, restaurants, and art galleries there. Like Juarez, San Rafael fell from greatness in the late 20th century but has recently experienced an influx of new activity. It attracts creative types who have been priced out of neighborhoods like Roma and Condesa. So check it out—you might discover a part of Mexico City before it’s cool (#hipstercred).

But there are definitely some neighborhoods to avoid as well

Neighborhoods like Tepito, Iztapalapa, and should be avoided. With so much to do in other neighborhoods, you’re better off just skipping these areas (there’s not much to do or see there, anyway). Make sure to get some local advice about which neighborhoods you need to check out and which to avoid.

Attractions and Museums

There are some main attractions you can’t miss.

Getting off the beaten path is great, but sometimes tourists know what’s up! Don’t miss these big Mexico City landmarks .

  • Zocalo : Mexico City’s enormous public square is always flushed with life. On any given day visitors may see a celebration, a demonstration, or people dancing to live music. Plus, many of Mexico City’s most prominent buildings, like the Palacio Nacional, encircle the plaza.
  • Torre Latinoamericana : The tallest skyscraper in Centro Historico is hard to miss. On a clear it offers an awesome view from the top—and a chance to check out the world’s highest aquarium.
  • Castillo de Chapultepec : Built in the 18th century, the Castillo de Chapultepec is definitely worth the hike up the hill to get there. Visitors can check out the murals, learn about the castle’s history, and take in the brilliant views.

And there are tons of phenomenal day trips

Even though there’s a ton to do in Mexico City (hello, did we mention the 1,700 neighborhoods?) it’s so worth it to get out of town. There are a bunch of awesome sites just an hour or two away.

  • The Pyramids of Teotihuacan : You don’t have to travel to Egypt to see pyramids. Once in Mexico City, you don’t even have to drive for a full hour. It’s definitely worth the time to visit the famous archeological site of Teotihuacan, or the City of the Gods, where you can ogle at its two pre-Columbian Mesoamerican pyramids.
  • The Floating Gardens of Xochimilco : Explore the miles of canals of Xochimilco by (that is, colorful riverboat), admire the floating gardens, and check out the creepy Island of Dolls. Plus, you can just hop on the metro to get to Xochimilco from Mexico City!
  • The Town of Puebla : If you’re willing to trek a bit to get somewhere interesting, then the 90-minute drive to visit the town of Puebla is definitely worth it. Take in the markets, the old churches (there are over 300!), or check out the nearby Aztecan Tepanapa Pyramid, the largest man-made pyramid in the world.  
  • Chapultepec Park : Ok, this park is within Mexico City limits, but it feels like a world apart. It is the oldest and largest park in Latin America and contains tons of monuments, museums, and, of course, plenty of green where you can stretch out in the shade to recharge before a night out on the town.

The Pyramids of Teotihuacan are an attraction you want to visit during your Mexico City Travel

The museums are simply incredible

Mexico City’s museum scene is on point. With 150 museums to choose from, there’s something for everyone. Some of the most popular:

  • Museo Nacional de Antropologia : Mexico City’s Museum of Anthropology is the country’s largest museum, with 22 rooms covering Mexico’s pre-Columbian past. Learn about Mexico’s indigenous history and check out the cool artifacts on display here.
  • Palacio de Bellas Artes : (Palace of Fine Arts). Not only is this place gorgeous from the outside (it looks like a cross between a castle and a cathedral) but it’s filled with stuff to do as well. The Museo Nacional de Arquitectura (Museum of Architecture) occupies the top floor. Elsewhere, you can admire colorful murals, catch an orchestral show, or check out the incredible Tiffany glass “curtain.”
  • The Frida Kahlo Museum : A visit to the Frida Kahlo museum is one of the best things to do in Mexico City . Take the opportunity to learn about Kahlo’s art as well as her life. Just be sure to buy tickets ahead of time—this is a very popular spot (or, ask a local about pre-booking tickets for you!)
  • Museo Soumaya : It’s hard to miss this museum—the outside, covered with hexagonal aluminum tiles like the scales of a snake. The whole museum was created by one of the world’s richest men (Carlos Slim Helu). It houses over 65,000 incredible pieces, including Rodin sculptures and the world’s largest collection of pre-Hispanic coins. Best part: Museo Soumaya is free to visit!
  • The Templo Mayor Museum : Visiting the Templo Mayor Museum feels like walking back in time—because it’s in the middle of ancient ruins. Yes, right in the middle of Mexico City. The ruins are the remnants an old temple which the Aztecs believed to be the center of the universe.

Plus, art is amazing

You definitely don’t want to miss Mexico City’s famous street art. Roma and Condesa are great places to start, but ask a local about creating an offline map to showcase their favorite pieces. Added bonus: Going on a street art crawl is a great, non-touristy activity in Mexico City .

Transportation and Communication

You can take public transportation, but pickpocketing is a risk.

The Mexico City subway is fast, safe, and extensive. It runs from early morning to midnight, and at about 30 cents per ride, it’s a great deal. It can get crowded, however, and like most mass transit systems, there is a risk of pickpockets—so keep your belongings close.

Pro tip : Women in Mexico City can ride on the women/children only cars, usually at the front of the train.

Transportation is important for Mexico City travel

The taxis are hit-and-miss, so just use Uber

Although Mexico City has made great strides in combating taxi crime, it’s just easier and safer to call an Uber. For starters, you don’t have to speak much Spanish and the cost is made clear on your phone. You’ll avoid being overcharged or otherwise scammed.

Your phone plan may or may not work in Mexico

When it comes to ordering Ubers and posting stories to Instagram, having a phone is important. Verizon and AT&T offer domestic plans that include travel to Mexico, so you may already be covered. Check with your carrier —if your plan doesn’t cover additional travel, they’ll likely have travel deals for a couple of dollars a day.

Pro tip : This will definitely be worth it at 2 am when you just want to call an Uber to your hotel.

Eating, Drinking, Partying, etc.

The food is ahh-maz-ing.

If you’re wondering where to eat in Mexico City , the answer is… basically everywhere. The food in Mexico City is incredible—especially street food like tacos al pastor, tamales, and mole. Seriously, for many travelers, it’s the highlight of their whole trip.

You’ll find great food in restaurants too. Obviously, go for the Mexican food, but feel free to explore! Some of the world’s best restaurants are in Mexico City .

Pro tip:  Looking for *really* authentic food? Ask a Mexico City local for their foodie secrets.

Mexican food is important for Mexico City travel

Mexico City’s bar scene is so much more than just margaritas

Did someone say ? Sí, —definitely treat yourself with a margarita while in Mexico City. But don’t stop there: Mexico City has A LOT more to offer than just margaritas. Explore the growing craft beer scene, taste a creative cocktail made by some of the world’s best bartenders , or cool down with a michelada—Mexican beer mixed with fresh lime, hot sauce, and soy sauce. Unsurprisingly, the tequila and mezcal are unparalleled .

Pro tip : There’s a literal Museum of Tequila and Mezcal . Go there.

The nightlife is simply superb

No matter where you fall on the “keep it classy” spectrum, you’ll find something to please you in Mexico City’s vibrant and varied nightlife. Whether you’re looking to sip high-quality tequila or dance to the music of a mariachi band, you can find it in Mexico City. There are also tons of speakeasies, salsa clubs, and other places to visit

Pro tip : keep in mind that Mexico City is at a high altitude, so depending on your sensitivity, one drink can go a long way.

Packing Tips

Weather-wise, there’s no bad time to visit mexico city.

Wondering about the best time to go to Mexico City? Stop wondering—no matter when you’re visiting, you picked the right time! Here’s a breakdown of Mexico City’s weather season-by-season:

  • Winter : When we start joking that Winter is Coming in the United States, it’s time for a vacation. Mexico City usually boasts highs in the 70s and low-80s in the winter, but it does drop to the low 40s at night.
  • Spring : May is the hottest month of the year in Mexico City, with temperatures in the mid-70s to low-80s (in other words: perfect). Temperatures in the spring usually hover around 70 degrees during the day.
  • Summer : Mexico City’s humid rainy season is between June and September. But this is good news for travelers! Many people are discouraged by the rainy season and choose not to travel—making flight and hotel prices cheaper than normal. Since rain usually hits in the afternoons or evenings there’s still a ton you can do or see. Plus, high temperatures are still in the 70s.
  • Autumn : We’re basic, so we *love* autumn. And it’s a great time to visit Mexico City. If you visit in the fall your trip may coincide with  Dia de Muertos (November 2nd). With temps averaging in the low 70s, autumn in Mexico City is perfect walking weather.

Packing your luggage is easy for Mexico City Travel

And the weather makes packing easy

Yeah, it’s Mexico, but Mexico City is far away from the beach. Perched on a desert plateau, the weather is can get chilly at night (and during the day, depending on when you visit) so bring layers, as well as lots of .

Plus, Mexico City is very fashion forward—so don’t be afraid to bring your stylish A-game.

Pro tip: If you’re planning on taking a day trip and/or scaling some pyramids, pack athletic wear and good walking shoes.

Plus, your (American) electronics will work just fine

Mexico uses the same outlets that are used in the United States, so no adapter necessary.

Everything Else

Mexican hospitals and pharmacies are awesome and easy.

Mexican pharmacies ( farmacias ) can help treat minor ailments. Sanborns is an example of an upscale pharmacy, but farmacias come in a variety of sizes. Some hotels also have doctors on site. Medical travel insurance is a good idea since your insurance may or may not cover you abroad. Usually, you can buy this through travel sites like Expedia .

Earthquakes are rare—but know what to do just in case

Mexico City has been rattled by big earthquakes a handful of times in its history. Although an earthquake striking during your trip is extremely unlikely (the risk is probably comparable to visiting somewhere, like, Seattle) know what to do just in case.

If there is a quake, make a beeline for one of the “ puntos de ”: green circles or squares on the street that indicate a gathering spot after an emergency.

You don’t *need* to speak Spanish, but it's helpful

Most big tourist destinations (museums, popular restaurants, hotels) employ English speakers. If you dash into a corner store or order food from the street, however, knowing a few Spanish phrases will help. One of the most common Mexico City travel FAQs is about which phrases you need to know. Some that we recommend memorizing:

KEY PHRASES TO KNOW

Spanish                                   English

Me …                             My name is…

Donde el ?            Where is the bathroom?

Me ?              Can you help me?

No .                 I don’t speak Spanish.

Habla Inglés?              Do you speak English?

Hola                                         Hello

Gracias                                   Thank you

Whew! You’re ready for the trip of a lifetime. And since you don’t want to spend hours planning your trip only to find you’ve missed out on the REAL Mexico City, make sure to get in touch with a Mexico City local before you start—they’ll plan any or all of your trip for just $30/day. Get tons of insider information and peace of mind to boot—it’s like having a best friend in Mexico City. And don’t forget to check out:

  • Connect With a Local to Plan Your Trip
  • 25 Places You Have to Visit in Mexico City 2024
  • Flights to Mexico City
  • The Best Time to Visit Mexico City
  • Do I Need a Visa to Go to Mexico?
  • The Best Mexico City Attractions for Every Type of Traveler

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Essential travel guide to mexico city.

Mexico City is colorful and exciting. There’s always something going on. The streets are always packed, the markets are always full. There are so many places to get great Mexican food , including street food stalls, top restaurants , and food markets. It’s just never dull.

With so many great things to check out while you’re there, you’re going to need our essential travel guide to Mexico City, which includes what to see, do, eat and drink in the city.

» Mexican food is one of my favorite cuisines, and there are plenty of unique foods to try in Mexico City.

travel guide to mexico city

Transportation options are plentiful in the city, allowing you to get out and explore every corner with ease. We even took Uber rides from one side of the huge city to the other for only a couple of dollars.

And believe me when I say there are a ton of things to do. While I don’t always recommend it, the Hop On Hop Off bus is a great way to see Mexico City, because it goes to so many of the top attractions and makes getting around so easy.

I think it’s best to spend at least 3 days in Mexico City to get a true feel for it. You need time to try the food, eat in the many restaurants, and go on long walks through the neighborhoods, as well as seeing the top sights.

Spending more time in Mexico? Check out our list of 8 beautiful places to visit in Mexico and check out all the delicious food you must try in Mexico . See our guides for Cancun , Mexico City , and Cabo San Lucas .

Quick. Check these necessities off your prep list!

  • There’s no one-size-fits-all travel insurance . Get a personalized quote from Yonder .
  • The right luggage can make or break your trip. These hard-sided suitcases make traveling a breeze.
  • Find your rental car on DiscoverCars.com . They search all major rental companies to find the best deal.

Mexico City Bella Artes building

Table of Contents

When to Visit Mexico City

If you want to visit when the weather is at its best, plan your trip for March – May, or in the later part of the year for shoulder season prices. It can get extremely hot and rainy during the summer, but it’s never really too cold.

If you want something different to do for Christmas, Mexico City is actually alive and festive at the holidays. They put on a major Christmas show in the Zocolo with tons of Christmas lights, large floats, and major decorations. You can find special Christmas dinners happening all over town.

Don’t forget to check out our infographic guide below (scroll down) to discover the best things to do, and places to eat and drink in Mexico City. ↓

Mexico city

What to Do in Mexico City

There are so many fun things to do in Mexico City , like walking around Polanco, activities at Chapultepek Forest, taking a day trip to the pyramids, or indulging in all these great foods at Mercado Roma.

Check out these great Mexico City dining experiences . I highly recommend eating at Pujol restaurant for a fine dining look at ancient Mexican ingredients.

Want to plan ahead and book some of the activities we mention below, plus a few more? We’ll make it easy on you. Check out these links to book great tours in Mexico City:

  • Teotihuacan Morning Tour with an Archeologist and Tequila Tasting
  • Mexican Food Cooking Class
  • Historic Center Food Tour in Mexico City
  • A Night of Tacos and Mezcal in Mexico City

What & Where to Eat in Mexico City

suckling lamb taco

Mexico City is well known for their food scene, which spans from amazing street food to high-end restaurants, and even a few of the world’s top 50 restaurants, like Pujol.

You don’t wan to miss these specialties while in the city:

  • El Caguamo for fresh seafood (Centro)
  • La Reina de la Roma for carnitas (Colonia Roma)
  • El Pescadito for tacos (Colonia Condesa)

One of the coolest dining experiences you can have in Mexico City is at La Gruta, a restaurant in a cava that’s lit by candlelight.

When you’re ready for some libations, be sure to do a mezcal tasting at one of the top Mezcalarias in Mexico City. Our favorites are:

  • La Botica (multiple locations)
  • La Nacional (Roma Norte)
  • La Clandestina (Colonia Condesa)
  • El Mexicano (Juarez)

Where to Stay in Mexico City

In such a large city, there are many different areas to stay in. I love it when there’s one stand out neighborhood where tourists should stay in a city, but that’s not really the case in Mexico City.

Where you stay should depend on what you like most. History lovers should stay in Centro Historico or Reforma, food lovers should stay in Zona Roma, and shopping fanatics should stay in Polanco.

Here are our top recommendations. I cannot recommend any of these enough. All three are great hotels with a high standard of service and professionalism:

  • IN REFORMA: Hilton Reforma ⇒  Read reviews  |  Book a stay
  • IN REFORMA: Marriott Reforma ⇒ Read reviews  |  Book a stay
  • IN POLANCO: Hyatt Regency Mexico City  ⇒ Read reviews   |  Book a stay

>>Ready to explore more of Mexico? Check out these 8 beautiful place to visit in Mexico .

Mexico city from the air

Tours to Book:

Essential Guide to Mexico City

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  • Book a tour (we always use Viator to find the best tours)
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Laura

Laura Lynch, creator and writer of Savored Journeys, is an avid world traveler, certified wine expert, and international food specialist. She has written about travel and food for over 20 years and has visited over 75 countries. Her work has been published in numerous guidebooks, websites, and magazines.

18 thoughts on “ Essential Travel Guide to Mexico City ”

Thank you for this great article 🙂

Very informative article. Thank you

Amazing! For people like me who are more visual and struggle with large blocks of text, this is perfect 🙂 Isn’t it amazing how uber has taken off in the last year – like almost everywhere in the world?

Yes, and Uber really saved our butts in Mexico City because I broke my ankle on that trip and I wouldn’t have been able to get around so easily without it.

This is awesome! Pinning it now. I wish I had this graphic for every place I want to visit.

I’m working on it, Lesley! Check our destination page for more. 🙂

Wow! Very handy guide, thanks!

Great guide–thanks for sharing! I’ve never been to Mexico, but this made me want to visit! I think I’d prefer Mexico City over the beach towns–the culture is just too interesting!

I much prefer Mexico City. The beaches serve their purpose, but they aren’t the real Mexico.

Great pdf. I have saved this for when I do a short travel break to Mexico City.

Great, Jennifer. I’m sure it will come in handy.

This is a great post and a great idea (creating a PDF for quick reference) Very informative!

Thanks Christopher!

What a great post! Everything you need to know about Mexico City in one easy to read place.

Thanks Vicky!

Great idea for a post. Pinned it for my future travels 🙂

Mexico City Top 10 Attractions

While visiting Mexico City there are a lot of attractions that you should be aware of to possibly plan into your trip. The esteemed Federal District locality of Mexico has attractions which you could be familiar and others which aren’t that familiar to non local locals of Mexico City we have put together a Top 10 list to help you:

1. National Museum of Anthropology (Museo Nacional de Antropologia) 2. Piramides de Teotihuacan 3. Castillo de Chapultepec 4. Palacio de Bellas Artes 5. Edificio de Correos 6. Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso 7. Museo Dolores Olmedo Patino 8. Museo Memoria y Tolerancia 9. National Palace (Palacio Nacional) 10. Coyoacan

These are a simple starting point if you have taken a quality guide book you with discover these more and if you have long enough in Mexico City. You will surely discover an array of interesting attractions and locations about the Mexico City vicinity of Mexico.

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Exploring Mexico City

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Mexico City

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Curator’s statement

Mexico City is a vibrant and exciting city with never-ending places to see and explore. I first visited in my early 20s and was amazed with the city's sheer size and diverse neighborhoods. It's a great destination for history buffs, anthropology enthusiasts, foodies and artists. Come see for yourself why Mexico City is one of the best urban destinations in the world!

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Where to stay in Mexico City

Hotel san fernando.

Hotel San Fernando offers a luxurious retreat in the heart of the city, combining contemporary elegance with warm hospitality. With spacious rooms, modern amenities, and impeccable service, it provides a perfect blend of comfort and sophistication for both business and leisure travelers.

$25 food / beverage credit.

Andaz Mexico City Condesa - a Concept by Hyatt

Luxury lifestyle hotel located in the heart of the artistic Condesa neighborhood.

Hotel / resort credit.

Welcome amenity.

Breakfast daily.

Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.

Mondrian Mexico City Condesa

Your chic urban escape in the trendy Condesa neighborhood, where modern design and city vibes combine for a stylish stay in Mexico City.

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Things to do in Mexico City

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My Favorite Areas to Explore

Explore the Historic Center - Dive into the heart of Mexico City at the Zócalo (main square). Enjoy the historic buildings, including the Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Palace, the Palacio de Bellas Artes, and the Templo Mayor archaeological site. Here you will see events, festivals, and gatherings throughout the year.

Zona Rosa - Just west of the Centro Historico, The “Pink Zone” of Mexico City is just west of the Centro Historico. It is now known as a very LGBQT+ friendly area, with plenty of gay bars and clubs. It’s also a great shopping district with a diverse range of boutiques, high-end stores, and street vendors offering everything from designer clothing to handmade crafts and souvenirs. Don't miss the Mercado Insurgentes for unique finds.

Coyoacán - In the south end of the city, explore the quaint streets of Coyoacán, home to vibrant markets, colorful murals, and the Caza Azul - the Frida Kahlo Museum. Close by is Xochimilco - one of the last remaining traces of the pre-Columbian Aztec city of Tenochtitlan and is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

La Condesa is just southwest of the city's historic center - it’s a trendy and upscale neighborhood known for its tree-lined streets, beautiful parks, and Art Deco architecture. Here you'll see plenty of stylish cafes, chic boutiques, and trendy restaurants, creating a vibrant atmosphere day and night. Enjoy the area's pedestrian-friendly streets, plentiful green spaces, and hip cultural scene.

La Roma - Right next to La Condesa, La Roma is a boho-chic neighborhood known for its hipster vibe, artistic community, and beautiful architecture. Visitors can explore art galleries, browse vintage shops, or simply soak up the neighborhood's hipster ambiance. Excellent cafes and restaurants can be found here.

Chapultepec Park - When you need a break from the city, take some time to explore this huge green space. When you're in this enormous park, you can almost forget that you’re in one of the world’s largest cities. There are several world-renowned museums nestled in this forest for you to explore.

The Pyramids Teotihuacan - You can easily take a bus or hire a driver to take you to this impressive archaeological site just 30 miles northeast of Mexico City. Get there as early as possible to avoid the crowds while exploring. This area provides amazing photo opportunities. Want an extra-special experience? See the pyramids from above in a hot air balloon!

Xochimilco - To the far south of the city, see the ancient canals of the last remaining traces of the Aztec city Tenochtitlan. Take a ride in a colorfully decorated boat and explore the area.

Places to eat & drink in Mexico City

A person carrying a tray a food

Pulquería Las Duelistas - Centro Histórico : Very few people outside of Mexico have tried Pulque - a pre-Columbian drink made from fermented Agave sap. Try this in an authentic Pulqueria and enjoy their snacks.

Siembra Tortillería - Polanco : This is a corn-focused Mexican restaurant. Try excellently crafted tamales, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas, flautas, and quesadillas. For the hipsters in the area, the beverage menu even features kombucha.

Mercado Roma - La Roma : Busy food hall with plenty of gourmet items to sample.

Frëims - Hipodromo : Art Gallery meets Brunch Restaurant. Solid classic menu with rotating expositions of local artists' work.

La Equina del Chilaquil: This street stand serves up delicious Mexican comfort food. Limited options of usually just chilaquiles and tortas, a line will form around the block. Get up early to try some food from this local legend before they sell out.

Rosetta - Roma Norte : Finer dining in a beautiful space - make your reservation for the Garden Room.

El Huequito - several locations: Visited by Anthony Bourdain, these tacos are some of the best in Mexico City. They've been in business in 1959 and claim to be the original Tacos al Pastor - the Mexican take on Lebanese Shawarma.

Amaya - Cuauhtémoc : Nice dinner spot with a impressive wine list.

La Clandestina - La Condesa : Looking for a place to sip on some mezcal? This is the spot.

Need to Know

For more travel tips, check out Fora Advisor Claudia Cox's guide, How to Spend 3 Days in Mexico City . This guide is part of our ongoing series on travel to Mexico City .

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2024 Travel Guide to Mexico

M exico seems to always be the destination du jour. How could it not be? It has all the ingredients for the perfect vacation: beautiful beaches, fabulous hotels, dynamic cities, cultural communities, gastronomy, art — the list goes on.

The list goes on so much that planning a trip to Mexico can be overwhelming. It has fantastic options for all different kinds of people and every single style of travel. Planning the perfect Mexico vacation is dependent on many different factors.

To make the planning process easier, we’ve put together a 2024 travel guide to Mexico detailing the best destinations and attractions for each kind of traveler. Here’s to planning the perfect Mexico getaway in the new year.

Best Destinations in Mexico

Cancun/Riviera Maya: The original tourist destination that put Mexico in the international spotlight, Cancun and the Riviera Maya continue to reinvent themselves to stay relevant throughout the decades. A new international airport in Tulum has recently opened up Southern Quintana Roo so travelers can venture further to explore new destinations like Bacalar, the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, and Mahahual.

Puerto Vallarta: A spectacular, and constantly growing city on the sea, Puerto Vallarta provides that rare mix of historic village with beautiful beachfront. The Hotel Zone is lined with popular resorts, while downtown Puerto Vallarta has fabulous restaurants, and nightlife that overlap in harmony with local life.

Los Cabos: One of the leading destinations for luxury in Mexico, Los Cabos has some of the finest resorts in the country. Add to that spectacular Pacific Ocean scenery, fine dining, and tons of activities, and it’s no wonder Los Cabos continues to attract scores of tourists year after year.

Mexico City: It’s safe to say Mexico City has secured its position as one of the great international capitals of the world. Fine art, culture, gastronomy, exclusive hotels, enriching neighborhoods, and so much history, Mexico City is the heart and soul of Mexico.

Guanajuato: Mexico’s state of Guanajuato has so many destinations in one. It is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Cities (San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato City), cultural Magical Towns, a thriving wine scene, and adventure tourism, and continues to increase its accessibility from the U.S.

Best Attractions in Mexico

Chichen Itza: Perhaps the most recognized landmark in Mexico, Chichen Itza is a gorgeous Mayan city and one of the top archaeological sites in the world. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is best known for its Castillo, also known as the Pyramid of Kukulkan. The 100-foot-tall monument is a tribute to the principal god of the Mayan world and the focal point for the legendary city.

Copper Canyon: Often overshadowed by Arizona's Grand Canyon, North America has an even deeper, larger canyon and it's found in Mexico. Copper Canyon, or Barranca del Cobre, is one of the most popular and most beautiful attractions in Mexico. The river-carved canyon takes its name from the copper-colored canyon walls and visitors can explore this natural behemoth aboard the Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacifico scenic railroad.

Mexico City Centro Historico: No visit to Mexico is complete without a stop in Mexico City's Centro Historico. The 5.5-square-mile UNESCO World Heritage Site has more than 1,400 historic Spanish-influenced buildings that date as far back as the 16th century. These include Plaza de la Constitution, the National Palace, Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Templo Mayor.

Cenotes: One of the many natural wonders of the Yucatan Peninsula is its mysterious and beautiful cenotes. These underground sinkholes carry great significance in the Mayan world, as they are said to be entrances to the underworld. Today visitors can snorkel or dive the crystal-clear subterranean rivers for an adventure travel experience totally unique to Mexico.

Palenque: Dive deep into the misty rainforests of Chiapas to discover one of Mexico's other great archaeological treasures — Palenque. The ruins here date more than 1,000 years and are most famous for the Temple of the Inscriptions, which is a pyramid-shaped temple with hieroglyphics carved all over. Much of the city is still shrouded in jungle, but what has been excavated is a treasure to discover.

Must See 2024 Events in Mexico

Feria San Marcos: One of Mexico's most popular festivals is one that is still relatively off the tourist trail. Aguascalientes' Feria Nacional de San Marcos is a national fair held for three weeks every spring and attracts millions of visitors from around Latin America. Attendees of the festival can delight in free concerts, traditional charrería, street performances, art exhibitions, food, and much more. The 2024 Feria will be held from April 13 to May 5.

Dia de Los Muertos:  Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead , is one of Mexico's most sacred and important holidays. The time at the end of October and the beginning of November is a time to remember the dearly departed by constructing altars, leaving offerings, lighting candles, and decorating with bright orange marigolds. Cities and towns around Mexico celebrate with parades, music, traditional food, and tons of spiritual energy.

Festival Internacional Cervantino: Guananjuato’s most important festival, shortened to El Cervantino, is an annual celebration of the work of playwright, Miguel de Cervantes. The festival puts on a series of short plays by the author throughout the plazas of the city. Now in its 51st year, the 2024 festival will be held from October 13 to 29, with the Mexican state of Sonora, as well as the United States of America, invited as guests of honor.

Mexican Grand Prix: One of the top F1 races in the world. The Mexico City Grand Prix takes place over 71 laps of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. The 2024 event will be held October 25-27 and draws thousands of spectators from all over the world.

Guelaguetza Festival: One of Oaxaca's most important celebrations is the Guelaguetza Festival, held in 2024 throughout the month of July. The origins of the festival date back to the Zapotec tribe, which hails from the area of Mexico now known as Oaxaca. The festival is dedicated to honor the Goddess of Corn, Xilonen. During the festival, visitors can expect numerous colorful parades, elaborate costumes, live music, and plenty of food and drink.

Best Places for Families in Mexico

Riviera Maya: Packed with family-friendly all-inclusive resorts, theme parks, water parks, beautiful beaches, restaurants, performances, and tons of activities, Riviera Maya is one of the best destinations in Mexico for family travel.

Riviera Nayarit: Families who like to keep it low-key, with plenty of nature and beautiful views will love Riviera Nayarit. The region has a nice mix of all-inclusive resorts as well as family-friendly five-stars, plus it is close to outdoor adventure like zip-lining and ATV tours, swimmable beaches, and funky beach towns.

Cabo San Lucas: The gateway to Baja California has so much to offer families, from its many all-inclusive resorts to its downtown restaurants, adventure tours, and water activities. For families who want to go a little bit more off the beaten path, they can discover Cabo Pulmo National Park, known for its snorkeling and diving.

Huatulco: Spread out over a series of nine bays along the coast of Oaxaca, Huatulco is a low-key beach destination that has a little something for everyone. From beachfront all-inclusive hotels to more boutique and locally owned options, Huatulco is a great spot for families who want to hang on the beach, swim in a great pool, and be away from the large crowds.

Puerto Vallarta: The tourist capital of Pacific Mexico, Puerto Vallarta is such a wonderful option for families who want the combination of a beautiful resort and proximity to an exciting downtown scene. Choose from one of the many beachfront hotels in the Hotel Zone, wander the exciting Malecon with its string of restaurants and shops, or venture into the historic Zona Romantica for beaches and al fresco dining. Puerto Vallarta has plenty of outdoor adventure, too, from zip lining and ATV tours to snorkeling and kayaking in the Bay of Banderas.

Best Places for Couples in Mexico

Holbox: Couples will love the idyllic island vibes of Isla Holbox, a Caribbean-style island flecked off the coast of Quintana Roo. The powder-soft sand, chic hotels, barefoot luxe vibe, and sparkling turquoise sea is all you need to set the mood for a blissfully romantic getaway.

Merida: Couples who prefer their romance with a side of culture will soak up every bit of Merida. The capital of the state of Yucatan, Merida is an internationally influenced city with Spanish architecture, Middle Eastern-inspired cuisine, Mayan gastronomy, and European plazas combined with tree-lined boulevards.

Todos Santos: Beachfront, boho Todos Santos is a romantic seaside town along the Baja Peninsula, just outside of Los Cabos. Known for its stunning boutique hotels, elevated Baja cuisine, and stunning natural beauty, Todos Santos has long been a favorite of traveling hippies, artists, and, of course, romantics.

San Miguel de Allende: With its storybook cobblestone streets, beautiful Spanish-style architecture, rooftop restaurants, and charming hotels, San Miguel de Allende is easily one of the most romantic cities in Mexico.

Costalegre: Wild, rugged, and naturally beautiful, Mexico’s Costalegre is the perfect backdrop for couples who want to get away from it all. Its handful of high-end resorts have an off-the-grid vibe, with a focus on sustainability, excellent food, and swoon-worthy scenery.

Best Places for Group Travel in Mexico

Riviera Maya: From Cancun down to Tulum, the Riviera Maya is packed with features that are perfect for groups of all sizes. All-inclusive resorts have convention centers on-site, while nearby attractions include theme parks, golf courses, great restaurants, and beautiful beaches.

San Jose del Cabo: With beautiful beachfront resorts, a thriving art scene, historic downtown, and great restaurants, San Jose del Cabo has a lot to offer groups with different interests. Not far from golf courses or a world-class marina, working organic farms, hiking trails, and more, San Jose del Cabo has something to please everyone.

Puebla: The historic downtown of Puebla is one of Mexico’s most fascinating and beautiful. The walkable streets are home to museums, restaurants, and dozens of churches. The hotel scene in Puebla is wonderful, as well, with luxury and boutique options. Puebla is better suited to smaller groups, rather than larger conventions, but it does offer something for everyone — particularly if the group loves cuisine and culture.

San Miguel de Allende: A stunning historic backdrop sets the scene for gastronomy, wellness, art, culture, and a robust hotel inventory. Groups visiting San Miguel de Allende will have so many activities at their fingertips to keep everyone busy. Choose from smaller boutique hotels or larger brand names like Rosewood or Live Aqua.

Puerto Vallarta: One of the best places in Mexico for groups, Puerto Vallarta has lovely beachfront resorts with tons of amenities. It also has a convention center, restaurants, a lively Malecon with great entertainment, nearby golf courses, a marina, and plenty of natural and adventurous attractions.

Best Places for Solo Travel in Mexico

Puerto Escondido: Bohemian and beachy, with a youthful energy and locals who are passionate about the environment, Puerto Escondido is one of the best places for solo travelers. Over the past few years, more high-end hotels and villas have opened, as have new restaurants and boutiques, turning this once-backpacker town into a well-heeled hotspot.

Merida: A walkable Centro Historico, with tons of restaurants, parks, and bars, Merida is a safe and beautiful spot for solo travel. Visitors can hop a quick Uber or bus ride to archaeological sites like Uxmal, or visit the spectacular nearby beaches of Progreso or Celestun.

San Miguel de Allende: San Miguel de Allende is a city full of local culture, art, history, and cuisine. It is also a city that draws travelers and expats from all around the world. It’s one of the best cities in Mexico to meet both other travelers and locals, all set against a backdrop of a maze of beautiful cobblestone streets, rooftop restaurants, and funky, boutique hotels.

Bacalar: Two hours south of Tulum is the stunning, freshwater Laguna de Bacalar. The massive lake goes by the nickname, “Lake of Seven Colors,” thanks to the various hues of blue that shift across the water’s surface. The lake has a Magical Town named for it, as well. The laid-back, eco-friendly village has beautiful boutique hotels, a quiet restaurant scene, and lovely lake clubs for lounging, swimming, and kayaking on the lake.

Sayulita/San Pancho: Two of Riviera Nayarit’s best beach towns are the neighboring Sayulita and San Pancho. Sayulita is one of Mexico’s most famous Magical Towns for its surfer vibe, thriving restaurants, shopping, and nightlife. Its neighbor, San Pancho, is the quieter version with arguably better beaches and a low-key vibe.

Best Foodie Destinations in Mexico

Oaxaca: One cannot list the top foodie destinations and skip Oaxaca. The city of Oaxaca, and the state overall, is one of the top foodie destinations in Mexico. We can thank Oaxaca for foods like mole, tlayudas, memelas, enmoladas, and, of course, mezcal.

Puebla: Just like Oaxaca, Puebla is yet another fabulous foodie destination in Mexico. Visit Puebla to try mole, tacos arabes, cemitas, chalupas, and chiles en nogada.

Mexico City: All cultures and cuisines converge in Mexico City. The capital of the country is the best place to try regional dishes from all around the country, as well as international and modern cuisine. But foods that are indigenous to Mexico City include tacos al pastor, barbacoa, chicharrones, tamales, esquites, churros, and so much more.

Baja: With a heavy emphasis on seafood, Baja is one of the best spots for foodies in Mexico. The Baja fish and shrimp tacos are iconic, as are ceviche, aguachile, tostadas, shellfish, and sweet empanadas.

Guadalajara: The capital of the state of Jalisco is the perfect place for foodies to try specialties from around the state. This includes the iconic torta ahogada, birria, pozole, tacos al pastor, and Jalisco’s most famous product: tequila.

Best Places for Adventure Travel in Mexico

Mesoamerican Reef: The second largest barrier reef in the world is found right here in Mexico, and it begins off the coast of Cancun. The reef runs down the entirety of the state of Quintana Roo into Belize and Central America. It’s one of the top spots in the world for diving and snorkeling.

Copper Canyon: Serious hikers and outdoor adventurists will be in heaven all around Copper Canyon. Challenging hiking routes can be found all around the canyon, including the truly demanding rim-to-rim trail, which covers 25 miles and nearly 23,000 feet in elevation.

Jalcomulco: Meandering through the state of Veracruz, specifically Jalcomulco, Rio Antigua is one of the top spots in Mexico for white water rafting and tubing. The riverside town sits at a curve in the river, where the rapids are wild and full of energy, with class II, III, IV, and V rapids.

Pena de Bernal: If the sport is mountaineering or rock climbing, then the spot must be Peña de Bernal, one of the largest monoliths in the world, located in the state of Queretaro. Peña de Bernal offers hundreds of routes for all skill levels and some of the best rock climbing in Mexico.

Baja: Surfing, kitesurfing, deep-sea fishing, ATVing, hiking, mountain biking. You name it, Baja has a backcountry for it. It’s some of the most impressive landscapes in Mexico and was thoroughly designed for outdoor adventurists.

Best Places for Sports Enthusiasts in Mexico

Mazatlan: Believe it or not, baseball is extremely popular in the state of Sinaloa. One of the strongest rivalries is between the Mazatlan Venados and the Culiacan Tomateros. The Vends play at the Teodoro Mariscal Baseball Stadium in Mazatlan, and a night of baseball here is full of entertainment, great food, and thousands of excited baseball fans.

Puerto Escondido:  Mexico has epic surf spots all up and down the Pacific Coast, but Puerto Escondido is particularly popular thanks to the Mexico Pipeline. One of the most challenging breaks in the world is just offshore Playa Zicatela. Surfers from all over the world come to Puerto Escondido each year to try their best to tackle the beast.

Baja: Baja’s La Ventana on the Sea of Cortez side is one of the most popular spots in Mexico for kitesurfing. The sleepy small town is spectacularly beautiful, with sandy streets, open-air restaurants and a laid-back vibe. The winds, however, are what bring kitesurfers to this jewel of a destination.

Mexico City: Mexico City is Mexico’s capital for two very different sports: soccer and lucha libre. Soccer is dominated by Club América, the leading soccer club in Mexico. Lucha Libre, or Mexican wrestling, is one of Mexico’s more unique sports, complete with elaborate costumes and dramatic pageantry. A lucha libre event is full of energy, excitement, and a rowdy crowd.

Unique to Mexico: Archaeological Ruins

Riviera Maya: A veritable treasure trove for lovers of history, the Riviera Maya is the most famous destination for Mayan ruins in Mexico. The most famous is Chichen Itza, which is technically one state over in Yucatan, but most tour companies that visit Chichen Itza provide transportation to and from resorts all along the Riviera Maya. Here is where travelers will also find the ruins of Tulum, Coba, Kohunlich, and several others.

Palenque: The ancient Mayan world extends far past the beaches and jungles of Quintana Roo. Buried deep in the jungles of the state of Chiapas are the ruins of Palenque, an ancient city that rivals the Mayan city of Tikal in Guatemala. Chiapas is a fantastic destination for Mayan culture in general, with thriving Mayan communities that still exist up in the mountains around San Cristobal de las Casas.

Oaxaca: Nestled in the mountains surrounding Oaxaca City is the ancient city of Monte Alban. Over 1,500 years it was inhabited by the Olmecs, Zapotecs, and Mixtecs, who created terraces, dams, canals, and pyramids. The sprawling city is a wonder to explore, with spectacular views down over the city of Oaxaca.

Mexico City: Mexico City has long been a thriving capital. Before it was the capital of Mexico, it was the capital of the Aztec Empire, Tenochtitlan, which stood where the Centro Historico now stands. About an hour outside of Mexico City are the ancient ruins of Teotihuacan, a sprawling archaeological complex built between the 1st and 7th centuries.

Campeche: Campeche is a state in the Yucatan Peninsula that is far less visited by tourists than other areas in the region. But it is also a state that is one of the richest in Mayan ruins. Calakmul is its most famous, a city shrouded in thick jungle. Hardly visited, but overwhelmingly impressive, Calakmul is both a natural and cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site, with impeccably preserved ruins that date back 2,000 years.

San Miguel de Allende, one of Guanajuato's Magic Towns.

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Explore Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula with Go To Travel Guides' Pocket Guide To Cancun. Whether you're exploring the city alone, with friends or with family, you can create a personalised bucket list itinerary of all the special things you want to do in Cancun! Our essential information, best things to do, hand-picked restaurants and nightlife suggestions are all available offline! In addition to learning about the rich history of this Mayan wonder, book guided tours of Cancun's most popular attractions and nearby activities, such as Xcaret Park, Chichen Itza, Isla Mujeres and more! Use this free travel guide app to get cheap tickets and skip the lines at the tourist attractions. With our easy-to-use city guide & trip planner, your smartphone becomes your personal tour guide around Cancun. --> Make a Bucket List Itinerary of Things You Want To Do --> Book Discounted Cancun Tours and Beat The Crowds --> Reserve Tables at Cancun's Top Restaurants --> Discover the Best Nightclubs and Bars in Cancun --> Get Discounts on Cancun's Best Hotels & Resorts --> See Cancun's Top Attractions on Detailed Maps For more information about Go To Travel Guides, you can find us on: Our Website – www.gototravelguides.net Our Travel Blog – www.gototravelguides.net/blog Instagram – instagram.com/natandmase Facebook – facebook.com/gototravelguides Pinterest – pinterest.com/natandmase Twitter – twitter.com/natandmase Where Will YOU Explore Next?

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  1. Mexico City Travel Guide

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  4. Mexico City: A Travel Guide Updated 2021! · Eternal Expat

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  1. TRAVEL TO MEXICO CITY

  2. Must visit places in Mexico! #mexico #visitméxico

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  6. Top 19 things to do in Mexico City

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  1. Mexico City Travel Guide & Tips

    By Jessica Puckett 26 Best Hotels in Mexico City This city's choice of accommodations is as eclectic as the city itself. By Michaela Trimble and Susannah Rigg May 24, 2022 Editor Hotel...

  2. Mexico City Travel Guide: Vacation + Trip Ideas

    How to Plan a Trip to Mexico City — Including the Best Restaurants, Hotels, and Things to Do Discover the best hotels, restaurants, and things to do in Mexico City with this travel...

  3. Mexico City travel

    Mexico City Mexico, North America A high-octane megalopolis boasting old-school cantinas, intriguing museums, inspired dining and boating along ancient canals, Mexico City is the sun in the Mexican solar system. Best Time to Visit Best Things to Do Leave the planning to a local expert Experience the real Mexico City.

  4. 7 Day Mexico City Itinerary [Expert 2024 Trip Planner + Map]

    The first day on your Mexico City itinerary is all about taking in the neighborhoods of Roma Norte and Roma Sur . Start your day right with a big cafe burjo, and breakfast from Boicot Cafe. It's located right in the heart of Roma Norte, so it's a perfect jumping-off point to start your first day in Mexico City.

  5. Mexico City Travel Guide: Where to Eat, Stay & Play in 2024

    ⏰ Time Zone: Central Daylight Time (GMT-5) 💰 Currency: Mexican Peso 🗣 Language: Spanish, though English is common, and you may even hear some indigenous languages 🎫 Mexico Visa: The vast majority of travelers do not need a visa for Mexico — this includes Americans, Canadians, Japanese and most Europeans.

  6. 25 Mexico City Travel Tips for a First-Time Visitor: Local's Guide

    By Melissa Douglas November 13, 2023 If you are planning to visit Mexico City for the first time, the Mexico City travel tips contained in this post will help you stay safe and make the most of your vacation.

  7. Mexico City Travel Guide

    Overview Hotels Why Go To Mexico City Mexico's capital is one of the liveliest and largest cities in the world, with a renowned arts and culture scene (an entire district was designated a...

  8. The Ultimate Mexico City Travel Guide (51 Best Things to Do and See)

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  9. Mexico City Guide: Planning Your Trip

    This Mexico City travel guide will give you an introduction to the multi-faceted destination and has the information you need to plan your stay. Planning Your Trip Best Time to Visit: If you can, plan your trip for the springtime, specifically late March or early April.

  10. The Ultimate Travel Guide To Mexico City: What To See & When

    Published Nov 18, 2022 Visit Mexico's most underrated destination — its capital! Mexico City has historical attractions, lively markets, and delicious cuisine. Photo by Luis Domínguez on Unsplash A ground-level view of a statue and the sky in CDMX Quick Links What To Know When Visiting Mexico's Capital Best Time To Go

  11. 16 Best Things to Do in Mexico City

    Ranking of the top 16 things to do in Mexico City. Travelers favorites include #1 Museo Nacional de Antropología, #2 Bosque de Chapultepec and more. ... Mexico City Travel Guide Mexico ...

  12. 11 things to know before traveling to Mexico City

    1. What should I pack for Mexico City? Mexico City is privileged in the weather department since it enjoys a consistent temperature averaging the low 20°Cs most of the year. Summer is considered the rainy season.

  13. Mexico City Travel Guide

    Get information on Mexico City Travel Guide - Expert Picks for your Vacation hotels, restaurants, entertainment, shopping, sightseeing, and activities. Read the Fodor's reviews, or post your own.

  14. Mexico City

    🛍️ Markets 🗓️ Best Time to Visit 🚌 Getting Around 👉 Tips 🧳 What to Pack A March Afternoon at the Park in the Juarez Neighborhood Why We Love Mexico City: Mexico City, the country's wonderfully green capital, attracts over 97 million tourists every single year, and for good reason.

  15. The 27 Best Things to Do in Mexico City

    Mexico City Destinations The 27 Best Things to Do in Mexico City Everything to do in one of the very oldest cities in the Americas. By Scarlett Lindeman March 20, 2023 Mexico City is...

  16. Solo Travel To Mexico City: Your Ultimate Guide (With Map!)

    For a solo traveler, a decent hotel in Mexico City starts at $55 USD. Street food is around $3 USD while a meal at a nice restaurant can cost $9 USD. If you want to splurge on accommodations, many five-star hotels start from $90 USD. Tasting menus in very popular restaurants cost $90 - $120 USD.

  17. Mexico City Budget Travel Guide (Updated 2024)

    Mexico City Travel Guide Last Updated: September 2, 2023 Mexico City is a sprawling, chaotic, messy city in the best way possible. Here you'll find world-class museums, monumental churches, grand plazas, historic buildings, lush parks, and one of the best food scenes in the world.

  18. Mexico City Travel Guide

    Overview When's the best time to go to Mexico City? Weather-wise, it's almost always a good time to visit Mexico City. Because of the altitude (7,382 feet), temperatures remain fairly stable throughout the year, averaging in the mid-50s to low 70s. (Bring a light jacket and scarf and you'll be fine.)

  19. Mexico City Travel Guide

    Rough Guides® is a trademark owned by Apa Group with its headquarters at 7 Bell Yard London WC2A 2JR, United Kingdom. Plan your visit to Mexico City, Mexico: find out where to go and what to do in Mexico City with Rough Guides. Read about itineraries, activities, places to stay and travel essentials and get inspiration from the blog in the ...

  20. 4 Days in Mexico City: Epic Itinerary and Travel Guide

    Table of Contents. Where to Stay in Mexico City. Itinerary for 4 Days in Mexico City. Day 1. Enjoy Breakfast at a Delicious Cafe. Wander Through Mercado de la Ciudadela. Visit the Palacio de Bellas Artes. Take in the Views from the the 8th Floor of Sears.

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    BTW: El Cardenal has several locations, but the best one is on Calle de Palma. Get there early to secure a table or you might have to wait an hour before getting seated. El Cardenal, Calle de la ...

  22. Mexico City Travel 2024: The Complete Guide

    Mexico City usually boasts highs in the 70s and low-80s in the winter, but it does drop to the low 40s at night. Spring: May is the hottest month of the year in Mexico City, with temperatures in the mid-70s to low-80s (in other words: perfect). Temperatures in the spring usually hover around 70 degrees during the day.

  23. Essential Travel Guide to Mexico City

    Mexico City is well known for their food scene, which spans from amazing street food to high-end restaurants, and even a few of the world's top 50 restaurants, like Pujol. You don't wan to miss these specialties while in the city: El Caguamo for fresh seafood (Centro) La Reina de la Roma for carnitas (Colonia Roma)

  24. Exploring Mexico City

    Explore the Historic Center - Dive into the heart of Mexico City at the Zócalo (main square). Enjoy the historic buildings, including the Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Palace, the Palacio de Bellas Artes, and the Templo Mayor archaeological site. Here you will see events, festivals, and gatherings throughout the year.

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  27. Cancun Travel Guide & Planner 4+

    With our easy-to-use city guide & trip planner, your smartphone becomes your personal tour guide around Cancun. --> Make a Bucket List Itinerary of Things You Want To Do. --> Book Discounted Cancun Tours and Beat The Crowds. --> Reserve Tables at Cancun's Top Restaurants. --> Discover the Best Nightclubs and Bars in Cancun.