ways to travel in mexico city

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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 

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.

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

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). 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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 

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.

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

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 

Melissa Douglas

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Home > Mexico > Mexico City Travel Tips

Mexico City Travel Tips: 20 Dos and Don'ts No One Tells You

Make Mexico City Your Even Favorite-er City

These travel tips are part of our local, loco, (not) low-cal Mexico City blog , which includes our city guide , favorite local food , why bike , and report on pulque .

Mexico City is our favorite city to visit over and over again. And even though we think we know the city pretty well by now, every time we go we learn a few things that make it our even favorite-er city. These things we've learned are the Mexico City travel tips we're sharing below.

If you haven’t been before, these tips will probably make Mexico City your favorite city too. And if this ain’t your first rodeo a) You obviously have great taste in travel destinations, and b) Prepare to make your tastes even tastier.

Either way, these Mexico City travel tips will upgrade your perception of the DF CDMX.

Tips for your Trip

These Mexico City travel tips are split into four sections. Jump to directly to any one by clicking these shortcut links:

• Upon Arrival
• While in Mexico City
• Things Not to Do
• Before Leaving

As Soon As You Arrive in Mexico City

✓  get a cell phone sim.

You're going to need data in Mexico City to use Uber and the EcoBici shared bikes ( see below ), so get a SIM card immediately upon arriving. Dealing with a cell phone company is far from the most pleasant way to start your trip, but it'll make your trip more pleasant.

You can get a local SIM in the airport at the Telcel office in Terminal 1 or at an Oxxo or 7-11. They'll help you set it up. Here's what you need to get started:

• A SIM card. This shouldn't cost more than 150 pesos. It should come with  and it should come with some "welcome credit."
• A basic Amigo Sin Limite plan. Get the 50 peso one, which entitles you to 7 days of unlimited calling and messages to Mexico, USA, and Canada and 300 MB of data. This likely will be included with the cost of your SIM card.
• An Internet Amigos plan for extra data. It costs 150 pesos for 1 GB.

Tip:   By default, Telcel sets up your account so that if you add credit ( una recarga in Spanish) it will automatically be used to buy the most expensive Amigos Sin Limite plan possible. To have more control over what you buy when you do a recarga, ask that they change your account accordingly.

More Tips: Read this more detailed guide to SIM cards in Mexico  if you're still in doubt.

T-Mobile User?: Eric comments below that your phone will work just the same as in the US (and France, Germany, Japan, and other countries), for no extra charge.

✓  Withdraw as many pesos as possible

In the interest of reducing the number of ATM trips you need to make and foreign withdrawal fees, take out as much cash as you can all at once. You're going to need it. Cash is still king in Mexico City and it will remain that way until business owners can no longer dodge taxes by taking it as payment.

Don't worry about withdrawing more than you need. As you'll soon discover in our final Mexico City travel tip below, you can actually make money off any pesos you haven't spent by the end of your trip!

Bank of America client?: Eric comments that you can make withdrawals from Scotiabank ATMs free of charge and with the prime rate so long as you refuse the insurance and say No to the proposed exchange rate at the last step of your withdrawal.

✓  Buy a plug-in mosquito repelling device

One of the few things that suck about Mexico City is the mosquitos. There aren't swarms like in the Amazon or Northern Canada, but they still have a remarkable ability to ruin your sleep.

Nothing 60 pesos ($3 USD) can't fix, though.

At the nearest convenience store or supermarket, pick up a little white plug-in device that uses blue tabs, put in a socket near your bed every night, and enjoy a blissful sleep.

We swear by the things. Our last two times in Mexico City, we "donated blood" for a couple nights, got fed up, got a mosquito repelling thing, and slept blissfully from then on.

Note: The things don't seem to exist on Amazon. We looked. Just get one when you arrive.

✓  Sign up for EcoBici

Despite the popular belief that Mexican traffic is as loco as swallowing a habanero whole, Mexico City is actually a surprisingly bike-friendly city. Side roads are mostly empty, the roads are flat, and drivers are more likely to honk one of those custom Mexican sexy whistle horns at you than an angry one.

If you're comfortable biking, sign up for EcoBici, Mexico City's bike share program, as soon as possible.

To give you an idea of how handy it is, in our most recent week in town we did over 40 rides covering 150 km.

For everything you need to know to spice up your Mexico City trip with EcoBici, including its pros and cons, how to use it, where to use it, and whether it's safe for you or not, don't miss our guide .

Warning: As Marcia learned the hard way and warns in the comments, don't sign up for EcoBici until you are ready to use it, because your account automatically initiates upon payment.

Related: How to Experience More of CDMX, Faster, by Using EcoBici

Travel Tips for a Better Time in Mexico City

✓  ask for samples at restaurants.

If you're unsure of which sauce, mole, or pulque flavor to order at a restaurant, ask for samples. Just about every restaurant and bar will be happy to oblige. That way you'll make the right choice every time and experience more flavors. Plus it's free.

✓  Get on the rooftops

The Google search results for "Best rooftop bar in Mexico City" suck. The places that show up in the results are higher-end than they are high up, often covered, and have no views.

We know because we went up to each of them and generally came back down quickly and unimpressed.

But we found a few worth climbing the stairs up to (…or pushing the button in the elevator).

Mexico City Rooftop Bars:

• Terraza Catedral , has 35 peso draft beers and views of the Zocalo. It's better than El Mayor's rooftop bar and restaurant three blocks down the way. On weekdays it's "open at 1 p.m." (not really; see tip below) to the public. On weekends it opens at 6 p.m. and there's a cover fee.
• El Balcon del Zocalo's name is self-explanatory. It's ideal for a fancier welcome or goodbye dinner.
• Pulqueria Insurgentes doesn't have a view, but its got a refreshingly airy and unpretentious rooftop. On Sundays, their pulque is buy-one-get-one-free, and on Mondays all alcoholic drinks are half-priced.

Save these bars' locations and those of 19 more of our favorite restaurants, cafés, and street food right to your phone's Google Maps by getting our free Mexico City treasures map, below .

✓  Burn off those buns (and tortillas)

Without a doubt, the best part about Mexico City is the food. The more food you eat, the better your trip will be. So how do you eat as much as humanly possible?

Working up an appetite with exercise.

Here are some fun (and mostly free) places to get your non-habanero-induced sweat on:

• Hapi Fitness (first class 100 pesos): You'll be thinking "help-me" not "hapi" while doing a Hapi Fitness class, but we guarantee you'll be happy afterward. What's more, you'll emerge from the studio and find yourself right inside Dosis Cafe, where you can immediately reward yourself with a tasty pastry.
• Park 54   (1st class free): Quick, dirty, and sweaty, Park 54's group circuit workouts will get you pumped and pump you up for a big day.
• Gandhi Circuit in Chapultapec Park  (Public, see Google Maps ): This 1-km loop through the trees with a small workout area in the middle is a good spot for a breath huff-and-puff of fresh air.
• Outdoor calisthenic parks  (Public): You can find chin-up bars and other apparatus for doing bodyweight workouts right beside Insurgentes metro station, in Parque Espana, in front of Qi Fitness in Condesa, and in the Centro.

Related: 9 Fun & Fast Tricks We Use to Stay Fit While Traveling

✓  Venture into a pulqueria

Pulque is kombucha with attitude. It's a gut-friendly fermented drink with 3-to-8-percent alcohol that you can only find within a day's drive Mexico's high plains.

It's not necessarily taste-bud friendly, though. Raw pulque is an acquired taste whose appeal is hurt by the fact that people too often compare its texture to that of semen. But if you give it a chance, get a curado that's blended with fruits, and compare it to yogurt-mixed-with-beer instead of sperm, there's a good chance you'll enjoy it.

Even if you can't swallow the stuff, pulquerias are worth venturing into for their dive-y, old school atmosphere and for the chance to meet the curious characters who you'll be drinking beside.

As for which pulqueria to go to, as a general rule of thumb the farther the pulqueria is from tourist attractions, the better.

If you're interested in trying this "kombucha on steroids," make sure to check our guide to its up-and-down-and-up-again history, amazing nutritional benefits, and where to get it in Mexico City.

✓  At least stay in the Condesa / Roma Norte area

As we explain in the neighborhood overview of our Mexico City first-timers' guide , it's the ideal area to base your stay. It's central, safe, cosmopolitan, and has tons of places for eating, shopping, exercising, and eating some more.

Condesa / Roma Norte has plenty of boutique hotels and hostels. If we were rich or it were our honeymoon, we'd stay at the Nima Local House or La Valise .

Related: Quick and Dirty Mexico City First-Timers' Guide

✓  Read these other blogs' Mexico City travel tips

Here are a couple other posts with not-obvious, original, and actually helpful Mexico City travel tips:

• What not to Do in Mexico City: Advice from a Local , by Northern Lauren
• 17 Things to Know Before You Go to Mexico City , by Explore Parts Unknown

✓  Try these tips and tricks to change the way you travel

You're sure to find at least one idea that will change the way you travel in our list of our best travel tips and tricks . It has everything from advanced, experimental travel tips and tricks to practical but oft-overlooked ones to dumb advice we hear others give too often (and what to do instead).

What NOT to Do in Mexico City

✗  Don't be a wuss

Worried that your ice cubes might be made from tap water?

Suck it up and suck down your drink anyways.

Wondering where that food's been and how long it's been sitting out?

Tell your selfish yuppy gut bacteria they need to make some Mexican friends. It's good for all of you.

Concerned that you'll stick out like a sore thumb in a poorer neighborhood?

Hate to break it to you, but the people in those neighborhoods are too preoccupied with more important things to care about your presence.

Get over yourself and don't be a wuss.

✗  Don't look like a tourist

Even if you're a big, light-haired, fair-skinned guy like Chris you  should at least try to look like a local resident instead of a tourist.

That means no flip-flops under any circumstances, and no shorts unless it's blisteringly hot outside.

Otherwise, it's so obvious you're a tourist that you may as well wear your national flag as a cape, paint your face in the same colors, and fan yourself with 500 peso bills.

✗  Don't pay for water

You know how full-serve gas station attendants try to upsell you on premium gas and you have to say, "No, just regular, please"? Well that's how it is with water at restaurants in Mexico City.

When you ask for water your waiter will default to bringing you an expensive bottle. But if you ask the right way, they'll begrudgingly give you a glass of filtered water for free.

Ask for " agua del filtro ." Most likely, the server will pretend not to understand at first, so insist. Say, " Un vaso de agua del garrafon " (a glass from the jug). Repeat if necessary.

The waiter will eventually relent and bring you your water, saving you some pesos and saving the environment from another empty bottle.

✗  Don't wait in super long in lines

Here's a hot travel take: Anything you need to wait around in line with other tourists for is not worth doing.

For example, unless you're such a Frida fan that you've grown a unibrow in her honor, it's not worth it (unless you buy in advance, as per the tip below). Also, instead of waiting to blow your pesos with other hip gringos at Hotel Condesa's bar, get some pulque at Pulqueria Insurgentes. And rather than wait forever for a pastry from Rosetta go up the street to the much more spacious Cafe NIN, which has the exact same treats minus the line.

But when it comes to less-touristy attractions, don't be scared off by rumors of lineups. Three of our favorite food spots —Fonda Margarita, Esquina Chilaquil, and Tacos Don Juan—were said to have hour-plus long lines, but in all three cases we waited no more than twenty minutes. We suspect the locals exaggerate to keep annoying tourists away.

Tip: Save yourself a couple of hours waiting to get into the Frida museum by buying tickets in advance on this site or doing a tour, like this this highly-rated Airbnb experience , that includes VIP skip-the-line entry. (Thanks to Nina for this tip. She also recommends paying extra for a guide or audio tour, which she regrets not doing.)

✗  Don't go anywhere when it's close to its opening or closing hours

Based on our experience, opening and closing hours are suggestions in Mexico City, not reality.

Inevitably, the person running the shop, restaurant, or bar will have an excuse to open later than advertised and close earlier.

Being naive to this reality (perhaps due to Chris' always-on-time Swiss ancestry) and slow learners, we went but had to come back another time to four different places during our trip: Helado Obscuro, Terraza Catedral, Minichelista, and Pulqueria La Nuclear.

✗  Don't trust strangers who approach you in perfect English

We were minding our own business eating some Dorilokos near the Anthropology Museum when a frazzled-looking white guy approached. In perfect English, he rambled on about how he was robbed in a taxi and was desperate to catch his flight. He asked for twenty to thirty dollars for a taxi, saying he would repay us later via PayPal.

We asked him to screw off. There was a fluent-English speaking tourist booth beside us whose job it is to help out people like him, so he was clearly a scammer.

A similar situation happened near Bellas Artes with a guy at one of those three-cups-one-ball sleight-of-hand games who asked us to "help him out for a sec."

Long story short, if you have the face of a sucker like we apparently do, there's a decent chance you'll be approached by indecent people trying to scam you. If they have suspiciously good English, be suspicious.

If you feel bad, do something nice for a stranger when you get home to make up for it.

✗  Don't take taxis

We don't know about you, but we prefer not to pay more money to expose ourselves to a higher risk of getting ripped off and getting lost. That's why we use Uber in Mexico City.

As an example, an official taxi from the airport to Roma Norte costs 220 pesos. Uber costs 130. Use those 90 pesos you save towards getting yourself a Mexican SIM card ( see above ) so you can use Uber.

Don't overlook other forms of transit, too. Biking, the bus, and the metro can be faster and are certainly cheaper. See our Mexico City Guide for more on getting around.

Before You Leave Mexico City

✓  buy your souvenir mezcal or tequila in the city, not at the airport duty-free.

The selection of booze in Mexico City's airport duty-free is expensive and only has brands you can buy in liquor stores back home.

Get a cheaper, better, more unique bottle in town. Bundle it up before packing it in your check-in luggage, pray it doesn't get smashed en route, then share it with your friends while exaggerating about how sought-after the particular brand it is.

✓  Make some money on the exchange rate

Mexico City airport currency exchange booths will pay you to take US dollars off their hands.

For example, Chris exchanged 720 pesos to dollars at the end of our trip. According to the official exchange rate that day, those pesos should have been worth $36 USD. But they gave him $37. He made $1 profit, which is more than this blog earns him most days.

If you happen to have have $10K cash in your bank account, you can exploit this loophole to make hundreds of dollars.

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Read This Next:

These Mexico City travel tips are part of our Local, Loco, and (Not) Low-Cal Mexico City blog.

Discover a whole lot more tasty tips by completing the series:

Mexico City Guide: 12 F.A.Qs for 1st Timers

How to Eat Like a Local in Mexico City: 15 Surefire Favorites

How to Explore Mexico City by Bike

Pulque: A Guide to Mexico's Kombucha on Steroids

50+ Travel Tips and Tricks That Will Change the Way You Travel

Disclosure: Whenever possible, we use links that earn us a cut if you pay for stuff we recommend. It costs you nothing, so we'd be crazy not to. Read our affiliate policy .

26 thoughts on “Mexico City Travel Tips: 20 Dos and Don'ts No One Tells You”

Great tips for visiting Mexico city. I like how you promote visiting local places. You have a to be a bit extra cautious when visiting Mexico.

Thanks for the perspective Henry. I agree you have to be cautious when visiting Mexico, but honestly you have to be cautious in any foreign country. Even in Vancouver, where we are now, you can find yourself in trouble if you're naive and careless. As for CDMX specifically, based on our experience and that of our friends who've been there and lived there, I'd definitely say it's way, WAY safer than most people think. As safe as many American cities. But just like in those cities, you're right that you gotta be careful.

Thanks for the tips! I'm planning a trip to Mexico City for the first time in February and I'm curious to hear why you think the Frida Khalo museum isn't worth it. I was planning to get tickets in advance to try to avoid the lines, but I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Hey Olivia. That's a really fair question. The reason I'd say it's overrated is because of the huge line that wastes so much precious CDMX time and because people go because other people go, even if they don't give a crap about art or Kahlo. They may as well go to one of the many other, but less popular, museum. But if you can avoid the line by getting a ticket and if you go in already with a true appreciation of Kahlo and desire to learn more, then by all means it's a good idea. Most people don't fit those criteria, though.

"The Blue House" is a marvelous 'don't miss' home that reflects so much of who Frieda Kahlo was. Colorful, decorated in this artist's very particular taste. One of the few city spots to which I often return..I am an artist. Much of my work – water color and photography, is of Mejico…

"Fair skinned, blonde haired" I see you poking fun at yourself. Really appreciate the post, been trying to collect as much information as possible. We're headed to CDMX mid February. I didn't see any mention of Xochilmilco canals or the ruins of Teotithuacan. Any recommendations? Priced a potential tour but more expensive than expecting. We are thinking maybe uber and tour ourselves. Vale la pena?

Also, lucha libre, yes or no?

Thanks – Mary

Hi Mary, Thanks for the questions!

We share our brief takes on Xochimilco, Teotihuacan, and lucha libre in our "Quick and Dirty Mexico City Guide" . Of the three, we'd recommend lucha libre the highest… even though we haven't done it. All our friends who have, even those who we wouldn't suspect would like it, gave us rave reviews.

On the other two, in addition to what we write in the Quick and Dirty guide I'd say the biggest determinant of whether to go or not is how much time you have. We consider neither to be absolute "must dos" for trip of less than a week, especially since the time you lose going there and back is precious. And if you want to get out of town, it's possibly even worth considering a pueblo like Tepotzlan instead.

Whatever you decide, have a fantastic trip. And if you discover tips of your own, or ones of ours you disagree with (politely of course), please come back to share it!

"For example, unless you’re such a Frida fan that you’ve grown a unibrow in her honor, it’s not worth it."

Are you seriously suggesting that Casa Azul isn't worth the wait? Instead of skipping the museum, I'd suggest planning your day better. There's tours that help you skip the line.

Fair enough, Julia. Sorry maybe for making you frown so much you almost have a unibrow yourself.

I would bet that a good percentage of people waiting in line are waiting simple because everyone else said to go. They could either plan better like you say, or prioritize based on their own interests.

Yeah, don't take a taxi! Much better to support this Uber exploiter company. by the way: a bus or metro would be even cheaper. But that is too local perhaps.

From taxi scammers to uber exploiters. What's next in the evolution? You're right, Momo, that we should mention buses and metro here. I'll update the post. Thanks!

OMG This post had me absolutely cracking up! "Tell your yuppie gut to make some Mexican friends." LOL what an incredible line! I am heading to Mexico (but CDMX for only 2 days) and am so thankful I found this post! Great tips. We are going to the Frida Khalo house, but got skip the line tickets in advance, and though I'm not a huge fan of art and museums, do love her for all that she accomplished as a female Mexican artist. As a traveler watching the budget I definitely appreciate all the local and more affordable tips!

Hey Nina, Thanks. It's nice to hear at least some people appreciate my attempts at humor.

Now that you mention it, I should mention the skip-the-line option for Frida. Thanks!

If you come up with any other tips to add from your experience, let me know. If I like it, I'll add it and link to your site as a shout-out.

Buen viaje!

Any comments on airlines between cities in Mexico. I don't want to waste time taking 6 hour bus trips, but the airlines have lots of negative reviews. Thanks!

Sorry, Jaimee, but I've mostly bussed around Mexico so I don't have enough experience on the airlines to help out. Any other reader with tips, please chime in!

Hi Jaimee, I highly recommend flying with a Mexican airline. Just be aware of the extra costs for luggage (that's why I always travel only with hand luggage), especially with the cheaper airlines. I have tried many airlines like Volaris, Air Mexico, Aeromar, VivaAerobús and even small airplanes with only 12 passengers and they were all very reliable. Let me know if you have more questions. And enjoy Mexico!

Great tips, guys (and gals). Thank!!

Two more we can add from recent experience.

1) Bank of America partners with ScotiaBank for ATM service in MX (and much of Latin America?) There are no fees for using a BoA ATM card at a Scotiabank AND you get prime exchange rate BUT a) you have to refuse the insurance and b) you have to say NO to their proposed excange rate (which is the last question the ATM asks you). Also there is seldom a Scotiabank location where you need it.

Regarding Cell Phones, T-mobile is a German company, and therefore they are aware that there are other countries in the world besides the US. They have partners in MX, Japan, France and – not surprisingly – Germany (these we have used ourselves) plus MANY more countries. When you arrive in a country with a T-mobile partner, you receive a text from them welcoming you, and then magically, your phone works, calls, texts, data, the whole enchilada. It's almost like living in the 21st Century !!

Thanks, Eric! I've updated the post with these tips of yours. Hope you enjoyed/are enjoying CDMX!

It’s a little concerning that you’re downplaying water safety precautions. “Don’t be a wuss. Suck it up and suck up the water?” I work in travel medicine and traveler’s diarrhea is the #1 sickness people get while visiting other countries. Not to mention other food and water borne illnesses like typhoid fever and Hepatitis A that can be difficult to treat in other countries. Most travelers who are new to the area should indeed be taking these precautions seriously. Contracting one of these illnesses can completely ruin one’s trip. Also, your verbiage and choice of words like “suck” and poking fun at unibrows is distasteful.

Thanks for sharing your tastes, Rae. Truly. It helps other readers to have varying opinions.

I love your blogpost and loved Mexico City so much! It was actually nicer than I expected. I thought it would be hectic, dirty and loud, but it was such an amazing city. We stayed in Roma Norte, but this would not be my first choice for my next time, because it has a lively (gay) party scene. I would go to Condesa or Reforma next time. I also recommend getting a creditcard with pesos on it, because they do accept a card in many places. And my final advice: just go!

Amazing blog! Thank you for making me want to visit Mexico right now. I just wanna share I use this website https://www.holidayhare.com/city/mexico-city/4075 to check country/city info like weather, visa requirements etc. before I travel. 🙂

We are planning a trip to Mexico next year, I wanted to check out your airbnb links but they don't seem to be working. Can you provide that info again??

Hi Amanda. Sorry but it seems they're not available anymore, so I've removed them from this post. Thanks for the heads up. Enjoy your stay!

Love this but frustrating that i signed up for a 3 day ecobicci prior to my trip It starts today and expires before i even arrive! I thought it would start on my initiation Maybe you should warm people not to sign up till you are ready to use it

How annoying! Thanks for the warning, Marcia. I've added the heads up to the post.

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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

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!

Looking for new proven ways to save money on flights and airfare to Mexico? The easy solution is to sign up for Going , the leading way to find flight deals and mistake fares, directly to your inbox. Use HALFHALF20 to get 20% off!

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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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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

• ✈️ 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?

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.

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).

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 ⤵

Xochimilco Boat Cruise

Teotihuacan Pyramids

Chapultepec Park & Castle

Mexico City Museums

Mexico City Day Trips

Lucha Libre Mexican Wrestling

Stroll Centro Historico

Eat ( way too many ) Tacos

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?

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 🇲🇽

Mexico City Day of the Dead Parade 2024: Ultimate Guide

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

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!

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 .

🧳 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?

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?

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!

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 City   Travel Guide

Courtesy of Torresigner | Getty Images

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 UNESCO World Heritage Site) and some of the best cuisine in the Western Hemisphere. Even better, Mexico City is affordable – and safer than you might expect of a city its size. It promises visitors an unforgettable stay, perfect for the frugal, culture-loving traveler who feels at home in a large, crowded place. If you want the full experience, some say you should spend at least a week in the city so that you'll see most of the historic and popular sights. Even after a week, you'll find plenty more to explore. In short, it's best to plan extensively before diving in.

Founded in 1325 as Tenochtitlan, the city was colonized by the Spanish in 1521 and later dubbed "Mexico." Today, at nearly 500 years old, its pre-colonial history is alive throughout much of the modern-day capital. The city is overflowing with opportunities to study the country's rich and conflicted past. But it's also one of the most densely populated cities in the world, and although it does grapple with common urban problems like crime and pollution, many neighborhoods – including Condesa and Polanco – are as safe as any city in the United States or Europe. To experience this bustling metropolis with the help of a local, consider signing up for one of the best Mexico City tours .

Find Flight and Hotel Deals

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• # 2 in Best Cheap Mexico Vacations
• # 12 in Best Places to Visit in Mexico for 2023

Best of Mexico City

Best hotels in mexico city.

• # 1 in Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City
• # 2 in The St. Regis Mexico City
• # 4 in Las Alcobas, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Mexico City

Best Things to Do in Mexico City

• # 1 in Museo Nacional de Antropología
• # 2 in Bosque de Chapultepec
• # 3 in Palacio de Bellas Artes

Popular Tours

Hot Air Balloon Flight over Teotihuacan, from Mexico City

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from $ 161.97

Balloon flight with pick up in CDMX + Breakfast in a natural cave

(657 reviews)

from $ 173.97

Xochimilco, Coyoacán & Frida Kahlo Museum

(5623 reviews)

from $ 43.00

Mexico City Travel Tips

Best months to visit.

The best time to visit Mexico City is between March and May, even though the streets are pretty crowded this time of year. Your trade-off is beautiful weather, especially considering the city's winters can be chilly and the summers can be rainy. You'll want to prepare yourself for the high elevation – Mexico City sits about 7,382 feet above sea level – by drinking plenty of water, slathering on sunscreen and taking it easy (and limiting alcohol intake) your first few days. Another thing to keep in mind: Mexico City's air pollution is notoriously poor, so on days when the pollution is the worst you'll likely want to travel with a mask and relegate yourself to indoor activities.

Weather in Mexico City

Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center

What You Need to Know

You're high in the sky The city is more than 7,000 feet above sea level, so you can expect a tougher time breathing, and maybe sleeping, for the first few days. Try not to exert yourself in the thin air and limit the amount of alcohol you consume. Also drink plenty of water.

And speaking of water You've probably heard it before, but let us reiterate, you should never drink from the tap in Mexico. Most hotels have lots of bottled water on hand.

You're not at the beach Many people associate Mexico with the balmy temperatures of the coast – but Mexico City has a temperate climate. Pack some long sleeves and anticipate chilly evenings, even in summer.

Enlist the help of a local Whether you want help navigating the local food scene or are hoping to plan a day trip to  Teotihuacán , a guided tour can help you make the most of your time in Mexico City.

How to Save Money in Mexico City

Take public transportation  We really can't stress enough that driving would be a mistake. Plus, riding the bus or the metro costs less than $1.

Stay in the city center  Also known as the Centro Histórico, this part of town is close to the key sights (so you'll spend even less on transportation), and it has the lowest hotel rates.

Try  comida corrida  Or the three- or four-course lunches that many restaurants serve at a fixed price.

Culture & Customs

Mexico has a vast and varied history that still impacts its culture today. The culture blends native traditions and beliefs of the Mesoamerican natives (largely Aztec in the capital) with customs brought by the Spaniards, plus a great sense of pride brought by Mexican independence in 1810 and the Mexican Revolution in the early 20th century. 

Spanish is the official language of Mexico and is universally spoken in Mexico City and throughout the country. But Mexico has a still-vibrant indigenous tradition, and more than 100 Native American languages remain alive in the country. One of the most popular indigenous languages in Mexico is Nahuatl, which is spoken by about 1.5 million people in Mexico. Because the city is a business and tourist hub, it caters to travelers who speak a variety of languages – including English – meaning you should have little trouble communicating.  

Typically in Mexico, women greet each other with a pat on the arm or shoulder, while men shake hands. Late arrivals are customary – and even considered polite – at most gatherings. Keep in mind that it's not advised to drink the tap water, but most establishments have a large supply of bottled water. Also, if you encounter the word "gringo" (defined by a person, especially an American, who is not Hispanic or Latino), don't be offended. It's simply the only word in Spanish that describes a white person. 

What to Eat

One thing you'll find an abundance of in Mexico City is  comida  (food). After all, there are almost 9 million people to feed in the city. Chances are you're familiar with some Mexican staples, such as tacos, quesadillas and tamales. But there's more to Mexico City's culinary culture. 

You'll find that lunch (or  almuerzo ) is typically the largest meal of the day, and yours may include  cerveza  (beer) or tequila. Dinner doesn't usually take place until later at night and consists of lighter dishes. Street food is ingrained in the culture here, dating back to pre-Hispanic times. You'll likely find anything you could want at these street stalls, and even some specialties like  chapulines  (roasted grasshoppers). Several of the best tours in Mexico City are specificially designed for discerning foodies in need of a little guidance navigating the city's colorful markets.

Some foods that are unique to the Mexico City area are tacos al pastor – which includes marinated pork that's been cooked on a rotisserie (called a trompo) and thinly sliced off before being served in tortillas with onion and pineapple. Another Mexico City original is  huarache  (fried corn tortillas topped with meat, cheese, beans, potatoes, cream and salsa). Is your mouth watering yet? 

Establishments range from hole-in-the-wall mezcal bars to fine dining restaurants and everything in between. One of the best foodie neighborhoods is  Condesa , which offers popular restaurants and booming nightlife. But you could stumble upon amazing flavors all over the city. 

While some travelers fear that Mexico City is too dangerous; the city has managed to keep its distance from the drug war that has affected many other parts of the country. Still, common sense and wise precautions should be used to ensure a safe vacation. To avoid robberies in cabs, call for a " sitio " or " turismo " car from your  hotel  or hostel. These cars are registered with the government and remain very safe and affordable options for travel around the city. Some do suggest you steer clear of the yellow or green libre cabs.

Avoid carrying large amounts of money or valuables while in the city, due to high incidences of pickpocketing. Although the  U.S. State Department  warns citizens to exercise caution when traveling to certain parts of Mexico, it does not caution visitors against traveling to Mexico City. However, it is advisable to avoid any political demonstrations that are frequent in the capital city. 

Getting Around Mexico City

The best way to get around Mexico City is via Uber or a taxi. The metro is another option. Not only is it fairly clean and quick, but you can ride for approximately $0.25. Plus, most popular tourist attractions are easily accessible by train. Several different types of buses motor through the main square ( el Zócalo ) and its busiest streets – they are also an affordable option.

Taxis are slightly more expensive, but they are a hassle-free means of getting to the city center from the Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX), which is about 6 miles east of the Centro Histórico. Uber is a safe and more affordable way to navigate the city. Driving yourself is not a great idea – either to and from the airport or around town.

Entry & Exit Requirements

To travel to Mexico, U.S. residents require a valid United States passport. You must also fill out a tourist card before arrival. Tourist cards – and the accompanying fee – are usually provided by your airline. For more information entry and exit requirements, visit the U.S. State Department's  site .

Beautiful gardens surround  Chalpultepec Castle .

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23 Must-Read Mexico City Travel Tips

By: Author Laura Bronner

Posted on Last updated: March 10, 2022

Sharing is caring!

I’ve been living in and writing about Mexico City for almost five years now (wow, time flies!). It’s a city that can be hard to navigate at first so I hope these Mexico City travel tips serve as a way to make the planning process a whole lot easier.

Mexico City is one of the most densely populated cities in the whole world. It’s also sprawling and chaotic and beautiful and packed with history and culture that is well worth exploring.

But you already knew that.

That’s why you want to read some Mexico City travel tips in the first place. 

Helpful Mexico City Travel Tips

1. think about what mexico city neighborhood you want to be .

Getting around Mexico City isn’t impossible, but getting between the different suburbs can take a little bit longer than you might think. So it’s best to base yourself where you believe you’re going to spend the most time.

The major neighborhoods where tourists prefer to stay most include Roma, Condesa , Centro Historico, and Polanco . These are all quite centrally located neighborhoods and perfect for your first time in Mexico City.

If you want to stay somewhere different, you may want to consider Coyoacan . This is a beautiful neighborhood in the southern part of Mexico City with tons of things to see and do and some really great food.

However, you will be about a 30 minute Uber or metro-ride away from the downtown area.

If you’re visiting Mexico City for the first time, you may want to stay in the Centro Historico (pictured here) where a ton of museums and restaurants are!

2. Book a cool boutique hotel or stylish Airbnb

Mexico City has some seriously cool boutique hotels. 

I’ve written reviews of my experience at Chaya B&B in the Centro Historico, Condesa Haus in Condesa, and La Palomilla B&B in Roma Norte. 

These are all really well located, super stylish, and very comfortable. All of them include seriously delicious breakfast options and friendly front-desk staff who can help you plan your tours or recommend good local restaurants.

Alternatively, there are also more and more Airbnbs popping up in Mexico City (which of course are affecting rent prices in these neighborhoods, so something to consider).

These are my favorite Airbnb places in Mexico City that I’ve either stayed in myself or friends have stayed in while visiting.

The master suite at Chaya B&B includes this gorgeous bathtub setup.

3. Make your restaurant reservations in advance

If you want to check out the top restaurants in Mexico City like Pujol, Quintonil, Lorea, or Contramar, you will need to think about making these reservations at least two weeks in advance, if not more. 

I made my Pujol and Quintonil reservations over a month in advance. You can only start booking two months in advance, but once you have your flights booked, you will definitely want to look into making these reservations if they are high on your priority list.

I have made video reviews of both Pujol ( here ) and Quintonil ( here ) which I think offer helpful insight if you are trying to choose between the two.

If you do miss a chance at booking a table at one of these places, I highly recommend checking out Sud 777 and Merotoro. Both are equally fantastic options and don’t tend to book out quite as quickly.

Be sure not to miss out on these other restaurant lists either:

• Best Restaurants in Condesa
• Best Restaurants in Polanco
• Best Restaurants in Roma
• Best Restaurants in Mexico City Right now

If you don’t want to miss the mole madre at Pujol, be sure to book well in advance!

4. Take a food or history tour of the city

One of my biggest Mexico City travel tips is to spend a day or two with an expert. There are so many cultural activities in CDMX and you can get much deeper beneath the surface with a guide who really knows their stuff.

If you’ve never been to Mexico City before, I highly recommend at least taking a food tour. It’s a way to better understand the culture and people of this city.

The best foodie tour guides in Mexico City are Ubish Yaren of Mexico Underground and Anais of Devoured Tours . If you want to get to know the food scene in this city with a knowledgable local, you can’t go wrong with either of them.

If you really want to take a tour with either of these locals, be sure to book well in advance because they book out pretty quick.

I also highly recommend tours with Tasty Food Bites Tours . They are slightly more affordable while taking you around some of the absolute best restaurants in Roma and Condesa.

Their top chef tour is the perfect way to sample several of the best restaurants in these neighborhoods without having to make reservations or using up too many of your meals.

For fantastic historical tours of the city, the best in the business are Journeys Beyond the Surface . The guides are so incredibly passionate about Mexico City and every time I take one of their tours I feel so much more excited about this city that I call home (and I learn SO much, too). 

This is the most delicious taco in Mexico City and I learned about it thanks to one of the food tours that I’ve taken in the city!

5. Get Uber for your Phone 

Uber in Mexico City is one of the safest and most convenient ways to get around.

Check out the blog post I’ve linked above to learn about taking it to and from the airport, how to download it if you’ve never used it before, how to use it in the city, and getting a discount code for your first few rides.

The alternatives to Uber here in Mexico are Didi and Cabify. I have complete instructions for using both of those in this blog post as well .

6. Download a metro app

The other way to get around Mexico City, especially during peak traffic times, is to take the metro. 

People may try to convince you that it’s not safe, but in my opinion, it’s perfectly safe. If you are traveling as a woman, there are women-only cars to travel in. 

It’s affordable, albeit a little bit dirty. However, it is one of the most efficient and affordable ways to get around Mexico City.

The only things you’ll need are Pesos (it’s 5 Pesos per trip) and a good map of the underground network. I use and love Mapway Mexico. You can get it on both Android and iPhone .

You can read my full guide to the Mexico City metro here . 

Give yourself enough time in each location by perhaps combining a trip to Coyoacan with a trip to UNAM (pictured above).

7. Plot out your days

Just like you’ll want to plot out where to stay based on where you’ll spend the most time, you’ll also want to think about what you’re going to do each day so that you aren’t spending too much time commuting around the city. 

For instance, don’t even think about trying to see Coyoacan in the morning, having lunch in Roma, then heading the Anthropology Museum in the afternoon and finishing with dinner in the Centro Historico.

You will spend most of your day sitting in traffic and you’ll no doubt miss most of your reservations if you make any.

Instead, think about trying to stay in similar zones for most of the day and using the metro to get between them.

I would suggest having a full day in the Centro Historico, another day for Roma and Condesa, at least half a day for Coyoacan (more if you want to check out all of the museums down there), another day for Teotihuacan, and another day for Xochimilco.

I have full a 7-Day itinerary here , a 5-day itinerary here , and a 3-day itinerary here .

I use this bag a ton when I travel around Mexico City and it barely closes, so don’t worry too much, just be aware of your things.

8. Think about what purse or day bag you’re going to bring

While you shouldn’t worry about your safety that much, you should think about the fact that you are in a very busy major city and pickpocketing is possible.

When I’m going to neighborhoods like the Centro Historico or I’m going to a busy market like Merced or Jamaica, I usually bring a bag that has a zipper as well as a flap over the top. You can see my favorite travel bags here .

However, when I’m going to Roma, Condesa, Coyoacan, or Polanco, I tend to use whatever bag I want. I have a cloth bag that barely closes at the top, but I love how colorful it is. So I usually keep my valuables at the bottom of the bag and cover it all with a sweater.

I’ve never been pickpocketed in Mexico City in the almost five years that I’ve lived here. So I offer this as a Mexico City travel tip so that you are aware of the possibility, but it doesn’t mean anything is going to happen to you.

If you are at all concerned about safety in Mexico City read this blog post:

Is Mexico City Safe?

or watch this YouTube video (and be sure to read the comments about what previous visitors have talked about their safety experiences in the city):

Is it Safe to Travel to Mexico City?

As for guys, keep your things in your front pockets. When riding the metro or in a busy part of the city, simply keep your hands in your pockets on your wallet and phone.

9. Consider the best times of year to visit Mexico City

There are two main seasons in Mexico City, wet and dry.

The dry season is from November to May and the wet season from June to October. 

These, of course, are not totally set in stone. Sometimes the rain comes in April or May. Sometimes it lasts through the first week of November.

That being said, if you want to visit when it’s warmest, consider March and April.

If you want to escape the winter up north, just know that you’re not going to experience beach weather here in January. It can be relatively chilly (as low at the 50s Fahrenheit at night or 10-12C).

You’ll also want to consider whether to visit Mexico City at Christmas time or if you want to enjoy it for New Year’s Eve . There’s Day of the Dead in Mexico City as well which has become more and more popular.

Consider whether you want to visit during Day of the Dead when the Zocalo (pictured above) is filled with different shrines

10. Pack for four seasons in a day

Even if you choose the driest time of year to visit or you plan and are ready for wet season rains in July, you’ll likely experience some strange weather while you’re in Mexico City.

On a July day, it can be nice and cool in the mornings, then incredibly hot at midday. By 3pm it’s pouring with rain and at 5pm it’s freezing again and there are puddles everywhere.

Pack for multiple seasons in a day and check out my Mexico City packing guide here . 

Be aware that Mexico City is not Cancun or Playa del Carmen. The weather is cooler and there is little to no humidity. It can be chilly at night and even sometimes during the middle of the day.

Climbing Teotihuacan can be difficult if you’ve just arrived at altitude. Perhaps plan to visit the pyramids once you’ve had a few days to get used to the altitude.

11. Remember that Mexico City is VERY high up

Mexico City sits at 7,382 feet (2,250 meters). 

That’s higher than Denver or Colorado Springs or Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

If you’ve been living mostly at or near sea level, this altitude may be a slight shock to the system.

You likely won’t notice it right away. You may feel thirsty or have a dull headache.

The time that you’ll notice is it is when you exert yourself. 

You’ll notice it when you’re walking up a set of stairs with your luggage, when you’re riding a bike along Paseo de la Reforma , and you’ll definitely notice it when you climb the steps of Teotihuacan .

One of the biggest Mexico City travel tips that I can offer you is to let yourself adjust. Don’t rush into trying to do a ton of strenuous activities on your first or second day in the city.

Also, drink plenty of water. It will help with any headaches you may start to get.

12. Find out if you need a SIM card

Call your phone provider before you leave for Mexico to see if you are able to use your phone and data package free of charge while you’re in Mexico.

I have a Sprint contract in the US and have continued to keep my number and phone plan here in Mexico because it works as normal for no extra cost. 

If you are not able to use your phone as normal and you want to use Uber and other data while you’re here, getting a SIM card is very simple. Just be sure that your phone is unlocked for international use (you’ll likely have to call your phone company for this to be done).

To get a SIM card in Mexico , simply head to a 7-11 or Oxxo (similar type of convenient store) and ask for a Telcel SIM card. This is the easiest one to start with right away. For 200 Pesos ($10 USD) you can have 30 days of unlimited data, texts, and calls).

13. Exchange money before you come (and then take the rest out using ATMs here in Mexico City)

The best exchange rate that you’ll get for Dollars to Pesos will be at your bank.

I always tell people they should come with about $100 USD worth of Pesos. That will last you a long while.

You don’t need to use cash all the time. Most hotels, restaurants, and shops accept credit or debit cards. Just be sure you have a card that doesn’t charge you international fees.

If you need more cash, I find that the banks continue to win on the exchange front. You can simply take cash out of any ATM here in Mexico. The best banks in my opinion for that here are HSBS, BBVA, and CitiBanamex (which is Citibank).

I use Charles Schwab as my bank in the US and they refund me all of my ATM fees incurred both in the US and internationally.

There are tons of bike paths and parks where you can ride bikes or scooters.

14. Sign up for a bike or Scooter app

If you want to explore the city above ground while still avoiding the traffic, bicycles and scooters are the best way to do it.

There are tons of bike and scooter options around the city. 

For regular bicycles, you can download the Mobike app. These are orange bikes that are scattered around Polanco and Roma but you can take them to several different neighborhoods.

For electric bikes, there’s the Jump bikes, which is really just Uber. You should be able to use your Uber app without downloading a separate app for this.

This is a good guide to how to use the local Eco-Bici bicycles that are all over the city. It’s the most affordable and convenient option if you can get it working.

For scooter options, check out the Lime scooter app and the Bird scooter app .

15. Consider getting out of the city for a day trip

It can be tempting to spend all of your time exploring the city, but one of my top Mexico City travel tips is to get out and see the surrounding region.

The Mexico bus network makes getting out and exploring quite easy. You can also use the app Bla Bla car, which is quite popular in this region of the country, to share rides with others who are driving to the same destination.

There are easy days trips from Mexico City like Puebla , Cholula, Teotihuacan , and Xochimilco . There are places where you may want to spend a bit more time like Valle de Bravo or Tepoztlan . 

A day trip to Puebla is a fun way to see another city, eat more delicious food ( Puebla mole !), and learn more about the history of this region.

16. Spend MORE time in Teotihuacan!

Speaking of places where you’ll want to spend a bit more time. Teotihuacan is so much more than just the pyramids. 

I totally understand that you may not have a ton of time on your trip to Mexico City, but if you can spare one full day, you will be able to really get to know that region of the country a little bit better.

You can take a bike tour around the outlying ruins with Teotihuacan en Bici .

You can take a hot air balloon ride over the pyramids with Sky Balloons .

You can cook and eat pre-hispanic food at El Porton . 

17. Don’t be afraid of the street food (or the water for that matter!)

Street food in Mexico is part of the foodie experience here. Mexican food is so much more than just tacos (although you’ll want to have plenty of those, too!).

Walk down the street at lunchtime on a weekday (usually between 2 and 3pm) and you’ll see people in suits standing shoulder to shoulder with taxi drivers and shop workers all eating tacos and tortas on the street.

Get familiar with the different street foods you’ll see and then head out and find a busy spot. The busier it is, the more turnover there is for the food.

Sure, you might get a gurgly tummy from the different bacterias or oils that are used, but there’s almost nothing to fear.

That goes for drinking water in Mexico , too. 

Of course, avoid the tap water, but no need to avoid water in restaurants or ice in your drinks. Everyone in the city uses purified water, even the taco stands. 

Street food it the best food.

18. Make space for souvenirs

The markets and local shops in Mexico City are filled with goodies made by local artisans. Whether it’s a blanket, a sweater, a hat, or something decorative, you’re bound to be attracted to at least one thing on your travels around Mexico City.

These are my favorite places to shop for souvenirs in Mexico City and where I always take visitors when they come. 

19. Make time for the museums

Mexico City is second only to Paris for cities in the world with the most museums. There are over 150 museums in this city and you should make time for at least a handful of them.

If you want to understand more about the history of the country check out the Anthropology Museum, Templo Mayor, and Chapultepec Castle.

Art lovers won’t want to miss Museo Soumaya , The National Art Museum , or Bellas Artes . 

Interested in Frida and Diego? There are countless places to visit including the Frida Kahlo House, Annahuacalli, Diego and Frida’s studios, the National Palace, and the Diego Rivera Mural Museum.

20. Be sure to check out the nightlife

There are plenty of great places to explore by day, but don’t forget to fill a few of your evenings, too.

Mexico City is home to the #1 bar in Latin America (and recently ranked #10 in the world), Limantour. They make seriously good cocktails.

There are tons of great craft beer bars , rooftop bars , and little clubs tucked away down side streets or through parking lots.

You’ll find plenty of things like Talavera pottery that you might want to take home with you!

21. Visit some uniquely Mexico City markets

There are almost as many markets as there are museums in Mexico City (maybe more?).

Some of the ones that you won’t want to miss include Mercado Jamaica for all the flowers, Merced for the chaos and great food, San Juan for the strange foods on offer, and Medellin for the amazing tacos and produce from around Latin America. 

On Sundays, take a tour of La Lagunilla market. It’s a huge antique market where you can find just about anything, including delicious food and drinks.

22. Being Vegetarian and Vegan in Mexico City is hard, but not impossible

Being vegetarian in Mexico City isn’t too hard. You can easily find food without meat, but still topped with cheese and cream.

Being vegan in the city is slightly harder. However, there are more and more vegan and vegetarian restaurants popping up around the city. Most restaurants also have at least one dish on the menu that doesn’t have meat in it and you can usually ask for it without dairy.

There are just a few things to be aware of. Often at street stalls, if there is no meat in it, they will tell you it’s vegetarian. However, things like beans are usually cooked with pork fat. Sometimes tamales are even made with pork fat.

One place I highly recommend checking out is Por Siempre Vegana . It is by far the best vegan option in the city that still allows you to get the flavors that this country is famous for.

23. Understand the healthcare system and consider travel insurance

Healthcare in Mexico is significantly cheaper than in the US. That being said, you may still want to consider getting coverage for your trip in case of an emergency.

Mexico has a public healthcare system, but as a visitor, you are not eligible to use it. You would need to go to a private hospital (the better option anyway to be honest). An emergency operation could still cost upwards of $1,000 or more.

If you get travelers diarrhea or start to feel unwell and it’s not an emergency, you can go to any pharmacy in Mexico City and explain your symptoms to the pharmacist (some speak English, but you may need to use google translate).

Usually, things that cure the common cold can be handled over the counter, including some antibiotics. 

This post contains affiliate links

• Best Way to Get Around Mexico City as a Tourist

Are you planning a trip to Mexico’s capital and wondering how to get around Mexico City? In this guide, we’ll share a rundown of the best methods of transport in Mexico City for tourists, with instructions on how to use the city’s metro, buses, bike share system and more.

This article may contain affiliate / compensated links, that may earn me a small commission, at no extra cost to you. For full information, please see our disclaimer here . While all efforts have been taken to ensure the information included in this post is correct and current, travel information such as opening hours, business operations and prices change frequently. If you find anything in this post that is incorrect or outdated please let me know in the comments so I can update it for other readers.

Table of Contents

How to get around Mexico City

Mexico City is a huge city. With nine million inhabitants in the city centre and over 22 million in the wider metropolitan area, it is truly enormous!

Figuring out how to navigate a city that size can be very daunting for a first-time visitor. Especially if your Spanish skills aren’t that great.

Attractions in the city are spread far and wide, and there are many great neighbourhoods worth exploring. Isolating yourself in one neighbourhood isn’t really an option if you want to see the best of the city.

This means that moving around is unavoidable, and every visitor has to work out how to navigate the Mexico City transportation.

But never fear! We spent a week in the city and were pleasantly surprised by how simple it was to navigate the transport in Mexico City.

In this guide, I’m going to share a brief summary of the best methods of transport in Mexico City that you can use to get around as a tourist.

There are plenty more transport types we haven’t listed here (such as the cable car, trolley bus etc.), as they are predominantly for locals commuting further out into the suburbs, and can be complicated and unnecessary for visitors just aiming to see the major sights and areas.

🗺️ Save this image of the entire Mexico City public transit system to your phone

In this post, we will provide an overview of these methods of transport in Mexico City:

• Tren Ligera
• EcoBici Bicycles
• Taxi (hint: don’t use unless you have to)
• Driving (hint: do not attempt to drive yourself around Mexico City!)

💡 Mexico City transportation tip – buy a metro card on your first day in the city. Formally known as the Integrated Mobility Card (MI), it’s required for most methods of transport, and it makes your life a lot easier! Buy it, top it up once, share it with your travel companion and quickly navigate all types of transport in Mexico City.

Grab a copy of my Mexico City Travel Guide!

A highlight of any trip to Mexico, Mexico City is an incredible city, jam-packed with historic sights, funky cafes, drool-worthy street food and gorgeous neighbourhoods.

But it is HUGE and it can be confusing and overwhelming to work out how to see the best of the city.

Enter my Mexico City Travel Guide.

This ebook is designed to be a go-to quick reference guide for this mega-metropolis, allowing you to be confident you’re hitting all the highlights without needing to do hours of research.

This 98-page ebook covers 7 of the best neighbourhoods in the city, with the top sights and activities, the best tacos and restaurants, and an accommodation guide. You’ll find information about climate and the best time to visit, transport to and around the city, and tour recommendations.

It’s filled with all our best tips and advice, to simplify your planning and maximise your time in this amazing city!

There is also the option to add a customised  Google Map  that has over 100 locations pinned by category, allowing you to easily visualise our recommendations across the city.

Find out more about the guide  here .

• 🌈 12 mostly-underground colour-coded lines
• 💰 5 pesos per ride, transfers inside a station are free
• 🚊 As of 2024, you must buy a metro card (15 pesos) to use the system
• ⏰ Runs from 5 am weekdays, 6 am Saturdays and 7 am Sundays until midnight

Using the Metro is the best way to get around Mexico City if you’re on a budget.

The metro system has 12 colour-coded lines, that span most of the city. Most lines are underground, and of course, avoid the heavy traffic you find on the roads around Mexico City.

The Metro is very affordable, costing just 5 pesos per trip.

As of 2024, the government has announced they will no longer sell paper tickets for the metro, and everyone needs to use the ‘Integrated Mobility’ (MI) card.

These cards cost 15 pesos and you can buy them from the ticket windows inside metro stations. If you ask for a metro tarjeta they’ll know what you mean.

Once you have a card, it can be reloaded with pesos at the machines at transport stations around the city (Metro, Metrobus, Tren Ligera).

It’s possible to share one card between multiple people, so long as you tap on each person.

Once you tap your card to enter the station through the turnstiles, it is free to transfer to other lines as many times as you need. So long as you remain inside the station, you won’t be charged again.

The stations are clearly signposted and there are maps both on the platforms and inside the trains, making it super easy to navigate.

We found Google Maps really helpful as well to plan our route on all the Mexico City transportation. Enter your point of departure and desired destination into Google Maps and it will give specific instructions on which line to get and any changes you need to make.

You can also toggle on the public transport layer on Google Maps to easily see the metro lines and stations around the city.

The Metro runs from 5 am on weekdays, 6 am on Saturdays and 7 am on Sundays and public holidays. Services stop at midnight each night.

Trains run every few minutes (absolutely mind-blowing for us as Australians! You mean you don’t have to wait half an hour for the next train? Wow!).

Occasionally there can be delays or a backlog during peak times, but generally, you shouldn’t expect to wait any longer than five minutes for a train. I told you the Mexico City transportation was efficient! Much more than in Guadalajara , where the metro isn’t really that valuable for visitors.

The Metro can be very busy at peak times and you’ll see most blogs advising you to avoid it. We travelled in peak multiple times, and yes it was busy, but it wasn’t anything we don’t experience at home in Australia.

Peak times are usually 7 am – 9 am in the morning, and again from 5 pm – 7 pm. The beauty of the system is that if one train is very very packed, you can always opt to skip it and wait just a few minutes until the next one arrives.

No matter what time you are travelling on the Metro, just be careful with your belongings (as you would in any packed place, in any city). Watch your bag and keep it in front of you, and avoid leaving phones or wallets in your back pocket.

We never felt unsafe at all, and using the Metro is by far the easiest and best way to get around Mexico City, so don’t be deterred.

Every train has 2 or 3 separate carriages for women and children only. The carriages are pink and are usually at the front of the train. Most platforms have markings indicating where these carriages will arrive, so you can line up there. If you are a solo female traveller or a group of female family or friends I would recommend using these carriages, just for an extra layer of comfort.

Tren Ligera (Light Rail)

• 🚃 1 light rail line to Xochimilco
• 💰 3 pesos per ride, metro card required (no paper tickets)
• ⏰ Runs from 5 am weekdays, 6 am Saturdays and 7 am Sundays until 11:30 pm

Also known as the Xochimilco Light Rail, the Tren Ligera is an offshoot of the Mexico City Metro system. There is one above-ground line that begins from the Tasqueña metro station and runs 18 stops to Xochimilco.

This town is the home of the famous Floating Gardens of Xochimilco , so there’s a pretty good chance you will use the light rail as a tourist. It also passes by Estadio Azteca, which is the country’s largest stadium and the home ground for two of the city’s renowned soccer teams, Club America and Cruz Azul.

It costs 3 pesos per trip, and you must use a metro card.

They don’t sell individual paper tickets for the Tren Ligera either, so if you haven’t already got your Integrated Mobility card, you need to purchase one for 15 pesos to be able to tap on for the light rail.

The operating hours are slightly different to the Metro. Running from 5 am weekdays, 6 am Saturdays and 7 am Sundays and public holidays, until 11:30 pm.

• 🌈 7 colour-coded lines across the city
• 💰 6 pesos per trip, metro card required (no paper tickets)
• ⏰ Runs from 4:30 am Monday – Saturday, and from 5 am on Sundays until midnight

The Metrobus is a relatively new form of transport in Mexico City.

It is essentially a bus that has its own dedicated lane on the road, so it doesn’t get stuck in traffic like regular buses do.

They are usually the fancy, extra-long buses that are bendy in the middle. One of the lines (Line 7) even uses double-decker buses!

They stop at fixed stops, and the bus stops are more like ‘stations’, with many of them featuring raised platforms, and you need to tap your card to enter the boarding area.

Seven lines cover span the city, and they are all colour-coded (just like the Metro lines). Each line connects with Metro stations too, for easy integration across the different means of Mexico City transportation.

They tend to run along one major road or avenue, where there is space for the dedicated Metrobus lanes. Paseo de la Reforma and Avenida Insurgentes, two major roads that run through popular parts of the city, both have Metrobus lines along them.

The Metrobus is also the best way to get around Mexico City if you are based in Roma Norte or Condesa . The Metro stations in these areas aren’t really conveniently located, and the Metrobus runs along Avenida Insurgentes, which passes right through the centre of these neighbourhoods.

You need to have a Metro card to use the Metrobus. It costs 6 pesos per trip, and it is free to transfer to other lines in the Metrobus network within two hours from your time of touch on.

This 2-hour period doesn’t apply to the Metro, the different systems are charged separately.

The Metrobus runs from 4:30 am Monday – Saturday, and from 5 am on Sundays and holidays, until midnight. Certain stations have different opening hours in the morning, but unless you’re really starting the sightseeing early, it shouldn’t be an issue for most tourists.

Metrobuses all feature a dedicated space for women and children, like the Metro. They can get very crowded in peak periods, just like the trains, but being a lot smaller, you can really feel the squeeze (literally!).

I would prefer to be on the Metro in peak times than the Metrobus. But, for the efficiency and low cost, you can’t beat either of these options no matter what time of the day!

✈️ Metrobus Line 4 runs from the MEX Mexico City International Airport to Centro Historico . You’re not usually allowed large luggage on the Metro or Metrobus, but I believe they permit it on this particular line. If your suitcase is huge, maybe not the best option, but if you travel reasonably light this is one of the cheapest ways to get to the city centre.

EcoBici Bicycle

• 🚲 Over 600 stations around the city, with 9,000 bikes available
• 💰 Register for one, three or seven days or buy an annual pass
• ⏰ Bikes are available to discharge from stations from 5 am until 12:30 am

EcoBici is Mexico City’s fantastic bike-share system.

In our opinion, this is the best way to get around Mexico City and we had so much fun cruising around! We were so impressed by the quality and organisation of EcoBici, and wish we had something this sophisticated in Australia.

To use EcoBici, you need to sign up for an account. Although it is supposedly possible to do this directly at some of the more advanced bike stations, we found it much more straightforward to organise our account online.

The EcoBici website is super easy to navigate and can be displayed in English. There is also an app you can download.

Create an account on the website/app. You can choose to register for one, three or seven days, or buy an annual pass (which actually works out very cheap if you are in Mexico City any longer than a week).

At the time of writing (2024), the prices are as follows:

• 1 day – 118 pesos (approx. $7 USD)
• 3 days – 234 pesos (approx. $14 USD)
• 7 days – 391 pesos (approx. $23 USD)
• Annual pass – 521 pesos (approx. $31 USD)

These passes give you unlimited rides in your specified time period, but each ride is restricted to a maximum of 45 minutes.

Once you have your account set up, download the app and log in. You will see a map of all the stations in the city (over 600!) and a live view of how many bikes are available at each station. There are over 9,000 bikes floating around the city, so there is usually one nearby.

When you are at a station and are ready to take a bike, just open the app, scan the QR code on the bike you want and it will discharge.

You have two minutes to check the bike is comfortable (quickly jump on and check the seat can be adjusted), and if not you can return it and swap it over.

You then have 45 minutes to ride the bike to your destination. If you keep the bike longer, you will start getting charged extra (to your credit card) for each minute over. This is to encourage people to use the bikes for short journeys, rather than keeping them out all day.

If you do want to go further than 45 minutes, it is super easy to find a station, return your bike and wait a couple of minutes before discharging another one. There are stations all over, and chances are you will ride past many on the way to your destination.

When you arrive at your final destination, dock the bike back into any empty space in a station and you will hear a noise confirming that it has been returned successfully.

The system runs from 5 am until 12:30 am every day, so it is really convenient for getting around Mexico City, day and night.

2024 EcoBici Update A lot of expats and tourists were reporting issues with card payments being declined at the start of 2024 (Jan & Feb). It seems there was a glitch in the payment system, and it stopped accepting some international cards. I don’t know why, but as of 1 March, a lot of users are reporting it seems to be resolved and they can pay for their passes via the website or app with international bank cards with no issues. Hopefully, international cards continue to work as usual on the system, because the alternative is a complicated and convoluted process that involves going to a service centre in person ( locations listed on this page ). In short, if you don’t sign up with a valid credit card that they can process, you’ll need to pay a hefty cash deposit (8,000 Pesos) in person at one of their service desks to guarantee that you’ll return the bike safely. Not really worth doing, especially for a short visit to the city. Apparently, it is also possible to pay for EcoBici using your Metro card but I don’t really understand how this works, and it’s not as straightforward as it seems. My understanding is that you still need to register via the app to be able to purchase a pass, and then you can link your Metro card details for the payment or to be used as a method to withdraw the bikes (I think). From what I gather, you can’t just tap your Metro card and get a bike, you still need to go through the standard sign-up process to make sure the system has a credit card on file to charge you for any loss or damage. If anyone has any updated insights or experiences signing up with an international credit card or using their Metro card, please share in the comments below! My best advice is to try and organise your pass as soon as you can. Download the app or sign up on the website before you arrive in the city, and maybe even purchase a 1-day pass as a trial so you’re not wasting time on the day you want to use it. We wasted hours in Guadalajara trying to use their bike share system, which in the end we weren’t able to work out and I wished we had sorted it earlier on.

Biking in Mexico City can be daunting at first, but once you get used to it, it’s really enjoyable. Most major roads, like Paseo de la Reforma, have dedicated bike lines or wide footpaths, making it safe and easy to navigate.

We spent most of our time riding on the footpaths, which are often on either side of the road, and down the middle of the road too. We didn’t venture too much out onto the roads, unless it had a bike lane with a barrier next to it (so cars can’t cross into it at all), which many roads did.

🚲 On Sunday mornings, one of Mexico’s longest and busiest roads, Paseo de la Reforma, closes to cars to allow locals to get out and walk, run or bike. This is the perfect time to rent an EcoBici and cruise down the leafy avenue, dwarfed by skyscrapers. Read more about this activity in our Mexico City itinerary .

• 🚗 Uber is the main option, DiDi is growing
• 📱 Generally fast, affordable and straightforward to order
• 💰 Pay via card inside the app, or with cash directly to the driver

Using rideshare is popular and easy to do in Mexico City, like most cities around the world. It is the best way to get around Mexico City if you’re not near a Metro station, or you’re travelling in the evening and don’t feel comfortable on public transport.

It basically works the same as everywhere else, and I’m sure you have some experience using it. But there are a couple of differences to note.

Although obvious, it’s important to remind you that Ubers (or DiDis or taxis) are driving on the roads, like regular cars. They are at the mercy of the insane Mexico City traffic, so although they seem convenient, they can be a very slow method of transport in Mexico City.

Uber is the main rideshare service available in Mexico City, but DiDi is becoming a strong new competitor. Thousands of drivers crawl the city and it is usually quick and affordable to order one.

Prices are generally lower than a taxi but can increase late in the evening or during peak periods. We recommend downloading both Uber and DiDi to compare prices and wait times, especially in peak times.

Unlike many other countries, you can pay for your Uber ride in cash in Mexico City. You will need to pay in Mexican Pesos, they won’t accept other currencies. You should always try and have the exact amount, or be prepared to not get change, or at least not all you’re owed.

If you already have an Uber account with your PayPal or credit card connected, it’s easier to stick with this payment method and not fuss around with cash.

Uber is actually not a bad option for day trips to sites outside the city, like Teotihuacan . Just be wary that it can be tricky to find a car for the return journey, so always have a back up option.

• 💰 Can be more expensive than rideshare
• 🚕 It can be unsafe if you don’t order a reputable taxi
• 🚖 If you need to use one, order via a business or sitio, not hailed off the street

Taxis in Mexico City are a bit of a wild-west situation. There are many unregistered taxis out there, and it’s not uncommon for tourists to be totally ripped off. It is definitely not the best way to get around Mexico City, and we recommend avoiding taxis if you can.

If you absolutely need to use one (and you can’t use Uber or DiDi) make sure you only order a taxi via a business like a hotel, or inside a shopping centre where there is a formal taxi rank. Or from a sitio, which is a taxi stand where you pre-pay and your trip is recorded. Don’t just hail one down on the street, as you could end up in an unsafe, unregistered taxi.

You should also agree on the price before getting in the taxi (if you haven’t prepaid). If the driver refuses to do this, it’s probably best to just walk away. The meters are rarely used, and if they insist on it, it’s probably rigged!

In our experience, taxis are best avoided altogether. Using Uber or DiDi gives you the comfort of entering your destination in your own language, and following the route on the map to ensure you’re going the right way. Things can be lost in translation if you don’t speak Spanish and it can be tricky to communicate where you want to go to a taxi driver who doesn’t speak your language.

If you do find yourself in a situation where you need to take one, make sure you follow these tips for a safe and reasonably priced ride.

• 😤 Driving in Mexico City is not for the fainthearted
• 🚦 Traffic is heavy and navigating is complicated
• 🅿️ Parking is tricky and can be costly

Renting a car is not a method of transport we would recommend in Mexico City.

I don’t particularly like driving in any city, but Mexico City is an especially large and chaotic one. The traffic is heavy at all times of the day, and navigating your way around can be complicated, even with a GPS (or a partner who can act as a navigator).

Parking is also tricky and can be costly. In some areas, you need to pay for parking by the hour, so it’s not always easy to find somewhere to leave your car if you’re just popping into a shop quickly. Most accommodations also don’t offer parking, so finding a place to park overnight can be a challenge.

It’s definitely not worth the hassle, in our opinion, given most of your time will be spent waiting in traffic.

Plus, the cost of renting a car and petrol is way more expensive than using the other methods of transport in Mexico City that we have mentioned. Unless you have a very cool head, and you’re an incredibly skilled driver, don’t do it!

• 👣 The best way to explore Mexico City’s neighbourhoods
• 🚶🏻 Most roads have safe, wide sidewalks
• 🌿 It’s free and great exercise

This may be an obvious recommendation, but walking really is the best way to experience Mexico City.

Of course, if you’re going long distances you probably need to jump on a bus or train. But within neighbourhoods, walking is the best option! You miss a lot when you’re underground or speeding past in a vehicle. Taking it slow on foot will give you a much better insight into the city.

There are wide sidewalks along most roads, and many major avenues have pedestrian sections in the centre and on the outer edges of the road. The city is also full of parks that can be great shortcuts and sightseeing all in one.

The city is buzzing at all times of the day or night, and unless you’re off the beaten track, walking around busy areas in the evening (say pre-10 pm) is generally considered safe. There will still be plenty of people in restaurants (Mexicans eat dinner late!), probably coming home from work (they also work incredibly hard!) or crowding into bars.

After this time, I would probably suggest an Uber or DiDi.

We clocked up 20,000 + steps every day we were exploring the city. It’s a great way to get some exercise while sightseeing, and of course it costs nothing too!

The best way to get around Mexico City? I think so.

Mexico City transportation for tourists

There is not necessarily one ‘best’ way to get around Mexico City as a tourist.

It is going to totally depend on your location, budget, time of day and level of comfort in a foreign city. But all the forms of transport in Mexico City mentioned in this guide are safe, affordable and easy enough for tourists to navigate.

I hope it helps you understand how to get around this huge, but fascinating, city and eases any concerns you might have.

If you need some help planning your time in Mexico City, be sure to read our Mexico City itinerary for ideas on the best things to do, neighbourhoods to explore and places to eat.

OUR MEXICO CITY POSTS

• The Perfect 7 Day Mexico City Itinerary
• Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon: Flying Over Ancient Pyramids
• How to Visit the Floating Gardens of Xochimilco Mexico City
• Ultimate Guide to Centro Historico, Mexico City
• The Concise Guide to Roma Norte, Mexico City
• The Concise Guide to La Condesa, Mexico City
• El Patio 77: Sustainable Bed and Breakfast Mexico City

Sally Rodrick

Sally Rodrick is the voice behind Sally Sees. She has spent 12 months travelling in Mexico and Central America, and has her sights firmly set on South America. Sally helps thousands of readers discover the magic of Latin America. Sharing detailed guides to inspire and equip them with the knowledge they need to plan their own epic adventures in this incredible part of the world.

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15 Essential Mexico City Experiences for the Best Trip Ever

Last Updated: October 14, 2022 //  by  Ashley Smith 6 Comments

Regarding Mexico City experiences, I just did something I’ve never done before. No, it’s not eat grasshoppers again. No, it’s not injure myself while attempting lucha wrestling moves again. The completely new and surprising thing I did: I just visited the same country back to back. In less than five months. That’s how much I adore guacamole Mexico.

The oft-misunderstood Mexico City has a soul like no other place I’ve been and it’s as colorful as a drag queen’s eyeshadow palette.

The history, the culture, the art, the people, and the dang quesadillas all combine in the most magical way for an experience like no other and certainly like nothing you could have expected. Actually, not unlike a drag show. Hmm.

I was hooked after my first trip and, having just returned from my second, I can definitively say that Mexico City is one of my favorite cities in the world . In partnership with  Expedia.ca , I’ve put together these 15 essential and un-missable Mexico City experiences so you can get started planning your best trip ever.

Essential Mexico City experiences

Even having just visited on jam-packed, back-to-back trips, there are so many more things to do in Mexico City that I haven’t been able to squeeze in yet. (I even consulted the Aztec calendar this time and, still, no more room in my schedule.)

It’s a city of countless museums and cultural opportunities. The perfect destination for lovers of art, food, and unbelievable views. It’s a city to satisfy your every travel desire but still have you yearning for more (guacamole) on the flight home. Start here:

1. Obsess over the Palacio de Bellas Artes

The Palacio de Bellas Artes is undoubtedly Mexico City’s most drool-worthy piece of architecture. (Translated into Millennial that means “hella Instagrammable.”)

This Palace of Fine Arts is Mexico City’s home to world-class theater, dance, opera, music, art exhibitions, and, maybe someday, drag shows. It’s part Art Nouveau, part Art Deco, was completed in 1934, and is located in the heart of downtown Mexico City.

What does it look like inside? No idea. I love the outside too much. (Seriously, have you been in it? Do share in the comments!)

Where to find the best views of the Palace de Bellas Artes:

From in front of the building itself.

From here you can see all the details of the façade but watch out for the cops? For reasons beyond me, guards out in front of the building don’t allow you to use “professional” cameras to take pictures here. Only cell phones.

Even though you’re outside , photographing a quite large public building. Even though most cell phone cameras are now better and more high-quality than actual cameras. I guess just file that away with “why Honey Boo Boo is famous” among the great mysteries of the universe.

From the terrace at Café Don Porfirio aka Sears

Directly across the street from the Palacio de Bellas Artes is a Sears department store in all its Craftsman glory. Enter from the street and take the elevator up to the 8 th floor, aka home furnishings. Take a right out of the elevator and follow your nose to the scent of coffee and tourists.

The entirety of this café exists on a narrow terrace with a face-to-face view of the Palacio and some of the best (non-alcoholic) drinks you’ve ever had. (The taro frappe and the piña colada are my favorites).

From the lookout at the Torre LatinoAmericana

Across the street(ish) from the Palacio de Bellas Artes is what looks like a mini-Empire State Building. Inside on the ground floor you’ll see a short line protruding from a glass window—get in it. The line, not the window. (What? I don’t know how many margaritas you’ve had today.)

For 130 pesos (about $7 US) you’ll get a wristband for the Mirador (rooftop lookout platform) that you can use as many times that day as you wish. From up on the 44 th floor you’ll get an ultra-unique look down at the Palacio de Bellas Artes (along with much of the rest of Mexico City).

Gawking at the Palacio de Bellas Artes is one of the most iconic Mexico City experiences—to come here and not get a brag-worthy shot of it is just un poco loco .

2. Explore the Zócalo for a few Mexico City experiences

Mexico City’s Zócalo is a big deal. Like, a freaking huge deal. At 620,000 square feet, it’s one of the biggest deals in the world, actually.

It’s formally known as Plaza de la Constitución (you may need that for your Uber) and is Mexico City’s main square… that was once the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan’s main square. (See? Like Brad Pitt, it’s older than you think.)

It’s the center of government for both Mexico the country and Mexico the city, and is the site of countless rallies, artistic events, major parades and gatherings, and more. It’s been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 but, most importantly, you can get your aura cleaned here and don’t we all need a li’l spiritual cleansing, okayyyy?

The Zócalo (a pretty broad term referring to the main square in almost any Mexican city) is the center of town and home to many essential Mexico City experiences.

Mexico City experiences at the Zócalo

Templo mayor.

Templo Mayor is—here’s your first Spanish lesson—the “main temple” of Tenochtitlan, the ancient Aztec capital we now call Mexico City.

According to Aztec legend, they considered Templo Mayor the center of the universe. The center of the universe —them’s some mighty big shoes to fill. You can find Templo Mayor, or at least what remains of it, just to the right of the Zócalo’s cathedral.

Check out the ruins from street level or head below ground into the museum. Call that your “journey to the center of the earth universe” if you want. I would.

Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral

Or, officially, the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven , because I assume an entire Hail Mary wouldn’t fit on the mailbox. You know, that big church at the end of the Zócalo?

They built it, in sections, from 1573 to 1813 and serves as the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico. It was built on the former Aztec sacred precinct and with those very stones—the first of which is said to have been personally laid by Hernán Cortés himself, jerk. I don’t think there are enough spiritual cleansings in Mexico to save you, amigo.

The National Palace

Mexico City’s National Palace is the seat of Mexico’s federal government but that’s kinda boring. You’ll want to go there for the famous murals, the botanical gardens, and all the cats that live there. More on the National Palace in a jiffy…

Spiritual cleansings

They’re more commonly known in the area as “limpia” and you’ll wanna get yo’self one of these—I know what you did last summer.

Dressed up shamans performs the most interesting Mexico City experiences over in the Templo Mayor area of the Zócalo. How legit they are bears argument, but really, some of us could use any help we can get, am I right?

The ritual involves being rubbed with herbs and covered in incense in an attempt to cleanse your aura and promote harmony within your body—a far cry from last night’s tabletop rendition of “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” hmm? Your aura be dirty!

You can see an example in this video (skip to 1:20) but know that these limpia can involve various levels of herb slapping.

What to pack for Mexico City ─ Check out my full guide to what to pack for Mexico City (and what to just buy there). It covers all activities, head-to-toe, and even electronics to bring.

Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico

Not only does the Gran Hotel appear in the James Bond movie Spectre and the Disney Pixar flick Coco , it also has the biggest margaritas with the best views.

Head inside (cell phone photos only of the incredible stained glass ceiling, again) and take the elevator to the top floor. Head straight across to the opposite side of the hotel and you’ll find both a terrace bar and a rooftop patio restaurant, both serving some of the biggest and best margaritas this side of the border with priceless Zócalo views.

3. Sail through Xochimilco, one of the weirdest Mexico City experiences

Xochimilco (pronounced so-chee-meel-ko) is what happens when Venice, Italy and Las Vegas, Nevada make a baby. Or like if Bourbon Street dropped acid on a riverboat.

Actually, you know that boat scene in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory ? The one that jump-started your lifelong fear of waterbourne transportation? Just like that!

Xochimilco is technically a borough of Mexico City, but sailing down its canals on colorful trajineras you’ll find one hell of a party. Show up, snag a boat and a captain (drunkenness may vary), and spend the next three hours floating through Wonderland.

What to do at Xochimilco

Pack your own food and drinks, or don’t—there are bar boats and snack boats and food boats a-plenty. Bring your own mariachi band, or don’t—you’ll pass boats with those for rent too. Bring a group of friends, or don’t—you’ll make some new ones in no time. Join a dance party on someone else’s boat—you can jump from one to another as you please. And scar yourself for life on the Island of the Dolls.

Xochimilco is one giant river party, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the top must-do Mexico City experiences, and, thanks to the dolls, sometimes even your worst nightmare.

4. Eat all the food

Mexico is one country you can visit where the chances of having a bad meal are slimmer than the “after” photo in a Spanx ad. You typically know what you’re going to get here and though there can be a few surprises (like how your margarita is probably rimmed with salt made from crushed up grasshoppers), they are few and far between.

Is food a main reason for some people to travel to Mexico in the first place? I’d bet my enchilada on it. Everything in Mexico is delicious—perhaps because it’s all variations of the same thing: a tortilla, meat, cheese, spicy sauces.

Food here is cheap and can be found anywhere —on street corners, in the backs of trucks, on passing boats, in market stalls, even in restaurants if you’re so inclined. But know that you don’t need a reservation to experience something potentially life-changing.

You’ve got tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, pastor, chilaquiles, chicharrones, tlayudas, queso fundido, nachos, chalupas, tamales, and I could go on because I’m reading this straight from my Mexican food map .

In terms of Mexico City experiences you can’t pass up, eating all the food is the one you may enjoy the most. The options are endless so experiment! Try to not eat the same thing twice. Ask the server what you should try. Choose something from the street cart that you have no idea what it is (ahem, chicharrones).

Just eat all of it.

Some of my favorite Mexico City restaurants are:

• La Cerveceria de Barrio Condesa
• Malande Café
• El Tizoncito
• and every street corner in between.

Mexico City food tours

Secret food tours: mexico city.

This 3.5-hour food tour pairs you with an English-speaking local guide to explore Mexico City’s food scene. Your small group will learn about local history and culture all while trying delicious cuisine. The reviews say it all! Click here for booking information .

3-hour Polanco food tour

The Polanco area is one of the nicest neighborhoods in Mexico City and you’ll get to experience some of the most delicious parts on this 3-hour food tour.

All food and drink tastings and a professional tour guide are included in this small-group tour. Click here for booking information .

Culture shock in Mexico ─ Mexican breakfasts are just one of the many things that shocked me on my first trip to Mexico. Find out what the others are here: 17 Things that Shocked Me in Mexico – maybe you’re in the same boat!

5. Drink all the beverages

So you wanna visit Mexico City and drink mucha tequila, eh? That’s fine, I don’t blame you—speaking Spanish is sometimes hard without it. But use tequila as a gateway into trying other, less famous Mexican agave beverages like mezcal and pulque. Agav- yay !

Mezcal, like tequila, is a liquor made from the agave plant but is produced differently and comes from different regions of Mexico (with most of it coming from Oaxaca in the south).

While tequila can only be made from Blue Agave, mezcals can be made from almost 30 different agave varieties. The special production method of mezcal (involving an underground pit, some fire, and a dizzy donkey) results in a super smoky flavor. Read more about what mezcal is here.

This is not particularly my jam, but is the jam of many visitors to Mexico, all of my friends among them. It’s typically served with orange or cucumber slices and salt that is probably made from crushed up grasshoppers but can also be found in mezcalritas if crushed ice is more your thang.

How to describe pulque, hmm… I don’t think any description of pulque will have you dying to try it, that’s the problem.

It’s an alcoholic drink that’s been traditionally produced in Central Mexico for just about ever. It’s made from the fermented sap of the agave plant and—hear me out—looks like milk, is pretty chunky, and has a kind of a sweet/sour yeasty flavor. But I swear it’s delicious!

Pulque has been produced for at least 2,000 years and was at times, even still in some places, considered sacred. It’s been used by priests for religious purposes, by doctors for medicinal purposes, by sacrificial victims for oh-shit-I’mma-die purposes, and by yours truly because why the hell not?

Some love it (like me) and some don’t (like most of the people I was with) and while there’s no enticing description for pulque other than “it’s a Central Mexican tradition and YOLO,” definitely break out of your tequila shell and give it a try when you spot it.

6. Check out a lucha libra match

Did I know anything about Mexican wrestling before watching Nacho Libre ? Nope. Do I give any craps about professional wrestling in general or otherwise? Absolutely not. But was attending a lucha libre match one of the most eye-opening and entertaining experiences of my life? Heck yes!

Lucha libre (which literally means ‘free fight’) became a thing early in the 1900s, with the masks and secret identities (and probably the lycra too) coming later. Me jumping up and down and screaming at the top of my lungs at a grown man in Spandex didn’t show up ‘til late 2017.

Lucha Libre is unlike anything you imagine professional wrestling to be with high-flying aerial and acrobatic moves to put both athletes and circus performers to shame.

After soccer, it’s Mexico’s most popular sport and attending a match at Arena Mexico, the sport’s birthplace and Mecca, is another of the essential Mexico City experiences.

Lucha libre in Mexico City

Lucha Libre matches are held on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays and tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com.mx or at the arena the day of. Tickets are cheap so opt for the best available because ballers gonna ball, no?

For more on these matches, check out CMLL.com . For some helpful tips on attending one and one SUPER important piece of advice, read this post ⇣

3 days in Mexico City ─ My post on 3 days in Mexico City goes into much more detail on attending a lucha libre match at Arena Mexico. It’s also full of other helpful tips for visiting this amazing city. Be sure to check it out!

Lucha Libre Experience tour

This lucha libre experience tour is one of the most popular tours to take in Mexico City! This 4.5-hour tour includes a lucha libre match at Arena Mexico, a souvenir lucha mask of your very own, a mezcal tasting at a local pub, the chance to learn all about Mexican wrestling, and a former luchadore as your professional tour guide.

The reviews rave about this one! Click here for booking information .

7. Explore ancient cultures at Teotihuacan

Teotihuacan (pronounced tay-oh-teh-wah-kahn) is an ancient city that was at its peak between the 1st and 7th centuries, when it was the 6th largest city in the world and you were just sitting down to watch “one quick video” on YouTube.

To give you some perspective: the city was already in ruins by the time the Aztecs stumbled upon it. The colony eventually collapsed due to—tale as old as time—internal strife. So, basically a bunch of disgruntled workers showed up and burned the place down. It’s been revealed through mucho archaeological evidence that they, indeed, could not find their staplers. That was the last straw.

Today, visiting Teotihuacan is high on the list of Mexico City experiences you can’t miss. The site is located just about 45 minutes northeast of Mexico City and is easy and cheap to get to by both public bus and via Uber.

At Teotihuacan you can visit:

The pyramid of the sun.

The largest structure at Teotihuacan and believed to have been constructed around 200 AD, like Dolly Parton. It’s the third largest pyramid in the world and the most popular spot at Teotihuacan so arrive as early as possible if you want to climb to the top. After about noon, lines get long and people are slow .

The Pyramid of the Moon

The second largest structure at Teotihuacan and dedicated to the Great Goddess of Teotihuacan. It’s no wonder she’s at the head of everything here. This Pyramid is slightly smaller and sees fewer crowds (but it’s my favorite).

The Temple of the Feathered Serpent

The third largest pyramid at Teotihuacan beneath which was discovered (in 1980) the bodies of more than 100 sacrifice victims. It’s located at the southern end of the Avenue of the Dead and hidden a ways back.

The pyramid is covered in carved representations of the “feathered serpent” aka the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl. However, it’s the carvings of Tlaloc, the Aztec god of hilarious snake emojis, that really make me LOL.

Other sites

The Avenue of the Dead, the Palacio de Quetzalpapalotl, and every carved and painted structure in between.

Optional Teotihuacan tours

Private tour of teotihuacan from mexico city.

This 6-hour tour has nothing but 5-star reviews! You’ll get a private guide and transportation to and from Teotihuacan in your own private vehicle as well. 

Drinks, snacks, and entrance tickets into the pyramids is included in the price. And the best part is that the times and agendas are all up to you too! Click here for booking information .

Hot air balloon flight over the Teotihuacan + pyramids

When I was Teotihuacan I saw so many hot air balloons! The views of this ancient site from up there must be truly incredible. 

This 8-hour tour includes:

• transportation to and from Mexico City
• admission to the archaeological site of Teotihuacan
• hot air balloon flight
• breakfast and sparkling wine after your flight 

This would be the perfect way to see Teotihuacan! Given my new love for hot air ballooning, I just might book this one for my next trip to Mexico City. Click here for booking information .

8. Pay homage to Frida Kahlo at Casa Azul

Frida Kahlo is Mexico’s most famous artist. She’s known for her fiery attitude, her surreal self-portraits, and her fierce, unapologetic unibrow. Regardless of how familiar you are with her art, you know the brow of which I speak.

Frida was born in and spent her childhood and most of her adult life at Casa Azul, the family’s blue house in Coyoacán, one of Mexico City’s 16 boroughs.

Casa Azul is now a museum dedicated to Frida’s life and work and a shrine to people who don’t pluck the world over. It consists of ten rooms including the bedrooms (where you can see her death mask, ahh!!), the kitchen, her painting studio, an outdoor courtyard, and more.

It’s decorated with her personal art collection and various Mexican artifacts and makes both the perfect pilgrimage for Frida fans and a great introduction for those less familiar.

Casa Azul is one of Mexico City’s most popular tourist sites (if not the popular-est) and booking your tickets ahead of time is almost mandatory. Unless standing in long lines under hot suns is one of those Mexico City experiences you were really looking forward to?

Traveling around Mexico? ─ If you’ve got more than just these Mexico City experiences on your agenda, you’ll probably be traveling by bus. The ADO bus system is affordable and high quality, but figuring it out can be tough. Check out my guide to figuring out Mexico’s ADO bus system . 

9. And her husband Diego in the Zócalo

Next up in the line of super famous Mexican artists is Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo’s scoundrel of a husband.

Philanderer though he may be, his murals are still a sight to behold. They’re massive in size, they’re world famous, and.. wait, how did we get on the subject of Dolly Parton again?

Diego Rivera’s murals are bright and beautiful and as big as his ego. He painted frescoes in various cities throughout Mexico and even here in the United States, but my favorites can be found at the National Palace in Mexico City’s Zócalo.

Where to find Diego’s murals

Looking at the cathedral in the Zócalo, the National Palace is the long building on your right. Admission is free but you must present an ID and, for reasons I just don’t get, remove your sunglasses for the duration of your time there.

Even though it’s all outside. Even though you’re out unprotected under a Mexican sun beating down with the strength of a thousand uncompromising unibrows.

Inside the open-air hallways of the palace you’ll find Diego’s murals on the history of Mexico that were painted between 1929 and 1935. You can take guided tours of his National Palace murals Tuesdays through Sundays at 11 am or tour them independently with your Mexico guidebook (pages 74 & 75 are where you want to be).

10. Head up to Chapultepec Castle

Chapultepec Castle is the only royal castle in North America to ever have housed actual royalty—and I’m not talking about the time it appeared as the Capulet Mansion in the Leonardo DiCaprio version of Romeo and Juliet .

It was constructed in 1725 for the commander in chief of the Spanish colony, then abandoned during the Mexican War of Independence. In 1864 it became the residence of Emperor Maximilian I who was officially the “Emperor of Mexico” but was actually an Austrian Hapsburg prince who wasn’t Mexican at all—like margaritas or the high drinking day of Cinco de Drinko.

The word Chapultepec comes from a Nahuatl word meaning “holy crap the views up here are fantastic!” which you’ll discover is indeed true.

Today, the castle serves as a history museum dedicated to the former military academy that once called it home, and to the personal effects of Emperor Maximilian. You can see famous murals, a fancy carriage collection, and totally your house from here ! As far as Mexico City experiences go, at 7,628 feet above sea level, this one’s the highest.

11. Tour the Anthropology Museum

Also found in Chapultepec Park is the National Museum of Anthropology, the largest museum in Mexico and one of the most visited in the world.

The museum opened the same year the Beatles came to America and everyone lost their ever-loving minds, but the museum’s collection dates all the way back to the year the modern shoelace was patented. That’s 1964 and 1790, respectively, for the non-history nerds in the audience.

The museum houses collections on:

• an introduction to anthropology
• Mexican nomadic groups
• Mesoamerican cultures from 2300 BC to 100 AD
• Teotihuacan—see all the stuff that was found near that pyramid you climbed
• The Toltec and Mexica civilizations
• Cultures of Oaxaca
• Cultures of the Gulf Coast like the Olmec, the Totonac, and the Huastec (missing from this section are the elusive Spring Breakers and Cruise Takers)
• As well as cultures from the Mexican West and the Mexican North (+ Southern U.S.)

But, without a doubt, the most popular piece in the entire museum and the piece whose discovery sparked the formation of the museum in the first place is the Aztec Calendar . It’s huge; it’s captivating; it’s centered around a 365-day cycle; and maybe someday it’ll have your crazy neighbor running around amassing guns and soup cans the same way the Maya calendar has done for so many.

12. Watch the dance of the Voladores

Outside the main entrance of the Museum of Anthropology, just past the trees and street vendors, you can watch the Danza de los Voladores , the Dance of the Flyers.

Watching the Voladores is not only one of the great Mexico City experiences but the “dance” is also a traditional ritual meant to appease the gods and end drought. It’s also related to fertility which could be considered a drought of a different color.

It originated in the nearby Mexican state of Veracruz but eventually made it all over Mexico, much like Emilio, the guy I sat next to on my flight to Mexico.

The Danza de los Voladores is an astonishing sight to see, even as someone who used to fly through the air with the greatest of ease as a daring young girl on the flying trapeze. Although it was not easy and calling myself “a young girl” may be pushing it.

What does the dance of the voladores involve?

The dance involves 4, 5, or sometimes 6 men (always men—very strict rules) climbing up an almost 100-foot pole and wrapping themselves in rope. Four of them launch themselves off the pole backwards and drift slowly back to earth in an elegant fashion the complete opposite of the crapshow that was me leaping from the trapeze board.

The Voladores make 13 rotations around the pole all the while flute-playing and drum-banging the gods’ favorite tunes.

The Voladores ceremony is performed at certain intervals (I’m told every ten minutes or so?) outside the Anthropology Museum from 10 am – 7 pm every day. Look for the light blue pole behind the trees and find a seat—it’ll start soon.

The ceremony is also performed in a field outside the gates of Teotihuacan between the parking lot and Entrance 1. And if all goes according to plan, in my backyard this summer as well.

13. Shop at a street market

Mexico City refreshingly lacks the plethora of tacky, knick knack-y gift shops and aggressive junk peddlers of most European tourist capitals. This is a travel blessing in many ways, one of them being that you must do your shopping at adorable local street markets instead.

At these markets you can buy everything from jewelry to belts to clothing to bags to souvenirs to crafts to lucha libre masks and minimalist art to furniture and so on. And not only can you shop shop shop, you can also eat eat eat. These markets are colorful, vibrant, and sell everything you could possibly want or need and for dirt cheap.

My favorite is the Saturday Bazaar in the neighborhood of San Angel. It’s centered around two public parks that are themselves enveloped by quaint museums, indoor open-air markets, streets of locally owned and operated shops, restaurants, and a lady that sells fresh stroopwafels. I don’t even care that I’m 5,750 miles* from the Netherlands. * Thanks Alexa.

14. Celebrate Day of the Dead (fall only Mexico City experiences)

Dia de los Muertos ( Day of the Dead ) takes place from October 31st to November 2nd each year and is the traditional Mexican holiday of remembering loved ones who’ve died. It’s characterized by setting up altars and presenting offerings to passed-on family members, candlelit cemetery strolls, painted catrina faces, and so much color .

Witnessing this holiday is so rewarding and, though it’s more popular in the smaller Mexican towns, you can still find plenty of marigold love in Mexico City.

Day of the Dead as a foreigner ─ If celebrating Day of the Dead is high on your list of Mexico City experiences, be sure to check out my full guide to celebrating Day of the Dead as a foreigner in Mexico . It’s full of helpful tips and dos and don’ts for experiencing Día de los Muertos the right way.

Downtown Mexico City hosts a large-scale Day of the Dead parade a la James Bond’s Spectre and you’ll see “trick-or-treaters” all over town begging you for candy.

I mean it—they’ll run right up to the open window of your Uber in the middle of an intersection and ask for the goods. More than the skulls and the face paint and the blatant affection for death, this is what is truly horrifying.

Where to celebrate Day of the Dead in Mexico City

You can head to the outer boroughs like San Angel where you’ll find plenty of spectacular ofrendas set up in local homes and businesses and be constantly invited in. Visiting Casa Azul during this time is particularly rewarding and, as expected, the Zócalo has nothing but the largest displays.

And if you’re in the Condesa neighborhood (as you should be), don’t, under any circumstances, miss out on the pan de muerto at Malande Café—the traditional bread eaten during this holiday.

How to dress for Day of the Dead ─ And if celebrating Day of the Dead in Mexico is in your plan, you should definitely consider dressing the part. Check out this post on how to dress for Day of the Dead (for both sexes)!

15. Obsess over the jacarandas (spring only Mexico City experiences)

Mmmkay. I’m a little more than obsessed with what I’ve come to learn is called a “Jacaranda”. Having first visited Mexico City last November, I didn’t even know these things existed. Now, having just visited in March, holy purple hell look at these!

Jacaranda is a genus of purple flowering trees in the holycrapsville family classification. They’re native to tropical and subtropical areas like Mexico, Central America, Florida, and the Caribbean. I lived in Florida. My Florida friends keep telling me I’m nuts because the Jacarandas are everywhere, yet I don’t remember them. It wasn’t until this latest trip to Mexico City that I noticed and instantly fell in love with them.

The Jacarandas are all over Mexico City–like, if you look up #jacarandas on Instagram, almost every single picture is of Mexico City. The trees themselves are stunning; the ground beneath them, covered in purple petals, is stunning; and when the wind blows, I only wanna see you laughing in the purple rain. Purple rain… purple rain!

The best places to see the jacarandas in Mexico City: the Condesa neighborhood and the park next to the Palacio de Bellas Artes. 💜

Optional tours for some Mexico City experiences

Mexico city and xochimilco canals full day tour.

This 10-hour tour includes a good chunk of the 15 Mexico City experiences listed here. Included is:

• Architecture tour of Mexico City
• boat ride through the canals of Xochimilco
• Checking out Diego Rivera’s murals at the National Palace
• A visit to Chapultepec Park
• Walk through the neighborhood of Coyoacan

The price includes pickup and dropoff in Mexico City, all admission fees, and a dedicated tour guide. Click here for booking information .

Mexico City Day Tour

This 2-hour walking tour takes you around central Mexico City and introduces you to many of the sites listed in this post: Templo Mayor, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Zócalo, Diego Rivera’s National Palace murals, and the Palacio de Bellas Artes. 

This tour is perfect for a first-time visitor to Mexico City and would be a great introduction to this awesome city. Click here for booking information (and book soon because this one is likely to sell out)!

What guidebook do you need for Mexico City? I have and recommend  this one ! Camera I used for this post:  Olympus OM-D EM-5 Mark II  w/  12-40mm  &  40-150mm  lenses Where else should you go in Mexico City? Check out these 10 underrated spots . What else have I written about Mexico? See these posts . Like this post? Have questions? Hit me up on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Which of these Mexico City experiences are you most looking forward to? Let me know below!

But first, pin me ⇣⇣⇣

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About Ashley Smith

Ashley is a historian and Oktoberfest expert & tour guide. She has traveled to 33 countries and specializes in quick trips throughout Europe and the Americas that prioritize hiking adventures, museums of all kinds, cultural experiences, and jam-packed itineraries. She hails from Memphis, TN and currently lives in Boston with her husband and two feline sidekicks.

Reader Interactions

June 22, 2018 at 11:51 AM

Duh, OF COURSE you went back because it’s one of the most incredible cities in the world!! I reckon you could visit here once or twice a year and still find so many incredible things to do! Love this city! 🙂

June 22, 2018 at 11:55 AM

Haha, I completely agree! I’m obsessed with this place and definitely look forward to returning many, many times! I have a running list of all the places I want to go and things I want to see. Each time I check off a few but add a ton more!

April 10, 2018 at 3:32 PM

Looks awesome! So much to do!! I’m still not sold on the wrestling though, lol.

April 10, 2018 at 3:34 PM

Haha! It really is something you need to experience to appreciate. I can already hear you actually: “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe that just happened! Did you see that?”

April 10, 2018 at 10:26 AM

You’ve gotten me obsessed with Mexico City! It looks gorgeous and I am all about that river cruise. I’m keeping tabs on flights just in case I see a deal!

April 10, 2018 at 10:30 AM

OMG yesssss! And for someone who lives in Texas! There are direct, cheap flights from Texas all day, every day! Can’t wait for you to get there!

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The Ultimate Mexico City Travel Guide: 11 Essential Tips You Need to Know! | UPDATED 2023

Upon returning from our first trip to  Mexico City  in 2019, I was ensorceled. The city wove a spell around me, unlike anything I’d ever experienced. Since then, I’ve returned over four times and loved my time there more and more with each visit.  Mexico City  is on the top of almost all the ‘ Best Places to Visit in 2023 ‘ lists, and with good reason! But when I visited the first time, there was SO much I learned. Almost right away. And with every subsequent visit, I picked up more tips. So learn from my mistakes, triumphs and suggestions so you can plan the perfect trip to Mexico City!

1. Don’t believe everything you hear about the crime

There is so much out there in the media about Mexico which is either just plain untrue, exaggerated or even just circumstantial. Sure, there is crime, but you’ll find crime in any big city. I think shows like ‘Narcos ‘ and everything being said in the US media about Mexico has vastly, and falsely, influenced people’s opinions about Mexico. Don’t rely on what you hear, instead of doing the research about safety for yourself.

Although other areas of Mexico are under travel advisories and warnings, Mexico City is not under any travel restrictions. What we learnt when visiting is that crime in the city, especially that related to tourism (IE., pick-pocketing, financial kidnapping and taxi scams) has been vastly reduced over the years.

Unfortunately for the country, crime in Mexico is more gang-related, and therefore there is less petty theft. So if you stick to areas of town you know aren’t a problem, you shouldn’t experience any issues. We never felt unsafe in the tourist areas. And the increased police presence throughout the city, enforced by their new president, always makes you feel at ease. I felt much more unsafe in Barcelona than I ever did in Mexico City.

Tips to Keep Safe

That doesn’t mean you should travel without a care in the world. Keep your wits about you, and be mindful of your surroundings. And always keep an eye on valuable items. We spent some time researching which areas to avoid and the safest areas to stay in. That way, even at night, we knew we were sticking to the safest areas of the city. Neighbourhoods like  La Condesa, Roma, Polanco  and  Coyoacan  are amazing neighbourhoods to explore day or night. While the  Historic Centre  is great to visit during the day, at night, everything closes down. And it’s a bit of a dead zone, so even if it’s safe, it does feel a bit eerie. Areas like  Tepito, Doctores, Ciudad Neza,  and  Iztapalapa  should be avoided. Just like you probably have areas in your own hometowns which you avoid as well.

2. The Altitude

Mexico City is located at an altitude of 2,240 meters (7,350 ft)! That’s over 600 meters more than in Denver, which sits at an altitude of 1,560 meters! But what does this really mean? Many people don’t even consider the altitude when choosing Mexico City as a destination. And some of them are never any the wiser. For other people, they might experience altitude sickness . Altitude sickness can range from something as subtle as feeling more tired than usual. To full-on bouts of severe exhaustion, nausea, headaches and vertigo.

As someone who has experienced severe migraines and vertigo before in their life, I wanted nothing to do with this altitude sickness. While there is no way to know if you’ll be at risk (there is no correlation between altitude sickness and physical fitness, for instance), there are some things you can do to prevent it if you’re worried. One is just to ensure that you’re properly hydrated before landing. Avoiding salty food, eating carbs and maybe avoiding excess alcohol for the first few days.

Prescriptions for Altitude Sickness

I went ahead and visited my local travel doctor before leaving. I got a prescription for  Acetazolamide , which is used to prevent and reduce the symptoms of altitude sickness. My doctor said it wasn’t absolutely necessary since the altitude is just below the number where you’d usually be prescribed the medication. But since I wanted peace of mind I went ahead with the prescription. I am happy to report, I felt zero symptoms of altitude sickness!

The best thing is to know what to expect, how to prevent it and what to do if you get sick. If you do get sick, REST is BEST! Sleep it off and continue to drink lots and lots of bottled water. And in a day, you’ll have acclimatized to the altitude, and you’ll be ready to take on the city.

3. Street Food is Delicious, but do keep away from the water

Mexico City has some of the best food I’ve eaten anywhere in the world. And did I avoid eating on the streets? No, I did not. Street food is just as delicious as some of the food I got in fancy restaurants. And avoiding this iconic piece of Mexican cuisine would be like visiting Paris and not eating a baguette. And while street food is delicious, you do need to be careful about what you’re eating and who you’re eating it from.

If you’re choosing to get anything to drink from a street vendor make sure it’s always without ice. You can ask for no ice by simply saying ‘ sin hielo ‘. If you’re looking to get an Agua Fresca (drinks made with water and fruit) make sure you ask them if it’s made with purified water or ‘ Agua Pura ‘. If you see bottles of purified water behind the counter, you’ll be fine. But if you see any water coming directly from a pail of water in an unidentified container, I would skip it altogether.

Don’t Drink Unpurified Water

Unpurified water is one of the most common ways that people get sick in Mexico City. And it’s not just drinking the water which can get you sick. Eating raw food which has been washed in unpurified water is another big culprit. Many people avoid salads for this exact reason. Something which I was concerned about was raw cilantro and onions on my tacos and guacamole. I took the risk and went ahead and ate all this. And was totally fine. But I did choose to avoid things like lettuce since I knew this veggie is always washed in water before serving.

Another popular street treat sold all over the city are containers of fresh fruits. In most cases, these fruits have been peeled or had their outer casing removed with a knife. That means they are fine to eat since no water was involved. I would make sure that the fruit hasn’t been sitting out too long since this might expose the food to disease-carrying insects. And airborne bacteria. It’s always good to ask for a fresh sliced mango, pineapple or papaya instead of one that has been sitting out in the sun.

Eat what the locals eat

Another tip for eating street food and not getting sick is to try to eat what the locals eat. Searching for something that is very Americanized might mean it’s actually quite unpopular with the locals. And therefore not very fresh. Look for long lines, study what the locals are ordering, and just go for it! You probably won’t get sick, and even if you don’t know what you ordered, street food in Mexico is so cheap it’s always worth trying something new!

Timing is Key

Be sure to eat when the locals eat. If the locals are eating at noon, try to match their schedule. Even if it means lining up, you know you’ll get the freshest food. One piece of advice that you might hear all the time is to avoid sauces. This is because most sauces are kept at room temperature meaning they’re more susceptible to bacteria. But if you’re visiting Mexico, you’ll know that sauces are everything! Salsa isn’t just that tomato-based condiment you find in the US. Salsa actually just means ‘sauce’ in Spanish. It’s a term for everything from pico de gallo to guacamole. And trust me they’re all delicious and all need to be sampled.

My best piece of advice for avoiding getting sick with sauces is just to take a good look at it. See if it looks fresh or looks a bit off. The smaller the container it’s in, the better. Because that means they’re replenishing it more frequently. Either with a large container kept in the fridge or made a new batch fresh.

What to do if you get Sick?

In the end, you could follow all this advice and more, and you still might end up getting sick. Just by pure coincidence. Although having travellers’ diarrhea might be pretty awful in the moment, it would be an even greater waste to go to a country like Mexico and not sample some of their amazing local cuisine. So what do you do if you do get sick? It’s always worth visiting a travel doctor before you leave for vacation. They’ll make sure that all your shots are up-to-date. And also give you some medication which can help prevent travellers’ diarrhea. This means that even if you happen to ingest a little bit of bacteria, you might be able to handle it better than if you had not had this medication. It’s a touch pricey, but I highly recommend it.

Your doctor might also prescribe you some prescription diarrhea medication as well as some rehydration tablets. These are all great to have on hand to help you recover should you get sick. I also always carry some probiotics, digestive enzymes, activated charcoal and ginger tea. No matter where I’m travelling.Just in case I, or my travel companions, get sick. Mint or ginger tea is a great remedy that you can find in most cafes in Mexico City, perfect for even a tiny stomach bug.

4. Buildings are a virtual living rainbow of colours

Before arriving in Mexico City, I had heard about all the colourful buildings and streets which cover the landscape. But I never really understood just how astoundingly vivid it could be until I saw it for myself. Even when we were flying into the city, I peered out of the airplane window and was mesmerized by how bright and eccentric the buildings looked. Even from high above the city. It looks like a kind of patchwork quilt of colours and patterns. Everywhere you go, even in some of the poorer neighbourhoods, you’ll see fantastical coloured buildings. There is also incredible hand-painted signs, artistic murals on every street corner and even the cars and buses are just as vibrant as the city around it.

An artists’ collective known as the German Crew even transformed the working-class “barrio” of Las Palmitas into a giant, colorful mural. In an effort to change its gritty image. And it worked! There was a reduction in crime in those areas as people felt more pride in their neighbourhood. And actively wanted to make it a better place to live. It’s amazing what a little bit of colour can do.

You can wander the streets for hours and hours and never get sick of seeing these unbelievable paintings along the way. When planning a trip, sometimes you’re so focused on visiting sites and museums or famous landmarks that you forget that a simple wander down a few side streets might be just as meaningful.

5. Ubers are convenient, cheap and clean

If you’re one of those people that is really concerned about safety, one of the greatest inventions to calm your mind is Uber! Uber moved into Mexico City only a few years ago. And it’s value to both tourists and locals alike is unmatched. Taxis are notorious for either changing their fares along the way to unsuspecting tourists. And rumours of taxi kidnappings were prevalent in the 90s. This is when a taxi driver would drive you to a location and basically just force you to pay an exorbitant sum to get you to where you really wanted to go. Although those cases are rare nowadays, it was definitely a scar on Mexico City’s reputation. One that often puts off tourists from visiting. Uber solves a myriad of these problems. You know exactly what you’re going to pay upfront, and can see where you’re headed. As well a look at the reviews of your driver.

Using Uber in CDMX

Also, you don’t need to worry about the language barrier since you can input the address yourself. We took Ubers absolutely everywhere. From door to door we had nothing but incredible experiences. We would chat with the drivers who spoke some English. And even tried our best to chat with the drivers in Spanish. They were always so kind and in a city where the traffic is as hectic as Mexico City, we felt they were all great drivers. The cars were clean, had charging cords for phones, and a bottle of water to cool off on hot days.

The traffic in Mexico City is just as bad as you hear. But don’t let that detract you from enjoying the city. Traffic, when you’re in an Uber, can be an added bonus. It allows you to see lots of parts of the city you might otherwise miss. We thought of it as a free sightseeing bus tour. Just make sure to leave with plenty of wiggle room in your schedule, as traffic can come out of nowhere.

Uber Pricing

And if you’re wondering about the price, Ubers are super cheap! Most of our rides were less than $4 USD. Even from the airport, our trip was less than $15 USD. While the metro in Mexico City is incredibly cheap, (around $.30 US), there are differing opinions about its safety. I’m sure some people have no issues. But even locals do warn tourists that they should be careful when riding. So if you’re like me and you like to enjoy the scenery around you as you travel, I highly recommend sticking with Uber.

6. IT’S SO GREEN!

Something I heard over and over before visiting Mexico City was about the pollution . And look, there is pollution. Every day we were there I would check my weather app. And there was definitely a high level of smog in the air. Even when we flew into the city, we could see the smog as we cruised down from the clouds. But was this something that I noticed day to day? No, not at all. And the reason why? The parks! Everywhere we seemed to go, they were palm trees as high as the eye could see. Lush tropical plants sprawl out over everything, covering not only just the parks but the side streets, the avenues and even on street corners.

Mexico City is home to  Chapultepec Park , the largest city park in the western hemisphere, measuring over 686 hectares! They call this park the  lungs of the city . As it pumps fresh oxygen into the valley of Mexico. But in addition to this park, the city has made huge efforts is creating greenspaces all over the city. To help combat the pollution. And it’s working. The air felt fresh in most of the places in the city that we went to. And by walking in the shade of the trees, even during the hottest time of the day, you never felt uncomfortable.

7. People are so Friendly!

For a country that often gets associated with crime and violence, I have to say, everyone I met or interacted with was nothing but kind, happy and helpful. People went out of their way at times to help us out. Be it with directions or even navigating a menu we couldn’t read. When we attended a busy Lucha Libre show , our friend dropped their phone down the seat risers. And our group couldn’t retrieve it. When the show was over, a huge group of locals all joined together to help us disassembled the risers. And got her phone back. It was a really sweet show of support from a bunch of strangers. Just one example of how everyone went out of their way to show visitors kindness.

8. The city really is THAT BIG

Mexico City is ranked the 5th largest city in the world ! Over 21 million people live within its borders. Having been to the #1 spot on this list, Tokyo , we felt very prepared for the density and size. But for anyone who hasn’t visited one of these megacities, prepare yourself. In busy areas, the crush of people can be a bit overwhelming. But it’s all about finding those side streets, away from the main drags, where you can easily escape the crowds without going too far out of the way.

But in relaxing districts like La Condesa or Roma , it’s so peaceful and quiet you can’t even believe you’re in Mexico City. It feels more like a small town. One of the best ways to deal with a city this large is to ensure you plan out your days by neighbourhood. That way, you’re not running from one end of the city to another. Because at busy times of the day, it can take over an hour to get from end to end.

9. Learn Spanish!

Despite being a country so close to both Canada and the United States, most people in Mexico City do not speak English. And rightly so. Spanish is a fantastic language and a beautiful one to learn as a tourist. When you’re the one visiting a foreign country, you should be learning their language. Not the other way around. Spanish is fairly simple to speak and also to learn. Especially compared to my experience with learning Japanese or even Danish. Even if you just learn a few key phrases, that goes a long way with the locals. It shows them respect for their language and culture. Google Translate works really well if you have access to the internet or a roaming package. Either type in what you want translated or use the camera function to easily translate most menus.

10. Always carry Tissues & Hand sanitizer

Ok, this is a weird one, but I thought it needed to be discussed. One of the things which throws some people for a loop when visiting Mexico is the toilet situation. Most toilets in Mexico City require you to throw the toilet paper in a wastepaper basket, not down the toilet. It seems odd when you’re used to flushing, but it’s important you don’t, as it’s really bad for their plumbing.

Another thing which is important to know is most public toilets sometimes lack toilet paper altogether. So it’s a good idea to keep some Kleenex in your bag at all times. Some washrooms will also charge a few pesos for toilet paper so keep some small change with you. Since the water isn’t potable and could contain bacteria, I would almost always use hand sanitizer after using the restroom. We had travel-sized hand sanitizer on us at all times for these cases. They both take up so little room in your travel pack, so it’s a good idea to put those on your packing list!

I have so much more to say about  Mexico City  and can’t wait to post all about the different places we explored, culinary delights we ate and other exciting adventures we took while visiting this amazing city! Let me know if you have any questions about Mexico City and I will be sure to answer them all in the comments!

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Mexico City is actually much larger than New York City and ranked 5/6th in the world and NYC not even making the top 10.

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Mexico City

Travel guide.

• Things to Do
• Best Hotels
• Things to See
• Best Restaurants
• Best Nightlife
• Suggested Itineraries
• Organized Tours
• Visitor Information
• Getting There
• Neighborhoods in Brief
• Getting Around
• City Layout

Getting Around in Mexico City

Mexico City has a highly developed and remarkably cheap public transportation system. It is a shame that the sharp increase in crime and resulting safety concerns have made these less comfortable options for travelers. The Metro, first- and second-class buses, colectivos, and Nissan Tsuru libre taxis will take you anywhere you want to go for very little money -- but visitor warnings about the use of public transportation should be respected. Because sitio taxis (official taxis registered to a specific locale or hotel) are relatively inexpensive and the safest way to travel within the city, you are best off using them.

Taxis operate under several distinct sets of rules.

"Turismo" and Sitio Taxis -- These are by far the safest way to travel within Mexico City. Turismo taxis are unmarked cabs, usually well-kept luxury cars assigned to specific hotels that have special license plates. Although more expensive than the VW Beetle and libre taxis (usually Nissan Tsurus), "turismo" taxis, along with radio-dispatched sitio taxis, are the safest ones to use. The drivers negotiate rates with individual passengers for sightseeing, but rates to and from the airport are established. Ask the bell captain what the airport fare should be, and establish it before taking off. These drivers are often licensed English-speaking guides and can provide exceptional service. In general, expect to pay around 250 pesos per hour for guided service, and about 15% more than metered rates for normal transportation. Often these drivers will wait for you while you shop or dine to take you back to the hotel, or they can be called to come back and pick you up.

Metered Taxis -- Most of the classic green VW Beetle cabs have been phased out but their red counterparts as well as libre cabs provide low-cost service, but for safety reasons, you should not use them. Some sitio taxis (radio taxis, which are safe; tel. 55/5590-3325 or 55/5698-5192) use meters, while others have set rates. I have used Intertaxi (tel. 55/2603-3268 ). They have a fleet of regular cars that don't appear to be taxis from the outside. This is especially safe if you're traveling late at night, when thieves may see taxis as easy targets. Although you may encounter a gouging driver or one who advances the meter or drives farther than necessary to run up the tab, most service is quick and adequate.

The subway system in Mexico City offers a smooth ride for one of the lowest fares anywhere in the world (5 pesos). Twelve lines crisscross the sprawling city. Each train usually has nine cars. The Metro is open Monday to Friday 5am to midnight, Saturday 6am to midnight, and Sunday 7am to midnight.

As you enter the station, buy a boleto (ticket) at the glass taquilla (ticket booth). Insert your ticket into the slot at the turnstile and pass through; inside you'll see two large signs showing the line's destination (for example, for Line 1, it's Observatorio and Pantitlán ). Follow the signs in the direction you want and know where you're going; there is usually only one map of the routes, at the entrance to the station. You'll see two signs everywhere: SALIDA (exit) and ANDENES (platforms). On the train, above each door is a map of the station stops for that line, with symbols and names.

CORRESPONDENCIAS indicates transfer points. The ride is smooth, fast, and efficient (although hot and crowded during rush hours). The beautifully designed stations are clean and have the added attraction of displaying archaeological ruins unearthed during construction. A subterranean passage goes between the Pino Suárez and Zócalo stations, so you can avoid the crowds along Pino Suárez.

The Metro is crowded during the day on weekdays and, consequently, pretty hot and muggy in summer. In fact, you may find it virtually unusable downtown between 4 and 7pm on weekdays, because of sardine-can conditions. At some stations, there are even separate lanes roped off for women and children; the press of the crowd is so great that someone might get molested. Buses, colectivos, and taxis are all heavily used during these hours, less so during off hours (such as 10:30am-noon). Avoid the crowds by traveling during off-peak hours, or simply wait a few minutes for the next train.

Be prepared to do some walking within the Metro system, especially if you transfer lines. Stations are connected by elevated walkways, corridors with shops or museumlike displays, and escalators.

The Subway Skinny -- The Metro system runs Monday to Friday from 5am to midnight, Saturday from 6am to midnight, and Sunday and holidays from 7am to midnight. Baggage larger than a small carry-on is not allowed on the trains. In practice, this means that bulky suitcases or backpacks will make you persona non grata. On an average day, Mexico City's Metro handles more than five million riders -- leaving little room for bags! But in effect, if no one stops you as you enter, you're in.

Watch your bags and your pockets. Metro pickpockets prey on the unwary (especially foreigners) and are very crafty -- on a crowded train, they've been known to empty a fanny pack from the front. Be careful, and carry valuables inside your clothing. Women should avoid traveling alone.

Moving millions of people through this sprawling urban mass is a gargantuan task, but the city officials do a pretty good job of it. Bus stops on the major tourist streets usually have a map posted with the full route description.

Crowding is common during peak hours. The cost is 6 pesos. Although the driver usually has change, try to have exact fare or at least a few coins when you board.

One of the most important bus routes runs between the zócalo and the Auditorio (National Auditorium in Chapultepec Park) or the Observatorio Metro station. The route is Avenida Madero or Cinco de Mayo, Avenida Juárez, and Paseo de la Reforma.

The latest member of the Mexico City transportation family, the Metrobus was first introduced in 2006. These buses run in their own designated lanes up and down Avenida Insurgentes and often travel much faster than surrounding traffic. Most of the stops are designed to be convenient for commuters, but you can use it to access Plaza Tres Culturas from the Tlateloco stop, and the luxurious Reforma 222 shopping plaza near the Hamburgo stop; if you get off at Campeche, you'll be just a short walk from Condesa. To board these buses, purchase a smartcard for 15 pesos, which can be recharged for 5 pesos per trip. These buses are generally cleaner and faster than other forms of transportation but can get just as crowded during peak hours.

Women-Only Buses & Train Cars -- In January 2008, Mexico City designated a number of city buses for women only, distinguished by conspicuous pink placards. The popular program was designed to prevent men from groping female passengers -- a fairly common problem in the capital's crowded public transportation system. Bus drivers are charged with keeping men off of these buses, and their female passengers are delighted. During peak hours, Mexico City's subway system also designates the first three cars for women and children.

By  Collectivo

Also called peseros or microbuses, these are sedans or minibuses, usually green and gray, that run along major arteries. They pick up and discharge passengers along the route, charge established fares, and provide slightly more comfort and speed than the bus. Cards in the windshield display routes; often a Metro station is the destination. One of the most useful routes for tourists runs from the zócalo along Avenida Juárez, along Reforma to Chapultepec, and back again. Board a colectivo with a sign saying ZÓCALO, not VILLA. (The Villa route goes to the Basílica de Guadalupe.) Some of the minibuses on this route have automatic sliding doors -- you don't have to shut them.

As the driver approaches a stop, he may put his hand out the window and hold up one or more fingers. This is the number of passengers he's willing to take on (vacant seats are difficult to see if you're outside the car).

By Tourist Bus

A convenient and popular way to see the city is on one of the red double-decker Turibuses (tel. 55/5133-2488; www.turibus.com.mx ), which offer separate circuits in the north and south of the city. Each of the double-decker buses seats 75 and offers audio information in five languages, plus street maps. The buses operate from 9am to 9pm, with unlimited hop-on, hop-off privileges after paying 140 pesos for a day pass (165 pesos weekends). The Chapultepec-Centro Histórico route has 25 stops at major monuments, museums, and neighborhoods along the 35km (22-mile) route, which runs from the National Auditorium to the city center (including the zócalo ) and from there to La Plaza de las Tres Culturas (Square of the Three Cultures), returning via Avenida Reforma toward the posh neighborhood of Polanco and finally to Museo del Niño (Children's Museum). The full circuit takes a little under 3 hours. Another Turibus circuit runs in the city south, taking passengers from La Roma neighborhood south along Avenida Insurgentes to San Angel, Coyoacán, and Tlalpan. Stops include the World Trade Center, Plaza de Torros bullring, Carillo Gil museum, Perisur shopping center, UNAM, and the Frida Kahlo museum, among others. Turibus also offers a route to the pyramids at Teotihuacán.

By Rental Car

If you plan to travel to Puebla or a surrounding area, a rental car might come in handy. However, due to high rates of auto theft, I don't recommend renting a car. Taxis and the Metro also eliminate the risk of getting lost in an unsavory area.

If you must rent, be aware that that the least-expensive rental car is a manual-shift without air-conditioning. The price jump is considerable for automatics with air-conditioning. The safest option is to leave the driving to someone else -- Avis offers chauffeur-driven rental cars at its nine locations in the Mexican capital. The chauffeur is on an 8-hour shift, but the car is available to the customer for 24 hours. For prices and reservations, call Avis (tel. 800/352-7900 in the U.S., or 01-800/288-8888 in Mexico).

Note : This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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5 Days in Mexico City Itinerary [2024]

• by Nellie Huang

Delve deep into the culture and history of CDMX with this power-packed 5-day Mexico City itinerary.

It’s massive, energetic, and frankly, misunderstood. As the 6th most populated city in the world (home to 22 million people), the high-octane megalopolis can seem overwhelming. But go a little deeper and you’ll discover a dynamic, multi-faceted city brimming with culture, history and character.

There are more museums in Mexico City than anywhere in the world , and the city is studded with charming neighborhoods, old-school cantinas, and awesome street food . Mexico City is now one of my favorite cities in the world — and I’m here to share a detailed Mexico City itinerary, that’ll help you go beneath the surface of this metropolis.

Table of Contents

Start at Zocalo Square

Admire the cathedral, watch the spiritual cleansing rituals, visit museo templo mayor, museums in mexico city are closed on mondays, have lunch at the balcon de zocalo, join a night street food tour, wander around the palacio bellas artes, head up to the rooftop of sears, stroll through alameda central, visit the museo de arte popular, amble along the pedestrianized madero street, eat at casa de los azulejos, head up to the top of torre latinoamericana, dine at a traditional mexican restaurant, best rooftop restaurants/bars in mexico city, bike ride chapultepec park, visit museo nacional de antropología, visit chapultepec castle, try tlayuda at the food stands, enjoy an afternoon at libreria porrua, watch a lucha libre show, visit museo frida kahlo, wander through mercado coyoacan, browse through the mercado artesanal de coyoacan, stroll through the san angel, weave through the canals of xochimilco, visit the ancient ruins of teotihuacan, visiting teotihuacan , have a gourmet meal in a cave restaurant, experience the nightlife in mexico city, extending your trip in mexico city, how to get to mexico city, best time to visit mexico city, how many days in mexico city, how safe is mexico city.

• Budget: La Querencia DF

Midrange: Hampton Inn & Suites

• Luxury: Hotel Zocalo Central

Luxury: The St Regis Mexico City

How to get around mexico city, how’s traveling mexico city with kids, casa de los azulejos, taqueria los cocuyos, azul historico, san angel inn, el hidalguense, how to stay connected in mexico city, cost of travel in mexico city, planning a trip around mexico, my 5-day mexico city itinerary.

This is part of our recommended 2-week Mexico itinerary . I recommend spending at least 5 days in Mexico City, if you want to get beneath the surface and experience as much as possible. It’ll give you enough time to see the best of the city and do a few Mexico tours.

Before you begin your Mexico City trip, be sure to check the Mexico Visa requirements ; most nationalities don’t need a visa to enter Mexico. In this Mexico City itinerary, I’ve included a day-to-day breakdown of things to do, where to eat, and the best places to stay in Mexico City .

Mexico City Itinerary Day 1: Centro Historico

Don’t be overwhelmed by the size of Mexico City – just focus on different sections of the city each day and you’ll do just fine. On the first day of this Mexico City itinerary, we will start in the Centro Historico or Historic Center, packed with gorgeous colonial buildings and museums galore.

The Zocalo sits at the very heart of the historic center of Mexico City. The grand square has witnessed thousands of years of history, from the rise of the ancient Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan to the flourishing of modern-day Mexico City. It is flanked by the Palacio Nacional  on one side and the impressive Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral on the other. The square is always buzzing with life, from indigenous Mayan performers to street vendors and tourists.

The most prominent landmark on the Zocalo is Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral. It’s not only one of Mexico’s most treasured architectural masterpieces, it is also Latin America’s largest and oldest cathedral.

While the Cathedral looks impressive from the outside, you need to head in to see the biggest draw of the Cathedral: Numerous works of art, religious relics and crypts adorn every orifice, including in the sixteen chapels.  Sadly, the cathedral – much like the rest of Mexico City – gradually sinks year after year into the shifting lake upon which it was built.

Outside the Cathedral, you’ll usually find indigenous people perform traditional dance routines. The traditional healers offer a spiritual cleansing ritual called limpia . First, the healers rub the herbs around your entire body, while blowing smoke and incense. It’s said that the herbs expel evil spirits from your body and the incense provides your body with strength. You’ll then be asked to stamp on the herbs, signifying crushing the evil forces that have been eliminated from your body.

Just behind the Cathedral lies one of the city’s most impressive sights – the Templo Mayor . These are the ruins left behind from the great Aztec temple and the ancient city of Tenochtitlán, which was destroyed when the Spaniards conquered Mexico City.

It wasn’t until the 1970s, that some electricity workers discovered this amazing site, buried beneath the ground. It’s free to see the temple ruins from the viewing platforms, but I highly recommend visiting the Museo del Templo Mayor (entry is 80 Pesos). It’s one of the best museums in Mexico City in my opinion, with extensive explanations and displays of artefacts from the Mexica civilization. The stone carvings and sacrificial offerings found in the Templo Mayor ruins are exhibited here, and they’re seriously impressive.

It’s important to note that many museums in Mexico City are closed on Mondays. This includes major ones such as the Templo Mayor Museum and National Palace. Make sure to plan your Mexico City itinerary accordingly and leave museums for other days of the week.

During high season, some of the museums can have long lines of visitors, especially National Anthropology Museum and Frida Kahlo Museum . Be sure to book tickets in advance.

Take a break and head up to the Balcon de Zocalo , a rooftop restaurant in the Hotel Zocalo Central. The upscale, stylish hotel is housed in a 1890s building and its rooftop restaurant is my favorite place to eat in Mexico City.

Besides the phenomenal views of the Zocalo, the restaurant serves up contemporary Mexican cuisine made with high quality ingredients. If you’re on a budget, I suggest coming here before 12pm when they’re still serving the breakfast menu. You’ll get to fill up with contemporary versions of chilaquiles or enchilada, without breaking the bank!

Mexico City is undoubtedly the best place to try authentic Mexican food . Street food vendors ply the streets of Centro Historico with delicious and authentic Mexican antojitos (street food) like tacos, tortas, quesabirria and more. To get under the surface of the street food scene here, we joined a night street food tour and had an amazing time learning about Mexican street food.

This after-dark taco tour consists of an epic, six-course menu covering the city’s essential styles like brisket, canasta, and al pastor, plus beverage pairings like pulque and beer. Do ask about the post-taco private tasting of Mexican spirits, a one-of-a-kind chance to sip mezcals from lesser-known regions like Durango and San Luis Potosí.

Mexico City Itinerary Day 2: Centro Historico

On day 2 of this Mexico City Itinerary, take an Uber or metro to Bellas Artes metro station. The Palace of Fine Arts is one of the most famous landmarks of Centro Historico and it houses the country’s most important art collections. Rooms and exhibits follow a chronological order, first looking at works from the ancient pre-Hispanic period, then the colonial era, and finally art from an independent Mexico.

For a view of the Palacio de Bellas Artes (and take a picture like below), head to the rooftop cafe at the Sears department store across the road. The Sears Rooftop Cafe has gorgeous views, but they don’t take reservations and you have to wait in line at the entrance of Sears to register before heading up. It took us 15 minutes to get up there. I recommend getting here at 11am, when they open.

Next, stroll over to the lush green Alameda Central Park and take in some fresh air. The beautiful park is criss-crossed by pathways, which culminate in French-style, ornate fountains. What was once an Aztec marketplace is now one of Mexico City’s primary green spaces . If you are spending Day of the Dead in Mexico City (like we did), this park is a great spot to soak up the atmosphere and join in the festivities.

At the end of the park, you’ll also find an outdoor market and plenty of street food. Don’t forget to try my favorite esquite  (spicy corn with lime) and  elote   (corn on the cob smothered with mayonnaise and cheese).

Just a few minutes’ walk away is the Museo de Arte Popular , our favorite museum in Mexico City .  The beautiful art deco space is dedicated to the wonderful folk art traditions of Mexico. On display here are some of the weirdest and most wonderful religious monsters, skeletons, piñatas, and pottery you are likely to see anywhere.

The brightly lit main atrium of the museum also features several alebrijes,  gigantic and fantastical animal figures like flies with dragon tails and multi-headed lions, all painted with neon colors.

Then, walk a few blocks to Madero Street, one of the most popular and busiest roads since colonial times. This was one of the first streets to be drawn of the new Spanish city on the ruins of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan. It was named in honor of Francisco I. Madero, who was briefly President of Mexico before his assassination in 1913. Today, the pedestrianized street is flanked by renown landmarks, museums and renown shops.

One of the most famous restaurants in Mexico City is located along Madero Street. Casa de los Azulejos (House of Tiles) is housed in a gorgeous historical building covered in blue, white, and yellow tile. Its interior features a mural by famed Mexican painter José Clemente Orozco; and its glass-ceilinged atrium contains stone pillars, murals, and a fountain.

These lushly decorated walls have witnessed centuries of Mexican history, housing Spanish noblemen before evolving into the most beautiful branch of a chain restaurant. Besides soaking up the history here, you can feast on traditional dishes like pozoles (Mexican stew) and molletes (bean and cheese toast). It’s also a great spot for a traditional Mexican breakfast .

After lunch, cross the road to Torre Latinoamericana, one of Mexico City’s most important landmarks. It was the world’s first major skyscraper successfully built on highly active seismic zone, and the skyscraper notably withstood the 8.1 magnitude 1985 Mexico City earthquake without any damage!

The observation deck on its 37th floor gives a bird’s eye view of the sprawling metropolis. The ticket also gives you entry to the museum on the 36th floor, where you can learn about the building’s construction. The Miralto bar and restaurant on the 41st floor serves up gourmet meals with the glittering lights of the city as the backdrop. Book your table here.

It’s been a long day, so kick back and treat yourself to a nice dinner at Azul Historico  or  Restaurant El Cardenal , two of the best traditional Mexican restaurants in the area. Azul Historico offers excellent multi-course lunches and has a beautiful, open courtyard lit up with tea lights. Restaurant El Cardenal is more of an institution well-loved by both locals and visitors. We loved both, but Azul Historico definitely won me over with its stunning courtyard.

There’s a whole range of rooftop bars and restaurants with gorgeous views of Mexico City, be sure to make reservations in advance as they do get booked up during high season. Check out my full list of the best rooftop bars in Mexico City .

• Balcon de Zocalo — A stylish rooftop restaurant overlooking the Zocalo with spectacular views over the main square.
• Puro Corazon  — One of the best traditional restaurants in the historic center, also overlooking the Zocalo.
• La Casa de las Sirenas  Facing the Zocalo and Templo Mayor, this gorgeous rooftop restaurant is located in a a 16th-century building with an old-world ambiance.
• Terraza Cha Cha Cha  —  Overlooking the Revolution Monument, this chic rooftop bar dishes up contemporary Mexican dishes and well crafted cocktails.
• Cityzen Rooftop Kitchen  — An upscale rooftop restaurant boasting unparalleled views of the Paseo de la Reforma, serving French and Mexican cuisine.
• Sears Rooftop Cafe — Best view over the Palacio de Bellas Artes. They don’t take reservations and you have to wait in line at the entrance of Sears to register before heading up.

Mexico City Itinerary Day 3: Bosque de Chapultepec

The next day, take an Uber or metro to the green lungs of Mexico City, Bosque de Chapultepec . This huge park covers a whopping 686 hectares, making it one of the largest city parks in the western hemisphere.

Filled with green meadows, forested areas and lakes, the Chapultepec Park itself is home to a zoo, multiple museums, a botanical garden, a recreational lake, archaeological sites, and monuments to Mexican patriot. There are snack vendors, street performers, and plenty of food stalls. It’s impossible to take it all in, but spending a day in the park gives you a taste of what it has to offer.

One of the most fun ways to see the park is by bicycle. Mexico City has the great  EcoBici bike share program available. You just need to download the app, and  buy a 1-day pass for 112 Pesos (US$5) or 3-day pass for 372 Pesos (US$18). With your EcoBici membership, you can explore Chapultepec Park and other areas of Mexico City.

Of the 150 museums in Mexico City, National Anthropology Museum is lauded as the best and it’s extremely popular. So get here at 10am when it opens (it’s closed on Sundays and Mondays) and plan to spend at least 3 hours here. The museum has exhibits on everything you’d ever wanted to know about Mexico’s ancient cultures, from the Mayans and the Aztecs to the Toltecs. Book your tickets here!

One of the monuments worth visiting in the park is the Chapultepec Castle. It is located on top of a hill, offering unparalleled views of Mexico City. The site of the hill was a sacred place for Aztecs, and the buildings atop it have served several purposes during its history, including that of Military Academy and Presidential residence, and since the 1940s, the National Museum of History. Get your tickets here.

You won’t go hungry in the park, as there’s no shortage of street food offering traditional Mexican antojitos here. A very popular dish to have here is the tlayuda , a traditionally Oaxacan staple and popular Mexican breakfast . It’s made up of a crunchy, partially fried or toasted tortilla covered with a spread of refried beans, nopales (cactus), avocado, meat, Oaxaca cheese, and salsa. You can easily get one for 20 Pesos (US$1). I got mine from the food stands at the castle’s front gate.

Another cool spot in the park worth checking out is the gorgeous bookstore, Libreria Porrúa (yes I’m a geek!). This must be the most beautiful branch of the large bookstore chain, thanks to its spectacular lakeside location, open-concept design, and inviting lounging space. Set amongst the trees of Bosque de Chapultepec, the bookstore has floor-to-ceiling shelves covered in books, a lovely open air café, and lots of hanging chairs.

If you’re a fan of Lucha Libre (Mexican wrestling), Mexico City is the best place to see it live in action. Lucha Libre is dramatic, acrobatic, and a little bit wild. We’re not wrestling fans, but even my daughter enjoyed the drama and acrobatic skills of the luchadores .

There are three arenas in Mexico City where you can see Lucha Libre. Arena Mexico in Colonia Doctores is the largest of the three and hosts luchas every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday night. Sunday shows at 5.30pm are designed to be family-friendly. Check out the lineup on the website of the CMLL . We got the tickets (for 125 Pesos or $5) just 10 minutes before the show started, so you don’t even need to plan in advance.

Mexico City Itinerary Day 4: Coyoacan & Xochimilco

On the 4th day of this Mexico City itinerary, I recommend venturing further to explore the district of Coyoacan. It’s a 20-minute Uber ride (that cost around $10 each way) from the historical center. The beautiful neighborhood is lined with colorful colonial style homes, cute cafes and boutiques. It is a slightly upscale residential area with lots of Airbnbs for those who prefer to stay in a quiet area.

Frida Kahlo is one of the most famous Mexican artists of all time, and her paintings are loved throughout the world. Her house, known as the Casa Azul , has been converted into a museum. She grew up in this home and later shared it with her famous husband, painter Diego Rivera. You’ll see both various pieces of her artwork as well as her personal belongings.

Walk through her art studio, glimpse her beautiful kitchen, and see the bed where she slept and the garden in which she spent her afternoons dreaming or entertaining guests. Tickets must be booked online, you’ll not be allowed in without a prepaid ticket! They can be sold out for weeks, so book your tickets at least a month in advance!

Next, head to the Coyoacan Market, around a 15-minute walk from the Frida’s Casa Azul. It’s a great place to pick up some great souvenirs and to stop for a bit of lunch. The market is filled with small stalls serving up some of Mexico’s most authentic dishes, from stuffed chile poblanos to tacos and quesadillas. But the most famous dish to eat here is the tostada (toasted tortilla filled with all kinds of topping).

Famed throughout the country, this market is a great place to shop for souvenirs at prices lower than those found in the shops of Mexico City. The artisan market boasts a huge variety of handcrafted textiles, artwork and quirky souvenirs. Keep an eye out for traditional indigenous items such as rebozos  (shawls) and  huipiles (tunics) from the regions of Chiapas and Oaxaca.

This picturesque neighborhood of San Angel, just southwest of Coyoacan, is a pleasant and leafy neighborhood worth visiting. If you happen to be in Mexico City on a Saturday, consider checking out the weekly Saturday bazaar that takes place here.

You’ll find streets and parks lined with artists and local vendors. Eventually, make your way to a building known as the bazaar (northwest of the Plaza San Jacinto).

In the evening, venture even further south to the canals of Xochimilco. The best way to get there is taking an Uber to the Embarcadero Cuemanco Xochimilco (which will cost another $10 from Coyoacan).

The canals and artificially created islands (called  chinampas ) of Xochimilco date to pre-Hispanic Aztec period, and were once part of a large lake and canal system. These remaining canals and their ecosystem were declared a World Heritage Site in 1987. These days, it’s extremely popular to glide down the canals on colorful, dreamily decorated trajinera boats. A boat trip usually costs around $500 Mexican pesos ($20 USD) per hour for the entire boat, not per person!

Mexico City Itinerary Day 5: Day Trip

For your last day in Mexico City, take a day trip to the ancient pyramids located 30 miles (50 km) northeast of Mexico City. Visiting Teotihuacan is a rite of passage for any visitor to Mexico, as it’s the most impressive archaeological site in Mexico (in our opinion). It’s THE most popular of all the Mexico City day trips , for good reason. Read our complete guide to the Teotihuacan Pyramids.

The  UNESCO World Heritage Site was settled as early as 400 B.C. and became the most powerful and influential city in the region by 400 A.D. The Aztecs found the city in the 1400s and named it Teotihuacan (meaning “the place where the gods were created”). It was the largest city anywhere in the Western Hemisphere at one point, and had thousands of residential compounds and scores of pyramid-temples.

We’ve been to several Aztec and Mayan sites in Mexico, but this was the most impressive of them all. Walking along the Avenue of the Dead, I was floored by the sheer scale and grandeur of the ancient city. The Pyramid of the Sun is the largest building in Teotihuacan, and one of the largest in Mesoamerica. It is believed to have been constructed about 200 AD.

Teotihuacan can get crowded especially if you’re visiting Mexico City during the peak season. Make sure to get there early or book a tour in advance for early access. These tours tend to include tequila tasting or visits to the nearby Shrine of Guadalupe.

To get to Teotihuacan, we took an Uber which cost US$30 each way (1hour). That’s the best way to get to Teotihuacan early, before the tour groups arrive at 10am. We were worried about finding an Uber home, but it was relatively easy to get reception at one of the gates. If you prefer to have a guide, then check out this day tour to Teotihuacan .

End your visit of the Teotihuacan Pyramids at Gate 5, and head to La Gruta Cave Restaurant which is just a 3-minute walk away. This was easily the best meal we had in Mexico City! They also had one of the coolest Day of the Dead ofrendas (altar) we’d seen.

The underground restaurant serves contemporary Mexican cuisine in at atmospheric volcanic cave illuminated by candles. The menu is made of traditional Mexican dishes with a modern twist. My panceta (pork belly) with mole sauce was out of this world, and Alberto’s barbacoa lamb meat was divine. Their mezcal cocktails hit the spot and the chicharrone (crispy pork crackling) with guacamole was sinful yet incredible. Reservations, especially when visiting on a weekend, are highly recommended.

To end your 5 days in Mexico with your bang, we recommend checking out the traditional cantinas or mezcal bars, also known as cantina. Cantina Tío Pepe dates back to the 19th century, making it one of the oldest cantinas in downtown Mexico City. With its beautiful carved-wood bar and stained glass work, this traditional spot is great spot for people watching.

Another place we love is Bósforo , a hip mezcal bar hidden away on a dark sidestreet in Centro Historico. It plays trippy music, has a mezzanine with cushions on the ground instead of seats, and serves a wild list of great mezcals.

As one of the largest city in the world, Mexico City has so much to offer that you’ll need a lifetime to see and experience it all. 5 days will barely be enough for you to scrape the surface, so I suggest staying longer if you can and explore the areas surrounding it.

Mexico City’s location in the heart of Mexico also means you can head off in any direction and see ancient Mayan pyramids, colonial towns, and even wildlife reserves,  in less than two hour’s drive.

If you’re here between November and March, make sure to do a day trip to the   Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve , a UNESCO World Heritage Site sprawling across an area of over 56,000 hectares. Migrating monarch butterflies travel in colonies of about 20 million insects to here every winter; it’s a sight to behold and truly one of the most spectacular  natural wonders of Mexico .

Another spot I recommend visiting from Mexico City are the Grutas Tolantongo Hot Springs . With warm water tumbling over calcified travertine pools and cascading down waterfalls, Grutas Tolantongo is home to some of the most beautiful  hot springs in Mexico .  Read our  detailed guide to Grutas Tolantongo .

Mexico City Travel Guide

I always recommend travelers to buy travel insurance, whether you’re traveling Mexico City for a year or a week. It is particularly important to have travel insurance that covers COVID-19.

Safety Wing  is the most popular travel insurance company for COVID19-coverage. I use their  Nomad Insurance plan , which covers COVID-19 as any other illness as long as it was not contracted before your coverage start date. Refer to my  travel insurance guide  for more details.

The main gateway to Mexico City is the Mexico City Airport (also known as Benito Juarez International Airport). The national airline, AeroMexico, flies daily from many major cities in the US.

Flying into Mexico City from the US is quite affordable. You can  fly from Los Angeles to Mexico City  for as little as $300 return (4-hour flight).  Flying from Europe to Mexico is also cheap, especially from London and Madrid. We took direct  return flights from Madrid to Mexico City once for $400.

There is a very convenient and fast bus service that runs from Mexico City Airport to the city centre , the Metrobus line 4. These buses operate from 4:30 to 00:00 daily and take only 30 minutes to reach the centre of Mexico City. Tickets cost just 30 Pesos ($1.30) one-way.

The best time to visit Mexico City is during the dry season between December and April , when there is virtually no rain.

The coolest months are between December and February, although temperatures can reach averages of 82 ° F (28℃) during the dry season. The wet season begins in the south in May and lasts until October.

Mexico City celebrates many cultural festivals throughout the year. We celebrated Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead in Mexico City , and had a blast at some of the biggest celebrations in the country. The festivities usually span across one week (26 October to 2 November). Read my guide on when to visit Mexico City .

Mexico City is HUGE, and if you want to see it all, I’d say you need 1 week in Mexico City. We spent 5 days in Mexico City, and definitely wished we had more time!

This Mexico City itinerary is pretty intense and packed with lots of things to do. Be prepared to be on the go from morning to night. For those who rather explore at a slower pace, I recommend removing the day trip to Teotihuacan . That way you will have more time in Mexico City to explore other neighborhoods.

If you have more time, I recommend doing a day trip to Taxco and Cuernavaca or the Monarch Butterflies Sanctuary. Check out our guide to the best day trips from Mexico City.

Read my full article: Is Mexico City Safe to Visit ?  In short, my husband, daughter and I all felt super safe in Mexico City and had no security issues at all.  

As we visited Mexico City during Day of the Dead , it was crowded everywhere. But we kept our belongings close to us, brought minimal cash with us, and had no problems. Of course, we avoided seedy areas, and we weren’t hanging out late at night, or getting drunk on the streets.

All in all, stick to the tourist areas and you’ll be fine (that means centro historico, Roma, Condesa, Coyoacan and Xochimilco). The areas covered in this Mexico City itinerary are all safe to visit. Avoid areas like Iztapalapa, Tepito, La Lagunia, Mercado Merced, Doctores and Ciudad Neza.

• Where to Stay in Mexico City

The Centro Histórico (historic center) is a convenient location to stay, as most attractions, events and the parade take place here. We loved the location of our hotel, just a few blocks from the Zocalo. Many travelers also choose to stay in the green, leafy neighborhoods of La Condesa and Polanco.

Here is a summary of my hotel recommendations. For a full guide, check out my post on the best places to stay in Mexico City .

Budget:  La Querencia DF

This budget-friendly bed & breakfast is housed in a colonial-style home in Roma Norte, one of the city’s hippest neighborhoods. You’ll notice it straight away because of its bright orange color and cute little balconies. Rooms are brightly colored, clean and cozy.  Check the rates here.

We stayed at this hotel in the historic center and loved the location, just two blocks from the main square (Zocalo). Highly recommend it for families who need extra space. Check the rates here.

Luxury:  Hotel Zocalo Central

Right next to the Cathedral overlooking the Zocalo (main square), this centrally located hotel is housed in a 1890s building and features a gorgeous design. Their rooftop restaurant is my favorite place to eat in Mexico City. Check the rates here.

Located along the famous Paseo de la Reforma, this luxurious hotel has a nice location in the centro historico but away from the crowded area. Check the rates here.

One of the best ways to get around Mexico City is  the metro system , which is cheap and easy to use. Just buy a ticket (“bolleto” in Spanish) from the booth. A metro ticket costs only 5 Pesos ($0.23). You can change as many times as you need to without having to purchase the ticket.

We mostly took Uber as it was just so convenient and affordable. There are a lot of Uber drivers in the city, so you’ll never have to wait long for a car. It usually costs around US$2-6 to take an Uber in the historical center. To get to Coyoacan or Xochimilco, it ranges from US$15 to 30 depending on the time of travel.

Prior to the trip, I wasn’t sure if my daughter would enjoy such a massive sprawling metropolis like Mexico City; but I couldn’t be more wrong. She absolutely loved the museums, green parks and cultural spots — so much so that she was willing to wait in line and walk all day!

Most of the top museums in Mexico City are superb for kids, especially the Museo de Arte Popular (thanks to its colorful alebrije collection). Most of them are free for kids under 5. Bosque de Chapultepec is also an excellent area for young kids, as there are playgrounds, boat rides on the lakes, and plenty of space for them to run freely.

Mexican food is always a hit with kids — who doesn’t love tacos and quesadillas? There are always street food and snack stalls everywhere, which makes it easy to feed constantly-hungry kids. Street food is not the healthiest, but they’re usually hygienic (we’ve eaten at many stands and had no issues).

Best Places to Eat in Mexico City

Housed in a gorgeous historical building famed for their azulejos (tiles), this heritage building (pictured below) has been converted into a restaurant. Besides soaking up the history here, you can feast on traditional dishes like pozoles and molletes. Read TripAdvisor reviews.

Located in the Centro Historico, Taqueria Los Cocuyos (pictured below) is probably the most famous taco stand in the city. This tiny stall produces authentic, handmade longaniza tacos 24 hours a day. We first came here around 7pm and the line was crazy long. I recommend coming in the morning as it’s empty and tacos are at their freshest. Read TripAdvisor reviews.

One of the most famous traditional restaurants in Centro Historico is Azul Historico. This was also our favorite restaurant in Mexico City. They offer excellent multi-course lunches  made up of traditional Mexican fare. They’ve also got a beautiful, open courtyard lit up with tea lights by night. Read Tripadvisor reviews.

After you visit the Frida Kahlo house, walk next door to Restaurante Antiguo San Angel Inn . If the wedding scene in The Godfather actually took place in Mexico City, it would have been filmed here. Located inside a former monastery with a beautiful courtyard, this is the kind of legendary place that’s a destination on its own. Read TripAdvisor reviews.

El Hidalguense is only open on weekends (Friday-Sunday, 7am-6pm), but come to this massive Roma Sur restaurant any time during those hours and expect to walk into the biggest party in the neighborhood. Large families eating giant plates of barbacoa (it’s their specialty), and friends sipping mezcal shots and housing tacos. Read TripAdvisor reviews.

Mexico City is generally very affordable, especially if you eat local and stay in guesthouses. With 5 days in Mexico City, we spent around $500 per person, including accommodation, transport and entry tickets. If you follow this Mexico City itinerary, you won’t be spending way more than that.

Accommodation usually ranges from $30 for a simple guesthouse room to $150 for a 4-star hotel. Mexican food is incredibly good and cheap everywhere. You can get  $2 a meal  if you’re on a tight budget, or  $10-15 per meal in a restaurant.

Day tours are usually around $100 per person. An Uber ride within the city center is usually no more than $3-5.

This Mexico City itinerary will give you a taste of just how incredible the capital city is. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments field below. I’d be more than happy to help you plan your Mexico City trip!

Read my articles on Mexico below:

• 30 Best Museums in Mexico City
• Visiting Teotihuacan, Mexico City Pyramids
• Best Day Trips from Mexico City
• Yucatan Road Trip: My 10-Day Yucatan Itinerary
• 20 Fun Things to Do in Valladolid, Mexico
• 13 Cool Things to Do in Cozumel, Mexico

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9 thoughts on “5 Days in Mexico City Itinerary [2024]”

Hello My Name is Alex Trebek, We are planning a trip to Mexico very soon and your blog has been a huge help to answer some of my questions and concerns.

Quick question, what is the restaurant ( patio with wood, hanging chandeliers and greenery) that appears in the first picture of this post? I couldn’t find the name.

hi Alex, thanks for the reaching out! It’s Casa de los Azulejos, right in the heart of CDMX. Here’s the location.

Hi, lovely to read that you have good experiences with traveling during COVID. Is there anything you can recommend to arrange beforehand aside from tickets for museums? How was your general travel experience during COVID? And do you have the website/link for DF Querencia? I could not find their hotel online. Thanks for your reply!

hi Ruwani, thanks for the comment! I’d recommend booking day tours in advance too as they can fully booked. I included the link to DF Querencia in the article, you can find it here .

Thanks for this wonderful website, it’s really comprehensive and easy to follow, and I’m making many notes for our trip to Mexico City! May I make a suggestion that you include picture captions? Many of your photos I’d love to know where they are. Thank you and keep up the awesome work!

hi Tiffany, thanks for the feedback! I’ll add in photo captions when I get a minute. Cheers!

I’ve spent a week in Mexico City, and I must say I loved this city! There was so much to do, and the people were lovely. Tons of museums, and they all costed under $5 to get in. And the food!

Hi. Realistically, how safe is Mexico City? I’ve done a search about this, and no matter what I read online, it says for all Americans to be extremely cautious. That is scary. Is this just media fear mongering?

hi Jillian, yes it’s the media fearmongering. I’m not American, but have lived in the US before, and I have to say the US media is brilliant at fearmongering, more so than in other countries. I have so many friends who live in Mexico City or who have visited countless of times and none of them had any issue. At the end of the day, avoid the dodgy areas and stay on the well-trodden path and you’ll be fine.

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48 Hours In Mexico City – 2 Day Itinerary

This two-day itinerary looks at the best that Mexico City has to offer in just 48 hours. From old-school cantinas, museums, inspired dining restaurants, ancient canals, art deco buildings and heritage sites – Mexico City promises unmissable sights and activities for everyone.

Mexico City boasts of modern and old-school heritage. As you stroll the city, you’ll be surrounded by Aztec heritage and Spanish colonial architecture, specifically at Mexico City’s Zócalo – the main square once the epicentre of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlán.

The Frida Kahlo Museum and Museo Nacional de Antropología (National Museum of Anthropology) showcase Kahlo’s iconic works and offer a comprehensive collection of artefacts that delve into Mexico’s indigenous cultures.

Taste authentic Mexican food and drinks from mouthwatering tacos al pastor and spicy tamales to mezcals and tequilas. 

The best time to visit? During the dry season, typically from November to April. However, remember that Mexico City’s elevation can lead to higher humidity levels during these months, so pack accordingly. 

Condesa and Roma Norte neighborhoods are popular among travellers and first-timers when choosing accommodation. These areas are known for their tree-lined streets, art deco architecture, and trendy cafes, offering a vibrant atmosphere and easy access to many of the city’s attractions.

Whether captivated by ancient history, intrigued by modern art, or simply craving a culinary adventure, two days in Mexico City is enough to tease you to come back for more.

In a hurry and need help quick?

Making last-minute plans for your Mexico City itinerary. We’ve got you covered. Our recommended hotels and tours for a getaway are listed below.

Recommended hotels:

• Hostal Regina Down Town Mexico City (hostel)
• Ibis Mexico Alameda (budget)
• Downtown Mexico, a Member of Design Hotels (mid-range)
• Zocalo Central & Rooftop Mexico City (family)
• Sheraton Mexico City Maria Isabel (luxury)

Recommended tours:

• Teotihuacan, Guadalupe Shrine, Tlatelolco & Tequila Tasting Tour
• Xochimilco, Coyoacán & Frida Kahlo Museum
• Hot Air Balloon Flight over Teotihuacan, from Mexico City
• Historic Downtown Walking Tour
• Colonia Roma Food Tour

Other Helpful Links

• Cheap flights
• Savings on accommodation from hostels to luxury hotels
• Affordable car rental options
• Affordable sightseeing tours and day trips
• Travel Adapter – All in one so you don’t have to carry a bunch around
• Wise Card : hold up to 40+ currencies at once to spend in in over 150 countries

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy. You can also read our content/editorial policy here .

Table of Contents

Overview Of 2 Days In Mexico City Itinerary

Here are some ideas of what you’ll see and do in two days in Mexico City:

Day 1 in Mexico City

• Traditional Mexican breakfast at Cafe de Tacuba

Explore Mexico City’s Zocalo

• Admire murals at Palacio de Bellas Artes
• Lunch at Hosteria de Santo Domingo

Stroll around Chapultepec Park

Visit the national museum of anthropology.

• Early dinner at La Ventanita

Watch a Lucha Libre Match

• Midnight street food hunt at Polanquito

Day 2 in Mexico City

Quick breakfast run at el hidalguense.

• Visit and explore Teotihuacan
• Late lunch at Entremar

Check out the Basilica de Guadalupe

Visit the frida kahlo museum , listen to a mariacrchi ensemble at plaza garibaldi, dinner at mercado roma .

• Sunset cocktails at Roma Norte

Traditional Mexican Breakfast at Cafe de Tacuba

With only 48 hours in Mexico City, best you dine at one of the oldest and longest-running dining places, Cafe de Tacuba . Tucked away in the city’s Centro Historico, this restaurant takes you inside Mexico’s colonial past with window-stained double doors and antique furnishings. 

Enjoy a traditional Mexican breakfast, from chilaquiles to enfrijoladas. There are plenty of other options, as the menu offers almost all of Mexico’s regional delicacies.  Arrive early, or you might have to queue since the cafe does not take bookings. 

First stop after breakfast is the iconic Zocalo, the main square of Mexico City. Also known as Plaza de la Constitution, it is situated at the historic centre of Mexico City. It’s easy to spot with the massive flagpole bearing the Mexican flag, and is a meeting point for tour groups.

This historic plaza is steeped in both Aztec and Spanish colonial history. You can marvel at the majestic Metropolitan Cathedral and the National Palace, where you can admire Diego Rivera’s famous murals depicting Mexico’s history. The Zocalo is also a vibrant hub of activity, with street performers on every corner and vendors selling handmade souvenirs. 

Admire Murals at Palacio de Bellas Artes

Another must-see is the Palacio de Bellas Artes . This magnificent art nouveau and deco building houses a renowned cultural centre where you’ll find the National Theatre Company, the National Dance Company, the National Symphony Orchestra and much more.

It is also where murals by famous Mexican artists such as Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and Rufino Tamayo can be seen. These murals are essential to Mexico’s history because they depict history, culture, and social issues, offering a visual feast for art enthusiasts.

Lunch at Hosteria de Santo Domingo

Hosteria de Santo Domingo is a go-to dining place for locals and tourists strolling the historical centre of Mexico City. 

A local cantina, Hosteria de Santo Domingo is known to serve great chiles en noagda – a dish made with meat stuffed with green poblano pepper, some white nut sauce, and red pomegranate. This favorite is normally reserved for Mexican Independence Day but has become a staple dish at Hosteria de Santo Domingo. 

Chapultepec Park is not just your ordinary park. It is massive, so best you research before visiting so you don’t get lost. From the main entry gates stroll down paths towards one of its prominent landmarks – the Chapultepec Castle, which is divided into two sections, the Museum of Anthropology and the Alcazar. 

The Alcazar showcases various rooms decorated with 19th-century furnishings and art. During the same period, the castle was occupied by emperors Maximiliano and Carlota and, after that, President Porfirio Díaz and his wife, Carmen Romero Rubio. Other places to see inside the park include the Memorial Squadron 201, Cincalco Cavern, Audiorama, and Petrogrifo de Moctezuma. Walking tour options are available if you have the time.

While at Chapultepec Castle, visit the Museum of Anthropology , which houses over 600,000 collections of art, archaeological artefacts and ethnographic exhibits, providing insights into Mexico’s diverse indigenous cultures.

With several exhibitions inside, you can check out the iconic Aztec Calendar Stone, colossal Olmec heads, and delicate ceremonial dishes or ornaments. It also houses a school, library, film archive and public auditoriums. 

Early Dinner at La Ventanita

For an early dinner before more exploring, head to La Ventanita , a charming restaurant near Chapultepec Park specialising in traditional Mexican cuisine. 

Enjoy dishes like cochinita pibil (slow-roasted pork marinated in citrus and spices) or tamales with savoury fillings. The cosy atmosphere and authentic flavours will make for a memorable dining experience.

Your weekend in Mexico City will not be complete without a live lucha libre match – a Mexican version of wrestling that features high-energy and highly-skilled luchadores performing acrobatic moves and thrilling manoeuvres with colourful masks.

Matches usually happen on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, so best to plan and book in advance. We suggest booking online to avoid long queues and disappointment.  

Lucha Libre Experience

• Mezcal tasting 
• Souvenir Luchador Mask

Midnight Street Food Hunt at Polanquito

If you still have the energy after watching a lucha libre match, then head to Polanquito to try out some local street food. Polanquito – a trendy neighborhood known for its vibrant nightlife and culinary scene – is where you can find most of Mexico’s street food vendors open till midnight. 

Get to sample an array of delectable treats, from mouthwatering tacos and quesadillas to delicious churros and elotes, and don’t forget to pair with local beer. 

To kickstart your second day in Mexico City, try a quick to-go breakfast from the famous El Hidalguense . Known for its delicious barbacoa or queso asado, the vibe is lively and crowded. Plus, they are only open from Friday to Sunday, so get there real early.

Visit and Explore Teotihuacan

A few hours outside Mexico City you’ll find the ancient city of Teotihuacan, a UNESCO World Heritage site, so you’ll need to dedicate the entire morning to this tour. 

Teotihuacan is renowned for being home to massive pyramids known as the Sun and the Moon. It is also where you’ll find the Avenue of the Dead. For the more adventurous, there’s also a chance to hop aboard a hot air balloon to get a bird’s eye view of the ancient city. 

Or, simply go on a walking or bike tour and explore this archaeological wonder that offers a fascinating glimpse into Mexico’s pre-Columbian history.

Teotihuacan Day Tour

• Entrance to Teotihuacan
• Tequila tasting

Late Lunch at Entremar

After your Teotihuacan adventure, head back to Entremar in Mexico City for lunch. Entremar is a seafood restaurant known for its fresh and flavorful dishes. 

From ceviche to grilled octopus, indulge in various seafood delicacies prepared with a modern twist. Pair your meal with a refreshing cocktail made with mezcal as you enjoy the vibrant ambience of the restaurant. 

Basilica de Guadalupe – one of Mexico’s most important religious sites – is dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico. 

This massive Catholic church houses the famous cloaks containing the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which has become an important pilgrimage site for Catholics worldwide. You don’t have to be Catholic to admire and marvel at the building’s architectural style. 

Art enthusiasts will have heard of the famous Frida Kahlo Museum . Frida Kahlo is a renowned Mexican artist known for creating vibrant portraits and art that depict social issues. 

The Frida Kahlo Museum is her former residence with her husband, Diego Rivera. Also known as Casa Azul (Blue House), this museum has several colorful rooms adorned with Kahlo’s artworks, personal belongings, and memorabilia. 

As you go on a self-guided tour inside the museum, gain insight into the iconic artist’s life, struggles, and creative genius. There’s also a garden inside where you can take a break in between while exploring the museum. 

Ticket Frida Kahlo Museum

• Skip the Line

Before heading for drinks and dinner, enjoy the sounds of a Mariachi Ensemble at Plaza Garibaldi during your 48 hours in Mexico City.

Plaza Garibaldi is where you’ll find several Mariachi playing traditional Mexican music, and as the evening sets in, the square comes alive with mariachi bands dressed in traditional attire. Enjoy the band’s enchanting melodies and live performances. Something to remember Mexico City by! 

Capping off your two days in Mexico City, have dinner at one of the city’s most famous food courts, Mercado Roma. Mercado Roma offers something different as the restaurants serve gourmet food, offering a wide range of culinary delights. Explore the stalls and choose from an array of international and Mexican cuisine. 

Cocktails at Roma Norte

If you’re staying in Roma Norte for your 48 hours in Mexico City, then you know by now that this neighborhood of CDMX is the place to enjoy some drinks and the nightlife scene. 

At Roma Norte, find several rooftop bars or terraces to enjoy sunset cocktails while you admire the panoramic view of the city from the rooftops. Some places to check out at Roma Norte for excellent drinks are La Nacional, Biergarten, Traspatio and El Deoposito. 

Tours in Mexico City

Hot air balloon ride.

Teotihuacan is a famous destination for tourists, and while this is a few hours from the city, by booking a tour you’ll have fewer worries about transportation and food since breakfast will be provided. 

This tour is not just a casual walking tour around the ancient city; you’ll hop aboard a hot air balloon ride in the morning, enjoying the old town and nearby areas from a different perspective.

Xohimilco Boat Party 

Got some spare time? Then visit Xochimilco, where you can find hundreds of floating trajineras in a water canal. 

On this tour you’ll hop aboard a trajinera, much like a boat, and enjoy a party with the rest of your tour group. As you cruise along Xochimilco’s floating canals, you’ll be provided with beer, tequila, mezcal and some snacks. 

Mariachi music will make the cruise more lively, and you’ll be able to stop by the replica Island of Dolls and Handicraft Market at the end.

Night Food Crawl

Mexico is not Mexico without its tacos! If you’re a foodie and want to enjoy the best of Mexico City’s gastronomic food scene, then best you join a night food crawl . Lasting for three hours, you’ll hunt down the city’s best tacos and even mezcal, with the help of a local guide.

2-Day Itinerary for Mexico City Wrap-up

There you have it – everything you need to know, do and see for a jam-packed 48 hours in Mexico City. So what are you waiting for? Pack your things and head to Mexico City for a fun 48 hours! 

Recommended tours in Mexico City

• Xochimilco, Coyoacán and Frida Kahlo Museum Tour
• Teotihuacan Private Tour from Mexico City
• Teotihuacan Early Morning Tour from Mexico City
• Mexican Cooking Class with Food Market Visit in Mexico City
• Lucha Libre Experience and Mezcal Tasting in Mexico City
• 10 Things to do in Mexico City
• The Best  Destinations in Mexico as a Couple
• Wild Pacific or Calm Atlantic?  Mexico has both!
• 5  Authentic Mexican Dishes  to Try in Oaxaca
• Places to stay in Cancun
• 9 of the Best Beaches in Cancún
• Places to stay in Tulum

Best Day Trips from Tulum

• The Ultimate Guide to Tulum Mexico
• Places to stay in Merida

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Meet Angelica, who at 22, boldly pivoted from a legal career to pursue her passions in travel and writing. With a focus on sustainable travel, she has explored Asia and Europe, emphasizing local cultural engagement along the way | Specializing in digital nomad travel, crafting comprehensive itineraries, identifying top tour guides, sharing regional insights on Asia, The Americas, and Europe, and advising on eco-friendly travel practices.

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Mexico Travel Guide

Last Updated: November 10, 2023

While most people visit Mexico for its big tourist centers like Tulum , Cabo, Cancun , or Cozumel, there’s a lot more to the country than just its luxurious resorts.

Now, I’ll be honest: I was late to visiting Mexico.

But when I did, I fell in love with it. Mexico is an incredible destination with a rich history, amazing food, and friendly people.

It’s an awesome country to backpack around, drive through, or just vacation in. There’s a ton of stuff to do here, and the locals are some of the friendliest people on the planet.

From Mayan ruins to pristine beaches to Mexico City’s art and food and Oaxaca’s mezcal scene, Mexico has it all.

And the food? World-class. Gorge yourself on delicious tacos, tostadas, tamales, sopas, seafood, and mole (to name a few items from Mexico’s very long list of traditional dishes).

I could go on forever as to why I love this country. Whatever amount of time you’re planning to visit is not enough — you’ll always leave wanting more.

This Mexico travel guide will help you get out of the touristy towns, explore the country, and fall in love with what you discover!

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

Click Here for City Guides

Top 5 things to see and do in mexico.

1. Explore Oaxaca

Located in a valley surrounded by craggy mountains in southwestern Mexico, Oaxaca and its surrounds have been inhabited for thousands of years by indigenous Zapotec and Mixtec peoples. A city of colorful buildings, scenic rooftop restaurants and bars, street art, historic Spanish colonial churches, cobblestone streets, and many parks, it’s a center for heritage tourism. It’s also one of the gastronomic hotbeds of Mexico as well as the hub of mezcal production too. With fascinating museums, bustling markets, historic buildings, delicious food and much more, there really is something for everyone in Oaxaca . I loved my time there ! You must visit!

2. Tour Mexico City

Found in the Valley of Mexico at an altitude of around 2,225 meters (7,300 feet), Mexico City is a sprawling, chaotic, messy city in the best way possible. Originally built over a lake, it has some 150 world-class museums, sprawling markets, tons of historic buildings, city squares, and more. In the historic center, you can visit the impressive main square (the only one bigger in the world is Red Square in Moscow). To the south of the city there’s a network of beautiful canals, and Teotihuacan, the City of the Gods, is just a 45-minute drive away. The city also has an incredible foodie scene and is fast becoming one of the centers of gastronomy in the world.

3. Relax on the Pacific Coast

Vacation spots like Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, and Sayulita on Mexico’s Pacific Coast offer just as many epic beaches and resort properties as the Caribbean Coast. Go to Puerto Vallarta or Los Cabos to hang out on the pristine white sandy beaches, or head to Sayulita to check out the busy surf scene. Surf and enjoy watersports, visit historical monuments, and check out all the local art by day. By night, you can indulge in sunset cocktails, enjoy fresh shrimp tacos or seafood skewers, and salsa the evening away.

4. See the Mayan Ruins

Mexico is filled with ruins. You have Chichén Itzá, which dates back to 550 CE and is one of the largest (and most popular) Mayan sites in Mexico for its enormous Kukulkan Pyramid (which is considered one of the new Wonders of the World). Other ruins worth visiting are the Tulum Archaeological Zone, the Palenque Archaeological Zone, the Calakmul ruins (which are inside the huge Calakmul Biosphere Reserve), the ruins at Ek Balam, and so many more! Admission is 571 MXN for the Wonder of the World Chichén Itzá while the rest cost anywhere from 80-500 MXN.

5. Visit a volcano

Other things to see and do in mexico, 1. wander through mexico city’s chapultepec park.

Chapultepec is one of the largest city parks in the world, spanning over 1,700 acres. It encompasses the Mexico City Zoo, La Feria amusement park, and the Museum of Anthropology, which houses a vast collection of sculptures, jewels, and artifacts from ancient Mexican civilizations. The museum costs 85 MXN, as does the Chapultepec Castillo (Castle) which houses the National History Museum. You can also rent a rowboat or paddle boat and go out on Chapultepec Lake for 60 MXN. Entry to the park itself is free.

2. Visit the markets

Just about every town in Mexico has a busy, diverse market where you can enjoy traditional food, pick up some bargain items, and purchase souvenirs. Two of the best are the Mercado Ciudadela in Mexico City (for handmade textiles and artwork), and Oaxaca’s Mercado Benito Juárez (for local foods like fresh ground coffee beans, juices, and grasshopper tacos). If you’re in Merida, check out Mercado Santa Ana for their Yucatecan cuisine, like cochito horneado , a marinated pork dish that is slow-cooked in underground pits, or head to El Mercado Lucas de Galvez for their specialty seafood cocktails (the locals swear by it to cure your hangover).

3. Explore Zócalo (Plaza de la Constitución)

Zócalo is the main plaza in the heart of Mexico City. It dates back to the Aztecs, encompassing both the Templo Mayor (an ancient Aztec temple) and the Palacio Nacional (a colonial palace with offices of Mexico’s president). Situated just off the Zócalo is La Catedral Metropolitana, a magnificent cathedral with a gold altar. It’s a perfect example of Spanish colonial architecture.

4. Go diving

The seas surrounding Mexico have some of the world’s best diving spots thanks to their diverse marine life, large coral reefs (including the second largest reef system in the world, the Great Maya Barrier Reef), and excellent visibility. The Gulf of Mexico is home to five different species of sea turtles, blue whales, lemon sharks, and dolphins, and so much more! Aside from diving, the waters are popular for snorkeling, sports fishing, waterboarding, surfing, and more or less any other watersports. A two-tank dive starts at 2,800 MXN. Some of the best places to dive in Mexico are Discovery Bay, Cenote Dos Ojos, Revillagigedo Islands, and Isla Mujeres.

5. Relax in Cancún

Depending on what you’re looking to do, Cancún can offer you a crazy-fun party in the sun or some quiet and hidden local markets and restaurants. You have spas, resorts, and picturesque beaches as well as Mayan ruins, archaeological sites, and little nearby villages. There’s a ton to see and do here if you leave the resorts!

6. Get lost in Guadalajara

Guadalajara is the second-largest city in Mexico and is known for its tequila and mariachi. It’s chock full of museums, such as Cabañas (a UNESCO building with incredible murals), MUSA (paintings & sculptures by local artists), and the Páramo Galeria (contemporary art); nightlife venues, and a labyrinth of old colonial streets. Visit the Hospicio Cabañas, a hospital built in the 19th century, and then spend some time at the Guadalajara Cathedral. The cathedral’s Gothic interior features artworks from famous Mexican artists like Murillo (a Baroque painter).

7. See Teotihuacan

The Aztec empire left an enormous mark on Mexico. Don’t miss the awe-inspiring Aztec pyramids at Teotihuacan, located 48 kilometers (30 miles) outside of Mexico City. Teotihuacan was founded as early as 400 BCE, but its biggest structures weren’t completed until around 300 BCE. Its three giant pyramids are known as the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of Moon, and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent, and they dominate the landscape. If you’re going to visit just one Aztec site, this is it. It’s unsheltered here, so bring sunscreen and a hat. Admission is 85 MXN. Full-day guided tours from Mexico City cost 880 MXN.

8. Visit the bizarre Island of Dolls

Known as “La Isla de la Muñecas” in Spanish, this is perhaps one of the creepiest tourist attractions in the world. Decades ago, a hermit named Don Julian Santana moved here, learned a girl drowned in the nearby lake, and started collecting and hanging dolls all over the island to please the drowned girl’s spirit. It’s creepy. Like beyond creepy. You’ll have to hire a boat from Xochimilco to get there but it’s worth it!

9. Honor the Day of the Dead

Yearly on November 1st and 2nd, Mexico celebrates a major festival: Día de Los Muertos. The festival is a vibrant and lively affair with celebrations for those who are gone but not forgotten, including parades and elaborate and colorful costumes. Families also commemorate their dead relatives by setting up ofrendas , or altars, with pictures of the deceased, candles, yellow marigold petals, and food. This meant to encourage the deceased to cross back over into the land of the living and join in the celebrations. Oaxaca or Mexico City are the two best places to experience this celebration.

10. 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 here. Built on top of and around lava formations from the eruption of the volcano Xitle (which happened over 2,000 years ago), visitors can explore the naturally formed grottoes, ponds, and waterfalls. This garden has the most diverse cactus collection in the world (800 different kinds!), and ponds full of koi and turtles, an orchidarium, and a medicinal garden. Admission is free.

11. Relax on Isla Holbox

Holbox is an island located off Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and is home to white sand beaches and crystalline waters. It is a relaxing, slow-paced island that’s easy to get stuck on. One day can easily turn into a week. It’s an island paradise where you can relax in a hammock on the beach, hike in the jungles, swim, dive, snorkel, and everything in between! While it used to be a hidden gem, it’s slowly becoming more and more popular (and developed). Be sure to see bioluminescent waters here. From Cancún, you can get to the ferry port at Chiquilá in around two hours by bus. The ferry takes 25 minutes and costs 220 MXN. If you just want to visit for the day, full-day tours from Cancún/Playa del Carmen cost 3,000 MXN.

12. Visit Mérida

Mérida is one of my favorite places in all of Mexico. It is a safe and wonderful city filled with history, cool mezcal bars, and some of the best food in the country. Some of my favorite places to eat and drink in town are La Chaya Maya Casona, Acervo Mezcalero, La Negrita Cantina, and Café Créme. Also, don’t miss the nearby Uxmal ruins, which are just one-hour away. There are also some cool museums here, like the Folk Art Museum of Yucatan, the Yucatan Music Museum, and the City Museum (which has all kinds of Mayan artifacts).

13. Enjoy San Cristóbal de las Casas’ architecture

San Cristóbal is a highland town known for its charming colonial architecture. There are narrow cobblestone streets, local craft markets, and the entire area is enveloped in pine forests. Don’t miss the town’s 16th-century cathedral, and if you want to get out and explore the nearby nature, take a boat tour of the Cañón de Sumidero. You’ll see tons of birds, monkeys, and crocodiles. For a view of the town and surrounding area, visit the Guadalupe Church to enjoy the view from the roof. Free Walking San Cristóbal offers daily tours if you want a guide to show you the highlights.

14. Sample the Cenotes of Yucatan

Cenotes are natural sinkholes that are full of groundwater. They were used by the Mayans as sources for freshwater, however, today they are popular swimming holes for locals and tourists alike (you can even scuba dive in some). There are tons of them all around the Yucatan Peninsula. Some are completely exposed, some are walled in by cliffs, and some are covered entirely by caves. Calavera, Cristalino, Casa Cenote, Yaxmuul, Choo-Ha, and Escondido Cenote are some of the most popular cenotes in the region. If you’d rather do a tour, you can join a cenote tour for around 1,350 MXN.

15. Visit Sayulita

Located on the Pacific coast, Sayulita is a hip beach town with a lively community of expats and surfers. The town has a laid-back vibe owing to the sizable surfing and yoga community. It’s a great place to surf and there are plenty of yoga retreats available here. You can also take a jungle trek, go zip lining, ride ATVs along the coast, and simply soak up the sun on the beach. It’s the perfect place to chill for a few days. Canopy tours start at 1,800 MXN.

16. Explore Campeche

Campeche is located just south of Merida on the Yucatan. It’s home to UNESCO World Heritage colonial architecture, including fortified walls and over 2,000 historic buildings. Visit the Museo De La Arquitectura Maya for Mayan history and antiquities, see the Mayan ruins at Edzná (which is just 45 minutes away and sees very few tourists), and wander the old city wall to take in the view.

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

• Cancún Travel Guide
• Mexico City Travel Guide
• Oaxaca Travel Guide

Mexico Travel Costs

Accommodation – In Mexico, hostels start at 250 MXN per night for a dorm bed, but average closer to 300 MXN. Private hostel rooms cost anything from 600-1,900 MXN per night. Prices are usually a bit lower in the low-season or shoulder-season. Free Wi-Fi and free breakfast are both common, as are self-catering facilities.

For those traveling with a tent, a basic plot for two people without electricity costs around 200 MXN per night.

For budget hotels, expect to pay 700 MXN for a basic room in a two-star hotel. These two-star rooms typically include an en-suite bathroom and free Wi-Fi, but not always air conditioning.

Airbnb is also an option in Mexico, with private rooms starting around 300 MXN but averaging much more (usually between 600-1,200 MXN). Entire homes and apartments average around 1,000-1,800 MXN although you can find them for as little as 600 MXN if you book early.

Food – You’ll find a lot of rice, beans, fruits, and veggies like tomatoes, corn, avocado, and peppers in Mexican cuisine, which is a mix of Mayan, Aztec, and Spanish traditions. 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), and 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. In Mexico, street food is the best — and most affordable — option.

A meal at a local Mexican restaurant serving traditional cuisine costs around 150 MXN. Look for the ones filled with locals as that is generally a sign that the food is really good. Expect to pay around 300 MXN for a multi-course meal in a mid-range restaurant.

A beer is about 20 MXN in the street but double that at a restaurant, while a cocktail shouldn’t cost more than 80 MXN in most places. A combo meal at McDonald’s costs around 120 MXN and a cappuccino costs around 50 MXN.

Tap water is not safe to drink in Mexico. If you’re buying bottles of water, expect to pay 15 MXN (less if you buy in bulk but a more environmentally friendly (and cheaper) solution is to bring a portable water purifier ( LifeStraw makes a good one.

If you plan to cook your meals, expect to pay between 750 MXN per week for groceries including rice, vegetables, chicken, and beans.

Backpacking Mexico Suggested Budgets

If you’re backpacking Mexico, expect to spend around 800 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 1,800 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 3,600 MXN or more per day, you can stay at a hotel, eat out for all your meals, enjoy plenty of drinks, take taxis everywhere or rent a car, 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 Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Mexico is incredibly budget-friendly. Unless you’re splurging on food or resorts, it’s really easy to visit on a budget. That said, it never hurts to save more money! Here are some ways to save in Mexico:

• Shop at the markets for food – Mexico’s markets are a great place to eat inexpensively and stock up on food for day trips. Most towns have a local market selling fresh fruits, veggies, and other goods for cheap.
• Eat street food – Street food is the best food in the country — and the cheapest. Stick to street stalls to save money and enjoy the country’s best eats.
• Take a free walking tour – Many cities have free walking tours that give you a solid introduction to the main sights. Both Mexico City and Oaxaca have excellent free tours — just be sure to tip your guide!
• Travel off-season – By traveling between late April and early December, you can pick up bargain accommodation, food and travel rates as this is low season.
• Venture inland – Mexico’s coasts are the most famous, most touristy parts of the country, but the interior has an amazing amount to offer. Prices are cheaper, and you’ll be more likely to meet some locals if you head away from the coast.
• Stay with a local – Use Couchsurfing to stay with locals and connect with people who can share their insider tips and advice. Just make sure to send your requests early.
• Embrace “comida corrida” – This hearty mid-day meal option is usually available between 2pm-4pm and is often quite affordable. It’s a set menu, but it’s much cheaper than most lunch or dinner options. If you plan on eating out on a budget, aim for places that offer comida corrida.
• Drink less – Alcohol is cheap in Mexico, 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.
• Skip the taxis – Taxis are overpriced and not always safe. Skip them. If you do need a taxi, don’t just hail one on the street. Head into a nearby hotel/hostel and ask them to call one for you. Only get in taxis that use a meter.
• 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 makes reusable bottles with a built-in filter so you can ensure your water is always clean and safe.

Where to Stay in Mexico

Hostels are plentiful in most of Mexico’s cities. Here are some of my favorite places to stay in Mexico:

• Suites DF Hostel (Mexico City)
• Mexico City Hostel (Mexico City)
• Hostel Ka’beh Cancún (Cancún)
• Mama’s Home (Tulum)
• Gran Hostal (Playa del Carmen)
• Casa Angel Youth Hostel (Oaxaca)

How to Get Around Mexico

Public transportation – Public buses (also known as camiones ) are the most common way to get around in cities and towns (and to nearby villages). These buses are also the cheapest, costing no more than a few pesos per journey. In some cities, smaller microbuses have replaced the older buses, but the cost is still the same.

Mexico City and Guadalajara have subway systems. One-way tickets for the subway and the bus system are around 5 MXN. In Mexico City, you’ll have to buy a rechargeable Metro Card at any of the Metro stations for 15 MXN, and you can use the card for the Metro, Metrobús, Light Rail, Ecobici, Trolleybus, RTP buses, and on Cablebús.

Bus – Most of Mexico is served by buses. On longer journeys, make sure to take an express bus (called a “directo”) if you can as they are much faster and stop less. A bus from Puerto Vallarta to Guadalajara (5.5 hours) costs around 585 MXN. A bus from Cancún to Mexico City (27 hours) costs around 1,800 MXN. A bus from Puebla to Mexico City (2 hours) costs around 200 MXN.

Some of the biggest and most reliable bus companies include:

• Primera Plus
• Estrella de Oro
• Omnibuses de Mexico
• ETN (Enlaces Terrestres Nacionales)

Most cities have a central bus terminal from where all long-distance buses depart. You can show up to buy your ticket, or research routes and ticket prices via each company’s website.

To find bus routes and prices, use BusBud .

Train – There are virtually no passenger train services remaining in Mexico. For long-distance travel, you’ll need to fly or take the bus.

Flying – For long journeys, consider flying. The route from Cancún to Mexico City by bus takes 27 hours and costs around 1,800 MXN but a flight starts around 470 MXN and only takes two hours. A one-way fare from Mexico City to Guadalajara is about 525 MXN. Even a four-hour flight from coast to coast from Cancún to Puerto Vallarta is just 1,200 MXN one-way.

Aeroméxico is the biggest airline in Mexico, but low-cost carriers are becoming more popular. These include:

• VivaAerobus

Car rentals – Car rentals are surprisingly affordable in Mexico. You can find week-long rentals for around 3,000 MXN. Renters must be 21 years of age and have had their license for at least two years. Some companies require renters to be over 25 and it’s best to carry an International Driving Permit (IDP). Avoid driving at night, when crimes against drivers are more likely to occur. Also, don’t leave any valuables in your vehicle overnight as break-ins can occur.

For the best car rental prices, use Discover Cars .

When to Go to Mexico

Summer (June to October) is the rainy season in Mexico, but this is mostly just 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 hover somewhere between 26-32°C (79-90°F).

September to the middle of October is hurricane season and is not a good time to visit.

December to the end of April (winter) is the busiest tourist season as temperatures are hot, but the coastal areas provide plenty of relief for vacationers. This is the best time to visit if you’re looking to take advantage of Mexico’s tropical environment. It’s the dry season, so you’ll experience very little rain. You can expect big crowds as people flock to the resort areas around Cancún and Puerto Vallarta.

The average daily temperature during this time is 28°C (82°F). But if you’re in the mountains, pack lots of layers! It can get frigid, especially in the evenings.

How to Stay Safe in Mexico

The media (especially the American media) likes to paint Mexico as a dangerous place to visit but the reality is far more complex. While petty theft is very common in Mexico, most of the serious conflicts occur between the authorities and Mexican drug cartels. The people who tend to be involved in major incidents are usually doing drugs or taking part in sex tourism. Avoid those, and you’ll drastically increase your chances of staying safe.

Moreover, where you are greatly influences how safe you are. Yucatan and Oaxaca are incredibly safe states to visit while states near the US border are less so and more likely to experience violence and crime.

Officials looking for bribes are pretty common in Quintana Roo, as is drug-related violence due to tourists looking for drugs there. States near the southern border can also be sketchy and it’s wiser to keep an eye out on your stuff there though violent crime is pretty uncommon.

So don’t believe the media that “Mexico is unsafe.” Mexico is like any big country – some parts are safe, and some parts aren’t. Use some common sense when you travel: don’t flash your money, avoid wearing expensive watches or jewelry, don’t walk along drunk at night, make copies of your passport and official documents, and tell people where you are regularly.

Another important safety tip to keep in mind is about the water. While Mexico’s water purification and treatment systems have improved, it still is not safe to drink ordinary tap water when visiting. Luckily, bottled water is available everywhere. Bringing water filter like LifeStraw is advised as it has a built-in filter so your water is always clean and safe.

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

The emergency services number in Mexico is 911. However, if that doesn’t work (since it isn’t in use in every region of Mexico), try 066.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance protects 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 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 Travel Guide: Related Articles

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

The 20 Best Things to Do in Mexico City

The 5 Best Hotels in Oaxaca

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

How to Spend 5 Days in Oaxaca

The 15 Best Things to Do in Oaxaca

Is Tulum Safe?

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How to get around in Mexico

Oct 10, 2023 • 9 min read

There are plenty of ways to get around Mexico, but taking the bus is usually your best bet © MStudioImages / Getty Images

Mexico is huge! From fluffy, white ski slopes and thick, steamy jungle to cacti-strewn deserts and sublime stretches of untouched sand, expect to use many transport options to get around the world's 13th-biggest country.

Between domestic flights, long-distance buses, hair-raising colectivo, combi minibuses and – for one spectacular stretch – an old-school passenger train, there are plenty of ways to cross this North American behemoth; you just need a little patience. Here's how to get around Mexico .

Cheap and reliable, make the bus your best mate

With a good road network and comfortable, frequent, reasonably priced bus services connecting all cities, buses are your bestie in Mexico. Most cities and towns have one main bus terminal from which all long-distance buses operate. It may be called the Terminal de Autobuses, Central de Autobuses, Central Camionera or La Central (not to be confused with el centro , the city center). Stations in major cities tend to be generally clean, safe and highly functional.

Generally known as camiones , local buses are usually the cheapest way to get around cities and out to nearby towns and villages. They run frequently, and fares in cities are just a few pesos. In many cities, fleets of small, modern microbuses have replaced the noisy, dirty older vehicles. Buses usually halt only at fixed paradas (bus stops), though in some places, you can hold your hand out to stop one at any street corner.

Bus classes

Deluxe & Executive:  De lujo services, primera plus and the even more comfortable ejecutivo (executive) buses run mainly on the busier intercity routes. They are swift and comfortable with reclining seats, plenty of legroom, air-conditioning, movies on (individual) video screens, few or no stops, toilets on board (sometimes separate ones for men and women) and often drinks, snacks and even wi-fi. They use toll roads wherever available.

1st-Class:  Primera (1a) clase buses have a comfortable numbered seat for each passenger. All sizable towns are served by 1st-class buses. Standards of comfort are adequate, at the very least. The buses have air-conditioning and a toilet, and they stop infrequently. They show movies on general screens and use toll roads where possible.

2nd-Class:  Segunda (2a) clase or económico buses serve small towns and villages and provide cheaper, slower travel on some intercity routes. A few are almost as quick, comfortable and direct as 1st-class buses. Others are old, slow and shabby. Few have toilets. These buses tend to take non-toll roads and will stop anywhere to pick up passengers, so if you board mid-route, you might be standing for part of the trip. In more remote areas, these are often the only buses available.

Bus companies

Mexico has hundreds of bus companies. Many of the major ones belong to the four large groups that dominate bus transportation in different parts of the country. 

• ETN Turistar Serves major cities along the Pacific coast, central, northern and eastern Mexico and destinations as far south as Oaxaca . 
• Grupo ADO Connects Mexico City with numerous cities in the Yucatán , Campeche , Quintana Roo , Tabasco , Chiapas , Oaxaca, Puebla , Guerrero and Veracruz .
• Grupo Estrella Blanca Runs between Mexico City and the center, north and west of Mexico. Major cities include Guadalajara, Tijuana, Puebla, Monterrey, Puerto Vallarta and Ciudad Juárez.
• Primera Plus Destinations served around central Mexico include Mexico City, Guadalajara, Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta, San Luis Potosí and San Miguel de Allende .

Buying bus tickets

For 1st-class, deluxe and executive buses, buy your ticket at the bus terminal before the trip; in some cities, you can buy tickets from bus offices in central office locations. It is also usually possible to purchase tickets online and be sent an e-ticket or QR code for check-in.

For trips of up to four or five hours on routes with frequent service, you can usually just go to the bus terminal, buy a ticket and head out without much delay. For longer trips, routes with infrequent service or for any trip at busy holiday times, it’s best to buy a ticket a day or more in advance. You can usually select your seat when you buy your ticket. Try to avoid the back of the bus, which is where the toilets are located – it also tends to experience a bumpier ride.

Many 2nd-class services have no ticket office; you just pay your fare to the conductor.

Tips for traveling by bus

• Buses do occasionally get held up or even robbed. Traveling by day and on deluxe or 1st-class buses, which use toll highways where possible, minimizes this risk.
• Buying tickets several days in advance or at less busy times of the day can often get you a discount fare.
• Baggage is safe if stowed in the baggage hold – get a receipt for it when you hand it over. Keep your most valuable possessions in the cabin with you.
• Air-conditioned buses can get cold, so wear long pants or a skirt and bring a sweater, jacket or maybe a blanket on board. Eye masks and earplugs can be handy if you don’t want to watch videos the entire trip.

Domestic flights can save you both time and money

More than 60 Mexican cities have airports with scheduled passenger services, including Mexico City , Cancún , Guadalajara , Tijuana , Monterrey , Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta . Flying can be good value on longer journeys, and regional airlines have a decent safety record. Flying may have a higher carbon footprint, but if you have limited time in Mexico, a domestic hop by air is preferable to a 48-hour bus.

Aeroméxico , including its subsidiary Aeroméxico Connect, has the biggest network, but TAR Aerolíneas , Volaris and VivaAerobus also serve many cities, often with lower fares. Other regional airlines are Aéreo Servicios Guerrero , Calafia Airlines , and  Magnicharters .

Taxis can be surprisingly cheap

Taxis are common in towns and cities, and they are surprisingly economical. City rides cost around M$20 to M$25 per kilometer. If a taxi has a meter, you can ask the driver if it’s working ( ‘¿Funciona el taxímetro?’ ). If the cab doesn’t have a functioning meter, establish the price of the ride before getting in (this may involve a bit of haggling).

Many airports and some big bus terminals have a system of authorized ticket taxis – you buy a fixed-price ticket to your destination from a special taquilla (ticket window) and then hand it to the driver instead of paying cash. This saves haggling time and prevents major rip-offs, but fares are usually higher than you could get on the street.

Uber has become increasingly popular, as well as a similar app-based service Cabify.

Catch a colectivo, combi, minibus or pesero for short city trips

These are all names for vehicles that function as something between a taxi and a bus, running along fixed urban routes usually displayed on the windshield. They’re cheaper than taxis and quicker than buses. They will pick you up or drop you off on any corner along their route – to stop one, go to the curb and wave your hand, then tell the driver where you want to go. Usually, you pay at the end of the trip and the fare (a little higher than a bus fare) depends on how far you go.

Use cars and motorcycles for more flexibility

Having a vehicle in Mexico gives you a lot of flexibility and freedom. With a little adaptation to local road conditions, it’s no more difficult than in most other countries. The highways here are serviceable and fairly fast when traffic is not heavy. There are more than 6,000km of toll highways ( autopistas ), which are generally good four-lane roads. Tolls cost around M$2.50 per kilometer.

You will need a valid driver’s license from your home country and Mexican liability insurance to drive in Mexico. If you’re involved in an accident, you can be jailed and have your vehicle impounded while responsibility is assessed. If you are to blame for an accident causing injury or death, you may be detained until you guarantee restitution to the victims and payment of any fines. Adequate Mexican insurance coverage is the only real protection; it’s regarded as a guarantee that restitution will be paid.

Mexican law recognizes only Mexican motor insurance ( seguro ), so a US or Canadian policy (even if it provides coverage) is not acceptable to Mexican officialdom. You can buy Mexican motor insurance online through the long-established Sanborn’s and other companies.

Try and avoid driving at night as unlit vehicles, hard-to-see speed bumps, rocks, pedestrians and animals on the roads are common – and drunk drivers are more common. General highway security is better by day. Note that some hijackings, holdups and illegal roadblocks connected with drug gang activities occur, mainly in the north.

Auto rental in Mexico can be expensive by US or European standards, but is not difficult to organize. Many major international rental firms have offices throughout the country. Renters must provide a valid driver’s license, passport and major credit card, and they are usually required to be at least 21 years of age (sometimes 25 – those aged 21-24 may have to pay a surcharge).

Rent a taxi and driver

Renting a taxi for a day-long, out-of-town jaunt generally costs something similar to a cheap rental car – around M$600 to M$700.

Motorbikes hire

Motorbikes or scooters can be rented in a few tourist centers. You’re usually required to have a driver’s license and a credit card. However, many renters do not offer any insurance.

Use ferries to get to and from the Baja Peninsula

Vehicle and passenger ferries connect the Baja Peninsula with the Mexican mainland, sailing between Santa Rosalía and Guaymas and from La Paz to Mazatlán and Topolobampo. Not only do these save travelers the effort of going up and round the Gulf of California, but they are often overnight, which saves on a night’s accommodation.

There’s only one train line – but it’s well worth taking

The spectacular Ferrocarril Chihuahua Pacífico runs through the Sierra Madre Occidental between Los Mochis and Chihuahua (the luxury Chepe Express travels only between Los Mochis and Creel). It’s one of the highlights of Mexico travel and the country's only remaining passenger train.

Accessible travel in Mexico

Whilst there is an increase in wheelchair-friendly companies offering trips and tours of Mexico – plus a proliferation of newer resorts and hotels with dropped curbs, ramps, and elevators – there are still a number of significant accessibility obstacles for independent wheelchair users to overcome. In many cities, the pavements are old and uneven, with few or no dropped curbs. Most public transport isn't wheelchair friendly either (think: stairs on the Mexico City Metro and no accessibility provisions on buses). However, some taxi firms and tour companies can arrange private transfers for wheelchair users if booked in advance.

For more details, check out Lonely Planet's Accessible Travel page .  

This article was first published October 2022 and updated October 2023

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• 10 Essential Tips For Staying...

Essential Tips for Staying Safe in Mexico City

Northern England Writer

Over the past few decades, Mexico City has made headlines for crime and violence, but that shouldn’t overshadow the world-class cultural and historical experiences it can offer to travelers. Of course, as with anywhere, it is still essential to have your wits about you while traveling around the country’s capital, so here are our top 10 tips for staying safe while there.

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Use public transport during the day and private transport by night

The public transport system in Mexico City is chaotic and crowded but very affordable, and using it will certainly give you a taste of local life. However, the UK Foreign Office website states : “Be particularly alert on public transport, at airports and in bus stations,” and warn that women should be especially careful. Women should take advantage of the “female-only” carriages available on the Metro whenever possible.

At night, especially if you’re travelling alone, you shouldn’t hesitate to order a taxi to get from one place to another. Use sitio taxis from authorised cab ranks, or ask your hotel to order you a car,rather than hailing one down on the street. While in the cab, always make sure that your driver is using their taximetro to ensure you pay the correct fare.

Learn basic Spanish

Having some knowledge of basic Spanish will help you immensely on your trip. Mexico City is neither Cancún nor Puerto Vallarta, and the number of people who speak English fluently or near fluently is far lower than in both those places. Learning some basic phrases, therefore, will make you seem far less ignorant and will help you navigate your way around.

Exercise caution in certain areas of the city

Some neighborhoods in Mexico City are considered more dangerous than others. Tepito, a barrio located in the Cuauhtémoc borough, is one, as are the areas of La Lagunilla, Mercado Merced and Doctores. Outlying barrios like Ciudad Neza and Iztapalapa have also developed dangerous reputations. Stick to well-lit, central streets while in these areas and try to avoid them at night.

Be cautious with your cash

This encompasses everything to do with money and cash-carrying while in Mexico City. Obviously, don’t carry around every peso you brought with you. Only carry what you’ll need for the day and preferably in two different locations; for example, take 200 pesos in your purse and another 200 in an inside pocket. Take care when withdrawing money, too. “It’s generally safer to use ATMs during daylight hours and inside shops or malls,” says the UK Foreign Office.

Be careful with the cuisine

Mexico has a reputation for excellent street food , but you should always choose wisely. To avoid getting ill, stick to the stalls that have people flocking to them, especially if those people are locals. That way, you know they’re reputable and affordable. It is also considered best practice to avoid drinking the tap water in Mexico City and stick to bottled instead.

Keep your valuables hidden

This kind of goes hand in hand with the previous point, but don’t make yourself an obvious target. Keep jewellery to a minimum—no flashy earrings or designer watches—and please carry your camera in a bag rather than slung round your neck. That DSLR probably set you back a chunk of money, so you wouldn’t want to have it snatched within your first few hours in the city. Keep wallets and purses out of pockets that are in easy reach, as cramped, rush-hour Metro travel will see them swiped in the blink of an eye.

Know your emergency numbers

This is a crucial piece of advice for anyone traveling in a foreign country, whether it’s Mexico City or elsewhere. Keep a list in both your phone and on a separate piece of paper of all necessary numbers. In Mexico City, the police can be reached by dialling 911 and ambulances and fire services are available on 066 or 080, although it’s worth adding that you’ll need to know Spanish to communicate with any of these services. You should also carry the number of your home country’s embassy with you, as well as any personal emergency contacts.

Many travelers come to Mexico City expecting the tropical weather of Cancún , and while the country is definitely not cold all year round, you should make an effort to do as the locals do. Try not to wear shorts, sandals and vest tops when everyone else is in jeans and jumpers. That’s not to say you need to be uncomfortable, just don’t dress for a day at the beach when you’re actually just exploring the city.

If something does happen, don’t fight back

If you are unlucky enough to be mugged or, worse, kidnapped while in Mexico City, you should never resist. On this topic, the UK Foreign Office says:

“Short-term opportunistic kidnapping—called ‘express kidnapping’—can occur, particularly in urban areas. Victims are forced to withdraw funds from credit or debit cards at a cash point to secure their release. Where victims have friends or relatives living locally, a ransom may be demanded from them. You should comply with requests and not attempt to resist such attacks.”

As frustrating as it might be, you should allow your attacker to take the possessions they want. Purses, phones and money can all be replaced, and they are not worth risking your safety for.

It is important to note here that you should invest in decent travel insurance that covers all these eventualities before setting off on your trip.

Keep copies, not originals, of important documents with you

It’s always a good idea to keep a copy of your passport and visa with you at all times. However, instead of carrying the original, which, if lost, could cause some serious problems at airport immigration, just take a decent-quality photocopy instead. If anyone asks to see your documents at any point (unlikely, but it sometimes happens), show them the photocopy and explain the original is at your hotel .

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Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

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The Travel Blog of a Culture Addict

2 Days in Mexico City: The Best Itinerary For 2024

Last Updated on December 2, 2023 by Soumya

Got 2 days in Mexico City and wondering what to do?

Well, I am glad that you’re here because I have just the perfect Mexico City itinerary for you.

I have visited Mexico City several times. From living there for months to spending a packed 48 hours in Mexico City , I have done it all.

Ciudad de Mexico or CDMX or simply Mexico City is one of the best places to visit in Mexico.

With thousands of years of history and a rich culture , the list of things to see in Mexico City is endless.

You can explore the historic downtown , hop through museums, marvel at beautiful murals, ride in a colorful boat, eat good food, and learn all about Frida Kahlo – all with two days in Mexico City.

Let’s check out this epic 2 days in Mexico City itinerary that allows you a pretty good glimpse into this mindboggling city.

Please note: This post may contain affiliate links which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link on this post. This will be at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links help me keep this website up and running. Thanks for your support!

Planning your Mexico City 2-day itinerary last minute?

If you are booking your Mexico City itinerary last minute, don’t worry. We have you covered. Here are some of the best tours and hotels in CDMX.

Top Experiences and Tours in Mexico City

• Historic Downtown Walking Tour (Bestseller!)
• Frida Kahlo Museum Guided Tour
• Xochimilco, Coyoacan, and Frida Kahlo Museum Tour (Most popular!)
• Polanco Food Tour (Best food tour)

Top Hotels in Mexico City

• Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico (Luxury) – Expedia | Booking
• Zocalo Central (Midrange) – Expedia | Booking
• Grand Fiesta Americana Chapultepec (Midrange) – Expedia | Booking
• Hotel Flamencos (Budget) – Expedia | Booking

Table of Contents

Day 1 in Mexico City: Historic Downtown & Zocalo

Spend the first day of your Mexico City 2-day itinerary at the Historic Center.

A famous UNESCO World Heritage site in Mexico , the Historic Downtown of Mexico City has tons of amazing things to do.

Morning – Historic Center of Mexico City

If you’re not having breakfast in your Centro hotel , I highly recommend that you head to Cafe Tacuba for breakfast.

Over 100 years old and adorned in blue and yellow Talavera tiles , Cafe Tacuba is an institution in itself. I love their chilaquiles and tamales for breakfast.

After breakfast, explore the Zocalo and the historic landmarks surrounding it.

Here are the most unmissable attractions in the Mexico City center that you have to see.

Metropolitan Cathedral

The Metropolitan Cathedral is an unmissable landmark in the Historic Center of Mexico City.

It was built by the Spaniards over the ruins of the ancient Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlan .

One of the oldest and the largest cathedral in the Americas , the Metropolitan Cathedral is a masterpiece combining different architectural styles, mainly Baroque, Neo-classical, and Churrigueresque.

The cathedral’s interior also houses an impressive collection of artwork, breathtaking altars, and the crypt of former archbishops.

As you walk inside, you’ll be greeted by an array of stunning chapels, each unique and richly embellished in the ornate Churrigueresque style.

The choir area, adorned with intricate wood carvings, is an unmissable sight.

Templo Mayor

Just a stone’s throw from the Metropolitan Cathedral, you’ll find the remarkable Aztec ruins of Templo Mayor , another must-see spot on your 2-day Mexico City itinerary.

This important archaeological site was once the main temple of the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan .

At Templo Mayor, you can explore the ruins of the dual Aztec pyramid, age-old murals and serpent sculptures, an Altar of the Toads, a skull rack, and several palatial rooms.

The Dual Pyramid with its twin staircases was dedicated to two principal Aztec deities: the god of war, Huitzilopochtli, and the god of rain and agriculture, Tlaloc.

In addition to the ruins, the adjacent Templo Mayor Museum houses an impressive collection of artifacts found at the site , offering a deeper understanding of the Aztec civilization.

Exhibits include intricate stone carvings, religious objects, a replica of the pyramid, and an enormous disk depicting Goddess Coyolxauhqui.

Templo Mayor is best explored on this private tour that’s led by an expert guide who’s a true history buff and can give you an insider’s perspective into the Aztec civilization.

✦ Pro Tip : Want to learn more about the Aztecs? Check out our article on the 8 best Aztec ruins in Mexico City .

National Palace of Mexico City

The National Palace (Palacio Nacional) is a historic building, located on Mexico City’s main square, the Zocalo.

The palace is home to the offices of the President of Mexico and the Federal Treasury.

However, beyond its political significance, Palacio Nacional is known for its stunning architecture that blends colonial and Mexican baroque styles , its beautiful gardens filled with native plants, and its grand courtyards.

But perhaps the most compelling reason to visit the National Palace is the opportunity to admire the beautiful mural work by Diego Rivera on the courtyard walls.

His famous mural titled “History of Mexico” traces the country’s history from ancient times to the post-revolutionary period, making it a must-see for art and history enthusiasts alike.

✦ Pro Tip : To visit the National Palace, you need to take a guided tour run by the ministry . Check out my detailed National Palace Guide to find out how to do that.

Palacio Bellas Artes

The iconic Palacio Bellas Artes or the Palace of Fine Arts is another must-visit attraction to add to your 2 days in Mexico City itinerary.

One of the city’s most significant cultural landmarks , this exquisite building serves as a museum and a grand performance hall.

The stunning exterior, a blend of art nouveau and art deco architectural styles , is a testament to the city’s rich artistic history.

Inside, you’ll find magnificent murals by some of Mexico’s greatest artists , such as Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros.

The palace is also renowned for hosting performances by the renowned Ballet Folklorico de Mexico . If you’re in Mexico City on a Sunday or Wednesday, be sure to get a ticket to one of these captivating performances.

Palacio Postal

Just a short walk from Palacio Bellas Artes, you’ll find the Palacio Postal, or the Postal Palace of Mexico City.

Built in the early 20th century, the Palacio Postal’s stunning architecture is one of the best examples of the eclectic style that characterizes Mexico’s post-colonial buildings.

Step inside, and you’ll be greeted by a majestic interior that is a work of art in itself, featuring ornate brass work, intricate marble flooring, and a stunning glass ceiling.

Today, the Palacio Postal still functions as a working post office. It also houses a tiny Postal Museum, where you can learn about the history of Mexico’s postal service.

Casa de los Azulejos

Casa de los Azulejos, or the House of Tiles, is a charming 18th-century palace, known for its distinctive blue-and-white talavera tile façade.

The palace’s stunning architecture is a representation of the Baroque style, showcasing the extravagance of the colonial period.

The House of Tiles now functions as a grand restaurant owned by Sanborns , a famous Mexican retail company.

Step inside, and you’ll be awe-struck by the opulent interiors and the remarkable murals, including the notable “Omnisciencia” by Jose Clemente Orozco.

Dining here allows you to bask in the city’s rich history while enjoying traditional Mexican cuisine.

Torre Latinoamericana

Dominating the Mexico City skyline is Torre Latinoamericana, a symbol of the city’s modern architectural prowess.

Once the tallest building in the city, Torre Latinoamericana today stands as a testament to Mexico City’s resilience because of its survival from numerous earthquakes.

The tower’s observatory on the 44th floor offers an unparalleled 360-degree view of the sprawling cityscape , allowing you to spot the city’s famous landmarks from an incredible vantage point.

By night, witness the city come alive with a mesmerizing display of lights.

There’s also a museum within the tower which tells the story of the tower and its magical survival during earthquakes.

✦ Pro Tip : Prebook your tickets to the Torre Latinoamericana Observation Deck here .

Historic Center Guided Tour

If you’d like to see the Historic Center on a guided tour instead, here’s a great walking tour that’ll show you the best of the historic center.

The tour begins at 9:30 am and lasts 3 hours. Therefore, it is perfect to get an overview of the city after which you can explore in depth.

After the tour and lots of walking, I am sure you’ll be famished.

A great place to have lunch in the Historic Center is La Casa de Tono which serves some great pozole.

✦ Related Read : Looking for more exciting things to do in downtown CDMX? Check out our epic bucket list of the 20 Best Things to Do in the Historic Center of Mexico City .

Evening – Mexican Culture

If you’re wondering what to do on the first evening of your two days in Mexico City, then let me tell you that we have a plethora of cultural spectacles for you.

You can watch an exciting Lucha Libre wrestling match , join a night food tour , or watch a folkloric ballet in Mexico City .

Lucha Libre Match

Lucha Libre is a high-flying, theatrical form of Mexican wrestling.

Its roots trace back to the 19th century when Mexican wrestlers blended native traditions with international wrestling formats.

Lucha Libre is distinct from all other kinds of wrestling because of its use of vibrant masks and swift acrobatics by the wrestlers or “luchadors”.

The best place to experience the adrenaline-fueled spectacle of Lucha Libre in Mexico City is the Arena Mexico often referred to as the “Cathedral of Lucha Libre.”

If you’re looking to do something exciting on your first day in Mexico City, I highly recommend watching a live Lucha Libre match at Arena Mexico and coupling it with mezcal tasting in a tour like this one .

Folkloric Ballet by Amalia Hernandez

The Folkloric Ballet is an enthralling dance performance that showcases Mexico’s rich heritage and culture.

Conceived and choreographed by Amalia Hernandez , a pioneer in the field of dance in Mexico, the Folkloric Ballet is globally recognized for its traditional dance performances.

The performances are a colorful blend of traditional and contemporary elements, capturing the essence of Mexico’s diverse cultural heritage.

In Mexico City, the best place to witness this stunning spectacle is Palacio de Bellas Artes.

Performances happen every Wednesday and Sunday and spaces tend to fill up fast. Be sure to book your tickets well in advance.

Night Street Food & Bike Tour

Foodies will love this night bike street food tour that takes you through some of the most beautiful parts of Mexico City such as Roma and Condesa while allowing you to taste some amazing local food.

Relish tacos al pastor at a local taqueria, dig into grilled corn “elotes”, and taste some fried quesadillas on this night street food tour .

Day 2 in Mexico City Option 1: Xochimilco, Frida Kahlo Museum & Coyoacan

Morning – xochimilco floating gardens.

Begin Day 2 in Mexico City with a visit to the beautiful Floating Gardens of Xochimilco .

Known as “chinampas”, these artificial islands are a unique display of the ingenuity of the ancient Aztec people . They are a true engineering wonder, of which I talk about in this article on BBC Travel .

The Chinampas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are famous for the network of canals and vibrantly colored boats called “trajineras”.

As you float along these canals, you’ll be immersed in a lively atmosphere , complete with floating mariachi bands and vendors selling food and souvenirs.

If you’re someone who loves to explore the canals in quiet, I highly recommend taking a sunrise tour of the chinampas .

Sunrise tours like this one usually include traditional Mexican breakfast straight from the chinampa farms and a more intimate experience with the ancient gardens.

You can also add to it a kayaking experience on a guided tour like this one .

📖 Related Read : Xochimilco is often used synonymously with the Floating Gardens. However, there’s so much more to do in this Mexican town beyond the chinampas. Check out Xochimilco Travel Guide for other epic things to do.

Getting to Xochimilco from Mexico City

Getting to Xochimilco from Mexico City is fairly simple.

You can take Treno Ligero or the light rail train from Tasquena metro station straight to Xochimilco. The ride takes about 40 minutes.

Alternatively, you can take a taxi or an Uber.

Upon arrival, you can hire a “trajinera” for a leisurely ride through the canals. Trajineras cost about 600 pesos for a one-hour ride. If you want a longer ride, you can negotiate the rates a bit.

Recommended Guided Tours

To make the most out of your day, I recommend taking this guided tour that combines Xochimilco & Frida Kahlo Museum and includes transportation from Mexico City and a boat ride.

Guided tours are a convenient way to explore Xochimilco without the hassle of navigating public transportation or bargaining with boatmen.

Afternoon – Frida Kahlo Museum

The Frida Kahlo Museum , also known as the Blue House, is an important historic landmark in Mexico City.

It’s the birthplace of the globally renowned Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo. This is also where she spent her formative and later years.

At the museum, you can explore a collection of Kahlo’s works , including some of her most famous paintings and personal artifacts. This includes her painting tools, vibrant costumes, and personal belongings that narrate her life story.

The exhibits portray her love for Mexico and its culture, her tumultuous relationship with Diego Rivera, and her unwavering strength in face of physical and emotional pain.

The beautiful gardens surrounding the Blue House display Frida’s love for natural beauty and serve as a calm oasis in the midst of bustling Mexico City.

Tickets to Frida Kahlo Museum sell out pretty fast. Be sure to reserve them online on their official website here unless they are already booked through your guided tour .

✦ Pro Tip : In case tickets get sold out, you still have chances to get them through a couple of other reliable 3rd party marketplaces. I did the same. Find out how to do that if Frida Kahlo tickets get sold out .

Evening – Coyoacan Neighborhood

Once done with your Casa Azul visit, explore the vibrant neighborhood of Coyoacan .

Coyoacan is famous for its bohemian atmosphere and brightly colored colonial architecture .

Begin your evening with a visit to the bustling main plaza where you can enjoy local performances. Spend some time at the Fountain of the Coyotes .

View the stunning Parroquia San Juan Bautista , or just sit and soak in the lively atmosphere.

Be sure to visit the Mercado de Coyoacan , a local market where you can pick up traditional Mexican crafts , clothing, and tasty street food.

Be sure to try Coyoacan’s churros rellenos , a stuffed variant of churros, that are absolutely divine. The best place to have them is Churreria General de la Republica .

📖 Related Read : For more enjoyable things to do, refer to our detailed Coyoacan Travel Guide .

Recommended Guided Tours for Mexico City Day 2

Both Xochimilco and the neighborhood of Coyoacan where Frida Kahlo Museum is located are situated on the southern fringes of Mexico City.

Therefore, it is easy to combine them into a single day trip.

Guided tours like this one do a pretty good job of managing the logistics and time at attractions.

Day 2 in Mexico City Option 2: Chapultepec & National Anthropology Museum

Morning – chapultepec park & castle.

If you love both nature and history , then Bosque de Chapultepec, or the Chapultepec Park, is a must-have on your two days itinerary for Mexico City .

This massive urban park is one of the largest in the Western Hemisphere, almost twice the size of Central Park in NYC.

It is almost like a verdant oasis in the heart of the huge Mexican Capital.

The best part? Chapultepec Park is teeming with museums, tranquil pathways, lakes, a zoo, a castle, markets, and what not!

You can spend an entire day visiting all the amazing attractions of Chapultepec Park.

Do not miss the Monumento a los Ninos Heroes , a memorial to six young cadets who defended Chapultepec Castle during the Mexican-American War.

If you’re traveling with kids, then you might want to visit the zoo which has two fluffy pandas and several other interesting animals like mandrils, ocelots, and jaguars.

Chapultepec Castle

One of the highlights is the impressive Chapultepec Castle.

Once a royal residence, this castle now houses the National Museum of History. It offers an interesting journey through the eras of Mexican history through its well-preserved artifacts, detailed exhibits, and grandiose staterooms.

But the cherry on top is the breathtaking panoramic view of Mexico City’s skyline from the castle’s terrace.

Afternoon – National Anthropology Museum

Located within the Chapultepec Park, the National Anthropology Museum is one of the best museums in Mexico City.

It is home to the world’s largest collection of ancient Mexican art and ethnographic exhibits about Mexico’s present-day indigenous groups. Therefore, the museum provides an in-depth exploration of the country’s rich pre-Hispanic past.

Some of the museum’s unmissable highlights include the famous Sun Stone or the Aztec Calendar Stone , the ceremonial headdress of Moctezuma, Jade mask of the Zapotec Bat God, massive Olmec heads, and a recreation of Pakal’s Tomb.

For history buffs and culture enthusiasts, the National Anthropology Museum promises a fascinating and educational experience.

The best way to visit the National Anthropology Museum in Mexico City is on a highly-rated guided tour like this one .

The museum is huge and trust me, it is really helpful to have a professional guide through the exhibits.

But you can always do a self-guided tour. Purchase the tickets online here or at the box office.

✦ Pro Tip : Get a brief idea of Mexico’s pre-Hispanic civilizations in our article on the 20 Ancient Pyramids that you need to visit in Mexico to appreciate the museum’s displays better.

Evening – Dinner in Polanco

Located on the northwestern side of Chapultepec Park, Polanco is a fashionable and upscale neighborhood that’s a culinary heaven for foodies.

Renowned for its wide array of gastronomic offerings , Polanco perfectly blends the elegance of high-end dining with the authenticity of local cuisine.

The popularity of this Polanco Food Tour is enough to tell you that Polanco is the best foodie place in Mexico City.

If you’re seeking an upscale dining experience, Pujol is your place. Ranked amongst the world’s best restaurants, Pujol offers an innovative take on traditional Mexican cuisine. Their signature “Mole Madre, Mole Nuevo” dish is an absolute must-try.

For a more down-to-earth experience, head over to El Turix . This humble taqueria, a hole-in-the-wall eatery, is a local favorite. With its delectable cochinita pibil tacos and panuchos, it offers a truly authentic local dining experience.

Go restaurant hopping in Polanco or sign up for this amazing Polanco Food Tour that begins at 5:30 pm in the evening.

Either way, have a foodilicious evening on your second day in Mexico City.

• This Chapultepec Castle and Anthropology Museum Tour allows you to see two Mexico City landmarks in half a day with a professional tour guide.
• On this Guided Visit to the National Anthropology Museum , you’ll learn all about the pre-Columbian heritage of Mexico with an expert tour guide.
• Don’t miss this Polanco Food Tour , one of Mexico City’s best food tours. It takes you on a whirlwind ride through all kinds of Mexican cuisines.

More than 2 days in Mexico City?

Do you have more than 2 days in Mexico City ? Then, you can easily convert the above itinerary into a fantastic 3-day Mexico City itinerary.

We have a ton of other ideas if you have more days in CDMX.

• Visit the Teotihuacan pyramids. Find out how to do that in our detailed guide on how to plan the best Teotihuacan day trip from Mexico City.
• Check out Mexico City’s hidden gems. Read our post on the 23 secret things to do in Mexico City .
• Visit Puebla , San Miguel de Allende, Taxco on day trips. Or find more choices in our article on the 22 best day trips from Mexico City.

Where to stay in Mexico City for 2 days?

My favorite areas to stay in Mexico City are the Centro Historico (Historic Center) and the bohemian neighborhoods of Roma , Condesa , and Polanco .

These areas are full of cultural attractions and hence, more touristy. Therefore, they are the safest places to stay in Mexico City.

• Two of my favorite hotels in the Historic Center are Hotel Flamencos and Kali Centro . Both are budget hotels but have excellent locations (walking distance from the center) and serve great breakfast . Rooms are comfortable and equipped with all necessities.
• Zocalo Central is another great place to stay in the center. It is centrally located. The rooftop restaurant has the best views in town. The hotel has got superb reviews. Read Zocalo Central’s reviews here .
• Grand Fiesta Americana Chapultepec is a midrange hotel right next to Chapultepec Park. They have a great breakfast buffet with views and amazingly spacious rooms. Check out reviews of Grand Fiesta Americana Chapultepec here .
• If you’re looking for a luxurious stay, then check out the very opulent Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico . With a stunning Tiffany stained glass ceiling and Art Nouveau architecture, this is THE BEST place to stay in Mexico City.

Practical Information for Visiting Mexico City

Best time to visit mexico city.

The best time to visit Mexico City is between March and May during the spring season.

During these months, the city enjoys a mild climate with temperatures ranging from 68°F to 79°F, ideal for exploring the city and the many outdoor attractions.

Spring is also the time of the year when the city is filled with vibrant hues of jacaranda blooms.

October – November is also a great time to visit Mexico City for Day of the Dead celebrations.

How to get to Mexico City?

The best way to get to is by flying into the Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX), which is well connected with major cities worldwide.

If you’re coming in from the US, direct flights from numerous American cities make Mexico City a convenient tourist destination.

Once at the airport, book a reliable private transfer or hire an Uber to get to the city.

How to get around Mexico City?

Mexico City has an extensive public transportation system which makes it easy to get to all the places listed in this 2-day itinerary.

The city’s metro system is one of the largest in the world . It offers affordable and efficient travel throughout its 12 lines.

Keep in mind that the Mexico City metro can get very crowded during rush hours. So avoid those times.

CDMX also has the Metrobus, a bus rapid transit system , which operates on dedicated bus lanes across the city.

Taxis and ride-sharing apps like Uber and DiDi are also readily available and are a safe means of travel.

2 Days in Mexico City Travel FAQ

Yes, 2 days in Mexico City is enough to see the highlights including the major landmarks of the Historic Center, Frida Kahlo Museum, and Floating Gardens of Xochimilco, and indulge in food tours and cultural experiences such as folklore ballets and lucha libre matches.

With 48 hours in Mexico City, you can check out the historic downtown and visit the Metropolitan Cathedral, Templo Mayor ruins, Palacio Bellas Artes, and the National Palace. You can also head to the bohemian neighborhood of Coyoacan and visit the famous Frida Kahlo Museum.

With two days in Mexico City, you can actually see a lot. Take a walking tour through the historic center and see Mexico City’s most famous landmarks, visit Frida Kahlo Museum in Coyoacan, ride a trajinera through the Floating Gardens of Xochimilco, or enjoy a day out in the massive Chapultepec Park.

Loved this 2 Days in Mexico City Itinerary? Pin it for later!

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14 Fun-Filled Weekend Trips From Mexico City

I f you find yourself in CDMX having exhausted your Mexico City trip itinerary and you have some extra time coupled with a thirst for adventure, you should most definitely spend the time exploring the surrounding cities, towns, and villages only a few hours away !

Each location has an abundance of art, festivals, interesting local cuisine, and historic architecture to behold. There’s truly something for everyone, and the immense variety will make it challenging to pick only one destination! 

This post will cover a handful of my favorite weekend getaways from Mexico City. If you’ve got the chance to extend your CDMX trip, you’ve gotta make time for some of these nearby adventures!

Some of my personal faves? San Miguel De Allende, Santiago De Querétaro, Grutas Tolantongo, and Tepotzotlán!

You ready to get explorin’?

This post may contain affiliate links. You won’t be paying a cent more, but in the event of a sale, the small affiliate commission I receive will help keep this blog running/pumping out useful and free content. Thanks a lot!

MEXICO CITY IN A NUTSHELL

Here’s a quick overview of all the useful info you need to plan an awesome trip!

When To Go : During the dry season, which runs from December to April.

Where To Stay : I love staying in the hip/trendy Roma Norte neighborhood! We like Hotel Marbella  ($), ULIV Apartments – Roma Norte  ($$), Casa Goliana   ($$$), and Brick Hotel Mexico City   ($$$).

Nearest Airport : Mexico City International Airport (MEX)

How to Get Around :

• Uber : Uber is probably the safest way to get around the city. However, you’ll want to keep your doors locked and your windows rolled up to prevent thieves on motorcycles from rolling by and snatching things from you! (I’ve witnessed this with my own eyes in CDMX — it happened to our Uber driver!)
• Taxi : You should only use authorized taxis or taxi apps, such as Easy Taxi or Cabify.
• Metro – The Mexico City Metro is an affordable way to get around the city. It is one of the largest metro systems in the world and has 12 lines that serve different parts of the city. The metro has women/children-only train cars for safety. Having said that, riding the Metro is not the safest way to travel throughout the city. There have been horror stories about people getting pickpocketed or robbed at knifepoint. Ride with caution!

Must-Do’s : Go to the Frida Kahlo Museum (at her actual house!), explore the colorful district of Coyoacán (one of Mexico City’s oldest districts), take a free walking tour of Centro Historico , take a day trip to Teotihuacan — the City of the Gods!

Before You Go : Make sure you can get into the country.

• Check that you have a valid passport and that it won’t expire within 6 months of your trip!
• Mexico requires travelers to fill out an Official Entry Immigration Form (or Tourist Card) before passing through customs at the airport. The Tourist Card is NO LONGER provided by commercial airlines. You’ll want to fill out the entry immigration form online , which is free to do.

‘Hello’ and ‘Thank You’ in Spanish : “Hello” = “Hola” and “Thank you” = “Gracias”.

Currency : the Mexican peso (MXN) –  click for current conversion rates

1. Teotihuacán

Distance from Mexico City: 30 miles (48 kilometers), 1 hour by car.

A day trip to Teotihuacan from Mexico City is a great way to explore one of Mexico’s most iconic archaeological sites. Plus, it’s one of the easiest to do given that it’s such an iconic landmark in Mexico!

It was once a thriving metropolis that was home to over 100,000 people and is known for its impressive architectural and cultural achievements. 

Teotihuacan is located about 30 miles (50 km) northeast of Mexico City, so it is best to start your day trip early to avoid crowds and traffic. You can take a bus, a taxi, or opt for one of the many guided tours to get there.

Once you arrive at Teotihuacan, take some time to explore the site and marvel at the ancient pyramids and temples. The site is home to several iconic landmarks, including the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon, and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent.

To learn more about its fascinating history and culture, visit the on-site museum, which features exhibits on the site’s architecture, art, and daily life.

After exploring the site and learning something new at the museum, take some time to enjoy the local cuisine! Teotihuacan is known for its delicious street food, including casual bites like tacos, tamales, and churros. Be sure to try some of the local specialties and sample some of the delicious fresh fruit and juices too!

One of the coolest ways to see Teotihuacan is from way up in the sky by hot air balloon . Book your hot air balloon flight over Teotihuacan here before they sell out !

2. Santiago De Querétaro, Querétaro

Distance from Mexico City: 135 miles (217 kilometers), 2 hours 25 minutes by car.

Santiago de Querétaro, or simply Querétaro, is a beautiful colonial city in central Mexico. Founded in 1531, Querétaro has a rich history evident in its well-preserved architecture and museums. The city is also home to delicious food, lively markets, and friendly locals.

Santiago de Querétaro is one of the few historic silver mining towns northwest of Mexico City. The city is also a UNESCO World Heritage site with vibrant colonial architecture, lovely cobblestone alleys, and hundreds of tree-lined plazas. It’s absolutely eye candy!

The historic center, which includes the spectacular 18 th -century Baroque home Casa de Ecala and the town’s iconic 16th-century aqueduct , still provides water today. It stands tall as one of the highlights of the town, and a great way to experience it is with a  trolley bus tour of the center – the kids will adore the sights, too!

A trip along the cheese and wine trail is one of the most popular weekend activities for couples or friends in Querétaro. These excursions feature cheese-making demonstrations with a lot of opportunities for tasting, of course!

Furthermore, the unique setting allows an excellent opportunity for the whole family to experience the intricacies of farm life.

Where To Stay: Gran Hotel de Querétaro

3. San Miguel De Allende, Mexico

Distance from Mexico City: 168 miles (270 kilometers), 3 hours, 16 minutes by car.

San Miguel de Allende is a lovely historical town in Guanajuato state with a somewhat cosmopolitan vibe. Its mild climate, authentic Mexican cultural feel, and stunning esthetics make it irresistible!

The place has a habit of charming many individuals from the United States, inviting them in with its alluring charms. Consequently, many tourists have migrated to San Miguel and are now calling it home, especially in the last decade.

Start your exploration in Centro Historico (historic downtown) at the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel . The numerous photos of San Miguel sometimes capture the beauty of a distinctive pink-colored Gothic church from the 17 th century – one of Mexico’s most beautiful churches.

If you want to acquire Mexican folk art souvenirs, go to the open-air San Miguel de Allende Mercado de Artesanias – the Artisan Market. It’s one of the best places to find souvenirs or exciting things to take home as presents. 

After a few hours of seeing the city, you may satisfy your hunger at Chocolates y Churros San Agustin , one of the finest restaurants in San Miguel de Allende. Alternatively, you may snack on a bench in El Jardin , the garden located in the main town square.

If you feel like venturing to a location outside of town, visit the El Charco del Ingenio Botanical Garden and the two most incredible hot springs in San Miguel de Allende, Spa La Gruta and Escondido Place .

Where To Stay:

• Casa No Name – a magical little luxury hotel
• Hotel Casa Blanca 7 – amazing location, even more amazing breakfast!

4. Cholula, Mexico

Distance from Mexico City :  80 miles (128 kilometers), 1 hour 51 minutes by car.

Cholula, Mexico is a beautiful town located in Central Mexico in the metropolitan area of Puebla, Mexico. The town is best known for its stunning scenery, friendly people, and delicious food.

The town is situated atop a mountain, which provides stunning views of the surrounding area. The buildings in Cholula are also very beautiful, and many of them date back hundreds of years.

When visiting Cholula, be sure to check out its archaeology park, which is host to Mexico’s largest pyramid—Pyramide Tepanapa. This is one of the largest structures in all of Mesoamerica. Climb to the top for a breathtaking view of the city below.

Then, explore one of the many local markets for some delicious Mexican cuisine. Don’t forget to try a traditional Pueblan dish like mole poblano!

If you’ve had enough of Cholula, there’s still a lot to see in the nearby towns/villages of Puebla, Tonantzintla, and Acatepec. Consider booking a few nights at Quinta Luna for your home base as you explore the region more.

Where To Stay: Quinta Luna

5. Tepotzotlán, Mexico

Distance from Mexico City :  25 miles (40 kilometers), 1 hour by car.

Situated in a highland mountain valley and flanked by dramatic and lush mountain cliffs, Tepoztlán is one of Mexico’s unique colonial towns and hidden gems.

Tepoztlán is just 75 km (46 miles) south of Mexico City and 17 km (11 miles) northeast of the popular colonial town of Cuernavaca, making it an easy day trip from CDMX, though I’d definitely recommend staying overnight for one or two nights to fully appreciate all this town offers.

When it comes to Tepotzotlán, Mexico, there is no shortage of reasons to visit this beautiful place. For starters, the town is home to some of the most stunning colonial architecture in all of Mexico.

In addition, the town is also home to a number of important historical sites, including the former home of Emperor Maximilian I.

But that’s not all that Tepotzotlán has to offer. The town is also home to a number of great restaurants and cafes, as well as a vibrant nightlife scene.

Tepotzotlán is home to some of the most vibrant markets in Mexico. Stroll through the stalls and take in the sights and sounds of this lively place. Be sure to bargain for souvenirs! Don’t miss the traditional town market which opens daily just off the main square, as well as the lively Weekend Artisan and Foods Market which sets up every weekend in town.

From there, head to archaeological sites like Piramide del Tepozteco . Explore the ruins of ancient civilizations and learn about the history of this region. Built atop a mountain cliff that overlooks the town and the entire valley below, the temple was built in honor of Tepoztecatl, the Aztec god of harvest, fertility, and Pulque.

This is going to be a bit physical, as there is a trail that leads to the top of the mountain ridge where the temple zone begins. If you can handle the climb, you will be rewarded with stunning views of the town and valley in addition to the temple itself.

If you’re looking for a charming Mexican town to visit that’s off the beaten path, Tepotzotlán should be at the top of your list!

Where To Stay: Mansion Tepotzotlan

6. Cuetzalan, Puebla

Distance from Mexico City: 185 miles (299 kilometers), 4 hours 27 minutes by car.

The breathtaking drive from Mexico City to Cuetzalan is one of the region’s most thrilling journeys and is ideal for a road trip!

Beyond the Zaragoza exit, you’ll find twisting pathways and hairpin twists that add to the sightseeing experience. Once you traverse the interesting pathways and take in the sights, you will be in the state of Puebla.

Cuetzalan, an indigenous town in Puebla, is a bit farther out than your usual weekend getaway location, but tourists interested in Mexico’s indigenous history and culture will find it well worth the extra travel time!

The town is well-known for showcasing its culinary achievements and customs, such as the Feria del Café y del Huipil , which takes place in early October and celebrates both coffee and indigenous blouses.

On the other hand, Cuetzalan stands out not just as a remote town on a map but also for its world-renowned voladores who perform in front of the Parroquia de San Francisco de Asís . They are known as flying dancers because they whirl around a tall pole while being strapped from their ankles. In fact, UNESCO officially designated their dance as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

If you enjoy trying the local cuisine within a city, you can buy numerous specialties at roadside stands, including fruit wines and smoked meats. In particular, xoco atoll is a fermented rice drink with a unique taste, while dulce de tejocote is a type of yellow hawthorn fruit in anise syrup.

Some of the most remarkable monuments that rise over Cuetzalan are the Gothic spire of the Parroquia de San Francisco , the French Gothic Santuario de Guadalupe , and the plaza’s freestanding clock tower. The Santuario de Guadalupe, in particular, has some extremely interesting ornamental rows of los jarritos – clay vases modeled on the Lourdes sanctuary.

7. Tula, Hidalgo

Distance from Mexico City : 53 miles (86km), 1 hour 22 minutes by car.

If you’re looking for a quick day trip as opposed to an overnight stay, Tula is a quick and easy trip from Mexico City. Tula, also called Tollan, was the ancient capital of the Toltecs in Mexico.

Located about an hour and a half drive from Mexico City in the state of Hidalgo, this area is famous for its archeological site, which is home to the ruins of an ancient city. The site was once a major center of trade and commerce but today, it’s a popular tourist destination.

If you’re interested in learning more about the history of Mexico, then Tula is a great place to visit.

The magnificent ancient complex includes a large pyramid, a palace complex, and a number of other buildings. The city was abandoned in the early 13th century, but it has been extensively excavated and studied since then.

The complex, believed to have been inspired by the Maya civilization in Yucatán, was initially occupied during the early 7th century and later decades by the militaristic Toltecs. They included aspects of the Mayas’ artistic talents.

They gave eagles and jaguars significant symbolic meaning, and findings also indicate human sacrifice activities to satisfy the gods.

A series of finely carved columns and monumental sculptures known as the Atlantes now stand erect on the platform of the temple pyramid, used to support the temple’s roof.

A small on-site museum displays ceramics, jewelry, metalwork and stone figures from ancient civilizations throughout Mexico. Your admission includes entry to the museum as well.

8. San Sebastian Bernal, Querétaro

Distance from Mexico City: 147 miles (236 kilometers), 2 hours 40 minutes by car.

San Sebastian Bernal is a small town located in the Mexican state of Querétaro. If you’re looking for a more off-the-beaten-path weekend getaway, a visit to Bernal is going to fit that bill.

Bernal is a beautiful location to unwind and forget about the rest of the world. The town’s central square is small yet attractive, with good eateries and excellent architecture. The area surrounding Bernal is known for its beautiful scenery and its many hiking trails.

When you’re not out hitting the trails, spend a few hours meandering through town enjoying the traditional Mexican restaurants and shops.

Bernal’s most notable feature, though, is the massive stone monolith that stands right in front of the village. The Pea de Bernal , at 1,421 feet (433 meters), is the world’s third-largest monolith, trailing only Spain’s Gibraltar Rock and Brazil’s Sugarloaf Mountain.

And of course, when there’s a monolith, there are going to be climbers who’ll want to climb it. If that sounds like you, you can go on an excursion to climb the rock. Otherwise, there are many other local activities to enjoy.

Where To Stay: Hotel Quinta Mirador Zacualli

9. Cuernavaca, Morelos

Distance from Mexico City: 54 miles (87 kilometers), 1 hour 20 minutes by car.

Cuernavaca, Morelos also goes by the name of the City of Eternal Spring, thanks to its year-round balmy weather. 

If you do make this city a priority, you should definitely make your way to the Palacio de Cortes , an ancient palace dating back to 1526. This two-story stone palace was built over the ruins of a Tlahuica Aztec tribute collection center that the Spanish destroyed during the conquest. Hernán Cortés turned it into his personal residence to demonstrate his rule over the local people.

The previous mansion now houses the Museo Regional Cuauhnáhuac , which has a mural by Diego Rivera on the upstairs balcony.

Then, head to the Templo de Santa Prisca y San Sebastian , an 18th-century church that’s simply stunning. Of course, you can’t visit Cuernavaca without taking a stroll through the Jardin Borda , one of the most beautiful gardens in all of Mexico.

The Museo Robert Brady , which displays the private art collection of American artist and collector Robert Brady, is well worth a visit. Brady resided in Cuernavaca for 24 years but traveled extensively, collecting paintings, sculptures, and fabrics from all around the world. All of them are on exhibit at his former home, among works by well-known Mexican painters.

Xochicalco , which translates to ‘in the home of flowers’ in Nahuatl, is a lovely side trip about 29 miles (40 kilometers) southwest of Cuernavaca. The ruins surrounding the city are well-preserved pyramids, ball courts, an observatory, and the Site Museum.

Trust us, there’s plenty to keep you busy in Cuernavaca!

Where To Stay: 

• Hotel Boutique La Casa Azul
• Las Casas B&B Boutique Hotel, Spa & Restaurant

10. Mineral De Chico

Distance from Mexico City: 77 miles (127 kilometers), 2 hours by car.

Mineral De Chico is a small and charming old mining town located in the Mexican state of Hidalgo. The town is home to a number of mines, which produce a variety of minerals including gold, silver, and copper.

Although it is not a particularly popular tourist destination, Mineral De Chico is definitely worth visiting. The town has a number of interesting historical and cultural sites, and the surrounding countryside is absolutely beautiful.

This village is among the newest pueblos mágicos, boasting a lot of allure for those looking to enjoy a weekend away for fresh air. For instance, you can visit Parque Nacional El Chico , a reserve established in 1898. 

The views are lovely, the air is crisp, and the mountains offer some of nature’s most spectacular views; plus, they are great if you’re an avid hiker who enjoys making your way up rock formations to beautiful waterfalls.

Many exciting backstreets lead from the main street, revealing the beauty of the surrounding valleys, such as Corona del Rosal . Another great spot is Capilla del Calvario , a maze of walkways that include a rustic 19th-century chapel on Calvario, uphill from the church.

Where To Stay: Hotel Bello Amanecer

11. Grutas De Cacahuamilpa National Park

Distance from Mexico City : 100 miles (160 kilometers), 2 hours, 19 minutes by car.

Grutas De Cacahuamilpa National Park is a must-visit if you’re interested in natural wonders that lie underground.

The Grutas de Cacahuamilpa Caverns are a globally-known phenomenon, taking the title as one of the world’s most extensive cave systems, together with a lesser network known as the Grutas of Carlos Pacheco, which are the main attractions in this magnificent park.

You can expect to see some of the most spectacular underground landscapes anywhere, including long tunnels carved out by underground rivers and a variety of fascinating dripstone formations extending through 16 chambers and reaching heights of 252 feet (77 meters) and widths of 262 feet (80 meters). 

Since their discovery in 1835, numerous tunnels deeper than 10 miles (16 kilometers) have been made to explore the caves’ depths. As a result, various guided tours are available, including rock climbing and rappelling opportunities. 

Visitors to the park can explore the caves, hike through the jungle, or take a dip in one of the many rivers and waterfalls.

• Hotel Santa Paula
• William Hotel de Diseño

12. Valle De Bravo

Distance from Mexico City: 86 miles (139 kilometers), 2 hours, 10 minutes by car.

Valle de Bravo is another quaint colonial town about two hours from Mexico City. Proclaimed a Pueblo Magico in 2005, there is indeed a lot of magic here!

The town is known for its cobblestone roads, colorful market, amazing hiking trails, and outdoor activities, as well as its beautiful lake, which is popular for swimming, fishing, and boating.

The surrounding mountains are perfect for hiking and there are many trails to explore. Valle de Bravo is also home to a number of waterfalls, which are popular tourist destinations as well.

For an easy 5.4-mile hike, opt for the Ruta El Plato hike in the Reserva Estatal Monte Alto. For an epic waterfall hike, check out the 4-mile Cascada Secreta de Avandaro hike .

In addition to its natural beauty, Valle de Bravo has a rich history dating back to the Aztec period.

Originally a Matlatzinca settlement, followed by Aztecs, Mexico’s Federal Commission on Electricity transformed it into an electricity hub, which generated electricity and provided a part of the water system that supplies Mexico City by the 20th century.

Although the Valle de Bravo lake is artificial, it displays a genuine, natural beauty that is hard to ignore. As such, Valle de Bravo is popular among many weekend travelers coming from Mexico City, particularly those who desire colorful country cabins, golf courses, hotels, and life on the lake.

The lake is often packed with people enjoying the water and having fun kayaking, water skiing, sailboating, speedboating, and going on catamaran tours. 

Within the town, visitors should start at Calle 5 de Mayo , the heart of the town. From there, do not miss the St. Mary’s Chapel , which is noted for its medieval architecture and Spanish style.

The archaeological museum, which has 300 objects from the 3,000 prehistoric sites located solely in the state of Mexico, is also a must-see.

• Mesón De Leyendas Breakfast & Downtown – affordable chic option great for couples and families
• Rodavento Boutique Hotel & Spa – perfect for a romantic little getaway in the middle of the forest!

13. Malinalco, Mexico

Distance from Mexico City: 62 miles (101 kilometers), 2 hours by car.

Less than two hours from southern Mexico City, the spiritual town of Malinalco is a great destination for tourists looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the heavily-populated capital.

If you’re itching for a bit of history and that “authentic Mexico” atmosphere, this is a great spot to visit.

The pre-Hispanic town of Malinalco is best known for its Aztec archaeological ruins, which are remarkably well-preserved and offer beautiful views over the valley. 

Some residents believe the remains, which were once the location of horrific rites, now have healing energies. In fact, it’s not unusual to find individuals meditating or experimenting with hallucinogenic mushrooms in the region!

The village also has an incredible 16 th century monastery called La Parroquia del Divino Salvador , lovely cobblestone lanes, and modest art galleries for souvenirs or browsing.

The charming village, surrounded by magnificent mountains and forests, is ideal for leisure, evoking a profound sensation that nothing has changed for hundreds of years.

After strolling through town, it’s time to sightsee. Undoubtedly, the main attraction in town is the Cuauhtinchan Archeological Ruins , which are very well preserved and definitely worth a visit. For more history, head to  Museo de Malinalco offers fascinating insights into the town’s history and culture.

Where To Stay: Hotel Amate del Rio or Quinta Ascensión Hotel (Adults Only)

14. Grutas Tolantongo

Distance from Mexico City : 125 miles (200 kilometers), 3 hours 45 minutes by car.

I’m thrilled to spill the beans on a place that’ll leave you utterly mesmerized—Grutas Tolantongo, a hidden paradise in the state of Hidalgo just a stone’s throw away from Mexico City.

Here’s what you can expect in this otherworldly oasis — a series of hot springs (turquoise blue water!) cascading down the side of a steep canyon, creating natural pools that overlook the breathtaking landscape. If the sound of that doesn’t make your jaw drop, I invite you to refer back to the photo!

Oh yeah, and the waters? They’re warm! Even the waterfalls! Spending a day here is like being welcomed into a spa day hosted by Mother Earth herself.

You can choose to soak in the hot springs pools or the much larger hot springs river, explore the Tolantongo caves, zipline, and even go hiking. Needless to say, this is a great excursion from Mexico City for all my adventure travelers!

If you’ve got a car, it makes sense to linger a bit longer and plan out your own weekend adventure.

However, if you’re limited on time, you can book an early-morning Tolantongo day trip from Mexico City to see the caves and hot springs. I recommend sticking to the “early morning” tours in order to beat the crowds — sadly, this place has gotten more Instagram famous as of late.

When you opt for a guided tour, all the logistics of what to see/how to get there will be taken care of for you.

Interested in pairing the Grutas Tolantongo with another destination from this list?

I’d recommend Santiago de Querétaro as it’s just a few hours to the west of Tolantongo. There’s even an overnight tour from Santiago de Querétaro: Grutas de Tolantongo Overnight Tour

We hope this post on the best weekend trips from Mexico City has inspired you to visit somewhere new. If you had a chance to visit any of these towns and villages, let us know how you liked it!

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