Mexico City Travel Guide

Mexico City is one of the largest and most culturally rich cities in the world. Built on the ruins of the ancient Aztec capital of Tenochtitlán, today it blends colonial architecture, world-class museums, vibrant street food culture, and modern neighbourhoods packed with galleries, restaurants, and nightlife. The city is also a perfect gateway to exploring central Mexico, with historic towns, archaeological sites, and natural landscapes easily accessible on day trips.

A Mexico City trip also places you close to some of the most important pre-Hispanic sites in central Mexico, including the monumental pyramids of Teotihuacán and the principal Toltec center at Tula.

Mexico City is best explored through a balance of historic landmarks, vibrant neighborhoods, and unforgettable food experiences. 

Our local experts in Mexico recommend focusing on areas and activities that match your travel style, helping you experience both the city’s cultural highlights and its authentic local atmosphere.

Where is Mexico City?

Mexico City sits in the Valley of Mexico, surrounded by mountains and volcanoes at an altitude of over 2,200 meters. Located in the central part of the country, it serves as Mexico’s main cultural, political, and transportation hub.

The city connects easily to other major destinations such as Oaxaca, Puebla, and Guadalajara, making it a natural starting point for many Mexico itineraries.

How to get around Mexico City

Mexico City is vast, but public transport and ride services make it manageable.

• Metro: The metro system is cheap, extensive, and one of the fastest ways to cross the city, with multiple lines connecting major neighborhoods and transport hubs. Stations are clearly marked and easy to navigate, even for first-time visitors. Trains can become crowded during morning and evening rush hours, so traveling outside peak times generally provides a more comfortable experience for visitors.
• Ride-hailing and taxis: Ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Cabify are widely used and considered reliable throughout the city. They provide door-to-door convenience, which is particularly helpful when traveling at night or reaching neighborhoods not directly served by metro lines. Fares are generally affordable compared to many major global cities, making them a popular choice for travelers prioritizing comfort and flexibility.
• Walking and cycling: Neighborhoods such as Roma, Condesa, Polanco, and Centro Histórico are highly walkable, with tree-lined streets, parks, cafes, and cultural landmarks located close together. Mexico City also offers public bike-sharing systems and dedicated cycle lanes in several districts. On Sundays, major roads close to cars as part of the city’s Ciclovía program, creating a safe and relaxed environment for exploring by bike.

How Javier would plan a trip  

Our Mexico local travel experts usually design Mexico City itineraries to balance history, culture, and neighbourhood exploration while allowing time to adjust to the city’s altitude. According to Javier, you would start with the historic center to understand the city’s roots before gradually exploring neighbourhoods like Roma, Condesa and Coyoacán, where travellers experience Mexico City’s modern cultural scene and local lifestyle. 

He also often suggests building in slower-paced activities early in the trip, giving travellers time to acclimatise while still experiencing the city’s highlights comfortably.
 

How you would visit Mexico City is up to you, of course. Mexico City trips work best when travelers balance major landmarks with neighborhood exploration and food experiences.

If you need further advice, compare more personalized Mexico trips from our Mexico experts.

Where to stay in Mexico City

Accommodation in Mexico City ranges from budget hostels to some of the swankiest hotels in the country. Book ahead, as the best-value places can fill up quickly. Most places have 24hr reception desks and are geared for late arrivals and early departures. 

According to Javier:

• Centro Histórico: Best for first-time visitors wanting easy access to historic landmarks, museums, and traditional markets. Staying here places travelers close to major attractions such as the Zócalo, Metropolitan Cathedral, and Templo Mayor. The area offers a wide range of accommodation, from boutique hotels to restored historic buildings, while providing an immersive introduction to Mexico City’s colonial and cultural heritage.
• Roma and Condesa: Popular for boutique hotels, restaurants, and nightlife, Roma and Condesa are known for their creative atmosphere, leafy streets, and vibrant dining scene. These neighboring districts are ideal for travelers who enjoy exploring cafes, galleries, and parks on foot. The relaxed yet lively character of the area makes it particularly popular with couples and younger travelers looking to experience Mexico City’s modern cultural side.
• Polanco: An upscale area known for luxury hotels, fine dining, and shopping, Polanco offers a refined base for travelers seeking comfort and convenience. The neighborhood is home to high-end restaurants, designer boutiques, and cultural highlights such as the Soumaya Museum. Polanco also provides easy access to Chapultepec Park, combining green space, museums, and elegant accommodation options.
• Coyoacán: A charming district with colonial streets, colorful plazas, and a strong artistic heritage, Coyoacán offers a slower pace compared to central Mexico City. The neighborhood is renowned for the Frida Kahlo Museum, artisan markets, and relaxed cafes. It appeals to travelers wanting a more local and traditional atmosphere while still enjoying easy access to cultural attractions and historical sites.

What to do in Mexico City

Mexico’s high-energy capital might not have the quaint charm of the country’s smaller towns, but it makes up for it with sheer dynamism. Not sure how long to stay in Mexico City? A few days let you hit the highlights, but a week gives you time to dive deeper into its museums, murals, and markets. Beyond the bustling colonial core, you’ll find upscale districts and leafy neighborhoods worth exploring.

Here are some of the best places to visit in Mexico City.

#1 The Zócalo and around

The heart of Mexico City is the Zócalo, built by the Spanish right over the devastated ceremonial centre of the Aztec city of Tenochtitlán. Extraordinary uncovered ruins provide the Zócalo’s most compelling attraction, chief of which is the Templo Mayor. There’s also a wealth of great colonial buildings, among them the huge cathedral and the Palacio Nacional with its striking Diego Rivera murals. West of the Zócalo the centro histórico stretches through the main commercial district past the Museo Nacional de Arte to the sky-scraping Torre Latinoamericana and the Palacio de Bellas Artes with its gorgeous Art Deco interior.

#2 Around the Alameda

Originally an Aztec market and later the site where the Inquisition burned its victims at the stake, the formal Alameda parkland you see now dates from the nineteenth century. Around the Alameda is a clutch of museums, including Museo de Tequila y Mezcal, which tells the story of Mexico’s best-known liquors, and the Museo Mural Diego Rivera, with the artist’s famed Sueño de una Tarde Dominical en la Alameda.

#3 Zona Rosa

The Monumento a la Revolución heralds the more upmarket central suburbs, chiefly the Zona Rosa. You’ll know you’re there as the streets are all named after famous cities. Packed into this tiny area are hundreds of bars, restaurants, hotels and shops, all teeming with a vast number of tourists and a cross-section of Mexico City’s aspiring middle classes. Mexico City’s gay village can be found around the northern end of Amberes.

#4 Roma and Condesa

South of the Zona Rosa lie the leafy residential districts of Roma and Condesa. Both suburbs were developed in the 1930s and 1940s, but as the city expanded they became unfashionable and run-down. That all changed in the 1990s when artists and the bohemian fringe were drawn here by low rents, decent housing and proximity to the city centre. Small-time galleries sprang up and the first of the bars and cafés opened. Condesa, in particular, is now one of the best areas for good eating in the city, brimming with pavement cafés and bistro-style restaurants.

When to visit, according to our travel experts

Mexico City enjoys mild temperatures year-round due to its altitude. Summers tend to bring afternoon rain showers, while winter is generally dry and sunny. Temperatures rarely reach extreme highs or lows, making the city comfortable to visit in most seasons. 

According to our travel experts, these are the best times to visit the city:

If you want to know more about the weather, visit our page about the best time to visit Mexico.

Where to eat in Mexico City

There are reasonably priced restaurants, cafés, taquerías and juice stands on every block. The choice of where to eat in Mexico City ranges from traditional coffee houses to on-the-go lunch counters, taking in expensive international and rock-bottom Mexican cooking along the way. 

Food stalls can be found in markets throughout the city; Merced is the biggest, but not a terribly pleasant place to eat. At the back of Plaza Garibaldi, there’s a whole market hall given over to nothing but food stands, each vociferously competing with its neighbors.

• Roma and Condesa: Roma and Condesa are among Mexico City’s most popular dining areas, known for their creative restaurants, stylish cafés, and vibrant street food scene. The neighbourhoods offer everything from modern Mexican cuisine to international fusion dishes, with lively terraces and parks creating a relaxed atmosphere for long lunches and evening dining.
• Centro Histórico: The historic heart of the city is one of the best places to experience traditional Mexican food. Here, you’ll find classic restaurants serving regional specialities, busy markets packed with food stalls, and historic cafés surrounded by colonial architecture and cultural landmarks.
• Polanco: Polanco is Mexico City’s upscale dining district, home to some of the country’s most celebrated fine-dining restaurants and gourmet experiences. The neighbourhood offers elegant restaurants, international cuisine, and high-end Mexican gastronomy, making it ideal for travellers looking for refined culinary experiences.

Trips and tours to Mexico City

Mexico City is often the starting point for many personalized Mexico trips, combining world-class museums, historic landmarks, vibrant neighborhoods, and easy access to some of the country’s most iconic cultural and natural destinations.

 According to Javier, our local expert, travelers often choose Mexico City as a base to combine the country’s cultural capital with archaeological sites, colonial towns, and coastal landscapes. He recommends balancing archaeological exploration with relaxation to create a varied and rewarding itinerary.