Here are the top 25 things to do in Mexico City for every first-time traveler.
Mexico City is known for its rich culture, colonial architecture, and delicious street tacos! With a European flare, Mexico City has become a popular tourist destination with many things to see, do, and explore.
After spending a month living in Mexico City, I consolidated the top 25 things to do in Mexico City during your first visit.
What To Know Before You Go
Language –Spanish is the official language and is spoken widely in Mexico; however, there are 68 Mexican indigenous languages throughout the whole country. In more touristy areas like Mexico City, you can find some people speaking English. However, it may be helpful to know some basic Spanish when getting around the city.
- Hello – Hola
- Goodbye- Adios/Hasta luego
- Thank you – Gracias
- Please- Por favor
- Excuse me- Disculpe/Con permiso/Perdóname
- I’m sorry- Lo siento
- Where is…- ¿Dónde está…:
- How much is it?-¿Cuánto cuesta?
- I would like- Me gustaría
- The bill please- La cuente, por favor
- Do you speak English?- ¿Hablas inglés?
Currency – Mexico’s currency is Pesos
1 USD= ~17.01 MXN
Do be aware that the symbol for pesos and US dollars are the same – $
Climate- Mexico City’s weather is temperate all year round. Throughout the year weather ranges from 63ºF to 80ºF rarely falling below 49ºF. However, the rainy season is during the summer months from May through October. The month with the most rain is September and the month with less rain is January.
Safety- Mexico City is a relatively safe city, especially around the touristy areas. However, I wouldn’t recommend walking by yourself at night especially if you are a female, it can be a bit dangerous. As always I advise you to take extra caution with your belongings as well as your surroundings, don’t go walking late at night in an area you are not very familiar with. I would also advise taking Ubers rather than taxis as Ubers are registered and overall safer and cheaper. One of the BEST things Mexico City has in terms of public transportation is an area for just women and children under 12. This is great when taking public transit as a female, you may feel safer by being surrounded by other women. You can find these sections in the metro and bus colored in pink, just follow the “Area Exclusiva Para Mujeres y Ninos” signs.
Daily Budget- I found Mexico City to have very similar prices as the US in terms of food and drinks. Going out to a nice dinner may very well be around the same price as going out to a nice place in a popular city in the US. Of course, if you opt in for street food that would leave you saving some $$$. However, that is not to say you can’t budget in Mexico City, I believe if you are conscious of your budget it is very easy to spend around 600 pesos (34.11 USD) including a big breakfast, public transit, an excursion, and dinner. On the other hand, if you want to go all out I suggest $1,000 (56.85 USD) pesos per day!
25 Top Things to Do in Mexico City
1. El Zócalo aka Centro Histórico
Centro Historico (Historic Center) is the main square in all of Mexico City holding lots of history and many things to experience such as artisan vendors, street food, and more. This main plaza is a popular meeting spot for both tourists and locals, it is often used to host concerts, festivals, and cultural events. For Mexico’s Independence, it is an incredible event where you can experience Mexico’s President saying “El Grito” followed by a spectacular fireworks show. El Zocalo has many things to see and do and I suggest starting your first day in Mexico City exploring this area!
*Do be aware of pickpocketing here!
2. Mexico City’s Metropolitan Cathedral
The plaza has several Spanish influences like the Spanish colonial cathedral built throughout the span of 250 years (1573-1830) including Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical architecture!! It is free to enter and if you look closely from the outside towards the bottom of the cathedral you can see it is uneven and that is due to the many earthquakes that occur in Mexico City but also the fact that the city is sinking. Yes sinking, most of Mexico City is sinking and has been for centuries now since the Spaniards built the city on top of a lake after they drained it. Today the city sinks about 20 inches per year and in some buildings like the cathedral it appears to be apparent.
3. Palacio de Bellas Artes
Known to be Mexico City’s cultural center, Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts Museum) houses Diego Rivera’s murals along with many exhibitions and theatrical exhibitions. It is a can’t miss museum! Free entry on Sundays and from Tuesday – Saturday tickets cost 75 pesos (~4.35 USD).
Pro Tip: Go to Sears cafe in front of Bellas Artes for a spectacular view of the building from above! Trust me on this one.
4. Casa De Los Azulejos (The House of Tiles)
A beautiful building covered in blue and white tiles, once home to the Counts of the Valley of Orizaba and their families. Today it is one of Mexico City’s most picturesque building including a full-service Sanborns restaurant where you can admire the architecture of the building from indoors! This is a 5-minute walk from the Bellas Artes metro stop and a 2-minute walk from the museum.
5. Palacio Postal (Postal Palace)
Now why would you think a postal office is worth visiting? Well, the magnificent architecture is surely worthwhile resembling more of a palace than a postal office! Though it is still an operating post office, on its first floor Palacio Postal has a small museum holding the history of Mexico’s mail service.
6. Xochimilco
One of Mexico City’s most popular tourist destinations is Xochimilco! The popular canals built by the Aztecs is a UNESCO World Heritage Site stretching over 100 square miles. Today you can appreciate Xochimilco by hopping aboard the colorful gondola-like boats for a bit of a booze cruise while food vendors and mariachis float along the canals to give you an unforgettable experience. Xochimilco is located 45 minutes to 1 hour south of Mexico City and it is possible to take an Uber there; however, I recommend booking a group tour since they provide transportation to and from Mexico City, saving you the hassle of looking for a boat to rent, and some even make a pit stop at the town of Coyoacan where the Frida Khalo museum is located! Check out the following tours to book.
Mexico City: Xochimilco, Coyoacan, Frida Kahlo & UNAM – this is the tour I did
Xochimilco Tours – Get Your Guide
Xochimilco and Mexican Fiesta – Airbnb Experience
7. Explore Coyoacan
This historical bohemian borough in Mexico City is known for its colonial-style architecture with many artisan markets, art galleries, colorful buildings (such as the Frida Kahlo Museum), and many food spots to choose from! Usually, there is an art festival where you can see local artist’s incredible artwork! You can easily spend a whole day here exploring the neighborhood by walking around the beautiful cobblestone city center.
Things to do in Coyoacan:
8. Museo de Frida Kahlo
The iconic museum is worth visiting and suggest booking your visit online and ahead of time as time slots do fill up fast! Entrance to the museums is 250 pesos (13.70 USD), 270 pesos on weekends (14.80 USD), 50 pesos for students (2.75 USD), and 25 pesos for children (1.37 USD). Highly recommend visiting the Frida Kahlo Museum!
9. Mercado De Coyoacán
Artisanal market where you can find all kinds of souvenirs from ceramics to bracelets to clothes!
10. Plaza Jardin Hidalgo
The main plaza is located in the heart of Coyoacan. This is a great place to sit, relax, and people-watch.
11. Jardin Centenario
Located across from Plaza Jardin Hidalgo is another park known for its famous fountain of coyotes, representing the name of the neighborhood Coyocan meaning “place of coyotes.”
12. San Juan Bautista Church
Located in the heart of Coyoacan, the church of San Juan Bautista is hard to miss and represents the colonial period. Step inside to admire its architecture!
13. Get coffee at El Jarocho
Known to be the best coffee spot in all of Coyoacan!
14. Eat some churros at…
Churreria General de la Republica for the best churros in town!
15. Teotihuacan – day trip
Teotihuacan is a preserved archaeological site where it once was Mexico’s most important and largest city of pre-Aztec where present-day you can see the 2 magnificent pyramids, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Pyramid of the Sun. These spectacular pyramids are the most popular day trips from Mexico City and there is a reason for that. Though it is only an hour away from the city center it is one of those day trips where you can book a tour to have transportation and a guided tour to get the most out of your trip. I also HIGHLY suggest doing a sunrise hot air balloon overlooking the pyramids!! It is an unbelievable experience and worth every penny.
Check out the following links for some guided (transportation-provided) tours.
https://www.getyourguide.com/teotihuacan-l17038/
Mexico: Full-Day Teotihuacan & Basilica Guadalupe Tour – the tour I did and highly recommend*
Teotihuacan VIP ⭐️ (exclusive access) – Airbnb Experience
Hot Air Balloon Flight over Teotihuacan, from Mexico City
16. Basílica De La Virgen De Guadalupe
Mexico’s most popular and well-known saint of all time is The Virgin of Guadalupe! I recommend booking a tour to learn more about the history of The Virgin of Guadalupe and why it is a significant representation of Mexican culture. There are 2 basilicas to visit, an old and a new basilica which is very apparent in their architecture. The old church was converted to a basilica by Pope Pius X in 1904. However, due to its sinking foundations a New Basilica was built right next to the Old Basilica. The two contrasting basilicas are very different in architecture but both hold the importance of The Virgin of Guadalupe. Today you can see the original image of the Virgin in the New Basilica.
17. Tolontongo – day trip
Probably the highlight and one of the best day trips I took throughout my whole stay in Mexico City! If you want a change of scenery and want to escape the city life for a day I recommend booking a day trip to Tolontongo! It is about a 4-hour drive from Mexico City to visit some of the hot springs Tolontongo has to offer! Not to mention swimming in a cave and a river! It is an exceptional trip and something that I HIGHLY recommend people to do when visiting Mexico City, truly a gem worth visiting and the photos don’t do it justice. This is the tour I booked with and highly suggest doing this one since it includes transportation, breakfast, a backpack with necessities, entrance to the hot springs, and snacks!
18. Spend a Day Exploring the Chapultepec Park
Chapultepec Park is one of the oldest and largest urban parks in Latin America, spanning 1,700 acres, more than double the size of Central Park! There are many things to do like exploring nine museums, visiting Mexico City’s Zoo, two lakes, a botanical garden, and admiring several monuments scattered throughout the park. The park is HUGE. There are many things to do, a day won’t be enough to see it all; therefore, I would be selective about what you want to explore.
19. Castillo de Chapultepec
Located on a hill in the Chapultepec Park, Castillo de Chapultepec is a grand palace, one you may see in Europe which was built by the Spaniards in 1785. It served various uses such as military academy, emperor and presidential residence, and now as the National Museum of History. The architecture along with the views from the castle are breathtaking and surely worth the walk up the hill to the castle. Entrance to the castle is 90 pesos (~5.12 USD) and free for Mexican citizens. I would plan to spend around 2 hours exploring the many rooms and floors the castle has to offer!
Neighborhoods to explore-
20. Wander through the streets of La Condesa
With streets lined by trees, parks, and many coffee shops and restaurants, La Condesa was one of my favorite neighborhoods and where my Airbnb was located. There are many parks to people watch and dog watch! I swear I saw more dogs than children both in La Condesa and Roma lol. I suggest walking around this area getting lost in its shady avenues, trying their many coffee shops, and checking out some of their boutiques. La Condesa is a hipster charming neighborhood with many food spots to choose from and a great bar scene to enjoy your evenings out on the town!
21. Explore Roma / Roma Norte
Roma is another neighborhood you can’t miss, with many trendy restaurants, coffee shops, and boutiques, Roma is a wonderful area to wander around, admire the architecture, and stumble upon the many al fresco restaurants to people-watch. Roma has a similar vibe to La Condesa, just a bit more upscale and known for its energetic nightlife for an unforgettable (or forgettable) night out!
22. Go Shopping in Polanco
The Beverly Hills of Mexico City, Polanco is one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the city with its luxe apartments, mansions, and upscale restaurants and shopping. Walk along Avenida Presidente Masaryk for some luxury shopping where you can find top designer stores and trendy upscale restaurants and bars. Make sure to snap a pic in front of the iconic “Mexico Mi Amor” sign located outside the Tane jewelry store.
23. Take a Free Walking Tour
I said it once and I’ll say it again, I HIGHLY recommend taking “free” walking tours! They are super informative and a great way to get accustomed to the city you are visiting. They are usually led by locals and have great tips and recommendations. Toward the end of the tour, you leave a generous tip depending on how much you think the tour was worth! They are great and pretty affordable and full of history! You can check out some free walking tours here.
24. Rides Bikes in Chapultepec Park On Sundays
One of the great things about Mexico City is that every Sunday between 8:00 am – 2:00 pm several streets in the city (including Paseo de la Reforma to see the iconic Angel of Independence monument) are blocked off from cars so that people can leisurely ride their bikes! This is a great way to start your Sunday morning and enjoy the avenues of Mexico City car-free!
25. Take a street food tour
You can’t come to Mexico City without trying some of their best Mexican street food found in almost every street corner! From street tacos to churros the streets of Mexico City have a variety of affordable food stands to indulge in! Check out these food tours –
Food, Wine & Nightlife tours in Mexico City
Restaurants/ bars/ nightlife
Brunch
–Lardo
–Mendl
–Maque
–Matisse
Cafes
–Cafecito Chiquito
–Cafebrería El Péndulo (bookstore coffee shop)
–Saint
–Terra Garat
The Mexican Starbucks, located just about in every corner.
– Quentin
– Kaie Café
Dessert
–Churrería el Moro
Dinner
–Botánico
–Contramar
–Taqueria Orinoco
–Taqueria Los Caramelos
–Campomar
–Cafe Toscano
Bars
–GinGin
–Handshake Speakeasy
–Tokyo Music Bar
Located in Japan Town
–OCHO
Final Thoughts
Having lived a month in Mexico City made me appreciate living like a local and a tourist all at once. There are so many things to do in Mexico City that it is impossible to have a dull moment in such a vibrant city. Mexico City is a great place for a weekend getaway or a long week trip to fully immerse yourself in the culture and all things Mexico City has to offer from nightlife to day trips! I highly suggest a visit to Mexico City if you are ever thinking of a destination in Mexico that isn’t a beach but more of a metropolitan atmosphere. Full of history, culture, and great food there are many things to do in Mexico City to get the most out of your trip!
I hope this list of the top 25 things to do in Mexico City helped you plan and make the most of your trip!