Travel guide · Mexico
Mexico City travel guide
Aztec ruins, world-class museums, street tacos and leafy Roma and Condesa
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Gobierno CDMX, CC0
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Quick answer
Mexico City sits at about 2,240 metres in a high valley ringed by volcanoes, built on the ruins of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan. Its historic centre around the Zócalo holds the Templo Mayor ruins, the cathedral and Diego Rivera's murals, while Chapultepec Park has the National Museum of Anthropology. Most visitors stay in Roma, Condesa or Polanco and get around by app-based rides, Metrobús and on foot. The food alone justifies the trip, from al pastor tacos and tlacoyos on street corners to some of Latin America's most celebrated restaurants. Plan 5 days for a first visit; the best months are March–April and October–November.
Key facts
- Country
- Mexico
- Best time to visit
- March–April and October–November
- Ideal stay
- 5 days
- Main airports
- MEX, NLU, TLC
- Mid-range daily budget
- $120–$220 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Tacos al pastor, National Museum of Anthropology, Frida Kahlo and Teotihuacan
Why visit Mexico City
- The National Museum of Anthropology, the Templo Mayor and nearby Teotihuacan make it the best place on earth to understand ancient Mexico.
- Street food is world-class and inexpensive: tacos al pastor, tlacoyos, tamales and quesadillas on almost every corner.
- Diego Rivera's murals, Frida Kahlo's Casa Azul and Luis Barragán's house put 20th-century Mexican art and architecture within reach.
- Roma and Condesa's tree-lined streets of Art Nouveau and Art Deco buildings are packed with cafés, mezcal bars and restaurants.
- Día de Muertos, lucha libre, mariachis in Plaza Garibaldi and Sunday trajinera rides at Xochimilco show the city's living traditions.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 20 things to do.
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Landmark · Centro Histórico
Zócalo
The Plaza de la Constitución, universally called the Zócalo, is one of the largest public squares in the world, laid out over the ceremonial centre of Tenochtitlan.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
Religious site · Centro Histórico
Metropolitan Cathedral
The largest cathedral in the Americas was built in stages between 1573 and 1813, mixing Renaissance, baroque and neoclassical styles; its gilded Altar of the Kings is the highlight.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Iconic
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Historic site · Centro Histórico
Templo Mayor
The ruins of the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan, the twin pyramid dedicated to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc, were uncovered beside the cathedral after electricity workers found the great Coyolxauhqui stone disc in 1978.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Palace · Centro Histórico
National Palace murals
The seat of the federal government on the east side of the Zócalo holds Diego Rivera's epic murals of Mexican history, painted between 1929 and 1951 around the main staircase and first-floor corridors, from the Aztec city through the conquest to the Revolution.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- History
- Free
- Iconic
Architecture · Centro Histórico
Palacio de Bellas Artes
The white-marble Palacio de Bellas Artes, finished in 1934 with an Art Nouveau exterior and an Art Deco interior, is Mexico's leading arts venue.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Architecture
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Museum · Chapultepec
National Museum of Anthropology
Mexico's greatest museum, opened in 1964 in Chapultepec Park, covers the civilisations of ancient Mexico in more than 20 halls around a courtyard sheltered by a giant umbrella-like canopy on a single column.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Iconic
- Rainy day
- Kids
Where to stay
Centro Histórico is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$ · Best for first-timers, culture and budget
Centro Histórico
The Zócalo, Aztec ruins, baroque churches and colonial palaces
$$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, solo travellers and couples
Roma Norte
Art Nouveau mansions, acclaimed restaurants, cafés and mezcal bars
$$$ · Best for couples, food lovers, first-timers and families
Condesa
Art Deco apartments, Parque México and pavement cafés
$$$$ · Best for luxury, shopping, families and food lovers
Polanco
Designer stores on Masaryk, fine dining and big museums by Chapultepec
What to eat
- Tacos al pastor — Thin slices of chilli-marinated pork carved from a vertical spit (trompo), a method brought by Lebanese immigrants, served on small corn tortillas with pineapple, onion, coriander and salsa.
- Chilaquiles — Fried tortilla pieces simmered in red or green salsa and topped with cream, cheese and onion, often with chicken or a fried egg; the classic Mexico City breakfast.
- Tamales and atole — Steamed corn-dough parcels filled with salsa verde chicken, pork in red chilli or rajas with cheese, eaten with a warm corn drink (atole); the 'guajolota' puts a tamal inside a bread roll.
- Tlacoyos — Oval cakes of blue-corn masa stuffed with beans, fava beans or cheese, griddled and topped with nopales (cactus), salsa and fresh cheese.
- Quesadillas — Folded masa turnovers, fried or griddled, filled with squash blossom, huitlacoche (corn fungus), mushrooms or meat; in Mexico City cheese is not automatically included, so ask for 'con queso'.
- Mole — Complex sauces of chillies, spices, seeds and sometimes chocolate, served over chicken or turkey; mole poblano is the best known, but the city's restaurants serve regional varieties from across Mexico.
When to go
The best times to visit Mexico City are March–April and October–November, when days are warm and dry and the city is at its most colourful, with jacaranda blossom in spring and Día de Muertos in early November. December to February is also dry and sunny but cold at night. The rainy season from June to September brings afternoon storms, though mornings are usually fine.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Warm and dry, with purple jacarandas in bloom and Holy Week processions; the warmest months, with some dry-season haze. |
| Summer | June–August | The rainy season: sunny mornings, heavy afternoon storms and green parks, with fewer visitors and lower prices. |
| Autumn | September–November | Independence celebrations in September, rains easing in October and the Day of the Dead in early November, the busiest time of the year. |
| Winter | December–February | Dry, sunny days and cold nights, with Guadalupe pilgrimages, Christmas posadas and clear views of the volcanoes on some mornings. |
Getting there and around
Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX) is only about 5 km east of the Centro, 20–45 minutes by authorised taxi (buy a ticket at the official booths inside) or ride-hailing, depending on traffic; Metrobús Line 4 and Metro Line 5 also serve the airport. Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU), about 45 km north, can take 1–1.5 hours by road.
Mexico City is vast, so plan days by area. Within Roma, Condesa, Coyoacán and the Centro walking is easy; for longer trips, app-based rides are affordable and convenient, and the Metro and Metrobús are fast and very cheap but crowded at rush hour.
Plan your days
Three days covers the Centro Histórico, the Anthropology Museum and Chapultepec, Coyoacán and the Casa Azul, and a day trip to Teotihuacan. Five days adds Xochimilco, Roma and Condesa's food scene, lucha libre and Polanco's museums; a week leaves room for Puebla or Taxco.
Practical information
- Currency
- MXN
- Language
- Spanish
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 127 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Don't drink tap water; use bottled or purified water, which restaurants also use for ice.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Tipping
- Tip 10–15% in restaurants, often by telling the server the amount to add when paying by card; tip a few pesos to supermarket baggers and petrol-station attendants, and to musicians you request songs from.
The main visitor areas such as Roma, Condesa, Polanco, Coyoacán and the Centro by day are generally comfortable, but pickpocketing is common on the Metro and in crowded markets. Use app-based rides or authorised taxi ranks rather than hailing taxis on the street. The city has an earthquake early-warning system: if the sirens sound, follow locals to open space.
Flights to Mexico City
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Mexico City?
Three days covers the Centro Histórico, the Anthropology Museum and Chapultepec, Coyoacán and the Casa Azul, and a day trip to Teotihuacan. Five days adds Xochimilco, Roma and Condesa's food scene, lucha libre and Polanco's museums; a week leaves room for Puebla or Taxco. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Mexico City?
The best times to visit Mexico City are March–April and October–November, when days are warm and dry and the city is at its most colourful, with jacaranda blossom in spring and Día de Muertos in early November. December to February is also dry and sunny but cold at night. The rainy season from June to September brings afternoon storms, though mornings are usually fine.
+What is Mexico City known for?
Tacos al pastor, National Museum of Anthropology, Frida Kahlo, Teotihuacan, Day of the Dead, Lucha libre and Murals. The National Museum of Anthropology, the Templo Mayor and nearby Teotihuacan make it the best place on earth to understand ancient Mexico.
+Is Mexico City expensive?
Mexico City is affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $120–$220 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Mexico City?
No. Traffic is heavy, parking is difficult and driving restrictions apply on some days. App-based rides, the Metro and Metrobús are far easier; hire a car only for longer trips outside the city.