2 days in Mexico City

Day by day

1. Day 1: Zócalo and Metropolitan Cathedral

   Zócalo, Metropolitan Cathedral, Templo Mayor and National Palace murals, then Lucha libre at Arena México in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Zócalo

      It is framed by the Metropolitan Cathedral and the National Palace, a giant national flag flies in the middle, and it hosts concerts, protests and national celebrations.

   2. Late morning

      Metropolitan Cathedral

      The building has sunk unevenly into the soft former lakebed, and a plumb line hanging inside shows how far it leans.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Tacos al pastor

      Taquerías across the city, from long-established El Huequito in the Centro to late-night stands in Roma and Condesa; look for a busy trompo.

   4. Afternoon

      Templo Mayor

      A walkway crosses the layered temple foundations, and the site museum holds the Tlaltecuhtli monolith, the largest Aztec sculpture yet found.

   5. Late afternoon

      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.

   6. Evening

      Lucha libre at Arena México

      Buy a mask from the stalls outside, and use an app-based ride to and from the arena, which is in a rough neighbourhood at night.

2. Day 2: Palacio de Bellas Artes and Plaza Garibaldi

   Palacio de Bellas Artes, Plaza Garibaldi, Torre Latinoamericana and Mercado de San Juan, then Roma Norte in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Palacio de Bellas Artes

      Its upper floors hold murals by Rivera, Orozco, Siqueiros and Tamayo, including Rivera's Man, Controller of the Universe, and the theatre has a Tiffany glass curtain showing the volcanoes Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl.

   2. Late morning

      Plaza Garibaldi

      The Museo del Tequila y el Mezcal and the Salón Tenampa cantina, open since 1925, are on the square.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Chilaquiles

      Cafés, fondas and market stalls across the city; Roma and Condesa cafés serve elaborate versions.

   4. Afternoon

      Torre Latinoamericana

      The observation deck at the top looks over Bellas Artes, the Alameda and the seemingly endless city, and on clear days to the volcanoes.

   5. Late afternoon

      Mercado de San Juan

      Several stalls let you taste insect tacos, cheeses and cured meats on the spot.

   6. Evening

      Roma Norte

      Cocktail bars, mezcalerías and small clubs around Álvaro Obregón and Colima streets.

Before you go

• Palacio de Bellas Artes: Book performances of the Ballet Folklórico de México in the main theatre in advance through the official box office.
• Lucha libre at Arena México: Buy tickets at the arena box office or through official sellers; a guided outing is an easy option for first-timers.

If it rains

• Swap in National Museum of Anthropology (Chapultepec): Head straight to the Mexica (Aztec) hall at the back of the ground floor before groups arrive, and allow at least half a day.
• Swap in Museo Soumaya (Polanco): Cross the plaza to Museo Jumex for contemporary art afterwards.
• Swap in Biblioteca Vasconcelos (Buenavista): Climb to the upper walkways for the best view along the hanging stacks.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 11–13 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11 hours in December to 13.3 hours in June.

Getting between stops: Metro. The Metro's colour-coded lines reach the Centro, Chapultepec, Coyoacán and the bus terminals for a very low flat fare, but carriages are packed at rush hour.

More or fewer days

• One day in Mexico City
• 3 days in Mexico City
• 4 days in Mexico City
• 5 days in Mexico City
• 7 days in Mexico City

Questions travellers ask