1) Explore the Sights - Many of the main sights of Mexico City are located in the Historic Center within a short walk of one another, including Constitution Plaza, Palacio de Bellas Artes, Palacio Postal, House of Tiles, along with the Perfume Museum, Monument to the Revolution and Diego Rivera Mural Museum. Many of the popular historic restaurants & bars are also in this area. A customizable private tour can also be arranged to have a private guide show you around and tell you about the sights of interest.

 

A great way to experience the Constitution Plaza is to go during the raising or lowering of the flag that occurs at 8am and sunset (usually 6pm), respectively completed with a ceremony by soldiers. The ceremony can be viewed on the ground or on one of the nearby terrace restaurants on the west side opposite the National Palace. Another activity to book while in this area is the renowned Ballet Folklorico de Mexico that performs in the Palacio de Bellas Artes on Wednesdays & Sundays and other places other days. 

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The other main area of CDMX to explore is the Chapultepec Park that's more than twice the size of Central Park in NYC (almost 1,700 acres or 700 hectares). The park contains most of the city's museums, like the Chapultepec Castle, which houses the National History Museum, and popular National Anthropology Museum, Contemporary Art Museum, and Modern Art Museum, botanical garden and zoo, all within a short walk of one another.

 

There's also a lake with paddle boats and lots of stands selling food & souvenirs in the park. The Chapultepec Castle is a special sight to see with views overlooking the city, but is a good 10+ minute walk up on a steady incline to reach. As of February 2025, the museums I saw were $100 pesos = ~$5 USD to enter and typically open starting at 9 or 10 am until 5 or 6 pm, but will limit entrance 30-90 min prior to closing and are closed on Mondays. 

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Another cool place to tour near the park is Casa Gilardi.  Casa Gilardi was built in 1975-77 by minimalist Mexican architect Luis Barragan only a few blocks away from his former home & studio now museum Casa Estudio Luis Barragán.  It is architecturally significant and a unique home to experience.  It still serves as a private residence with tours hosted by the owner's son, who grew up in the home. There are limited reservations available in advance for a $ 600 pesos entrance fee paid there in cash. 

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2) Enjoy the Food Markets & Mexican Cuisine - A visit to a food market in Mexico City is a must and there are plenty to choose from!  One of the most popular is the Mercado de San Juan located near the Historic Center. There's even a Sweets Market! Some of the most popular food & drink options, include: Café De Tacuba, La Original Birria Don Chuy, Finca Don Porfirio for coffee overlooking the plaza, Pastelería Ideal for baked goods, Churrería El Moro Centro for churros, and Cantina "Tio Pepe" for drinks, all  located within a short distance of one another in the Historic Center. Mexico City also has the largest revolving restaurant in the world and the first Michelin star taco stand - El Califa de León to check out!

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3) Experience a Trajinera Boat Ride in Xochimilco - Going on a colorful trajinera boat ride in the World Heritage Site of Xochimilco was one of the experiences I was most looking forward to in visiting Mexico City.  It can be done on your own or by pre-arranging a ride that includes food & drinks like this one. Jagsetter provides a good summary for a first time visitor here. Xochimilco is located about an hour drive SE of the city and accessible both ways by Uber. Private boats can be rented for about $500 pesos = ~$25 USD per hour for a minimum of 2 hours, plus tip. 

 

The Frida Kahlo Museum in the picturesque Coyoacán neighborhood is on the way to Xochimilco to visit there before or after. Tickets to the Frida Kahlo Museum can be purchased in advance on their website here for a set time for about $15 USD as of January 2025. A lot of tours will include both a visit to the Coyoacán neighborhood, including the Frida Kahlo Museum, and trajinera boat ride in Xochimilco like this group trip and this private trip, including transportation. There's also an artist market in the park across from the Coyoacan Market on Saturdays (maybe Sundays too?) that's worth checking out for local art and historic Cafe El Jarocho coffee shop nearby.  

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4) Watch a Lucha Libre Show - Watching a Lucha Libre traditional Mexican wrestling show is often recommended as a must while in Mexico City. Inside the Upgrade does a nice job explaining the Lucha Libre Show as a first time visitor. Shows take place in the Arena Mexico on Tues, Fri, Sun (16,500 capacity) and Arena Coliseo on Sat (5,550 capacity). Tickets can be purchased directly through Ticketmaster or by booking a group tour that also includes food & drinks and a wrestler mask, like this top rated experience or this one that's a great deal specifically for Saturdays. 

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5) Visit the Teotihuacan Pyramids - Built between the 1st and 7th centuries AD, Teotihuacán was one of the first cities in the Americas and one of the largest in the world at its peak. The Aztec name means "the place where gods were created" and is deemed a sacred place of exceptional value, although it was founded well before the Aztecs discovered it.  A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the pyramids are located about a one hour drive NE from the city and can be reached by public bus or Uber.

 

The main structures include the Temple of Quetzalcoatl and the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon built based on geometric and symbolic principles. Visiting the Teotihuacan pyramids can be done on your own or with a prearranged tour like this top rated one. Having a guide will provide more insights into the history & meaning of the area. Another popular activity is taking a hot air balloon ride early in the morning over the pyramids followed by breakfast in a cave and a tour of the pyramids like the one here. The nearby cave restaurant  - La Gruta is across the street from Entrance #5 for a meal before or after visiting the pyramids.  It's a nicer restaurant on the pricer side, but worth it to experience dining in the cool cave surroundings. 

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6) Take a Day Trip to Neighboring Cities - While there's a lot to see in Mexico City, there's also a lot to see outside of the city on day trips. I used the time in Mexico City to visit popular neighboring cities of Oaxaca and San Miguel de Allende. Oaxaca is a one hour flight from MEX and San Miguel de Allende is about a 4 hour drive. Both city centers are similar in size and easy to explore on foot. Both colorful & vibrant with notable churches, great markets and restaurants & shops galore. Oaxaca had a more energetic & cool vibe to it and San Miguel de Allende was more calm & peaceful. Both worth experiencing. 

 

Once in Oaxaca, there are shared taxis from the airport to the center for $6 USD. Oaxaca is known for its mole (spicy chocolate sauce) and mezcal. I enjoyed learning about & tasting different types of mezcal at the Cultural Center of Mezcal and mole at El Tipico. There's also a Mezcal & Mole Oaxaca experience in town. I also really enjoyed having the beautiful tomato salad at Levadura de Olla Restaurante and grilled beef in the Mercado Benito Juárez. There are several cool bars in town and great markets & shops for souvenirs. 

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In San Miguel de Allende, the star of the show is the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel church made out of pink marble, which I highly recommend viewing from the terrace of Atrio Restaurant overlooking the church with great food. The Artisan Market was another highlight for great souvenirs, especially of the corazon (heart). I visited San Miguel de Allende on this full day, small group tour that included a 90 min guided tour followed by 3 hours of free time. 

 

My last and favorite day trip was to explore the hot spring waters of Tolantongo, a 3.5 hour drive north of Mexico City.  I discovered Tolantongo thanks to Instagram and am so glad I did!  Its hot spring pools may be the picturesque star of the show, but its waterfalls & caves were the true highlight! I took this full day, small group tour from Mexico City that was impeccably planned to cover everything needed (towels, headlamp, water bottle, soap & shampoo, waterproof phone case, water shoes, snacks, etc.).  I highly recommend experiencing Tolantongo through this guided tour that made the whole day easy & memorable. ​​

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It's worth noting the roads in & around Mexico City are very bumpy and can be a very rough drive, especially in a van, that may not be for everyone.  Sitting towards the front of vehicle may alleviate some of the bumpiness.