Mexico City
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Things to do in Mexico City

Things to do in  Mexico City

Welcome to Mexico City

Culturally and culinarily rich, Mexico City is a vibrant Latin American metropolis which boasts hundreds of museums and several tree-lined neighborhoods perfect for exploring on foot. By day, enjoy walking tours of the Historic Center’s colonial buildings and Mexica ruins; artsy explorations through cobblestoned Coyoacán (one-time home to artist Frida Kahlo); and trajinera boat rides down the canals of Xochimilco. There are plenty of things to do after hours too—from late-night lucha libre spectaculars to barhopping in La Roma and after-hours taco tours of the city’s best street food stalls.

Top 15 attractions in Mexico City

Frida Kahlo Museum (Museo Frida Kahlo)

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Known as the Blue House (La Casa Azul) for its bold blue façade, the Frida Kahlo Museum (Museo Frida Kahlo) was the birthplace and childhood home of the well-known Mexican artist. Inside, the fascinating collection of personal items, furnishings, sketches, and paintings offer insight into both the life and art of Frida Kahlo.More

Teotihuacan

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Known as the City of the Gods, Teotihuacán was the metropolis of a mysterious Mesoamerican civilization that reached its zenith around AD 100. Once the largest city in the region but abandoned centuries before the arrival of the Aztecs, Teotihuacán boasts towering pyramids and stone temples with detailed statues and intricate murals.More

Xochimilco

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With its brightly paintedtrajineras (flat-bottomed boats), traditionalchinampas (floating gardens), and network of flower-perfumed canals, Xochimilco—the “Flower Garden”—is the kind of place that will have you reaching for your camera at every turn.More

Coyoacán

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Coyoacán, one of Mexico City’s oldest districts, is alive with color and culture. Centered around twin plazas perfect for people watching—Plaza Hidalgo and Jardín Centenario—Coyoacán is characterized by museums, quaint cobblestone streets, and roadside churro vendors.More

Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe)

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Among the most visited Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world, the Shrine of Guadalupe atop Tepeyac Hill in Mexico City honors the legendary 16th-century appearance of the Virgin Mary to Juan Diego, a local peasant. The shrine, also known as the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Basilica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe), is devoted to the patron saint of Mexico.More

National Museum of Anthropology (Museo Nacional de Antropología)

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Considered one of the world’s most comprehensive natural history museums, the National Museum of Anthropology (Museo Nacional de Antropología) is Mexico City’s most visited museum. Its collection includes notable historical items such as the Aztec Stone of the Sun, the giant carved heads of the Olmec people, and the Aztec Xochipilli statue.More

Palace of Fine Arts (Palacio de Bellas Artes)

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As Mexico City’s major cultural center, the Palace of Fine Arts hosts art exhibitions and a range of live events, including music, dance, theater, and opera. The building is a mix of art nouveau, art deco, and baroque architectural styles referred to as Porfiriano, after Mexican President Porfirio Diaz who commissioned the project.More

Plaza de la Constitución (Zocalo)

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Mexico City’s Plaza de la Constitución, better known as the Zocalo, is the cultural and historic heart of the city. This large open-air square in the Centro Historico is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the city's top attractions, including Metropolitan Cathedral, National Palace, and Great Temple archaeological site and museum.More

Centro Historico

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Built on the site of the ancient Aztec capital of Tenochtitlán, the Centro Histórico is both the historical heart and the modern epicenter of Mexico City. Centered on the grand Zócalo—Plaza de la Constitución—the sprawling district is preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is full of historic monuments, museums, parks, and hotels.More

Chapultepec Castle (Castillo de Chapultepec)

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The only palace on the continent, Chapultepec Castle sits more than 7,000 feet (2,133 meters) above sea level in Mexico City’s Chapultepec Park. It has housed royalty, served as a military academy, and was even an observatory. In 1996, the castle was transformed into Capulet Mansion for the movieWilliam Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.More

Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana)

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Built on Aztec temple ruins, no building better exemplifies the history of Mexico City than the Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana). The vast stone edifice blends architectural styles and building innovations across four centuries. Highlights include the gilded Altar of Forgiveness and the painted canvases lining the sacristy.More

National Palace (Palacio Nacional)

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The National Palace (Palacio Nacional) has served as the seat of the Mexican federal government since the age of the Aztecs. Although it’s a working building with many offices that are off limits to visitors, there’s still plenty to explore and admire, including Diego Rivera’s famous panoramic mural, The History of Mexico.More

Museo del Templo Mayor (Templo Mayor Museum)

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What remains of the Aztecs’ Great Temple (Templo Mayor) sits right in the middle of Mexico City, but many tourists miss it. In 1978, a massive, 8-ton (7,000-kilogram) stone depicting Coyolxauhqui (the Aztec goddess of the moon) was unearthed, marking the location of the temple, a gathering place sacred for the Aztecs during the 1300s and 1400s.More

Anahuacalli Museum (Museo Anahuacalli)

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Architecture, art, and pre-Hispanic culture combine at the pyramid-shaped Anahuacalli Museum, conceptualized by Mexican artist Diego Rivera and Juan O’Gorman and built from black volcanic rock. Opened in 1964, this singular museum houses Rivera’s collection of about 2,000 pre-Hispanic artifacts, murals, mosaics, and more.More

Chapultepec Park (Bosque de Chapultepec)

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Chapultepec Park, named for the Aztec word chapoltepec (at the grasshopper’s hill), is one of the world's largest city parks. The green space spans 1,695 acres (686 hectares) and is dissected by walking paths connecting quiet ponds, monumental buildings, and museums, including the Museum of Anthropology and the Rufino Tamayo Museum.More

Trip ideas

Ways to Experience Mexican Culture in Mexico City

Ways to Experience Mexican Culture in Mexico City

Top activities in Mexico City

Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Ride with Optional Bike or Walking Tour
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Private Tour: Xochimilco, Coyoacan and Frida Kahlo Museum in Mexico City
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Teotihuacan Private Tour from Mexico City
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Teotihuacan Early Morning Tour from Mexico City
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Private City Tour in Frida Kahlo, Coyoacan, and Xochimilco
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All about Mexico City

When to visit

After the summer rainy season (which usually runs from late-May to September), the drier, warmer days of November are easily the best time to visit Mexico City. Not only does the start of the month see city-wide Day of the Dead festivities, it’s also when the Corona Capital music festival comes to town. Alternatively, spring—with its colorful jacaranda blooms and quiet Easter week—is just as pleasant for on foot exploration.

Getting around

While you can explore most of Mexico City’s central neighborhoods on foot, the metro is the most intuitive way for visitors to explore the sprawling capital. Color-coded and easy-to-access with a rechargeable metro card, navigating the Mexico City Metro shouldn’t require too much of a learning curve. However, it’s worth avoiding the morning and evening rush hours (6am to 9am; 5pm to 9pm), when basically every line is overcrowded and unpleasant—opt for a ride share instead but be prepared to hit traffic.

Traveler tips

Some of the best views over downtown Mexico City, including the Palace of Fine Arts (Palacio de Bellas Artes), can be had from the Miralto bar on the 41st floor of the Latin American Tower (Torre Latinoamericana). Skip the organized viewings from the 44th floor observation deck and grab a sunset cocktail and window seat in Miralto instead. Prefer coffee? Visit the Don Porfirio café in the Sears building opposite Bellas Artes for (lower but just as striking) vistas.

A local’s pocket guide to Mexico City

Luis Solórzano

Luis spent the first 25 years of his life in his native Mexico City. He now lives in London and loves exploring the world, frequently playing tourist in his own country of origin.

The first thing you should do in Mexico City is...

avoid public transport and use Uber instead. It’s safer, pretty cheap and, unless you get stuck in a traffic jam, you’ll get where you need to be much faster.

A perfect Saturday in Mexico City...

starts with brunch and people-watching at Saks San Ángel, browsing the Bazaar Sábado, and coffee in Coyoacán. Finish the day with dinner and drinks in Condesa.

One touristy thing that lives up to the hype is...

the Anthropology Museum in Chapultepec Park, one of Mexico City’s largest green spaces. You can spend days there and still not see everything.

To discover the "real" Mexico City...

book a market and street food tour. You can tackle this on your own, but it’s difficult to know the best stalls and the last thing you want is “Moctezuma’s revenge” to ruin your trip.

For the best view of the city...

go up the Latin American Tower in the Centro Historico. Once Latin America’s tallest building, it’s withstood multiple earthquakes.

One thing people get wrong...

is thinking Mexico City is dangerous for tourists. Like any big city, you need to have your wits about you but Chilangos (Mexico City locals) are happy to help.

People Also Ask

What is Mexico City known for?

Mexico City is best known for the grand architecture of its historic center (Centro Historico), including the Palacio Bellas Artes and zocalo, as well as its world-class museums, such as the Museo Frida Kahlo and the National Museum of Anthropology, and stunning cuisine, which ranges from street-side to Michelin-starred.

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What is the most visited place in Mexico City?

The most visited place in Mexico City is Chapultepec Castle, perched on the highest point of the Chapultepec Wood (Bosque de Chapultepec). Housed inside the castle—former home of the Mexican president—is Mexico’s National History Museum, with historic murals and indigenous artifacts dating back hundreds of years.

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What are three tourist attractions in Mexico City?

Three tourist attractions in Mexico City are Chapultepec Park—home to Chapultepec Castle and the National Museum of Anthropology; the Museo Frida Khalo, located in Casa Azul, the artist’s home with her husband Diego Riviera; and the city’s historic center, home to the Palacio de Bellas Artes and Metropolitan Cathedral.

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What can you do in Mexico City in one day?

If you only have one day in Mexico City, see the Zocalo in the historic center before strolling around Chapultepec Wood—home to Chapultepec Castle. Then, visit Casa Azul (Museo Frida Kahlo). At night, watch Mexican wrestling (lucha libre) and sample the city’s best tacos and tequila in the Roma neighborhood.

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How many days is enough for Mexico City?

Four days will give you time to explore Mexico City hot spots such as the historic center, Chapultepec Park, Coyoacán, and Roma, in addition to taking a day trip. Close destinations include the ancient Teotihuacán Pyramids or the charming Pueblos Magico of the state of Puebla.

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Is it safe to go to Mexico City?

Yes, Mexico City is safe to explore if you take the usual precautions, such as watching your belongings closely in busy areas like the historic center. The Condesa and Roma neighborhoods are safe, but keep an eye on your map and avoice areas like Doctores and Tepito—especially after dark.

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Mexico City information

Number of Attractions

69

Number of Tours

927

Number of Reviews

35,465

Currency

MXN
Frequently Asked Questions