Mexico City: Top Attractions & Travel Tips

Orientation: Our Map of the Best Places to Visit in Mexico City

With 22 million residents in the greater metropolitan area, Mexico City is enormous and ranks among the most beautiful destinations in Mexico. The city sits on the Mexican Highlands and stretches 45 km from west to east. That said, the most important attractions in Mexico City are all relatively close to one another.

This map gives you a first overview of where each highlight in Mexico City is located. You can also download the map and view it offline.

The Best Things to Do in Mexico City

In four days you can explore all the major sights and day-trip destinations around Mexico City and get a real feel for the city.

These are the Mexico City places to visit you absolutely cannot miss:

1. Centro Histórico
2. El Palacio de Bellas Artes
3. Templo Mayor
4. Xochimilco
5. La Roma and La Condesa
6. Torre Latinoamericana
7. El Parque de Chapultepec
8. Museo de Antropología
9. Museo Frida Kahlo
10. Pyramids of Teotihuacán
11. Lucha Libre

Centro Histórico

What do you need to know? The historic center, with its beautiful old buildings and lively streets, is a must-see in Mexico City. A standout highlight is Plaza Zocálo with the cathedral and the National Palace.

Is a visit to the Centro Histórico worth it? Absolutely. Exploring the city center is simply part of the Mexico City experience. It can get hectic, crowded, and loud — but honestly, that’s also part of the charm.

Our tip for the Centro Histórico: Start your visit at Plaza Zocálo and wander from there through the charming alleyways, following your nose.

El Palacio de Bellas Artes

What do you need to know? The Palacio de Bellas Artes is one of the most famous buildings in Mexico City and sits right in the historic center. The palace houses an art museum, and events like theater, dance, music, literature, and visual arts performances take place there regularly.

Is a visit to the Palacio de Bellas Artes worth it? Definitely!

Our tip for the Palacio de Bellas Artes: Admission costs 85 MXN. The museum is closed on Mondays.

Templo Mayor

What do you need to know? The Templo Mayor was the center of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan in the 14th and 15th centuries. The Spanish destroyed it in 1521, so today only ruins remain. It’s located in the Centro Histórico — you can view it from above for free. Getting closer to the ruins costs 90 MXN admission. It’s closed on Mondays.

Is a visit to the Templo Mayor worth it? Yes — the history of the site is seriously fascinating. We recommend hiring a guide on-site.

Our tip for the Templo Mayor: Buy your ticket online in advance — that way you skip the line. It’s slightly more expensive, but worth it.

Skip-the-Line Ticket for the Templo Mayor

Xochimilco

What do you need to know? Xochimilco is a borough of Mexico City known for its floating gardens. The canals were once essential to the Aztec supply system. Today they’re a popular spot where visitors ride the trajineras (gondolas) and drink tequila with friends.

Is a visit to Xochimilco worth it? Yes — the atmosphere is totally cool.

Our tip for Xochimilco: We really recommend booking a tour, because the boat ride is so much more fun in a group.

Guided Xochimilco Boat Tour

The Roma and Condesa Neighborhoods

What do you need to know? La Condesa and La Roma are arguably the most beautiful neighborhoods in Mexico City. Young, hip crowds gather here, and it’s not unusual to see people dressed in the most creative styles. There are lovely parks, colorful buildings, and excellent restaurants.

Is a visit to Roma and Condesa worth it? Yes — we love these neighborhoods!

Our tip for Roma and Condesa: Book your hotel in Mexico City in one of these two neighborhoods. They’re our top picks for where to stay.

Torre Latinoamericana

What do you need to know? The Torre Latinoamericana is a skyscraper standing 182 meters tall with 44 floors. At the very top you’ll find what is probably the most popular observation deck in Mexico City.

Is a visit to the Torre Latinoamericana worth it? Yes — the view is seriously fantastic.

Our tip for the Torre Latinoamericana: Admission to the observation deck costs 180 MXN. Buy your ticket online in advance to avoid the line. Alternatively, grab a drink at the café on the 41st floor — you can get up there for free and the view is just as great.

Online Ticket for the Torre Latinoamericana

Parque de Chapultepec

What do you need to know? This popular park in the southwest of the city is within walking distance of Colonia Roma and Condesa. The park has markets, museums, and traditional dances are frequently performed there.

Is a visit to Chapultepec Park worth it? Yes — it’s perfect for escaping the hustle of the big city.

Museo de Antropología

What do you need to know? The Museo de Antropología is one of the most popular museums in Mexico City. Both indoors and partly outdoors, it showcases the various indigenous cultures and eras of Mexico through incredible archaeological collections. The museum is located in Parque de Chapultepec.

Is a visit to the Museo de Antropología worth it? Yes — if you’re interested in Mexican history, absolutely!

Our tip for the Museo de Antropología: Admission costs 90 MXN per person. Buy your ticket online to skip the line — though it’s slightly more expensive.

Skip-the-Line Ticket for the Museo de Antropología

Museo Frida Kahlo

What do you need to know? The Casa Azul (Blue House) is located in the charming Coyoacán neighborhood and was the former home of celebrated Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. Today it’s a museum dedicated to her work and life.

Is a visit to the Frida Kahlo Museum worth it? It’s okay. The house itself is really beautiful, but it’s not our favorite museum in Mexico City. If you’re a Frida Kahlo fan, it’s of course a must.

Our tip for the Frida Kahlo Museum: Book your ticket online in advance — your spot is guaranteed, since the museum frequently sells out. Tickets start at 250 MXN. The museum is closed on Mondays.

Online Ticket for the Frida Kahlo Museum

Pyramids of Teotihuacán

What do you need to know? The Pyramids of Teotihuacán are located about 40 kilometers northeast of Mexico City and are one of the most significant prehistoric ruin sites in the Americas. The two largest are the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. You’re allowed to climb the Pyramid of the Moon, and from the top you get a spectacular vista of the Pyramid of the Sun.

Is a visit to the Teotihuacán Pyramids worth it? Yes — they’re incredibly impressive.

Our tip for visiting the Teotihuacán Pyramids: Every morning at sunrise, countless hot air balloons rise above the pyramids. You can either treat yourself to a balloon ride, or head to the pyramids early enough to watch the balloons lift off from the ground. It’s a completely unique experience — and arriving that early means you’ll have the pyramids practically to yourself.

Hot Air Balloon Ride over the Pyramids at Sunrise

Day Tour to the Pyramids of Teotihuacán

Lucha Libre

What do you need to know? Lucha Libre is a Mexican style of wrestling that’s especially popular in Mexico City. The bouts feature masked competitors — men and sometimes women — facing off with a clear good side and a bad side.

Is attending a Lucha Libre event worth it? Yes — the events are an absolute blast.

Our tip for attending a Lucha Libre event: The most popular shows are held at Arena México. You can buy tickets spontaneously at the door or in advance online.

Lucha Libre Show in Mexico City

Where to Stay in Mexico City?

We recommend staying in Condesa or Roma. These are two beautiful, central, and safe neighborhoods. There are also hotels in the Centro Histórico, but that area can be more dangerous at night. For a short sightseeing stay, the historic center works fine too.

Also read all our tips on where to stay in Mexico City

Our Hotel Picks for Condesa

Our Hotel Picks for Roma

Restaurant Tips for Mexico City

Food is honestly one of the biggest highlights of any Mexico City trip. You’ll find not only incredibly delicious tacos on every street corner, but also great vegetarian food, juicy burgers, and so much more.

• Tacos at El Parnita: A fantastic restaurant with top-notch tacos and a flavorful, quintessentially Mexican interior. It’s always busy, so either arrive early (the kitchen opens at 3 PM) or reserve a table the day before. An absolute must-eat in Mexico City!
• Orígenes Orgánicos: A somewhat pricier spot with daily-changing salads made with quinoa, potatoes, and whole-grain pasta. For dessert there are delicious cakes (the matcha one is a must-try!) and really good coffee. It’s also a great place to work on your laptop.
• Vegetarian restaurant El Pan Comido: Burgers, salads, and falafel at a good price with noticeably high quality. A nice bonus: they don’t serve well-known soft drinks — only water and a tea of the day. Much healthier, but still refreshing.
• Café Dosis: The coffee is absolutely outstanding and it’s a super spot for digital nomads. The Wi-Fi is excellent, and this hip café in Condesa has comfortable seating both inside and out on the street.
• Street food markets: Tacos, tacos, and more tacos. You’ll find them everywhere and they’re seriously delicious. The Roma neighborhood in particular has lots of affordable street food markets.

Also read our tips on traditional dishes in Mexico

Practical Travel Tips for Mexico City

To wrap things up, here are a few important pointers for your city trip to Mexico City.

Also read our best travel tips for Mexico

#1 Getting to Mexico City

Many airports in Europe — including Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Istanbul — offer direct flights to Mexico City. You can also choose flights with stopovers, which are usually a bit cheaper.

We always book our flights through Skyscanner.

Search for Flights on Skyscanner

From the airport in Mexico City, the safest way to reach your accommodation is by Uber. You can also take one of the countless taxis waiting outside.

If you’re arriving from other cities like San Cristóbal, Oaxaca, or Puebla, you can travel by bus. ADO is the main bus provider in Mexico.

Mexico City is super well connected by long-distance buses and domestic flights, making it a great starting point for a road trip through Mexico.

#2 Getting Around Mexico City

Before our trip, we were advised against taking taxis — and especially against hailing them on the street. So in Mexico City, we got around exclusively by Uber.

Uber in Mexico City

Uber is cheaper than taxis and significantly more comfortable and safer than public transportation. Uber drivers have a star rating in the app and are tracked by GPS.

At first we thought that taking Uber everywhere might get expensive, but rides in Mexico City are really affordable. We took Uber for all longer trips without hesitation. Especially at night, it’s the safest way to get around.

Your best bet is to get an eSIM for Mexico so you can order Uber wherever you are.

Metro in Mexico City

Thanks to traffic, the metro is often the faster alternative to Uber or taxis. During rush hour in particular, the subway is usually the smarter choice.

For a fare card, you can pick up the Tarjeta de Movilidad Integrada (MI) at metro stations for 15 MXN and load it with cash. A single ride costs 5 MXN.

As in any major city, the metro can get very packed. Always keep an eye on your valuables and wear your backpack on your chest rather than your back.

#3 Safety in Mexico City

The risk of muggings or other incidents is certainly higher in Mexico City than in Singapore or Melbourne, but with a few sensible precautions you can reduce the risk to a minimum.

As in all major cities, Mexico City has safe and unsafe neighborhoods. During the day we walked a lot through Roma, Condesa, and the Centro Histórico and never felt unsafe.

If you venture into the northern or southern neighborhoods, the quieter side streets can be quite dangerous.

If you feel unsafe, take an Uber rather than continuing on foot — especially for longer distances and neighborhoods you don’t know well. Mexico City can also be risky at night.

At night, don’t wander around alone with your phone out. Move in a group, and keep in mind that drinking alcohol on the street is prohibited here.

The local police are also worth mentioning. Corruption is a real issue. We always carried copies of our passport and immigration documents — that way, if stopped, we could immediately show we’d entered the country legally. Important: never photograph police officers.

#4 When Is the Best Time to Visit Mexico City?

The best time to visit is from October to April, during the dry season. That said, you can visit during the rainy season too, since it rarely rains all day long.

Keep in mind that Mexico City sits at an elevation of 2,240 meters. It’s never really hot the way it is on, say, the Yucatán Peninsula, and evenings can cool down significantly.

Think: long pants and a light jacket rather than shorts and flip-flops. For other things to keep in mind before your trip, check out the backpacking preparation guide for Central America by wavesnbackpack.

After your city trip, you can also easily head to Puerto Escondido for surfing. Wavesnbackpack has a dedicated article on that. The months from October to April are also perfect for surfing.