After booking our flight, I realized quickly that there are numerous things to do in Mexico City. We only went for 4 nights and I crammed our itinerary full. Here are 20 amazing things to do in Mexico City.
1. Board a colorful boat and explore the floating gardens of Xochimilco.
I was afraid that Xochimilco was just going to be a tourist destination. I was wrong. Our tour guide, Carlos, said that Xochimilco is very much a place for locals to have special celebrations. The beautiful boats are painted every month and are each named after women. Along the way, there are many vendors selling things like souvenirs, flowers, food and beer! You can even hire a mariachi band to sing along side you boat, a must do!
2. Eat everything!!!!
I went to Mexico City for the food. Yes. The delicious food was the star of our trip and I wrote an entire article on where to eat in Mexico City! There is everything from Michelin 3 star restaurants to dollar bites. And the street food is amazing. I purchased some street corn snack and brought it back to the United States. My 3 year old devoured it….
3. Explore Coyoacan.
Coyoacan is a charming neighborhood away from the city center. Coyocan is filled with beautiful cobblestone streets, buildings and homes that go back to the 16th century! Coyocan means “land of the coyote” and in the middle of the the plaza, Jardin Centenario, you will find the famous Fuente de los coyotes.
4. Check out Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo’s collection of pre-hispanic artifacts at Museo Anahuacalli.
Married artists, Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo collected over 50,000 ancient objects. The artifacts are displayed throughout this amazing museum. Don’t forget to look up at the ceiling for some interesting art while exploring the museum. The exterior of the building is worth a visit as the rock that the building is made of comes from lava.
5. Visit Museo Frida Kahlo.
Frida’s house, known as “Casa Azul” for its bright blue exterior, is one of the top attractions in the neighborhood, Coyoacan. The home is filled with folk art, pre-Hispanic artifacts, memorabilia, pictures, personal items and more. It was wonderful being immersed in the life of such an iconic artist like Frida Kahlo. Purchase tickets on-line in advance to save you some time.
6. Get reservations at an underground bar.
We were fortunate enough to get reservations at the speakeasy, Hanky Panky. *tip, you can obtain reservations via their facebook page.* Located in a taco shop, this unassuming taco shop transforms into a cool bar filled with the most talented bartenders. Skip the tables and sit at the bar for some of great entertainment.
7. Check out the art in Palacio de Bellas Artes.
Not only is the building beautiful, but you will also find interesting murals and art, some from the famous Diego Rivera.
8. Get fancy in the Beverly Hills of Mexico City, Polanco.
Polanco is home to the most luxurious hotels, Michelin starred restaurants and high-end fashion. The homes are stunning and there seems to be parks around every corner. Expect to find 5 star everything while strolling around Polanco.
9. Buy a hat at Sombreros Tardan, the oldest hat store in Mexico City.
Sombreros Tardan opened in 1847 and is the place to get a hat. I was excited to look at all the beautiful hats and fell in love with one. Did I mention the price tag? I purchased my “sombrero” for under $60! That’s right for such a famous shop, it was very affordable. It’s easy to add Sombreros Tardan to your itinerary since it’s located in the centro area, home to multiple attractions.
10. Explore the hipster neighborhood, Roma.
We ended up walking up and down the streets in this amazing neighborhood. The beautiful buildings and houses are worth the trip. There are plenty of amazing restaurants in addition to the stunning architecture.
11. Indulge in churros at the famous El Moro Churerria.
This churro shop has been satisfying everyone’s sweet tooth’s since 1935. They have multiple locations throughout Mexico City. We were able to squeeze in time for El Moro Churerria due to their late night hours. Most importantly the Roma location is open 24 hours to satisfy all the night owls.
12. Explore one of the largest parks in the Western Hemisphere, Chapultepec park.
Sitting on just over 1.695 acres, this park has everything from a castle, museums and even a zoo! You can rent a small boat to see the park from a different angle. Due to covid restrictions, we were unable to visit the famous Chapultepec Castle.
13. Take a picture in front of Casa de los Azulejos (the house of tiles.)
Located a short walk away from Palacio De Bellas Artes, you will find this beautiful building.
14. Visit The Metropolitan Cathedral, Mexico’s national cathedral.
This beautiful cathedral was built between 1573 and 1813 and is considered one of the must-see attractions. A visit to the cathedral is free. On Sunday, the cathedral holds mass and anyone is welcome to attend. Keep this in mind as you will not be able to explore the cathedral while mass is in service.
15. Go straight to the heart of Mexico City in Zocalo.
This large public plaza lies within Centro Historico. If you are a James Bond fan, you will recognize this famous plaza in the film, Spectre.
16. Buy souvenirs at Mercado de Artensanias.
We spent a few hours walking in and out of all of the countless stalls. Most of these stalls are family run and are filled with crafts, textiles, clothing and more. The prices were great and we ended up with bags full of goodies to bring home.
17. Take a stroll down Paseo de la Reforma.
This stunning street is lined by trees and statues. If you are in town on a Sunday, this is the best time to go as part of the street shuts down and is opened to bikers, runners, and people taking a leisurely walk.
18. Get lost in the National Museum of Anthropology.
This museum contains the world’s largest collection of ancient Mexican art with 23 permanent exhibit halls. You can easily spend all day here and is worth a visit. It is located on the famous street, Paseo de La Reforma, which is a must visit.
19. Visit the Central Library at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM.)
The building’s exterior is a beautiful stone mural displaying events from Mexico’s past, present and future. There were college graduates taking family photos in front of this beautiful building. It was very informative having a guide explain what we were looking at.
20. Watch the sunset at one of the numerous rooftop patios.
We went to Terraza Cha Cha Cha one evening for fabulous views of the Revolution Monument. Be sure to make reservations in advance and ask for an outdoor table.
There are many amazing things to do in Mexico City. I can’t believe it took me 35 years to come here and now I’m dying to go back. The city is HUGE and is one of the biggest cities in the world. I can’t wait to go back and add to this list.
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