Mexico City is one of the world’s great urban destinations — enormous, chaotic, beautiful, and relentlessly alive. It’s also one of the most accessible capital cities for English-speaking travelers: most people in the Roma, Condesa, and Polanco neighborhoods speak some English, and the street food scene is legitimately world-class.
Day 1: Centro Histórico and Zócalo
Zócalo (Plaza de la Constitución): The main square — one of the largest public plazas in the world. The massive Mexican flag at the center is ceremonially lowered at sunset every day, watched by the crowd.
Templo Mayor: The ruins of the main Aztec temple, discovered in 1978 when a subway line was being built. The museum next door houses extraordinary carvings and the infamous “Eagle and Snake” monolith.
Palacio de Bellas Artes: Art Nouveau exterior, Art Deco interior, murals by Diego Rivera, Siqueiros, and Orozco. The Tiffany mosaic inside is worth the ticket alone.
Mercado San Juan: The gourmet food market —specialty items like escamoles (ant larvae, a delicacy), chapulines (grasshoppers with chili and lime), and international ingredients. Come hungry.
Day 2: Coyoacán and Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo Museum (Casa Azul): The blue house where Frida was born, lived with Diego, and eventually died. The most visited museum in Mexico City — book tickets 2 weeks ahead or go on a Tuesday (free entry for Mexican citizens). Her self-portraits, the famous “Frida Kahlo by Guillermo Kahlo” photo collection, and the garden where she died.
Coyoacán itself: One of the most charming neighborhoods in Mexico City — cobblestone streets, colorful houses, excellent bookstores, and pulque bars. Mercado de Coyoacán has the best tostadas in the city.
Pulque bars: Pulque is the pre-Hispanic fermented maguey (agave) drink — thick, slightly sour, low-alcohol (~5%). Once you get past the texture, it’s fascinating. Las Duelistas in Coyoacán is the classic spot.
Day 3: Roma and Condesa Food Tour
Roma and Condesa are the most walkable, most cosmopolitan neighborhoods — the 2017 film “Roma” put Roma on the map. These neighborhoods have the best restaurants, cafes, and bars in the city.
Street food must-tries:
- El Huequito (near Condesa): Tacos al pastor, widely considered one of the best in Mexico City
- El Califa (multiple locations): Upscale tacos — the martini-style taco is a meme but actually good
- Mercado Roma (inside the ROMA market): High-end food hall inside a renovated market building
Roma’s cafe culture: Café de Tacuba is a classic institution. Café Nin for Parisian-style hot chocolate. Café Ojinaga for contemporary Mexican design.
Day 4: Chapultepec and Polanco
Chapultepec Castle: The only royal castle in North America — built as a summer residence for Emperor Maximilian, later the presidential palace. The view over Mexico City from the hilltop is striking. Also, the excellent Chapultepec Museum of Anthropology (Museo Nacional de Antropología) is nearby — allow 4 hours minimum.
Polanco: Mexico City’s most upscale neighborhood — luxury shopping, fine dining, embassies. El副市长 (El Mayor) for artisanal crafts, SUMAQ for upscale Peruvian. More polished than charming, but the Museum of Modern Art is here.
Day 5: Teotihuacán Day Trip
Teotihuacán (1h from the city by metro + bus, or 45min by taxi): The ancient Mesoamerican city built around 100 BC — the Avenue of the Dead, the Pyramid of the Sun (the third largest pyramid in the world), and the Pyramid of the Moon. Arrive when the site opens at 9am to beat the heat and tour groups.
Climbing the pyramids is still permitted — the climb to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun takes about 15 minutes. The energy of the place is palpable even for those who don’t believe in that sort of thing.
Book a guided tour on Klook for skip-the-line access and historical context — the pyramids’ history is fascinating but hard to appreciate without a guide.
Getting Around: Metro vs Uber
Mexico City’s metro is extensive, cheap (~$0.30/ride), and efficient — but it’s also extremely crowded during rush hour (7-9am, 6-8pm). If you’re not comfortable in packed trains, use Uber. Uber in Mexico City is dramatically cheaper than in the US — a cross-city trip is typically $5-15.
Altitude
Mexico City sits at 2,240m — significantly high altitude. You may feel short of breath, especially on stairs. Drink more water than usual and take it easy for the first day.
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