How to visit Mexico City like a Pro

Hello!

I’m excited to share my Mexico City insights with you. This is a destination that I visited many times and enjoyed in different ways, and it’s one I personally think can be tailored to any traveller and occasion. As a mecca of culture, house to a complex culinary scene, and a space with diverse activities, you are guaranteed to run out of time to experience it all. In this post, I will share my tips on how to visit this beautiful city like a smart traveller equipping you with insights that you most need to stand out as a pro, whether it is you are a first time visitor or a long time fan.

FAQS

  • How big is Mexico City?

    This city is BIG. If you have travelled to New York City (8 million people) or Los Angeles (4 million people), these are good comparisons in terms of how extensive the city is as well as the population size.

    According to the latest estimates from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), the population of Mexico City is approximately 9.2 million people as of 2021. This makes it the largest city in Mexico and one of the largest cities in the world. However, if you include the entire metropolitan area, which includes the surrounding municipalities, the population is much larger, estimated to be around 21.8 million people.

  • What is the weather like?

    Overall, the weather in Mexico City is mild and comfortable, with cool nights and pleasant days throughout most of the year. The dry season in Mexico City runs from November to April, while the wet season runs from May to October. During the wet season, afternoon thunderstorms are common, but they usually don't last long.

    As a visitor, think of bringing comfortable clothing and shoes for day time excursions and sightseeing (dresses and shorts) and a light jacket for afternoon outings.

  • Is Mexico City safe?

    The city is generally safe, especially in the most popular neighborhoods (Condesa, Roma Norte, Polanco, Reforma). However, I recommend to follow common sense safety tips such as:

    • Avoid wearing flashy jewelry and clothes

    • Only carry essential cash and identification with you

    • Preferably take Taxis during the day and avoid them late at night

    • Should you stay out late, apply the “buddy system” to get home safely

  • What is the food like?

    The city is known for its diverse culinary scene, which features a mix of traditional dishes, street food, and modern cuisine.

    Some of the most popular traditional dishes in Mexico City include tacos al pastor (tacos with marinated pork and pineapple), chiles en nogada (stuffed peppers with walnut sauce), mole (a complex sauce made with chilies and chocolate), and pozole (a hearty soup made with hominy and meat).

    Prop Tip: Prepare your stomach

    • Food in Mexico City can contain bacteria, viruses, or parasites that the body is not accustomed to and therefore, typically travelers will experience a digestive illness referred to by the locals as The Montezuma's Revenge. Be prepared for an upset stomach and consider purchasing ginger tea, or indigestion medicine like omeprazole or pepto bismol.

Where to stay

The safest neighborhoods you should consider staying at are Roma Norte, Condesa, Reforma or Polanco. These are also centrally located to some of the most popular landmarks, restaurants and activities.

You can get away with booking an Airbnb in any of these 3 neighborhoods but if you are looking for hotels, I recommend the following:

Roma Norte

For the trendy hipster vibe and the foodies

  • Nima Local House - a colonial house with French architecture, this intimate 4 bedroom hotel is perfect for those looking for understated luxury with unique local flair.

  • Casa Goliana - Located in the heart of the Roma, Casa Goliana welcomes guests to a completely restored early twentieth century house perfect for a boutique lodging experience.

Condesa

For the boho-chic, laid back vibes

  • Hippodrome Hotel Condesa - a quaint boutique hotel on the North East corner of Parque Espana (one of the main attractions in Condesa).

  • Condesa DF - located among historic buildings in a three-way tree-lined street, Condesa DF is a charming modern hotel. They also typically have a collectible car parked right outside as a nice touch.

    ProTip: Check out the rooftop

    • “The Terrace” rooftop offers a wonderful happy hour and is a great place to start your weekend or day drink with a group of friends.

Reforma

For the business traveller

  • Hilton Mexico City Reforma - this hotel is steps away from the Angel de la independencia and is a central point to connect to other neighborhoods like Polanco and Roma Norte.

Polanco

For the posh, TRENDY, upscale traveller

  • W Mexico City - located in the stylish Polaco neighborhood, this hotel welcomes guests with trendy designs and a fun setting to keep the party going. If you are a night owl, this is the hotel to stay at.

  • Ritz Carlton Mexico City - situated in the bustling city center with stunning view of Chapultepec Park and warmly welcomes visitors, guests, and locals to explore and discover the rich symbolism, narrative, and history of Mexico City.

Pro Tip: Make a reservation at Ling Ling

  • For one of the most upscale foodie experiences, make sure to visit the restaurant Ling Ling. It is known for offering the best views of the city and an unmatched menu. (Get the sushi rolls with scorpions on top for a truly unique experience).

What to do

There are countless experiences and activities that you shouldn’t miss in Mexico City. However, unless you are staying for a month, it is likely that you will run out of time to see absolutely everything. Here are some activities I recommend for anyone visiting for anywhere between 3 to 5 days:

  • Start by exploring the city in a Hop on Hop off tour . This is the most efficient way to see the major landmarks, to get around the busiest neighborhoods, and to get a lay of the land all in one day. You can see everything from the “Angel the la Libertad”, Bellas Artes, El Zocalo, to the outskirts of Chapultepec Park.

  • Schedule a day for partying like a local at Xochimilco. Day drinking on a “Trajinera” - a flat-bottomed wooden boat, colorfully painted and decorated - is a unique experience you can only do in Mexico City. During this fun day activity, you can float with a group of friends down a long river bank while drinking Micheladas and listening to Mariachi bands play.

    Pro Tip: Visit the “Isla de las Munecas” for an eerie experience

    • Yes, it is an entire island covered with old dolls offered to the roaming soul of a little girl who died in the canals. It is equally creepy as it is amusing.

  • Visit the Chapultepec Castle. Located in middle of the Chapultepec Park, a visit is perfect for either an afternoon stroll or bike ride or a 2-3 hour tour of to the Chapultepec Castle. If you plan to see the rest of the park, I recommend allocating an entire afternoon as the park is as big as Central Park and has countless museums and pop up installations.

    Pro Tip: Get your tickets

    • Tickets are around $5USD each and can be purchased at the box office at the bottom of the hill that leads to the castle. You can also purchase tickets in advance through companies like Viator or Get your Guide to avoid making a line. Prices may vary as they may include a guide or additional perks.

  • Spend an afternoon in Coyoacan visiting Frida Kahlo’s house. Coyoacan is the artsy/hipster neighborhood located a 40 minute drive from the center of Mexico City. There you will find many markets where you can get artisan crafts as well as Frida Kahlo’s house. Make sure to buy tickets well in advance as this is an extremely popular landmark and tickets tend to run out fast.

Frida Kahlo museum

  • Pro Tips: Go hungry and get Pozole

    • Visit the “Mercado de Comida Coyoacan” to taste some delicious street food and get a bowl of Pozole (traditional soup or stew made from hominy with meat, and seasoned and garnished with shredded lettuce or cabbage, chilli peppers, onion, garlic, radishes, avocado, salsa or limes). Haggle with the vendors to make sure you are getting the best price.

  • Experience Teotihuacan on a Hot Air Balloon ride. A one-of-a-kind experience and worth the 4am wake up effort, this is the best way to visit the pyramids in Teotihuacan in style. Organize this in advance to make sure you coordinate the pick-up transfer, the hot air balloon ride, and breakfast afterwards. Bring a jacket for the early morning ride, but wear light clothes underneath for the tour afterwards as it gets hot.

Teotihuacan Pyramids

  • Visit the Museum of Anthropology. This museum is as large or even larger than the MET in NYC and encompasses extensive amounts of exhibits walking you through all of Mexico’s history. It is worth spending as little as 3 hours wandering around as there is a lot of history to get through.

  • Pro Tip: This is a museum you want to get a guide for.

Anthropology Museum Mexico City

  1. Go shopping to Ciudadela Market. This is one of my best kept secrets :). This traditional style Mexican market specializes in the sale of Mexican handcrafts and folk art, located in the southwest corner of the historic center of Mexico City. Typically not as well known by tourists, this market doesn’t have large amounts of crowds, but it has the widest selection of artisanal crafts in the city. You can visit it for a couple of hours and be sure you will find unique souvenirs that you can brag to your friends about.

    Where to Eat

Mexico City is a foodie’s paradise and I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to try absolutely everything you see and smell. However, in order to avoid severe stomach ache, do not consume street food and only consume bottled water (restaurants will also give this to you as a standard when you ask for water).

For Breakfast:

For Tacos:

For Lunch:

For Drinks:

For Dinner:

  • Madre Cafe in Roma Norte (also great for brunch)

  • Contramar in Condesa

  • Huset in Roma Norte

  • Quintonil in Polanco ($$$$) - make reservations in advance

  • Pujol in Polanco ($$$$) - make reservations in advance

For Speakeasy vibes:

I hope this guide is useful as you prepare to visit this wonderful city. Feel free to leave comments or let me know if you find any gems you think I should add to this list in the future. As an extra perk, get access to a Mexico City downloadable map with over 100 restaurants, landmarks and activities to explore (click on link at the bottom).

Safe travels,

Nikol

I’ll share mine if you share yours

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