Mexico City Travel Guide
Mexico City is the greatest city in the Western Hemisphere that most travelers don't appreciate until they actually arrive. At 2,240 metres above sea level, it is unexpectedly temperate. Its cultural infrastructure rivals any European capital: 170+ museums (more per capita than almost any city on earth), a food scene with two restaurants currently in the world's top five, street art that turns entire neighbourhoods into galleries, and a social energy that moves at a frequency no other Latin American city matches. The city is simultaneously ancient — Aztec temples sit beneath Spanish colonial churches which sit next to mid-century modern towers — and ferociously current. Roma Norte on a Saturday afternoon is one of the finest urban experiences on the planet.
Where to stay in Mexico City
- Roma Norte & Roma Sur
- The most complete neighbourhood for visitors: beautiful Art Nouveau and Art Deco architecture, tree-lined streets, the highest concentration of interesting restaurants and coffee shops in the city, Parque Mexico on Sundays. Roma Norte is ground zero for Mexico City's gastronomic renaissance.
- Condesa
- Adjacent to Roma, slightly more residential. Parque Mexico and Parque España are the social hubs on weekends. Excellent mid-range restaurants and some of the best breakfast spots in the city.
- Polanco
- The Beverly Hills of Mexico City. Avenida Presidente Masaryk is the luxury shopping strip. Pujol and Quintonil are both here. The Museo Nacional de Antropología is the best museum in the Americas and is also in Polanco.
- Centro Histórico
- The Aztec and Spanish colonial heart of the city. The Zócalo is one of the largest plazas in the world. The Palacio de Bellas Artes, the Templo Mayor archaeological site, and MUNAL are all here. Street food at its most authentic.
- Coyoacán
- A colonial-era neighbourhood that feels like a small town within the megalopolis. The Frida Kahlo Museum (La Casa Azul) is here. The weekend market and the tostada stands around the main plaza are essential.
What to see in Mexico City
- Museo Nacional de Antropología
- Go straight to the Mexica (Aztec) room — the Piedra del Sol (Sun Stone) and Tláloc sculpture are in the first large hall. Free on Sundays but very crowded; Tuesday morning is ideal.
- Mercado de Jamaica (Flower Market)
- The largest wholesale flower market in Mexico City — extraordinary colour, scent, and activity especially in the early morning. Best visited at 6–9am when deliveries arrive. Located in Iztacalco, easy metro access.
- Parque Mexico on Sunday
- Sunday morning is when all of Condesa and Roma descend on the park: dogs, runners, families, musicians, tamale vendors. Sit with a coffee from a nearby café and watch the city be itself.
- Coyoacán neighbourhood walk
- Take the Metro to Viveros and walk through the neighbourhood to the Frida Kahlo Museum (MXN 270, book online). The tostadas at Tostadas Coyoacán in the market square are legendary — don't miss them for lunch.