Mexico City is a vibrant and densely populated metropolis, full of colors, rich in history, contrasting neighborhoods, Aztec ruins, countless museums, beautiful parks and 8,919,000 people that call it home. From the busy streets of the history center, hipster cafes in Roma Norte, and high end restaurants of Polanco, Mexico City meets the requirements of every type of traveler. The locals are friendly and love showing their love to their significant others, so much that I call it the city of love.
Also, it’s among the world’s best in several areas. For the foodies, the city is ranked within the top 5 best street food cities in the world, and is home to 2 of the Top 50 best restaurants in the world.
For the history buffs and art lovers, the city is second in the world with more museums. And if that wasn’t enough, Bosque Chapultepec is one of the largest city parks in the western hemisphere. So don’t think it twice and start planning your trip.
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Getting Around
The majority of the attractions in the city are walking distance with the longer walk being about 5.6Km with the exception of The Pyramids of Teotihuacan, Canales de Xochimilco, and Frida Khalo Museum. With the extensive metro system and Uber, you won’t have any problems getting around. Don’t take taxis, since they are not trustworthy.
Metro
The metro in Mexico is extremely cheap, only costing $5 MXN (.27¢ USD) each trip. To find the stations easy, they all have signs with their name on the entrance.
Each metro line is identified by number and colour. To find out your route you can look for your destination by its name or symbol/drawing.
To use the system you need a ticket (taquilla), look for the signs that say “Taquilla” to buy your ticket at the cashier.
Some things to notice are:
- The first two or three rail-cars are women and disabled people only. They are separated by an orange barrier on the platform. This is good to know especially for men since we can get in trouble if we board one of those rail-cars.
- During peak hours is extremely crowded so try to avoid it between 6:30am – 09:30am and 5:00pm to 7:30pm. It’s hard to predict but those are good guidelines.
- Be wary of pick pocketing. You can wear an anti-theft fanny pack to keep your money and ID. If you have a backpack wear it on your front, or put it between your legs when on the train.
Uber
Is an excellent option if you don’t feel comfortable taking the metro. It’s safe and cheap. Bear in mind that traffic can be hectic at times, so depending how far you’re going it may take longer by car than by metro.
From the airport to city
You can either take an Uber which will cost you around $9 – $12 USD or take the metro for .27¢, saving up to $11 USD, enough to eat for two days.
Taking the metro – the station is by the airport’s terminal 1. When you go out of the airport, walk all the way to the left to Terminal Aerea metro station (it will be a little after the airport’s terminal end). Take line 5 (yellow) to Pantitlan. From there it’ll depend where you will stay:
- If you are going to La Condesa or Roma Norte – take line 1 (pink) to Sevilla or Cuauhtemoc, in direction to Observatorio.
- And if you are going to the Historic Center / El Zocalo area – take line 1 (pink) to Pino Juarez, in direction to Observatorio. Once in Pino Juarez, transfer to line 2 (blue) to El Zocalo, in direction to Cuatro Caminos.
Where to stay
I divided my stay in two areas, three days in the historic center behind the Metropolitan Cathedral and three days in Roma Norte.
In the historic center I stayed in Hostel Mexiqui Zocalo. The location is amazing, just a few steps from the Metropolitan Cathedral and the ruins of Templo Mayor.
It has a Rooftop bar from where you have a great view of the cathedral and the ruins, in the first floor there are several food stalls (expect to pay tourist prices), and a kitchen area where you can cook your own food and get free breakfast. The breakfast is cereal, toasts, jam, peanut butter, milk, juice and make your self pancakes.
Regarding the rooms, the beds are comfortable, there are free lockers and each bunk bed has a power outlet in a lock box.
There are a few things I didn’t like, one of the days we didn’t have water during the morning, water in the showers would change from HOT to COLD and COLD to HOT every few minutes, and the music on the rooftop bar was on until 2 am. If you’re planning on hanging out until late, then the latter won’t be an issue. Price p/n $16.00 USD.
In Roma Norte I stayed in Hostel Home, a cozy little hostel with great atmosphere and nice staff. I had here the best hostel experience. Everyone would meet in the living room at night to chat, have a couple of beers and then go out.
Free breakfast is comprised by a delicious bread, butter, jam, fruits, tea, coffee, and make yourself eggs. Also has a kitchen and a fridge where you cook your own meals and keep your food respectively. The only thing I din’t like is that there isn’t power outlets for each bed. Price p/n $13.80 USD.
I highly recommend this hostel, or at least booking a place in La Condesa or Roma Norte. Both are hip areas with loads of shops, restaurants, street food vendors, bars, cafes, tea bars, and a laid back vibe.
If you stay in this area, Pulqueria Los Insurgentes has 2 x 1 every Monday.
Besides Condesa and Roma Norte, other areas I recommend you to stay are Zona Rosa, known for its nightlife and gay community, and Polanco, a posh area with high end restaurants and boutiques.
Where to eat
I mainly ate street food but I can give you some recommendations specially if you’re vegetarian or vegan.
- Pasteleria Ideal – is a bakery close to El Zocalo. They sell all kinds of baked goods. They are delicious and cheap, prices range from $7 MXN (.38¢ US) to $14 MXN (.77¢ USD). Pick a tray, a pair of tongs and let your nose do the rest.
- Vegamo – hip vegan spot near the Alameda Park, great for smoothies, bowls, wraps, and desserts. Expect to pay $5 USD for a bowl.
- Vegan pa’ ca taqueria – small rest in Roma Norte with great service. The food in this place super tasty and cheap. Tacos from $15 MXN, juices from $10 MXN, and burgers from $37 MXN. The burgers are finger licking good.
- Por Siempre Vegana – One of the best vegan tacos you could ever eat, if not the bests. They have a good selection of vegan food that even non vegans will be craving for more. On top of that, tacos are just $20 pesos. Doesn’t get any better than that.
- Mercado Roma – Is a vibrant market with over fifty stalls serving gourmet food. You can find anything from breweries, cafes, baked goods, sweets, seafood, pizza, tacos, empanadas, organic food, sandwiches, and ice cream.
- Market Medellin – If you are on a budget and are staying around Roma Norte, Mercado Medellin is the place to buy fruits and vegetables super cheap.
Things to do
The zocalo – is the main square of Mexico City and it has been the city’s center since the pre-colonial times when it was the main ceremonial center of the city of Tenochtitlan. Surrounded by the Metropolitan Cathedral, National Palace, government offices, hotels, and its closer proximity to the ruins of Templo Mayor, makes it a must do.
Metropolitan Cathedral – Constructed in baroque style by the Spanish the cathedral has gone through several
Ruins of Templo Mayor & Museum – Templo Mayor was the main temple of Aztecs’ capital city. They believed the temple was the center of the universe. After the excavation the museum was constructed to exhibit all the artifacts found on the site. Entrance fee is $4.00 USD and include both the ruins and the museum.
Pastelería Ideal – If you love baked goods you definitely has to visit this bakery. They have a great variety of delicious baked goods from cakes, cookies, bread, doughnuts, cup cakes and everything in between. Get a tray and tongs and let your nose lead you. Best of all is that it’s incredibly cheap price, most baked goods are between 38¢ and 75¢.
Torre Latinoamericana – at the moment of its inauguration it was the first and tallest building in the world with a facade of glass and aluminum. The skyscraper has 44 floors with an observatory on the top three. The entrance fee is $100 pesos. To be honest the view is not that great and some days can be very limited due to the smog. If you are short of money, I would recommend to do the Chapultepec Castle instead.
Palacio de Bellas Artes – The Palace of Fine Arts is my favourite building in Mexico City. It features and art museum and three theater halls. The art museum exhibit the murals of some of the famous artist of Mexico like Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros. The museum is not that big but the murals are quite impressive. My favourite was “The Center of the Universe”, by Diego Rivera.
Mural Museo Diego Rivera – this museum currently exhibit one painting, Sueño de una tarde dominical en la Alameda Central (Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in the Alameda Central). This mural of 4.17m x 15.67m was painted 1947 and depicts famous characters of Mexico’s 400 years history gathering in Alameda Central Park. There is a chart to help identify all the characters on the painting.
Central Alameda Park – is an important park in Mexico located in the heart of the city, next to the Palacio de Bellas Artes. Wide paths, trees, statues, and several fountains make the park a good place to take a break and people watching. During weekends the locals flock to the park to play chess and cards, roller skating, and hangout. There are also stands selling street food, clothing, and souvenirs.
Francisco Madero ave. – Is a bustling pedestrian shopping street from El Zocalo to the Palacio de Bellas Artes. There are shops including American brands, restaurants, bars and tons costumed characters.While there check out Casa de los Azulejos (House of Tiles) pictured above and San Francisco Church.
Palacio Postal – The beauty of this building lies inside with two sets of stairs with golden handrails. Being just a few steps from the Palacio de Bellas Artes it is worth to make a quick stop to take some pictures.
Monumento de la Revolución – is a landmark in the city and commemorate the Mexican revolution. It features a museum on the base and an observation deck on the top.
Bosque de Chapultepec – With more than 1,600 acres, Chapultepec is one of the largest city parks in the world (two times bigger than Central Park in NY). It’s home several attractions like the zoo, museums, the majestic Chapultepec Castle, two lakes, and several monuments. During weekends the park is bustling with street performers, hundreds of food stalls, and thousands of visitors.
Castillo de Chapultepec – the castle was one of the highlights of the trip. Nowadays is a 19 room museum with paintings, murals, jewels, documents and objects showing events from Mexico’s history from the Mexica days before colonization until present. The murals are astonishing and the views to the city over Bosque Chapultepec are amazing.
National Museum of Anthropology – is the largest and busiest museum in Mexico. The museum feature a vast collection of artifacts and stone sculptures from mexican indian civilizations like the Aztec Calendar Stone. Don’t even think going during weekend and especially on Sundays when museums are free for Mexicans. I tried to go on a Sunday and the line was ridiculously long, easily 700 people long. Went back on the next Tuesday and went straight to the counter. Entrance fee is $70 pesos (around $3.80 USD) and it’s closed on Mondays.
Angel de la Independencia – located in the middle of Paseo de la Reforma, the angel is the most iconic monument in Mexico City. The actual angel is a copy of the original one which in 1957 fell due to a strong earthquake.
Visit Piramides de Teotihuacan – Just one hour outside the city center is the UNESCO World Heritage site of Teotihuacan Pyramids with the third largest pyramid in the world. Want to know how to visit them on a budget? Check out my post Teotihuacan Pyramids and How to Get There
Stroll Condesa & Roma Norte – Walk along the tree lined streets to discover cool restaurants, cafes and tea bars, take fresh air in Parque Mexico, and admire the art deco architecture. Some points of interest are Mercado Roma, Amsterdam Ave., Parque Mexico, and Alvaro Obregon Ave.
Relax at Parque Mexico – A piece of jungle in the middle of a city. It’s filled with so much lush that as soon as you step in the air feels cleaner and cooler. You can seat by the pond and peacefully watch the ducks swim in their little paradise while listening to the water of the fountain, or watch the dogs play at the small amphitheater.
Walk Amsterdam Ave. – The ave is a full loop with a tree lined median with benches where you can walk. Along you find beautiful architecture, roundabouts, and plenty of restaurants and cafes.
Mercado Roma – if street food isn’t your thing, then Mercado Roma is the place you. With over 50 stalls of gourmet food, I assure you’ll find something for your taste.
Street Food – Mexico’s street food scene is one of the best in the world. Therefore you can’t leave the city without trying street tacos, gorditas, quesadillas, tamales or tostadas to name a few. If you are worry about getting sick, just pick the stall with the longest line.
The next things to do are the ones I didn’t have the time to do but are definitely on the list for next time.
Museo Frida Khalo (Casa Azul)- is the house where Frida lived most of her life. In fact, she was born and died in the hours. After she died it was turn into a museum and now exhibit some of her personal items and best paintings. The lines to enter can be huge, so I will recommend you get there early or buy your tickets online. http://www.museofridakahlo.org.mx/
Canales de Xochimilco – are a series of canals the Venice of Mexico. Rent one of the colorful trajineras, buy a couple of beers and enjoy the ride through the canals where you can even have mariachis sing to you. Tip: try to go in a group since the cost to rent a trajinera is about $425 MXN per party, and once there they’ll not allow you to get together with other people to make a group. So no matter if you go by yourself or with 5 other people the price is the same.
Take a Food tour – I didn’t do the tour because I’m not a foodie guy. However, a fellow traveler who is a chef did it, and he said it was great.
Weather
Temperatures in Mexico City are fantastic and pretty constant year round. The average high in April {the hottest month} is 81°F / 27°C, and the average high in the January {the coldest month} is 71° / 21°C . Dry season is from November to April which coincide with winter {December, January, and February}. The rainy season is during summer from June to September. And the shoulder season is divided in two months, May and October, which is when the rainy days start and end, respectively.
As of when is best to go I would say any time during dry season. Just need bring some layers for the mornings and nights and you’ll be all set.
Know Before You Go
Currency – Mexico use the Mexican Peso ($ MXN). At the moment of this writing the exchange is: $1.00 USD = $18.73 MXN, €1.00 = $23.10 MXN, £1.00 = $26.14 MXN.
Safety – The city is safe specially the areas you’ll be visiting like Roma, Condesa, Zona Rosa, Historic Center, and Polanco. One thing you have to be wary about is pickpocketing. And always exercise common sense.
Electrical outlets – type A and type B as in the U.S. and Canada.
Altitude Sickness – You need to be aware that the city is at 2,240 meters (7,350 ft) above sea level which is high enough to get high altitude sickness. While some people may not get any of symptoms, others (me included) will. It took me three days to adjust, and one during of them I literally felt like a car had run over me.
Before I went, I didn’t read anywhere that the city is at an altitude that can cause sickness. Because of that I didn’t recognize I had the symptoms and did everything to make things worse.
For example, one of the symptoms if fatigue. As soon as I stepped out the airport I felt short of breath (I thought it was the adrenaline of my first solo trip) and when I got to the hostel I could barely go up the stairs. By noon of the next day I got a massive headache. If I would’ve known beforehand, I would’ve had taken it easier and drank loads of water to minimize the effects of the altitud. As you can see I got two of the symptoms but didn’t correlate them with the high altitud.
Symptoms
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Insomnia
Recommendations
- Drink plenty of water.
- Limit alcohol on the first two days.
- Take it easy.
- Know the symptoms
There are some pills you can take, but I will let you do the research for that. I don’t want to recommend something that you may be allergic to.
Please let me know in the comments below if you have a question that I didn’t answer.
Thanks for reading
And keep exploring
j ⋀⋁ i e r ✧ ☽
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