To visit Mexico City is to discover the capital of Mexico and the largest city in the country. Also known as Distrito Federal or CDMX, the Mexican capital is surrounded by several mountain ranges at an altitude of 2250 meters.
Founded in the 14th century by the Mexica with the name of Mexico-Tenochtitlan, it was the capital of the Aztec empire until 1521, when it was conquered by the Spaniards.
However, it was also the place where Hernán Cortés decided to build Mexico, the Capital of New Spain, a name he kept until the end of the War of Independence in 1821.Today, Mexico City is a vibrant, historic and modern city with much to offer visitors.
1. Plaza de la Constitución (the Zócalo)
The Plaza de la Constitución, also called Zócalo, has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
It is the largest square in all of Latin America and an important tourist attraction in Mexico City, since it houses the main buildings of the capital.
Here’s what to see in the Zócalo, one of the most important tourist attractions in Mexico City:
- The Metropolitan Cathedral: It is the largest Cathedral in Latin America and one of the most important Catholic buildings in the world. An imposing building with fourteen chapels that was built on the ruins of the Templo Mayor of the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan . Admission is free, but I recommend that you visit the bell towers of the cathedral for 20 pesos.
- National Palace: has been the seat of government since Aztec times (even Montezuma’s palace was there!). Part of the building has been transformed into a museum and houses frescoes by Diego Rivera such as «The History of Mexico». Free admission, ID required.
- El Viejo Portal de Mercaderes: It occupies one side of the square with several commercial buildings dating from the 16th century. There you will find luxury stores, hotels and restaurants.
Constitution Square
The Plaza de la Constitución, also called Zócalo, has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
It is the largest square in all of Latin America and an important tourist attraction in Mexico City, since it houses the main buildings of the capital.
Here’s what to see in the Zócalo, one of the most important tourist attractions in Mexico City:
- The Metropolitan Cathedral: It is the largest Cathedral in Latin America and one of the most important Catholic buildings in the world. An imposing building with fourteen chapels that was built on the ruins of the Templo Mayor of the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan . Admission is free, but I recommend that you visit the bell towers of the cathedral for 20 pesos.
- National Palace: has been the seat of government since Aztec times (even Montezuma’s palace was there!). Part of the building has been transformed into a museum and houses frescoes by Diego Rivera such as «The History of Mexico». Free admission, ID required.
- El Viejo Portal de Mercaderes: It occupies one side of the square with several commercial buildings dating from the 16th century. There you will find luxury stores, hotels and restaurants.
2. The main temple
Just behind the cathedral is the «Templo Mayor», which was the main temple of the city of Tenochtitlan.
However, it was not until the late 1970s that, thanks to construction work, its location was accidentally discovered. Can you imagine? The pyramid was 45 meters high!
To better understand the importance of the Templo Mayor you can visit the museum, which has numerous pre-Hispanic objects, such as the monolith of Coyolxauhqui, the goddess of the moon.
- It is open every day (except Mondays) from 9 am to 5 pm. Entrance fee 70 pesos
Latin American Tower
Taking the pedestrian street Madero from the Zócalo, you reach the «Torre Latinoamericana«, one of the tallest skyscrapers in the city.
The ascent to the viewpoint is definitely one of the main tourist attractions in Mexico City.
This is what you will find:
- 36th floor: Museo del Bicentenario ( 20 pesos adults, 10 pesos children)
- 37th floor: café and souvenir store
- 38th floor: permanent exhibition «The city and the tower through the centuries».
- Piso 40: a modern bar called «Piso 40», ideal for a drink in the evening.
- 41st floor: restaurant-bar Miralto with large windows to enjoy a magnificent view while having a bite to eat.
- 42nd and 43rd floors: two spaces with large windows and temporary exhibitions.
44th floor: the latin lookout an open terrace with the best view! (110 pesos adults, 70 pesos children, including the visit to the exhibition on the 38th floor). Open daily from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm
4. The Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico
A few meters from the Torre Latino is the Palacio de Bellas Artes, a magnificent building built in the early 1900s.
The imposing exterior is in art nouveau style and the interior, art deco style . It was made of white Italian marble and houses paintings by Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros, José Clemente Orozco and Rufino Tamayo. A true gem to visit in Mexico City.
Inside the palace you can find the Museum of Fine Arts ( 65 pesos, Sunday free), the Museum of Architecture (45 pesos, Sunday free) and the theater where the Folkloric Ballet of Mexico .
- Address: Avenida Juárez corner Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico. Tue – Sun from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Web site
In front of the palace stretches the Alameda Central with its white paths, lively fountains and impressive sculptures. At the end of it all is the Diego Rivera Mural Museum (admission $35 pesos), with Rivera ‘s work entitled «Sueño de una Tarde Dominical en la Alameda Central» (Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in the Central Alameda).
5. National Museum of Art
A few steps from Bellas Artes, in front of Plaza Manuel Tolsá, you will see a building that is considered one of the most important architectural works of the early twentieth century in the country.
It houses an art collection of 3000 pieces (XVI to XX centuries). Address: Calle de Tacuba 8, Historic Center of Mexico City. Admission $65 pesos, free on Sundays. Tue – Sun from 10am to 5:30pm, Free guided tour from Tuesday to Sunday, from 2pm to 4pm, Web Site
6. Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
With around 20 million visitors a year, it is the most visited Catholic monument after St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.
The basilica is dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico City, Mexico and Latin America . Without a doubt, it is a place to see and visit in Mexico City!
There are two main buildings: the old basilica, completed in 1709, and the new basilica, completed in 1976, as the old building threatened to collapse due to land subsidence.
Today, the building has been reinforced, but as soon as you enter, you can feel the pressure of the structure, it is impressive!
The new basilica is a modern structure that can accommodate up to 40,000 people. Masses are celebrated all day long. You have to go down to see the most important relic of the place: the ayate of Tepeyac with the image of the Virgin.
Also located in the place: The Parish of Santa Maria de Guadalupe, «Capuchinas», the Chapel of Pocito and the Ex-Parroquia de Indios. Address: Plaza de Las Américas 1, Villa de Guadalupe, Gustavo A. Madero, Mexico City. Free admission. Web site from The Basilica of Mexico City
7. The show of Ballet Folklorico de Mexico.
The Ballet Folklorico de Mexico’ s show is a must-see in Mexico City! It presents legends, dances and traditions of the different regions of Mexico through a great colorful show at the famous Palacio de Bellas Artes .
8. Monument to the Revolution
From the Alameda Central, taking Avenida Juárez, after Avenida de la República, one comes across an impressive structure located in the center of the Plaza de la República: the Monumento a la Revolución (Monument to the Revolution).
It is a mausoleum dedicated to the heroes of the Mexican Revolution, among them, Pancho Villa. It is considered the highest triumphal arch in the world.
You can also find on site:
- The Museum of the Revolution (Tue-Fri from 9am to 5pm, Sat-Sun from 9am to 6:30pm) with a collection of 400 pieces.
- The intermediate observation deck (65.7 m) to admire the 360º view, and a panoramic elevator.
- The pillars of the monument that can be visited from the viewpoint to see some projections of the time, wax sculptures of Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata.
- At the top, the «Paseo Linternilla», with two domes and a fantastic view of the surroundings.
At nightfall, don’t miss the play of water and lights in the Centennial Fountain at the Plaza de la República. Address: Plaza de la República, Mexico City. Entrance fee $90 pesos to have access to everything, or $60 pesos for the intermediate viewpoint. Web site
9. Angel of Independence and Paseo de la Reforma
The Angel of Independence on Paseo de la Reforma is one of the great symbols of Mexico City and Mexico.
Inaugurated in 1910 for the centennial of Mexico’s independence, it represents Nike, the Greek goddess of Victory . It is a seven-ton bronze statue covered in twenty-four carat gold.
Paseo de la Reforma is the most important avenue in the capital. It has an extension of 15 km, connects several areas of the city and is home to important sites of interest in Mexico City such as the Angel of Independence, Mexico City’s tallest skyscraper – Torre Reforma, Mexico City’stallest Fountain of the Diana Hunter or the Cuauhtémoc monument.
10. Chapultepec Castle
This castle was the residence of Emperor Maximilian and his wife Carlota in 1864.
In the castle there is furniture, tapestries, gardens, paintings from the XVII and XVIII centuries, works by Orozco and Siqueiros (artists of Mexican muralism) and the National Museum of History.
- Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm. Web site
11. Chapultepec Forest
Chapultepec Park, also called Chapultepec Forest, is an immense green space of 500 hectares that includes a hill.
It is the second largest urban park in Latin America and has several sculptures, fountains, gardens, a lake, restaurants and museums.
This is what you can see in Chapultepec:
- Chapultepec Castle: a magnificent 18th century palace on top of the hill, offering a breathtaking view of the surrounding area.
- National Museum of Anthropology: it is one of the most important museums of the American continent, and has an immense collection on the different cultures of Mesoamerica and the indigenous peoples of present-day Mexico. Tue-Sun from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission $70 pesos. Web site
- Museum of Modern Art: has a collection of modern Mexican art (from 1895 to 1955), as well as temporary exhibits. Admission $65 pesos. Tue-Sun from 10:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Web site
- Rufino Tamayo Museum of Contemporary Art: a collection of 315 works by the most renowned artists of the second half of the 20th century such as Picasso and Miró. It also houses temporary exhibitions. Admission: $65 pesos. Web site
- Botanical garden: Where you will find beautiful examples of cactus, agaves and orchids.
- Natural history museum: dedicated to biodiversity. Tue-Sun from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission $26 pesos. Web site
- Centro Cultural Casa del Lago: located in a building near the lake, it houses a small gallery, and offers shows and special events. Tue-Sun from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Web site
- México Mágico: an educational park with 92 models representing the main buildings of Mexico City.
The National Auditorium: it is considered one of the largest performance halls in the world and can accommodate up to 10,000 people.
12. National Museum of Anthropology of Mexico
Love at first sight! With 22 rooms in 45,000 m², this is the largest museum in Mexico, and one of the most important museums in the world .
The museum is divided into two sections: the archaeology collection and the ethnography collection.
- The archaeology collection includes artifacts from the different cultures that have formed Mexico, divided into different rooms: the American settlement, the Preclassic of the Central Altiplano, Teotihuacan, the Toltecs, Mexica (Aztecs), the Oaxacan cultures, the Gulf Coast cultures, the Maya, the Western cultures and the northern cultures.
- I found the ethnographic collection more interesting, as it allows us to understand the cultural identity of the indigenous peoples that make up Mexico, their way of life, traditional clothing and textiles, handicrafts, beliefs, agriculture and much more!
There is also a collection of very impressive artifacts such as:
- The Sun Stone (cuauhxicalli), one of the most famous works of Aztec art.
- A replica of Montezuma’s headdress, the feathered crown of Montezuma II.
- The statue of Xochipilli, a statue carved around the 16th century representing the Aztec goddess of art, games and dance.
- The replica of the Tomb of King Pakal (Mayan governor, «K’inich Janaab Pakal I»), whose original is located in Palenque , Chiapas . There is a magnificent jade mask and several objects that were also revealed when the mausoleum was discovered in 1952.
- The Maya Room contains several reproductions such as the Chac Mool of Chichen Itza, paintings of Bonampak or the temple of Hochob in the region of Campeche in the garden.
One cannot understand the scale and richness of this museum before setting foot in it. Actually, it deserves the first position of the places to see and visit in Mexico City! Tue-Sun from 9 am to 7 pm. Admission $70 pesos. Web Site
13. The pyramids of Teotihuacan
Built from the year 100, Teotihuacan was one of the largest cities of its time. At its peak, during the reign of the Aztec empire, it had up to 250,000 inhabitants! It had great commercial and political influence in Mesoamerica.
Today it is one of the main places to visit near Mexico City and one of the most important archaeological sites in Mexico.
What to see in Teotihuacan:
- The Pyramid of the Sun, the highest of all (65 m) and the Pyramid of the Moon (45 m) – for the time being, the pyramids cannot be climbed.
- The Citadel, formed by the Great Plaza and the temple of Quetzalcoatl (or Temple of the Feathered Serpent), which was the heart of the city.
- The Avenue of the Dead
- The Quetzalpapallotl Palace where the elite resided
- El Palacio de los Jaguares and El templo de los caracoles emplumados (The Palace of the Jaguars and The Temple of the Feathered Snails)
- The Teotihuacan Museum
Visit Teotihuacan: you can take a bus to Teotihuacan at Terminal del Norte, gate 8 (departures every 20 minutes. One hour trip, $50 pesos. Buy round trip). It is best to arrive early because there is a lot to see.
Open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Admission 80 pesos. Includes the museum.
- I invite you to read my complete guide Teotihuacan How to visit the pyramids
And for the ultimate experience, you can take the hot air balloon flight over Teotihuacan with hotel pick up, coffee, buffet breakfast, toast and flight certificate.
14. The mariachis of Garibaldi Square
Plaza Garibaldi is the best place to see mariachis in Mexico City.
Singers and musicians happily dressed in traditional Mexican mariachi costumes perform different songs, allowing tourists and onlookers to take pictures or videos (be prepared to tip!).
The atmosphere is certainly particular, as Garibaldi is a very popular place and, although you will often find alcoholic characters, especially on weekends, it is undoubtedly a real institution in the capital.
In my opinion, this is one of the most important places to visit in Mexico City.
The best thing you can do to enjoy Garibaldi is to relax on a terrace and enjoy the music. I recommend the Tenampa Room a traditional Mexican cantina (1925).
In the Plaza Garibaldi also houses the Tequila and Mezcal Museum (Sun – Wed from 11am to 10pm, Thu – Sat from 11am to midnight) with two halls, one dedicated to the Tequila and Mezcal Museum to Tequila and Mezcal, and the other, to The history of the mariachis and the Garibaldi Square.
15. The Roma and Condesa neighborhoods
For me, they are the most attractive neighborhoods in Mexico City!
One finds beautiful streets with large trees, Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Art Nouveau houses, art galleries, stores, cafes, restaurants and trendy bars, all in a rather bohemian atmosphere.
If there is a difference to be made, I would say that La Roma is more rebellious and La Condesa has more style. In both you will find good examples of urban art from Mexico.
Go to the Roma Market and get to know its delicatessen food kiosks, or the tianguis (street market) of La Condesa on Tuesdays and Fridays, a true street food paradise!
There are several places you should not miss: Alvaro Obregon Street, Luis Cabrera Square, Rio de Janeiro Square, Cibeles Fountain, Pushkin Garden, Amsterdam Avenue and Mexico Park. You can discover the best places in the area (coffee, art, tacos, etc.) with a local guide by booking the tour here:
16. Polanco
Polanco is the elegant neighborhood of Mexico City. There are embassies, restaurants, boutiques and luxury hotels, but also beautiful green areas. A safe and pleasant place to walk in Mexico City.
Here’s what to do and see in Polanco:
- Soumaya Museum: a free museum of unique architecture. It has a collection of 66,000 pieces by great painters and sculptors, a must-see in Mexico City!
- Museo Jumex: the largest private collection of contemporary art in Latin America!
Shopping: Avenida Presidente Masaryk is one of the most expensive streets in the capital. It houses several luxury boutiques. Also visit the Iron Palace and the Antara Shopping Mall .
17. The house of Frida Kahlo and Coyoacán
One of my favorite corners of the city! A traditional neighborhood of cobblestone streets and small squares with churches.
Its atmosphere is bohemian, with many cafes, art galleries, cultural centers and restaurants. Coyoacán is better known as Frida Kahlo’s neighborhood.
The area is frequented by artists and intellectuals, but also by families who, during the weekend, come to stroll through the various markets and enjoy the entertainment offered by street performers (mimes, clowns, etc.).
Here are some of the main tourist attractions in Coyoacán:
- Francisco Sosa Street: it joins the San Antonio de Padua Church with the Centennial Garden. There are several beautiful houses and important attractions including the Fonoteca Nacional, the Casa de Cultura Jesús Reyes de Heroles and the Plaza Santa Catarina.
- Plaza Jardín Hidalgo: it is the second most visited place in the capital. There you will find the Centennial Garden and the Fountain of the Coyotes, the church of San Juan Bautista and the National Museum of Popular Cultures.
- Frida Kahlo Museum: Frida’s famous blue house where she lived with Diego Rivera. In addition to discovering the house and the objects of his daily life, you will be able to see some of his work and that of other artists who frequented the place.
- Viveros de Coyoacán: A large green space where a great variety of tree species grow for reforestation. It is an ideal place to walk, run and get a good dose of oxygen.
Don’t forget to visit the local markets where you can find good, beautiful and cheap food, the small flowery streets and the charming squares.
18. Xochimilco
Several centuries ago, different bodies of water covered the region.
In order to provide sustenance for the dense population, the Aztecs filled portions of the lake with chinampas, a kind of artificial island used for cultivation.
Over time, the lake became narrower and narrower and what remains of it today are the canals of Xochimilco.
Today you can take an excursion in one of the famous trajineras, traditional and colorful wooden boats.
On your way through the canals, you will find several small boats with food and drink vendors, and mariachis! Imagine the festive atmosphere – especially on weekends – a multitude of colorful boats and traditional Mexican music! A unique activity to do in Mexico City.
See also in Xochimilco:
- Xochimilco Market: the ideal place to go to buy fresh provisions and much cheaper than in the canals.
- Isla de las Muñecas: an island open to the public where the hermit Julian Santana Barrera has collected thousands of dolls. It takes two hours to get there by boat.
- Dolores Olmedo Museum: The largest collection of Diego Rivera’s works located in a 17th century hacienda.
Be careful with the price! Obviously you have to negotiate, but it is good to know that the government has set a maximum hourly rate of $ 450 pesos, just make sure, as prices are negotiated on the spot. The price is not per person, but per boat, no matter the number of people.
