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5-Day Best of Mexico City Itinerary

Mexico City is a city of contrasts, and a place that you must experience to understand. Dive headfirst into its rich history and culture with this five-day best of Mexico City itinerary.

Day 1: The Centro Histórico

Mexico City’s Zócalo, one of the largest public squares in the world, was once the center of the Mexica city of Tenochtitlan, the remains of which lie beneath the modern metropolis. After the conquest, the Zócalo became the heart of the new Spanish city, and was called the Plaza Mayora throughout the colonial era. Take a moment to feel the power and history of this grand plaza, then head north to visit the remains of Tenochtitlan’s holiest site at the fascinating and recently expanded Museo del Templo Mayor. This twin temple-pyramid, which adjoined Tenochtitlan’s central plaza, was destroyed by the Spanish and then buried for centuries beneath the colonial city. Its base was uncovered in the 1970s, along with hundreds of artifacts now held in the on-site museum. It’s one of the Centro’s most important sights.

cobbled walkway through the ruins of Templo Mayor
The ruins of Templo Mayor. Photo © Julie Meade.

Have lunch at El Cardenal, just a block from the Zócalo, widely considered one of the best traditional Mexican restaurants in the city. After lunch, head east along the bustling pedestrian street Madero, stopping to see the current show in the Palacio de Cultura Citibanamex, if it’s open, and taking note of two iconic buildings just before the Eje Central, the Casa de los Azulejos and the Palacio Postal. Next, cross the Eje Central to take a turn around the museum in the Palacio de Bellas Artes, one of the city’s flagship cultural institutions, where the gorgeous art deco interiors are as opulent as its elaborate marble facade. It’s worth the admission fee to ascend to the top floors of the building, where there are interesting murals by Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and Rufino Tamayo, as well as contemporary art galleries.

palacio postal as seen from the street
Palacio Postal is an architectural jewel. Photo © Julie Meade.

Dusk is the perfect time to start a tour of the Centro’s cantinas. Begin by sipping a tequila at the grandest old joint, Bar La Ópera, on Cinco de Mayo. Next, see the city in all its glittering glory for the top floors of the Torre Latinoamericana in the in-house bar and restaurant Miralto.

Day 2: Chapultepec and the Condesa

Set aside the morning to tour the Museo Nacional de Antropología, a vast and absorbing museum dedicated to pre-Columbian and modern-day cultures in Mexico. You won’t have time to see the whole museum, so streamline your visit by focusing on the spectacular rooms dedicated to the Mexica people of Tenochtitlan, as well as the Teotihuacán galleries. Back outside, take an hour or two to explore a bit of the surrounding Bosque de Chapultepec on foot, strolling past the multi-disciplinary cultural center Casa del Lago Juan José Arreola, the pretty lake beside it, and the striking modern facade of the Museo de Arte Moderno. Stop into the museum if the show interests you, or continue your walk past the base of the Castillo de Chapulte- pec, which sits on a rocky outcropping overlooking the park and the Paseo de la Reforma.

aerial view of mexico city from castillo de chapultepec
The view from the Castillo de Chapultepec. Photo © ozeri/123rf.

Just below the Castillo de Chapultepec are the main gates to the park. From here, take a taxi or jump on the Metro one stop from Chapultepec to Sevilla, then walk into the Roma Norte for a late lunch at Contramar, an ultra-popular, always-bustling seafood restaurant near the Glorieta de la Cibeles. There’s often a wait around lunchtime, but the food and atmosphere are ideal.

After lunch, spend a few leisurely hours watching dogs romp and children play in Parque México. Stroll along Avenida Amsterdam, snapping photos of the Condesa’s distinctive art deco architecture and enjoying the people-watching in the many neighborhood cafés. Wrap up the day with a leisurely beer at Monstruo de Agua, or at Roma favorite Páramo.

city park full of trees and greenery
The lush foliage of Parque Mexico. Photo © Julie Meade.

Day 3: Coyoacán

If you arrive in Coyoacán via the Metro stop Viveros, you can admire old country mansions and towering trees while walking into the heart of the neighborhood via Avenida Francisco Sosa. Peek into the rust-colored Moorish-inspired hacienda that is home to the Fonoteca Nacional, an interesting sound archive and gallery space. Down the road, take a breather in charming Plaza Santa Catarina, a quiet, cobbled square popular with locals and their dogs. Once you arrive in the center of town, spend some time people-watching in Jardín Hidalgo and Jardín Centenario, the two old-fashioned public plazas at the center of the neighborhood.

Grab a mocha at Coyoacán classic Café El Jarocho, then wander through the Mercado Coyoacán, where you can snack on a tostada or two (the market is famous for them) to tide you over till lunch. From there, it’s a few blocks to the Museo Frida Kahlo, a moving museum dedicated to the life and legacy of its namesake artist. Walk back to the Jardín Cente- nario for a late lunch on the patio at Los Danzantes, and accompany your meal with a shot of their eponymous mezcal. If you want to extend the evening, drop in for a craft beer (or another mezcal) at the convivial Centenario 107, just a few blocks away.

wall inscription in the Frida Kahlo museum
Museo de Frida Kahlo. Photo © Cartu13/Dreamstime.

Day 4: San Ángel and UNAM

Saturday is a popular time to visit the colonial-era neighborhood of San Ángel, where the weekly Bazaar Sábado attracts some excellent artisan vendors, as well as some modern designers. If you aren’t visiting on a Saturday, check out the lovely Museo de El Carmen, housed in a colonial-era Carmelite monastery. From there, stroll through the neighborhood to the elegant San Ángel Inn for a late brunch, accompanied by one of their famous margaritas. Just across the street, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera fans should stop into the small but interesting Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera, the home where the couple lived and worked together in San Ángel.

From San Ángel, take the Metrobús along Insurgentes to the CCU stop, then spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the cultural center on the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) campus. Spend a few hours in the light-filled Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo, one of the finest contemporary art museums in Mexico City, opened in 2008. From there, wander into the northern section of the Espacio Escultórico de la UNAM, a massive outdoor sculpture garden built atop an expanse of volcanic rock in the 1960s.

Head south for an easy but classic pick for dinner: tacos, the city’s signature dish. Eat them standing up at Los Parados, in the sidewalk at Orinoco, or vegan at Gracias Madre Taqueria Vegana, all in the Roma.

Day 5: Teotihuacán

view from above of the ruins of Teotihuacan with mountains in the background
Teotihucán is one of the largest archaeological sites in the Americas. Photo © Shen Tao/123rf.

Have a hearty breakfast in or near your hotel, slather on some sunscreen, and pack a big bottle of water before making your way to the Terminal Autobuses del Norte, the first stop in your journey to the ruins at Teotihuacán. Mexico’s most famous and most visited archaeological site is just 30 kilometers outside the city, and buses depart the terminal for the pyramids several times each hour.

Though little is known about its people, Teotihuacán was once the most powerful city-state in Mesoamerica, evidenced by its massive temples and visionary city planning: Today, you can get a glimpse into that mysterious past by walking along Teotihuacán’s grand central avenue, the Calzada de los Muertos, to admire the twin pyramids that once stood at the city center, the Piramide del Sol (Pyramid of the Sun) and the Piramide de la Luna (Pyramid of the Moon).


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Julie Meade

About the Author

Julie Doherty Meade grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and spent her childhood hiking, camping, and traveling throughout the Golden State. After graduating from college, she took her first trip to Mexico, where she was immediately drawn to the country's warm people and fascinating culture. The following year, Julie returned to Mexico and decided to extend her stay indefinitely.

For almost ten years, Julie lived, worked, and traveled throughout Mexico. She saw Zapatista leader Subcomandante Marcos speak to a crowd in San Cristóbal de las Casas, helped run a fine art gallery in San Miguel de Allende, and taught English to five-year-olds in Mexico City. During her years in the capital, she was schooled in advanced Mexican slang, developed a strong affinity for early-morning café con leche in old Chinese coffee shops, and spent hours seeking out the best bookstores, most interesting architecture, and tastiest bites in the city's diverse neighborhoods.

Julie lives with her husband, Arturo, her son, Mariano, and her chihuahua, Tequila. She writes and copyedits for several publications and visits Mexico every chance she gets. Julie is also the author of Moon Mexico City.

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