I heard good things about La Ciudad de México (CDMX), but visiting was never high on my bucket list of destinations to explore.
That all changed when I had a travel credit with AeroMexico that was about to expire, with no flexibility to extend it for a few months longer. So I had no choice but to pack my bags and work remotely during the pandemic. Sounds terrible, right?
My time in CDMX was magical. I fell in love with the history, the colorful street art, the culture, the people, the food, and my new favorite, mezcal!
There are endless things to do, and if you’re on the fence about whether or not you should visit, don’t think twice and just go! Here is my list of the 13 best things to do and see in Mexico City.
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Map of the best things to do in Mexico City
To help you find the landmarks and sights mentioned below, I’ve added a map. You can also check out Google Maps here.
1. Visit Palacio de Bellas Artes
Whether you’re an art enthusiast or a newbie, don’t miss visiting Palacio de Bellas Artes (The Palace of Fine Arts), one of Mexico City’s important cultural centers.
Inside you’ll see impressive exhibitions, murals, sculptures, and paintings by famous Mexican artists like Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco, and many more!
The Palacio de Bella Artes is also a venue for famous opera, dance, music, art, and literature events.
The museum has the National Museum of Architecture and the National Theatre. Making it a must-see during your time in Mexico City. Plan to spend a couple of hours touring the palace.
The Palacio de Bellas Artes is open Tuesday – Sunday, 10:00 a.m.-7 p.m. Admission to the palace is 70 pesos ($3.70); Sundays are free to the public.
Insider Tip: You can’t buy tickets online or in advance; you can only get tickets from the museum ticket office on the day you plan to visit.
2. Eat at Pujol
Eating at Pujol not once but twice was one of the highlights of my time in Mexico City. Located in the swanky neighborhood of Polanco, Pujol is ranked among the world’s 50 best restaurants and the top 10 restaurants in Latin America.
Top chef Enrique Olvera thoughtfully puts together tasting menus featuring tapa-style dishes with sea urchins and mole over 2,000 days old.
One tricky thing about visiting Pujol is you must make a reservation in advance. If you know you’ll be visiting Mexico City, then be sure to secure your reservation from the official website.
Insider tip: If you can’t get a reservation online, visit the restaurant to find out their availability. You are likelier to snag a table, especially if they have last-minute cancellations.
Pujol is open Monday-Saturday, 1:30-9:30 pm.
3. Visit the Teotihuacán Pyramids
A trip to Mexico City is not complete without visiting the Teotihuacán Pyramids! Teotihuacán, also known as the “birthplace of the gods,” was given its name by the Nahuatl- speaking Aztecs.
Located about an hour’s drive (30 miles or 48 kilometers) outside CDMX, this archaeological site, and the prehistoric city was one of the first major cities in the western hemisphere.
During your visit, explore the impressive pyramid of the sun, the pyramid of the moons, multi-family residential compounds, the Avenue of the Dead, and colorful murals. Visiting the pyramids was one of my favorite activities we did.
The best way to visit Teotihuacán is with a small-group tour. With tours, all you have to do is show up, sit back, and enjoy the adventure without the stress of planning.
Alternatively, you can rent a car or hire a driver. Both options are doable, but remember you might spend more money than you planned.
A friend of ours who lived in CDMX referred us to her driver. Javier was amazing! He picked us up in front of our Airbnb. If you prefer to hire a driver, message Javier on WhatsApp at +52 56 3099 4507.
Plan to spend the entire day checking out the ruins wearing comfortable shoes with sunglasses and water!
4. Take a hot air balloon ride
If you’re adventurous and are ok with heights (even if you aren’t) but open to the idea of flying in a hot air balloon, it has to be up there for one of the most incredible bucket list activities.
You wake up in the wee hours of the morning to spend 1 hour flying over the Teotihuacán Valley and getting an up-close view of the Teotihuacán pyramids.
This hot air balloon flight includes round-trip transportation from Mexico City and breakfast. This is a popular activity and perfect if you want something to do in the morning.
5. Take a day trip to Coyoacán
Coyoacán (from Nahuatl, meaning the place of coyotes) is a beautiful historic neighborhood in the suburbs of Mexico City.
Coyoacán is known for its cobbled streets, colorful buildings, artisan markets, colonial architecture, and, most notably, the home of Frida Kahlo—a famous Mexican artist.
During your visit, wander around the neighborhoods admiring the old churches, go to Jardin Centenario, and stop at Plaza Hidalgo.
If you’re visiting on a Saturday or Sunday, check out the crafts at artisan markets like Bazar Artensal Mexicano or Casa de Luna.
For delicious and authentic food, visit the Mercado de Coyoacán on Ignacio Allende s/n. I loved Coyoacán; it was a fantastic way to see another part of CDMX and learn about its history.
We did a lot of walking that day, and I treated myself to fresh churros con chocolate!
6. Take a tour of the Frida Kahlo Museum
After exploring Coyocan, head to Casa Azul in the Colonia del Carmen neighborhood.
As an art lover and fan of Frida Kahlo, one of the main things on my Mexico City bucket list was visiting the Frida Kahlo Museum (Museo Frida Kahlo), also known as Casa Azul (the Blue House). Casa Azul is where Frida Kahlo was born, grew up, and lived with her husband, Diego Rivera, a Mexican painter, until she died in 1954.
You know you’ve reached the right place, as the building stands out for its cobalt blue walls. You’ll tour 10 rooms filled with Frida and Diego’s personal collections of art, photographs, letters, pre-Hispanic artifacts, and more.
I was impressed and in awe of Frida’s life and her dedication to her work. After exploring the museum, I spent time in the beautifully manicured courtyard, which was a real treat.
Casa Azul is one of the most-visited places in Coyoacán, and you must buy tickets in advance. Tickets were sold out for the day I planned to visit.
I ended up booking the Xochimilco, Coyoacán, and Frida Kahlo Museum Tour, which included my entrance ticket.
You can buy tickets in advance for Frida Kahlo Museum if you are looking just to visit Coyoacán.
The Frida Kahlo Museum is closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Wednesdays, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., and Thursdays to Sundays, 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. MX$250-270, $15/$16.
7. Drift down the canals of Xochimilco
I visited Xochimilco, a UNESCO site, as part of my tour, and this activity exceeded my expectations!
A lively mariachi band greeted us as we hopped onto colorful gondola-like boats called trajineras and set out down the canals. We bought lunch and drinks from the vendors on boats floating past us during the ride.
I ended up overpaying for a margarita, which was barely drinkable, but I wasn’t going to let it go to waste!
While riding down the canals, we saw locals partying and enjoying themselves. They had the right idea of bringing their food, drink, and music on board. It made me want to jump out and party with them!
Insider Tip: To avoid crowds, visit Xochimilco during the week.
8. Spend the day at Grutas Tolantongo
There aren’t enough words to describe how incredible and memorable your experience will be visiting Grutas Tolantongo! This hot spring water park oasis in Hidalgo is the perfect way to spend the day relaxing in the thermal river and pools surrounded by the mountains.
Hidalgo is 4 hours outside Mexico City, and while you can rent a car or take the bus, you can take a full-day tour from Mexico City like I did.
Taking a tour was the best way to sit back, learn about the area from our guide, and not deal with the hassle of driving or taking the bus.
Our tour included a lovely lunch, and on our way back to Mexico City, our guide, Eduardo, stopped so that we could try a Michelada, a delicious Mexican drink.
It’s made with local beer lime, spices, chamoy, and tequila. Think Mexico’s version of a bloody mary!
Foodies, eat and drink your way through Mexico City
9. Try the street tacos and street food
The street tacos and street food in Mexico City were out of this world! There’s no shortage of finding stalls of vendors; they are practically on every sidewalk, outside metro stations, parks, you name it!
I loved that the food at no two vendors was alike.
My favorite area to get street food was Polanco and Centro Historico. The best carne asado taco I had was on the corner of the Plateria Rafael!
I had tacos, tostadas, quesadillas, and birra daily and spent at most $2 at a time. I wasn’t shy when it came time to eat; I ate my fill and then some.
The vendor stalls were clean; everything was made fresh to order, and the vendors were super friendly.
Supporting local businesses is always on my list when visiting other countries, and Mexico City was no different.
If you are a foodie, sampling the street food in Mexico City is a must!
10. Explore Centro Histórico
Centro Histórico, or Centro, is Mexico City’s historical center; no trip is complete without checking out the area.
Centro Histórico has a lot of historic landmarks centered around the Zócalo, the central plaza, and the biggest plaza in Latin America.
You will see the colonial cathedral built on top of the Templo Mayor (Aztec Temple) during your visit. This was once the central location for the entire Aztec empire.
The temple remains have been preserved, but you can still see the archeological treasures.
This area is lively and attracts lots of tourists and locals alike.
Insider Tip: Avoid eating in Centro Histórico. The servers at the restaurant will lure you into eating and overcharging you for everything! Trust me, I speak from experience!
11. Visit El Mayor for a drink and views
Before leaving Centro Histórico, head to the Porua Bookstore and take the elevator to El Mayor, a fantastic rooftop restaurant overlooking the Temple Mayor, Metropolitan Cathedral, and the city square awaits you!
The view is fantastic, and if you’re on a budget, you can enjoy a quick bite and tasty drink from the snack bar. I ordered the mezcal margarita with fruit (mezcal con fruita), and it was divine!
12. See a Lucha Libre performance
Lucha Libre is a big deal in Mexico City. In fact, it’s one of the best ways to learn about the culture and witness the country’s most popular sport in Mexico City.
Lucha Libre (free fight) is a well-choreographed show where colorful masked wrestlers or Lucadores (fighters) fly, dive, and perform all kinds of bodyslams and wipeouts.
These masked Lucachadores do an incredible job of getting the crowd riled up while keeping their identities a secret the entire time.
The best nights to see Lucha Libre at Arena México are Tuesday at 19:30, Friday at 20:30, and Sunday at 17:00. At Arena Coliseo, the best night to go is on Saturdays at 19:30. I would check the official website for exact times.
The Lucha Libre experience is a great way to learn from your local guide about the culture and enjoy it with other people. Your ticket includes admission to the show, a free drink, and a complimentary lucha libre mask!
13. Try the cocktails at Hanky Panky
If it weren’t for a friend living in CDMX for over a year, we would’ve missed Hanky Panky altogether!
Located in the upscale neighborhood of Polanco, this speakeasy cocktail bar was another highlight of our trip!
You arrive at a bodega-looking storefront and then go through a secret passageway. Once you go inside, the vibes and ambiance are very cool. Leather chairs, low lights, hip music, sleek marble bar are the first things you see when you walk in.
Hanky Panky has a few signature cocktails that are unique and named after different parts of Mexico.
But the real treat was watching the bartenders showcase their talents by making drinks behind their backs, above their heads; it was like watching Cirque de Soleu but in a bar!
If you’re looking for a place to start your night, head to Hanky Panky for unique cocktails and excitement.
I recommend making a reservation on OpenTable to avoid disappointment, as the place is small and fills up quickly.
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