7 Easy Going Days in Mexico City

ONE WEEK MEXICO CITY ITINERARY
With a week in Mexico City, you can take your time, amble through different neighborhoods, and not stress about the traffic. Since you have a solid 7 days, I recommend spending each day in only one or two neighborhoods. This will allow you to explore them deeper, spending more time in one place, and also will allow you to avoid peak traffic.

If you are visiting Mexico City for the first time, you may want to consider hiring a guide for that first or second day of your trip. It will give you a much better understanding of the history and culture for the rest of your travels around the city and it will likely be able to give you a better idea of what you want to see for the remainder of your time in Mexico City.

I highly recommend Journeys Beyond the Surface. They offer private tours with exceptional guides who are experts on Mexican history, architecture, art, and culture and every tour I’ve taken with them has taught me something new about this amazing city.

You can also contact them to help with trip planning. For $35, they will help you with everything from maps and advice to help with any issues you may have with booking events or other tours. Their trip planning offer lasts from the moment you start with them until the moment you leave Mexico City so you always have a friend at hand to answer any questions you might have.

DAY TWO: CONDESA & ROMA
These two neighborhoods, which sit side by side, are some of the most livable places in the city. It’s where Luke and I always end up on weekends for their cute cafes, reasonably priced restaurants, and all the craft beer. There are some really great markets in this area as well.

One of the best things to do in these neighborhoods is to simply wander. Start at Parque Mexico and head around Avenida Amsterdam (the ring road that circles Condesa). This is where you should have lunch and a coffee (or beer). I love coffee from Frëims and Blend Station for coffee and breakfast at La Esquina de Chilaquil is must! It’s a little street stall with a HUGE line, but it’s truly worth the wait for what many call the best torta in Mexico City.

Be sure to veer off onto the side streets to enjoy the colonial architecture and street art. This is where some of the best are hidden. If you’re feeling peckish, head to El Moro for some delicious churros and hot chocolate.

If you keep heading east from Amsterdam, you’ll cross into Colonia Roma. The main street here is Álvaro Obregon. The street is lined with some of my favorite bars and restaurants.

Great cafes in Roma to try are Delirio and Dosis. Try the pastor tacos at Tacos Alvaro Obregon (this is my favorite spot to eat them!) or have chicharron tacos at Tacos Orinoco. El Palenquito is a good spot to sample different types of mezcal and Limantour is THE place to go for cocktails – it’s currently ranked the #1 bar in Latin America and #13 in the world!

To experience a local Mexican market, head down Medellín or Monterrey Streets until you reach Mercado Medellín. You can get fresh fruit, flowers, homemade furniture, and more great antojitos. Don’t forget to try some Horchata, a drink made with either rice or oatmeal and topped with a hefty scoop of cinnamon. It is super delicious on a hot day.

For a fantastic tianguis (local weekly market) that has some of the best food in all of Mexico City, head to the roundabout called Fuente de Cibeles. It is here on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays and you’ll see the entrance to Bazar el Oro. My favorite spots here are the mixiote tacos at Taco Mio and the falafel stand make amazing wraps (it’s the only Lebanese place in the market, you can’t miss it).

Read: What to Do in Condesa

mercado roma mexico city
Another market to check out in the area is Mercado Roma. Completely different to Medellín, Roma Market is modern and chic. Sit at one of the long wooden benches and take your pick. Sushi burritos sit next to ceviche taco stands. There are mezcal bars and Mexican craft beer shops. It’s a plethora of gastronomical delights and you could accidentally spend the majority of your day here.

Roma is also a great place to explore the local art scene. It’s packed with galleries like Galería OMR, TOCA Galeria, and the colorful Fifty 24MX Gallery.

If you’re ever stumped for a place to eat, both day or night, simply head into these neighborhoods and you won’t be disappointed. Try some of the street vendors, you won’t be disappointed. After dark, most cluster around Avenida de los Insurgentes.

Read: Everything You Need to Know About Street Food in Mexico City

DAY ONE: HISTORICAL CENTER
The center of the city referred to as the Centro Historico is packed with history. It’s said to have been built on the exact site of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlán. This is where you’ll find the historical buildings, the museums, and the artifacts that make Mexico City into the metropolis that it is now.

Start the day in the Zócalo, the center of the city, in front of the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral. The cathedral was first built in 1573. It is the largest cathedral in the Americas and one worth spending a little time exploring, regardless of your religious affiliations. The square is also where they filmed the start of Spectre (the 007 film). Luke always likes to point that out to our visitors!

Your next stop should be Palacio Nacional, the National Palace. This is where the original Aztec ruler Moctezuma, had his palace. The inner walls are covered with murals by Diego Rivera, one of Mexico’s most famous painters. The murals depict the history of Mexico City as far back as before the arrival of the Spanish. It’s really beautiful both inside and out. Be sure you have an ID with you (if you don’t have a Mexican-issued ID, then it will need to be a passport, but only one person in the group needs it).

If you want some more Spectre themed sightseeing, head across the Zocalo to the Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico. Even if you’re not a huge film buff, the art deco interior is worth a peek. The ceiling is stained glass and stunning. You can also go upstairs to the terrace restaurant for views of the zocalo and a nice cold beer.

For a nearby breakfast spot, check out El Cardinal. It’s well known for its hot chocolate and freshly baked bread like conches. They also make some pretty spectacular chilaquiles – a popular Mexican breakfast food that will keep you full all day long. For less pomp and ceremony, but equally delicious breakfast, check out either Cafe El Popular or Cafe La Blanca.

For more amazing murals, I also recommend checking out the Secretary of Education building (some of my favorite murals in all of Mexico are here) as well as the Colegio de San Ildefonso, which is where you’ll find the very first mural that Diego Rivera painted in Mexico. It’s also where he first met Frida. The Secretary of Education building is free to enter, you just need to tell them that you want to see the murals. The Colegio de San Ildefonso allows you to see the Diego Rivera mural for free, but if you want to see the other murals, you have to pay a small entry fee.

Read: A Sunday Walk Along Paseo de la Reforma

Visiting Teotihuacan

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As you head away from the Zocalo, head over to Palacio de Bellas Artes, the Palace of Fine Arts. It’s the city’s opera house and fine art museum. It’s also my favorite building in the entire city. Check out that colorful dome against the blue sky – SO picturesque!
Have a read of the signs to see if there are any shows on. The Folkloric Ballet of Mexico is well worth it if you enjoy live music and want to see some classic Mexican dancing. The costumes are spectacular and the music is really something special. You can usually get a ticket for about 300 pesos ($15). The shows are every Wednesday and Sunday – simply pop into the lobby of the Palace of Fine Arts and head to the ticket counter to get one (they don’t speak much English, but will write down the times and point at seats if your Spanish language skills are lacking).

If you want a quick coffee, head into the Sears building across the street from the Bellas Artes and go up to the top floor. There is a cafe there with a great view out over the area and the coffees are pretty good as well.

Alternatively, you can go to the top Torre Latinoamericana. My most recent visit in June 2019 cost me 120 Pesos (roughly $6 USD). They give you a map with your ticket so you can see what buildings you’re looking at and the views are 360, making it one of the best places to see the city from above (in my opinion). I actually think going up this building on your first or second day in Mexico City is a great way to really understand how truly massive this city is and to start to see some of the different places that you’re going to check out during the rest of your week in Mexico City.

For lunch, I recommend stopping at the market near Hidalgo Metro Station (to the right of the Barrio Alameda building if you’re looking at it). You’ll see tons of red tarps and different vendors selling pambazos, tacos, gorditas, and quesadillas. Pick a busy spot, grab a stool and order a few different things. They’re super cheap and incredibly delicious. If you would prefer a restaurant, nearby is also a fantastic place called Taqueria Tlaquepaque. They have all of the best Mexican classics like pastor tacos, tortas, carnitas, and delicious agua frescas.

If street food isn’t your thing, a great local restaurant to try in the Historic Centro is Cafe de Tacuba. On weekends you may have to wait a few minutes for a table, but for most of the week you’ll get straight in to enjoy great Mexican classic dishes like mole, chile rellenos, and chilaquiles. There’s always live music and the interior is something to behold. They’ve been cooking up dishes in Mexico City at this very location for over 100 years!

Other worthwhile midday food spots in the Historic Center are El Flaco for “basket tacos,” El Huequito for alambre and pastor tacos, and El Pescadito for fish tacos – be sure to try the marlin!

DAY THREE: COYOACAN
Coyoacan is by far my favorite neighborhood in Mexico City and one that cannot be missed. It has amazing street food, my favorite cafes, beautiful museums, and really hip craft beer and mezcal bars.

Things not to miss: The Frida Kahlo Museum, Leon Trotsky Museum (particularly interesting if you want to learn more about Mexican history as well as more about Frida and Diego), Mercado Artesenal Mexicano, tostadas at Mercado Coyoacan and fried quesadillas at Mercado de Antojitos.

It feels a world away from central Mexico City. The streets are cobbled, lined with trees, and full of historic churches and homes.

Read: What to Do in Coyoacan

what to do in coyoacan mexico city

If you’re interested in learning more about the legendary Frida Kahlo (you will be after seeing her all over the city), start your day at La Casa Azul, the blue house. This is where Frida Kahlo was born and raised (and even died!) and is now a museum commemorating her life.

You can see things that used to belong to her – jewelry, clothing, artwork. There is also a collection of pre-hispanic art on display. Book your tickets online before you arrive so that you can skip the line.

A few blocks from La Casa Azul is the central square, Plaza Hidalgo. This is a really nice park to just relax and people-watch in. Restaurants and bars line the square and all offer plenty of outdoor seating.

Beside the square is arguably the best market in the city (it’s one of my favorites for sure!). It’s called Mercado Artesanal Mexicano, and it has so many Mexican souvenirs and crafts inside. It’s two floors and is packed with bright colors, strong smells and, on weekends, tons of people. I don’t think I’ve ever gone there without buying something.

San Juan Bautista is also a great place to check out. A former convent, this church was built on top of an old school for the children of the Aztec nobles. It’s over 300 years old, making it one of the oldest Catholic churches in all of Mexico! Be aware that there are tons of hawkers trying to sell things outside the church. I’ve heard, on the odd occasion, of pickpocketing happening in the square.

Have coffee at Café Avellaneda, a beer at Centenario 107, and tostadas in the Coyoacan Market (look for the bright yellow tablecloths).

How to Get to Coyoacan:

To get to Coyoacan from the city center, you can take the metro line 3 to Coyoacán, Viveros, or Miguel Ángel de Quevedo stations. None are particularly central to Coyoacan, so if you don’t mind spending $2-$3, I recommend simply taking a taxi or an Uber (ubers are generally cheaper and safer than city taxis in my experience).

DAY FOUR: TEOTIHUACAN RUINS
I just wrote about taking a tour of Teotihuacan a few weeks ago. It was such a great experience and the pyramids are incredible.

I really recommend taking a tour if you’re only going to be in the city for a few days. They’ll pick you up from your hotel and drop you back off there at the end of the day. They’ll organize a place to have a nice Mexican lunch and ply you with tons of tequila, too! Journey’s Beyond the Surface is the company that I recommend most.

However, it’s also incredibly easy to do on your own. You can either take the bus or hop in an Uber. If there are going to be a larger group of you, you can also hire a driver for the day from the Zocalo (near the big pink bus stop to the left of the Cathedral) or to the right of the Hilton Reforma.

READ: TOURING TEOTIHUACAN – A MEXICO CITY DAY TRIP
If you do want to go it alone, you can catch a bus from the Northern Bus Terminal, Terminal Autobuses del Norte. Buses labeled Piramides leave every 20 minutes for Teotihuacan and drop you off at the bus terminal there, a five-minute walk to the entrance of the ruins. It takes about an hour to get there and you can easily catch a bus back from any of the entrances to the park.

Have more time? Maybe you want to check out a professional futbol game! Even if you’re not a big fan of soccer, you’ll likely love the atmosphere of these sporting events. There is usually at least one game per week in Mexico City since there are three teams.

DAY FIVE: POLANCO
If you’re in Mexico City for a week and you want to explore some of the finer things in Mexico City, you can’t miss a trip to Polanco. Polanco is the upscale neighborhood in Mexico City. It’s home to the ultra-wealthy, the top hotels and restaurants, tons of museums, and all the designer shopping.

Walk down Campos Eliseos. It’s a really beautiful tree-lined street with some of the biggest and fanciest houses in the city. Then head to Parque Lincoln, the unofficial center of the suburb. It has nice walking paths and is a good place to start your stroll around the neighborhood. You’ll hear French, German, and plenty of English in this neighborhood. It’s where a lot of expats live. It’s around this park that you’ll find most of the best midday lunch spots and cafes. One of my favorites is Surtidora Don Batiz. The ceviche here is delicious!

If you want to see the center of all the luxury, walk down Avenida Presidente Masaryk. All the streets that branch off have nice restaurants, cafes and bars worth stopping into.

Polanco is home to several really wonderful museums and art galleries. The largest and most frequented is the Museum of Anthropology. This is where you should head if you want to see Aztec and Maya ruins and if you want to learn more about the not-so-famous Mesoamerican cultures of Mexico. It’s enormous and if you really want to explore it all, you could easily spend several hours here, so be sure to have a big breakfast before you arrive.

If you’re interested in art, you’ll find some of the best galleries and museums in Polanco. Jumex Collection is the city’s most valuable contemporary art collection. Every month or two big-name exhibitions come through. A few months ago I saw a fantastic Andy Warhol exhibit here and the best part is it’s usually totally free!

Next door to Jumex Collection is the Museo Soumaya. It was commissioned by one of the richest men in Mexico (and indeed the world), Carlos Slim. The building is really unique and worth a visit even if you don’t go in. It is worth going in though and it’s free every day of the week. On the inside, you’ll find European paintings, pre-hispanic sculptures and ceramics, and ivory from around Asia.

If you want to splurge, make a reservation at Pujol for dinner. It’s ranked as one of the top five restaurants in the world. For $80 per person, you’ll get a seven-course degustation. The mole is truly something to behold, but I also love Quintonil, a nearby restaurant with perhaps not the same high reputation, but simply stunning food.

The best street food in mexico city
DAY SIX: XOCHIMILCO
Xochimilco is an area a few miles south of the city center. It’s best to take a taxi here or speak to your hotel – many hotels offer mini-buses here. You can also do tours here if you’d rather have them organize the whole thing. Olympus Tours have a reasonably priced tour here which I recommend if you don’t speak any Spanish.

The three main things to explore in Xochimilco are the Museo Dolores Olmed Patiño, the market, and the main attraction: the floating garden.

Read: Xochimilco: The Complete Guide

The Museo Dolores Olmed Patiño was once the house of socialism Dolores Olmedo. In 1994 she opened her home to the public to show off her art collection. The grounds are one of the best things about it. There are peacocks wandering around the well manicured lawn. Inside you’ll find several pieces by Diego Rivera, and entire room devoted to Frida Kahlo, and several pre-hispanic sculptures.

From here you can either take a bus or a taxi to Mercado de Xochimilco. It’s broken into two areas, Xochitl Zona where you’ll find fruits, vegetables, meats and pottery, and Xochimilco Anexo where you can buy flowers and food. This is a great spot for lunch.

The Floating Gardens is a fun both day and night. It’s the main reason most people visit the area, so it can get very busy, especially on weekends. Busy is good though, it makes for a great atmosphere. I love it most on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Head to a boat landing (embarcadero) where someone will help you arrange a boat ride. The main embarcadero is the Nueva Nativitas which is where you should head to get the best price. You pay by the hour to take a boat ride (not per person, but per boat) and it shouldn’t cost more than 350 pesos per hour.

Don’t head for the boats that say 20 pesos, those are taxis, not pleasure cruises.

Pack a few drinks, snacks, and speakers for music if you want! Anything goes. Other boats will float up to yours touting food, drinks, and mariachi bands. It’s a really fun atmosphere but can feel slightly overwhelming at first. You’ve been warned!

If partying not your thing, don’t let that stop you from visiting this amazing part of the city. I highly recommend taking a tour with my friend Ubish from Mexico Underground.

He works closely with a group of farmers on the other side of Xochimilco who are working to bring life back to this region of Mexico City. In doing so, they are cleaning the air, creating more jobs, and bringing back ancient seeds that were used here in Mexico before the arrival of the Spanish. Check out that tour and contact Ubish directly here.

DAY SEVEN: CHAPULTEPEC PARK
Chapultepec is one of my favorite places to get away from the noise and craziness of the city. It’s absolutely enormous.

There are tons of entrances along Paseo de la Reforma depending on where you want to start.

In the park, you’ll find Castillo de Chapultepec, the castle on the hill. Fun fact – it’s the only castle in North America that has actually had royalty live in it!

One of the most famous museums in the park and probably in the whole city is the Museum of Anthropology. It’s also free on Sundays, but it’s SO busy on Sundays. I recommend going during the week and just stumping up the few dollars it costs. You’ll enjoy it so much more.

From here you can walk through the main path lined on both sides with vendors. It will lead you to the lake where you can rent a paddleboat for a few dollars an hour. It’s a fun way to spend a sunny afternoon and you can see a different view of the park this way.

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If it’s a sunny day, try out one of the paddle boats on the lake. It’s really cheap – only 50 pesos for an hour ($2.50).

There are tons of places to try Mexican snacks and antojitos. Definitely have some Chicharron (fried pig skin) with all the toppings!