If you’re planning a trip to the largest city in North America, you’re in the right place! Mexico City has so much to do and see, making it difficult to narrow it down for just a few days. If you’re interested in a mix of unique guided experiences and some of your own exploration, plus you’re a vegetarian who wants to try the local cuisine, this Mexico City itinerary is for you!
Mexico City is the oldest capital city in the Americas and the largest Spanish-speaking city in the world, so it has something for everyone. For my first visit to the city and the entire country of Mexico, I loved getting to see the city through the eyes of locals on some guided experiences. This guide includes biking between street taco stands, visiting local markets, cooking with a local family, riding a hot air balloon, and more.
I hope this Mexico City itinerary helps you plan a wonderful trip, especially if it’s your first time visiting Mexico City. It’s based on my experience visiting Mexico City in November 2024.
Tips for Visiting Mexico City
- While many locals in Mexico City speak English, it’s very helpful to know at least a bit of Spanish when you visit.
- The vast majority of places that I visited in Mexico City took credit cards, but it’s helpful to have some cash on hand for tips, and in case you go anywhere that is cash only. ATM fees can vary, I recommend using ATMs that are attached to a bank. Also, when paying with credit cards, select to pay in Mexican Pesos (instead of your local currency) when given a choice. This will give you a better rate.
- It's usually customary to tip between 10-20% at restaurants in Mexico.
- Is Mexico City safe? In my opinion, yes. As with any large city, be aware of your surroundings and avoid walking alone at night.
Getting There and Getting Around
Most visitors will fly into the Mexico City International Airport Benito Juárez to begin their trip. It’s a large airport with direct flights to almost 100 cities.
Pro Tip: To save time entering the country, follow signs for the automated kiosk where you can scan your passport. This applies to certain countries, including the United States.
When it comes to getting around Mexico City, Uber is an affordable way to get all over the city. I recommend selecting Uber Black, because we found the cars to be much nicer and newer, and there isn’t much of a cost difference.
The Mexico City Metro is also a good way to get around, but you may want to avoid traveling during rush hour. You also get to use the Metro (and learn how from a local) on the market tour that I mention in this guide. If you plan to use the Metro throughout your trip, plan the market tour for your first day.
How to Spend 3 Days in Mexico City
Day One
Take a market and food tour, and explore Mexico City’s Historic Center.
Tour Local Markets, Cook with a Local Family and Ride the Metro
Spend your first day in Mexico City getting to know the local culture through food! I took a tour that included visits to two very different local markets, tastings, cooking and more. It’s a great introduction to the city!
We started at a local market that not many tourists frequent - Mercado Presidente Abelardo L. Rodriguez. One of the most interesting parts of this market was the detailed murals at the entrance and upstairs. We enjoyed tamales here (including a sweet one!) and atole (a drink made of corn masa).
Then, we took the metro to another area of town and visited Mercado Jamaica, a market that is especially known for its flowers. This was a great way to learn how to use the Mexico City Metro system!
Before exploring the market, we went to a local family food stall and got to partake in some cooking. We made Huaraches, which is a dish made up of masa dough stuffed with pinto beans and topped with salsa, onions, queso fresco and other toppings. It was delicious.
Finally, we explored Mercado Jamaica, which has 1,000’s of different types of flowers. The market is constantly changing with the seasons and is full of color.
Tip: Most flower vendors don’t want photos of their displays, ask first.
We had even more food inside of the market and tried a few different types of corn. We also explored an area full of pinatas and learned about how mole was made.
This tour was extremely informative and a great way to learn about local culture and cuisine. It’s a great way to get to know the city.
Book the Market and Food Tour on Viator
Explore the Historic Center of Mexico City
Spend your afternoon exploring the Historic Center of Mexico City, which is a must-see for any first-time visitor. This is the area where Spaniards built what would later become the Mexico City we know today.
A few places to explore in this area include Constitution Plaza, which is essentially the main square of the city, the National Museum of World Cultures, the Palacio de Bellas Artes, and the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral.
Pro Tip: You can get a great view of the Palace of Fine Arts from the 8th floor of Sears.
I really enjoyed visiting the Templo Mayor Museum. The museum is unique because you walk among ruins outside and see what used to be the city of Tenōchtitlan, the capital city of the Mexica people.
The ancient city was destroyed when the Spaniards came, but it was later found at the end of the 19th century when excavation work was done under the Metropolitan Cathedral. The final push to fully reveal this ancient city came in 1978, and the museum opened in 1987.
Along with the ruins of the city itself, 1000’s of artifacts were found. They are now housed in the indoor portion of the museum.
I thought the ruins were fascinating to see and this is a great museum to learn just a bit of the ancient history of the city.
Day Two
Take a taco and bike tour, and explore Bosque de Chapultepec.
Try some of Mexico City’s Greatest Tacos
Let’s be honest, you probably traveled to Mexico City (at least in part) for the food! And of course, tacos are one of the go-to dishes that you must try when you travel here.
In order to discover some of the best street tacos with the guidance of a local, I went on a bike and taco tour hosted by El Taco Club and can’t recommend it enough.
As a vegetarian, I was a little nervous about finding delicious options, but this tour blew my expectations out of the water.
Fun Fact: This tour is the rated as one of the top 10 Airbnb Experiences in the world, and the #1 Airbnb experience tour in Mexico!
The tour involved biking around the Condesa and Roma neighborhoods and making 5 different stops for tacos. I tried tacos with potatoes, squash blossoms, thai eggplant, mushrooms and more.
I won’t give away all of the stops, but highlights included ordering a taco from a man who serves tacos out of a bucket that he carried on his bike (featured on the TV show Taco Chronicles), enjoying a flavorful eggplant taco and ordering from street stands that I wouldn’t have found on my own.
Plus, we got to enjoy some refreshing beers and other drinks throughout the tour. It was a fun group and a great experience!
I will say that navigating the wild streets of Mexico City on bike was scary at times, but it ended up being a great way to get around and explore the area.
Book the Bike Taco Tour on Viator
Explore Bosque de Chapultepec
After finishing the taco and bike tour, you won’t be far from Bosque de Chapultepec, which is one of the largest parks in the city. The park is home to several popular attractions, including Chapultepec Castle, the Museum of Anthropology, Chapultepec Zoo and more.
You can’t go wrong with the National Museum of Anthropology, as it’s the largest and most visited museum in the country. The museum is full of artifacts that are significant to Mexico’s heritage. It’s a great place to learn some of the history of Mexico.
If you don’t have time to visit a museum, the park is also nice to just walk around, smell the flowers and enjoy the greenery. You can even rent a paddle boat and explore Chapultepec Lake. It’s a great reprise from the high-energy and crowds of Mexico City.
Day Three
Take a sunrise hot air balloon ride, visit the Teotihuacan Pyramids and explore La Condesa and Roma.
Watch the Sunrise from a Hot Air Balloon
I’ll admit, a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the Teotihuacan Pyramids is definitely a bit touristy, but worth it! Where else can you fly right over such ancient marvels?
There are several tour options and bundles that you can choose from. I chose a tour that included transportation, breakfast at La Gruta Restaurant (which is inside a cave!), entrance into the pyramids and more.
I was picked up for my tour at 4:30 AM and we started at the company office, where we were served coffee and croissants. Soon, we made our way onto the hot air balloon and were soon in the air. Basket sizes vary by company, but I was surprised by how HUGE the basket was. It probably held at least 20-25 people.
In the air, it was incredible to see how many other balloons were in the sky with us. It was also stunning to watch the sun come up over the mountains in the distance and the pyramids. It was a special moment.
After the hot air balloon, we enjoyed a champagne toast and then made our way to La Gruta, where we enjoyed chilaquiles. This was basically the only menu option, but there were several variations to choose from (red or green, chicken, vegetable, or beef, etc). Eating inside of a cave was super cool.
After breakfast, we visited a shop where we learned about pulque, mezcal and obsidian. Finally, we had free time to walk the grounds of the Teotihuacan Pyramids.
Overall, I thought this was a fantastic way to spend an early morning in Mexico City! The tour was the perfect way to have a unique experience while learning about some of the history and culture of the region.
Book a Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Tour over the Teotihuacan Pyramids on Viator
Dine and Explore in Roma and Condesa
Spend the rest of your day exploring the trendy neighborhoods of Roma and Condesa! These are trendy neighborhoods full of delicious restaurants, cocktail bars, cafes and boutiques.
I recommend taking a stroll through Parque Mexico, which is a beautiful park known for its art deco features.
There are so many places to eat and drink in these neighborhoods, but here are a few that I visited and recommend:
- Churrería el Mora: Enjoy some long and delicious churros at this popular spot right across from the park. Make sure to pick your favorite dipping sauce to go along with them. Along with churros, they serve ice cream sandwiches (made with churros), chocolate drinks, sandwiches and more.
- Tacos Hola El Güero: This is a small hole-in-the-wall type restaurant that serves a large variety of tacos. I appreciated that they had several vegetarian options, such as squash and queso tacos.
- Tizne Tacomotora: Tizne is another casual spot that serves some great tacos and has vegetarian options. I enjoyed their eggplant taco.
- Antolina: This is a great spot if you’re looking for a restaurant that is a bit elevated. Antolina serves creative cocktails and I especially loved the Hibiscus Flower Flautas dish with mole.
- Baltra Bar: This is a great evening spot for unique and well-made cocktails. Their decor is inspired by Darwin in the Galapagos Islands and it’s a fun atmosphere, but a small space. I loved the Lemon + Bubbles Cocktail. It’s best to make a reservation here in advance.
- Tlecan: Tlecan is a dark and moody bar that also serves elevated and novel cocktails. I had a chocolate sour, which was unlike anything I’ve tried before.
More Things To Do in Mexico City
As you can see, there is SO much to see and do in Mexico City, and this guide barely scratches the surface. Here are a few more popular activities that are on my list for my next visit.
- Visit the Frida Kahlo Museum
- Take a day trip to the Floating Gardens of Xochimilco
- Watch Lucha Libre, aka Mexican wrestling
- Visit a unique library, Biblioteca Vasconcelos
- Take a free walking tour
- Take a Mezcal Mixology Master Class
Where to Stay in Mexico City
When it comes to where to stay in Mexico City, there are so many hotels and accommodations around the city for every budget. I recommend staying in the La Condesa or Roma neighborhoods, or near them. Here are a few hotels to help you narrow it down.
Budget: Casa Nuevo León Hotel, Hotel Milan CDMX
Mid-Range: La Palomilla Bed and Breakfast, El Alfonsa
Luxury: Casona Roma Norte, Andaz Mexico City Condesa, by Hyatt
When to Visit Mexico City
Mexico City has pretty mild weather year round. In the summer, temperatures range from 72 to 78 °F. During the winter, temperatures drop to around 40 °F at night, but might be up to the low 70’s °F during the day.
Mexico City also has a rainy season between May and September that is characterized by afternoon showers that don’t tend to last long.
Most people say the best time to visit Mexico City is in early spring (March to May), for the best weather and sunny days.
However, I also had great weather visiting Mexico City in November. Personally, I don’t think you can go wrong when it comes to when you decide to visit.
Final Thoughts
Mexico City is a vibrant city overflowing with delicious food, world-class culture and activities for every type of traveler. I hope this guide helps you plan a fun visit to Mexico City and discover some of the best food and culture the city has to offer.
For more bucket list cities and adventures around the world, check out these guides:
- How to Spend a Weekend in Santa Fe, New Mexico
- The Best Things To Do in Madeira, Portugal
- The Perfect Patagonia 2 Week Itinerary
- How to Spend 2 Days in Joshua Tree National Park
- An Epic Florida Keys Road Trip
Thanks for Reading!
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