In This Guide You’ll Find
Mexico City, also known as Ciudad de Mexico (CDMX), is one of the oldest & largest cities in the America’s, and happens to be just a short plane ride away for most Americans. It is a city full of vibrant culture and history. Whether you visit for a few days or a few weeks, the city is packed with things to do for every traveler. Personally, we found 3 full days to be the perfect amount of time in the city. However, if you have more time, we are certain you won’t run out of things to do in CDMX. We narrowed this guide down to some of the must do’s for a short getaway.
Things to Know Before You Go
Language
Spanish is the official language of Mexico City. Although spoken in some places, we did not find that English was spoken by the greater majority of people throughout the city, so it is best to brush up on common phrases in Spanish before you go. You should also download the language on Google Translate for use offline so that you can communicate as efficiently as possible!
Currency
The currency used in Mexico City is the Mexican Peso. Most establishments will accept credit cards, but it’s best to carry cash for those that don’t. Instead of exchanging/converting currency in the airports, we recommend just withdrawing pesos from an ATM before exiting the airport.
Getting to Mexico City
By far the best way to get to Mexico City is by flying. We were able to find a direct flight on Expedia from Houston to Mexico City that was only $182 per person on the Mexican airline Viva Aerobus. If flying is not an option, it is also possible to travel over land from the US via train, bus or car, although we don’t recommend it.
When to Visit
The time of year you decide to visit can definitely make or break your trip to Mexico City. For the best weather, you should visit in the spring, between March and May. You can also expect for the city to be much busier than usual due to the loads of festivals and events that happen during this time. The least crowded time to visit would be during the rainy season, from June to November. The cheapest times of the year to visit is in January & February. Many nice hotels offer rates as low as $90/night and there will be fewer tourists during these months.
What to Pack
When traveling to Mexico City in February, you definitely need to pack a light, versatile jacket for the cooler weather in the early mornings & evenings. To keep your suitcase light, we would also recommend one or 2 pair of comfy shoes, lightweight dresses for women, and for men, lightweight pants and shirts.
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Is Mexico City Safe?
“Is Mexico City safe?” In short, our answer to this question would be yes. While Mexico in general gets a lot of negative attention in the media, during our time in Mexico, we never once felt uncomfortable or in danger. The fact of the matter is that anywhere you travel you should exercise caution. Mexico City is no different. As we mentioned before, it is a HUGE city, so naturally, there is bound to be crime. Some general safety tips we would give are: Avoid areas that are known for high crime, don’t walk the streets late at night, avoid wearing flashy jewelry, avoid dark & solitary places, keep your valuables in your hotel room safe, and overall just be smart and vigilant and you will be fine.
There are also specific areas with higher amounts of crime (that includes theft, pickpocketing, and violent crimes) that you can avoid like Doctores, Tepito, Ciudad Neza, Iztapalapa, Narvarte, Buena Vista, and Colonia del Valle.
Getting Around
Mexico City is a HUGE city, so it’s likely that you won’t do too much walking from point A to B unless you stay in the same neighborhood your entire trip. Uber is the cheapest, easiest, and in our opinion, safest, option for getting around the city. That’s because unlike riding in a taxi, Uber’s are regulated. There are also safety measures in place with Uber like providing pin codes to confirm the correct driver, making sure the license plates match, and being able to actively share your location. Most of our rides, including from the airport, cost us $30 to $250 Mexican pesos ($1-$13 USD).
Traffic is often times horrendous in the city, so biking might be a great 2nd option to getting around. Although we didn’t use it, we heard that Ecobici was a great app you can download to rent bikes for riding around town.
Where to Stay
El Centro Historico
El Centro is where you stay to be right in the heart of the city’s history. It’s perfect for those that are visiting for the first time because it’s close to some of Mexico City’s top museums & attractions. That being said, it is also a very crowded part of town. We stayed at a lovely boutique hotel called Casa Emilia, which is tucked away a few blocks from La Reforma, one of the city’s busiest avenues. Although we booked their most luxurious suite, they have rooms available for as low as $120 USD.
*commissionable link*
Other Areas to Stay or Visit
- La Condesa (boutique hotels, trendy area, diverse nightlife scene)
- Roma Norte (chic atmosphere, variety of restaurants, walkable)
- Zona Rosa (great nightlife, LGBTQ friendly, affordable hotels)
- Polanco (luxury hotels, fine dining, and shopping)
Things To Do
Teotihuacan
Teotihuacan pyramids are a UNESCO world heritage site located just north of Mexico City. The archaeological site is all that remains of the ancient city. While most people opt to walk through the pyramids, we chose to see them from above. The hot air balloon tour we booked on GetYourGuide also included entrance to the walk through the pyramids after complimentary breakfast.
Tolantongo Caves
Grutas Tolantongo are a natural paradise tucked away in the mountains of the Sierra de Hidalgo. The drive to the pools is about 4.5 hrs long, so it’s best to either book a tour, or hire a driver to take you.
Xochimilco
Xochimilco is like the Mexican version of Venice, Italy. Another UNESCO world heritage site, it is one of the most important tourist destinations in Mexico. Here you will float through canals on a traditional trajinera boat enjoying music from mariachi bands, buying foods, drinks, and trinkets from vendors on passing trajineras. We have to be honest though: as much as it is a cultural experience, it definitely seemed like more of a party scene in our opinion. We would still recommend doing it though.
Coyoacan
Coyoacan is known for its cobble-stoned streets, brightly colored buildings, and artisan markets. From food stalls & spices, to textiles, you can find any type of souvenirs here! We stumbled across an artist that made paintings from coffee and books and purchased some art to bring home.
Frida Kahlo Museum
La Casa Azul, is the vibrantly painted home that Frida Kahlo lived and died in. Located in Coyoacan, you can visit the now museum and admire some of her most cherished artwork. Tickets to the museum are only sold online and are scarce, so it’s best to book them in advance to avoid them selling out.
Since we only had 3 days, we booked a tour with GetYourGuide that included a trip to Xochimilco and Coyoacan with the option to purchase tickets to the Frida Kahlo Museum all in one day for $42 USD per person. The tour included transportation from a nearby hotel and breakfast or lunch, and is highly recommended to make the most of your time in Mexico. Check out our wishlist from CDMX below!
*commissionable links*
Places to Eat
- Pollo Plancho (best al pastor chicken tacos)
- Rosetta
- Balcon De Zocalo (amazing rooftop views)
- Rosanegra Polanco
Where to Drink
- Balcon De Zocalo (rooftop bar)
- Downtown (rooftop bar)
- Baltra
- Fifty Mils
- Licoreria Limantour
Obviously there’s so much more to do in Mexico City than time will allow. That gives you an excuse to have to go back! If you do happen to visit this colorful city, be sure to comment and let us know how your trip went and if you found this guide useful!
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