Things to do in CDMX

A personal guide to Mexico City — neighborhoods, food, coffee, drinks, and outdoor activities — for visitors and seminar guests.

Zona Centro

We recommend spending a morning or day in the city center — ideally on a weekday, when it is less crowded. Start at the Zócalo (the main plaza) and walk to Palacio Nacional (the presidential office). You can walk in (bring a photo ID) to see the Diego Rivera murals — really, really nice. The entrance is here. (Update Feb 2023: you now need to book in advance via email.) An optional side-trip is Templo Mayor, the Aztec ruins in the middle of the city — or just grab a coffee here, which has a nice terrace view of the ruins.

Next, stroll to Bellas Artes. Go into the building in front (a Sears) and head to the café on the 6th floor for a gorgeous view of Bellas Artes and the Alameda. Walk around Alameda Central. If you want more murals, visit this tiny museum holding a single, huge Diego Rivera mural.

If you still have energy, walk to the Monumento a la Revolución and/or Uber to the Museo de Antropología. There, skip the history-of-humans section and go straight to the pre-Hispanic (Aztec/Mayan) halls toward the back of the first floor. From the museum it is a short walk into Bosque de Chapultepec, the biggest park in the city (bigger than Central Park). We love the city view from the Castle (Museum of National History) and this fountain.

Food

  • Yucatán food, great cochinita pibil — Coox Hanal
  • Mezcalería — Bósforo (next door there’s a great restaurant with no name and no Google Maps listing)
  • Azul Histórico — traditional Mexican food in a beautiful setting

Zona Coyoacán / San Ángel

Another good day is exploring the colonial neighborhoods of San Ángel and Coyoacán (where the intellectual elite lives — think Frida and Diego). If you want to visit Frida’s house, do this route in reverse and buy tickets online as early as possible — it’s the one attraction in the city that is always packed. This is a great Saturday activity: you’ll see what a typical Mexican family does on a weekend.

Have breakfast here (go to the left-side door — the left restaurant is nicer for breakfast). Then stroll to the Bazar del Sábado — THE place for high-quality Mexican handicrafts (pricier, but much better quality). Then do this exact walk to Coyoacán: https://goo.gl/maps/rXbicz4t9hfDV7FG9. The best churros in the city are shortly after the start, here. Stop along the way at the cultural centers and coffee shops. At the end, sit on a bench in the park near the wolf fountain and watch Mexican life in all its glory.

Zona Condesa / Roma

Explore the neighborhood you’re staying in — a stroll across the parks and plazas of Condesa and Roma is a great way to spend a day. Sample walk: https://goo.gl/maps/43qaiieQ2sMetGrq7.

Restaurants

Taco stands

Coffee shops & bakeries

Drinks

Assorted tips

  • On Mondays most museums and attractions are closed — a good day to visit Teotihuacán. Book a tour or just Uber there (good drop-off spot). Beyond the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, stroll the museum and make the trek to the Templo de Quetzalcóatl.
  • For Xochimilco, no need to book ahead (unless you want a kayak tour or similar). This is a good spot to Uber to; prices are posted and fixed.

Outdoor activities

If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, CDMX has a lot to offer — hiking, road and mountain biking, and rock climbing. A few nearby hikes:

  • Desierto de los Leones — lots of hiking and mountain biking (weekend MTB rental). Good parking/trailhead; the taco/quesadilla stand at the start is great — try the “Taco sin llorar”.
  • Ajusco — the tallest mountain within the city, in a protected alpine forest. Short but steep; great views on a clear day. We park here and hike from there.
  • This ejido has many hiking and mountain-biking trails.
  • Mount Tláloc — a wonderful all-day hike, usually started from Río Frío. The summit has the ruins of an Aztec observatory.
  • Rock climbing: Los Dinamos (sport, trad, and bouldering), bouldering in Salazar, and great sport climbing in Jilotepec.
  • Paso de Cortés.

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