A Weekend in Mexico City

Tacos, Pyramids, Culture, Art, Music, and so much more! Mexico City has everything you could ever ask for when it comes to diving into the Mexican culture. Here is a 3 Day Itinerary to get you started on your Mexican adventure!

Where to Stay:

Although many people perceive Mexico to be a dangerous place, it is similar to any major city, where some neighborhoods are safer than others. I would recommend staying in the Reforma, Roma, or Polanco neighborhoods.

Getting Around Mexico City:

The easiest way to get around Mexico City is by Uber. Since the exchange rate is typically lower than in most countries, you can get an Uber for cheap.

Day 1: Taking in the Mexican History

We started off our trip by having breakfast at a cute restaurant called Mandolina Polanco in Polanco (a wealthy neighborhood). After breakfast, we headed to the Monument to the Niños Heroes. The monument is located inside Chapultepec Park and is a testament to the sacrifice of six teenagers who gave up their lives to protect Mexico in the Mexican-American War. After taking pictures of the monument, we headed over to the Chapultepec Castle.

The Castillo de Chapultepec is one of my favorite places in Mexico City. The palace contains beautiful, colorful murals, stained glass windows, beautiful gardens, and has the most gorgeous view of the city. You can learn more about Maximilian I of Mexico, who ruled the second Mexican empire before his execution.

After the castle, we headed over to the Museo Nacional Antropológico, which is located on the other side of Chapultepec Park. It is home to the largest collection of Mexican artifacts in the world. There are so many exhibits spread through 23 rooms. You can learn more about the Aztecs and the ancient Mexican practices. For non-Spanish speakers, the museum might be a bit difficult to understand as there are not many English translations. I would recommend getting an audio guide.

For lunch, we went to Ling Ling. I don't normally recommend eating asian food in Mexico, but this place was definitely worth the hype. Located in a skyscraper, it has 360-degree views of Mexico City.

After lunch, we headed over to Museo Soumaya to view the architecture. Museo Soumaya catches the eye on the outside and has beautiful sculptures of the French artist Rodin, a Mesoamerican art collection, Mexican independence paintings, Latin American art (e.g., Diego Rivera), and so much more. Plus, it's free to enter.

Day 2: Discovering Classic Mexico City and Coyoacán

The next day, we did a do-it-yourself walking tour to see some sites such as Palacio Postal, Palacio de Bellas Artes, Zócalo /Tenochtitlan, and Catedral Metropolitana de la Ciudad de México.

The Palacio Postal is a century-old postal office and has survived several earthquakes. It has maintained its structure since 1907. Inside the postal office, you can find a museum dedicated to the history of the postal service.

Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts) is the most important performance space in the city. It features murals from famous artists such as Diego Rivera and Roberto Montenegro. It is also the house of the Museum of Architecture and the National Theater.

Zócalo or “Plaza de la Constitución” is one of the largest plazas in the world. It is the center for trade and commerce. It is primarily used to host gatherings, celebrations, and protests. It has been a central place for Mexico for over 700 years. It is also within walking distance to the ruins of Templo Mayor, which was once considered the center of the universe.

Catedral Metropolitana de la Ciudad de México is an important church that was built on the ruins of Tenochtitlán. It is an embodiment of the colonial and indigenous past and took centuries to build. Knowing the history, you can admire the ornamental artwork inside the cathedral.

For lunch, we made it over to Casa de los Azulejos. Casa de los Azulejos is an eighteenth-century palace that is now home to a modern restaurant. This building sticks out for its beautiful blue tiles.

Our next stop was Museo Mural Diego Rivera. Museo Mural Diego Rivera is a museum containing one of Diego Rivera's most beloved murals. The mural is breathtaking and shows all the important events that happened in the history of Mexico. Rivera is extremely outspoken on his political views and how he sees the politicians in Mexico.

Afterwards, we headed over to the famous neighborhood of Coyoacán. Coyoacán is the neighborhood famously known as the birthplace of Frida Kahlo. Our first stop in Coyoacán was Museo Anahuacalli. Museo Anahuacalli is a fortress-like volcanic stone pyramid that houses Diego's prehistoric Hispanic art collection, including figurines from the Olmecs, Toltecs, Nahuas, Zapotecs, and the people of Teotihuacan. This museum is by far the most unique museum I have ever been to, and I really enjoyed seeing the inside of Diego Rivera's mind and art collection.

Our next stop was the Frida Kahlo Museum ("Caza Azul"). This museum used to be Frida's house and is where she spent most of her life. Visitors can see all of her rooms and her belongings, as well as learn more about her life. There are some paintings and drawings as well that help show how resilient Frida was, even after contracting polio.

For dinner, we headed over to Mercado Coyoacan for some food from the market. The market has many different stalls ranging from tostadas, carnitas, tacos, fresh juice, chaulplines (grasshoppers), and much more. This is a great place to fill your empty stomach as well as purchase any souvenirs. If you are looking for dessert, we had some delicious ice cream at El Kiosko de Coyoacán.

Day 3: Experiencing the culture of Teotihuacan

On our last day, we wanted to see the pyramids of Teotihuacan. Teotihuacan is located about an hour outside of the city (depending on the traffic). We decided to go with a private car to see the pyramids. You can take an Uber, but it might be better to purchase a tour shuttle so you know where your next ride is coming from. If you are interested in hot air balloons, you should consider taking a hot air balloon ride over the temples, as it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Teotihuacan is massive, with the Temple of Quetzalcoatl and the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon. It is one of the most influential cultural centres of Mesoamerica. Although most of the pyramids you cannot walk on, it is still impressive to view these structures and to imagine this ancient city.

After Teotihuacan, we headed back to the main city and got lunch at a wonderful restaurant called Contamar. It has wonderful seafood and is a great way to end your trip!