A Travel Guide for Three Days in Mexico City, Mexico

A disclaimer: Three days in Mexico City is not enough.

But I have a feeling that a week, or a month, or a lifetime would still not be enough time to spend in the city. The capital of Mexico is beautifully chaotic and vibrant, with patches of quiet and green space filling in the gaps.

[Update: This vibrant city warranted another trip; you can find my second-timers guide here]

With year-round near-perfect weather, more museums than you can imagine, a rich culture, and, it almost goes without saying, incredible food, Mexico City is what I would consider a perfect destination for any traveler. No matter the length of time you have available, I urge you to go. The city holds something exciting around every corner, as long as you know where to look.

A word to the wise, Mexico City is an incredibly vibrant, photogenic city, so this post is image-heavy—but don't let that deter you from scrolling to the end to find all of my top tips for visiting Mexico City.

Headed there? Here’s my in-depth guide to Mexico City for first-time visitors.

Just reading for fun? Don’t worry, you’ll be booking a flight soon enough…

WHAT TO SEE + DO IN MEXICO CITY

Exterior of Arena Mexico in Mexico City — Arena Mexico is known as the “cathedral of lucha libre”

A garage door with Lucha graffiti — A Lucha door (get it?)

Attend a Lucha Libre match

Even if you’re not “into wrestling” you can’t miss this important cultural phenomenon. Matches are held several times a week in the city at both Arena Mexico and Arena Coliseo, and headliners are announced a few days in advance on the CMLL website.

To save time, purchase your tickets in advance at Ticketmaster and collect them once you arrive. Be sure to stay tuned in the coming weeks, as this topic will have its own dedicated post (hello from the future! You can find my dedicated Lucha Libre post right here).

→Arena México // Dr. Lavista 189, Doctores, Cuauhtémoc, 06720 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
→Arena Coliseo // República de Perú 77, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06010 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

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Entrance to the Anthropology Museum in Mexico City — The entrance to the Museo Nacional de Antropología

Anthropology Museum Interior — The courtyard at the Museo Nacional de Antropología

Artifacts at the Anthropology Museum in Mexico City — Artifacts on display at the Museo Nacional de Antropología

A Mayan temple at the Anthropology Museum Mexico City — Ruins of a Mayan temple at the Museo Nacional de Antropología

Two images at the Anthropology Museum: a knife made to look like a face, and Alyssa with the Aztec Sun — The Museo Nacional de Antropología houses artifacts large and small

A model of the Anthropology Museum in Mexico City — Take time to explore the grounds, if you can

Alyssa stands outside of the Anthropology Museum in Mexico City — Museo Nacional de Antropología

The line for admission at the Frida Kahlo Museum — The line to purchase tickets for the Frida Kahlo Museum

In the courtyard at the Frida Kahlo Museum — The courtyard at the Frida Kahlo Museum

A collage of art at the Frida Kahlo Museum — Of course art is on display at the Museo Frida Kahlo

A canopy bed at the Frida Kahlo Museum — The artist’s four poster bed with a mirror installed above

Alyssa in the Frida Kahlo Museum house — The Museo Frida Kahlo can get crowded at times, but pockets of quiet can be found

A sign at the Frida Kahlo Museum that reads "Frida y Diego vivieron en esta casa 1929-1954" — Museo Frida Kahlo

A collage of photos taken at the Frida Kahlo Museum — Museo Frida Kahlo

Alyssa stands in the courtyard at the Frida Kahlo Museum — Museo Frida Kahlo

Visit some of the city’s premier museums

Mexico City has no shortage of museums—both in quantity and quality. Michael and I only had time to see a few during our brief visit, but each one left a lasting impression.

The National Anthropology Museum (Museo Nacional de Antropología) is a sprawling treasure trove of pre-Hispanic artifacts. With its extensive collection, it’s virtually impossible to absorb everything in just one visit. The museum’s exhibits provide a fascinating journey through Mexico’s rich cultural history, offering insights into ancient civilizations and their enduring legacies.

Another highlight of our trip was the Frida Kahlo Museum (Museo Frida Kahlo), located in the artist’s childhood home, known as La Casa Azul (The Blue House). This museum not only showcases Frida’s captivating artwork but also offers a glimpse into her personal life and her relationship with fellow artist Diego Rivera.

The vibrant, intimate setting enriches the experience, making it a must-visit for art enthusiasts. We learned the hard way that it’s essential to purchase tickets online in advance. Unsure of our schedule, we decided to chance it and ended up waiting in line for two hours—a mistake we won’t make again (and hopefully you’ll learn from our experience, too!).

→Museo Nacional de Antropología // Av. P.º de la Reforma s/n, Polanco, Bosque de Chapultepec I Secc, Miguel Hidalgo, 11560 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
→Museo Frida Kahlo // Londres 247, Del Carmen, Coyoacán, 04100 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

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Mexico City Park — Mexico City’s green spaces serve as an outdoor living room

A man carries a tray of sunflowers on his head — Walking around the colorful city is a treat in itself

People walk, bike, and play in Parque Mexico — Parque Mexico

Alyssa stands on a path in Parque Mexico — Parque Mexico

A collage of photos taken in parks in Mexico City — Even at the hottest part of the day, the city’s parks offer a reprieve

Take in the city sights and explore the parks

One of my favorite travel experiences involves simply wandering the streets or grabbing a coffee or a glass of wine (depending on the time of day and cultural acceptance!) and sitting in a park to people-watch.

Mexico City has no shortage of green spaces, and the locals flock with their friends, families, and dogs to enjoy them. We vastly enjoyed Parque México, Chapultepec, Parque España, and several other pocket parks we stumbled upon during our wanderings to see how locals spend their day. These free experiences offer visitors a multitude of opportunities for making memories.

→Parque México // Hipódromo, 06100 Mexico City, CDMX, Mexico
→Bosque de Chapultepec // Bosque de Chapultepec I Secc, 11580 Mexico City, CDMX, Mexico
→Parque España // Parque España, Colonia Condesa, Cuauhtémoc, 06140 Cuauhtémoc, CDMX, Mexico

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The Metropolitan Cathedral in Mexico City's Zócalo — Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral took nearly 250 years to construct

Tent at the Indigenous Cultures Festival in Mexico City — This area is a hub of activity

Inside a tent at an Indigenous Cultures Festival in Mexico City — You may discover events during your visit (an Indigenous Cultures Festival is shown here)

People demonstrate a sport at the Indigenous Cultures Festival — A sport demonstration at the Indigenous Cultures Festival

Be in the center of it all—but just for a bit

The Zócalo is the historical center of Mexico City, and it is as busy (and touristic) as you would expect. Linger awhile, snap a few photos of the cathedral and the people in action, and scoot on your way. We were fortunate to arrive on a day when a festival was taking place; otherwise, the square is surrounded by souvenir shops, a McDonald’s, and likely a few pickpockets.

→Zócalo // P.za de la Constitución S/N, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06010 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

WHAT TO EAT IN MEXICO CITY

Churros from el Moro in Mexico City — Churros from Churrería El Moro

Alyssa holds a cup of Champurrado — A cup of Champurrado—a corn and chocolate drink

A plate of Enmoladas at Molino el Pujol — Enmoladas from Molino el Pujol

Everything.

Food is a huge draw for us, especially when we are visiting a country with cuisine that’s often done poorly or is marginalized at home. Head here to read my full Mexico City food guide, but a few can’t-miss places are Churros el Moro, Panadería Rosetta, Molino el Pujol, El Parnita, and literally any street vendor with a crowd.

→Churrería El Moro // Multiple Locations
→Panadería Rosetta // Colima 179, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
→Molino el Pujol // Gral. Benjamín Hill 146, Hipódromo Condesa, Cuauhtémoc, 06100 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
→El Parnita // Av. Yucatan 84, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

MEXICO CITY’S FAVORITE BEVERAGES

Exterior of Cafe Negro in Mexico City — Cafe Negro

A cappuccino at Boicot Cafe — Boicot Cafe

Coffee shops

Coffee is grown in Mexico, so be sure to try a local single-origin or blend while you are there (and pick up some beans to take home!). There are wonderful spots all over the city, but a few that we visited and truly enjoyed were Almanegra Cafe, Boicot Cafe, Cardinal Casa de Café, Cafe Negro, and Buna 42.

→Almanegra Café // Multiple Locations
→Boicot Café // Multiple Locations
→Cardinal Casa de Café // Multiple Locations
→Café Negro // Centenario 16, Del Carmen, Coyoacán, 04000 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
→Buna 42 // Cda. Orizaba 42, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

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Mezcal Cocktails and late night eats in Mexico City — A late-night feast (accompanied by mezcal, of course!)

Mezcalerías and bars

You may have heard the quote, “Para todo mal, mezcal, y para todo bien, también” (“For everything bad, mezcal; and for everything good, the same”), and it’s easy to see why the smoky liquor is so popular.

Mezcal and Tequila are made from the same plant, the maguey or agave plant, but Tequila can only be made in Jalisco. Mezcal is made all over Mexico, and it gets its characteristic smokiness from the long roasting of the agave plant’s hearts (or “piñas”—they do in fact look like pineapples) in a pit of fire.

It’s not a drink for the faint of heart, however, as it is made for sipping rather than shooting. Muster up some courage and head to a mezcalería like Bósforo or La Clandestina, or a good bar for a cocktail made with mezcal like El Palenquito or Páramo.

→Bósforo // Luis Moya 31-local 2, Colonia Centro, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06010 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
→La Clandestina // Av. Álvaro Obregón 298, Colonia Condesa, Cuauhtémoc, 06140 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
→El Palenquito // Av. Álvaro Obregón 39, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
→Páramo // Av. Yucatan 84, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

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Con una cerveza, por favor

It’s not hard to find beer in Mexico City, and for cheap, too; at many of the places we visited, the bottles of beer and the bottles of water were priced almost equally. Join the locals in drinking un Indio, or, better yet, settle in with a nice local brew.

The bartenders at El Depositio are knowledgeable about beer, yet not condescending or pretentious. Beers from all over the world are on tap or in bottles, but you’re in Mexico City: drink something local!

→El Depositio // Multiple Locations

BOUTIQUE AND LOCAL SHOPPING IN MEXICO CITY

Vendors at a market in Mexico City — Vendors at one of Mexico City’s many markets

Aisles of goods for sale at Mercado de Coyoacán — The Mercado de Coyoacán is small but tidy

Shoppers browse for fruit at Mercado de Coyoacán — Fresh produce awaits at Mercado de Coyoacán

Two Aguas Frescas on a counter at a market — Aguas Frescas are a must after a night of too much mezcal

Hit the markets

Mexico City is host to many, many street markets, so take your pick! We did not have time to stroll through La Merced, one of the largest markets (also notably one of the most dangerous ones), but we did wander through Mercado de Coyoacán early one morning taking in the sights, sounds, smells, and some aguas frescas.

→Mercado de Coyoacán // Ignacio Allende s/n, Del Carmen, Coyoacán, 04100 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

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Exterior of 180 Shop in Mexico City — 180° Shop

Interior of Utilitario Mexicano in Mexico City — Utilitario Mexicano

Shop local

As a world city, local designers thrive in the scene. Shopping played a tiny role in our visit, but we enjoyed perusing goods at 180° Shop, Naked Boutique, Apartment 25 (now in Guadalajara), and Utilitario Mexicano, where we purchased a comal, a map, and some enamel mugs to enjoy back home. If I had known our suitcases would not be placed on the scale at the airport, I would have outfitted my entire kitchen at this place!

→180° Shop // Colima 180, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
→Naked Boutique // Córdoba 25, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
→Apartment 25 // now in Guadalajara
→Utilitario Mexicano // Calle Marsella 3a, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc, 06600 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

WHERE TO STAY IN MEXICO CITY

A fountain in Plaza Popocatepetl — Plaza Popocatepetl

Four images showing the interior of an Airbnb in Mexico City — Our Airbnb owner is a film director, making for a charming and unique stay

La Condesa, Hipódromo, Roma Norte, or Coyoacan

Our Airbnb in Plaza Popocatépetl felt simultaneously in the middle of everything yet in its own world. The circular park felt like an oasis, yet two blocks over the city was bustling with bars, shops, and restaurants. I can’t imagine a more perfect place to stay.

If you go, I highly recommend staying in the neighborhoods of La Condesa, Hipódromo, Roma Norte, or Coyoacan. These all felt safe during the day and at night, provided you are on well-lit streets and are not making yourself into a target.

WITH MORE TIME IN MEXICO CITY

With more time (or perhaps on our next long weekend visit!), I would venture further and deeper into the city. We certainly saw a lot during our short visit, but there are so many other things to see and do. Items to add to our growing list include exploring more of Bosque de Chapultepec; visiting the pyramid and ruins of Teotihuacán, about an hour or so north of the city, cruising the canals in the south of Mexico City (Xochimilco); and of course, visiting more museums.

[Edit: You can find some of those adventures right here!]

MEXICO CITY TRAVEL TIPS

But what about safety?

I know this question is buried in the back of many minds, so I’ll go ahead and address it. Mexico City is a large, cosmopolitan city, much like New York, Paris, London, or Tokyo. As with any large city (or any small city, for that matter), there are places where you are more likely to encounter trouble than others.

Michael and I took a few precautions during our visit, and, scout’s honor, never felt unsafe. By using city smarts like keeping aware of our surroundings, taking care to walk in well-lit areas at night, researching the “no-go” neighborhoods before we left (such as Tepito), not wearing flashy items, only using Uber instead of taxis—which are sometimes faked and driven by folks who may mug you—and wearing a purse secured with a clasp, making it difficult for potential pick-pockets to access, we never allowed ourselves to be considered targets.

The city really comes alive at night, so don’t miss out on seeing it due to fear. The topic of safety arose during a conversation with a local couple who indicated that pick-pocketing is a fairly common occurrence, and recommended not holding cell phones or cameras in your hand in busy spaces, as they are likely to be snatched and resold in a market (and we did, in fact, pass several folks selling mobile phones on the street). They also recommended splitting up your cash into several pockets, which is something we always do, divvying up cash and cards between us.

Getting around Mexico City

Mexico City introduces itself to you from below well before you land, and at some point all you can see from the air is city. That being said, it’s a city of neighborhoods, and once you’re within one, it’s best to explore by foot. Mexico City’s Metro system is one of the cheapest in the world, ringing in at 5 pesos per ride, yet we did not use it on our quick weekend getaway as the weather was perfect for walking.

Uber made the most sense for us when traveling distances longer than a mile, and it was an inexpensive way to get around. Looking back at my fare history, most of our trips clocked in at about $3-4 USD per ride, and our cost for the entire weekend hovered around the USD 50 mark. (New to Uber? You can sign up via my referral link for free/discounted rides).

During our trip, the Uber app did not provide a way to tip drivers, however, the feature has since been added. I would still recommend having a few coins on hand to tip your driver, just in case.

Making cent(avo)s of the money situation

The tipping culture in Mexico City is stronger than in the U.S. in terms of whom you are expected to tip (including, but not limited to, restroom attendants, grocery store baggers, doormen, and of course restaurant servers), yet the amount needed to tip for each service is considerably lower. For restaurants, 10-15% is the average tip, and for all others, a few pesos should do it.

We did get caught in Uber rides a few times without small enough bills, and ended up tipping more than the cost of the ride once. Even so, the Uber rides in Mexico City cost much less than they do here in the States, and our most expensive trip (including that large tip) from the airport totaled about USD 24.

Skip the currency exchange stands and head for a secure ATM, preferably located within a bank (my Puerto Vallarta post includes a list of common banks you’ll find in Mexico). To save on bank fees, withdraw as much as you think you’ll need for the weekend, and stash some of it at your Airbnb or hotel. In fact, I always like to return home with a little local currency to use at the start of my next trip.

One thing to note, try to break your larger bills whenever you get the chance. It was difficult for us to break MXN 500 bills unless we were spending near that amount (though this could also have been due to the fact that we were carrying the newest bill design, released only days prior), and of course, street vendors prefer when you have exact change.

Plenty of larger shops and restaurants accept cards, though, so no need to worry about paying solely in an unfamiliar currency. Very touristic places may offer to charge you in your home country’s currency. This is almost always a bad deal; even with a fee from your card issuer, you’ll still come out ahead with the exchange rate.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON SPENDING A WEEKEND IN MEXICO CITY

Should the opportunity ever arise to visit Mexico City for the weekend, I hope this post has convinced you to take it. This vibrant destination offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere, boasting unforgettable culinary delights, stunning architecture that tells the story of its rich history, and near-perfect weather that makes every stroll through its charming neighborhoods a pleasure

It’s a city that will capture your heart and hold onto it long after you’ve returned home, and personally, I can’t wait to return over and over in my lifetime.

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Questions for you

Have you visited Mexico City before? What are your favorite sights, and what did you find overrated?

What other things would you like to know before your visit?

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2 Comments on “Long Weekend Escape: A Travel Guide for Three Days in Mexico City, Mexico”

lee says:

June 8, 2019 at 1:00 pm

i found your blog from Invincible Summer’s comments section and it seems like fate that i had stumbled upon your Mexico City posts as my husband and i are planning to visit for the first time in the fall! thank you! this is all so informative!!

1. Alyssa says:
  
  June 8, 2019 at 2:09 pm
  
  Oh, how exciting! It’s quickly becoming one of my favorite cities to visit. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions as you’re planning your trip!

Long Weekend Escape: A Travel Guide for Three Days in Mexico City, Mexico