Mexico City is now one of our all time favorite cities. After skimming the photos in this post, you’ll understand why. It’s like Mexico and Europe had a baby in all the best ways. You should note that Mexico City is MASSIVE. We’re talking a metropolis with over 21 million people including the metro area. We stayed there for two weeks, but largely stayed in the Roma and La Condesa Neighborhoods – which you’ll read more about at the end of this entry.

This is a photo guide. You’ll read info, access links, but also get a visual for everything you can (and should) do while in Mexico City.

Enjoy.

Teotihuacán Pyramids

Visit the ancient Teotihuacán Pyramids + Basilica.

Cost: $75usd. We paid our taxi driver from the airport to basically be our chauffeur for the day. We’re not big tour people. We’d rather explore solo. Which is exactly what we did. The driver picked us up at 8:30am, dropped us at the pyramids, and transported us to the Basilica, then home. It was great.

Time: 8:30am – 1:30pm

Based on lighting, we went up the main pyramid right as you enter the ruins (first photo). It doesn’t look like that many stairs, but TRUST ME…you will be huffing and puffing half way up. Remember Mexico City is at a decently high elevation and it was warm, even at 9:30am. We were certainly sweating at the top. You can walk either right or left at the bottom of this main pyramid. We opted to hit up the pyramid you see in the second photo, rather than walking to the area you see in the fifth photo down.

Yes, I deleted all humans from the photo above in order to give you a feel for what the pyramids feel like in all of their glory, without distraction of tiny humans everywhere.

After the Pyramids, you’ll go to the Basilica. You have options to pay and go inside a museum but we honestly had no interest in that. We walked through the main church and then around the garden. But for us, the pyramids were the real attraction of the day.

Bosque de Chapultepec

Go to the “Central Park” of Mexico City known as Bosque de Chapultepec. It’s a park with a house of mirrors, Museum of Anthropology (see photos below), Altar a La Patria (see photos), Castillo de Chapultepec (see photos), a zoo and so much more. It’s massive. You could spend days here and not see everything.

Alameda Central Park is another great place to visit – we didn’t go, but heard that it’s gorgeous.

Visit the Anthropology Museum (Museo Nacional de Antropología) within the park. This museum was FREE. You basically walk through the timeline of Mexican history. It is a very well constructed museum. Nothing was in English so that was a bummer. I would have gladly paid for an English headset. English or no english, it’s well worth your time.

Walk and explore Mexico City

As mentioned, Mexico City is BIG. There is a lot to see, and quite a few gems that you don’t want to miss. Below are some savable locations.

The Square – Zocalo and surrounding areas.

The Dome – National Museum of the Revolution

The Angel of Independence – went but didn’t take photos because it was completely covered in scaffolding. We were there in the off season.

Food & Drinks

Eat all the food. Below are some of our favorites from all over Mexico City.

Guzina Oaxaca – best Oaxacan food in Mexico City in the Polanco neighborhood (VERY upscale neighborhood) – business + luxury shopping, well manicured. We got an octopus dish and chicken mole as entrees. But honestly, the drink you see in the first photo was my favorite part of this meal. I don’t remember what it was but both of our drinks were UH-MAZING.

Quentin – coffee and a pastry or light breakfast.

Niddo Cafe – breakfast, lunch, brunch. Also has just a cafe section. We spent a lot of hours in the cafe gladly waiting for our spot in the restaurant. 

Kura – Japanese + Sushi

Rokai – per recommendation of our barista foodie

Orinoco – tacos res were my fav, el pastor and chicharron for Nate

Bosforo – great authentic mezcal tasting (went with our baristas). It’s LOUD, dark but safe enough and very popular, for good reason.

Neighborhood & Accommodation

Stay in the Roma or La Condesa Neighborhoods. They are both in amazing locations for a little culture but also the western amenities you’re accustomed to. It really is the best of both worlds. Our Apartment was right by the Fuente de Cibeles in the Roma Neighborhood (last photo is of our bedroom. It was a massive, light and spacious accommodation).

Other things worth noting:

• Mexico City is cheap (for USD using humans)
• The people were very welcoming
• Kiki Nail Bar – uh-mazing gel manicure but took forever
• Got a two week gym pass at Sports World Gym Plus, Roma (best gym we’ve ever found abroad).

That’s it. Mexico City is a LIVABLE city. It’s not going to be a beach vacation, or a overly relaxing location. But it is absolutely a city worth visiting in your lifetime.

Make a trip out of it and visit Oaxaca, a culinary and artistic city outside of Mexico City. We didn’t get to Oaxaca due to our plans, but we had several locals and long term tourists tell us that we should go. Perhaps another time.

Add Mexico City to your travel bucket list – you won’t regret. And in the meantime, pin this post for later!

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