8 Days uncovering the gems of the largest city in the Western hemisphere. Explore the city, culture, food, and nightlife in the capital of Mexico. I have traveled to Mexico City (CDMX) several time now and still have plenty more to see and do across the largest city in the Western Hemisphere. A guide to exploring Mexico City CMDX is helpful.
With comfortable temperatures year round and low rainfall, exploring this metropolis is a great option. The word is getting out though with more expats and remote workers moving there.
Check out the options to add Oaxaca to your CDMX trip is also a great pairing.
Planning your trip
- When to go – CDMX has a stable climate with comfortable temperatures year round from 50-80 f. Little rain is ever in the forecast. The shade tree neighborhoods of La Condensa and Roma Norte keep you protected from the midday sun.
- What to pack – A light jacket can be handy for the evenings and early mornings. Good walking shoes are a must with the distances you’ll walk. Leave room in your bags for any shopping finds. The pharmacies in CDMX can supply you with most of your needs without a doctor’s note
- Logistics – Bentio Juarez (MEX) is your best option for flying in. A ride share Uber/Lyft or official taxi is the best way to the city center and around town. Mexico City is on CDT time zone as well.
Days 1 & 2 – La Condensa
After arriving at Benito Juarez Airport (MEX), grabbing a properly marked taxi or Uber is the best way to get into the heart of Mexico City (CDMX) and its thriving neighborhoods. The 30-40 minute ride (depending on time of day) will get to one of the several areas you decide to stay at. There are multiple neighborhoods to stay based on your taste and interests.
La Condensa was the top pick for its European architecture and feel. Small boutique shops and coffee houses are abundant here. Have your walking shoes ready, the city is best explored on foot. The tree lined streets provide good shade for the whole day which makes strolling enjoyable all day and night.
A taste of European Life
The streets of La Condensa are covered by tree canopies that give you a relaxed vibe all around with people out all day walking their dog, exercising or taking dance lessons in the park. Spend the first day just getting into the neighborhood and exploring every street possible. Some good deals are to be had with the shopping as well with clothing, vinyl records, and anything else. La Condensa in the evenings is great for people watching and seeing the locals enjoy family time in the parks.
Day 3 – Roma Norte & Insurgents
Roma Norte is another great neighborhood that is connected to La Condensa seamlessly. The shopping, food carts and restaurants are fantastic. First thing, in the morning across from the hotel, I noted a food cart serving a line of locals on their way to work (a good sign to try this out). The food from the cart was quick simple and packed with flavors paired with a selection of sauces. These are located across town. Try one for yourself.
Coffee All Day
The cafe culture is well established across the city and are rarely empty. Mexico does have some excellent coffee growing regions and the local roasters are masters of their craft. Remote workers and expats can be found sipping on the excellent varieties of single origin coffees offered. Spend the day zig zagging up and down every street peaking into shops looking for clothes or unique items. A great way to spend the day. The nightlife and mezcalerias will keep you occupied all night.
Day 4 – Museums and Historical sites
Firstly, you could definitely spend 2-3 full days doing all the great museums around CDMX. Like peeling an onion, you’ll keep finding more museums and historical sites to add to your list. Concentrated your efforts at the museums and sites near or inside Bosque de Chapultepec Park. Which are.
- National Anthroplogie
- Botanical Gardens
- Chapultepec Castle
- Lago de Chapultepec (free)
- Museo Soumaya (free) (visit while in Polanco)
- Templo Mayor Museum ( City Center)
Day 5 – Xochilla water neighborhood and attempt to frida Khalo.
The Venice of CDMX
South of the city lies the old canal network which was used to transport goods around the area. While visiting the far south of CDMX, the Frieda Calo Museum is in the area as well along with some local markets to wander around. Hire a car to take you there and back since the drive is about 30-40 minutes to the canals and Frieda Calo Museum.
The main dock for the canal tours is a wash with tour guides calling for your attention. Just grab some tickets at the window and then proceed. No need to deal with people haggling for your attention. We had a small boat to ourselves which made several stops at flower markets and food stalls along the banks. There are other boats travelling the canals selling drinks and tacos from one boat to another too. We opted for the short tour (about 1-2 hours), however there are longer ones which go deeper into the canal system.
Frida Khalo Museum, plan well ahead
Book tickets well in advance of your trip. The tickets are timed entry and sell out up to a month in advance consistently. I missed the museum twice now because of sell outs.
Walk the local markets and neighborhood around the museum for a bit after and head back to the city center. Spend the remainder of the day strolling around the Constitution plaza, people watching and finding interesting shops.
Day 6 – Teotihuacán half day, Centro & Arena Mexico
Ancient Civilization
Hire a half day private car to drive you to the historical site of the Teotihuacán site outside of CDMX. The archaeological site of the ancient civilization is a massive complex with many buildings and a museum to understand the history of the people and archeological site. If available, there are hot air balloon rides early in the mornings that soar above the site. The main boulevard of the ancient site stretches almost a half mile in length and takes some time to traverse all the buildings and ruins along the main road of the historic city. The private car waits for you and returns you to the hotel.
Centro CDMX
The afternoon can be spent exploring the famous Constitution Plaza that marks the center of the city. Many historical buildings are located around the plaza, all worth going inside. There is usually some event occurring at the plaza everyday to watch and get a taste of local culture. The historical small streets that spider out from the plaza give a great feel to explore and find hidden coffee shops and book stores.
If you head west from the plaza you’ll pass some more museums and historical sites as well. You’ll eventually end up at another local gathering plaza around the Opera house Palacio de Bellas Artes with some great people watching in the Alameda Central Park next to the Opera.
Lucho Libre
No trip to CDMX is complete without a night at the Arena Mexico for a Lucho Libre wrestling. Just get tickets at the window or online. Splurge on a few extra pesos for the good seats. The cheap beer and snacks in the old arena has a great authentic feel. Once the show starts sit back and enjoy the acrobatics and talent these fighters give every time they hit the mat.
Day 7 – Polanco and SUnday bike rides
Polanco is the newer, shiny, trendy area of CDMX , located just North of the Bosque de Chapultepec Park. The area contains the higher end shopping and fashion areas of CDMX. Expensive restaurants are plenty. However, there are some great things to do for the cheap.
The Museo Soumaya is located in Polanco and is free to see the well curated private collection of art and artifacts. The Acuario Inbursa (Aquarium) and other museums are located in the immediate vicinity as well.
Parque Lincoln was a better experience that we didn’t know about. Inside the park is a small bird sanctuary that costs a few pesos. The birds inside are friendly and approach or land on you without reservation. The birds speak Spanish too! A great find in the city we weren’t expecting.
Sunday Rides
On certain Sunday mornings of the month, The city shuts down roads for a Sunday Bike ride. Although you can rollerblade, run, skateboard if you wish till 1200. The route basically takes the main road from the Insurgents neighborhood along the Bosque de Chapultepec Park into Polanco and back. City bike rentals I believe are free during these hours as well. The whole city seems to come out and enjoy a few hours of dedicated, traffic free enjoyment.
Day 8 – Grutas Tolantongo Day Trip
Book a day trip to the Grutas Tolantongo Hot Springs. This full day trip is about a 2.5-3 hour drive North of CDMX. Our booking also paired us with another couple which filled the car. Once at the Hot Springs there are several things to do for the day.
Start with the cliff side wading pools that cascade down the cliff where you can relax and overlook the river. The wading pools vary in size and temperature. After some relaxing and stretching from the car ride, Walk down to the river which is fed from a hot spring in the mountain just upstream. The river was warm and a milky white color. Swimming and resting and the mineral deposits give great views of the river valley surrounding you.
Finding the Source of the Hot Spings
If your adventurous enough you can walk upstream to the entrance of the mountain and enter the cave that is supplying the river with geothermal water. The large opening reveals some wading pools you can swim and explore near the entrance. Small fissures allow warm water to enter the pools from above like a shower, some are like a waterfall though.
If you are brave enough, there is a smaller cave tunnel that leads you further into the mountain with warmer and warmer water and a progressively smaller tunnel. We did have other people exploring the tunnel with us. The water got warmer and warmer, with more and more water flow. It felt like we got close to the source of the geo thermal water. The tunnel was steaming and misty. You can only see a few feet around you. Camera lenses steam over and you won’t get any real good photos though. After about 5 hours at the hot springs we returned to CDMX.
Conclusion
CDMX is a fanstastic metropolis with an incredible variety of top notch food, drink, culture, and history. CDMX is not a city you can rush because it is so vast and has so much to discover. The year round mild climate makes for a great getaway anytime.
