Best things to do in Mexico City—ranked based on my own experience
How much time do you need in Mexico City?
My 3–4 Day Mexico City Itinerary
Visiting Mexico City—quick tips for your trip
1. Teotihuacan (day trips from Mexico City)
2. Zócalo (Mexico City center)
5. Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts)
11. National Museum of Anthropology
Best day trips from Mexico City
Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (day trips from Mexico City)
Izta Popo National Park (day trips from Mexico City)
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the things to do in Mexico City. And outside Mexico City. I’m talking about exploring ancient Aztec pyramids, wandering the historic Zócalo, visiting Frida Kahlo's Blue House, and taking a day trip to see bazillions of butterflies.
I did all those things and more in my 4-day trip to Mexico City, and I’ve ranked them all here based on my own experience. I’m here to tell you what activities to choose (believe me when I say there’s plenty of options), the perfect 3- and 4-day itinerary, and what’s actually worth a day trip from Mexico City. Ándale, let’s go!
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Mexico City is like Mexico’s version of NYC, but even bigger. By that I mean it has more people and a bigger metropolitan area—the biggest in all of North America, in fact. I guess instead of the Big Apple, you could call it...the Big Empanada? The Big Taco? You get my drift.
Combine that bustling, energetic metropolis with ancient Aztec ruins, and you get a fascinating character of a city that feels super modern but has historic roots everywhere I looked. I’ve never been to any other city that balanced both so well.
If you’re intimidated by the city’s size, don’t be. The touristy stuff, like the ruins and other historic sites, is all clustered together in the Historic Center. But for the day trips, rent a car or risk spending eternity on public transport. Your choice.
Day trip—Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve
Day trip—Izta Popo National Park
Day trip—Tepozteco
Did I mention that Mexico City is ginormous? And there’s plenty of interesting day trips to take on top of what’s in the city proper? Don’t expect this to be a day trip destination. You’ll need a weekend at absolute minimum.
Of course, to really dive into Mexico City without feeling rushed, 3 is better. I think 3 to 4 days is the sweet spot. Again, think of NYC. Could you see all of NYC in just a couple of days? No way, José.
I would argue 5 days is fine too, but any longer than that is pushing it.
Take it easy or tackle the grueling Paso de Cortés hike, but respect the altitude either way @ Izta Popo National Park
Choose between Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Izta Popo National Park, the Desert of Lions, or Tepozteco for your last day.
Traffic is bad. That means don't judge distances by kilometers. Google Maps might tell you something is a half hour away, but it’ll actually take an hour to get there. Budget your time accordingly.
Schedule strategically. Mexico City is, in one word, sprawling. Schedule the sites that are close to each other back to back before schlepping over to the next neighborhood. (Or just follow my itinerary, that’s how I planned it.)
Wear comfortable shoes. I walked over 20,000 steps each day. But who’s counting?
Carry some cash. Not a whole ton. Pretty much every museum takes card. But it’s nice to have a few MXN on hand for market stalls, public toilets, and food stands.
Prepare for high altitude. Mexico City is over 2,000 meters above sea level, so you might need some time to adjust. If you feel extra tired your first day or two, this is probably why.
Don’t go on a Monday. Lots of museums are closed on Mondays for some reason.
Take the Metro during rush hour. I always prefer my own set of wheels, but during gridlock? Yeah, the Metro wins every time. So if you know you need to get somewhere at 5 pm, go ahead and buy a Metro ticket.
Okay, so technically Teotihuacan is an hour outside of Mexico City, but I still think of it as a thing to do in Mexico City because an hour really isn’t that long. If you wanted to, you could spend a couple hours here and then easily pop back to Mexico City for extra sightseeing. But I took my precious time here, and I recommend you do too.
But I’ll tell you more about it in my day trips from Mexico City section later on in this article.
The Zócalo
I'm all about history when it comes to exploring foreign cities, towns, and sites. And history is crucial even in Zócalo, the heart of Mexico City. Zócalo has been the center of the realm since the foundation of the Aztec Empire, and is built on the ruins of Tenochtitlan (as is the whole of Mexico City). Now it serves as a gigantic square so big that it could fit 12 football fields.
Zocalo itself works as a stop, but I’d look at it as a starting point for lots of other things to do in Mexico City. My favorite parts were the giant Mexican flag in the center, in case I forgot what country I was in, and the dancers performing traditional Aztec moves. Very cool.
Here’s a mini Zocalo itinerary for you:
The Metropolitan Cathedral is the obvious first Zocalo stop, you can’t miss it. I just wandered in because I figured “hey, I’m here,” and got way more than I bargained for: this place is downright stunning.
I really enjoyed the contrast between the Spanish cathedral style and Templo Mayor nearby. I’d devote a solid 30 minutes to it before you lose hours at the ruins.
If you’re curious about Templo Mayor, I put together this guide to Aztec ruins in Mexico.
Bonus recommendation: Once you’re done here, take a stroll along Madero Street. This is where I found cute little coffee shops, random historical buildings with beautiful architecture, and a chill vibe I didn’t experience anywhere else in the city. Full marks.
I stumbled upon the House of Tiles on Madero Street, and I mean, look at the thing. You don’t just walk past it.
The decoration of House of Tiles
There are two official explanations of the facade, both of them equally plausible:
The house serves as a restaurant today.
The fancy shmancy Palacio has lots of rotating artsy events and performances throughout the year. I was happy enough just to look at the outside. I mean, look at the palace and see for yourself.
Whether you are an artistic person or not, you will appreciate the Palacio de Bellas Artes
If you’re into culture, this place is totally for you. And if you’re not into culture but prefer taking awesome Instagram pictures instead, this place is also totally for you.
Torre Latinoamericana
Just a few minutes from the Palace is this odd little gem: the Torre Latinoamericana. Sure, skyscrapers are nothing unusual in American cities. But this is Mexico. In the middle of a historical center. So this is a real diamond.
I went up to the 44th floor and got the best view of Mexico City you can get. And no climbing up stairs! Ah, the beauty of elevators.
To add on, Torre Latinoamericana (Latin American Tower) has one superpower: it’s earthquake-resistant. Its 44 floors and 182 meters (597 feet) are rock-solid and unlikely to fall down even in the most horrible of tremors, shakes, and quakes. Perfect even for the height-phobes out there.
Last but not least in our Zocalo mini-itinerary, we’ve got Alameda Central Park. It may not be as flashy as some other parks in Mexico City, but that’s part of its charm. Its fountains, statues, kiosks, and benches make it just the perfect place for an afternoon chillout and were a great ending to my Zocalo adventure.
Take a walk through Alameda Central Park
C’mon, look how pretty it is and tell me you don’t want to spend an afternoon hanging out here with a coffee.
Frida Kahlo Museum
I almost didn’t get to see this museum because I didn’t appreciate how quickly tickets sell out. Luckily, I managed to snag one last minute. Phew! Don’t make my mistake and book a ticket weeks in advance. Frida is a popular gal.
Surrealism had its boom in the 20th century all over the world, but Frida Kahlo took it to a different level in Mexico. She is famous especially for her self-portraits, colorful and fascinatingly confusing.
The museum dedicated to Frida Kahlo in Mexico City reaches the very same level of creativity as her pictures—painted blue inside and out, it’s called La Casa Azul (The Blue House). It’s established in the house where Frida lived and painted (and took care of her eyebrows).
Chapultepec Park is a must!
With its 686 hectares (1,695 acres) of trees, walking paths, and cultural sites, Chapultepec Park is the best pick when you've had enough of the tourist hustle and noise in the city center. It’s often described as the Mexican version of Central Park in New York, Bois de Boulogne in Paris, or the Imperial Gardens in Tokyo—depending on the nationality of the speaker.
The park offers a lot:
You could spend a whole day in it if you wanted. But on the other hand—if you wanted to spend a whole day in a park, why on Earth would you travel as far as Mexico City?
Chapultepec Castle gave me history, architecture, and scenery all in one place. The history comes from, yep, the history museum inside. I always love a surprise history museum. I got to learn about Mexico's emperors, presidents, and military history while walking through beautifully preserved royal rooms.
I was expecting “just another castle,” but like a few places on this list of things to do in Mexico City, I walked away pleasantly surprised. And I enjoyed the views of the park through those super royal windows.
Yeah, it’s a stop within the broader Chapultepec Park, but I liked it so much I’m giving it its own spot on the list of things to do in Mexico City. If you have even the teeniest tiniest interest in Aztec and Mayan history (and if you’re in Mexico City you probably do), this museum can’t be missed.
I can’t even list all the amazing artifacts I saw; there are just too many. I mean, there are 23 rooms. Not to mention this is the world's largest collection of pre-Columbian Mexican artifacts. I honestly felt that the museum helped me understand Aztec and Mayan civilizations even better than visiting the ruins.
Pro tip: Book a tour with an actual archaeologist to make the most of your visit.
The highlight was the famous Aztec Sun Stone, which was so ginormous I could see all the intricate details easily. The Olmec heads are also super huge (don’t worry, they’re sculptures). Then there’s the reconstructed temples, the creepy Earth Goddess statue that gave me the chills...everything was memorable. In short, this is a must-see, especially for first-time visitors to Mexico City.
Expect to spend at least 2 to 3 hours here. I’d even budget a little extra just in case. I was so immersed I lost track of time.
Desierto de los Leones (the Desert of Lions) is not precisely a desert. It didn’t get its name because it’s dry; it got its name because it’s wild. It’s a vast national park with steep mountains (some of them higher than 4,000 meters—13,123 feet), plentiful brooks, ravines and waterfalls, and a cold and damp climate.
This spot isn’t like any of the other things to do in Mexico City. Technically, it is in Mexico City, but the drive can take anywhere from 30 mins to an hour depending on the notorious traffic. If you’re short on time, I’d prioritize places like Teotihuacan or the Butterfly Reserve instead. But if you’re into nature, hiking, or photography, it’s a worthwhile city escape.
It contains numerous hiking possibilities, but if you don’t have enough time, I recommend visiting at least the abandoned convent that lies in the dense forests of the park. That was the highlight of the trip for me. It was built by the order of the Barefoot Carmelites and allows a glimpse into their lives. Pretty cool stuff. But carry some pesos; tickets cost a small 20 MXN (USD 1) fee.
The Angel of Independence—the symbol of Mexico City
What list of must-see city attractions would be complete without an enormous statue in the Statue of Liberty style? The Angel of Independence is 48 meters (157 feet) smaller than its North-American cousin, but it doesn’t mean it’s less interesting. Or maybe it does.
But you should see it nonetheless because it’s the symbol of Mexico City. New York has the green version, Paris has the Eiffel Tower, and Mexico City has this striking golden angel.
I only stopped here for a few minutes, and that’s really all I needed. A nice one-and-done type of place. Snap a photo and move on to the next stop.
You might wander here naturally if you’re already exploring the famous Paseo de la Reforma street, so you may not even need to put it into your itinerary. Couldn’t be easier to see. And it’s hard to miss. Look at that thing.
If you want to buy some souvenirs from your trip, this is the place
The Polanco quarter should be on every shopaholic visitor’s list—or at least as long as you’re a millionaire. Avenida Presidente Masaryk, the main street of the quarter, is the most expensive street in Mexico, being home to upscale shops such as Rolex, Dolce & Gabbana, or Louis Vuitton. It will be either hell or heaven for you—depending on the state of your wallet.
For me, it was just okay. For my girlfriend, it was a total blast. She indulges me in enough war museums during our travels, so I let her drag me to all the different shops. Only fair.
It’s also a good place to be if you’re a foodie. You can indulge in the excellent food in several Michelin-starred restaurants. I did enjoy that part; it made up for all the shopping.
Fun fact: Since I’m Czech, I can’t miss this opportunity to tell you that Avenida Presidente Masaryk is named after the first Czechoslovak president, called Father of the Nation—Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk. Unfortunately, I seem to be the only one aware—many local shops have it wrong and display “Mazarik” on their signs.
Teotihuacan
Time needed: 3 to 4 hours
Tickets: MXN 210 (USD 12)
Opening hours: 8 am—5 pm, last entry 4 pm
Back in the days when Julius Caesar happily walked the Earth, and Cleopatra ruled Egypt, Teotihuacan was the largest city in the Western Hemisphere, and the 6th largest city in the world. It had the same strength as, for example, Rome or Constantinople. Then it collapsed. Maybe you wonder why it collapsed if it was so great and amazing. Unfortunately, nobody knows the answer.
Teotihuacan lies 40 kilometres (25 miles) northeast of modern-day Mexico City, and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1987. Pyramids, temples, the Avenue of the Dead, and other fascinating sites left my eyes out on stalks. I thought I would be paying through the nose to see it, but no: the entry costs only the ridiculous sum of MXN 210 (USD 12).
Check out the Complete Guide to Visit Teotihuacan (including prices and photos).
Tip: You can book a hot air balloon flight over the ruins for a little over 2,000 Mexican pesos (100 US dollars). Check, for example, Civitatis. But remember the price can vary greatly depending on a number of factors, so always browse the internet and search for the best offer.
Try a hot air balloon flight above Teotihuacan!
Monarch Butterfly Reserve is home to a jaw-dropping number of butterflies that fly into Mexico from the north. Hundreds of millions of butterflies stay in the reserve from December to March every year. They fly around, sit on people, and pose for pictures.
This is the Monarch Butterfly
It's easy to get lost in the romance of fluttering wings, but don’t get carried away too quickly—the butterflies basically come into Mexico to copulate and die. You will see unpleasant things. I don’t mean copulating butterflies; I mean dead butterflies—all over the ground.
But nevertheless, the experience is beautiful, and above all absolutely unique. You won’t see this anywhere else in the world. This is your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so don’t miss it.
Some really useful information: Approximately a three-hour drive from Mexico City, the walk into the reserve starts in Rosario. Put it in your GPS, keep a close eye on it, and don’t let anyone rip you off. I’d bet my boots that there will be a few cheaters pretending you’re already on the spot and asking you to pay the entrance fee. Well, you should pay the entrance fee. But once you’re really there, not a minute sooner.
The walk is quite short (it takes about an hour) but challenging and steep. It’s invisible on the map, but I have a trick up my sleeve to share with you. Hold the yellow figure in Google Maps for a while—and it will show you the path!
Find the Monarch Butterfly Reserve on Google Maps
Another piece of advice: Be good. I know, I know. I’m not your mother. But this is what I have to say: Some people in Mexico are really poor, and you can help them quite a lot if you purchase something from them. Don’t be a jerk and hire a guide or buy a souvenir. (Or, even better, buy tacos and churritos. You won’t regret it, I promise.)
And one last recommendation: It’s better to visit the reserve on a hot, sunny day. Otherwise, the butterflies will fly higher, and it will be harder to see them.
The brown dry leaves on the trees aren’t brown dry leaves. They are butterflies.
You have to experience the great hiking in the Izta Popo National Park
Izta Popo National Park is an absolute must-see, if only because of the world-famous Popocatépetl.
You could take it easy and just enjoy the views, or conquer the challenge and take a hike. There are plenty of them, the most popular one being Paso de Cortés. It’s named after the destroyer of Mexico’s ancient cultures, the conquistador Hernán Cortés. I guess it was the Spanish who named it, not the Mexicans.
The hike is 12 kilometers (7,4 miles) long and might seem easy. But appearances are deceptive. Because it’s at a high altitude and in quite cold weather, it’s actually rather grueling.
Popocatépetl is 5,426 meters (17,801 feet) high and active. If you didn’t know that, it’s probably clear to you by now: Popocatépetl is a volcano. Its name means Smoking Mountain in Aztec, and not without reason: it smokes like a chimney. During the 2000 eruption, it shot lava 400 meters (1,300 feet) into the air. Obviously, you can’t climb it or hike up, as it’s strictly forbidden and immensely dangerous.
Another important mountain in the national park is Iztaccíhuatl, 5,230 meters (17,158 feet) high, often hidden in the shroud of clouds. The park itself is at an altitude of some 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) above sea level, which means one thing: Bring sunscreen.
Don't forget your sunscreen!
A winding road leads from Mexico City to Izta Popo, taking you to one of the most crowded parking lots in Mexico. We were there in Covid time. We were there in December. And still, it was almost full. There are lots of parking places, but it’s always better to arrive as early as possible. You know, just to be sure.
Tepozteco
Breathe in the air of ancient cultures and visit Tepozteco, an Aztec temple built on a hill above the town of Tepoztlán. It’s no walk in the park: Get ready to climb a steep slope and scramble over rocks and tree roots that block the path. You will get 300 meters (984 feet) higher in the course of a 1.5-kilometer (0.9-mile) long path.
My tip: Don’t drive right under the hill—the streets there are extremely narrow and strewn with one-ways. You could drive in circles forever. Instead, find a parking space in one of the private gardens that locals offer for parking for 10 pesos (50 US cents).
If my list of the best things to do in Mexico City didn’t prove that it’s worth visiting, I don’t know how else to convince you. As I said before, it’s like Mexico’s own, bigger, New York City. Hell, there’s even a ‘Statue of Liberty’ and a skyscraper in this ginormous and bustling metropolis.
You get all that hustle-and-bustle energy, plus all the historical goodness of the Aztec and Mayan ancient ruins. The modern and the ancient all in one. To quote Hannah Montana, it’s the best of both worlds.
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Best things to do in Mexico City—ranked based on my own experience
How much time do you need in Mexico City?
My 3–4 Day Mexico City Itinerary
Visiting Mexico City—quick tips for your trip
1. Teotihuacan (day trips from Mexico City)
2. Zócalo (Mexico City center)
5. Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts)
11. National Museum of Anthropology
Best day trips from Mexico City
Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (day trips from Mexico City)
Izta Popo National Park (day trips from Mexico City)
Hi, I’m Jan. I travel fast and intensely, whether I’m exploring the buzz of Tokyo in 3 days or road-tripping through mountains and beaches on a 3-week Thailand adventure. And no matter where I am, you’ll always find me in a comfortable hotel at night and eating the best food.
If that sounds like your kind of journey, hop on board, and let’s explore the world together!
I started this blog after realizing how tough it can be to find reliable, authentic travel info. You wouldn’t believe how many “travel bloggers” never even visit the places they write about! On Next Level of Travel, you can count on my full honesty and insights drawn from my firsthand experiences.
Here’s the deal: not every destination is all superlatives and unicorns. I’ll let you know if a tourist attraction isn’t worth your time, like skipping overrated stops in my 2-week Spain itinerary. And when I find something truly special—like the perfect mix of culture and nature in Cape Town—you can trust that it’s worth adding to your itinerary.
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