We spent four days in Mexico City during our trip to Mexico; three days exploring the city itself and a fourth day on a trip to the ancient pyramids of Teotihuacán, some 30 miles away. Here is my pick of the top 10 things to do on a visit to Mexico City.
Bear in mind when planning a trip to Mexico City, that many of the city’s attractions are closed on Mondays.
How to get to Mexico City
Benito Juárez International Airport is well served with national and international flights. The airport is located around 4 miles to the west of the city centre. There are two terminals, with most international flights using Terminal 1. There is a Metro Station (Terminal Aérea) serviced by Metro Line 5. However, getting into the centre would require a change of trains.
We opted to take the Metrobús. Metrobús Line 4 stops at both terminals (Entrance 7 at Terminal 1 and Entrance 2 at Terminal 2) and offers a regular circular (rectangular?) route round the edge of the city centre. We alighted at Republica de Chile, which is a few blocks north of the Zócalo. Tickets cost M$30, which must be loaded onto
From London, we found that the cheapest way to fly to Mexico was to buy a package holiday to Cancun. After a few days chilling by the pool at our resort hotel, we took an internal flight to Mexico City for a long weekend. Then, we returned to our original hotel to complete our package holiday.
Getting around Mexico City
The easiest way to get around Mexico City is to use the Metro, which is clean, efficient and cheap. You will need to purchase a Metro Card (M$15), which can be recharged at ticket offices or recharging machines. An individual journey costs M$5. The Metro Card can also be used on Metrobuses, with a journey costing M$6.
Where to stay in Mexico City
We stayed at the NH Collection Mexico City Centro Histórico. This chain hotel is very conveniently located right in the centre of the old town, just a 3 minute walk from the Zócalo. Not the cheapest hotel, but we thought it was worth it for the location. Amidst the heat and bustle of the city, the hotel is a welcome oasis of cool and calm. We kept costs down by not dining at the hotel – there is an excellent bakery across the road, Pastelería Ideal, for breakfast/lunch and plenty of nearby options for dinner.
Mexico City: Top 10 Things to do
| 1 | See the ancient Templo Mayor |
| 2 | Admire the Metropolitan Cathedral |
| 3 | Stroll across the Zócalo |
| 4 | Enjoy the view from the Torre Latino |
| 5 | Marvel at the Palacio de Bellas Artes and its artwork |
| 6 | Wander round the park at Castillo de Chapultepec |
| 7 | Dine at the Gran Hotel Ciudad de México |
| 8 | Take a trip to the spectacular Teotihuacán |
| 9 | See where Leon Trotsky was assassinated at the Museo Trotsky |
| 10 | Visit the home of Frida Kahlo |
No 1 – See the ancient Templo Mayor
The Templo Mayor, an ancient Aztec temple site, believed by the Aztecs to be the centre of the Universe, was partially destroyed by the Spanish conquistadors in order to build their cathedral nearby. In 1978, municipal workers came across an Aztec carving and the colonial buildings were subsequently demolished in order to excavate the site of the temple.
Museo del Templo Mayor
Much of the site of the Templo Mayor can be viewed without entering the complex. However, it is worth a visit to the on-site museum, Museo del Templo Mayor, to learn more about the history of the temple and see some of the artifacts discovered during excavations.
The museum is open daily excluding Monday from 9 am until 5 pm. Adult entry costs M$100.
No 2 – Admire the Metropolitan Cathedral
The enormous 109 metre long Metropolitan Cathedral was constructed in the 16th Century by the Spanish conquistadors, using stone plundered from the Templo Mayor.
It is possible to visit the cathedral’s ornate interior if no service is taking place.
No 3 – Stroll across the Zócalo
The Zócalo is the name of the enormous plaza (officially called the Plaza de la Constitución) which is lined by the Cathedral, the Palacio Nacional, various government building and high-end hotels. In the middle is a huge Mexican flag, which is ceremonially raised and lowered daily and 8 am and 6 pm respectively. The plaza also has a Metro Station and some photo-op CDMX letters.
No 4 – Enjoy the view from the Torre Latino
The Torre Latino is a great place to start a visit to Mexico City, as you can enjoy a stunning city view and find your bearings at the same time.
Standing 181 metres high, the tower was Latin America’s tallest building when it was built in 1956. There are observation decks on the 42nd to 44th floors and an interesting museum about the tower and the city on the 38th floor. There is also a café, bar and restaurant between floors 37 and 41.
The tower is open daily from 9 am until 10 pm. There is a range of ticketing options, but basic entry costs M$220.
No 5 – Marvel at the Palacio de Bellas Artes and its artwork
One of the highlights of our trip was a visit to the Palacio de Bellas Artes. Built at the beginning of the 20th century, this spectacular marble art nouveau building contains a collection of equally spectacular art.
The highlight of the highlight is two floors of murals by prominent Mexican artists, including the enormous El Hombre en el Cruce de Caminos by Diego Rivera.
The gallery is open daily except Monday from 10 am until 6 pm. Adult entry costs M$95.
No 6 – Wander round the park at Castillo de Chapultepec
The Castillo de Chapultepec sits on the top of a hill in a park known as Bosque de Chapultepec. As well as a castle, this huge park contains 9 museums, play areas, gardens, lakes a zoo and over a hundred statues and fountains. The castle was built in the 18th Century for the Viceroy and is now home to the National History Museum.
We figured that one museum is enough for the day, so settled for a wander round the park before catching the Metro back to Zócalo.
If you can squeeze in one more museum, the National History Museum is open daily except Monday from 9 am until 5 pm. Adult entry costs M$100.
No 7 – Dine at the Gran Hotel Ciudad de México
Another highlight of our trip was dinner at Terraza – a restaurant on the fifth floor of the Gran Hotel Ciudad de México. Upon arrival, take some time admiring the hotel’s opulent interior before ascending to the restaurant on a balcony overlooking the Zócalo.
The food and the view over the city as the sun sets are equally spectacular.
No 8 – Take a Trip to the spectacular Teotihuacán
We took an organised trip to Teotihuacan, which is situated around 30 miles north east of the city. It is possible to reach Teotihuacán by public transport (metro to Terminal Norte followed by a bus), but we decided it was too much hassle and booked a tour. The pros; door to door transport and a guide. The cons; it’s more expensive and a lot of time is spent at various stops devised to encourage shopping, rather than actual sites of interest. If you want to spend ages exploring the site at your leisure, a tour probably isn’t the best option, because the amount of time actually here is quite short.
There are several companies offering day trips to Teotichuacán. We went with Viajes Roldan. The package includes the three major stops (Plaza de la Tres Culturas, Teotihuacán and the Basílica de Guadalupe) plus a few other shopping stops I won’t bother mentioning. It costs US$50 including a buffet lunch (US$35 without lunch).
Note: There isn’t much near to the restaurant where lunch is offered, so if you opt not to pay for the buffet, it’s probably best to bring a packed lunch to sit and eat outside the restaurant. The restaurant is not open on Mondays.
Our time in Teotihuacán was divided between the two pyramids; the Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon.
Pyramid of the Moon
The Pyramid of the Moon is the smaller of two pyramids, although as the ground between them is on a slope, they are technically the same height. In the past 1700 years, many millions of people have climbed the Pyramid of the Moon, most of them more gracefully than me!
Note: Since our visit, to preserve the site (and old ladies’ dignity?) it is no longer possible to climb the pyramids.
Pyramid of the Sun
The Pyramid of the Sun is an awe inspiring structure, measuring 71 metres high and containing 248 steps, which makes it the third largest pyramid in the world.
Teotihuacán is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm. Tickets cost M$100. If you’re part of a tour group, your ticket will be included and you won’t need to queue.
No 9 – See where Trotsky was assassinated at the Museo Trotsky
The suburb of Coyoacán is around 7 miles south of the city centre. Coyoacán Station is serviced by Metro Line 3. In this genteel suburb you can visit the former homes of some of the city’s most renowned residents.
First, Museo Trotsky; the former home of communist revolutionary Leon Trotsky, who lived here after fleeing from Stalinist Russia. Trotsky came to Mexico in 1937. After a brief time as the guests of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, the Trotsky family moved into their own house nearby.
The house has been preserved as it would have been during this time and you can visit the rooms and see how the family lived. A failed assassination attempt left Trotsky’s room and his son’s adjoining bedroom riddled with bullets. Trotsky finally met his end when a Stalinist agent smashed in his head with an ice pick. There is a memorial containing his ashes in the garden.
The museum is open daily except Monday from 10 am until 5 pm. Tickets cost M$40 for foreign adults.
No 10 – Visit the home of Frida Kahlo
The Museo Frida Kahlo is located in the Casa Azul, the former home of artist Frida Kahlo and her artist husband Diego Rivera. The house was built by Frida’s father and she was born, lived, worked and died here. You can visit the house, learn about Kahlo’s troubled life and see some of her work.
The museum is open daily except Monday from 10 am (11 am on Wednesday) until 6 pm. Tickets for foreigners cost M$320.
- Trip taken: June 2017
- Updated: September 2025
I hope you found the above information useful. For more top picks from other destinations in the 50+ countries we have visited, check out my full Top 10 Things To Do list here.
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