Plan Your Mexico City Holiday: Best of Mexico City
Explore Mexico City
Essential Mexico City
Things to do
Food & drink
Exploring Mexico City’s design scene
Casa Luis Barragan204The former home of Mexican modernist architect Luis Barragan is a must-see. With its clean lines and vibrant colours (fuschia, mustard, deep blue), the house is a time capsule from the 1940s. It’s amazing to witness how Barragan’s mastery of light and shadow evokes a sense of nostalgia and connection with nature—I could really feel it. I also loved the interconnected courtyards, gardens, and reflecting pools. Tickets go quickly, so book in advance.
Chapultepec Castle10,940It’s a bit of a hike up to the Castillo de Chapultepec, but it’s worth it for the stunning neoclassical and European-style architecture—and some of the best views in the city. Make sure to go inside, too. The interior is lavishly decorated with period furniture, artwork, and historic artifacts. I also love wandering through the surrounding park; it’s the world’s largest urban green space.
La Lagunilla Market81This weekly market, which takes place on Sunday mornings, has great food and clothing, but I really come for the antiques. You can find some real gems, from large taxidermied bears and Pre-Hispanic artifacts to mid-century furniture and records, and more. My latest score was a pair of vintage Christian Dior sunglasses. Brush up on your Spanish ahead of time so you can haggle for a good deal.
Mercado de Jamaica71This renowned flower market is the place for event planners and flower lovers from around the world. It’s always bustling and full of bright colours and bold fragrances. Although the flowers are the main attraction, there’s also a fantastic selection of food. In addition to fresh blooms, I always pick up some wild mushrooms, unique spices, and grilled corn when I visit.
AGO Projects1AGO Projects is a stunningly curated exhibition space and an incubator for new and established design talent in Mexico. It’s an awesome place to go for ideas and to see what’s hot on the design scene. A recent show by OHLA Studio and Eusebio mixed artisan traditions with functional objects like chairs and tables, using neutral colours, glazes, and bronze-toned lighting. It was so cool that it inspired me to upgrade my apartment.
Fundación MARSO0 reviewsHoused in a beautiful, turn-of-the-century mansion in the East Juarez neighbourhood, Fundacíon MARSO is a contemporary art exhibition space that hosts working artists. Currently, there’s a spectacular display of hand-made pieces by ceramicist Perla Valtierra. She works with natural clay and local artisans and you can feel the essence of Mexican ancestral pottery in her work.
OMR6A contemporary art gallery in Roma Norte, OMR should be on every design lover’s list. It’s quite avant garde, with a nice mix of emerging and established artists. I come here every time I’m in Mexico City, and even plan trips around their cool event schedule. Add yourself to their email list to get notified of workshops, lectures, film screenings, and more.- Chic by Accident0 reviewsChic By Accident is a super stylish vintage furniture boutique that’s really fun to browse—owner and designer Emmanuel Picaul has a truly incredible eye for antique treasures. Last time I visited, I fell in love with a large Olmecan stone head, a brilliant mid-century desk with artisan candles on top, and what looked like a Barragan glass sphere.
Browse collections
Make a day of itThere's so much to see just outside the city
Party of oneHotspots for solo travelers
Fall in Mexico CitySee what makes the place so magical this time of year
Mexico City on a dimeEats and activities that won’t break the bank
If you’re feeling fancy-ishGo-all-out experiences worth every penny
Street-art spottingMurals and art with no admission required
Nighttime adventuresBar crawls, lucha libre matches, and more by moonlight
Flavour-packed food toursAll the tastes of Mexico—from mezcal to mole
For the love of FridaDive into the artist’s life and work
Design-lover’s dreamCan’t-miss museums and walking tours
The sounds of the cityLive music and dancing from sunup to sundown
Gardens and greeneryEssential parks and nature around the city
At the mercadoBest markets for shopping, eating, and more
More Latin American cultural capitals
Mexico City Travel Guide
Travelers' pro tips for experiencing Mexico City
Carolina B
Avoid rush hours. Leave your hotel after 9:15 am and remember that after 5 - 5:30, until around 8:00 pm, traffic gets quite complicated. Especially on Fridays.
Charimito
Our kids loved Mexico! Every restaurant is child-friendly. Just avoid taking the kids out for a late dinner.
Samantha O
The variety and quantity of available street-eats can be overwhelming. Most food stands will have a big menu to choose from and a short wait to get your food. Small eateries are usually family-owned and run a 'menu corrido,' an inexpensive fixed menu that usually includes a juice of the day, two or three courses, and dessert.
Lucero Lizbeth I
In Mexico City, a place of beautiful castles, great houses, stately palaces, and spiritual sites, you can find incredible stories about Mexican history and how it has informed modern times. The Mexico of today is a compilation of the cultural influences of the pre-Hispanic period, the Spanish conquest, independence, and the revolution. These influences can be seen in the architecture, design, art, music, and food.
Samantha O
Mexico City offers a host of diverse and exciting possibilities for shopping, from artisanal artifacts at 'La Ciudadela,' to modern local fashion finds in the cool neighborhoods of Condesa and Roma, all the way to upscale and exclusive designer items on Masaryk. Not to mention the local foods you can sample while you're out and about!
mozz13
My primary reason for visiting was the historical sites and food. I had a few life-changing experiences while in Mexico City. It will always have a special place in my heart! Viva Mexico!
What is the best way to get there?
flying
Mexico City is served by Benito Juarez International Airport, best known as Mexico City International airport.
bus
Mexico City has four long-distance bus terminals that serve the north, east, south, and west parts of the capital. ADO, Autovias, and Primera Plus service destinations throughout Mexico.
Do I need a visa?
If you’re visiting Mexico City from overseas, see if you need a visa using this website.
When is the best time to visit?
Summer: Summer is one of the nicest times to visit. December is very bad for traffic till the holidays when the city is empty but many places close. Mexico City is a good year-round destination. Other than late April / early May, it never gets really hot and things always cool down later. Weather is never too cold - a sweater will suffice even on the worst morning in January as it will warm later. There is always something going on — just avoid Easter week and Christmas week as too many places close down.
For more information on Mexico City’s weather and when to go, check out some tips here.
Get around
metro
Mexico City’s comprehensive metro system has 195 stations spread across 14 lines; its a cost-effective and convenient way to avoid traffic above ground. For more information on routes, see here.
bus
There are three main types of buses in Mexico City: Pesero, Metrobus, and Trolebus. Buses run from early morning until late night, after which you’ll need to take a taxi.
bike
Though Mexico City doesn’t have a dedicated cycle route, bikes are available to hire for free from a kiosk on the west side of Catedral Metropolitana.
taxis and rideshare
Taxis in Mexico City are generally inexpensive and easy to flag down on the street—ensure that you only use registered cabs that display a sticker in the front window. Rideshare apps such as Uber are available.
On the ground
What is the timezone?
Central Standard Time (GMT-6).
What are the voltage/plug types?
The standard voltage in Mexico City is 127V and the standard frequency is 60Hz. There are two associated plug types: type A with two flat parallel pins and type B with two flat parallel pins and a grounding pin.
What is the currency?
Mexico peso (MXN).
Are ATMs readily accessible?
Yes.
Are credit cards widely accepted?
Yes.
Is it easy to find a bank?
Yes.
How much do I tip?
Bartender
10-20 pesos per drink
Restaurant
10-15%
Bellhop
10-20 pesos per bag
Taxis/rideshare
Not expected unless extra service is provided
Tour guide
15-20%
Are there local customs I should know?
Drinking
The federal legal age for buying and drinking alcohol is 18 years old.
Walking
Walk to the right of the sidewalk and step off to the side of the sidewalk if you want to stop to check your phone, look up directions, or want to take in a view.
Always greet people
An informal greeting in Spanish—“hola”—is always appreciated — this includes shop attendants, wait staff, hotel staff, drivers.