Mexico City, a hundreds-of-years-old metropolis and the most populated city of North America. When I first traveled to Mexico City, it was for educational purposes. I had not heard much about this enormous metropolis, inhabiting more than 20 million people. When people say Mexico, you usually think of bullets flying in the streets or people getting kidnapped, all thanks to the wonderful producers. I soon found out that, once again, they had worked for the stereotypical minds of the Western world. In reality, what I saw was a huge, modern capital with a diverse history—a city where I appreciated the kindness of its people. Mexico City, or Ciudad de Mexico (CDMX), usually is not a part of popular travel magazines or trending Instagram/TikTok reels. However, it is a city with a lot to offer. Here are 20 popular destinations you must visit if you are in CDMX.
1-) Zócalo o Plaza de la Constitución
This plaza, or square, is the center of modern Mexico, as it was the center of Aztec Mexico and the Spanish Viceroyalty. You will know you have arrived at this destination once you see the proud Mexican flag ripple through the sky in the center, the biggest I have ever seen. There is a local legend that I’m going to leave up to you to believe in or not: it is believed that the chief of the “Aztlan and Nahua” people, who later became known as “the Aztecs,” met a seer who told him his people would walk for days until they would be exhausted, with no will left in them for a single step. Then, they would see a cactus, with an eagle on top holding a snake in its mouth. There, they would feel at home and establish their capital—thus the Mexican flag. Around the plaza and nearby the region, you will find multiple places worth checking out, so it is a good place to start your adventure. Make sure to cleanse your soul and get protection against “mal de ojo” (evil eye) with the help of Aztec priests performing rituals around the plaza. It is important to do some up-to-date research before you go. As the literal center of the country, it can host major concerts, events, local artisans, and also PROTESTS. It is best to avoid the area on days such as International Women’s Day, Pride Day, or Labor Day, as it can get chaotic.
2-) Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral
Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral (built in 1573–1813), the biggest and, in my opinion, the most majestic in the Americas. Once you arrive at the plaza, this marvelous cathedral will be there to greet you. It was built partly on top of the great Aztec temple the Spanish unfortunately chose to demolish. At the time of my visit, no tickets were required, and the cathedral was very spacious. Thus, as long as you are not there during Sunday Mass, you should not have an issue. However, renovations are one thing to keep in mind. CDMX was built on top of a lake. It is situated on swampy mud deep under the concrete, which causes it to keep sinking every year at great lengths and require constant renovations for historical buildings.
3-Palacio Nacional & Shops
On the eastern side of the plaza, you will find the Palacio Nacional, once home to the Emperor Moctezuma II’s palace and conquistador Hernan Cortes’s estate, which was later bought by the Spanish Empire for the viceroyalty. The place has gone through many changes throughout the years and today serves as the federal executive of the country. It is famous for the mural of the world-renowned artist Diego Rivera. This building is also free to visit, but you must check the hours and expect a long queue upon arrival. There is no online portal, but you can email the government office to schedule. I was told there is a chance you will see the president if you get a chance to visit, even though I did not. On the other sides of the plaza, you will find the old city hall, government buildings, and the merchants’ portal, full of world-famous jewelry shops and cafes.
4-) Templo Mayor
Templo Mayor was the grand temple built on the main island in Lake Texcoco, the center of historical CDMX. However, when the Spanish arrived, the temple was sacked and lost to history. Thankfully, the foundations of the temple were found in the 1970s by utility workers. Today, once you walk behind the cathedral, you will see some of the foundations and can visit the Templo Mayor Museum, one of the best museums in a city that, I was told, has the second most museums among cities in the world. The tickets cost around 210 pesos, or 12 dollars, at the time of this post. The museum has around four floors with various artifacts from the Aztec and other periods. However, expect that the information around the museum will be primarily in Spanish, with limited English text.
5-) Palacio de Bellas Artes
The streets surrounding the plaza will take you to other historical buildings of the Centro Historico. Palacio de Bellas Artes and Alameda Central Park are only a 10-minute walk straight down from the Zocalo. This majestic, European-looking palace with a colorful dome is in the center of the plaza. The building is a cultural center used for performing arts that was built around 100 years ago to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Mexican independence.
6-Barrio Chino
Similar to many big cities across the world, CDMX received its own share of Chinese immigrants in the 20th century, who once again did a wonderful job of displaying their culture and keeping it alive. If you have the time, visit the Barrio Chino, within walking distance of the Palacio de Bellas Artes, and take a look at one of the smallest Chinatowns in the world. It is very easy to locate with its classical Chinatown architecture and decorations.
7-Torre de Latinoamérica
The Tower of Latin America is the first major skyscraper built in a highly active seismic zone. The building was Mexico’s tallest for 27 years after being completed in 1956 and has survived major earthquakes. It is possible to purchase tickets to view the whole city from the top. The cost is around 10 USD.0 USD.
8- Bosque de Chapultepec
Just like New York City, CDMX has its own park that is more than double the size of Central Park, providing oxygen to the bustling metropolitan area. The park has four sections with trails, attractions, museums, and even a zoo. Most of the famous attractions are located in the first section. You can Uber to the first section and only visit this area if you do not have the time. You can ride a pedal boat on the lake, take a photo with the CDMX sign, and do some shopping with local vendor carts for souvenirs. Make sure to negotiate! If you are wondering why the park has an unusual name, “bosque” means forest in Spanish, while the word “Chapultepec” is Nahuatl for “chapul” (grasshopper) and “tepetl” (hill), thus “on the hill of the grasshopper.” Also, make sure to be on the lookout for black squirrels and red-bellied squirrels in the park, which are rarely seen in the U.S.
9-Castillo Chapultepec
Castillo Chapultepec, in other words Chapultepec Castle, is the main attraction people visit in the park. It sits on top of a steep hill and requires a climb. The construction of the castle began in 1785 and was completed in 1864. It once housed Maximilian I (Emperor of the Mexican Empire and Archduke of Austria). The castle hosts beautiful objects gifted by European emperors, kings, and tsars to the Mexican emperor, as well as paintings and objects from famous wars in Mexico’s past. Make sure to visit all parts of the castle, especially the balcony overlooking the city with beautiful marble floors and the tower. The cost to enter is around 210 MEX, or 15 USD, and is well worth it. Make sure to make it one of the first destinations of your day, since the castle is quite large and worth your time.
10-Chapultepec Zoo
Another location you can visit inside the park is Chapultepec Zoo, which is home to around 250 species and nearly 2,000 individual animals. It is one of the free locations you can visit in CDMX.
11-Museo Nacional de Antropología
The National Museum of Anthropology is the largest and most visited museum in Mexico. It is a must-visit when you are in CDMX, especially if you enjoy museums. The museum is full of historical artifacts dating back to pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, including large pieces of temples. It is also home to the famous Aztec Stone of the Sun calendar that you can see on the country’s coins. There are over 600,000 historical objects in the building. The building itself is very modern and exquisite, with the world’s largest “umbrella” fountain representing Mexico’s diverse roots. The cost is around 210 MEX, or 15 USD.
12- Monumento a la Revolución
The Revolution Monument is the tallest memorial arch in the world, standing 67 meters high, and was built between 1910 and 1938. There is an elevator in the monument that can take you up to the upper levels, where you can see CDMX from above and enjoy a coffee or crepe at the top. There are also ways to get closer to the inner dome by climbing the stairs. The tickets cost around 10 USD.
13- Polanco
Polanco is CDMX’s more futuristic and luxurious neighborhood, similar to Beverly Hills in Los Angeles. It is home to modern buildings, restaurants, and boutique stores. It is worth spending a day here for the nice atmosphere and is also one of the luxurious locations where you can stay while in the city. While there will be another post on this, Roma Norte, Condesa, Polanco, and the Centro Historico are among the best locations in the city.
14-Xochimilco
Xochimilco is one of the neighborhoods of Mexico known for its canals, which are the last remaining water transport system of the Aztecs. It is full of colorful canoes known as trajineras that can take you on a tour of the canals. On most days, especially weekends, they are very crowded with families coming over to enjoy the canal. Other than the festive environment and the crowds, another thing that makes these canals fun is the mariachis. They can be called over for a price and will jump from boat to boat, singing songs. There are vendors that also sell products, food, and drinks from either their own canoes or by jumping from one boat to another. The boat costs around 600–750 MXN pesos, which is 30–45 USD an hour. Another post will be made specifically for this location.
15-Tlatelolco
Tlatelolco is one of the best places to see the mix of Spanish architecture and Pre-Columbian Architecture entwined. This site once was the sister city to the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan centered in modern day Zocalo, and was built in 1337 Unfortunately, the temples were destroyed, but the foundations are just as interesting today and there is a church built on top of the temple, with stones used from the temple. It is smaller, but unlike the most churches I have visited with its dark stones. It was built around 1527, which makes it one of the first churches built in CDMX. Most tour companies visiting Tenochitlan, the famous pyramids, stop at this stop, so plan your Tenochitlan visit first.
16-Basilica de Guadalupe
Basilica de Guadalupe is one of the most sacred places in Mexico and the most visited Catholic pilgrimage site in the world with ~20 million visitors yearly. It was very crowded at my time of visit. It is believed that St. Juan Diego was a peasant to whom the virgin Mary appeared to. He was told by the Virgin Mary to carry winter roses and build a church in her name. The saint did so and took the roses to the bishop in his cloak. When he opened his cloak a depiction of virgin Mary appeared miraculously. His cloak today is inside the New Basilica de Guadalupe built in 1974-1976 in place of the old one: Templo Expiatorio a Cristo Rey which had to be closed due to the earthquakes. You can actually see it tilted once you are in front of it. There is also a hill you can climb nearby to see the two structures together. This place is also a part of some tour packets going to Teotihuacan.
17- Mercado de las Artesanías
Mercado de las Artesanias Ciudadelia is one of the handicraft markets in CDMX that houses many shops with souvenirs to buy. The market itself is dazzling and beautiful to visit with vendors selling various souvenirs like bracelets, rings, figures, flutes, etc.You can try to negotiate however be aware many stores here will not negotiate and depending on the store and product some can be pricey so make sure to weigh in before buying anything. It is best to use an Uber to get to this region. There are a lot of tourists inside the market, but outside can get dark at night.
18- Other Museums
As I had mentioned earlier, Mexico City is known for being one of the cities with the most museums in the world. Here are a few museums that you can visit: Museo de Chocolate (a small museum in a nostalgic building showcasing the history of chocolate, displaying elite objects from the past as well as items made from chocolate, and selling chocolate products); Museo de Cera (a wax museum featuring figures of historical individuals, celebrities, and other displays, as well as nearby attractions such as illusion tunnels and mirror rooms. The museum itself costs 220 MEX, or approximately 13 USD, and the package that includes the Ripley Museum, Fantastic Travel, and RV costs 570 MEX, or 35 USD); Museo de Frida Kahlo (a blue property once inhabited by Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, devoted to Kahlo’s artistic life. Reservations must be made early. Admission costs around 320 MEX, or approximately 20 USD); and Museo Soumaya (a private art museum housed in a giant silver building that is admired for its architecture as well).
19- Teotihuacán(Day Trip)
I would have traveled to CDMX just for this place if I had known about it earlier. Teotihuacan is an ancient city that flourished from 100 BCE to 750 CE. It is located about an hour from Mexico City. The site includes the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon, and the Avenue of the Dead, shown above, which stretches for approximately two miles. In my opinion, it is even more impressive than the famous world wonder, Chichén Itzá in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.
There are multiple ways to get there: by bus, tour, or car. I would recommend taking a tour, as most tour companies provide hotel pickup and drop-off. In addition, tours often include visits to other destinations, as well as tequila tasting and lunch near the pyramids. Considering the rich history of the site, this can be a worthwhile option. Most people in the region do not speak English, so a guided tour may also be helpful, especially since the pyramids are about 30 miles from the city.
However, if you prefer, you can also travel by bus or rent a car. Buses depart from Terminal Central de Autobuses del Norte in CDMX and cost less than $5 USD each way. Admission to the archaeological site is around $11 USD. In other words, you can visit the pyramids and return for less than $30 USD, provided your location in the city is not far from the terminal.
The city of Teotihuacan resembles a cross when viewed from above. There is also a local rumor that the Spanish did not destroy the city because of it’s shape, believing that the indigenous people had once made contact with the true God but had forgotten that connection over the centuries.
20- Puebla(Day Trip)
Puebla is a beautiful city located about 2 to 2.5 hours from CDMX. The victory in the battle that gave rise to the famous “Cinco de Mayo” celebration across the United States actually took place here. If you have watched Coco, you will recognize Puebla as one of many places in Mexico that resembles the setting of the film, with colonial-era low-rise buildings, historic churches, large homes, and picturesque plazas. At the same time, Puebla is also a major metropolis, so do not let its historic neighborhoods fool you. The easiest way to visit the city is through a tour company, although this can be somewhat expensive. If you like history, this would be the best option. Alternatively, traveling by bus is possible, but fitting everything into a single day can be challenging and tiring, so be prepared if you choose that option.
Tip: Best option to travel in between destinations is to use Uber or official Taxis. Uber is widely available, budget-friendly, easy to use, and one of the safer options for transportation inside the city.
This guide is intended to assist with trip planning and should be used as a general reference alongside your own research and judgment rather than as the sole source of travel information. Travel conditions, regulations, operating hours, costs, and safety considerations can change over time, so readers are encouraged to verify current information through official sources before making travel decisions.