Mexico City is a city you should travel to! Discover the culture, food, and history of the most populous city in North America.
I’m basking in the memories of our Mexico City trip. Can you tell? A few weeks after returning, there was a great flight sale to Mexico City within the next year and I almost pushed book. We had a packed trip but there were still places to see and restaurants to try. There’s a reason why travel bloggers visit and write extensively about Mexico City. Read on and you’ll learn why.
Why Visit Mexico City?
You don’t know Mexico. From the depth of its culture to the variety in its country, Mexico is a vibrant place with much to offer, with Mexico City being its crown jewel. You may have visited Cancun, Tulum, Puerto Vallarta, or Cozumel, but beyond a picturesque beachfront, Mexico City is a place that will charm you and open the door to give you a taste of what the country is all about. The city entices you to walk its neighborhoods, feel the sun at plazas and markets, and go beyond the few Mexican dishes you may have tried. While the touristy destinations in Mexico will bring you relaxation, a nice tan, and plenty of cold drinks, Mexico City reminds us that discovering somewhere we’re not quite sure about is how we open our eyes to adventure.
Mexico City has a little bit of everything I like in a trip. The abundance of cultural experiences, outdoor activities, history, and incredible food will easily convince you’re right where you’re supposed to be.
Quick Tips
- Airport: Mexico City International Airport; officially Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juarez; MEX
- Currency: Pesos, Mex$
- Visa: unnecessary if you have a passport from United States of America, Canada, Japan, United Kingdom or Schengen area (European Union)
- Vaccinations: none required
- Language: Spanish. You’ll find English-speaking people at hotels, well-known restaurants, and tourist sights, but it would be best to know a few phrases to help you out. (see the bottom of this post)
Best Time to Visit Mexico City
Springtime – March through May – is the best time to visit Mexico City and is also the busiest time for tourism. The summer and fall months – June through November – have a little more rain. The lowest temperatures are around winter – December to February – with highs in the 70s and lows in the 40s.
We visited the last weekend of May and it was a low of 55 degrees F and high of 85 degrees F. Walking around, it got a bit warm, especially at Teotihuacan, but it wasn’t unbearable. Bring a light jacket for cool weather and possible rain.
How Long Should I Spend in Mexico City?
If you’re seeing the city at a very quick pace, you need four days, which we did. I would have been happier with two or three more days and could have easily filled my time in Mexico City. So, at minimum four days and preferably a week.
Getting Around Mexico City
You can get around Mexico City by Uber, bus, metro, or taxi. Metro or bus will be cheapest while Uber is the easiest. Our Uber rides ranged from $2-6.
What to Wear in Mexico City
It’s always good to try to blend in when traveling. Locals seemed to wear pants instead of short dresses and shorts. In fact, many seemed sensitive to cool weather and were wearing big jackets when it would get to a high of 85 degrees! Of course, colorful clothing and flashy jewelry will make you stand out more. For one of our tours, they suggested we wear closed-toe shoes, pants, and no tank tops. The most important thing is to dress for the weather. Layers are good for the cool mornings and nights.
Is Mexico City Safe?
There was never a time I felt unsafe while in Mexico City. We used Uber to get around so we didn’t look lost much and had no trouble communicating where we were going. There seemed to be police everywhere. A good rule of thumb to staying safe is not staying out too late, at least not in questionable neighborhoods, or wandering into dark alleys. Avoid these neighborhoods. If you’re taking public transportation or wandering crowded markets, watch your belongings. [See other travel safety tips here.]
How to Stay Healthy in Mexico City
You can’t drink from the tap. Always drink bottled water and use it to brush your teeth. Avoid water in your mouth in the shower. This post has lots of good pointers also. Stay hydrated.
We both got food poisoning on our last day in Mexico City. Thankfully our travel timing allowed us to spend a few hours recovering in our hotel room instead of in transit back home. It seemed like it could have been much worse, but it did make us miss a few hours of fun we had planned and after the initial torture, mild discomfort continued for a few days. We were fairly cautious and didn’t eat anywhere sketchy, so I’m assuming it was bad cheese, crema, or salsa made from unwashed or washed under tap water vegetables. Most restaurants are aware of safe practices. Watch food preparation and question how long something has been sitting out, especially dairy products.
While there are drugstores available, it’s a good idea to pack some medicine for immediate relief! Get over-the-counter tablets or a travel-focused doctor can provide a prescription before you travel.
Mexico City Neighborhoods
There are plenty of cool neighborhoods in Mexico City to explore and stay.
- Centro – the center of the city, hustle and bustle
- Condesa – hip, cool
- Coyoacán – fashionable, hippies, liberals
- Hipodromo – hippies, quiet
- Navarte – quiet, residential
- Roma Norte – hip, cool
- Zona Rosa – historic gay neighborhood, parties
Where to Stay in Mexico City
La Condesa and Roma Norte are good, central neighborhoods to stay in.
Our hotel, Room Mate Valentina, was one of the least expensive I found and it was around $80 per night. We also found out in the wee hours of the morning that it also happened to be in a neighborhood with a vibrant nightlife (Zona Rosa). Oops! Thankfully the partying only happened on Friday night and the hotel had earplugs available for the rest of the weekend, though they weren’t needed. It was a wonderful hotel otherwise with a spacious and remodeled room, central location, kind staff, and convenience stores next door.
Here are some other hotels I considered:
-
Busue Hotel $$$
-
Downtown (hostel) $$
-
El Patio 77 $$
-
Hotel Carlota $$$
- Hotel Condesa $$$
- Hotel NH $$
- Las Alcobas $$$
- Marquis Reforma Hotel $$$
- Nima Local House $$$
Airbnb is a great choice in Mexico City. The average nightly rate is $40 and there are lots of cute, bright, and modern places.
Where to Play in Mexico City
Teotihuacan and Museo Frida Kahlo are only two of the many options of activities in Mexico City. Take a look at this list to plan your schedule.
Where to Eat in Mexico City
I’ve got everything you need to know about eating and drinking in Mexico City right here! Get ready to try street tacos.
Spanish Phrases to Know
- Hola – hello
- Por favor – please
- Gracias – thank you
- Adios – goodbye
- Disculpe – excuse me
- Con permiso – with permission
- Buenos Dias – good morning
- Buenos Tardes – good afternoon
- Buenos Noches – good night
- Lo siento, pero no hablo Espanol – I’m sorry, but I don’t speak Spanish
Conclusion
As I was looking forward to my trip I had a few people tell me to not get kidnapped and asked if it was safe to visit. While I know there could be incidences anywhere you travel, I hope history or rumors don’t deter you from booking a trip to this beautiful city. On the other side, I talked to many more people who were excited for me to discover the city they fell in love with on their trip. I’ve become one of those people upon my return and I look forward to the day I visit Mexico City again. I know there are still neighborhoods to wander and tacos to eat!
I hope this travel guide prepares you well for a fun trip to Mexico City!
Check out this quick video from our trip:
Here are all my Mexico City posts for more in-depth information:
- Exploring Teotihuacan in Mexico City
- Museo Frida Kahlo in Mexico City
- Eating at Pujol and Quintonil in Mexico City
- Best Things to Do in Mexico City
- Eating and Drinking in Mexico City
Comments/insights about your trip or questions about something I’m missing? Please let me know below!
Have you been to Mexico? Where in Mexico should I visit next?
P.S. Slowly but surely I’m traveling my way to South America. So far, I’ve explored Belize, Honduras, and Costa Rica.
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