A Magical 5-Day Mexico City Itinerary
Colorful boats drifting down scenic canals. Enormous Pyramids built by an ancient civilization. Bustling markets filled with handmade treasures. Mexico City is a sprawling wonderland filled with both old and new, hidden spots, and with a cultural identity uniquely its own. And on this 5-day Mexico City Itinerary, you will get a taste (literally) of what it has to offer!
Psst: Planning a trip to Central America? Here are some other helpful posts:
5-day Mexico City Itinerary FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Mexico City, called “Ciudad de Mexico” in Spanish (CDMX for short):
Is Mexico City Safe?
Mexico City is one of the largest cities in the world, sprawling over 573 square miles and hosting 16,000 people per square mile. Like any large city, Mexico City has areas that are more tourist-friendly than others. This Mexico City Itinerary will be in areas that are generally safe, but like anywhere you go it’s important to keep your wits about you and an eye on your belongings!
Where I stayed in Condesa I felt completely safe my entire trip. I walked around with my friends in Parque México late at night, had midnight tacos after Lucha Libre, and took Ubers back to my place. It’s a relatively safe city!
When’s the Best Time to go to Mexico City?
When I visited Mexico City in early April the temperature fluctuated between the mid 50s to the mid 80s, making for cool and comfortable mornings and evenings and warm afternoons. The city itself has plenty of trees, providing shade in the dry heat.
Since Mexico City is in a desert climate, the temperatures don’t vary extremely like other hotter parts of the country. Year-round you can expect the temperature to be mid-40s to mid-to-high-70s, while in April/May the temperature can get into the low 80s. Since April is one of the “hottest” months, it’s great for this itinerary.
How Do I Get To Mexico City?
Flying will be your best bet to get to Mexico City, unless you live close by in which case you’re probably not using this itinerary!
Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX) is the main airport of Mexico City and it’s easy to get to where you’ll be staying for this itinerary from here. All you’ll need is an Uber!
How Do I Get Around Mexico City?
Mexico City has a complex system of buses and subways that are all extremely cheap options, but honestly, since you’ll only be here for about a week I’d recommend Uber in most cases. Taking an Uber in Mexico City is also very cheap – in most cases $5-10 USD.
There are longer excursions on this itinerary that are more costly, but I find the price of Uber outweighs the value of the time it takes to take public transportation versus a car (public transit can also get pretty crowded). Most things in Mexico City are pretty inexpensive so it’s still a very budget-friendly option.
Can I Drink the Water in Mexico City?
Water from the tap in Mexico City is non-potable, though it is completely safe to brush your teeth with, take a shower, etc, as long as you’re not gulping it down.
If you’re staying somewhere that does not have a filter on the sink, you can easily buy a garrafón, a big jug of water that holds 20 liters (which is over 5 gallons) from a convenience store like 7-Eleven or Oxxo. You can also buy bottled water of course, but buying a garrafón will last longer and save on plastic waste (you can also re-fill your plastic bottle from your garrafón).
Most restaurants will serve filtered water/ice, so you shouldn’t worry much when going out to eat since even Mexican residents don’t drink the tap water. Some street food vendors will use tap water to make ice however to skimp on costs, so just use your intuition when buying from them.
What about the Elevation and Air Quality?
Mexico City is at 7,349′ elevation, which as someone from Kentucky who is at sea level, is about 7000 feet higher!
If you’re not used to higher elevations, you may feel the effects of the lower oxygen levels at this height, even if you don’t in the first few days. I experience some light-headedness and higher blood pressure by the end of the week there, so keep an eye on symptoms and don’t push yourself too hard.
Mexico City has so many people and industries that emissions are very high in Mexico City, even with the implementations on what day of the week certain drivers can be on the road.
During my stay, air quality was between poor and very poor, so just be wary this may contribute to how you feel in the city as well.
Is Mexico City Sinking? Is it running out of water?
Yes, Mexico City is sinking about 20 inches per year. This is because most water in Mexico City is pumped from underground, compacting the land, and the Spanish colonizers drained Lake Texcoco, which was the home of the Aztec city Tenochtitlán, and built a city on top of it…
And yes, Mexico City is also running out of water. The reliance on underground water, and the fact that the city was literally built over a water supply has caused water shortages in the city. It’s a complicated situation, which may affect how you approach Mexico City as a tourist. Being extra vigilant with your water usage is recommended when visit.
Do I need to Know Spanish?
Spanish is extremely important and helpful in Mexico City, even a little bit. If you don’t speak Spanish, expect Google Translate to be your best friend and be aware you will have some lost in translation moments.
Though it’s a big city, I’d say only about 20% of the people I spoke to spoke English to some degree. Getting something like this Lonely Planet Mexican Spanish Phrasebook & Dictionary is great to study ahead of time, but in the moment Google Translate is probably still your best bet.
Here are a few words and phrases that I came across a lot on my trip:
- Listo – This means “ready”. It can be used as a question from someone to you (“ready to order?”) or as a statement (“I’m ready”).
- Todo Bien – “All good.” This is a great response if your server is checking on you and you don’t need anything else.
- Basic greetings like “Buenas días”, “Buenas Tardes” and “Buenas Noches”.
How Do I Get Pesos?
Pesos are not something you need to bring with you to Mexico City, rather you can get them out of an ATM with your debit card (avoid the airport as the rates will be higher).
If you have a debit card that reimburses fees, amazing, if not just make sure no machine charges you over 20-30 Pesos to get cash out (which is under $2 USD), such as Citibanamex. BBVA bank has a really high fee for some reason (about $12), so avoid these ATMs.
Also, most ATMs will ask you if you want to accept the conversion rate once you’ve put in the amount you want, and you will always DECLINE this. The ATM will do this automatically, so if you accept it will do it twice and it will charge you more. It tricks you into thinking you need to accept this to get your cash, but you do not and should not accept it.
In most cases, you will not need Pesos in Mexico, but they’re good to have if you want to haggle on souvenirs, make small purchases, and in case some places are cash only.
5-Day Mexico City Itinerary
Now that you have that info under your belt, let’s dive into the 5-Day Mexico City Itinerary! It is important to note this itinerary is 5 full days, not including arrival and departure days.
5-Day Mexico City Itinerary: Arrival Day, Monday
- Today you’ll be arriving in Mexico City!
Today you’ll be flying into Mexico City Airport, also called Benito Juárez International Airport, and checking into your place for the week in the fabulous and walkable neighborhood of Condesa (where to stay recommendations are at the bottom of this article).
This day is all about getting your bearings and exploring Condesa, which is a stunning, low-key neighborhood with lots of amazing restaurants, shops and bars. Not to mention lots of trees and beautiful, tropical plants, like the ones you can find in Parque México.
Parque México was originally part of the hacienda of the Countess (Condesa) of Miravalle where it was used as a horserace track, but was later developed into a park. Today it is the Art Deco jewel of the neighborhood, with a huge plaza (Foro Lindbergh) with a statue of a naked woman called the “Fountain of the Jugs” out front (which I assume is a reference to the actual jugs in her hands).
This park is a great place to walk around and bask in the feeling of Mexican culture – people walking their dogs, roller skating and working out in the plaza, and even dancing into the night. This is a great, safe neighborhood to walk around even as it gets later!
For your first meal in Mexico, check out Tortas Al Fuego, a little hole in the wall which was the first place I ate after my 9-hour excursion to get to the city. Let’s just say, the Tacos Al Pastor I ordered tasted real good after not eating that long, but they were also just excellent. Have this with a Michelada (a cerveza with spices and lime and salt on the rim) or my favorite, a Chelada (a cerveza with just lime juice) and you’ll be in absolute heaven.
Needless to say, their main claim to fame are tortas (a Mexican sandwich), so don’t shy away from trying their mainstay. With all my restaurant suggestions – order what speaks to you! Also Mexico City has thousands of affordable and unique places to eat, so let Google Maps be your guide!
For the rest of the evening, walk around the park, check out local bars, or just go back to your room and crash. You have a big week ahead of you!
Day 1 Summary:
5-Day Mexico City Itinerary: Day 1, Tuesday
- Today you’ll be visiting some of the cultural attractions of Mexico City, such as the Anthropology Museum or Chapultepec Castle and Frida Kahlo Museum!
This morning you’ll be starting your day by having breakfast at Chilpa, which is famous for their chilaquiles! Chilaquiles are a Mexican breakfast staple with fried tortilla chips, salsa, and fried eggs, and lucky for you, Chilpa has a create your own Chilaquiles menu meaning you can have exactly what you want!
You’ll choose cheese or eggs (or both), what kind of salsa, protein, veggies, etc. until you’ve made your own epic creation. The small portion is still very large, so it’ll fill you up for the day – if you can finish it! The dish is both light with its citrusy flavors and filling in its sheer portion size. It was honestly love at first bite for me!
Visit a Museum in Chapultepec Park
Once you have breakfast, head to Chapultepec Park, which is a cultural oasis in the middle of the city that is the oldest urban park in Latin America, with vestiges of a pre-Hispanic aqueduct created by the Aztecs and even a mural by Diego Rivera. The park itself is sprawling at over 1700 acres, with a zoo, plenty of museums, and even an amusement park within its foliage. The park has somewhat of a circus feel, with plenty of vendors selling candy and souvenirs and plenty of families and tourists wandering among the winding paths.
This morning you can choose between two historical museums to visit, as you’ll be traveling to another part of town for your afternoon activity! The two I recommend are:
- Museo Nacional de Antropología – This is the largest and most visited museum in Mexico, so you won’t necessarily be able to see it all this morning! The largest collection is that of the Aztec artifacts, which include the famous Aztec sun stone. In the courtyard, there is a nearly 100-foot-tall water feature called “the umbrella” which to me looks like a giant mushroom that spills water below.
- Chapultepec Castle – Perched on the top of Chapultepec Hill, Viceroy Bernardo de Gálvez started construction on this castle in 1785, though it was originally a sacred space of the Aztec people. Since its construction, it’s been home to a president, a military college, an Emperor and eventually a museum which opened in 1939. Today you can learn about the Mexican War of Independence through various galleries, check out enormous murals and stained glass pieces, and peruse the formal gardens.
Head to Coyoacán and the Frida Kahlo Museum
After checking out Chapultepec Park, it’s time to head to Coyoacán, which is about a 30-minute ride-share journey. Coyoacán means “place of Coyotes” and features over five centuries of architecture. Basically, Mexico City swallowed up this historic borough and it’s like stepping back in time – colorful buildings, markets, enormous churches and of course, the Frida Kahlo Museum.
Before you explore the neighborhood too deeply, pop into Coyoacán Market for a quick and cheap lunch! You’ll find food stalls in the middle of the market, with food made right in front of you. I had quesadillas at Huaraches Y Quesadillas Carmelita, which were delicious and a fast way to grab a bite, but check out any stand that appeals to you. See where locals are eating – that’s how we made our choice!
After you get food, head to the Frida Kahlo Museum, which is about a seven-minute walk from the market. You will need to reserve tickets in advance for the museum for an allotted time (3pm or so should be a safe time to book a ticket).
The Frida Kahlo Museum, also known as the La Casa Azul, is easy to find with its cobalt blue walls and the line of people outside. This is the house where Kahlo was born, grew up, lived with Diego Rivera, and eventually died. All phases of her life are reflected in this lively, artistic house, and you can see the tangible essence of Kahlo and Rivera though they are long gone.
Winding through the various decorative rooms, you observe countless artifacts from Kahlo’s life – from the body casts she wore (and painted) due to a bus accident at age 18 to everyday items like letters and the dresses she wore. The house itself is a work of art, from the blue walls, to the paintings and murals throughout, the gardens and intricate tilework.
The museum takes about an hour to peruse, and features exhibits based on the life of Kahlo, like the gorgeous gowns designed by Jean Paul Gaultier which are on display. Even if you have no point of reference for Kahlo’s work, this space is so personal and immediate you almost expect her to round the corner at any moment. A color video of Kahlo and Rivera in the garden makes it all the more real. It’s very moving.
Once you are done exploring the life of a fabulous artist, walk back to the center of Coyoacán to Parroquia San Juan Bautista, one of the oldest churches in Mexico City. Construction began in 1522 on this stunning Catholic church, and inside there are colorful murals that pop alongside the saturated colors of the red carpet and green ferns that flank the main aisle. There is so much to take in, from the bas-reliefs with golden baroque decoration to the small altars all around the church, and you’re welcome to explore, as long as you do it respectfully.
Once outside the church, walk around the Jardín Centenario, the main plaza where you will see families and people out having fun. It’s a good place to grab a bag of fresh churros or elote (my fav), and don’t forget to visit the Fountain of the Coyotes, which is especially stunning at golden hour with the sun shining through the trees.
Just a few steps away from the fountain is the Mercado Artesanal Mexicano, a fabulous place to get homemade craft goods. Mexico loves a market, and it’s fun to wander around and find souvenirs for yourself and others. Here I picked up handmade copal incense, which you will smell burning all around the city, and plenty of jewelry, paintings, and clothing. I brought way more souvenirs from Mexico than I ever thought I would!
For dinner, Coyoacán is bustling and full of options. La Cocina de Mi Mamá, a casual, family-owned restaurant with recipes that have been passed down for generations and sports a large craft beer selection. The verde enchiladas and chicken mole are a great bet – savory and the perfect way to end the day!
Day 2 Summary:
5-Day Mexico City Itinerary: Day 2, Wednesday
- Today you’ll explore Teotihuacán, the ancient Aztec pyramids, have lunch in a cave, and have a relaxing evening!
Teotihuacán, which means “the place where the gods were created”, is situated about an hour away from Mexico City by rideshare. The rideshare is not super cheap, about $70, but if you’re traveling with several people it’s worth it, or you can take a much cheaper bus but it’ll take more time and coordination.
Your goal is to get to Teotihuacán early (they open at 8am, we arrived by 9am or so). The earlier you get there, the less hot it will be and the less crowded it will be. Bring a hat, water and sunscreen! Before you head out, grab a Chilaquiles sandwich (I got the verde kind with chicken and it was divine and filling) from the famous La Esquina del Chilaquil food stand by your place and get going early!
On your way to the pyramids, you’ll see the city roll away as you enter the Mexican desert. Bring cash if you rideshare – our first driver didn’t have any and apparently didn’t have a toll pass (our driver back did) so we paid about $9.06 USD in tolls.
Once you arrive, you’ll buy your ticket in cash at the entrance (80MX, about $4), and you’ll enter the site! There are plenty of guides if you’d like to hire one, and the going rate is about $50 for two hours. Or you can just wander, it’s pretty easy to figure out where you’re going!
Teotihuacán was one of the largest pre-Hispanic Cities and is now a Unesco World Heritage site, built between the 1st and 7th centuries AD. Until its mysterious collapse around the 7th or 8th century, it had an estimated population of over 100,000 inhabitants. Today we see the ruins of this civilization, with three huge pyramids, a main thoroughfare, and plenty of other structures.
Entering Gate 1, the main gate, you’ll first come across Templo de Quetzalcoatl (Temple of the Feathered Serpent), the only temple structure you can climb up (and over). The stairs are steep, and you’ll notice people taking their time.
At the top you’ll take several steps down to the other side of the temple where you can see elaborate carvings of the feathered serpent deity Quetzalcoatl, as well as other Aztec gods adorned with feathers, shells, and jewels. Excavations at the site have revealed offerings, including human sacrifices – since the 1980s archaeologists have discovered 137 sacrificial remains.
After you’ve made your way down safely from the temple, head down the Avenue of the Dead, the central boulevard, which runs 1.5 miles towards the Pyramid of the Sun on the Right and the Pyramid of the Moon ahead.
Unfortunately, you can no longer climb either pyramid (or fortunately, for the structure and safety), but just to take in the sheer size from the ground is profound. The Pyramid of the Moon is approximately 141 feet, while the Pyramid of the Sun is about 233 feet.
From the impressive Palaza of the Moon which stands before the Moon pyramid, there is an altar from which all corners of the expansive plaza can hear you, even from hundreds of feet away. I saw a guide demonstrate this by whispering – asking the people on his tour to jump, wave, dance, etc. all from the center of the Plaza.
Before you leave, head to the museum that is onsite which is behind the Pyramid of the Sun. At this point it’s probably getting more crowded (and hotter), so it’s a good idea to step inside and explore this small museum. Inside there are plenty of cool artifacts, from bones, necklaces made from bone, a diorama reconstructing the civilization, a stunning crest of Venus, and more bones, probably.
Once you are ready for lunch, head out of Gate 5, the one close to the museum. You will walk to your lunch spot, La Gruta, which is only a few minutes away. We only had a group of 3, so did not make a reservation, but if you have a larger group that is ideal!
Lunch at La Gruta
La Gruta means “the cave”, and guess what, you’re eating lunch in an actual cave. This was a place I was so excited to visit with its candles burning on the cave walls and colorful chairs – ambiance for days – and I am happy to report the food, which is inspired by pre-Hispanic cuisine of the state of Mexico, did not let me down. Try the Mexican Mortar “La Gruta” as an app which is an assortment of guacamole, grilled spring onions and crisp pork rinds.
The entrees are seasonal, and what I ordered is already off the menu, but this is a great place to get a traditional mole – Mole “La Gruta” since 1927 with creole turkey and white rice. As you eat, soak in the vibes, and at the end of your meal your waiter will tell you the story of La Gruta and you will receive a candle to place on the walls of the cave. It’s all around a magical experience!
Once you’re finally ready to leave, check out the La Gruta gift shop for some amazing Mexican artwork, and take your rideshare or bus back to your place for a little rest. Since this is more or less a day trip, tonight you will just have drinks and dinner!
Get some Mezcal at Tlecān
Tonight you will walk to a mezcal bar, because if you’re going to visit one it has to be in Mexico! Mezcal is known for its smoky flavor (though not all mezcals are smoky) and unlike tequila which needs to be made of 51% or more agave, mezcal is made with 100% agave.
Tlecān is a dark, moody, cave-like bar (see a theme?) that focuses solely on mezcal. The dark ambiance is heightened by a replica of the iconic Aztec disc of death on the wall. Tlecan means “place of fire” in Nahuatl, the Aztec language, and this bar pays homage to Pre-Hispanic Mexican culture.
This is a great place to try a drink inspired by the Aztecs, like the Tascalate Sour, with Tascalate (tortilla water, just trust me), fermented cocoa, egg whites, lemon juice and mezcal giving it an earthy, nutty, cocoa-y flavor.
If you want something more familiar, try the Margarita Texcoco with green lemon juice, honey agave, orange liqueur, and mezcal which is close to a traditional marg with just a bit more smoky flavor.
Dinner at Taquería Orinoco
Tonight is a simple, fast, and fun dinner at Taquería Orinoco, a place I ended up eating at several times during my trip (there are several locations). Lucky for you, it’s just a block over from Tlecan as well!
This is a quick-service restaurant with a limited, inexpensive menu, making it a great easy option. My favorite thing is the trompo tacos, which is another name for Al Pastor (trompo means “spinning top”, AKA the Shawarma where the pork is shaved from). Get those bad boys covered with pineapple, onions, and cilantro and you have an amazing meal!
I also love all the sauces this place brings out to you – so many different, spicy kinds! You can load up your tacos and really get a good meal in.
Once you’re done, I suggest a walk around Condesa or a stroll around the park. Stop by Churrería El Moro Condesa to get some fresh churros. Enjoy the evening – more to come tomorrow!
Day 3 Summary:
5-Day Mexico City Itinerary: Day 3, Thursday
- Today you’ll explore the Centro Histórico area of Mexico City on a walking tour, head over to Chinatown, and visit one of the best markets in the city.
This morning you have a walking tour at 10am, so before you head to the central district grab breakfast at Peltre and get the chilaquiles and a strong cup of coffee!!
Walking Tour of Centro Histórico
Centro Histórico, as you can probably guess from the name, is the historic center of Mexico City. It contains some of the city’s most brilliant Colonial buildings, as well as the Aztec ancient city of Tenochtitlan. So much of Mexico City feels cultural, but this is the hub from which it all stems.
When I visited this area I made the mistake of A). trying to do it all on my own and B). waiting until the last day of my trip when I was completely burnt out. I ended up missing some of the best things to see and getting to deep dive into the history. But I won’t let you do that!
I recommend taking a Walking Tour of the Historic Center of Mexico City, which not only will take you where you need to go but also put these places into cultural context. I did explore the Palacio de Bellas Artes, which is the iconic image that usually comes up when you research Mexico city, but without the insight, it just felt like a pretty building.
On this 3.5-hour walking tour which begins at 10am you’ll not only explore Palacio de Bellas Artes but 6 other stops, including places like the Museo del Templo Mayor, which are the archaeological ruins of the Templo Mayor dedicated to the god of rain and the god of the sun. You’ll also visit the very photographable House of Tiles which I am sad to have missed!
The tour ends at the Palacio de Bellas Artes which is perfect, because you’re going to have lunch just next door!
Lunch at Torre Latinoamericana
One of the most stunning ways to have lunch in Mexico is at the Miralto restaurant in Torre Latinoamericana, which was once the tallest building in Mexico City (702’) but whose title has since been usurped. It is still the tallest building in the direct area though, and gives you gorgeous, sweeping views of the city through its floor-to-ceiling windows.
While you can purchase a ticket to go all the way to the top to the viewing platform, it’s more enjoyable to go almost all-the-way to the top and have lunch with the money you would have spent on a ticket instead!
When I went I wasn’t starving (I obviously hadn’t done a walking tour) so opted for the Sopa Azteca (Aztec soup) Aztec Soup which is a house recipe with tomato broth, guojillo chili and pasilla, accompanied by julienne tortilla, avocado, fresh cheese, sour cream and fried chili. It was so rich and decadent and paired perfectly with my cerveza.
For something heavier, two of their Miralto specialties are the Shrimp with Tequila or Mezcal which includes six U10 shrimp flamed at your table and mounted on a bed of shish chips, or their Mustard Filet which is a center-cut filet bathed in mustard sauce with a garnish of your choice.
The food here is prepared well and a little more elevated (get it?!), so it’s a bit pricier but it definitely delivers!
Shop at the Mercado de Artesanías La Ciudadela
A place I did manage to make it to while in the Centro area was the Mercado de Artesanías La Ciudadela, an incredible artisan market that is full of handcrafted Mexican delights!
This market is only about a 16-minute walk from the Torre Latinoamericana, and along the way you’ll pass Chinatown, while quite small, is worth exploring if you’re into it!
The market is the perfect size to explore, about the size of a city block. Here I ended up buying most of my souvenirs, especially for myself… There are some impressive jewelry shops in here with flashing, fire opal, which I resisted buying because I bought a bracelet at the pyramids (which I lost at the airport coming home).
My favorite shop though was the Mexican mask shop, which featured hundreds of wooden Mexican masks which the owner told me were made by his family. They are a little pricey, but I ended up buying a mask of an Aztec Goddes (I think…) and she currently hangs above my dresser.
I wasn’t expecting to love the arts and crafts of Mexico as much as I did, so just make sure you leave room in your suitcase to take treasures home! Also keep in mind that most vendors only accept cash (or at least prefer it). The market closes at 7pm.
Get Dinner at Mog Bistro
There may be a time in your trip when you need a change from all the Mexican food (though you may have no limit on Mexican food, which is very understandable).
Mog Bistro in the Roma neighborhood is a popular Japanese restaurant that is the perfect place to order a bunch of different apps and mains and share everything. I went with a group of four and someone in our party ordered us a ton of food (they had to put some of it on the table next to us) and we still managed to pack it all away.
Some of the highlights were the Ten Don Especial, which was tempura shrimp and veggies on rice with soy sauce, the melty Wagyu Skewer, the Salmon Salad with lettuce, chives, ikura and ponzu sauce.
Probably my favorite thing was the Shogayaki which includes thin pork strips with ginger and soy sauce sautéed with onion and accompanied with Japanese cabbage and mayonnaise. You also can never go wrong with Karaage, Japanese fried chicken with a green salad.
They also have plenty of sushi, udon, and ramen to tickle all your Japanese food fancies.
After dinner, walk around the neighborhood, grab a drink at a place like Handshake Speaskeasy, or just head home and rest for tomorrow!
Day 4 Summary:
5-Day Mexico City Itinerary: Day 4, Friday
- Today you’ll take an epic food tour of Roma and see an ultra-fun Lucha Libre match!
If there is one thing that Mexico City has in droves, it’s good food, which you probably have figured out already by this time!
Take a Food Tour
One of the best ways to really get to know a place and its culture is through its food, so taking a food tour is one of my personal favorite ways to get full and to learn. Today, you can skip breakfast as you will be taking a 4-hour Colonia Roma Food Tour at noon that will require every inch of your stomach capacity.
This food tour explores 6+ local eateries, where you’ll try dishes that are pre-Hispanic, regional, and now contemporary Mexican. Our guide Joseph was excellent, and encouraged us (all of whom were tourists) to ask questions about Mexico we’ve always wanted to ask.
Joseph puts Mexican history into perspective, explaining how the Indigenous People didn’t eat much meat (except sometimes Axolotls and, er, humans during rites). It wasn’t until 1512 with the arrival of the Spanish that they brought domesticated animals and started mixing meat and tortillas, giving us what we think of as “Mexican food”. He said that “Tex Mex” is Mexican food – just not traditional indigenous food.
You’ll learn other fun facts like how cilantro is from southeast Asia, how the Roma neighborhood is named for the Italian-inspired architecture, and that September 19th is the worst time to visit Mexico City – they’ve had three major earthquakes in three different years on that date!
Along the way, you’ll try an array of tamales, tacos fish and shrimp, cactus ceviche, Birria (which was originally a soup), wine, a rum and cinnamon drink, coffee, and more. If it sounds like a lot – it is! By the end of the tour I was only taking a bite or two – they get you full!
After your walking tour, take a break – you deserve it!
Dinner at Maestro Taquero
Once you’re (finally) ready for some food again, go to Maestro Taquero, which won my heart immediately when they handed me a mini cerveza as we walked in the restaurant. Free surprise beer? How did they know that’s my love language?
I started with a mango margarita (next to my mini beer of course) and enjoyed sitting outside on the upper-level balcony. The music in the restaurant is loud, but fun, so sitting on the balcony gives you a little more fresh air.
Their specialty is ‘Don Roberto’ tacos, which are Ribeye with cheese and avocado on freshly made corn tortilla accompanied by bone marrow with shredded cheese, mushrooms, crushed chile de arbol and habanero mango sauce. The ‘Don Meño’ Tacos are a good choice too with
flour tortilla with poached chili güero, stuffed with gouda cheese, flank steak, accompanied by house-made chimichurri and garlic chili chicharrón sauce.
After dinner, you have about a 15-minute Uber ride to Arena México for Lucha Libre!
Experience Lucha Libre
Tonight it’s time to experience something unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before… unless you’ve been to Lucha Libre. Or WWE. But you get it!
Lucha Libre means “freestyle wrestling” and you probably know it from the colorful masks, ostentatious outfits, and the over-the-top theatrics. It’s campy, kitschy, and doesn’t take itself too seriously, perfect for someone who has no real interest in wrestling, or does!
Friday is the best night to experience Lucha Libre at Arena México, as it draws the biggest crowd and is filmed for TV. Buy your tickets in advance so you can get good seats – anywhere around the ring has good visibility and you can snag a good seat for about $35.
Once you arrive at the stadium, the outside will be bustling with vendors selling souvenirs like Lucha Libre masks. If any pop out to you, get one! They are super fun to have for the match.
Lucha Libre begins at 8:30pm, but you can expect the crowd to be somewhat sparse at the beginning of the first match. Grab yourself a big michelada and take your seats. As the announcer booms overhead, the fighters enter the arena to fanfare, with fire and lights blazing through the stadium.
It doesn’t really matter if you understand Spanish or not – pick your fighter! Cheer, boo, hiss, get into the spirit of the action. Watch them flip, twist, spin, and jump from the ropes onto one another in a blur of neon. It’s non-stop ridiculous action and I couldn’t stop laughing the entire time! That’s what Lucha Libre is.
The fights usually last until about 11:30pm, and if you’re hungry afterward, there are plenty of food stands around the arena to grab a snack!
Day 4 Summary:
5-Day Mexico City Itinerary: Day 5, Saturday
- On your last full day, you’ll take a ride on the neon boats of Xochimilco, shop for artisan-made crafts at El Sabado Bazaar, and have an early dinner at the stunning San Angel Inn.
Your last full day in Mexico City blends the cultural and artistic sides of the city. If you’ve ever been to EPCOT at Disney World you have probably ridden the boat ride in the Mexico pavilion, and the colorful little boats you pass along the ride are based on real boats!
Xochimilco means “flower field” in the Aztec language Nahuatl, and refers to the flowers and other crops grown in this area since the pre-Hispanic period. Today “Xochimilco” generally refers to the area where neon-painted boats float serenely down the river and the music of the mariachi fills the air.
On Saturdays, the canals are busy and booming – which is a good thing as you want the vibes to be high! Xochimilco is best experienced with a group of friends as the boats hold up to 20 people (let’s say 15 top be comfy), so the more friends come along the bigger party you’ll have (the other option is to try to make friends at the port).
The boats (known as trajineras) cost about 600MX an hour, or about $33 USD. The more people, the cheaper it is too! You’ll simply procure one of the many boats by talking to the driver (they row your boat) and deciding on how long of a tour you want and the price which you will pay in cash up front (tips are nice at the end too). Keep in mind your driver probably only speaks Spanish!
The main port is Embarcadero Nueva Nativitas, which has plenty of food options and huge Micheladas (you can bring your own beer, alcohol, and food too procured from stores like Oxxo), all of which you can bring onboard. Getting to the port can be here is stressful and here’s why – men on motorbikes will tell your Uber driver the road is closed and try to have you follow them to smaller ports.
There is nothing wrong with these smaller ports, but they may have fewer food options, and if you’re meeting a group, you need to arrive at the same port. We were lucky in that our ride-share driver spoke English – but he still fell for it despite me telling him not to follow them. Eventually, we had to turn around and drive back to the correct port, much to the apologies of our driver (he was sweet).
If you have a good group of people, you should do a 4-hour boat tour (we only did a three-hour one – it went by too fast)! This gives you time to relax and get into the spirit – listen to the mariachi play (or pay them to play right in front of you when they row up to your boat), buy tequila shots from boats passing by, and stop at the restrooms along the way (remember you will need cash for all of this). The boats are also covered on the top which is great for staying out of the hot Mexican sun.
One of the main draws of a long boat tour was the Island of the Dolls, a slightly terrifying spot with hundreds of creepy dolls hanging from the branches of trees, a sad homage to a girl who once drowned in the canal. Unfortunately, the old man who built this spot has sadly passed away and his family has removed almost everything from the island. You will see a “fake” island of the dolls on the side of the canal along your way, however.
The port opens at around 8am, but 9 or 10am is a great time to start and it’s about a 50-minute rideshare trip from the Roma area.
Late Lunch at San Angel Inn
After you’ve been in the heat all afternoon (and potentially drinking), it’s time for a nice late lunch/early dinner at San Angel Inn (making a reservation here is a good idea). This gorgeous restaurant was once a private residence originally built to be a monastery in 1616 and expanded over the next several hundred years until the San Angel Inn Restaurant opened in 1963. It even became the inspiration for the San Angel Inn in EPCOT at Disney World (all roads lead to Disney today!).
This restaurant specializes in beautifully presented, elevated Mexican cuisine surrounded by Mexican-colonial architecture with intricate tile work, arches, tastefully decorated interiors, and sweeping gardens and fountains outside.
To drink, get one of their margaritas made with fresh lime juice and top-shelf tequila, or a unique option like the Margarita de Tamarindo (tamarind). To start, try any of the ceviche or the Aztec tortilla soup, and the Carne Asada is a great main with thinly sliced steak, mole sauce, chile rajas and Mexican rice.
The Crepes with Cajeta (caramelized milk and sugar) are the perfect way to end your meal in this fairytale setting.
Once you’re done with dinner, you can take under a 20-minute walk over to the craft fair (which is open until 6pm).
El Sabado Bazaar
El Bazaar Sábado is the Saturday Bazaar, the perfect place to get handmade arts, crafts, and jewelry and find things beyond some of the imported crap stuff you’ll find at other markets. This is the market I bought the most at – paintings, wooden masks, prints… I was genuinely getting worried if I had enough room in my suitcase to take it all home.
You can see most of the bazaar within an hour, and there are plenty of restaurants and food stands around if you need additional snacks after your last meal.
Day 5 Summary:
5-Day Mexico City Itinerary: Departure Day, Sunday
- All good things must come to an end, and today you’ll be leaving the magic of Mexico City.
Today it’s time to say Adios! If you have time for breakfast, check out Esencial Barra de Café for some coffee and pastries, or try something new at Peltre or Chilpa.
As a bonus if you have some time to kill, go to Museo Casa de las Mil Muñecas (museum house of a thousand dolls) if this sounds like your kind of thing. They truly have thousands of dolls, doll houses, miniatures, and even a cafe.
It took me an hour to walk through, exploring dolls from folk art, popular dolls through the ages, and finely crafted art dolls. They have a huge fairy exhibit upstairs as well.
I know this will only appeal to a certain audience (why it’s a bonus), but it’s a very special and beautiful new museum!
Where to Stay in Mexico City
For this itinerary, the best area is to Condesa, which is super safe, walkable, and absolutely stunning with lush greenery by Parque Mexico. I tried to find rentals hosted by locals as to support the local economy, and not hosted by Americans!
About The Author: Richie Goff is a Louisville, Kentucky native with a great love of the outdoors. When he is not growing flowers for fun, he is the Editor-in-Chief of Practical Wanderlust and Let’s Go Louisville. He has been a friend of Lia’s since high school, and they have taken plenty of their own disaster-prone adventures together!
What did you think of this 5-Day Mexico City Itinerary? Let us know below!
Psst: Planning a trip to Central America? Here are some other helpful posts:
FOLLOW US!
Psst: Save this post for later on Pinterest!
Our Top Travel Tips & Resources
- Booking Flights: To score flight deals, search on Google Flights or Kayak. Money-saving tips: fly mid-week or on the weekend; fly carry-on only on a budget airline; and take red-eyes or early morning flights.
- Accommodations: We usually stay in budget-friendly vacation rentals, boutique hotels or private rooms in hostels. We use Booking.com to book hotels (we love their flexible cancellation policy) and Hostelworld to book hostels (low deposit, easy change/cancellation, and excellent reviews). For vacation rentals, we prefer to book using VRBO because they’ve got lower fees and better support than Airbnb, and we’re not fans of Airbnb’s unethical track record. You can also book vacation rentals on Expedia and Hotels.com. We also use TrustedHousesitters as both hosts (for our home and our fur-child) and travelers!
- Travel Insurance: We always, always, ALWAYS buy travel insurance for international trips, and we STRONGLY suggest it – visit our Travel Insurance Guide to find out why. We recommend either World Nomads or SafetyWing for international travel insurance. SafetyWing is one of the few policies that covers Covid-19, and they have excellent monthly policies that are perfect for Digital Nomads and long term travelers!
- Travel Credit Card: We book all of our trips on our favorite travel credit card. Not only do we earn cash back that we can spend on more travel, but the card offers fantastic travel perks like travel insurance, trip delay and cancellation coverage, lost baggage reimbursement, and rental car coverage, which helps protect us on our travels. Learn more here.
- Vaccines & Meds: We use the travel guides on the CDC website to research recommended medications and vaccines for international trips. We always recommend getting every vaccine recommended by the CDC! You can get them at your primary care doctor’s office or a walk-in pharmacy.
- Tours: We love booking guided tours, especially food tours and walking tours, to get a local’s perspective and a history lesson while sight-seeing! We book our tours using Viator and GetYourGuide.
- Transportation: We use Rome2Rio to figure out how to get from place to place, and book local transportation online using Bookaway wherever we can. When we book a rental car, we use DiscoverCars to compare rental companies and find the best deal.
- Luggage Storage: Whenever we’re checking out early or taking advantage of a long layover, we use LuggageHero to safely store our luggage while we’re running around. Use the code PRACTICALW for 2 hours of free luggage storage on us.
- VPN Service: A VPN keeps your digital information (like website login details, bank info, etc) safe, even when you’re connected to an unsecured network while traveling. Plus, it lets you use Netflix & other streaming sites abroad! We use NordVPN. Use the code WANDERLUSTPROMO when you sign up!
- What to Pack: Here are the travel essentials that we bring on every trip. We also have packing lists for hot weather, cold weather, and many more. Take a look at all of our packing guides!
