All Articles — Mexico City Travel

Where to Stay

Neighborhoods and Safety in Mexico CityWhat it's like to stay in each neighborhood, what "colonia" means, and how cost and safety compare from one area to another.→The Best Boutique Hotels in Mexico CityTen boutique hotels across every price range, from a $40 hotel in Roma Norte to a $650 mansion suite down the same street, and how they compare to a chain hotel or an Airbnb.→Chain Hotels in Mexico City: Which Brands Are HereWhich international chains have a real presence in CDMX, why pick a chain hotel over a boutique property, and the Mexican-owned chain most foreign visitors have never heard of.→How to Pick a Good Airbnb in Mexico CityFloor level, noise thresholds, elevators, and how to read reviews for the specific complaints that matter.→Extended-Stay Housing in Mexico CityAirbnb's monthly discount, Facebook groups and WhatsApp signs locals use, and the real costs beyond rent: a guarantor, a deposit, and what an unfurnished apartment here means.→What I Learned Walking Mexico City Alone in 2017Before the digital nomad boom, before I knew anyone here, I found my way around this city on foot, carrying a hidden belt zipper for emergencies and a phone I was afraid to take out.→The 3 Safest Neighborhoods in Mexico City: Polanco, Condesa, and RomaPolanco, the three colonias that make up Condesa, and why Roma Sur counts too: architecture, museums, nightlife, dog culture, and the real drawbacks of each.→Other Safe Neighborhoods in Mexico City Beyond the Big ThreeNápoles, Del Valle, Narvarte, Juárez, Colonia Cuauhtémoc, Escandón, and Anzures: the safest borough in the city, and the colonias inside it most visitors skip.→Mexico City Areas Where You Should Proceed With CautionCentro Histórico, Doctores, Guerrero, Lagunilla/Garibaldi, and Obrera: not unsafe outright, but places that change character block by block and hour by hour.→The Best Hostels in Mexico CityEight hostels organized by vibe rather than price: party hostels, quiet ones, design-forward boutique hostels, and the two with the biggest review counts in the city.→The One Place Tourists Should Never Visit in Mexico CityTepito: the black-market colonia even locals call the Barrio Bravo, why it earns that name, and what happened the one time a broken train left us standing in the middle of it.→Homestay Programs in Mexico CityTwo language schools place you with a real host family in Mexico City proper. Fewer than you'd find in Oaxaca or Guadalajara, and even International House skips homestay here entirely.→

Trip Planning

Is Mexico City Safe? An Honest AnswerReal statistics, not vibes: how Mexico City compares to major US cities, and what the numbers don't tell you.→The Best Time to Visit Mexico CityA month-by-month breakdown of weather, crowds, and prices to help you pick the right time for your trip.→How Many Days Do You Need in Mexico City?Why the honest answer is usually more days than you were planning, plus how day trips and altitude factor into the math.→Mexico City Budget Guide: What Things CostReal prices for meals, museums, transit, and hotels, including the one category where the usual discount disappears.→Mexico City Visa & Entry Requirements for US VisitorsNo visa needed for most trips, a valid passport, and a tourist form you no longer have to fill out at all.→What to Pack for Mexico CityThis is not a beach trip: pack for temperature swings and altitude, plus a season-dependent note on rain gear.→Getting from Benito Juárez Airport (MEX) into Mexico CityWhy hiring a driver beats weighing every option on a first trip, plus the real story on the subway, taxis, rideshare, and renting a car.→Mexico City's AltitudeCDMX sits over 7,300 feet up. Here's what that does to your body and how to handle the first couple of days.→What First-Timers Don't Anticipate in Mexico CityThe small logistics people forget until the last minute, and the good surprises: the walking, the architecture, and a handful of quirks.→How to Not Look Like a Tourist in Mexico CityStanding out here is not a safety issue, it is just a look. If you would rather blend in, these are the real tells.→

Itineraries & To-Dos

24 Hours in Mexico City: The Layover ItineraryOne tight loop through the essentials, one real meal instead of three rushed ones, and a clear list of what gets cut.→The Perfect 3-Day Mexico City ItineraryCentro Histórico, Chapultepec, and Roma/Condesa: the essentials, realistically paced, with no day trip.→The Perfect 5-Day Mexico City ItineraryThe 3-day essentials, plus a day trip to Teotihuacán and a closing day in Coyoacán.→7+ Days in Mexico City: A Slower Itinerary with Day TripsThe 5-day foundation, plus San Ángel, a second day trip, and room to slow down.→Insider Shopping List: What to Bring Home from Mexico CityThe local-only products and specific spots worth seeking out, from someone who lives here.→Historical Sites and Ruins to See in Mexico CityThe pre-Hispanic city is still here: excavated and ticketed, built into a metro station, or buried under a volcano's lava field.→Notable Architecture Worth Looking UpFrom Churrigueresque and Neoclassical to Barragán's modernism and a library with a whale skeleton hanging in it, by neighborhood and by name.→Shopping for Trinkets and SouvenirsWhere to find real Mexican crafts, and how to buy from the actual vendor instead of the shop steering you there.→Mexico City's Malls Are Still Very Much AliveWhile American malls hollowed out, Mexico City's kept growing, and five of them are worth a stop in their own right.→Parks Worth Building a Day AroundFrom the largest urban park in Latin America, a former presidential home now open to anyone, and a theme park inside it, to the Art Deco square at the center of Condesa.→Lucha Libre: How a Tax Inspector Invented Mexico's Favorite SportA government auditor crossed into Texas to watch a wrestling match, came home obsessed, and founded what's now the oldest wrestling promotion on Earth. The mask wasn't even his idea.→The Best Movie Theaters in Mexico CityA 1962 Streamline Moderne cinema on Reforma, the national film archive rebuilt after a fire that destroyed its own history, and the country's largest IMAX screen.→

Day Trips

Teotihuacán: How to Get There and What to ExpectThe pyramids everyone pictures, built by an unknown civilization that peaked at 200,000 people, then burned and vanished. An hour north of the city.→Xochimilco: Ancient Canals and Floating GardensThe only place in Mexico City where you can ride in a traditional flat-bottomed boat through canals built 700 years ago. It's part market, part garden, part fiesta.→Coyoacán: Colonial Plazas and the Frida Kahlo DistrictA bohemian neighborhood south of the city center with cobblestone plazas, colonial architecture, museums, and a food market that's been operating since the 1600s.→Valle de Bravo: Colonial Town in the MountainsA mountain town with colonial architecture, a scenic lake, and adventure activities, about 90 minutes west of Mexico City.→Tepoztlán: The Market and the HikeA fuller day or overnight trip south of the city.→Puebla as a Day Trip from Mexico CityClose enough for a day trip, but it rewards staying over.→Grutas de Tolantongo: Worth the OvernightThe hot-spring river everyone's seen on Instagram — genuinely an overnight, not a real day trip.→Bus, Tour, or Car: Getting to Mexico City's Day TripsComparing the ways to get to Teotihuacán, Xochimilco, and beyond.→Hot Air Balloon Rides Over Teotihuacán at SunriseAn hour floating above the pyramids at sunrise, watching the shadows shift across the Avenue of the Dead from above.→The 2026 Teotihuacán Shooting: What Happened and What ChangedA mass shooting at the Pyramid of the Moon on April 20, 2026 killed one tourist and injured 13 others. It changed security protocols and tour policies at the site.→San Ángel: Art Studios and Colonial QuietA hillside neighborhood with colonial architecture, independent art galleries, and a weekly Saturday market. It's smaller and quieter than Coyoacán, better for browsing than major attractions.→

Food & Drink Culture

Best Restaurants in Mexico City, by NeighborhoodFifty restaurant picks organized by colonia, from Polanco's fine-dining circuit to Narvarte's mechanic-shop taco stand.→Mexico City Food StaplesTacos al pastor, mole, quesadillas, tortas, tamales, and chilaquiles: the basic foods everyone who visits should actually try.→Mexico City Foods You've Probably Never Heard OfTacos de canasta, tlacoyos, huaraches, chapolines, and other dishes that don't make the usual lists.→Drinks to Try for the First Time in Mexico CityPulque, aguas frescas, atole, micheladas, mezcal, and the drinks that define Mexico City's beverage culture.→Pan Dulce in Mexico CityConcha, trenza, pan de muerto, rosca de reyes, and a dedicated deep dive into chocolatín—the sweetest way to start breakfast.→Interesting Bars in Mexico City Worth a VisitMezcalerías, pulquerías, rooftop bars, and a few genuinely worth-seeking-out spots beyond the standard cocktail list.→Coffee Shops in Mexico City: A Guide to ExplorationWalking Roma and Condesa, finding specialty coffee, and collecting stamps on the Mexico City Coffee Passport.→Mexico City's Best Markets and Mercados: A Food and Drink GuideWhere to find fresh produce, street food, mezcal, traditional ingredients, and the real food scene beyond restaurants.→Dietary Restrictions in Mexico City: Vegan, Vegetarian & Gluten-FreeWhat's workable, and the phrases worth learning before you land.→

Practical

Transportation in Mexico City: Walking, Metro, Uber, Bikes, and MoreHow the Metro, Metrobús, ride-hailing apps, walking, and Ecobici work for visitors, and when each one makes sense.→Common Spanish Phrases for Your Mexico City TripThe phrases that get real use here: greetings, directions, ordering food, taxis and rideshares, markets, hotels, and the one grammar choice that signals respect.→Will My Phone Work in Mexico City? SIM Cards and eSIMs ExplainedNever use your carrier's international roaming plan. Here's what to do instead — eSIMs, local SIMs, and which US carriers are actually worth keeping.→How to Exchange USD for Mexican Pesos Without Getting Ripped OffATMs beat exchange counters almost every time — the specific traps to avoid on both, which machines to trust, and why small bills matter more than the rate.→Pharmacies in Mexico City: How to Ask for What You NeedHow Mexican pharmacies work, key phrases to use, and what to do about traveler's diarrhea, nausea, and heartburn.→What to Do If You Get Sick in Mexico CityHow to figure out whether you need a pharmacy, a doctor, or a hospital — and how to find English-speaking care when you need it.→What to Do in an Earthquake in Mexico CityMexico City sits on a drained lakebed that amplifies seismic waves and has a public alarm system that buys you up to a minute of warning. Here is how to use it.→How to Avoid Booking Scams in Mexico CityThin review counts, a strong overall score hiding weak sub-scores, and payment requests outside the platform: the real red flags to check before booking a hotel, Airbnb, or rental here.→

History

Tenochtitlan: The Buried City Beneath Mexico City's StreetsHow a lake-island capital founded around 1325 grew into one of the largest cities on Earth, and why its main temple still sits a few feet under the Zócalo today.→New Spain: The Colonial Capital That Kept FloodingThree centuries as the wealthiest city in Spain's empire, undermined the whole time by the lake it was built on top of.→The Messiest Half-Century in Mexico City's HistoryTwo different men tried to rule Mexico in the fifty-odd years after independence, and both of them ended up in front of a firing squad before eventual stability.→The Porfiriato: Built the City, Broke the CountryPorfirio Díaz spent thirty-four years building a Mexico City meant to look like Paris. The centennial celebration that showed it off ran two months before the revolution that ended him.→Revolution & Its Aftermath: A Decade of War, Rebuilt in PaintTen years of civil war killed as many as two million people and left Mexico City occupied by armies that didn't want the job of running it. What defined the modern nation's identity came after, on the walls.→The Modern Capital: Built a Megacity, Buried a MassacreMexico City grew from 1.6 million people to nearly fifteen million in four decades. Ten days before the government showed off that growth to the world at the 1968 Olympics, it opened fire on its own students and spent decades denying it.→Why Mexico City Turns Purple Every Spring: The Jacaranda StoryThe real history behind Mexico City's jacaranda trees: a Japanese gardener, a failed plan for cherry blossoms, and how thousands of purple trees ended up lining Reforma, Roma, and Condesa instead.→1985: The Earthquake That Taught Mexico City to Save ItselfThe government's failed response to the 1985 earthquake taught the city to organize without it — a lesson it needed again, on the same date, thirty-two years later.→The Emo-Punk Battle of 2008, and the Hare Krishnas Who Ended ItA TV host's mockery, a turf war over a subway plaza, and a night of violence that ended when Hare Krishna devotees started singing — in the country André Breton once called the most surrealist in the world. Interviews with the people who were there point to a different real cause.→The Axolotl: The God Who Keeps Hiding From DeathA salamander the Aztecs believed was a god in disguise, now surviving almost nowhere but a shrinking set of canals in Mexico City — and possibly holding a key to regenerative medicine.→La Llorona: The Goddess Who Became a Ghost StoryLong before she was a ghost haunting canals for her drowned children, La Llorona was an Aztec goddess whose wailing was recorded as an omen of conquest — and colonial Mexico City turned her into something else entirely.→How a Locked Door Gave Mexico Its National AnthemA poet who refused to write it, a fiancée who locked him in a room until he did, and a Catalan bandleader Santa Anna happened to meet in Cuba — the strange, happy origin of the song still sung in every Mexican classroom.→The Dictator's New ToyIn August 1896, two Frenchmen showed Porfirio Díaz a moving picture for the first time, then turned the camera on him — making Mexico one of the first countries in the world with a film industry, and Díaz one of its first movie stars.→The Day Mexicans Paid Off an Oil Debt With Chickens and Wedding RingsIn 1938, Mexico seized its oil back from foreign companies that had defied its own Supreme Court. When the compensation bill came due, thousands of ordinary people lined up outside the Palacio de Bellas Artes to help pay it themselves.→

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