Let me be perfectly honest. I never had any desire to travel to Mexico City.
I’d heard from other travelers that the city is a must and also super affordable. Still, Mexico City was not on my bucket list of must-go travel destinations. After visiting twice, I regret that it wasn’t.
Ciudad de México (CDMX) in some aspects reminds me of New York City. It’s urban, it’s bustling, locals hop in and out of taxis, and folks are late-night dining on a Thursday. In other aspects, I feel like I’m in a major California city like L.A. where you have to make plans around the amount of traffic there is. Other parts of CDMX take me back to Europe. The historic center’s cobble stone roads and gothic style churches scream Spanish colonialism. It’s hard to ignore.
But there are a number of things that are very unique to Mexico City. The fact that you can find a taco stand on every street corner is nothing short of God’s blessing. This is especially useful after a late night of tequila and salsa dancing. CDMX is a living, breathing colorful art display where you can walk a block and witness a mural of Frida Kahlo squeezed between two heavily graffiti-ridden buildings.
For the traveling foodie, museum buff, or the everyday urbanite, Mexico City is a playground.
Where We Stayed
The first time I arrived in Mexico City, it was for Dia de Los Muertos festivities in Oct.-Nov. 2019. With an AirBnB half-hour drive outside of the city or Distrito Federal (D.F.), it proved to be a hassle. I couldn’t take those chaces second time around.
We resided in the Colonia Doctores which neighbors the widely-recognized Colonia Roma. (Think the Netflix original ROMA – the movie was based in this neighborhood.) CDMX has plenty to offer depending on what kind of environment and neighborly energy you’re looking for.
Although we stayed in Doctores on a street within walking distance from Arena Mexico (epicenter for lucha libre shows), it is not regarded as the “safest.” If living on the edgier side of town is not your thing, popular areas are the trendy neighborhoods of La Condesa or the more prestigious Polanco.
My advice: Wherever you decide to stay, residing in the city is critical if you plan to sight-see, explore, but most importantly… to get to places on time. You can waste a bunch of valuable time sitting in CDMX traffic.
What We Did
No vacation to CDMX is complete without a trip to Teotihuacan.
One hour drive north-east of the city, Teotihuacan hosts the famous Pyramid of the Sun, along with its baby sister pyramid, Pyramid of the Moon. They are the largest constructed buildings in Meso-America built before the Spanish arrived. No one knows exactly which civilization built the pyramids, but the Aztecs eventually used the landmark to worship their gods. There’s nothing quite like a visit to an ancient city to fancy your inner archaeologist.
For an immersive art and history experience with la unica (the one and only) Frida Kahlo, La Casa Azul is your haven. This is the same house where she was born, lived, and died. Some of her iconic clothing garments have been preserved, and they all have a story to tell. Even in death, Frida is a force of energy to be acknowledged. My personal favorite display is the outdoor ofrenda adorned in marigolds. Simply put: fascinating.
Last but certainly not least, about a forty-five minute drive southeast of D.F. is the famous Floating Garden Canals of Xochimilco. If you’ve never been to Venice (Italy) and taken a gondola ride, you don’t need to fly to Europe to experience something very similar. Each pontoon at the embarcadero is family owned, beautifully hand-painted, operated by a “captain,” and floats along the canal.
You can find just about anything you need on the canals. Hungry/thirsty? Not to worry. Floating vendors selling tacos and beer will latch onto your boat and make sure you enjoy the ride on a full stomach. Mariachis? Absolutely. Mariachis are available for hire on the water, although you can request a speaker box and connect your phone via Bluetooth for 400 pesos – and yes, it is absolutely worth it.
More recommendations: a Lucha Libre show at Arena Mexico (shows occurs most Thursday, Fridays, and Sundays), Hospital de Jesús Nazareno (for more art murals; free entry), Postal Palacio (a post office completely decked out in gold), Salon Rios (for salsa and cumbia dancing on Thursday night), exploring un mercado in Coyoacan for some tostadas and other Mexican-made gifts.
What We Ate
If you’re like me, you grew up in a border state and bragged about the quality of Mexican food you’ve had over the years. Yeah well…. You thought! With full confidence I can say that the best Mexican food is in Mexico.
To label Mexico City a foodie city is an understatement. There is food everywhere and countless possibilities. But in three words or less: TACOS, TACOS, TACOS.
Let’s start with the obvious: CDMX is a carnivore’s dream come true (although I see the American wave of clean eating making headway). Do yourself a favor and leave the diet at home. Most restaurants (unless otherwise noted) will serve Mexican food. Many establishments offer plates from different parts of the country to really show the breadth and diversity of Mexican food: mole from Oaxaca, cochinita pibil from Veracruz, or Baja-California style ceviche.
Outside of sit-down dining is where the street vendors dominate. This is where I became an al pastor addict. Taquerías are part of the experience to be frank. It starts with the aromas of grilled vegetables and meat, scouting out which garnishes and salsas to try (pineapples, onions, radishes – so many decisions!), and seeing the hand-made tortilla bake in front of you (sometimes blue, sometimes green). When it comes to salsa and dressings, Mexican mild is not USA mild so proceed with caution.
There are literally thousands of taco stands or taquerías and it can be overwhelming to decide where to start. I’m adventurous so I usually let my nose navigate for me. My suggestion, however, is to sign up for a taco walking tour to get your taco fix – a local will help you out.
Recommendations: La Unica, Azul, Salon Rios, El Moro Churrrería, Los Callejeros Taquería
Final Thoughts
I was pleasantly surprised by the city. Both times.
Every little neighborhood has its own identity like La Condesa, Coyoacan, and the Historic District (Distrito Centro). And for that reason, I cannot stress enough the value of a free-walking tour in this city. Not only are these excursions free to participate, they are almost always guided by locals, and they are more than happy to educate tourists.
Had I not invested in a last-minute walking tour of Distrito Centro, I would have never discovered the Secretary of Public Education building hosting some of Diego Rivera’s beautiful and enormous social-realism murals. Extra bonus points for this establishment being free and open to the public.
Other points of interest are within commuting distance and transportation (whatever method you choose) is cheap. Many (if not all museums) are closed on Mondays, so that is a good day to plan an excursion outside of the city like Xochimilco or Teotihuacan.
If sunbathing on a Mexican beach resort isn’t your thing, and you’d rather indulge in museums, street food, and outdoor entertainment… then Mexico City is just for you.
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