With delicious food, a lively culture, and low prices, it’s no wonder that Mexico City is a hot spot for traveling right now. You will fall in love with the city 💕 as you wander the cute neighborhoods of Roma Norte or find yourself eating tacos on every street corner. There is so much to do and see that you will find yourself wanting to stay for weeks.
Mexico City is the largest city in North America, the fifth largest city in the world, and it has a population of over 8 million people 😱. Due to its vast size, it’s impossible to fit everything into one weekend.
My partner and I were able to take advantage of a great flight deal over a three-day weekend last year, so we convinced some friends to join us and we tried to fit in as much as we could. Below you will find the perfect itinerary to maximize your time there!
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Table of Contents
One Weekend in Mexico City
Day One
Head to the Main Square
On your first day in Mexico City, you should spend time getting to know the city. The main square of Mexico City is called Zocalo and it has been a gathering place since the Aztecs were there. It’s an amazing place to visit and take in the architecture.
Plenty of festivals and ceremonies take place in this main square, so you might find yourself among the celebrations 🎉. If there is no celebration, you can still take in the beauty of the colonial style buildings including the Cathedral, The National Palace, and the Federal District Buildings.
Wander through Chapultapec Park
Stroll through the second largest park in Latin America and one of the oldest urban parks in the world at Chapultapec Park. This park is a lively, wonderful place to take in the culture and vibes of Mexico City.
This park is 1700 acres large, so there’s so much to see and do here that you could get overwhelmed! There are lakes, museums, a zoo 🦁 and plenty of areas to explore. But, this park is broken up into three sections.
If you’re short on time then I recommend going up to Chapultapec Castle and getting the views from there. It’s an amazing building to see and learn about the history of the area. For those who have more time you can get further into the museums or rent a bike to see larger areas of the park!
Indulge in fine dining
After taking a little break, it’s time to head back on the town. Other than delicious street food, Mexico City is also known for having exquisite fine dining options. Many of the restaurants 🍽 there are world renowned.
As soon as we made plans to go to Mexico City, we knew that we needed to try Pujol, the 12th best restaurant in the world. The chef Enrique Olvera has elevated the status of traditional Mexican food 🥘. If you want to go, you’ll need to get reservations months in advance.
His restaurant features native ingredients in a tasting menu that will excite your taste buds and impress your eyes. One of the most famous dishes is his 1500 day aged mole. This was probably the best meal that I have ever had and it was well worth the price.
Day Two in Mexico City
Grab a Fresh Breakfast
Today, you can start your morning off by grabbing a flaky pastry and a steaming hot cup of coffee ☕️. There are plenty of cute cafes throughout the city, so take your pick! We were staying in the adorable area of Roma Norte, so we walked to Panedería Rosetta. The pastries were perfectly baked and the coffee hit the spot.
Best Cafes in Mexico City
- Quentin Cafe
- Elfimero Cafe
- Cafebrería El Péndulo
- 3/8 Loft Cafe
- Cafe Nin
Learn About Frida Kahlo’s Life
Once we were fueled up, we took an uber to the Casa Azul– The Frida Kahlo Museum. This museum’s walls are a beautiful cobalt blue and includes Frida’s Kahlo’s house and her adorable garden. The museum focuses on her life including her artwork 🎨, her marriage with Diego Rivera, and her death.
It’s fascinating to learn about her history and her inspirations. This is one of the most popular tourist spots in the city. There are constantly long lines that wrap around the house and go down the street. If you want to skip the lines, you can book tickets online in advance at this site.
Party in Xochilmico
Xochilmico is one of Mexico City’s 16 boroughs. It’s a bit of a hike from the center of the city, but it’s well worth it. This borough is known for the canals that run through it. Many tourists and city residents come here to rent colorful gondolas (trajineras) on which they can play music, eat food, and dance while the boats 🛶 glide across the canals.
These canals are now the only place you can find wild axolotls, amphibians that look similar to salamanders. But, you may need to ask your boat captain if you want to see one.
You do not need to make reservations in advance. So, we went to one of the docks and rented one of the boats on the spot. We brought a picnic of breads, cheeses, and wines 🍷🍷 to enjoy as we sailed along the canals. There, we admired the variety of colorful boats and various fiestas that glided along the water. It’s a great way to spend a day with friends and watch the sunset.
Day 3 in Mexico City
Stuff Yourself on Street Food
Mexico City is known for having some of the very best street food around the world 🌎. Plenty of chefs have traveled here for inspiration and many food shows have featured this city. La Merced Market is so large that there are guides dedicated to showing you around the various food stalls.
You can try to explore the street food scene on your own, however there are so many options it can get overwhelming. We decided to take a food tour from Club Tengo Hambre and we felt like it was the perfect introduction to the city.
The guide took us to various food stands and markets and explained everything we would want to know about Mexican food and its origins. We feasted on tacos 🌮, quesadillas, fruits and some crickets (a popular delicacy in Mexico City). Even though we were stuffed by the end, we made sure to stop at Churreria el Moro for dessert.
Purchase Local Crafts
Before you leave the city, you may want to purchase some handmade souvenirs for yourself or loved ones. There are various markets that sell these crafts, but we chose to go to the Mercado de Artesanias de la Ciudedela.
Here you will find aisles full of artist vendors that sell beautiful handmade crafts from woven goods to ceramics. We bought a few shot glasses and small dishes to take back home and remind us of our fabulous trip.
Final Tips
There are so many things to see and do in Mexico City, you can spend weeks there! It’s one of the largest cities in the world. So, leave time to explore the city without concrete plans so that you can take it all in! Find out why so many travelers are falling in love with this fun city.
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