The 13 things to do in Mexico City

Visit Mexico: What are the best things to do and see in the capital of Mexico? Discover the must-sees of a city conducive to the heart!

Mexico, atypical and overflowing city of folklores, invites visitors to get lost in its colorful and surprising streets. A must-see destination in Central America, the capital of Mexico is one of the world’s largest cities, home to impressive sites and a wonderful artistic and culinary scene. There you will find museums, archaeological sites, historic monuments and busy markets, many enough to satisfy everyone.

Ready to visit Mexico? Here's the top 13 things to do in this colorful city.

1. La Plaza de la Constitución ou Zócalo

Considered one of the largest places in the world, the Plaza de la Constitución is located in the historic centre of Mexico City. Damn it! Palacio Nacional , the metropolitan cathedral of Mexico and by large colonnades buildings, one can see proudly float a huge Mexican flag. The Zócalo is the place where various events, festivals and events take place. There are also street vendors offering small objects to the effigy of Frida Kahlo . An excellent place to start your exploration of the city.

2. Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico

Located on the north side of the Zócalo, this immense cathedral was built over a 250-year period and has been classified as World Heritage since 1987. Rich in her mix of architectural styles, she can draw attention. If his little air is leaning you, don't panic! Like many buildings in the historic centre of Mexico, built on marsh soil, it slowly sinks into the ground. A lead thread in the nave even indicates the tilt of the building. An engineering project was undertaken in the 1990s to save the building and ensure that it sinks evenly.

3. The Templo Mayor

This extraordinary site, buried for centuries, was revealed to everyone in 1978 during the construction of the new town of mexico. They were workers who first made an extraordinary discovery: a huge stone disc (3.25 meters in diameter) on which a sculpted bas-relief represented Coyolxauhqui — the goddess of the moon in the Aztecs — dismembered. Large-scale archaeological excavations that followed revealed more than 7,000 objects and part of the enormous Templo Mayor an important religious structure of Tenochtitlan's time. Opt for a walking tour of this vestige that was able to cross the epochs.

4. Le Palacio Nacional

Always on the Zócalo, the Palacio Nacional is the seat of the federal executive branch in Mexico. It houses the federal treasury and national archives. Inside, you can admire several mural paintings by the famous painter Diego Rivera showing thousands of years of Mexican history.

5. The Palacio de Bellas Artes

This grandiose theatre, initially planned to commemorate the centenary of Mexico’s independence in 1910, was finally completed in 1934. A place of opera, dance and theatre, the Palais des Beaux-Arts is above all a neoclassical masterpiece and new art where splendid murals are displayed. Discover the interior of the Palais’s art deco style, frequently welcoming small exhibitions. To enjoy a magnificent view of the Palacio de Bellas Artes , take a coffee in the big shop Sears located right across the street.

6. The floating gardens of Xochimilco

Want a haven of peace away from the hustle and bustle of a bustling city? Do not hesitate to visit the floating gardens of Xochimilco . Embark on one of the colored boats ( trajineras ) and let yourself be guided through the channels where music, gastronomy and gaiety are at the rendezvous. An ideal place to spend the morning and picnic on site.

7. Teotihuacan

48 kilometers northeast of Mexico City, we find the city Teotihuacan ( "where the gods are created" ), a large complex of pre-Columbian pyramids. This is probably the mandatory stop to be made in Mexico City. The “city of the gods”, huge busy city of the year 200 BC until the year 800 AD, counted at its peak a population of 200,000 people. Her influence was such, that she felt everywhere in Mesoamerica. Admire it Templo de Quetzalcóatl , walk along the avenue of the Dead, climb on the famous Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon. You want to get even higher? fly over Teotihuacan .

8. National Museum of Anthropology

Located in the wood of Chapultepec, the Museo Nacional de Antropología is one of the jewels of Mexican history. Divided in twenty-three thematic rooms, it contains the most impressive collection of Mesoamerican objects in the world. If you choose to visit this fantastic museum, find on the ground floor the archaeological area where twelve rooms chronologically transcribe the settlement of the region until the advent of the Aztecs. On the floor, several ethnic exhibitions are proposed.

9. The Frida Kahlo Museum (Museo Frida Kahlo)

La Casa Azul or museum Frida-Kahlo, nestled in the heart of Coyoacan, was the family home of the famous artist and wife of the painter Diego Rivera where she lived with him during the last 14 years of her life. Their house, decorated in the Mexican style, gives you an overview of the privacy of these eccentric artists. Enjoy being in Coyoacan to visit the historic centre of this suburb of Mexico that has kept the atmosphere of a village.

10. Gastronomy

Mexico still has a ton of nice surprises. Among them, a gastronomy of madness — placed at UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage — which delights the palaces. See you in some puestos — street food merchants — and test street food by tasting one taco , one burrito , chorizo or quesadillas . For more consistent dishes, set the course on meltas . These affordable traditional restaurants and the family atmosphere, serve complete menus, including the comida corrida composed of a soup, a rice and red beans resistance dish and a dessert.

11. Mexico Markets

Once your appetite is satisfied, visit Mexico the famous mercados . Go through that. Sonora , a daily market famous for its ceramics of all kinds. There are also medicinal plants, shamans and healers. The one Ciudadela , also daily, is recognized for its local craft full of colors. A little less crowded, market of Artisanats and Mexican Curiosities , is a stop in Mexico City. You can find textiles, furniture, silver crafts and other strange things.

12. La Lucha Libre

For a total immersion, if there is one thing to do in Mexico City, it is attending a free Lucha fight. Mexican fight assimilated to wrestling, it is practiced in vibrating fervour arenas. More than a sport, the free Lucha is a show where the protagonists fight masked and dressed in extravagant outfits where strass and glitter are from the game.

13. Six Flags Park

Want to make adrenaline? Direction one of the largest amusement parks in Latin America: Six Flags . Perfect to spend the day with family, you will discover a space divided into several universes: Mexican, Polynesian, French, the DC Comics universe and much more.

How do I get to Mexico?

If you leave France, you will have an average of 11h57 flights from Paris to Mexico City. Our Compare Flights Skyscanner you will benefit from the best rates according to your availability. Once you arrive at Mexico Airport, there are several options available to you to join the city centre:

• By metro

Located 200 metres from Terminal 1 Airport, the metro station “ Terminal Area » offers quick and cheap access to downtown. However, the metro is not the most convenient option for travellers with luggage.

• In metrobús

More convenient than the metro, the metrobús has luggage storage. You will find the stops of line 4 at the Puerta 7 of Terminal 1 and Puerta 3 of Terminal 2.

• Taxi

Based on a fixed rate ticket system, licensed taxis appear as a safe choice. Each ticket allows the support of up to four passengers. You can buy it in a window located in the sala E1 and near the exit of the sala A. It will take about 45 minutes to reach the city centre.

Where to stay in Mexico City?

Mexico is 1,485 km2 and no less than 400 districts spread over this huge surface. So much to say that the choice of the place where you will stay is paramount. Apartments, rentals at home, hostels or hotels, a range of options available to you. Question price, there are for all budgets. But what barrio Is that the best? History and cultural tourism enthusiasts will be able to favor the neighbourhood of old Mexico ("" el centro historico " ) where several historical buildings are concentrated. If you prefer more lively neighborhoods, the winning tiercé Roma / Juárez / Condesa is for you. Located in the historic centre, it will delight you with their bars, restaurants, night clubs and a relatively young and trendy population. Do you feel the soul of an artist? Opt for Coyoacan , a bohemian neighborhood where you can take refuge in the quiet of a park or admire beautiful colorful houses. Facilitate your search with this hotel comparison and do not miss to take a look at our article « In which quarter house in Mexico City? » to find your happiness!