Mexico City travel guide

Highlights: The history, culture and people all add up to an incredible experience. Once home - Tenochtitlán to the Aztecs / Mexica and later the Spanish, Mexico City (CDMX) is one of the largest and most diverse cities in the world. A huge variety of museums and sights offers endless discovery options. Every type of lodging and restaurant available. Each area of the city has it’s own unique vibe; from the historic & cultural downtown center, to the hip nightlife areas of Roma & Condesa, to the polished high-end Polanco neighborhood, to the small town feel of Coyoacan. I use the safe metro/subway often as it’s extensive, cheap (5 peso) and easy. So much to see, so much to do, so little time.

Images. YouTube. Why is central Mexico so crowded?

Location: Central Mexico, high in elevation and sitting in an old lake bed. Our GEM map: Google Maps - Web-based map. How to use the map. Mexico City - Wiki page.

When to visit: weather guide. Year round tourism with steady temperatures. Winter is the sunny & dry season, with summer rains and higher humidity. Bring an umbrella. Busy Christmas and Mexican holiday seasons - Journey Mexico, Mexperience . Many locals (Chilangos) leave the city for the coast during Semana Santa (Holy Week), so this is a quite time to visit. Best time to visit = January to March.

How to get to: Mexico City International Airport (MEX) has direct flights from major hubs around the world. The airport features 2 terminals - T1 & T2 w/ a train connecting them. Air travel info page. Mexico City has a new airport located north of the city - Felipe Ángeles International Airport / AIFA (NLU).

Check flights: Booking.com - Hotwire.

Lodging transfers: Viator

Taxi services and a 1st class bus terminal is available inside each airport terminal. These are safe & regulated transfer services with ticket purchase windows inside the airport. Subway stations are a close by walk, if you have a travel backpack. I use the subway all over the city. It’s very safe and modern now, has women-only lanes & train cars, and costs only 5 pesos! The GEM map lists all major 1st class bus stations and the key subway/metro stops thru the city to help you get around. Once you leave the airport, Uber is very popular in the city as your rides are safe and guaranteed…or take the metro, as it can be faster.

Cell service in Mexico City: use your lodging WiFi or read our communications page. Telcel stores are listed on the GEM map.

Money $: USD cash is not generally accepted, you will need Pesos. Credit cards are accepted in some places. Our Money $ guide.

Downtown Lodging: Booking.com - downtown/Zocalo search. Go Experience Mexico - lodging guide.

Downtown Recommended Restaurants: A La Leña - Artículo 123 - Azul Historico - Balcón del Zócalo - Café De Tacuba - Café La Pagoda - Casino Español de México - Centro Castellano - Churrería El Moro Centro - Cocina Central - Cocina Veronica - Costillas el Sitio - El Califa de León - El Cardenal - El Cabrito Astur - El Pescadito Centro - La Cantina Restaurante - La Casa De Toño - La Matoza - La Opera - La Original Birria Don Chuy - La Terraza del Conquistador - Limosneros - Los Callejeros - Marisquería el K-Guamo - Mercado Independencia - Mimbre - Nonsolo - Oaxaca en Mexico - Olivia - Pali Pali Vegan - Pargo Pacheco - Pastelería Ideal - Pizza del Perro Negro - Porcino - Restaurante Danubio - Restaurante Don Toribio - Restaurante Mercaderes - Ricos Tacos Toluca - Sonora Prime - Tacos El Papi - Tacos Los Especiales - Tacos Los Paisas - Taquería Loreto - Taquería Tlaquepaque - Terraza Cha Cha Chá - Testal Centro - Tezontle Restaurant - Tlacoyos La Blanca - Vegamo - Zéfiro - Zesta Punta

Taco tour: https://youtu.be/990CmzkhEq4

Vegan Restaurant guide: https://maps.app.goo.gl/8N4v1qT3hCc3N3iA9

Roma & Condesa Lodging: Booking.com - Roma/Condesa search. Go Experience Mexico - lodging guide. Images.

Roma & Condesa Recommended Restaurants: Azul Condesa - Balandra - Borona Loncheria - Casa Virginia - Chilpa - Churrería El Moro - Contramar - Cuina - Dr. Pizza - El Caimancito - El Hidalguense - El Pescadito - Ficelle - Filigrana - Fónico - Galanga Thai - Gardela - Gin Chan - Izakaya Kura - JAYI - La Bodeguita del Medio - La Casa de Toño - La Capital - La Pitahaya Vegana - Lardo - Máximo Bistrot - Mercado Roma - Meroma - Merotoro - Mexa Cocina del Alma - Mog Bistro - Panadería Rosetta - Páramo - Pasta Comedia - PAVOROSSO - Restaurante Castizo - Restaurante Rosetta - Rouge Bohème Bistro - San Petter La Roma - Santas Conchas - Sepia - Tacos Betos - Tacos Don Juan - Tacos El Capote - Tacos Los Juanes - Taco Santo Vegano - Taquería Las Rejas - Taquería Orinoco - The Backyard - Tortas Lolo - Veguísima - Xaman Bar

Polanco Lodging: Booking.com - Polanco search. Go Experience Mexico - lodging guide. Images.

Polanco Recommended Restaurants: Agua & Sal - Animal - Anatol - Bellopuerto - Cabanna - Café Toscano - Cambalache - Casa Portuguesa - Centanni Ristorante - Chapulín - Dante Brasa y Fuego - Diego y Yo - El Bajío - Goy’s - Guzina Oaxaca - KYU - La Buena Barra - La Casa del Pastor - Lampuga - La Única - Nobu - Parole - Pujol - Quintonil - Rocco & Simona - Sonora Prime - Sylvestre - Taquería Castelar

Coyoacan Lodging: Booking.com - Coyoacan search. Go Experience Mexico - lodging guide. Images.

Coyoacan Recommended Restaurants: Ave Maria - Corazón de Maguey - Doña Chela Cervantes - El Jardin de Las Delicias - Fonda El Morral - La Calaca - La Casa de Los Tacos - Los Amantes - Los Danzantes - Mezcalero - Moheli - Vege Taco

What to do: View the GEM map - how to use the map. Official CDMX visitors guide.

Visit Centro Historico & Templo Mayor, (tours) - Walk ave. Francisco Madero, (tours) - Visit Palacio de Bellas Artes & Alemeda Central park, (tours) - Visit Diego Rivera Mural, (tours), Rent a bicycle - Take in a museum or 3 - Visit Barrio Chino at night - Take in the nightlife in Roma & Condesa, (tours) - Try new restaurants - Eat at the Mercado de San Juan - Visit Mercados, (tours) - Experience Castillo de Chapultepec, (tours) - Visit Coyoacan & Frida Kahlo museum, (tours) - Experience Xochimilco, (tours) - Visit Teotihuacán (UNESCO) - (tours) - See a Lucha Libre - Day trip to Tolantongo hot springs, (tour) - Visit Basílica de Nuestra Señora, (tours) - Visit the notorious Tepito barrio

Tour list: Viator - Get your Guide

Downsides: Mexico City is very crowded, very noisy and very rough around the edges at times. Life here is unfiltered & in your face. Lack of fresh water availability at times (don’t waste it), but not as much in the tourist areas. Transportation can be slow and some taxis are illegal. Mexico City airport is over-crowded. High elevation (2,240 meters - 7,350 ft) can be a problem for some and pollution too. Bring extra clothes layers as nights can be chilly. For all the downsides, it will be one of your favorite cities in the world!

We love visiting Mexico City and hopefully you will too!

Thanks, Bill