Top 10 Things to Do in Mexico City

Mexico City (CDMX) is one of my favorite cites in the world. It has the most incredible food, rich culture, friendly people, and there are endless amounts of things to do. Being the largest city in North America, there are so many different things to do and see that it can be a little overwhelming. Well, I am here to make that a little bit easier for you. Below are the Top 10 things that I think every CDMX first timer should check out.

1. Take a free walking tour

One of my favorite things to do when arriving in a new city is take a free walking tour. I think it is one of the best things to do when first arriving in a city. It allows you to get your bearings, scope out some cool bars & restaurants, learn some history, and just get to know the place you are staying. Additionally, these tours are almost always led by a local so it is a great way to get recommendations, information, places to avoid, etc.

Guruwalk is a great walking tour company I have used many times before. In Mexico City they offer loads of options across many different neighborhoods of the city – Centro Historico, Coyoacan, Roma Norte/Condesa, and many others.

2. National Anthropology Museum

If there was one museum I’d say you must visit while in Mexico City, this would be it. It is Mexico’s largest and most popular museum that houses tons of Aztec and Pre-Colombian artifacts like the Sun Stone and Aztec Calendar. No joke on how massive this museum is – my buddy and I spent about 3 hours there and maybe only saw 30% of it. You could spend an entire day here (or more) but I would give yourself at least 2-3 hours to see the main highlights.

The museum is very modern, clean, and well laid out. Almost every information placard is in English as well so don’t need to worry about not being able to understand if you don’t speak Spanish. Entrance tickets are about $10.

3. Xochimilco

Xochimilco was probably the most fun day that I had while in CDMX and an absolute must-do experience. This is an area in the southern part of the city that has a massive canal system that you can ride through on colorful party boats. You basically show up, hire a boat for however long you like, and ride around in the canals and party!

Highly recommend that you bring your own alcohol and snacks but there are also boat vendors that sell drinks, food, souvenirs, etc. This is best done in a big group but of course you can go with a smaller group or with a tour. We paid about 500 pesos for 2 hours on the boat but ended up extending because we were having so much fun. Most boats have a speaker, cooler for drinks, and a big table to set snacks on. I cannot recommend this experience enough!

4. Torre Latinoamericana

One of the cities most important landmarks in the center of Mexico City. This building has an observation deck at the top and offers incredible 360 degree views of Mexico City. Looking out from the top really shows you, for the first time, the immense size and scale of this city. Tickets are about $12 to go to the top and the beautiful views are well worth the price. Of course, this activity is pretty weather dependent so waiting for a clear day to visit is crucial.

5. Food Tour

Mexico City is probably one of the best foodie cities in the world – so you’ll want to make sure you get a taste of the best it has to offer. What better way to do that than to have a local take you around town to all of the best spots. I took two food tours while I was here and both were fantastic and different in their own ways.

One of the best things about a food tour is that you end up trying new things you wouldn’t have otherwise tried and you stumble upon places you wouldn’t have otherwise found. With the endless number of food tours available in Mexico City, there is sure to be a tour that suits what you are looking for. Additionally, if you haven’t checked out my post on the best food to eat in Mexico City, check that out here!

6. Chapultepec Park

Enormous park that is centrally located between many of Mexico City’s most popular neighborhoods. A great place to stroll around, go for a jog, or to just hang out and relax. This is also an amazing place to visit on the weekend. Weekends are of course more crowded but they have so much more activity going on. Loads of vendors fill the park selling all types of street food, carnival knick knacks, and everything in between.

This park has it all: a zoo, lakes where you can paddle boat, many museums, restaurants, tons of walking paths, and even has a castle! If you’re looking for a relaxing day in Mexico City, definitely check out Chapultepec Park.

7. Lucha Libre

Lucha Libre is basically Mexican WWE. If you are into wrestling or just want to experience the craziness that is Mexican wrestling, then this is for you. It’s not something I am super into but it was still fun to do once. Go with some friends, get some beers, and watch some people throw each other around. Arena Mexico in Doctores is a great spot to check out for Lucha Libre.

7. Stroll Through a Mercado

Visiting a local market in a new city is such a fun and enriching experience. Countless sights, smells, and sounds all in one place! A perfect place to visit on a Saturday or Sunday to get some fresh produce and ingredients to cook a meal or to try some street food and just shop around. If you want to buy some souvenirs to take home, these markets usually have you covered as well.

Mercado San Juan in Centro is one of the most robust markets in CDMX and will give you that true crazy market experience. I would definitely recommend checking it out. Otherwise, Mercado Medellin in Roma Norte is another great option that is a little less chaotic.

8. Centro Historico

The historic center of Mexico City is just that, the historic heart of the Mexican capital. All sorts of beautiful Spanish colonial style buildings, cathedrals, giant plazas, you name it. There is a ton to do and see as well as a ton of amazing things to eat. Some of the oldest restaurants in the city are located here and there is a reason why they have been around so long – the food is incredible!

Bellas Artes Palace (pictured above) is located here, the Diego Rivera museum, Torre Latinoamericana, the original El Moro, Zocalo Square, the list goes on. Let it be known that this area can be quite dangerous at nighttime so make sure you are visiting during the day. Most of the best stuff is only open during the day anyways so there isn’t much of a reason to come here late. Centro Historico should absolutely not be missed when visiting Mexico City.

9. Frida Kahlo Museum

Here is another museum that is definitely worth checking out. This museum is actually the home where Frida Kahlo used to live. It is a beautiful property to walk around and see where the famous painter lived & painted. There are some pieces of her artwork on display throughout the house but her most famous pieces are located elsewhere.

Note that tickets can only be purchased online and you have to select a time slot for your visit (tours go every 15 minutes). The museum is located quite a ways outside of central Mexico City / Condesa area so plan ahead with transportation and account for the brutal CDMX traffic to ensure you arrive in time.

10. Teotihuacan

Not actually in Mexico City but I had to include this as it is one of, if not the best day trip from Mexico City. The Teotihuacan pyramid complex is about an hour drive outside of CDMX and boasts some of the largest and most impressive pyramids in the world. This is also where you can hot air balloon over the pyramids at sunrise which I highly recommend doing. Afterwards, you can walk through the pyramid complex itself and get up close to the Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon.

There are loads of tour options available for Teotihuacan – some including the hot air balloon ride and some that are just focused on visiting the pyramids. If you are looking for the best and most interesting day trip to do while in CDMX, this is what I would recommend!

I hope you enjoyed reading and hope you enjoy your time in Mexico City! If you have any questions about things or need more recommendations, feel free to reach out. Thank you!