Mexico City in 5 days 🇲🇽

Start early at Constitution Plaza / Zócalo to see the scale of the square, then visit the Metropolitan Cathedral and Templo Mayor Museum to understand the Aztec city beneath modern Mexico City. After that, walk towards Palacio de Bellas Artes, passing through Alameda Central for a slower break in the park. Go up the Latin American Tower viewpoint if the weather is clear, as it gives a great overview of the city.

Then take an Uber or metro towards Bosque de Chapultepec. Spend the afternoon walking through the park, visiting Chapultepec Castle, and enjoying the lake, shaded paths and street food. The castle is the highlight here, with grand rooms, history and some of the best views over Mexico City.

From Centro Histórico, the easiest way to reach Frida Kahlo’s house, Casa Azul, is by Uber, which usually takes around 35 to 60 minutes depending on traffic. By public transport, take the metro south towards Coyoacán or Viveros/Derechos Humanos, then walk or take a short taxi to the museum.

Expect Coyoacán to feel colourful, leafy and slower than central Mexico City, with cobbled streets, plazas, cafés, markets and old colonial houses. Visit Casa Azul, then walk to the main square, try tostadas at Mercado Coyoacán, and leave time just to wander. Book Casa Azul tickets in advance, as it often sells out.

Grab dinner then get your tickets ready for traditional Mexican Wrestling! Be sure to buy a mask from a street vendor before you go in and embrace the atmosphere.

Teotihuacán is one of the most impressive day trips from Mexico City. It is a vast ancient city with enormous pyramids, wide ceremonial avenues and expansive views across the valley. Walking through the site feels less like visiting a single monument and more like exploring the remains of an entire civilisation. Expect plenty of walking in the sun, so go early, bring water, a hat and suncream, and allow around 3 to 4 hours to explore properly.

To make the most of this. Book a hot air balloon tour that takes you across the pyramids. This often includes transfers from the city with lunch and Mariachi music.

Xochimilco is a colourful canal trip on a flat wooden boat called a trajinera. It is social, relaxed and a bit chaotic in a fun way. Music boats pass by, vendors sell food and drinks from smaller boats, and groups float around chatting, eating and drinking.

For public transport take the metro to Tasqueña, then the Tren Ligero to Xochimilco, then a short taxi or walk to the embarcadero.

Or Taxi / Uber all the way there. Both transport options take around 75-100 minutes.

Go for 2 hours on a trajinera, bring cash, drinks and snacks, and aim for late morning or early afternoon.

Start in Roma Norte for coffee, bakeries, galleries and leafy streets, then wander through Plaza Río de Janeiro, Colima and Orizaba before lunch somewhere lively like Contramar, Máximo or Páramo.

In the afternoon, walk into Condesa via Parque España, loop around Avenida Ámsterdam and Parque México, stop for tacos, churros or a drink, then finish with cocktails at Limantour, Baltra or a relaxed rooftop like Hotel CondesaDF