Mexico City

Main sights

• Zócalo and the Metropolitan Cathedral

  The Plaza de la Constitución is about 240 metres a side and paved in stone. The cathedral's three portals face south across it, the National Palace fills the east side, and a huge flag on the central pole is raised and lowered each day in a ceremony.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Zócalo and the Metropolitan Cathedral (opens in a new tab)
• Templo Mayor

  The excavated remains of the great temple of Tenochtitlan, at Seminario 8, just north-east of the Zócalo. The museum beside the ruins is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 17:00 on INAH's current listing and closes on Mondays.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Templo Mayor (opens in a new tab)
• Palacio de Bellas Artes

  The outside is Art Nouveau and Neoclassical in pale marble, and the inside is Art Deco. Upstairs are murals by Rivera, Siqueiros, Orozco and Tamayo. The building has sunk about four metres into the soft ground since work began in 1904.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Palacio de Bellas Artes (opens in a new tab)
• National Palace

  Diego Rivera's murals of Mexican history are the reason to go, but public access has changed over the years and the palace is a working seat of government. Check before you plan a morning around it.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for National Palace (opens in a new tab)
• Chapultepec Park

  One of the largest urban parks in the world, with a castle museum, lakes and a zoo. The National Museum of Anthropology stands at Reforma and Calzada Gandhi, and INAH lists it as open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 18:00. Go on any day but Monday.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Chapultepec Park (opens in a new tab)

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Neighbourhoods worth wandering

• Centro Histórico

  Colonial palaces, churches and pedestrian streets between the Zócalo and the Alameda. The streets around the square are well lit and patrolled in the early evening. Take more care at night to the north, around Plaza Garibaldi.

• Roma and Condesa

  Two neighbourhoods on opposite sides of Avenida Insurgentes, built around Parque México and Parque España. Condesa's Art Deco buildings include the 1929 Edificio Hipódromo. Metrobús Line 1 runs along Insurgentes between them.

• Coyoacán

  A former colonial town now inside the city, long linked with Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. The Casa Azul, Kahlo's former home, is the Frida Kahlo Museum. Metro Line 3 serves the area.

• Polanco

  An upmarket district on the north side of Chapultepec, next to the National Museum of Anthropology. It pairs easily with a museum morning in the park.

Best areas to explore on foot

1. Historic Centre

   Start at the Zócalo and take pedestrian Calle Madero west for about 700 metres to Eje Central. Bellas Artes and the Alameda Central are across the junction. The Templo Mayor is at the other end of the walk, so see it first or last. The self-guided walk on this page covers this route in 2.2 km.

2. Roma and Condesa

   Avenida Ámsterdam follows the oval of a former racetrack in Colonia Hipódromo, with Parque México in the middle. The park, officially Parque San Martín, dates from 1927. Follow the oval for shade, then cross Insurgentes into Roma.

3. Coyoacán

   Cobbled streets and plazas around the Jardín Centenario, a separate outing from the centre by Metro Line 3. Combine the plazas with the Casa Azul and leave the afternoon free.

4. Paseo de la Reforma on a Sunday

   Reforma is closed to cars at set times on Sundays for bikes, which changes the feel of the avenue. Expect cyclists, not a pedestrian zone, and stay out of the cycling lanes.

Practical walking notes

• Terrain

  Mostly flat, at about 2,240 metres. Expect stone paving in the centre, and pace yourself on the first day.

• Altitude and air

  Some people have trouble breathing at this height, especially if they live near sea level. Air quality is noticeably better in the rainy season, June to September, than in the dry months from November to March.

• Rain and heat

  From June to September, mornings are usually sunny and rain follows in the afternoon, sometimes heavily. March to May can reach about 32°C at midday. Mornings from late October to January can fall close to freezing, so carry a jacket.

• Museums on Mondays

  Most museums close on Mondays, so use that day for neighbourhoods and markets. Many are free to Mexican residents on Sundays, which makes them busier.

• Safety

  The main visitor districts are generally safe by day. Keep bags closed and in sight on the metro, where pickpocketing is common. Designated women's carriages are available. At night, use official sitio taxis or a ride-hailing app with the PIN feature switched on.

• Earthquakes

  If the ground shakes, move away from slopes and electrical wires towards open areas or marked safe zones. Indoors, keep clear of falling objects and follow the evacuation routes to the street.

When to visit

• March–May

  Warm and dry, with jacaranda blossom in spring.

• June–October

  The rainy season, with afternoon storms.

• November–February

  Dry, sunny days and cool nights; Day of the Dead in early November.

Getting there and getting around

Arriving

• By air

  Benito Juárez International Airport is close to the centre, linked by metro and taxi.

Local transport

• Metro

  Extensive and very cheap, though crowded at rush hour.

• Metrobús

  Rapid bus lines on dedicated lanes.

• Ride-hailing

  Apps are widely used and safer than hailing taxis on the street.