A Beginner's Guide to Mexico City

Mexico City is a prime vacation destination for foodies, history buffs, and connoisseurs of interesting cultures and traditions! I know Mexico City has gotten a bad reputation, but have no fear– with a bit of research and this guide, you will see that Mexico City has SO much to offer. Mexico City hasn’t been as dangerous as most people think since 2009. I was slightly nervous about traveling there with the rumors I had heard, but I wasn’t anxious or uncomfortable while I was there AT ALL. Like any big city, you must use your street smarts and avoid going to any sketchy parts of the city alone at night. As we learned on one of our tours, most places you will visit are well-policed and far away from the areas you don’t want to be.

Why go to Mexico City?

It is close to the U.S., and flights can be cheap!
The FOOD! So affordable and delicious.
The people! Everyone is friendly.
The stay! Airbnb is affordable for such a big, bustling city. We found a great stay in La Roma for $18/night for 2 of us.
The nightlife! Ranges from dark and hipster bars with out-of-this-world cocktails to the happiest and weirdest place on earth: PATRICK MILLER (more on that in a bit).

What should I pack?

It depends on the season: It is super hot in the summer and chilly in the winter since Mexico City has an elevation of 7,382. Check the weather for your trip, and pack light either way!
Bring your student ID if you have one; many museums/sites are free!
You won’t need a plug adapter; they are the same as the US.
Bring medicines you may need (especially for the diarrhea you will likely get). But if you don’t bring any, they have some magical pills at the pharmacy for $3 that will back you up for days.

How should I travel around the City?

But seriously, UBER is everywhere. ONLY TAKE UBER; do not take any taxis–they are known to be sketchy, and a standard rip-off may be the best-case scenario with a cab. Uber is so legit there. It costs about 2-6 USD to go anywhere, and they are everywhere, so we never waited more than 4 minutes for a ride, even from the airport.

There are also public transportation options like the bus and the metro.

Where to stay in Mexico City?

Book an Airbnb in Mexico City and stay in the La Roma and Condesa neighborhoods. These areas are lovely to wander around, have great bars and restaurants, and will provide you with easy access to everything you want to see.

What should I do?

Museums/ Art

Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo: Go during the week and get your tickets online in advance! Also, Trotsky’s house/museum was incredible, and Diego Rivera’s house is nearby.

Bellas Artes: One of my favorite Art Museums! It’s simple, organized, and beautiful.

Museo Nacional de Antropología: Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make it here, but I’ve heard great things about the anthro museum, especially for lovers of all things bones and artifacts

Street Art Chilango: If you are into street art, you must check this out. They have USD 10 tours on Saturday, and as a bonus, you get to see different parts of the city and learn about local and international street art.

Markets

Mercado de Coyoacan (Coyocan Market): Go hungry and eat in the market. Explore before you choose a place to eat, but they are all fantastic (go here on the weekend, a cute little part of town with a market and families hanging outside, and awesome street performances).

Mercado de Artesanias La Ciudadela (Ciudadela Market): Crafts and whatnot, all the souvenirs you could ever wish for.

Historical Sights

Centro Historico: Take a FREE walking tour with Freetour.com.

Pyramids Teotihuacan: These ruins are about 1 hr from the city center. The bus there is super easy and cheap. We took an Uber there to save time (it cost 20 USD total, but the bus home was so easy and not what we expected from our previous Latin American bus experiences, which cost $1).

Cultural Experiences

Ballet folklorico at Bellas Artes: Traditional dancing (not actually a ballet, super cheap 40 pesos; Wednesday or Sunday night).

Lucha Libre: Who doesn’t want to see ripped dudes in tiny, tight onesies and colorful masks fake wrestle? It was a highlight of the trip. Seriously, it is a hilarious cultural experience. Get tickets at the door. Don’t get ripped off; ask for the cheapest seats (should be 40 or 50 pesos).

Where should I eat?

Street Food

Fried grasshoppers, if you dare?! Street vendors have them on every corner.
Street tacos (Ask your Airbnb host or someone you trust about which cart to go for or pick and hope for the best!)

Restaurants

YOU HAVE TO EAT AT CONTRAMAR (I suggest the “pescado a la contramar”, and the tostadas de atun).
Casa de Toño in Zona Rosa for a traditional dining experience.
Lalo for Breakfast/Brunch.
Delirio for Brunch.

Where are the best bars in Mexico City?

La Hija de los Apaches- Pulqueria (another cultural experience must)
La Clandestina (mezcal, ask for them to give you some FREE samples)
Cabaret La Perla (drag queens performing and super friendly fun environment)
Limontour (classy and more pricey but delicious drinks)
Casa Franca (jazz bar with excellent cocktails; get there before 10 to get a seat!)

Where are the best nightclubs in Mexico City?

Mama Rumba: Salsa like a pro!

Patrick Miller: YOU HAVE TO GO TO PATRICK MILLER IF IT IS THE ONLY THING YOU DO (It’s only open on Fridays. This will be your best Mexican experience. I recommend knowing nothing more about it other than you have to go). Don’t google it. Just go.

Bottom line?

Go to Mexico. There are many reasons to love it, like the tacos too spicy to handle, the slang you’ll never understand, and Gael Garcia Bernal. Book a trip for 5-6 days so you can see all the beautiful historical monuments, embrace the culture and traditions, and come back to tell your friends that Mexico City es la mejor!

Traveling alone? Check out this solo travel itinerary for Mexico City.