The BEST Mexico City Itinerary: 4-5 Days (2024) - (2024)

Looking for a Mexico City Itinerary? You’re in the right place.

Having spent 6 months living in Mexico City, I’ve been back several times to visit and know how amazing and diverse of a city it is.

With a population of 21 million people in the greater Mexico City area, it almost feels like multiple cities attached – and planning a trip can take a lot of strategic planning.

4-5 days in Mexico City gives you enough time to see several of its highlights.

This 4-day itinerary (with an optional 5th day) will show you the best of what Mexico City has to offer; in the downtown, as well as a few prominent attractions just outside of it.

Mexico City has a lot of unique things to do, so I will provide alternative activities that will work with the schedule in case you would prioritize something different from me.

Here’s what you need to know about this itinerary:

✅ This itinerary is suitable for all visitors. Whether you’re visiting with family, solo or a couple

✅ Detailed options for how to get to each place

✅ Food options near all of the activities and destinations are provided

✅ Alternatives activities provided in case you have different interests from the things that I prioritize OR if you have a 5th day to spare

So, let’s jump in – 4 or 5 days in Mexico City!

4-Day Mexico City Itinerary

The Mexico City downtown is very walkable and easy to explore on foot.Today will be spent seeing everything in the historic district of Mexico City; the heart of the downtown core. It’ll be an easygoing day with lots of flexibility. Here’s how I would structure it to get the most out of it

Day 1: El Centro Historico (Hisoric Centre)

If you want to have a more in-depth understanding of the history, then you can book a walking tour with a local guide. (The one in the link. I provided is 3 hours long, and about $20 USD per person – there are many, but all are more or less similar in price and in time length.) Otherwise, continue reading to see how to explore the historic district on your own.

1. Head to the Bellas Artes area

Start your day in the Bellas Artes area, which is right in the downtown core.

Many tourists choose to stay near this area, but if not – take the metro to Bellas Artes station.

From the Bellas Artes subway station, you’re only a 2-minute walk from these buildings (which are all within a 5-minute radius from each other.)

2. See the most unique buildings in the Bellas Artes area

Time needed: 1-1.5 hours

The Palacio de Bellas Artes is just steps away from the Bellas Artes subway station. It’s such a beautiful building, from both the outside and inside. I’ve actually been inside – but you can enter.

The inside of this building is actually included in the Mexico City mural tour (something you could save for a 5th day in Mexico City if you have the time.)

The House of Tiles (Casa de los Azulejos) is just around the corner (just a 3-minute walk from the Palacio de Bellas Artes.) It’s also a unique building to see from both the inside and out.

The Postal Palace (Palacio de Correos) is also in the area, just a 2-3 minute walk from the House of Tiles and the Palacio de Bellas Artes.

Anytime from 10am, you’re welcome to go inside for free to admire the stunning atrium.

There’s a small museum inside as well, which wouldn’t take long if you were interested in taking a look at it.

The Church of San Francisco (la iglesia de San Francisco) dates back to the 1700s. You can take a look from the outside, or go inside to get a peak – its quite pretty on the inside.

Take the elevator up the Latin American Tower (Torre Latino) to get a view of the city and the surrounding mountains. Many people miss this when visiting Mexico City, but its one of the main things I would recommend.

Buy tickets in advance on the Mirador Torre Latino website or on Get Your Guide. (The prices are more or less the same – Get your Guie allows you to book now pay later, and offers free cancellation.)

When you arrive, you’ll take the elevator to the 44th floor to the Mirador. At the top of the tower, there is the observation deck (the mirador), as well as a gift shop, and 2 museums.

Depending on whether you decide to visit the museums or not, you could spend anywhere from an hour or two at the tower.

3. Grab lunch

You will likely be hungry after seeing all the unique and beautiful buildings in the Bellas Artes area. Next, we’ll be heading to the Zocalo (city centre) which is about a 15-minute walk from the Bellas Artes area.

In the surrounding Bellas Artes and Zocalo area, there are not a ton of food options, but there are a few nice places to eat at.

Here are some suggestions for where to get lunch:

• Cafe de Tacuba – serves traditional Mexican food, in a nice interior sit-down environment. It’s located on the way to the Zocalo
• Pastelería Ideal – if you’re looking for more of a grab-and-go, this has many pastries and baked goods to choose from
• El 123 – delicious Thai food, has open-air seating

4. Spend the afternoon in the Zocalo

Time needed: 3-4 hours

After lunch, continue walking over to the Zocalo which will take 15-20 minutes depending on where you stopped for lunch, or if you’re walking directly from Bellas Artes.

If you walk straight from Bellas Artes, it will take about 18 minutes to reach the zocalo.

If you prefer not to walk, then hop onto the subway at the Bellas Artes station and take it to Zócalo/Tenochtitlan metro station. This will bring you right in front of the National Palace, which is our next stop.

Here are the things to check out in the Mexico City Zocalo:

The Palacio National (national palace) is 660 ft long, and is a World Heritage site, and the residence of the president of Mexico.

At the time of writing, going inside the National Palace isn’t an option. However, you can still see it from the outside.

If going inside the castle becomes available again, then I’d highly recommend it.

Take a look at the cathedral, and go inside. It’s the largest, and oldest cathedral in Latin America (the building started in 1573 and continued through the 1800s when it finally opened.)

You can walk into the main cathedral for free, but there’s an extra (small) fee to pay to access the bell tower. Be sure to have some change on you in case you want to do this.

Templo Mayor Museum (Museo de Templo Mayor) has Aztec ruins that date back to the 1300s, which is an outdoor archeological site that you can walk around.

There are also several artifacts to look at inside, in its 7-storey building.

So needless to say, the whole thing is quite large.

A few things to keep in mind about visiting the Muse

• Keep in mind that entrance is FREE on Sundays for everyone, as long as you have ID with you. So don’t buy an advance ticket if you’re coming on a Sunday
• They’re pretty strict about not letting you bring a water bottle in with you. You can check your bag at the entrance though
• Bring your phone if you don’t know any Spanish – there is signage in English, but not all of it has translations.

Grab your skip the line tickets from Get Your Guide for the Museo de Templop Mayor (roughly $13 USD per person) or buy them in person or from the main museum website online for $95 Mexican pesos, which is less than $5 per person.

5. Dinner options for Mexico City

After exploring the Zocalo, you have a few hours in the evening to enjoy the city and get some dinner.

Mexico City is a foodie city so you want to be able to take advantage of that while you’re here

Here are a few dinner options for your first evening in Mexico City:

• Dinner option # 1: Take the metro to San Pedro de Los Piños metro station, and walk 20 minutes to The World Trade Center. There’s a restaurant on the x floor called Bellini’s, which has a special occasion or date night atmosphere (but is family-friendly too.) You have a beautiful view of the night sky of Mexico City (pictured above) is stunning
  
• Dinner option # 2: Take the metro to Juarez station, and head to La Ciudela (an artisanal open-air market.) There are many restaurants in the area, and it’s the perfect place to get souvenirs from Mexico.
  
• Dinner option # 3: Head to one of the following neighbourhoods via metro (which are nice for visiting and have lots of restaurants):
  • La Condesa
  • Roma
  • Coyoacan – about a 1 hour metro ride from the city centre. Very nice and we’ll be spending more time here on the 4th day. You may even choose to stay in Coyoacan as many people do!

Any of these dinner options can be applied to any of the days you’re in Mexico City. #1 probably makes the most sense for today, but if it doesn’t appeal to you then go with whatever one you like best.

Day 2: Teotihuacan

Today will be spent heading north of the city, to see the Teotihuacan pyramids which date back to over 2,000 years. Wear your good walking shoes again, and bring sunscreen and hats

Teotihuacan pyramids are located x from the city centre, and many people choose to book a day tour there. If you want to book a tour, then I recommend this small group tour to Teotihuacan (5-star rating, about $65 USD per person, and 6 hours.) But there are countless other ones to choose from. Otherwise, scroll below to hear how to get to and explore Teotihuacan on your own

1. Make your way to Teotihuacan

Time needed: about an hour

If you’re not taking a tour, then you can get to Teotihuacan in one of two ways:

• Taxi. You can hail a cab pretty easily in Mexico City (I’ve never had to book one in advance.) Most taxi drivers in Mexico will give you an estimate of how much it may cost prior to the trip.
• Uber
• A bus from the city centre

All options will take around 1 hour (give or take) to get to Teotihuacan.

Read information about getting to Teotihuacan from the city center here.

2. Explore Teotihuacan

Time needed: 3-4 hours (+ lunch)

Teotihuacan is more than just the two pyramids, (although they’re the main attractions!) In addition to the pyramids, there are:

• archeological structures
• a museum
• lots of vendors, and places to eat

I’ve been to Teotihuacan a number of times. I had lots of people visit me when I lived in Mexico City, and always took them to Teotihuacan.

Each time, we were usually there for at least 3 hours. Since you’re making your way out there, it’s good to really take your time to explore this unique place.

• Walk down the Avenue of the Dead, which is the main thoroughfare
• We always hike to the top of both pyramids and admire the view of the grounds from above. (The Sun Pyramid is 216 feet tall, and the Moon Pyramid is 140 feet tall!)
• Afterwards, we’d walk through an archeological site which looks kind of like a maze, called Palace Atetelco.

We usually eat street food when we head to Teotihuacan. There are always lots of vendors selling food, such as fried cactuses. (Which I learned, are quite good.)

I’ve never had a problem eating street food, but some people have trouble with anything with ice in it, because the water that made the ice may not have been filtered and could give you an upset stomach (or worse.)

If you’re looking for somewhere more comfortable to eat, then head to La Gruta which is only about 600 metres from the pyramids. Check their menu (in English) here.

3. Head back to Mexico City + spend the rest of the afternoon or evening

A trip to Teotihuacan is a long day, and pretty exhausting. Depending on when you head back and how you feel, you may be back in Mexico City with some time to explore or do something fun.

Here are some suggestions:

• Head to the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM) campus, and check out the murals
• Do a haunted walk in the Roma neighbourhood. $200 for a 4-hour tour, and a party of up to 5 people. Book here
• If you like modern art, visit the Kurimanzutto art gallery, which is in the La Condesa area (near where day 3 will be spent actually.)
• Head to La Ciudela Market if you didn’t get a chance to go there yesterday. It’s open until 6-7pm every day (lots of places to eat in the area too.)

Day 3: Bosque Chapultepec

Today, we’ll be spending the day in a different corner of the city, known as Polanco. All the attractions are centred around the Chapultec Forest, which is the largest city park in North America (even bigger than the famous Central Park in NYC!)

1. Head up to the Chapultec Castle

Time needed: around 2 hours (including the climb to the top)

The hill that leads up to where Chapultec Castle is right near the entrance gates to the Chapultecpark.

The castle was built in the 1700s, and is the only royal castle in the Americas.

It is a steep, 20 minute climb to the top where the castle is. If you or someone in your party has any physical limitations, then it might be best to visit the forest instead of the park because of the steep climb.

Also, the castle is closed on Mondays you may also decide to rearrange this Mexico City itinerary to make sure this day falls on a Tuesday to a Sunday.

Entrance to Chapultec Forest is free of charge, but you do need to pay if you’re going to the castle. The cost is 95 pesos (about $5 USD or less) and you can choose to buy them online in advance.

If you want to visit the castle, be sure to buy your tickets online, or in person before heading up the hill because they don’t sell them at the top – you’d have to come all the way back down, which would be a pain!

You can expect to spend an hour to an hour and a half exploring the castle. The view from the top of Mexico City and the surrounding forest are beautiful and worth the experience.

2. Pick one of 3 options of things to do after the caste or park

After visiting the castle (or the park) depending on which one, you have a few options of things to do in the Polanco area.

The Polanco area is a ritzy neighbourhood in Mexico City, and also considered to be the “foodie” area.

Option # 1: Walk through the Anthropology museum

Time needed: 4+ hours
Walking distance from Chapultepec Castle: 22 minutes

Museo Nacional Anthropologia de Mexico is the most amazing museums I’ve ever been to.

It has both indoor and outdoor exhibits and you could spend hours (or even days) here walking around, absorbed in all the interesting artifacts and things you can learn – and still barely scratch the surface on everything there is to see!

This museum, along with Chapultec Castle, was always at the top of my list of things to do with visitors when they came to visit me in Mexico City.

After you make your descent down the hill from the castle, you can easily walk there (or hail a cab, if you’re exhausted.) It would be a very short drive.

You can buy tickets online in advance, on their website or even Viator. The tickets on their website work out to be slightly cheaper (95 Mexican pesos, the equivalent of less than $5 USD) whereas buying through Viator means you can cancel up to 24 hours before, so you can pick the ticketing option that works best for you.

Option # 2: Do a Polanco Food Tour

Time needed: 3.5 hours, starting at
Walking distance from Chapultepec Castle: 39 minutes (or you could get a cab)

There’s a food tour in the Polanco area (3 hours long and costs $250 per person which covers all the food) and introduces you to the foodie area of Mexico City.

The tours usually leave at 11am, 4:30 or 5:30pm so it may be something you want to save as a dinner activity.

Option # 3: Visit Chapultepec Forest

Time needed:
Walking distance from Chapultepec Castle:

If you opted to visit the castle this morning and didn’t see the forest, then you may prefer this. It’s a more low-key activity if you’re craving something more relaxing.

It’s free to visit the forest, so you don’t need to pay any extra if you were already at the castle.

If you’re looking to do more in the park besides just walk around, there is:

• Chapultepec Zoo, which is about about 33 acres but it has hundreds of species from all over the world; tigers, rhinos, you name it.
• Bike rentals – exploring the park via bike would be much faster to get around, and you’d see more
• Chapultepec Lake, where you can rent paddleboats.

2. Grab dinner in the area, OR do a Polanco Food Tour

Lots of restaurants in the area; most of them are nice sit-down places that serve both Mexican and Polanco food.

Here are some restaurants in the area, and how far of a walk they may be:

• Quintonil, upscale Mexican cuisine
• Porfirio’s Masaryk -creative Mexican cuisine with a really nice indoor seating interior (it would be my first choice)
• Saks Polanco – upscale restaurant with a variety of foods

The last two are Mexican chains, and you can reserve a table online – just make sure you select the Polanco location.

Check availability for a Polanco Food Tour if you didn’t do one earlier ($240 USD per person including all food, and their last food tour starts at 5:30pm)

Day 4 – Xochimilco Floating Gardens & Coyoacan

Today will be to explore the neighbourhood of Coyoacan, and riding the Xochimilco boats. Xochilco Floating Gardens is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a unique experience where you can ride on colourful, brightly-painted wooden boats that take you through canals.

Xochimilco boats are called “trajineras” in Spanish (pronounces “tra-heen-eras”) and they are very popular with college and university students. It’s not uncommon for it to turn into a party thing with booze and music.

However, you can still (and absolutely should) still do Xochimilco if you’re in Mexico City with kids, or with any other age group because it’s such a fun and unique experience.

Going first thing in the morning, especially on a weekday, will give Xochimilco less of a party vibe than it has in the afternoon.

I am writing the itinerary so that you do Xochimilco first, and Coyoacan second, but you can absolutely do it the other way around too.

Xochimilco and the Coyoacan neighbourhood are about a 90-minute trip on the metro from each other. To make today easier, book this tour that includes Xochimlco and Coyoacan. (4-6 hours long, and costs $200 per person.) Otherwise, continue reading to learn how to explore the two on your own

Before heading to Xochimilco, remember:

• To bring cash with you
• Be prepared to use the washroom at a public restroom before boarding the boat, because the rides are usually 2 hours minimum and there are no washrooms on the boat or the canals

1. Head to the Xochimilco ports

The Xochimilco ports are located 22 km (13.6 miles) from downtown Mexico City, and there are different ‘ports’ where the boats leave from.

• Take the metro to Metro Tasqueña station, which is at the end of the blue line (line 2.) From there, you can either take a train or a bus. By train, take the Light Rail. (You can transfer to the train from the metro with your metro card.) There are several stops before it reaches The Xochimilco Light Rail station. From there, you can walk to the trajineras
• If you don’t want to use public transit, you can also take an Uber, which will set you back around 200 pesos (equivalent to $12 USD) from the city centre

Once you finally arrive at the Xochimilco ports area, you’ll need to choose which ‘port’ to leave from.

Embarcadero Nativitasis the most popular of the ports. Its has signs in English, and even has a Facebook page you can check outhere

But, all of the Xochimilco ports are more or less in the same area.

When you arrive at the Xochimilco port, you’ll talk to the staff to decide on a price, and length of time of the boat ride.

Generally, you can expect to pay 600 pesos (around $30ish) per HOUR for the Xochimilco boat ride. This is per boat, not per person.

This price is set by the government. they may try to get you to pay more, but tell them you will pay “seis-cientos pesos.”

Since standard Xochimilco boat rides can be 2 hours long, or longer, you can expect to pay around 1200 pesos (somewhere between $65-$80 USD in total) for the boat ride.

Some people try to connect with other travellers to share the boat ride with, to make the cost even cheaper and more fun. There are a few Facebook group for tourists in Mexico, such as Mexico City Travel Community.

Sharing the boat ride with others makes the cost cheaper, but you absolutely don’t need to – I’ve taken a Xochimilco boat ride with only 2 other people before (pictured above), and it was a fun experience! It’s really just a matter of preference.

You can either book your boat ride online in advance on their website or simply show up and book on the spot.

I have never booked Xochimilco online, I’ve always just showed up. However, since you have limited time in the city, booking online isn’t a bad idea.

One thing to keep in mind about Xochimilco is the option of visiting Island of the Dead Dolls (Isla de las Muñecas) while you’re there – perfect if you like dark, creepy things! Visting the Island of Dead Dolls will make the experience take closer to 4 hours, and of course costs a bit extra.

2. Make your way to Coyoacan

Time needed: 90 minutes

The Xochimilco boat will drop you off at the same port that you left from.

Make your way over to Coyoacan, which will take about an hour and a half on transit. It may be easiest to go back the way you came.

However, another option is to just take an Uber, which will cost around 200-300 pesos.

(That’s one of the hassles of Mexico City being so big – it takes a lot of time to get from one area to another.) But don’t worry – Coyoacan will be worth it!

3. Spend the rest of the day in the Coyoacan neighbourhood

The area is lively and bustling, and personally I would rather be here in the evening, and at night.

There are quaint colourful streets lined with boutique restaurants, vibrantly painted churches, parks, and its a great relaxing way to spend an afternoon or evening.

Here are some things to check out in the Coyoacan neighbourhood.

• La Casa Azul/ Frida Khalo Museum: A deep blue building that was once the home of artist Frida Khalo. Open until 6pm. Get advance tickets here if you want to go inside
• Coyoacan Market, which has been running for over 100 years. After La Ciudelam, its one of the most famous markets in Mexico.
• Parque Centenario – a nice place to take a break, and see the coyote fountain in the centre of it
• Countless restaurants –Centenario 107serves all-day breakfast, El Jardín de Anatolia has delicious, upscale Middle-Eastern fusion. There are also countless authentic Mexican restaurants – Corazón de Maguey, La Casa de los Tacos, and Tostadas Coyoacan

All of the above things to do I mentioned are about a 5-10 minute walk from each other, give or take. So giving yourself a goof 3-4 hours to spend here should be enough to do each of them.

I was lucky enough to live within walking distance of Coyoacan so I used to go here all the time. It’s a safe and walkable neighbourhood, and very lively into the evenings.

Options for a 5th (or more) days in Mexico City

Mexico City is HUGE, and cannot possibly seen all in 4 days. I had 6 consecutive months there and feel like I barely scratched the surface. Here are some other things you may want to add to your itinerary for Mexico City

• Visit the UNAM Campus, if you didn’t already on day 2. It’s a really nice campus to walk around, and has lots of art – including murals. I went here by myself on a day trip and it was a beautiful way to spend a morning or afternoon
  
• Visit one of the amusem*nt parks in Mexico City: ¡Kataplum! or Six Flags
  
• Cafebrería bookstore café, a nice place to order baked goods while browsing books in Spanish and English
  
• Countless museums. I don’t know if I could list all the museums in Mexico City if I tried. The Conde Nest Traveller has a good list of 20 museums in the city, but its not all of them.
  
• Use Google maps to scan to find additional museums and things to do in the area you’re staying. There’s without a doubt some exciting things not mentioned here. I think even years in Mexico City isn’t enough to see everything
  
• Take a day or overnight trip to Pueblo, Taxco, Pachuca or Morelia. All are accessible via bus from Mexico City, on several lines. ADO is a good ‘luxury’ (but affordable) line. You can check schedules and prices on their website

Where to Stay in Mexico City

I would recommend staying in either Coyoacan, Polanco or the Centro Historico. Any of these neighbourhoods put you close to where you want to be.

• Budget: Hotel Catedralcomfy and stylish hotel in the historic centre, which oy can often find for less than $100 per night. Offers bike rentals, a buffet breakfast, and rooms with a view
• Mid-Range: Ana Polanco ApartmentsSelf-serve apartments in Polanco, near the anthropology museum and Chapultepec Park
• Luxury: Gran Hotel Ciudad de México Zócalostunning hotel with a beautiful glass-ceiling atrium, buffet breakfast, terrace, and a stone’s throw from the metro station in the Zocalo

Tips + What to Bring to Mexico City

Here are a few tips that knowing in advance will help make your trip go more smoothly

• ✅ You can buy a Mexico City metro card from any of the subway stations. It makes it easier to board transit each time. The card costs 15 pesos (equivalent to less than $1 USD)

• ✅ A reusable water bottle may not be useful in Mexico City, because drinking the tap water is not safe. As much as I hate buying plastic water bottles, this may be your best bet in Mexico City

• ✅ Wear good walking shoes, carry sunscreen and wear a hat. The sun in this part of the world is strong
  
• ✅ The areas of Mexico City where you’d spend your time as a tourist are quite safe (Zocalo, Roma, Polanco, Coyacan.) These corners of Mexico City are considered by many to be some of the safest places in Mexico. You should still take caution, in those neighbourhoods and especially outside of them. I’d avoid walking at night alone.

• ✅ While English has generally gotten better in Mexico City over the years, especially as tourism to the city has increased – knowing a bit of Spanish can be extremely useful, especially for negotiating prices, shopping in markets and using public transit. Practicing on Duolingo or hiring an online tutor from Mexico City in advance may help. If you’re completely new to Spanish, find out how long it may take to learn here

Mexico City Itinerary FAQ

Here are the most commonly asked questions about deciding how long to spend in Mexico City and building an itinerary

How many days is enough for Mexico City?

You need at least 3 days in Mexico City to be able to see all the special highlights, and this doesn’t include a day to visit the Teotihuacan pyramids. So, to have enough time, you should budget for 4 days to Mexico City.

Is 10 days in Mexico City too long?

Heck no, 10 days isn’t too long in Mexico City. I spend 6 consecutive months there, and even then it wasn’t too long. Mexico City is so big, that is almost multiple cities within a city so there are an un-countable amount of interesting things to do, and places to explore. Plus, there are lots of great day-trip options

Is 3 nights enough in Mexico City?

Three nights is enough to see the main attractions in the Mexico City area, but it would be hard to fit in the further away attractions (such as Xochimilco Floating Gardens, or the Teotihuacan pyramids) in that length of time. I recommend at least 4 nights in Mexico City if you want to be able to fit in those two things as well as the actual city

Is Mexico City walkable?

Yes, Mexico City is very walkable – but it’s also very big, so walking from one neighbourhood to another would take a lot of time (and steps.) It’s best to use a combination of walking, as well as taking the metro in order to get around Mexico City efficiently.

Can you walk around Mexico City at night?

Whether or not you can walk around Mexico City at night depends on the neighbourhood. In Polanco or Coyoacan, it would probably be fine, because they are well-lit and lively with lots of other people around.

Final Thoughts on Mexico City Itinerary 4-5 Days

Mexico City is, by far, one of the best cities in Mexico . I hope that this itinerary allows you to see and experience all the fascinating things that make Mexico City so unique.

Buen Viaje!