MEXICO CITY, MX
To try and boil Mexico City (or CDMX) down to a page on the Internet is something that I would personally deem an impossible endeavor. You could write a full book on Mexico City. It's been done. Hell, you could write a whole book on a neighborhood in Mexico City. There is that much going on here. It's not dissimilar to New York City, or London, or Berlin. Any of the major international cities that are known the world across. Mexico City is sprawling. Massive. Full of culture, food, music, amazing people, unique and distinct neighborhoods. Loads of cultural heritage sights, tourist attractions, underground scenes, and so much more. In short, Mexico City is amazing. It is the best large city in all of Central America and Mexico. There is no comparison. It wins by all accounts. Mexico City is a place you could spend years and still only scratch the surface. It's also a place, more-so than a lot of the other places I have written about on this site, that people will come for long weekends. The presence of a giant international airport with direct flights from all over the world makes the place extremely accessible from all over the place. With a cemented fine dining scene, nightlife scene, and enough tourist attractions to keep anyone busy for at least a few days, it's one of the most popular places in Mexico for tourism. The other hotspots for tourism in Mexico, Cancun and Cabo, will be entirely different than here. There's no beach. Theres no spring break trips full of college kids. It's a good form of tourism. The way Mexico should be explored. For its culture, food, people, and heritage. Mexico City was one of my favorite experiences throughout my entire time in the country. To step back a bit and talk a little bit about what Mexico City is for a minute. It's the largest city in the country. It's one of the largest cities in the world actually with 21 million people in the metro area. It's also huge, just from a land-mass perspective; spanning nearly 1,500 square kms (500 square miles). It also sits very high, at an elevation of 2,200 meters (7,400 feet) and inside of an old lake bed. There is more history behind that I won't go into. It's surrounded on the sides by mountains. So the city is kind of inside a valley. Given the size of the city, it has tons of unique and distinct neighborhoods. So many that you could never explore them all. There are a few that are the most popular amongst tourists. Specifically Condessa, and Roma Norte. These are the places that, as a tourist you will hear most about and be recommended to stay in. They are the trendiest, with nightlife most suited to traveling people — great bars and great restaurants. Not to mention extremely walkable. Throughout the city, and the many different places to walk around and explore, you will find amazing street food at every turn. I will get into some of my favorite spots I went. The city is full of flourishing markets that are some of my favorites to walk around in the world. Historical sights, museums, the most impressive ruins I have ever seen, the infamous world of Lucha Libre, live music venues, and an unreal food scene are just a few of the things worth mentioning about this amazing international hub. Mexico City is worth every moment you will spend there. Whether you are on a big trip and deciding whether to go, or looking for a place to fly in and out of for a few days, you can't go wrong with Mexico City. It's just amazing on so many fronts.
I don't think that this part requires much of a description. The location of Mexico City is pretty straightforward. It's right in the center of the country. About as far away as you can be from the ocean to the east or west as possible. Right in the middle. There is a massive international airport. You can fly here direct from all over the world and it's extremely easy; even cheap to fly into. Once you are in the airport it's pretty much just a matter of getting to wherever in the city you are going. That's where it can get tricky. When you are actually here.
Driving in is pretty simple as well. Just put it on the map, and drive there. Once you are in the city itself driving is pretty miserable to be honest. I was one of my least favorite places to drive in Mexico. It's very crowded, there's street lights, unorganized freeways, lots of cars, one-ways that appeared to me unmarked, and other sorts of just generally hazardous conditions. A warning here as well; the police in Mexico City are known to be some of the most corrupt in Mexico. When you are driving a foreign-plated car this is especially the case. Be aware and careful that cops will have their eye out for you, usually to pull you over for something you didn't do, or to make something up that you need when you actually don't need it. Keep your head about you and just tell them to take you to the police station if you actually did something. They will eventually back down and angrily tell you to fuck off.
To repeat myself from before, it's the largest city in the country. It's one of the largest cities in the world actually, with 21 million people in the metro area. It's also huge, just from a land mass perspective; spanning nearly 1,500 square kms (500 square miles). It also sits very high, at an elevation of 2,200 meters (7,400 feet) and inside of an old lake bed. There is more history behind that I won't go into. It's surrounded on the sides by mountains. So the city is kind of inside a valley. All of this size is why it can be difficult to navigate this place once you are actually here.
Below I will go through a few of the different, and more popular areas of town. — Just as a general outline of the city. This will by no means be everywhere. Just the popular neighborhoods for tourists.
Roma Norte is probably the most popular part of Mexico City amongst young people. It would probably be described as one of the culinary and artistic centers of the city. It's also the hipster center of Mexico. The hip, trendy, area. But with all that being said it's really a lovely part of town. It's super walkable, there's cool restaurants, bars, and cafes all over the place. The tree-lined streets are lined with cool restaurants and shops, and there's lots of places to stay here from hostels, to hotels, and Airbnb's. It's probably the top of the list from a 'places to stay and explore' perspective if you ask me.
Condesa, or 'La Condesa' as it is more formally known, is another excellent area of the city. It's not dissimilar from Roma Norte. They are pretty similar actually, both being kind of trendy hipster areas with great bars and restaurants and shopping... Lots of great streets to walk around, and a cool park called Parque Espana that's always full of people walking around with their dogs and what not. It's also located right next to Roma Norte, so the line between the two is generally pretty blurred. Another excellent place to stay and explore. Will go hand in hand with Roma.
This is one of my favorite parts of the city to visit. It's probably most notable for being the area where the former home and current museum of Frida Kahlo is located. People come from all over the world to visit it. It's one of the coolest things that you can do in Mexico for sure. But once you are in this part of town, make sure to walk around and explore. There's lots to do here. A really awesome market, shops, restaurants and bars, and tons of food. It's a great way to spend a full day, and I know a lot of people who have stayed here as well. Located in the southern part of Mexico City, so you will be a bit removed from the nightlife centers and historic center of the city however.
The center of the city that is sometimes also referred to as the Zocalo. The main plaza of town. It's where the palace and most of the museums are. This is where all the big tourism happens. People from all over the world will be walking around taking pictures with their selfie sticks. It's certainly a must do if you are in Mexico City, but beyond a day trip I wouldn't spend too much time here.
Another cool and hip neighborhood just to the north of Roma and Condesa that is totally worth checking out. It used to be a pretty gritty area, but it's started to evolve with cool shops and restaurants popping up all over the place. Gentrifying like Roma and Condesa already have.
This is the archaeological area of Mexico City. It's not really a neighborhood. Well, it's not a neighborhood at all. But it's a key part of town if you ask me. It's where the absolutely massive ruins are located. They are my favorite ruins in all of Mexico, and so worth checking out. It's pretty much a full day activity, and quite a ways out of the center of the city. Actually, about an hour drive. So it's hardly Mexico City, but still. It's something you must do, and you should know where it is.
HOSTELS, CAMPING, AND HOTELS (IF ANY)
My favorite hostel in Mexico City. Hands down. No argument. I would personally never stay anywhere else. If it were booked, I would get an Airbnb until it was open. It's this lovely old house that has been turned into a small hostel with about 30 beds. It's such an amazing environment where the people in the hostel become your best friends. Some of my best friends traveling, who will be in my life forever, came from this hostel. It's perfectly located as well. There's an amazing little living room that everyone congregates in. It really just feels like you are at home when you are here. It's gotten a bit more expensive though at around 350 pesos for a dorm bed.
The housing options in Mexico City are endless. There's countless hostels, hotels, Airbnb options; whatever. The hostel scene here is nice though, and there's a few places that I would highly recommend. But it isn't the best hostel scene in the world. There aren't too many hostels that are perfectly located in the best parts of town (Roma and Condesa). The ones I mention below are well-located, and walking distance. There's bigger hostels here like Selina and Viajero if you want to go with those. They aren't really all that well-located though in my opinion. Also, be prepared — hostels in Mexico City are not cheap. It's going to be like $25 per night now in a dorm for most places. This is a serious increase from when I was there, but I guess that's what happens when a lot of expats decide to move somewhere. There's also a lot of people doing the digital nomad thing here, which has driven up prices.
A lot of people coming here on vacation will probably go for nicer hotels, and from that perspective I don't really have anything to offer so I won't get into it.
If you are coming for a weekend, or even traveling and don't want to stay in a hostel, booking something through Airbnb is probably the best way to stay here in Mexico City. There's options all over the place, and you can really pick the exact area that you want to stay in. The options are really great, and you can get some cheap and extremely nice and well-located spots. I think Airbnb is probably the best bang for your buck here in Mexico City. It's usually the way that I travel here outside of one hostel that I absolutely adore, 'Hostel Home'.
The options below are going to be pretty limited, but for me, if I was staying in a hostel in Mexico City, I wouldn't look past these options.
Another good option in the Roma/Condesa area. It's pretty cheap, and the accommodation is comfortable. Will be pretty social as well. A great option in the best part of town to be. Cool concept with shipping-container-like styled design, some nice common areas, and a common kitchen. One of the best deals in CDMX at about 250 pesos per night.
A more expensive option in Roma but you will have great wifi, a coworking area and all of the amenities that come with it. It's still a hostel, but it's a nice one. If you are traveling and working this could be a good option.
EATS
Similar to the options when it comes to housing, the options from an eating perspective are really endless as well.
To even begin to give advice on food in Mexico City is something I don't even want to try to do. The place is a culinary mecca really. There are so many options. So many parts of town. Some of the best street food in the entire country, along with some of the best fine dining restaurants and foodie places anywhere in the country let alone the world. It's just unbelievable.
You can spend weeks just eating your way through Mexico City, and I would recommend it. Eat as much as you can. From the streets, from the markets, in the restaurants, everything. I'll give some recs of places that I went here that I really liked but to be honest this won't even scratch the surface. If you want really good food recs just keep doing research online. This Eater list is pretty constantly getting updated, and is a good place to start.
There's a bunch of cheap street food recs, some cheap taco restaurants, and then some nicer restaurant recs. You'll be able to find food from all over the world here. — Amazing Italian, Asian fusion; whatever you want. So go crazy.
Street Food
Tacos de Canasta
This is a really delicious traditional street food here. It translates to 'basket tacos'. There will be ladies typically on the side of the street or on street corners with baskets that traditionally will be covered with a light blue cloth. Inside are delicious and cheap ready made small tacos filled with different types of things from carne, to chicken, to potatoes. They are delicious and moist, and have the nickname 'tacos sudados' or sweaty tacos, because they essentially get steamed inside the basket.
This is my favorite spot for street food in Mexico City. Granted, I haven't tried all of it, but still. It's on a street corner in Roma. There's probably 4 different spots all congregating here serving up different variations of massive tortas, tacos, and quesadillas. This is just one of the places on the corner. You can't go wrong with any of them. Open late, cheap, and so good. Huge portions as well. I would recommend the extra carne option on the pastor tortas.
A pretty amazing vegan taco place. When I was there it was a truck, but by looking online they may have upgraded to a brick and mortar. For better or for worse. The tacos will blow you away. It's something on the healthier side as well, which is hard to find from street food.
It's weird that after coming to Mexico City one of my favorite take-aways were the delicious vegan taco options. But they really are pretty amazing. There are two spots on this list, and you'll be blown away that what you are eating is vegan. The tacos are delicious, and all the vegan options are cool considering how real and delicious they taste. This is a great little cart for some delicious vegan tacos.
Market Food
Go visit any of the many big markets in Mexico City to try endless options for delicious street food. There are so many markets, many of which I will get into in the 'sights' section, but my favorites are Mercado La Lagunilla and Mercado Coyoacán.
This is like al pastor heaven. This little side of the road spot that is a combination of street food and a restaurant has massive rotating al pastor and the guy who owns it has been slicing the stuff for about 2 decades. It's some of, if not the most well-known al pastor tacos in the city. Delicious, and open late.
Restaurants
Amazing little taco restaurant that a friend of mine from CDMX took me to. Local vibes, great food, great price in Roma Norte.
One of the best little restaurants for seafood and fish tacos. Right in Roma, cheap, and delicious.
Giant Mexico City taco institution. One of the more famous places to get a wide variety of different tacos. It's a big open space restaurant. Delicious stuff, priced right.
Cool restaurant in Roma with a backyard garden type vibe with vines and trees and string lights and such. Good food, cool environment; will be expensive. In Roma Norte.
Cool but not cheap place for really good seafood options. Nice atmosphere inside this hip Roma foodie spot.
Pretty hip spot in Condesa that is serving up pretty expensive but good mediterranean food. It's got an excellent location and good vibes. But it will not be cheap. Trendy, hipster vibes in La Condesa. Good for brunch.
Market in Roma. It's not going to really be like a traditional Mexican market. More trendy and expensive given the location. But it's a fun, trendy and cool thing to go to. Kind of more like a food court.
Absolutely amazing Thai restaurant. The ambiance inside is great as well. Great cocktails as well. It will be really expensive though. Like forget you are in Mexico City when you look at the prices.
Amazing pizza spot with a few locations in the Roma Norte/Condesa area. Great option for sit down pizza.
and many more...
To say there are many more food options here in Mexico City would be such a massive understatement. The eating options are endless, and you should explore the city with food in mind. It's the best way to do so. I probably did a terrible job suggesting places, but I do know all the places I suggested are good and worth it. But go out there and explore. It was one of my favorite things to do in Mexico City; just getting lost in food stalls.
NIGHTLIFE
Bars and Clubs
Nightlife is abounding here in CDMX; as it is with any major international city. You will never run out of things to do, there will always be something open, always somewhere to go. There's bars and clubs all over the place. Especially in Roma and Condesa where you will probably be spending most of your time. I would say for the most part just go with the flow. Go where your hostel wants to go, and just figure it out. If you aren't at a hostel, start at a cocktail bar drinking mezcal or something, and just see where it takes you. The nightlife here can be wild. There's lots of really cool underground stuff to go to as well. You kind of have to get lucky to end up involved or around that world but it's all out there for you to find. — Lots of amazing stuff going on here; you just have to know where to look.
Below are some places that I frequented and found fun to go do. To get drunk, just hang out or stay out super late. There's so much more to do other than this that I have no idea about, but these are some fun options.
Easily my favorite place to go out in Mexico City. It's a super cool like techno underground club in Roma. No sign on the door or nothing, but amazing. Kind of hard to find but that's what makes it so great. Feels like something out of Berlin. — Only open Fridays, and starts at midnight.
Only Saturdays. Epic and famous salsa place that gets super crowded with locals and tourists alike every weekend. I would say that this is a must.
Very popular multiple-level nightclub and bar. People love it. It's kind of where the more well-off trendy kids go it seems. Good music. Rooftop. Open all night. Located in Roma. Expensive drinks.
This will be in the things to do section as well but I would categorize it as nightlife also. It's a must. It's hilarious. Mexican wrestling that is famous worldwide... They have it Tues/Thurs/Fridays. Tues and Thurs is more mellow, but still fun if you need something on a weekday.
Will also be in the things to do section but it's pretty drinking centered, so I will include it here as well. An amazing day. You get on a boat and drive around these canals and it's essentially a massive booze cruise with tons of people, and awesome colors and boats.
One of my favorite places to go in Mexico City. Pulquerias are a nod to the past. They are taverns that go back generations where they specialize in serving a type of alcoholic beverage called pulque. I don't personally like it; it's kind of like kombucha. However this amazing multi- story bar is right in Roma, has tons of pulque and is a party almost every night of the week. Awesome rooftop and every floor is fun. Such a good spot.
SIGHTS
This is the archaeological area of Mexico City. Its where the absolutely massive ruins are located. They are my favorite ruins in all of Mexico and so worth checking out. It's pretty much a full day activity and quite a ways out of the center of the city. Actually about an hour drive. So it's hardly Mexico City, but still. It's something you must do.
There is so much to see and do in Mexico City. Much of it being just exploring around the many neighborhoods of the city on foot. Or eating your way through town. Or trying Mezcal cocktails at the many different cocktail bars throughout the city. But there are a few notable things that I would point out as important or at the very least interesting to go and check out.
Probably one of the coolest things that you can do anywhere in the world. You can take hot air balloons at sunrise and ride them over the pyramids as the sun is rising. It's a stunning ride, and something you will never forget. It's not that cheap but you will remember it for the rest of your life. You pick up the balloon out near the pyramid and they leave around 5:30 in the morning so it's going to be a long day. The balloon ride itself is like $150 per person; then you have to figure out transportation and all that. The stunning ride will take about 30-45 minutes.
The National Palace is located in the main square of Mexico City. It's also the touristic center of the city. There's a giant plaza, or Zocalo, that will be full of tourists taking pictures and stuff. It's a really nice way to go be a tourist for the day, but other than that I think you only need to come down here once. There are also tons of museums in this area.
If you are into Frida Kahlo, which it appears that the whole world is, then you are in luck. Mexico City is home to the home of Frida Kahlo, and it has been turned into a museum dedicated to her. It's an excellent way to spend your day, and an even better excuse to spend your day down in the lovely neighborhood of Coyoacan. There will likely be a line, as it's a super-popular thing to do. Maybe think about getting your tickets beforehand.
I probably talk about my experience at this market more than anything else that I talk about from Mexico City. It was probably the best thing that I did. Mercado Lagunilla is a GIANT flea market and food market that is in the northern part of the city every Sunday. It's absolutely massive. Full of vintage shops, clothing stores, food vendors, drink vendors and michelada tents, artisan goods, and literally anything else you can think of. There are even people tattooing in this market. It's such an amazing time, and feels very local. The market also kind of turns into a party, with people drinking massive micheladas everywhere, and loud music coming from some of the stalls that are nothing more than mobile bars. A must do.
My 2nd favorite market in the city. It's down in the awesome neighborhood of Coyoacan. Their daily market is busting and full of people eating, buying food and groceries, and just generally perusing. It's a great place to go get some cheap food and see some of the beautiful colors of a Mexican traditional market.
One of the best and most unique things to do in Mexico City is to see the famous luchadores fight and wrestle in the massive Arena Mexico. It's a 3x per week electric event where the luchadores wear their traditional outfits, and fight to the death! Lol not really, it's staged, but it's an amazing time just drinking beer and cheering on your new favorite fighter. Every week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Friday.
An amazing day. You get on a boat and drive around these canals and it's essentially a massive booze cruise, with tons of people and awesome colors and boats.
There's loads of museums everywhere. The best in Mexico, and would compare to anywhere in the world. Check some out like the Anthropology Museum, Pop Art Museum, and Contemporary Art — just to name a few.
WALK, EAT, GET LOST!!
Just walk around this visually orgasmic city. The buildings are old and beautiful, the streets are tree-lined, the weather is just lovely, the parks are calm and well kept, the people are kind, and there's a surprise around every corner. Just go and walk around, and that's half the beauty of Mexico City. Get lost and find something new.
SURFING
City slickin'. Nothin' at all.