Attractions:

• Paseo de la Reforma: Modeled after Paris’s Champs-Élysées, this 9-mile street runs through the heart of Mexico City and is lined with some of the country’s most famous sculptures (Angel of Independence, Monument to the Revolution, and Diana the Huntress Fountain). Similar to other large cities in Latin America, this main thoroughfare is shut down on Sundays (from 8:00am-2:00pm) to encourage jogging, cycling, and walking! On Sundays, at the intersection of Paseo de la Reforma and Rio Rhin, a booth can be found passing out free bikes in two hour increments. All you need to provide is a form of collateral (driver’s license or ID) to ensure you return the bike. If you return the bike after your two hour window ends, there is a 50 MXN charge.

• Zócalo: All foot traffic runs through here! Also known as Plaza de la Constitución, this is the city’s main square and hub of activity. It is most well known for its huge Mexican flag, CDMX Letters, and the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral.

• Free Walking Tours: Since CDMX is so big, it’s nice to join a walking tour to get your bearings and learn about the local history. There are many options but the two I recommend are the Historical Centre Tour and the Coyoacán Tour. Both tours are 2.5 hours and you pay what you think the tours are worth at the end.

• Visit Coyoacán: I consider this to be my favorite neighborhood in the world for its street art, vibes, and color! The best way to get here via public transportation is to take Line 3 to the “Coyoacán” metro stop (30 minutes from the city center). To get a good feel for the area, I suggest visiting the Mercado de Coyoacán, Jardín Centenario, and Frida Kahlo Museum (in addition to joining the walking tour I mentioned above). The entrance fee for the museum is 230 MXN ($12 USD) on weekdays and 260 MXN on weekends; tickets can be bought online to avoid waiting in the long line. Hours of operation can be found here (please note the museum is closed on Mondays). Other popular neighborhoods to explore in CDMX are La Condesa, Juárez, and Roma. If you stop in Roma, be sure to try Por Siempre Vegana!

• Teotihuacan: These massive, ancient Aztec ruins are a must do! They are open daily from 9:00am-5:00pm and entrance costs 70 MXN ($4 USD). I had seen plenty of ruins on my Central American travels up to this point and I still found myself in awe! All of the pyramids are climbable and special in their own right, but I found the view on top of the Pyramid of the Moon to be especially fascinating (as I looked upon the Avenue of the Dead and the Pyramid of the Sun)! If you can plan accordingly, visit on “Dia de los Muertos” (or Day of the Dead); I have heard the celebration is out of this world! Depending on where in the city you are staying, getting here via public transportation will take between 1.5-2 hours. The first step is to take Line 5 to the Autobuses del Norte metro stop. Once here, walk out of the metro station and directly into the bus station; you can’t miss it. In the bus station, find the booth selling bus tickets to “Piramdes”. The bus ride from here to Teotihuacan is 1 hour and costs 52 MXN ($3 USD).

• Chapultepec Park: One of the largest public parks in the Western Hemisphere is here in Mexico City! To say you could spend days here without seeing the same spot twice is not an exaggeration. It is home to nine museums, running trails, a zoo, an amusement park, and a host of other recreational green spaces. I recommend hiking up the hill to visit Chapultepec Castle; it is open from 9:00am-5:00pm Tuesday-Sunday, costs 70 MXN, and is full of Mexican art and history! In addition to the castle, check out the National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico’s largest and most-visited museum. It is open from 9:00am-7:00pm Tuesday-Sunday and costs 80 MXN ($4 USD).

• Float through Xochimilco: Xochimilco, a southern borough of Mexico City, is known for its canals and bright, flower-clad gondola style boats (known as trajineras). These canals are the last remnants of the Aztec-built water transportation system. If you make the trip, you won’t regret it; the energy is high and the trajinera rides are a blast! The 500 MXN ($25 USD) price is per boat per hour and since trajineras fit about 20 people, feel free to join a group instead of reserving your own. Many people bring their own snacks and coolers which is totally acceptable! If you are looking to make a full day of your adventure to Xochimilco, you can spend time visiting the Island of the Dead Dolls, Cuemanco Flower Market, and Dolores Olmedo Museum. The journey via public transportation is about 1 hour. From Zócalo, get on Line 2 heading south to the Tasqueña metro stop (20 minutes; 5 MXN). From here, transfer to “Tren Ligero” which runs to Xochimilco (20 minutes; 3 MXN). Upon arriving, you will see plenty of people directing you to the canals (and trying to sell you on their tour). Be patient and don’t worry too much about the boat you choose since they all run essentially the same routes. The main decision you will need to make is if you want your boat ride to last one hour or two. If you don’t want to take the metro here, an Uber from Zócalo should be 30 minutes and cost 180 MXN.

• Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe: Known as being the most visited Catholic site in the world, this church is a huge part of Mexican culture. How big? It is visited by more than 15 million pilgrims annually! Take Line 6 to the La Villa-Basílica metro stop and then walk five minutes north on Calzada de Guadalupe. A 10-minute Uber from Zócalo costs about 120 MXN ($6 USD). It is open daily from 6:00am-9:00pm.

• Templo Mayor: Have you ever seen ruins in the middle of a bustling, urban city? Neither had I until I visited here! The museum and ruins are open from 9:00am-7:00pm Tuesday-Sunday and the entrance fee is 80 MXN ($4 USD).

• Explore the Markets: There are many daily markets worth visiting but the ones I would prioritize seeing are La Cuidadela (10:00am-7:00pm), La Merced Market (9:00am-7:00pm), and San Juan Market (9:00am-5:00pm).

• Alameda Central: According to Mexican historians, this public park is the oldest in the Americas! It is located next to Palacio de Bellas Artes and The House of Tiles. If you get lucky, you’ll witness live music and dancing!

• Other attractions include: Plaza Garibaldi, Ex Convento del Desierto de los Leones, Tlalpan National Park, Biergarten, Bicentenario Park, National Palace, Volcán Ajusco, and Soumaya Museum.