This is the ULTIMATE 3 Days in Mexico City Itinerary (So You Don’t Miss Anything)
Wondering, How can I spend 3 days in Mexico City?
As the largest city in North America, creating the perfect 3 days in Mexico City itinerary can be daunting — but it doesn’t have to be, and I’m here to help!
I have lived in Mexico City since 2018 (on and off), and I’m about to share all my best travel tips with you so you can plan an epic 3 day Mexico City itinerary.
With its massive size, there’s no end to the things to do in Mexico City. You’ll need to keep two key things in mind: 1) plan ahead, and 2) plan strategically.
To maximize your Mexico City travel time, you’ll want to plan your 3 days Mexico City itinerary neighborhood by neighborhood.
The population of Mexico City is about 9 million, and the traffic is horrible — so this 3 days in Mexico City itinerary will help you avoid it.
With the CDMX itinerary below, you’ll eliminate the amount of time spent traveling to places, and maximize the amount of time you’re actually traveling.
Ready to get to this ultimate guide to seeing Mexico City in 3 days?!
Let’s dive in, beginning with one of the Mexico City UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which belongs on any great Mexico City 3 days itinerary.
Day 1: Mexico City Zocalo & Centro Historico
On your first day, you’ll explore one of the three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Mexico City: the Historic Center of Mexico City and Xochimilco.
(In case you’re wondering, the other two are the Central University City Campus of UNAM and Luis Barragán House and Studio.)
With history dating back several centuries, you could spend weeks exploring Centro Historico (Downtown Mexico City) and the Zocalo (Main Square).
The most-visited of the three, the entire Historic Center (Downtown) ranks among the most noteworthy places in Mexico City.
With just one full day, I’ve listed 11 of the best things to do in Downtown Mexico City below that you won’t want to miss.
1. Templo Mayor Mexico City
The Templo Mayor Aztec Temple is part of the Mexico UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
It was buried underground during the Spanish Conquest, but excavated in the 1970s-80s, so you can explore real Aztec Ruins in Mexico City at this archeological site and museum.
🇲🇽 Mexico City Pro Tip: If you like venturing off the beaten path, head to the Mercado de San Juan in Downtown.
In this local market, you’ll find food stalls with vendors selling unique foods, like tarantulas and scorpions.
2. Mexico City Cathedral Metropolitan
From the rocks of the Aztec Temples, Spanish conquistadors ordered the giant Catedral Metropolitana de México constructed.
One of the most opulent and best churches in Mexico City, it houses the largest pipe organs on the Americas Continent.
3. Plaza Garibaldi: Mexico City Mariachi
Wondering where to hear mariachi music in Mexico City?
Plaza Garibaldi has a street party vibe on the weekends, and is where locals and visitors go to hear live music from mariachi bands, and dance along.
If you’re not sure about things to do in Mexico City at night, Plaza Garibaldi is a great option on weekends.
🇲🇽 Mexico City Travel Tips: While Mexico City is safe for visitors in the majority of cases, you’ll want to use Uber at night in Centro Historico.
4. Palacio Bellas Artes Mexico City
If you’ve seen any image of Downtown Mexico City, there’s a good chance it was of the Palacio Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts).
This classical European building with its gold dome is itself a work of art, but go inside to see the gorgeous Art Deco interior and museum.
5. Alameda Central: Mexico City Park
Located right next to the Bellas Artes building, the Parque Alameda Central is a large urban park with beautiful fountains and sculptures, like the Benito Juárez Hemicycle.
Downtown Mexico City is usually quite hectic, so enjoy a relaxing break in Alameda Central Park.
6. Casa de los Azulejos (The House of Tiles)
Right around the corner from the Alameda Central Park, there’s the Casa de los Azulejos, or House of Tiles.
This is one of the most iconic buildings in the city, famous for its talavera tile exterior.
7. Palacio Nacional Mexico City
The Palacio Nacional (Mexico National Palace) is massive at 660-feet-long (200 m), spanning one entire side of the Zocalo square.
It houses Mexico’s Federal Treasury, National Archives, and some of the most famous Diego Rivera murals — and is where the Mexican president lives.
8. Torre Latinoamericana (Latin American Tower)
Torre Latinoamericana is one of the most prominent buildings in the Mexico City skyline.
For the best views in Mexico City, head to the Mirador (viewing platform) at the top of the tower.
It costs $220 MXN pesos ($12 USD), so only go up on a clear day or you won’t see much.
🇲🇽 Mexico City Travel Tips: Located nearby, take the elevator inside the Sears department store building to Cafetería Terraza Don Porfirio for great views from a similar vantage point.
It’s free to go up, but you’re expected to buy at least a beverage from the cafe.
9. Barrio Chino: Mexico City Chinatown
While the Chinatown in Mexico City isn’t huge by any means, it’s worth taking a quick stroll through.
While there, snap some photos of the iconic red arch entryway and colorful paper lanterns, and maybe even buy some Mexico souvenirs.
10. Visit Some of the Museums in Downtown Mexico City
This city has about 150 museums, and many of the best museums in Mexico City are located right in Centro Historico.
Here are some of the most popular Mexico City museums located in Historic Downtown CDMX.
- Museum of Popular Art (Museo de Arte Popular)
- MUNAL National Art Museum (Museo Nacional De Arte MUNAL)
- Museum of Memory and Tolerance (Museo Memoria y Tolerancia)
- Old College of Saint Ildefonso (Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso)
A must see for art lovers, the Diego Rivera Mural Museum houses one of his most iconic paintings, Sueño de una tarde dominical en la Alameda Central.
This museum is located near the painting’s namesake park, the Alameda Central, and Palacio Bellas Artes.
11. Best Restaurants in Downtown Mexico City
Centro Historico boasts many of the best Mexico City restaurants, and most beloved taquerías (Mexico City taco shops).
Some of the standouts places to eat traditional Mexican cuisine and tacos in Mexico City Centro Historico include the places listed below.
🇲🇽 El Cardinal Mexico City
This Mexico City landmark has been around for about 40 years.
Enjoy Mexican favorites like enchiladas or chilaquiles, and their amazing hot chocolate that’s prepared table-side with a traditional molinillo (wooden whisk).
🌮 Where to find the Best Tacos in Downtown Mexico City
You can’t go wrong with Los Cocuyos, El Huequito and El Pescadito.
Head to Tacos de Canasta los Especiales to try tacos de canasta (basket tacos), some of the best tacos in Mexico City that you won’t find in many other cities.
🍽️ Bests Restaurants in downtown Mexico city
For an upscale dining experience, head to Azul Histórico by Chef Ricardo Muñoz Zurita.
If you prefer a view with your meal, check out El Balcon del Zocalo and La Casa de las Sirenas, two of the best Mexico City rooftop restaurants that overlook the Zocalo.
🍬 Where to find Sweet Treats for dessert
If you still have room, get the famous churro ice cream sandwich, or some churros y chocolate (churros with chocolate dipping sauce) at Churrería El Moro.
If churros aren’t your thing, head to Pastelería Ideal, which has selection of pastries so massive that you’re sure to find something you like.
One of the oldest and best pastry shops in Mexico City, it has been open since 1927.
Day 2: Coyoacan & Xochimilco
These are two of Mexico’s most visited and most colorful areas, and they are visitors’ favorites.
Both Coyoacan, including its famous Frida Kahlo House & Museum, and Xochimilco, home to the brightly-colored Mexico City boats (trajineras) and famous Aztec canals, in south Mexico City.
Some people like to visit Xochimilco during the day, while others prefer the more festive nighttime atmosphere.
I’ll leave that decision up to you, but regardless of order, Xochimilco and Coyoacán make a great one day itinerary for Mexico City travelers.
Stop #1: Coyoacan Mexico City
Visiting the Coyoacan neighborhood gives you a glimpse into what Mexico City from 100+ years ago life looked like.
It is one of the oldest surviving neighborhoods in Mexico City, with the massive Iglesia de San Juan Bautista cathedral, that dates back to the 16th Century.
🇲🇽 Mexico Fun Facts: Coyoacan means “a place of coyotes” in the Nahuatl Aztec language.
This colorful area is home to one of the best Mexico City museums — the Frida Kahlo Museum AKA La Casa Azul (Blue House).
You’ll also find lesser known museums, like the Diego Rivera Anahuacalli Museum, National Museum of Popular Culture and Leon Trotsky Museum.
In addition to the best museums in Coyoacan, its colorful buildings and rich history, Coyoacan is known for three foods: tepoznieves (shaved ice), churros and tostadas.
For the best tostadas in Mexico City, head to the Mercado de Coyoacán (Coyoacan Market).
You’ll find churros shops and tepoznieves shops throughout town, and around the Parque Centenario.
Here in this Coyoacan park, you’ll also see the beautiful Fuente de los Coyotes (Coyote Fountain), an icon of the neighborhood.
Stop #2: Xochimilco: Colorful Boats in Mexico City
Coyoacan is located about 45 minutes south of the most popular neighborhoods in Mexico City for visitors, like Roma, Condesa and Polanco.
After exploring Coyoacan, you’ll want to head another 45 minutes further south to Xochimilco (pronounced so-chee-mill-co).
🇲🇽 Mexico City Travel Tips: If you don’t want to do a boat ride, skip Xochimilco. Instead, visit the UNAM College Campus, another Mexico City UNESCO Site not far from Coyoacan.
Xochimilco is a Mexico City UNESCO World Heritage Site, and actually officially called the Floating Gardens of Xochimilco.
On the floating gardens, you’ll see ancient farming techniques still in use today by local farmers, as well as axolotl farms for this endangered species.
You can take this canoe tour to the chinampas (floating gardens), which is one way to experience Xochimilco.
There are also party boat style Xochimilco tours like these, complete with mariachi musicians and tequila tastings aboard a trajinera (colorful gondola boat).
Regardless of if you want a more cultural or party style Xochimilco experience, the safest, easiest and best way to visit Xochimilco is by tour.
Many boat operators don’t speak English, so negotiating a tour isn’t always easy if you go on your own and your Spanish isn’t great.
Day 3: Two Options — Teotihuacan Ruins or More Mexico City Sites
One this last day of your Mexico City 3 day itinerary, I’ll offer two options so you can decide how to best spend your day.
The first is visiting the Teotihuacan Ruins Archeological Site, located about one hour outside of Mexico City, and the second is to see more Mexico City sites in town.
Option #1: Teotihuacan Pyramids Archeological Site
The Teotihuacan Ruins are among the oldest and most important archeological sites in Mexico, and one of the 35 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Mexico.
For most travelers, Teotihuacan is a must visit in Mexico City, which is why it’s first on the list.
If devoting an entire day of a three day trip to Teotihuacan seems like a lot, realistically, visiting Teotihuacan Ruins is a daylong affair.
The easiest way to visit is on one of these best Teotihuacan tours and hot air balloon rides, where all you have to do is show up and enjoy.
I recommend a guided tour because without someone explaining the site’s intricacies and history — you’re essentially just looking at rocks!
You can go with this tour that includes a guide, transportation and lunch, or hire a tour guide at the entrance.
There are usually tour guides available at the entrance gate, though they get booked quickly on weekends.
On-site guides charge by the group, so it’s usually about $1,000-1,500 pesos ($50-75 USD) whether you’re doing solo travel in Mexico City or traveling in a group of six.
🚗 Here’s how to Get to Teotihuacan from Mexico City
Though only about 35 miles (50 km) away from one another, the drive from Mexico City to Teotihuacan takes 1-2 hours.
If you leave early by about 7am, your drive time will only be about one hour, but by 8-9am, it will take closer to 1.5-2 hours because of traffic.
The easiest way to go is in a rental car (I recommend and use Discover Cars), but you can also get to Teotihuacan by bus.
If you’re driving to Teotihuacan, you can use this Mexico City to Teotihuacan map. For info about taking the bus to Teotihuacán, head here.
🇲🇽 Mexico City Travel Tips: I don’t recommend renting a car in Mexico City if you’re just staying in the city itself, but if you’re planning to do some road trips, you’ll want one.
For a complete guide, check out Renting A Car in Mexico City: Everything You Need to Know.
⚠️ Pro Tip: Get to Teotihuacan Early
The best time to arrive at Teotihuacan is right when they open at 9am.
You can cut your traffic time down by getting on the road to Teotihuacan from Mexico City by 7:45am, so you’re at the entrance gate at 9am, right when they open.
Teotihuacan Ruins, and most Mexico archeological sites, all tend to lack one thing: shade 🥵
Archeologists and historians frequently conduct research at the site, so most trees have been cleared for their ease of study, and shade is at a premium for visitors.
Arriving at Teotihuacán as soon as it opens means you not only beat the traffic, but you also beat the heat.
If you want to climb the three pyramids at Teotihuacan (Pyramid of the Sun, Pyramid of the Moon, and Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl), it’s best to do that before midday.
⚠️ Update: As of 2020, you can no longer climb the pyramids at Teotihuacan.
When the sun starts beating down at its hardest around noon, head to the indoor Museo de la Cultura Teotihuacana (Teotihuacan Museum).
The adjacent Jardín Escultórico (Teotihuacan Sculpture Garden) tends to have much more shade than the site itself — and don’t forget your water bottle.
🇲🇽 Don’t skip San Juan Teotihuacán, Mexico Pueblo Magico
After exploring the Ruins of Teotihuacan, spend some time exploring the pueblo magico (magic town) of San Juan Teotihuacán, where the ruins are located.
Many of these Teotihuacan tours include a visit to this pueblo, like this Experience with a Teotihuacan Native Tour.
If you’re not going on your own and have a rental car, you can visit San Juan Teotihuacán on your own to explore the small artisan shops and local restaurants.
One of the most popular restaurants near Teotihuacan is La Gruta, which has been open since 1906, and is located underground in a cave.
This is the only Mexico City cave restaurant, though it’s not exactly located in the city (though some visitors may have heard it is).
At La Gruta, you can enjoy traditional Mexican foods like mole, tacos, and enchiladas, but also unique dishes like escamoles, the “Mexican caviar.”
Option #2: See More of the Famous Mexico City Sites
There is an endless number of things to see in Mexico City.
I lived there for about one year, and still had places on my list to check out that I never made it to.
With three days in Mexico City, you’ll have to be selective, but here are some of the best sites in Mexico City.
👼 Reforma Avenue & The Angel of Independence
Start your day with a stroll down one of the main streets in the city, the tree-lined Avenida Reforma (Reforma Avenue).
Check out all the statues, like the Angel de la Independencia (Angel of Independence) and Las Alas de la Ciudad (The Wings of the City) by Jorge Marín.
There are plenty of places for breakfast, like Restaurante Mallorca Reforma and Balta inside the Sofitel Mexico City, or coffee at Tierra Garat, a popular Mexico City cafe chain.
Keep making your way southwest, and you’ll end up in Chapultepec Park — one of the largest urban parks on the planet.
🌳 Bosque de Chapultepec Park
One of the most-visited and largest urban parks in the world, the Bosque Chapultepec (Chapultepec Park) is massive at 1,700-acres (7 km²).
It is about double the size of Central Park in New York City, with just as much to see and do.
Nicknamed “the lungs of Mexico City,” the thousands of trees in this urban greenspace help filter the air.
Though many think it’s one of the most polluted cities in Mexico in terms of air quality, the Mexico City air quality is actually quite clean thanks to these trees.
🇲🇽 Mexico City Travel Tips: While many travelers assume they get sick from the air in Mexico City, it’s actually the altitude that leads to sickness for many.
Mexico City is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) above sea level, so Mexico City altitude sickness is very common.
🏰 Castillo Chapultepec Castle
The Castillo de Chapultepec is North America’s only real castle, as it’s the only castle that royalty once lived in.
This castle is the former home of Emperor Maximilian I and Empress Carlota, and now one of the must see Mexico City attractions.
🇲🇽 Mexico City Travel Tips: Looking for free things to do in Mexico City?
Admission to Chapultepec Castle is free on Sundays, but arrive early to beat the crowds. There are also great free walking tours of Mexico City.
🗿 Mexico City Anthropology Museum
There are nine museums in Chapultepec Park, including the most popular museum in Mexico City, the Museo Nacional de Antropología (National Museum of Anthropology).
The massive anthropology museum spans 22 exhibition halls, and thousands of years of history.
More into art than history? No worries! There are plenty of other museums in Chapultepec Park for you to enjoy.
These include the Museo de Arte Moderno (Museum of Modern Art) and Museo Tamayo Arte Contemporáneo (Tamayo Museum of Contemporary Art Museum).
If you’re traveling to Mexico City with kids, they’ll love the Papalote Children’s Museum.
🇲🇽 Roma Norte Mexico CIty
Arguably the two prettiest and best neighborhoods in Mexico City, Roma Norte and La Condesa (up next on the list) are ideal for taking leisurely strolls, doing some shopping, eating at sidewalk cafes and visiting the parks.
In short, spending a relaxing last day in Mexico City.
🇲🇽 Mexico City Travel Tips: Take the Private Mexico City Walking Tour with a Local: Roma & Condesa Tour and explore both neighborhoods with a knowledgeable CDMX local as your guide.
Within the Colonia Roma jurisdiction, you’ll find the Roma Norte and Roma Sur neighborhoods (North Roma and South Roma).
Roma Sur is a bit more lively, while Roma Norte is the calmer and prettier of the two — though they are both perfectly safe to explore on foot.
Head to Roma Norte to marvel at some of the best architecture in Mexico City, shop in the famous Mercado Roma, and see the city’s best street art.
Vintage buildings in esthetics ranging from Art Deco to colonial line the streets in Roma; it is as eclectic as San Francisco, and each building is better than the next.
You’ll find some of the beautiful architecture, best cafes, hippest restaurants and best Mexico City bars along Avenida Álvaro Obregón (Alvaro Obregon Avenue) in Roma Norte.
This street is great to walk down, day and night, especially if you enjoy people-watching.
🇲🇽 LA CONDESA Mexico City
Just across Avenida Insurgentes (Insurgents Avenue), one of the main streets in Mexico City, you’ll find Roma Norte’s sister neighborhood, La Condesa.
Most people just say Condesa, which means “countess,” but both Condesa and La Condesa denote this part of the city.
Get to know Condesa with a stroll on the tree-lined Hipódromo (meaning “racetrack”), an oval-shaped walkway along Avenida Amsterdam (Amsterdam Avenue).
Once a horse racing track, hence the name and oval shape, the street provides a leisurely way to visit Condesa CDMX.
Just off the Hipódromo, don’t miss Parque Mexico (Mexico Park) and Parque España (Spain Park), two of the best Mexico City parks.
If you’re looking for Instagram worthy Mexico City spots, you can’t go wrong with Parque Mexico.
🇲🇽 Polanco Mexico City
Polanco is the most posh of all Mexico City neighborhoods.
If you’re looking for some retail therapy, head to Avenida Presidente Masaryk (President Masaryk Avenue), known as the “Rodeo Drive of Mexico,” and home to luxury stores like Gucci and Hermès.
The iconic Museo Soumaya (Soumaya Museum) and Museo Jumex (Jumex Museum) round out the list of Polanco’s popular sites.
One of the best free things to do in Mexico City, don’t miss the Soumaya — and then stick around Polanco to splurge on a nice dinner.
🍽 The Best Restaurants in Polanco Mexico City
For an unforgettable last dinner, head to Pujol by Chef Enrique Olvera, which is known as the best restaurant in CDMX.
It has been named one of the best restaurants in the world by the prestigious 50 Best List, and earned two Michelin Stars in 2024.
If you can’t get a reservation at Pujol, try Quintonil (which also earned two stars in 2024) and La Docena. They’re both in Polanco, and on the 50 Best List.
🇲🇽 Mexico City Travel Tips: Discover more of the best restaurants in Polanco in this article, 50 Best Restaurants in Mexico City, or take this highly-rated Polanco Food Tour.
BONUS: How to See Lucha Libre in Mexico City
Seeing a lucha libre wrestling match in Mexico City is at the top of many travelers’ bucket lists — and one of the best things to do in Mexico for a fun, cultural experience.
If this will be a weekend trip to Mexico City, you’re in luck.
On Friday nights, you can catch a lucha libre wrestling match in Arena Mexico, located just north of Roma Norte in the Doctores neighborhood.
This isn’t one of the safest parts in Mexico City, so opt for a group tour to the lucha libre matches, like the ones listed below.
Best Lucha Libre Tours in Mexico City
- Our top choice: Lucha + Tacos + Cerveza = Best Night Ever — with more than 10,000 reviews, and a near-perfect 5 Star rating!
- Make a Mask, Beers & Lucha Libre Show
- Lucha, Craft Market, Masks & Beer with a Journalist
- Lucha Libre, Street Tacos, Masks & Fun
- Want more suggestions? Check out the 11 Best Mexico City Lucha Libre Tours
Mexico City Travel: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City safe for travelers?
Yes — For the vast majority of travelers, Mexico City is safe.
That’s not to say bad things don’t happen in Mexico City; they do.
However, if you stick to the best neighborhoods in Mexico City and stay aware of yourself and your surroundings, you should be safe in Mexico City.
Need more tips on Mexico City safety? Check out this article, Is Mexico Safe to Travel to Right Now?
Is Mexico City safe for solo travelers?
Yes — For the vast majority of travelers, Mexico City is safe.
On a personal note, I lived in Mexico City by myself for about one year. I felt safe, but I also made safety my top priority.
For a deep dive into this topic, check out this Mexico City Solo Travel Safety Guide.
Is public transportation in Mexico City safe?
Mostly — Mexico City has great, inexpensive public transportation, including the Mexico City Metro (subway) and Metrobus (buses).
As with many big cities, pickpocketing isn’t uncommon, especially during rush hour, so be extra aware of your valuables — and consider this anti-theft backpack.
There’s also the Ecobici public bike-sharing program, which offers an inexpensive way to get around the city while incorporating fitness.
Is there an Uber in Mexico City?
Yes — I prefer Uber to public transportation in Mexico City, and the main reason is because you save a lot of travel time using Uber, DiDi and other ride-share apps.
While they do cost more, the cost ends up being worth it if you compare it to the amount of time you save.
For general reference, the eight mile (13 km) bus trip from Roma Norte to Coyoacan would cost you about $1 USD, but it could take over two hours.
The same trip in an Uber would cost about $5 USD and take as little as 30 minutes.
Where is Mexico City located?
Mexico City sits in the near-dead center of the country — and though many think it’s in Central America, Mexico is actually on the continent of North America.
The country shares a border with the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast.
What is the best Mexico City Airport?
The main airport in Mexico City is Benito Juárez International Airport, better known as Mexico City International Airport (code: MEX).
In 2022, a second Mexico City opened, Felipe Ángeles International Airport (code: NLU), but MEX Airport is the better option for most travelers.
Is Mexico City a state?
Yes — Mexico City is one of the 32 states in Mexico.
In 2016, Mexico City became the 32nd state in the Estados Unidos Mexicanos, the official name of Mexico.
This is often translated as the United Mexican States or United States of Mexico.
Is Mexico City the capital of Mexico?
Yes — Mexico City is the capital of Mexico. It is also a state, so this can be a bit confusing.
Luckily it doesn’t matter one bit when planning your 3 day itinerary Mexico City extravaganza.
What does CDMX stand for?
You might see Mexico City abbreviated as CDMX. This stands for Ciudad de Mexico, which means Mexico City in Spanish.
You might also see Mexico City DF, which stands for Distrito Federal (DF), or Federal District.
What does Mexico City DF stand for?
Before Mexico City was a state, it was a Federal District, or DF, which is similar to the “DC” in Washington DC, which stands for District of Columbia.
Technically Mexico City is no longer Mexico City DF, or even just DF, but you may still see it referred to that way.
What are the best neighborhoods in Mexico City?
1. Roma & Condesa
I lived in Roma Norte, so I’m definitely biased in saying that it is the best neighborhood in Mexico City.
If your Spanish isn’t great, you’ll find the most English speakers in Roma, as many expats live here, and many businesses seek out bilingual employees.
Condesa is located right next to Roma, and they are actually pretty similar in terms of their vibe.
These are known as the hipster neighborhoods in town, but it’s where you’ll find many of the best Mexico City Airbnbs and VRBOs.
2. Polanco, Reforma & Zona Rosa
If you’re more of a posh traveler, Polanco is a great option.
It is right next to the Reforma and Zona Rosa (🏳️🌈 LGBTQ+ friendly) neighborhoods, both also great options.
If you’re looking to stay in the best Mexico City hotels, you’ll find all the nicest ones in these areas. ▶︎ BOOK YOUR HOTEL HERE!
What are the parts of Mexico City to avoid?
There are some areas to avoid in Mexico City, but most aren’t near the main tourist zones.
There are two, Tepito and Doctores, you could accidentally stumble into because they’re both near Centro Histórico.
Doctores isn’t all that bad, but Tepito is known to be quite dangerous.
🇲🇽 Mexico City Travel Tips: You’ll want to get a Mexico SIM Card with data so you always have access to a map.
This way, you won’t accidentally end up anywhere you don’t want to be, like Tepito and Doctores, and if you do, you’ll have data to call an Uber.
What’s the best time to visit Mexico City?
This depends on your preferences.
The dry season in Mexico City, from October to April, is a great time to visit because you likely won’t see any rain.
However, it’s also much colder in the fall and winter months than the spring and summer, so for warm weather, go from May to September.
💀 Mexico City Day of the Dead Parade
Day of the Dead is one of the best times to visit Mexico, and among the most important Mexican holidays.
The holiday takes place November 1-2, and Mexico City hosts a massive, citywide parade the Saturday before the actual holiday.
🦋 Monarch Butterfly Season
From about November to March, millions (possibly billions!) of Monarch butterflies spend the winter in the forests just outside Mexico City, near Valle de Bravo.
For a true bucket list experience, book one of these Mexico monarch butterfly tours to stroll the forests with all the beautiful butterflies.
Can you drink the water in Mexico City?
No — Unfiltered Mexico City tap water is not considered safe for human consumption; not for locals and not for visitors.
You will want to pack this Water-To-Go Bottle, which filters your drinking water so it’s safe for consumption, and you don’t have to keep buying single-use plastic bottles.
For a deep dive into this topic, check out Can I Drink the Water in Mexico?
How many days in Mexico City do I need?
Wondering, Is 3 days enough for Mexico City?
Well, it’s enough time to get to know the city, and get you excited about planning your next Mexico City trip.
While there’s only so much you can do in three days or a long weekend, that doesn’t mean you won’t have an amazing trip to Mexico City.
Realistically, you could spend one week in Mexico City to one year, and still not see everything. I lived there for about a year, and still didn’t!
There’s no right or wrong amount of time to spend in Mexico City, but you’ll cover a lot of ground with this Mexico City 3 day itinerary.
If you’re spending just 3 days in Mexico City, you can pick and choose which two days from this itinerary to eliminate.
You can also easily make this into a 7 day Mexico City itinerary by spending one whole day in each of the neighborhoods mentioned.
Can you get altitude sickness in Mexico City?
Yes — Mexico City is about 1.5 miles above sea level (2.4 km), which is a half-mile higher than “The Mile High City” of Denver, Colorado.
Mexico City altitude sickness is quite common, and can feel like the flu, which could potentially ruin your Mexico City vacation 🤢
For a deep dive into this topic, check out Mexico City Altitude Sickness: How to Prevent & Treat It, so you don’t get sick when visiting Mexico City.
Is Mexico City worth visiting?
YES, it is so worth visiting! It is one of the best cities in the world, with an identity all its own.
Like most big cities, CDMX is ever-changing and ever-evolving, so if you visited five years ago, it won’t be the same city today.
Do I need Mexico travel insurance for Mexico City?
Legally, no, you are not required to have travel insurance for Mexico.
However, you absolutely will wish you did if something goes wrong — and with travel, something always goes wrong.
That’s not meant to scare you, but to say that yes, you really should have it.
I only ever recommend these three companies to purchase Mexico travel insurance from:
- World Nomads — For general travelers and adventure travelers
- SafetyWing — For digital nomads in Mexico and long-term travelers
- Travel Insurance Master — Mexico travel insurance search tool if you like comparing prices and plans
My Final Thoughts on This 3 Days in Mexico City Itinerary
With some planning, and scheduling by neighborhood to minimize the amount of time you waste sitting in traffic, a three day trip to one of the largest cities on Earth is doable.
I hope this itinerary for Mexico City will help you plan your perfect Mexico City vacation.
If you think you might be able to spend some more time in the city after all, check out this 4 days in Mexico City itinerary, and this 5 days in Mexico City itinerary.
For more Mexico City tips and travel guides, check out this Ultimate Guide to Mexico City and my Mexico City blogs.