21 Fun Things to Do in Mexico City That Even Locals Love
I lived in Mexico City for about a year, and visit frequently. My experience living in Mexico City makes me the perfect guide to help you find all the most unique things to do in Mexico City.
As they say, having tips from a local is a travel game changer (I’m an ex-local, but hey!).
I spent enough time in Mexico City (AKA CDMX) to be able to point you in the right direction to find all the cool things to do in Mexico City that only a local would know about.
Ready to discover all the top things to do in Mexico City? Let’s get to it!
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1. Take A Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Tour
🎈 Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Ride: Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see a side of the Teotihuacan Pyramids so few will!
Seeing this ancient Mexico archeological site from above on a Teotihuacan hot air balloon tour is the only real way to appreciate the vastness of the ancient Teotihuacan Archeological Site.
2. Visit the Frida Kahlo Museum in Coyoacan
Admittedly, this is on the beaten path, but the Casa Azul (Blue House) is worth a visit because it’s one of the most unique places in Mexico City. It’s also truly a piece of history because Frida Kahlo once lived here.
Once the home to Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, two of the most famous painters of all time, and now one of the best museums in Mexico City, the Blue House offers a glimpse into Frida’s life and art.
To go a bit beyond the museum itself, take the Museo Frida Kahlo VIP-Skip the line+Bikes & Churros.
Hosts Lola and Diego offer guests an in-depth look at Frida’s the artist, and a bike tour around the Mexico City neighborhood of Coyoacan she called home — where you’ll try some of its famed churros.
🎫 Frida Kahlo Museum Mexico City Pro Tip: If you don’t go with a group tour, buy your Frida Museum tickets in advance. As one of the top attractions, there’s usually a huge line, and with a ticket, you’ll skip it.
3. Ride the Colorful Boats on a Xochimilco Tour
WHAT IS XOCHIMILCO?
Xochimilco is a series of man-made canals, hand-dug by the Aztecs centuries ago. For most visitors, it’s high atop their Mexico City bucket list.
The Floating Gardens of Xochimilco are floating islands with small farms on them. In the past, people would boat through the canals as a major thoroughfare for trade and commerce to buy produce.
🛶 floating gardens of Xochimilco (chinampas)
While known as a place to party, you can also join this tour to see the chinampas, or floating gardens at Xochimilco Mexico City.
The chinampas (gardens) show the more natural side of Xochimilco, and the ancestral food cultivation techniques in Mexico City, still practiced today by rural farmers.
4. Explore the Zocalo Mexico City
🤔 What is Zocalo Mexico City?
In many cities in Mexico, there is an area called the Zocalo. This is essentially the town square or main square.
The Mexico City Zocalo (AKA Plaza de la Independencia, or Independence Plaza) is located in Centro Historico, or Downtown Mexico City.
Mexico’s entire Historic Downtown is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The seat of the Aztec Empire from the 14th-19th Centuries, Tenochtitlan, as it was known, has so many historic landmarks you could spend weeks there and not see them all.
Love history? Join the Discover the History of the Center Tour with history teacher Paulina, a Mexico City local who will show you all the hidden sites on streets of Downtown CDMX.
She’ll highlight the fascinating connections between Mexico City’s indigenous, colonial, 19th, and modern eras.
5. Marvel at the Templo Mayor Ruins (Aztec Ruins)
This Mexico UNESCO World Heritage Site was once the location of the central temple of the Aztec Empire. In fact, Templo Mayor translates to Main Temple.
During the Spanish Conquest in 1521, the temple was largely dismantled, and what remained intact was buried underground. It was unearthed by archeologists in the 1980s.
Today, you can stroll Templo Mayor’s ruins to see the massive temple’s remnants. The museum on site also has even more historic archeological treasures.
Templo Mayor is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9am-5pm. Admission to the Templo Mayor costs $70 pesos ($3.50 USD).
6. Visit Palacio Bellas Artes
If you’ve seen an image of Mexico City, it was likely of the beautiful, art nouveau Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts) building.
This classical European, golden-domed, building is a work of art in itself, but also head inside and check out the gorgeous art deco interior.
There are often live performances at Bellas Artes as well, like the spectacular Ballet Folklórico de México (Mexican Folk Ballet).
Located outside, the Bellas Artes Metro Station entrance sign was a gift from the President of France.
It is a surprising little bit of Paris in the heart of bustling Mexico City. Next to this famed metro sign are a few other noteworthy sites.
🚇 If you want to take the subway in Mexico City, you can ride Line 2 (Blue Line) and Line 8 (Green Line) to the Bellas Artes Metro Station.
Taking the subway is one of the best non-touristy things to do in Mexico City, and a bargain at $5 pesos per ride (about 25 cents U.S.).
Just a short walk from the Parisian Bellas Artes Metro sign, there’s other great things to do and see in this general area. Don’t miss these like these other main attractions in Downtown Mexico City:
• Alameda Central Park: Located next to Bellas Artes, this large and well-maintained urban park has beautiful sculptures and fountains.
Centro Historico can be overwhelming, so take a break from the hustle and bustle in Parque Alameda Central — a great place for a lunchtime taco picnic!
• Hemiciclo a Benito Juarez: This beautiful monument to former Mexican president, Benito Juarez, is located at the edge of the Alameda Central Park, along the bustling Avenida Juarez.
7. Head to the top of Torre Latinoamericana (Mexico City Skyscraper)
One of the iconic buildings in the Mexico City skyline! On a clear day, head to the 44th floor of the Latin American Tower for some amazing views. If you want epic views over Mexico City, you’ll find them here.
The Mirador (viewing platform or observation deck) is open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. To reach the top, you must pay $125 pesos ($7 USD).
You’ll only want to go up on a nice day though, or you won’t get the best views of Mexico City.
🏬 Wondering, What is the tallest building in Mexico City? It’s the Torre Mitikah A with 68 floors. It stands 876 feet tall (267 m).
🤑 Free views at Sears Department Store Cafe
The nearby Sears department store building also has the Café Don Porfirio (AKA Cafeteria Terraza Cafe). Here, you can take the elevator up to the 8th floor to see the city views.
Unlike the Torre Latinoamericana, this is free — though you’re expected to buy something at the cafe.
They also give visitors a time limit of about 40 minutes to sit at the tables, so grab a coffee and a snack, snap some photos, and head out.
8. See a Lucha Libre Match (Mexican Wrestling)
Mexico’s masked wrestling is always a good time!
All the best lucha libre wrestling matches take place Saturday nights at Arena Mexico in the Doctores neighborhood, located between Centro Histórico and Roma Norte.
Note: While this isn’t a totally unsafe area, Doctores isn’t one of the best parts of Mexico City. Still, lucha libre is one of the coolest local things to do in Mexico City — just exercise caution when you go.
🦹♀️ How to see a lucha libre match in Mexico City
Head to Arena Mexico early Saturday to buy your tickets the day of the event, or buy lucha libre tickets online (though this isn’t easy if you don’t speak Spanish).
Do note that Most lucha libre matches in Mexico City sell out. For this reason, the easiest and best way to see Mexico City lucha libre matches is on a tour.
Check out these 11 Best Mexico City Lucha Libre Tours so book one now!
⭐️ Best Mexico City Lucha Libre Tours
Lucha matches, especially the big ones, always sell out, and buying tickets online from the U.S. can be a bit tricky.
Make it easy on yourself by booking the Luchas & Masks Trip-Mask Tacos Beer & More or Lucha Libre/Street Taco Tour — because lucha libre + tacos = the best of all worlds!
While Mexico City is generally safe, even for a solo female traveler, the Doctores neighborhood doesn’t have a great reputation.
For those not confident with Spanish, this is another great reason to go on a lucha libre group tour, making it more fun!
9. See Chapultepec Castle, the Only Castle in North America
The Castillo de Chapultepec is the only true castle in North America, as it’s the only one royalty once lived in.
The former home to Emperor Maximilian I and Empress Carlota is now a museum, and one of the best sites in Mexico City.
👀 Looking for things to do in Mexico City on Sunday? Admission to Chapultepec Castle is free on Sundays; but arrive early to beat the large crowds.
After that, you can visit even more museums, like the ones listed below.
👩🎨 Best Museums in Chapultepec Park
• Museum of Modern Art: The Museo de Arte Moderno features contemporary art by both international and Mexican artists.
Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and Rufino Tamayo are among the big names in their permanent collection.
While visiting, don’t forget to take a leisurely stroll through the Sculpture Garden outside.
It is a must-see in Mexico City for art and sculpture lovers, and it is the perfect place to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
• Tamayo Contemporary Art Museum: Founded by Mexican artist, Ruffino Tamayo, his namesake Museo Tamayo Arte Contemporáneo (Tamayo Museum) houses a large collection of international contemporary art.
10. Explore the Mexico National Museum of Anthropology
This Museo Nacional de Antropología is massive, spanning 23 exhibition halls and 3,225 years of history. It is one of the best and most visited museums in Mexico City.
They offer one-hour English tours, but it barely scratches the surface at the Anthropology Museum, though you’ll see these highlights:
- Piedra del Sol (Aztec calendar, or Aztec sunstone)
- Coatlicue statue
- Replica of Moctezuma’s headdress
- Olmec heads: The the giant Olmec head sculptures are from the mysterious Olmec civilization, the oldest known civilization on the Americas continent, in existence from about 1500 BC-400 BC.
If you’re deeply fascinated by Mexico’s extensive and profound history, book this Exclusive Tour in the Anthropology Museum.
11. Wander Chapultepec Park, Mexico City
The Bosque de Chapultepec is one of the most visited urban parks on the planet, right alongside NYC’s Central Park. It is the largest green space in this historic city and a must-visit.
At 1,700 acres (6.8 km²), Chapultepec Park is massive. You could spend an entire day or even spend weeks there and not see everything.
There are nine museums, one castle, two lakes, a zoo, botanical gardens, and more, so be selective with your time.
🚴♀️ The best way to cover ground in Chapultepec Park is by bike. Let Alberto, a Mexico city cyclist and runner, show you all the highlights in this huge park on this Discover Chapultepec on Bicycle Tour.
🌳 Best Chapultepec Park things to do
• Niños Heroes Monument: The six niños heroes (boy heroes) are a key part of Mexican patriotic folklore. Debates abound about the true story of the boys’ deaths, but all six child cadets died defending Mexico.
• Chapultepec Zoo: Check out the more than 200 species of animals, including giraffes, jaguars, lions, tigers, and even two panda bears
The zoo in Chapultepec Park is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9am-4:30pm; Admission is free.
• Rent a Swan Paddle Boat: Rent a paddle boat at Chapultepec to see some of the park from the water.
There are two lakes in this park; the rental boats are at lake in Section 1, near the zoo and the small Casa del Lago (Lake House Museum).
12. Photograph the Historic Casa de los Azulejos (House of Tiles)
Located here at the corner of Avenida 5 de Mayo and the Callejon de la Condesa (Alley of the Countess), the House of Tiles is a famous house-turned-Sanborn’s department store.
The outside tile-work made it famous, but don’t miss the beautiful restaurant inside. Located nearby, don’t miss these places:
👩🎨 Best Museums in Mexico City Centro Historico
• Diego Rivera Mural Museum: This small museum is home to one of his most iconic paintings, Sueño de una tarde dominical en la Alameda Central (Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in the Alameda Central).
The museum is located not far from the painting’s namesake Alameda Central Park.
• Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso (Old College of Saint Ildefonso): Considered the birthplace of the Mexican muralism movement, this beautiful ex-Jesuit boarding school now houses works by Mexico’s renowned muralists.
Head inside to see Diego Rivera’s iconic mural, The Creation, and more.
13. Marvel at UNAM Central Campus
The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) was awarded the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.
The campus consists of buildings and open spaces constructed by more than 60 architects, engineers and artists.
[UNAM is] an exemplary monumental complex of 20th century modernism that integrates urbanism, architecture, engineering, landscaping and fine arts, associating all these elements with references to local traditions, and in particular to the pre-Hispanic past from Mexico.
—UNESCO
Done by architect/painter, Juan O’Gorman, his iconic painting on the Central Library UNAM is said to be the largest mural of all time (the Polyforum Siquieros is another).
You’ll also see the works of other Mexico muralists, like David Alfaro Siqueiros and Diego Rivera, among the famous UNAM murals.
👨🎨 Notice the name Diego Rivera coming up a lot? He’s quite important as far as contemporary Mexican artists go.
Gain a deeper understanding of this artist on the Diego Rivera House & UNAM Mural Tour, a Mexico City tour to see his art.
🎨 Museum of Contemporary art at UNAM
This is one of the best museums in Mexico City, a city that boasts about 150 of them!
It’s also the city’s largest contemporary art museum, located on the beautiful UNAM Campus—itself a work of art.
14. Take One of the Best Teotihuacan Tours
1. Teotihuacan & My Grandma’s Food (⭐️ Rated 4.96/5 Stars)
After a long day of exploring the ruins, hosts Hugo and Gabriel take you to their grandmother’s house for an authentic Mexican lunch!
Enjoy grandma’s 52-ingredient mole (pronounced moe-lay, a traditional Oaxaca food), a fifth-generation recipe, and more favorites like chilaquiles.
2. Teotihuacan Scavenger Hunt (⭐️ Rated 4.94/5 Stars)
Looking for things to do in Mexico City for young adults? This tour is perfect because it is such a unique way to visit one of the most famous tourist attractions in Mexico City.
Climb all three Teotihuacan pyramids and see all its unique sites — while playing a fun scavenger hunt game.
After leaving, enjoy a traditional Mexican food lunch and sample locally-made alcoholic beverages, like pulque (pronounced pull-kay), an ancient prehispanic drink from Mexico.
3. SAN JUAN TEOTIHUACAN MEXICO WITH A NATIVE (⭐️ Rated 4.93/5 Stars)
Explore the city the Teotihuacan pyramids are in — the San Juan Teotihuacan pueblo magico (magic town). Join Alejandro, a Teotihuacan local, and get to know this Mexico City off the beaten path pueblo.
⭐️ Best Things to Do In Teotihuacan
Regardless of how you choose to explore this UNESCO World Heritage, don’t miss the three Teotihuacan pyramids, and visit the onsite Teotihuacan Museum and Sculpture Gardens.
The pyramids at Teotihuacan are the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon, and the Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered Serpent Aztec God.
The linked article provides a detailed guide on how to get to Teotihuacan from Mexico City on your own.
Teotihuacan admission costs $80 pesos per adult ($4.50 USD) for entry. It is located about one hour from Mexico City, if there’s no traffic.
🗿 Teotihuacan Travel Tips
1. Wear comfy sneakers, a sun hat, eco-friendly sunscreen, and bring your Water-To-Go Bottle, because it gets hot at Teotihuacan Ruins!
2. Looking for things to do in Mexico City today, or things to do in Mexico City on Monday? Teotihuacan is open daily, 9am-5pm.
15. Visit the Mexico City Angel of Independence
Towering high atop the Reforma skyline, the golden Angel de la Independencia is unmissable.
You can go up to the statue in the center of Avenida Reforma for a close-up look at one of the iconic Mexico City landmarks.
👀 Looking for the best things to do in Reforma Mexico City?
While in CDMX, save some time on your Mexico City itinerary for a leisurely stroll along Mexico City’s beautiful Paseo Avenida Reforma.
This street is among the best Mexico City things to do on a chill day.
A nine-mile-long (14.5 km) street, Reforma CDMX is lined with trees, monuments, skyscrapers, posh hotels, cafes and street art.
• Reforma Avenue Sculptures and Benches: There are many large-scale sculptures along Reforma Ave., including Jorge Marín’s Las Alas de México. These bronze wings are a favorite to take photos in front of.
Many of Reforma Avenue benches are also works of interactive art.
• Shop, Dine & Eat at Reforma 222: An all-in-one shopping/dining/movie theater complex in the heart of Mexico City.
Don’t miss the famous Cocodrilo sculpture (Crocodile) by surrealist artist, Leonora Carrington, located just in front of Reforma 222.
16. Try Anthony Bourdain’s Favorite Tacos at Taquería Los Cocuyos
For fans of the late, great Anthony Bourdain will want to have a taco (or two!) at Taqueria Los Cocuyos.
He filmed there for the Mexico City episode of his Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations show, and recommends their suadero tacos, a fatty cut similar to flank.
I’ve had these many times — and they’re really good!
🌮 Best tacos in Mexico City Downtown
If you come to Mexico, and don’t end up in a food coma from tacos — Did you even come to Mexico?! The answer is no!
Luckily, there are so many great places all over town, and here are some highlights for tacos in Downtown Mexico City:
• Best Tacos al Pastor in Mexico City: In Centro Historico, head to Taqueria El Huequito and Taquería Arandas to sample some of the best tacos in Centro Historico Mexico City.
• Tacos de Canasta at Los Especiales: The Los Especiales taqueria is a go to place for chilangos (Mexico City locals) to get the city’s original street food taco.
These taco de canasta, which means “basket tacos,” are steamed tacos served from a basket. They’re usually the cheapest tacos in Mexico City, at about $5-15 MXN pesos per taco ($0.25-0.75 USD).
17. Take a Street Art Tour in Roma Norte
One of the best neighborhoods for street art, consider a guided tour to get a better understanding of the political, social and cultural backstories of Roma’s impressive street art.
The Urban Gallery: Mexico City Street Art Bike Tour goes to amazing sites in Roma, and other nearby areas.
18. Try Pulque at Pulquería Las Duelistas
Known as the “drink of the gods” by the Aztecs, pulque is made from the agave plant, much like its more-famous cousins, tequila and mezcal.
Pulque, however, existed long before tequila and mezcal. Sample this ancient, non-distilled adult beverage at Pulquería Las Duelistas.
🧉 Looking for more places to drink pulque in Mexico City?
Join this Pulquera Tasting in Mexico City with host, Ho, a Mexico City local who will take you to pulquerías to taste natural and cured pulque, mezcal and other local snacks.
19. Shop the Ciudadela Market in Mexico City
The Mercado de Artesanias La Ciudadela (Ciudadela Market) is one of the best places to shop in Mexico City for souvenirs and Mexican art pieces.
It’s colorful, lively, and full of so many pretty things you’ll want to take home with you.
However, if you want to go shopping in Mexico City, there are these other mercados as well:
🛍️ Best markets in Mexico City Centro Historico
Looking for things to do in Mexico City in the rain? The indoor mercados, local Mexico City Markets in the City Center, offer a great option to shop for souvenirs.
⚠️ Mexico City Travel Tip: Mercados can be a bit intimidating, especially if you don’t speak Spanish. Consider a guided tour, like the Eat & Explore Local Markets Tour, to help you comfortably navigate the Mexico City mercados.
• San Juan Market: Traditional Mexican mercado (local market) — selling not-so-traditional foods.
The lively Mercado de San Juan is famous, maybe infamous, for selling interesting edibles, like scorpions, armadillo, iguana, and hormigas chicatanas (winged ants), and others.
• Mercado Independencia: This hip food hall-style market is not far from Palacio Bellas Artes.
This chill place offers a nice respite from bustling Centro Historico, where you can sample foods from gourmet vendors, and have beer and mezcal.
20. See the Mariachis at Plaza Garibaldi
The place to hear mariachi bands and all the best mariachi songs in Mexico City!
Plaza Garibaldi in Downtown Mexico City is a party for locals and visitors alike, where you can dance and listen to Mexico’s iconic mariachi music.
Don’t miss the Tequila & Mezcal Museum, also in this plaza.
🚨 A Word of Warning: Though it is a popular place for visitors, Plaza Garibaldi isn’t located in the nicest part of downtown, so exercise caution when visiting.
🍻 Best Nightlife in Mexico City Centro Historico
• Dance Salsa at Salon Tropicana: One of the most famous places to dance salsa and rumba in Centro Historico. Even if you have no idea how to dance, plenty of teachers are on hand to get you going.
• Best Nightlife in Centro Historico: Bar hop to the best bars in Centro Historico — Hosteria la Bota (quirky dive bar), Zinco Jazz Bar (cool jazz bar; reservations recommended) and Bosforo (hip mezcal bar).
🥃 Want to learn more about mezcal in Mexico? Join this Mezcal Tasting with Ivar Alonso, one of the top-rated Mexico City tours.
21. Find the Mexico City Hidden Bar (Hanky Panky)
The most secret of all secret bars and Mexico City speakeasies!
Though known to be located in Juarez, Hanky Panky’s exact location will only be revealed to you after you make your reservation — but these extra steps are worth it, as this is the best cocktail bar in Mexico City.
👀 Looking for more fun things to do in Juarez CDMX? Here are a few suggestions for things to see in one of the most hip CDMX neighborhoods:
• Visit the Mucho Chocolate Museum: Sample “mucho” (many) types of chocolate at the Mucho Museo del Chocolate (Museum of Chocolate) and learn about the chocolate-making process as it journeys from large, raw cacao beans to delicious truffles.
• Eat Brunch at Cafe Nin: One of the best, prettiest spots in all of Mexico City for brunch!
Cafe Nin is owned by famed Mexican chef Elena Reygadas, who also owns Panaderia Rosetta, Lardo, and Rosetta, some of the best Mexico City restaurants.
Ready to Book Your Mexico Vacation? Here Are Some Resources To Look At:
Mexico is a large country — the 14th largest country on Earth by size — and the 6th most biodiverse diverse country in the world.
Though it’s mostly known for beaches, there’s a lot more to Mexico than that. Check out these Mexico articles to discover parts of the country you never knew existed.
- The 30 Most Beautiful Cities in Mexico (#7 Will Shock You)
- Mexico Off the Beaten Path Places for Your Bucket List
- 20 Hot Springs in Mexico That are Calling Your Name
- Hidden Beaches in Mexico You’ve Never Heard Of
- Best Waterfalls in Huasteca Potosina Mexico
- The Coolest Mayan Ruins in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula
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