What to do in Mexico city - Things to see and places to go in Mexico city while on a short trip

Here are, according us and our local team, the things to do and see in Mexico city in order to get the real vibe, real essence of the city.


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1. Of course you could do all of the following or just register to our cultural scavenger hunt!


2. Take a look at this map of the city to have a real idea on how it is built and organized.

3. El Zocalo

The beating heart of Mexico City is Zócalo - the Plaza de la Constitución (Constitution Square) - where the country's first constitution was proclaimed in 1813. Measuring some 240 meters in each direction, it's one of the world's largest squares and was laid out almost immediately after the conquest of the former Aztec city of Tenochtitlán on which it stands. In the early colonial period, the square served a variety of purposes, including as a bullfighting arena and market, while today, it's used for festivals, parades, and demonstrations. Dominated by three of the city's most visited tourist attractions - the National Palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Templo Mayor with its Aztec relics - Zócalo is the perfect place from which to begin exploring this historic city.
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4.  Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral

 Dominating Zócalo square, the massive Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana de la Asunción de María) is one of the oldest and largest churches in the western hemisphere. Built atop part of the old Aztec temple precinct, construction of this massive basalt and grey sandstone structure began in 1525 and extended over 250 years. In spite of the two neoclassical towers and certain other features, the façade creates a predominantly Baroque impression with its massive twisted columns, with particular highlights being the bell-towers added in 1793 and the statues of Faith, Hope, and Charity on the clock tower dating from 1813. The cathedral's interior also shows a mingling of styles, with particular highlights being the richly carved Altar of the Kings (Altar de los Reyes) from 1739 with its superb devotional painting of the Assumption (Asunción de María), to which the cathedral is dedicated. Also of interest are a chapel containing the remains of Mexican Emperor Agustin de Iturbide, and the Crypt with its tombs of many of the city's archbishops, among them Juan de Zumárraga, the great teacher of the Indians and the first incumbent of the see. Get Google maps directions>



5. The National Palace

 Occupying the east side of Mexico City's main square, Zócalo, the immense National Palace (Palacio Nacional), built of reddish tezontle stone and boasting a 200-meter-long façade, is the official residence of the president. Built on top of an Aztec palace, it was the seat of the Spanish viceroys during the colonial period and has been much altered and enlarged over the years. One of the oldest and finest buildings in the city, it includes such notable features as the Freedom Bell, rung on September 15th, 1810, at the start of the War of Independence (it's rung on the anniversary of this event each year). The palace boasts many handsome rooms laid out around its 14 courtyards, some accessible to visitors, with the most notable being the arcaded Grand Courtyard with its fine frescoes depicting the country's rich history. English language guided tours explore a museum, a number of large halls, and the parliamentary chamber in which the Reform Constitution of 1857 was drawn up (it and the Constitution of 1917 are on display). The National Palace also houses the State Archives, with many interesting historical documents, and the Biblioteca Miguel Lerdo de Tejada, one of the largest and most important libraries in the country. Get Google maps directions>



6. Parque Alameda Central

 Parque Alameda Central, a shady and beautifully kept park with many splendid fountains and sculptures, was laid out in 1592 on the site of a once busy Aztec market (it remains a bustling location to this day, especially at Christmas when it is beautifully illuminated and decorated). Popular attractions here are the music and colorful costumes seen in performances of traditional Mexican dances at the Teatro de Bellas Artes, a huge hall famous for its spectacular glass-mosaic curtain made by Tiffany's of New York depicting the Valley of Mexico and its two mighty volcanoes. The theater also houses the Museum of Art (Museo de Artes Plásticas), notable for its collection of works by Mexican artists of the 19th and 20th centuries. Get Google maps directions>



7. Paseo de la Reforma and the Angel of Independence

 The principal east-west traffic artery of Mexico City, Paseo de la Reforma extends for 15 kilometers from Tlatelolco to the residential district of Las Lomas but is best known for the stretch from Avenida Benito Juárez to Chapultepec Park. Here, this attractive boulevard widens to 60 meters with a pleasant green strip in the middle containing busts and monuments to numerous national heroes. While now largely known as a busy entertainment and shopping area, this magnificent avenue - laid out during the reign of Emperor Maximilian - is home to a number of important attractions, most notably the massive Independence Monument (Monumento a la Independencia), also known as "El Angel" for the figure of a winged goddess of victory standing atop its tall 36-meter column. In addition to its fine statues of the heroes of the country's independence movement is the Mausoleum with its many skulls of some of the country's most important historic figures.
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8. Chapultepec Park

Bosque de Chapultepec is Mexico City's principal park, and covering an area of more than four square kilometers, it is also its largest. Once a stronghold of the Toltecs, it was here in AD 1200 that the Aztecs settled, and according to legend, laid out a park in the early 15th century. Over time, the hill became a summer residence of the Aztec rulers with water from its springs conveyed to the temple precinct in the capital by means of an aqueduct, the remains of which can still be seen in Avenida Chapultepec. Portraits of the Aztec rulers were carved on the slopes of the hill, remnants of which can still be seen. These days, the park is popular for its lakes, sports facilities, botanic garden, and museums - you'll find both the National History Museum and the National Museum of Anthropology here - along with numerous fun events including concerts and theatrical performances. Also of interest are the Museum of Modern Art (Museo de Arte Moderno), opened in 1964 and important for its retrospective look at Mexican art before and during the colonial period and its collection of pictures and sculpture by Mexican artists of the 19th and 20th centuries, and the Centro Cultural de Arte Contemporáneo with its displays of pre-Spanish art as well as contemporary Mexican and international painting and photography.  Get Google maps directions>



9. Frida Kahlo House Museum: La Casa Azúl

Frida Kahlo's family home, the Casa Azúl, or "Blue House" is where the Mexican artist lived most of her life. Visitors to Mexico City who are interested in her life and work should not miss a visit to this museum, which is not only a testament to her life but also a fine example of early 20th Century Mexican architecture. Those hoping to see her art should plan to visit the Dolores Olmedo Museum and the Modern Art Museum in Chapultepec Park because there is not much of Frida's or Diego Rivera's art exhibited here.

The house was built in 1904 by Frida's father, Guillermo Kahlo, and was the Kahlo family home. Frida's husband, Diego Rivera, later purchased the home, paying off the mortgage and debt that Frida's father had accumulated to pay for Frida's medical care following the accident she suffered at the age of 18. Leon Trotsky stayed here as a guest of Frida and Diego when he first arrived in Mexico in 1937.  The house and grounds were originally much smaller than they are now; in the couple's later years they had a significant amount of work done, and the architect Juan O'Gorman collaborated with Rivera to build an addition to the house in the 1940s. The new wing of the house included Frida's studio and bedroom. Four years after Frida's death, the Casa Azul was converted into a museum in 1958. It is decorated with Mexican folk art and contains Frida's and Diego's personal belongings from the time they lived there. Each object in the home tells a story: the crutches, wheelchair, and corset speak of Frida's medical troubles and physical suffering. The Mexican folk art shows Frida's keen artist's eye, how devoted she was to her country and traditions, and how she loved to surround herself with beautiful things. The couple enjoyed entertaining and their colorful kitchen with clay pots hanging on the walls and on the tiled stove would have been an ideal space for social gatherings.  Some of the highlights of the museum include the kitchen, Frida's easel and wheelchair, and the garden with a central pyramid, terracotta pots and a few pieces from Diego's collection of Prehispanic art (more can be seen in the Museo Anahualcalli). Get Google maps directions>



10. Museo Mural Diego Rivera and Museo Rufino Tamayo

 A short walk from the National Museum of Anthropology is Museo Rufino Tamayo, named after Rufino Tamayo (1900-91), one of Mexico's most famous painters. Notable for its unusual interior, the gallery opened in 1981 and, in addition to Tamayo's artwork it also displays his own extensive collection of several hundred works by contemporary artists including prints, paintings, sculptures, and wall hangings. Another important art facility worth visiting is Museo Mural Diego Rivera named after one of the country's leading artists whose most famous painting, Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Park, in which he caricatured some of Mexico's historical figures, is on display here after years of being banned by the state (Rivera had originally called it Dios no existe, or God does not exist). Get Google maps directions>



11. The Palace of Fine Arts

One of Mexico City's most important cultural landmarks, the Palace of Fine Arts (Palacio de Bellas Artes) is an architectural gem. Towering over the adjacent park, this massive marble building - designed by Italian architect Adamo Boari with Art Nouveau and Art Deco influences - was completed in 1934 and is so heavy that it has sunk more than four meters, despite attempts to lighten it by removing part of its huge dome. Now headquarters of the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes, the palace serves as an opera house and concert hall hosting a variety of traditional and international dance and operatic productions. Hot Tip: If you're able to see a performance, you'll also be rewarded with a chance to enjoy the building's stunning interior décor and large murals.
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12. The National Museum of Anthropology

One of the most important of its kind in the world, the National Museum of Anthropology lies in Chapultepec Park and is hard to miss due to the huge monolithic figure marking its entrance. Built in 1964, this strikingly successful example of contemporary architecture is famous for its magnificent displays of old Indian art treasures, most notably in the Central Patio, part of which is roofed by a gigantic stone shelter supported by an 11-meter-tall column with waterfalls symbolizing the eternal cycle of life. As spectacular as the building itself, is its vast collection, which includes archaeological finds from extinct Indian cultures along with details of the lifestyles of contemporary Indian inhabitants of Mexico. Other highlights include the National Library of Anthropology, founded by Lucas Alaman in 1831 and developed by Emperor Maximilian, which boasts more than 300,000 rare volumes.











  

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13. The Square of the Three Cultures and Santiago de Tlatelolco

 Another of Mexico City's important historic squares is the Square of the Three Cultures (Plaza de las Tres Culturas). Occupying the site of the main square of the Pre-Columbian town of Tlatelolco and the scene of the last desperate stand by the Aztecs in 1521 - an event remembered by a memorial tablet - the square takes its name from its interesting mix of buildings from three different periods: Aztec pyramids and temples, a Spanish church, and modern tower blocks. In addition to the principal pyramid, other Aztec remains include a number of smaller pyramids, platforms, staircases, walls, and altars, as well as a "tzompantli," a wall of skulls and fine reliefs of Aztec calendar signs. The square is also home to a rather sobering memorial museum, Memorial 68, commemorating the tragic murder of some 250 protesting students by government forces in 1968. Also of note is the Baroque church of
 Santiago de Tlatelolco, built in the early 17th century on the site of a small chapel from 1535 that belonged to the Franciscan convent of Santiago. Adjoining the church is one of the old convent buildings, formerly the Colegio Imperial de Santa Cruz, in which the Franciscans taught the gifted sons of the Aztec nobility (one of the most notable teachers was Bernardino de Sahagún, the great chronicler of the history of New Spain). Get Google maps directions>


14. Templo Mayor and the Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlán

Despite the widespread destruction after the defeat of the Aztecs, a number of their important historic sites have been unearthed and put on display in recent years. The most important site is Templo Mayor, home to remains of the Great Temple of Tenochtitlán, including the first relic discovered in 1978, a finely sculpted round disc more than three meters in diameter and weighing eight-and-a-half tons. Further excavations - including the summit platform of an earlier pyramid with well-preserved temple walls along with the skulls of sacrificial victims - indicate the temple site had been built over by the Aztecs and their predecessors 11 times. A highlight of a visit is a walkway past the precinct of the aristocratic "winged warriors" where remains of residences decorated with multi-colored reliefs have been unearthed, along with evidence of the original paintwork. Hot Tip: The vast majority of relics and artifacts uncovered are housed in two museums: the Museum of the Templo Mayor built on the temple site, and the nearby National Museum of Anthropology, widely regarded as the most important museum in Mexico. Get Google maps directions>



15. The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe

 Said to have attracted its first pilgrims when it opened in 1531, the Roman Catholic Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe) attracts millions of visitors and worshipers each year, particularly during the Feast Day each December 12th. Built adjacent to the hill where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared, the site consists of a complex of buildings overlooking a broad public square adorned with a number of interesting modern sculptures, including a large concrete cross with a unique clock and chime. Highlights include a splendid altarpiece dedicated to Mary in the 16th-century Old Basilica, and the new Basilica de Guadalupe, built in 1976, and notable for its distinctive modern curved appearance. Get Google maps directions>


16. The House of Tiles

 Opposite the picturesque Church of San Francisco is the spectacular House of Tiles (Casa de los Azulejos). Originally built in 1596 and boasting a façade decorated by the Conde del Valle de Orizaba 150 years later with exquisite blue and white tiles from Puebla, it became even more famous after artist José Clemente Orozco painted murals on the walls of the staircase in 1925. Now an excellent restaurant, a highlight of any trip to Mexico City should include dining al fresco in the building's spectacular courtyard surrounded by what is one very large work of art. Hot Tip: Be sure to check out the large photo marking the spot where Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa dined together on arrival in Mexico City. Get Google maps directions>



17. National History Museum

 Another of Mexico City's world-class attractions is the National History Museum (Museo Nacional de Historia). In the 18th-century Chapultepec Castle (Castillo de Chapultepec) on a site once occupied by Aztec buildings and later by a Spanish hermitage, the museum opened in 1944 and is home to an impressive collection of Pre-Columbian material and reproductions of old manuscripts, as well as a vast range of exhibits illustrating the history of Mexico since the Spanish conquest. Highlights include arms and armor, documents, maps, and plans of the Conquest period and its immediate aftermath; ceramics, clothing, jewelry, and coins from three centuries; relics and souvenirs of the struggle for independence and the revolutionary wars; portraits of leading figures in Mexican history; and a number of state carriages, including those used by Benito Juárez and Emperor Maximilian. Also of interest are the apartments occupied by Maximilian and Charlotte, decorated in neoclassical style and containing furniture brought from Europe. Get Google maps directions>


Rosario is our Mexico city local representative, we asked her what an ideal day of leisure in Mexico city could look like, what she'd suggest doing from early morning to late at night?Here is what she suggests. Don't hesitate to contact Rosario on Twitter @bigcitychase #Mexicocity #questionforRosario if you have questions for her, we may publish your conversation in this blog if she thinks it might be useful to other Mexico city visitors.

Rosario from Mexico city for Big City Chase Mexico city : 

"Hello, my name is Rosario and I'm a real defeña, it means that I'm a real inhabitant from Mexico city, born and raised there. I love my city, it has so much to offer and I will be glad to give you the best tips so that you spend a great day in our beautiful D.F.