Tenochtitlan

Understand

The greater Mexico City metropolitan area is one of the world's largest and the largest city in North America, with 22 million people living in the metropolitan area in 2020. It sits in the Valley of Mexico. It is shaped roughly like an oval of about 60 km by 40 km with large parts of it built on the dry bed of Lake Texcoco, and surrounded on three sides by tall mountains and volcanoes such as the Ajusco, the Popocatepetl and the Iztaccihuatl. Mexico City proper (with an estimated population of 9.2 million) is the country's capital, and since 2016 has been a "federal entity" with the same powers as the states of Mexico, though still separate from the states. Confusingly, the rest of the metropolitan area extends beyond Mexico City into the State of Mexico, which surrounds Mexico City on the west, north and east, and Hidalgo further north. Practically speaking, Mexico City refers to the city proper and is the area where tourists will spend all or most of their time. The city center is 2,230 m (7,320 ft) above mean sea level, and some outlying areas reach up to 3,000 m (9,800 ft). This is far higher than any metropolitan area in the United States or Europe, and some people have breathing difficulties because of this. If you live closer to sea level, you may experience difficulty breathing due to altitude and pollution. Air quality has, however, been improved in the last few years.

Mexico City is the wealthiest city in all of Latin America, with a GDP per capita of US$27,000, and has the lowest poverty rate in all of Mexico. More than a third of the total Mexican economy is concentrated here. Most of the country's large and multinational corporations have headquarters in the city, mainly in the Polanco and Santa Fe districts.

History

The origins of Mexico City date back to 1325, when the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlan was founded and later destroyed in 1521 by Spanish conqueror Hernan Cortes. The city served as the capital of the Vice-royalty of New Spain until the outbreak of the Independence War in 1810. The city became the capital of the Mexican Empire in 1821 and of the Mexican Republic in 1823 after the abdication of Agustin de Iturbide. During the Mexico-US war in 1847, the city was invaded by the American army. In 1864 the French invaded Mexico and the emperor Ferdinand Maximilian of Habsburg ruled the country from the Castillo de Chapultepec and ordered to build Avenue of the Empress (today's Paseo de la Reforma promenade). Porfirio Díaz assumed power in 1876 and left an outstanding mark in the city with many European styled buildings such

Getting there

By plane

1 Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX IATA) Main article: Benito Juárez International Airport Most travellers arrive to Mexico City by air, to Benito Juárez International Airport, located in the eastern part of the city. This is the most convenient airport to most parts of the Mexico City area. From the airport, downtown hotels can be as close as 15 minutes by taxi if traffic is light (which it rarely is). A bus terminal inside the airport makes for easy connections to nearby cities.

2 Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU IATA)

Mexico City's second airport is the main hub of Mexicana airlines and serves mostly domestic flights, with a smattering of regional destinations but no flights to the US. Opened 2022, it has modern luggage scanners which don't require passengers to remove laptops or liquids. Like most airports in Mexico, nobody actually uses the long official name of an obscure government figure, but rather, Chilangos simply call this airport "Santa Lucia", or often by the abbreviation "AIFA" (as opposed to "AICM", which denotes Benito Juarez/Mexico City International). While constructing the new passenger facilities, workers uncovered several woolly mammoth remains, which are now housed in the beautiful new Museo Paleontologico Santa Lucia Quinametzen (inside the airport facility). If you have a spare hour or two between flights, a visit would be time well spent. Flying to this airport could (maybe) save you some money over flying to MEX. Skyscanner and Google Flights don't include the Felipe Ángeles airport if you look for flights to/from Mexico City. Instead you need to specifically type in this airport. kiwi.com does include this airport when typing in Mexico City. When booking flights to Mexico City on other sites (such as Kayak), be aware that they sometimes show results that mix NLU and MEX arrivals and departures, so check your reservations before ordering an Uber to the wrong airport.

Ground transportation Like most outlying airports, NLU is not as convenient for travelers as MEX - allow at least 90 minutes from the airport to downtown.The airport is 49 km (30 miles) from the city and only limited public transportation is available. There are taxi stands which will get you into the centre of town for about M$750 (fixed price). The airport has its own train station called AIFA, which was completed in April 2026. It is served by Tren Suburbano trains. From the airport, trains go to the Buenavista station in Mexico City/Centro. The 40-minute train ride costs M$11.50 to M$26.50 (about US$1.50 for the most expe

Getting around

Mexico City is a huge place, but driving is definitely not a way to see it even if tourist attractions are scattered throughout the city. There are several public transport options.

The city government operates the Metro and Metrobús bus rapid transit (BRT) system, which are cheap and reliable but can be very crowded during rush hour. It also operates a light rail line, RTP bus system and electric trolleybuses. There are plenty of franchised private buses, minibuses and vans, known as peseros and combis, which are less reliable and safe but reach more destinations. In the metropolitan area, there is a commuter train line and the Mexibús bus rapid transit system, but most destinations are only served by private minibuses and vans. There are thousands of taxis, painted in white and magenta, and several ride-hailing services with surprisingly cheap rates. If you get lost and are far away from your hotel, hop into a pesero (mini bus) or bus that takes you to a Metro station (look for the sign with the stylized metro "M" in the front window). Using the wall maps, you can get back to a more familiar place (such as Zocalo or Bellas Artes). If it's after midnight, taking a taxi is your best bet.

By metro

The Sistema de Transporte Colectivo, known as the Metro, is one of the largest and most patronized subway systems in the world, with 12 lines that measure more than 190 km (120 mi) and carry 4.4 million people every day. The metro is relatively quick and efficient, especially as an alternative to taxis during rush hours when the streets are essentially parking lots. Operating hours are from 05:00 to 00:00 on weekdays (starts at 06:00 on Saturday and 07:00 on Sunday). A last train leaves every terminal station at midnight. The metro trains run every couple of minutes, so if you just miss it, you won't have long to wait until another arrives. It gets crowded, particularly lines 1, 2 and 3 and during the morning (07:00-09:00) and afternoon (17:00-19:00) rush hours: trains are often filled to significantly over capacity, and sometimes it will be hot and uncomfortable. It can get loud in the trains due to the noise of the wheels and due to conversation, vendors or people blasting their music. The Metro is quite safe, but there are a few incidences of pickpocketing every day. Keep your belongings close to you; if you have bags, close them, keep them in sight and you won't have any problems.

Fares One trip with unlimited transfers within the metro system costs M$5 (Jan 2025). Most of the network supports payment by contactless debit or credit card, though forei

See

Downtown Mexico City has been an urban area since the foundation of Tenochtitlán in 1325, and the city is filled with historical buildings and landmarks from every epoch since then. It is also known as the City of Palaces, because of the large number of stately buildings, especially in the Centro. Mexico City has three World Heritage Sites: the Centro Histórico and Xochimilco, the house of architect Luis Barragán and the University City campus of UNAM. In addition, Mexico is one of the cities with the largest number of museums in the world.

Landmarks

Plaza de la Bellas Artes (Centro Historico). Commonly known as Palace of Fine Arts or Cathedral of Arts in Mexico, host of art events and art exhibitions, along with a number of enormous murals including Diego Rivera's El hombre controlador del universo and Jorge González Camarena's Liberación. (updated Feb 2026) Plaza de la Constitución (Centro Historico). Commonly known as Zócalo, it is one of the largest squares in the world, surrounded by historic buildings, including the City Hall and the Cathedral. Catedral Metropolitana de la Ciudad de México (Centro Historico). Next to El Zocalo in the city center. The biggest cathedral in the Americas. Containing many altars, its principal altar is made from solid gold. Angel de la Independencia (El Angel) (Zona Rosa). A monument in Reforma Avenue that celebrates Mexico's independence in 1810. Basílica de Guadalupe (La Villa de Guadalupe). Catholicism's holiest place in the Americas, and the destination of pilgrims from all over the world, especially during the yearly celebration on the 12th of December. It is the shrine that guards the poncho of Juan Diego that contains the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and is in the northernmost part of the city. Ciudad Universitaria (Coyoacán). The main campus of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Located on Insurgentes Sur Avenue, it is one of the world's largest universities, with more than 270,000 students every semester. In 2007 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Coyoacán. Historic Colonial Arts district which was home to Frida Kahlo, Leon Trotsky, and Diego Rivera, among others. Plaza Garibaldi-Mariachi (Centro Historico). The square is surrounded by cafés and restaurants much favored by tourists, and in these and in the square itself groups of musicians play folk music. Most of these groups are "mariachis" from Jalisco, dressed in Charro costume and playing trumpets, violins, guitars and the guitarrón or bass guitar. Paseo de la Reform

Do

As the world's 7th largest city, Mexico City offers something for everyone and for every budget. Attractions in Mexico City focus less on lazing on the beach (there are no beaches in Mexico City!) and more on exploring the culture and urban culture of Mexico.

Itineraries Traveling in Mexico City with children

Festivals and events Wise Men's day. January 6. Most Mexican kids receive toys from the Three Wise Men (Reyes Magos). This is a celebration that pays homage to the aforementioned Bible story. To celebrate it the family gather to eat the "Rosca de Reyes", a sort of bundt cake filled with plastic baby Jesus figures. Traditionally, people who get a figure in their slice of cake are expected to host a feast with tamales on Candelaria Day, February 2. The surroundings of the Alameda Central park are filled with costumed Reyes Magos on the days leading to January 6. Art Week. early February (Feb. 3 - 9 in 2025). Each year in February, the world of contemporary art focuses on Mexico City's Art Week when parties, celebrations, special gallery exhibitions and myriad galas take place throughout the city. The event takes place at the same time as two other major art events, ZsONA MACO, and Feria Material as well as numerous other events at galleries and museums throughout the city. Independence Day "Yell". September 15. In the evening, the President of the country (or the city mayor) salutes the crowds from the presidential balcony in the National Palace in the Constitution Square (Zocalo) and shouts the famous "Viva Mexico". The Zocalo (and the rest of the city) is decorated with ornaments and lights. This is an incredible expression of Mexican patriotism combined with a party mood. Expect big crowds with a big revelery. If you want smaller crowds, the squares at the center of every borough usually host similar celebrations. Independence Parade. September 16. In the morning, there is a military parade that runs across Paseo de la Reforma, turns right at Juarez Avenue which later becomes Madero Street and ends at the Zocalo. 15,000 to 30,000 soldiers of the Mexican Army, Navy and Air Force march through the streets displaying its equipment and weapons. Alebrijes Parade, Reforma to Zocalo. mid-October. Alebrijes are brightly colored fanciful animal figures that are one of Mexico's most iconic pop art genres. Each year, enormous Alebrijes floats are created and a parade is held along Paseo de la Reforma and then on to the Zocalo. Pink polka-dotted pigs, Purple-winged dragons, orange dogs with spiked haircuts....these and more will march in the pa

Buy

Money These ATMs have low withdrawal fees and are widespread throughout the city:

banamex / citibanamex Santander Banorte If there is none of them near you, check these ATMs with low fees:

BanCoppel BanBajío Banco Azteca Banjercito Users of Bank of America, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, Westpac and Scotiabank may withdraw money with no fees at any HSBC, Scotiabank, BanBajío, Inbursa, Banregio or Mifel ATM.

Shopping districts

Polanco. Upscale shopping and dining district centered around Presidente Masaryk and Campos Eliseos streets. It also has several shopping malls. Altavista (San Angel). Upscale shopping street. Condesa. Trendy district full with alternative stores and boutiques. Centro Historico. The city's oldest shopping district, you can find almost anything here. The old department stores are clustered around 20 de Noviembre St.

Shopping centers Mexico City is famous among Mexicans for its huge malls. American-style shopping malls appeared in Mexico City by the late 1960s and are now are spread all over the metropolitan area. You will find malls listed in the district articles.

Outlet malls Premium Outlets at Punta Norte. Northwest of Mexico City (State of Mexico) in the intersection of Periferico (Mexico Hwy #57) and the Chamapa La Venta highway, near Ciudad Satelite. You will need a taxi or a car to get there. Las Plazas Outlet Lerma. Mexico- Toluca highway Km. 50 in the intersection with Calzada Cholula in the City of Lerma, near Toluca. You will need a car to get there.

Arts and crafts Ciudadela Market (Centro Historico). A crafts market where cultural groups from around Mexico distribute their crafts to other parts of the country and the world. The National Fund for the Development of Arts and Crafts (Fonart), Avenida Patriotismo 691, in Mixcoac, Avenida Paseo de la Reforma No. 116 in Colonia Juárez and Avenida Juarez 89 in Centro.

Flea and antique markets Although street vendors can be found almost anywhere in Mexico City, the following are more "formal" flea markets selling handcrafts, furniture and antiques.

Bazar del Sábado. In San Angel. Every Saturday, artists show and sell their paintings in a beautiful, cobblestoned zone of the city. There are also stores where they sell handcrafts. Mercado de Artesanias. In Coyoacan on Saturdays, featuring handicrafts from all over the country, and classes for kids. Plaza del Angel. In Zona Rosa, Calle Londres (metro station Insurgentes). Mostly expensive antique shops, the famous Sunday collectibles market has nearly vanished. Mercado de Alvaro Obre

Eat

You can find almost any kind of food in this city. There are regional specialties from all over Mexico as well as international cuisine, including Japanese, Chinese, French, Polish, Italian, Argentinean, Belgian, Irish, you name it. The main restaurant areas are in Polanco, Condesa, Centro, Zona Rosa, along Avenida Insurgentes from Viaducto to Copilco and more recently Santa Fe. There are several Mexican chain family restaurants that can be assumed to be safe and similar no matter where you are, including Vips, Toks, La Casa de Toño and the more traditional Sanborns, all reminiscent of Denny's in the United States. They are uniformly good (if never excellent) and relatively approachable to those who have trepidation around Mexican cuisine. El Globo, a French-style bakery, has locations throughout the city selling both French and traditional Mexican pastries, like orejas (little ears), éclairs, empanadas, and rosca during New Year's. It can't be beat for a quick snack or bagful of pastries to eat later. If you're on a budget, you can also try one of the myriad comida corrida (set menu) restaurants, frequented by many office workers. Some of these offer very good food, are usually safe, and should range between M$70-110 (March 2022). Perhaps the most ubiquitous type of food almost anywhere in Mexico city are fast food outlets, located on the ground floor of a street-facing building, or puestos, street stands located on a sidewalk or almost anywhere there is room. Most of these serve the usual tacos or tortas, and they can be very cheap. Hygiene varies from good to abysmal, so eat at a place that has plenty of people. Given that most of these establishments cook entirely in view, you can tell if it's going to be okay or not. Often, a street taco stand is going to have better food than a sit down restaurant. If you want to stuff your face with lots of real Mexican food at cheap prices then head over to a market, such as Mercado La Merced, the former central market in Centro Historico. There are several restaurants as well as stands serving up some delicious food. Huaraches and alambres are popular here. Another superb market in Centro is Mercado San Juan Arcos de Belem, full of food stalls offering all the Mexican favorites. Vegetarian (vegetariano) alternatives are commonly available at larger restaurants, but don't expect much from street vendors. The magic phrases, for vegetarians or vegans, are "sin pollo" (no chicken), "sin carne" (no meat), "sin huevo" (no eggs) and "sin queso" (no cheese). If you can communicate this and then gesticulate to the menu,

Drink & nightlife

Mexico City's nightlife is like all other aspects of the city; it is huge. There is an enormous selection of venues: clubs, bars, restaurants, cafes, and variations and combinations thereof to choose from. There is incredible variation, from ultramodern lounges in Santa Fe and Reforma, to centuries-old dance halls in Centro and Roma. There are also pubs in Tlalpan and Coyoacán and clubs of every stripe in Insurgentes, Polanco, Condesa and the Zona Rosa. Traveling by yourself at night in certain areas of Mexico City is not a good idea, especially in Plaza Garibaldi, where pickpocketers are ever ready to relieve you of your unguarded cash. One of the ways you can check out the night life safely is by doing a Night Club Tour. These tours will typically take you to a few clubs and include transportation. Mexicans are for the most part very friendly and enjoy socializing. The typical Mexican place to go to drink is the cantina, a bar where food is usually free, and you pay for drinks (exact policies and minimums vary). Cantinas serve a wide range of Mexican and foreign drinks, with prices usually reasonable compared to prices in the US, and you'll be continually served various Mexican foods, such as tacos (you should ask for 'Botana'). If your tolerance for Mexican music (mariachi or otherwise) and lots of noise is low however, this may not be your kind of place. Cantinas are open moderately late, usually past midnight at the very least. However some cantinas, like La Victoria, near the Plaza Garibaldi, are also open at midday for lunch. A lower-end traditional option is going to a pulquería, where you can drink pulque, a fermented agave drink that was once sacred to the Aztecs. After being on a steep decline for decades, many are finding a new surge in popularity with young people, and pulque can now be found at hipster bars from time to time. They can be found in the Centro Histórico and around Xochimilco. If you don't like pulque, they usually serve beer as well. Many bars play a combination of Spanish and English-language rock, electronic music, and some Latin/Caribbean music. These bars tend to close around 3-4AM. Club music mainly falls into three main categories, pop, rock and electronic music. The pop places generally play what's on the music charts, Latin pop, and sometimes traditional Mexican music, and are frequented by a younger (sometimes very young) audience, and are often more upper class. The rock places play rock in the wide sense, in English and Spanish. Most people are at least over 18 in these places. The electronica clubs, which attract e

Sleep

The city has more than 3,000 hotels in all price ranges. Details about individual properties are in the various District articles.

Budget Hotels: Look in the Centro Histórico where you will find myriad hostels and budget hotels rich in character and charm. Standouts include the Hostel Mexico City, the Casa de los Amigos, and the Hotel MX chain which has several low-priced properties to choose from. Moderate Hotels: Zona Rosa is a tourist haven with mid-range prices and good amenities at places like the Galerias Plaza. A number of stately older hotels along Paseo de la Reforma leading towards Centro Histórico offer character and affordability. A good value in this area is the Barcelo Mexico Reforma. Splurge Hotels: Look in the Polanco district, where high-end hotels thrive (along with trendy restaurants and clubs, upscale shopping and elegant older homes). Chapultepec has several modern high-rise hotels by international chains like JW Marriott, Fiesta Americana and St Regis. The Marquis Reforma is a good bet here. Boutique Hotels: Small hotels that deliver charming local character, preserve historical integrity, and provide personal service are found in many parts of Mexico City, particularly in Condesa and Roma and Polanco.

Go next

Day trips Teotihuacan – 50 km. The ancient city of giant pre-Columbian pyramids.

National parks Many visitors are surprised to find that the city includes large tracts of open land intended to preserve some of the natural resources of the region. These parks offer natural scenery, historical landmarks, and recreational opportunities including hiking, mountain biking, and camping. Public transit is generally not a reliable way to reach these parks, but taxis or private drivers can get you there.

Desert of the Lions National Park (Desierto de los Leones) – 28 km. The site of an abandoned Carmelite convent from the early 17th century is surrounded by trees in the middle of a pine forest. Take a hike from "La Venta" to "El Convento" or up to "Cruz Blanca" and eat some great quesadillas for lunch, you can't miss them since it the only structure on "Cruz Blanca". If you can find a mountain bike, it's one of the best places to ride. Iztacchuatl-Popocateptl National Park – 60 km. When you look east from downtown, the horizon is dominated by two snow-capped mountain peaks, known locally as Izta-Popo. The still-active Popo volcano may have smoke billowing from its cauldron. These twin volcanoes are the centerpoint of a 172,000 hectare park spanning the range that crosses the border between Estado de Mexico and neighboring Puebla state.

in the south-east Puebla – 140 km. UNESCO world heritage place for its colonial architecture and site of the battle with the French army in the mid-1800s. The city is known throughout Mexico for its cuisine; it's worthwhile to do some sight-seeing and sample some of the food. Many good restaurants are conveniently located near the main square.

in the south Cuernavaca – 80 km. The capital city of the state of Morelos. It's known worldwide as "The City of Eternal Spring" due to its nice climate. Tepoztlan – 80 km. A cool new age city south of Mexico City which has an interesting pyramid on top of a mountain. The journey up to see the pyramid takes approximately an hour and is well worth it once you see the view on top. Tepoztlan is also known for its frequent UFO activity. Believe it or not if you want, but a large percentage of the town residents claim to have seen the "ovni." Oaxtepec – 100 km. It's a great place to get out of the hectic city and do some swimming. The climate is constantly warm and sunny and there is a very affordable and very fun waterpark (only half is open on weekdays, on the weekends the rest of the park is open). There are plenty of lodging options and most include access to a club house with a saun