Mexico City is one of the world’s great capitals. It has something for everyone, from ancient ruins and bustling markets to spectacular cuisine and nightlife. These are 10 top experiences and the best things to do in Mexico City to explore its iconic sights, rich history, and vibrant culture. I also include top-rated organized tour options (with affiliate links) that take the stress out of trip planning!
Wander the Historic Center
View from the Zócalo Central Hotel's rooftop restaurant
Mexico City’s historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site home to some of the city’s top sights. At its heart is the Zócalo, one of the largest public squares in the world. The area captures the city’s essence with its mix of pre-Hispanic, colonial, and modern influences.
Visit Top-Notch Museums
One of the incredible artifacts at the Museo Nacional de Antropología
Mexico City is home to some of Latin America’s best museums. There’s the can’t-miss Museo Nacional de Antropología and more off-the-beaten-path gems like Museo Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso. These are the top museums in the city for Mexican history, art, and culture.
Enjoy World-Class Dining
Contramar, one of the city's top seafood restaurants
From world-famous restaurants like Pujol to busy street stalls, Mexico City’s diverse food scene is one of its biggest draws. Fine dining eateries highlight local flavors with modern techniques, and street vendors serve classic, much-loved dishes like tacos and tamales.
Drink Up the Nightlife
One of the best cocktails I've had in years was the mezcal milk punch “Oregano” cocktail at Limantour
Mexico City’s diverse bar scene showcases the country’s rich drinking culture and artisanal spirits. There’s traditional cantinas like Cantina Tio Pepe, modern mezcalerías like Bósforo, atmospheric pulquerías like Las Duelistas, and world-class cocktail bars like Limantour.
Cruise the Canals of Xochimilco
Local students celebrating their graduation on the floating trajineras of Xochimilco
Xochimilco has a network of canals and artificial islands, called chinampas or floating gardens, created by the Aztecs. Experience Mexico’s festive culture with a ride on a trajinera (flat-bottomed boat) through the canals, with floating mariachi bands and food vendors passing by.
Shop at the Markets
I love seeing how vendors decorate their stalls. They're always filled with personality!
Markets are central to daily life in Mexico City. Mercado de La Merced, one of the largest and busiest markets, sprawls with produce and food stalls, while the Mercado de Artesanías features Mexican handicrafts with hundreds of vendors selling textiles, ceramics, and jewelry.
Attend a Lucha Libre Match
Lucha libre is a Mexican style of professional wrestling that blends sport and theater. It’s a beloved part of Mexico’s popular culture that entertains, inspires, and unites. At Arena México, fans cheer for masked luchadores who represent larger-than-life characters. The colorful costumes and theatrical fights reflect deeper themes of identity, good versus evil, and folklore.
Explore the City’s Diverse Neighborhoods
Christmas of 2024, when the city was all decked out for the holidays
Each neighborhood in Mexico City offers a distinct experience, from the upscale boulevards of Polanco to the bohemian vibe of Coyoacán and the trendy streets of Roma and Condesa. Explore the city’s diversity of culture, architecture, and daily life in its unique neighborhoods.
Go to a Fútbol Game
Watching Mexico vs. Spain in 2010
Soccer or fútbol is the country’s most popular sport. But it’s more than a sport in Mexico, it’s a way of life and part of the nation’s identity. Attend a game at an iconic venue like Estadio Banorte to experience the electric energy, passion, and community spirit in the stadium.
Visit the Ancient City of Teotihuacán
I took this photo in 2010 during my first trip to Mexico City when you could climb the pyramids
Teotihuacán (‘the place where the gods were created’) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site an hour outside Mexico City. This ancient city was once the largest in the pre-Columbian Americas, known for the iconic and monumental Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon.
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