by After one year in Mexico City, I decided it was time to write about my experience and maybe give some advice about the best things you can do downtown and outside the city. Mexicans are welcoming, helpful and will even treat you like family if you behave yourself. If you have a decent Spanish you might even get their great sense of humour. Mexico has many things to offer across its 31 states, and each state is totally different. Mexico is a country rich in history, tradition and culture. Its bright colours, delicious food and natural beauty will take your breath away.
Best things you can do in the city
- Palacio de Bellas Artes, if available I recommend the “Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández”
- Walk along the Avenida 5 de Mayo to get to the Zócalo, the main square from central Mexico City
- Visit the Museo del Templo Mayor, it was one of the main temples of the Aztecs in their capital city of Tenochtitlan, which is now Mexico City
- Check out the National Museum of Anthropology
- Visit the Chapultepec Castle and relax in the surrounding Chapultepec Park
- Buy some great art, souvenirs and handcrafts at the Ciudadela Market
- Go on top of the Torre Latinoamericana and admire the 360° view over the center of Mexico
- Visit the house-museum of Frida Kahlo, dedicated to the life and work of this Mexican artist and her husband Diego Rivera
And outside the city
- Teotihuacan pyramids, ancient Mesoamerican city with the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon and the Avenue of the Dead!
- Go on a hike on Iztaccihuatl to admire the view on Popocatépetl active volcano, located in the state of Puebla
- Plan a trip to Tamasopo, with Xilitla (Edward James garden), Puente de dios, Tamasopo cascades, Micos Waterfall, Media Luna Lake and the Rio Verde
- A weekend trip to Guadalajara is something easy to plan from the city, very charming city considered the home of the mariachi music!
- If you have even more time take a flight to Cancun and visit everything around: Chichen Itza, Playa del Carmen, Tulum (playa el Paraiso is wonderful), spend a day at Xcaret. For the more adventurous you can drive up to Merida in Yucatan.
- Bernal, Queretaro de Arteaga
- Grutas de Cacahuamilpa
- Xochicalco, Morelos
- Los Atlantes de Tula, Hidalgo
- Taxco, Guerrero, the city is known for its silver, both with the mining of it and the crafting of it into jewelry
- Tepoztlán, Morelos and Tepozteco Pyramid nearby
- Tequesquitengo, Morelos
- Tepotzotlán, Mexico
Of course you can’t go to Mexico without trying some of the best Mexican food!
- Chiles en nogada, most patriotic dishes with the three colours of the Mexican flag
- Enchiladas, rojas gratinadas, my favorite!
- Tacos al pastor, Pozole, Chilaquiles, Tostadas, Elote, Tamales, Mole, Guacamole, etc
- And a few places where you can eat downtown: Cafe Tacuba, El Cardenal, Azul Histórico, Zocalo Central Hotel
- For the amateur of even more fancy restaurants, Pujol is one of the best to put on top of your list