Mexico City is vast and sprawling, and hosts 8.85 million residents in a 570 square mile metropolis. This beautiful, bustling city has endless night life, food, and art to discover, in addition to one of the largest city parks in the western hemisphere, Bosque de Chapultepec.
From the street tacos to little sidewalk cafes, you will never go hungry and your wallet will never be happier. In just five days, this massive city is too large to explore in its entirety, but with the itinerary below, you should have a pretty good start. I can wholeheartedly say that upon leaving CDMX, I was already thinking of planning a trip back to the beautiful capital of Mexico.
Day 1: Exploring Teotihuacan
-Visit Teotihuacan ruins. These Aztec ruins are just 45 minute northeast of Mexico City and home to the infamous pyramids of the Sun and Moon. You can spend quite awhile here, so bring water and some snacks or plan on eating lunch at one of the restaurants inside the park.
– Visit Cuauhtémoc, Jaurez,and Roma Norte neighborhoods. Be sure to snap a picture with the Angel of Independence and walk up the stairs to peer inside the mausoleum.
-Toast your first day in CDMX with a drink at the upscale Fifty Mils at The Four Seasons. Sit outside in the open air secret garden lounge and take in the night sky.
Day 2: Frida Khalo House & Zócalo
-Stop in at Frida Khalo’s blue house, that has since been turned into a museum/memorial to celebrate her life along with her life’s work. Buy your tickets in advance to avoid freakishly long lines.
-Hang out in the Historic Center of Mexico City and visit Zócalo, a massive square surrounded by shops, eateries, and even ruins, some can even be seen from the area’s metro station.
-Stop in at Museo del Templo Mayor to see what is left of the ruins after Spaniards partially dismantled the buildings in order to build their Cathedrals.
Day 3: Xochimilco
-Take the day and hire yourself a boat to cruise the canals of Xochimilco. These waterways wind through the chinampas built long ago as the need for more farmland arose. The Aztecs staked off seconds of the lake Mexico City was built on and filled them with mud and vegetation to create these living islands.
-Stop over at Xochimilco’s market to sample products straight from the chinampa.
-Hit Pulqueria Temple of Diana to try Mexico’s signature alcoholic beverage. The milky libation, Pulque, is made from the fermented sap of the maguey plant.
Day 4: Bosque de Chapultepec & Chapultepec Castle
-Spend some time in Bosque de Chapultepec, a park twice the size of New York’s Central Park and even more green. This place is often called the lungs of CDMX and upon entering you’ll immediately see why.
-While in the park, visit the Chapultepec Castle, the only royal castle in the Americas . Started in 1785 and finished almost 80 years later, this castle hosts views that are a must see.
Day 5: Polanco
-Take a stroll through artsy Polanco and walk through the street sculpture that is Pergola Ixca Cienfuegos. This awesome pop of color is perfect for a mini photo shoot.
Pergola Ixca Cienfuegos
-Pop into Museo Soumaya with over 66,000 pieces of work from as far back as 1000 BC.
-Visit any markets in your area before you leave to be sure you pick up the infamously colorful textiles of Mexico or a Calavera.
