Roma Norte
Cafés, bars, first-timersLeafy streets, galleries and the best of the food scene.
City guide
Things to do in Mexico City
One of the world's great cities: Aztec ruins under a colonial centre, world-class museums, street tacos on every corner, leafy Roma and Condesa, and the pyramids of Teotihuacán an hour away.
89
Hostels in the city
7.9
Average, from 33,362 reviews
2,240 m
Above sea level
4–5
Days
A capital built on a lake
Mexico City (CDMX) sits at 2,240 metres in a high valley, on the site of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital the Spanish built over in the 16th century. The Templo Mayor ruins sit beside the cathedral on the Zócalo, one of the largest squares in the world.
It is a city of neighbourhoods. The Centro Histórico has the grand buildings and the murals; Roma and Condesa have tree-lined streets, cafés and bars; Coyoacán has the Frida Kahlo Museum and a village feel. Food is the other reason to come: taquerías, markets and some of the best restaurants in Latin America.
Give it four or five days at least, with a day trip to the pyramids of Teotihuacán. The altitude can leave you breathless at first, so take the first day slowly.
Where to base yourself
Roma Norte and Condesa for cafés, bars and most hostels; the Centro for sights and the cheapest beds.
Condesa
Parks, barsArt deco blocks around Parque México.
Centro Histórico
Sights, budgetThe Zócalo, the cathedral and the cheapest beds.
Coyoacán
Quiet, cultureFrida Kahlo's neighbourhood, with a village feel.
Juárez
Nightlife, centralBetween Roma and Reforma, with bars and Zona Rosa.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 12 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Mexico City
Start at the Zócalo with the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Templo Mayor, then walk to the Palacio de Bellas Artes. Spend half a day in Chapultepec Park at the Museo Nacional de Antropología, one of the best museums in the Americas.
Book the Frida Kahlo Museum (Casa Azul) in Coyoacán online in advance, as tickets sell out. Take a trajinera boat along the canals of Xochimilco, ideally with a group, and see lucha libre wrestling at Arena México.
Take a day trip to Teotihuacán to climb the Pyramid of the Sun and walk the Avenue of the Dead. Go early to beat the heat and the crowds.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
The Zócalo, Chapultepec Park and the streets of Roma, Condesa and Coyoacán are free. Diego Rivera's murals at the Secretaría de Educación Pública in the Centro are free to see.
On Sunday mornings Paseo de la Reforma closes to cars for cyclists and walkers, and you can borrow a free bike.
Free walking tours leave from the Centro most days; tip the guide.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Tacos al pastor, carved from a spit, cost €0.50 to €1.50 each at street stands. Try tlacoyos, quesadillas and tamales for breakfast, and churros with hot chocolate.
Markets such as Mercado de San Juan, Mercado de Coyoacán and Mercado Roma have cheap food stalls. A comida corrida, the set lunch, costs about €4 to €7.
Roma and Condesa have the cafés, mezcal bars and restaurants, from cheap to world-famous. A 10 to 15 per cent tip is usual in sit-down restaurants; check the bill first, as some add a service charge (propina).
Nightlife
Going out
Roma and Condesa have mezcal bars, cocktail bars, cantinas and clubs. The Centro has old cantinas and the mariachis of Plaza Garibaldi, best in a group and with a taxi home.
Pulquerías serve pulque, a fermented agave drink older than tequila.
A beer costs €2 to €4 in a bar, and a mezcal €3 to €6.
Getting around
Getting around
The Metro is cheap, at about €0.25 a ride, and fast, but very crowded at rush hour; some carriages are reserved for women and children. The Metrobús runs along Insurgentes and Reforma.
In the city, use Uber, DiDi or a taxi from an official rank (sitio) rather than hailing one in the street, especially at night.
Buses leave for the rest of the country from four terminals: Norte, Sur, Oriente (TAPO) and Poniente. The main airport (AICM) is about 30 minutes from Roma by Uber or Metro.
Costs
What Mexico City costs
Hostel beds start at around €12 to €20 a night. Street tacos cost under €1.50 each, and a set lunch about €4 to €7.
The Museo de Antropología costs about €5, Teotihuacán under €10 plus transport, and the Frida Kahlo Museum about €15.
Pay in pesos. Cards work in most restaurants, but carry cash for street food and markets, and use ATMs inside banks.
Safety
Safety and scams
Most visitors have no trouble in Roma, Condesa, the Centro by day, Coyoacán and Polanco. Pickpocketing is common on the Metro and in crowds, so keep your phone out of sight.
Use Uber or DiDi at night, avoid empty streets after dark, and do not go to Tepito. Earthquake alarms are tested regularly; if one sounds for real, follow the locals out.
Do not drink the tap water; use bottled or filtered water, which most hostels provide. In an emergency, call 911.
Worth the trip
Pyramids, colonial towns and volcanoes.
Teotihuacán
Climb the Pyramid of the Sun.
Puebla and Cholula
Tiled churches, mole and a pyramid under a church.
Xochimilco
Canal boats and floating gardens.
Tepoztlán
A mountain village with a hilltop temple.
Nevado de Toluca
A crater with two lakes.
Grutas de Tolantongo
Hot springs in a canyon.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Festivals, holidays and the Day of the Dead.
31 October to 2 November
Day of the Dead
Citywide
Altars, marigolds and a big parade.
15 to 16 September
Independence Day
The Zócalo
The Grito at midnight and a military parade.
March or April
Holy Week
Citywide
Processions, and Iztapalapa's Passion play.
March
Vive Latino
Mexico City
A big Latin rock festival.
Late August
Mexico City Marathon
Citywide
Through the centre.
November
Corona Capital
Mexico City
A big indie and rock festival.
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in Mexico City, live from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
La Selva Hostel
Dorms from €18 a night
See dates and book
Sustainable
Barrio Downtown Mexico City Hostel
Dorms from €16 a night
See dates and book
Kuxan Condesa
Dorms from €14 a night
See dates and book
Hostal Nomaddicts
Dorms from €11 a night
See dates and book
Apapacho
Dorms from €14 a night
See dates and book
Wanderlust District
Dorms from €15 a night
See dates and book
Massiosare El Hostel
Dorms from €12 a night
See dates and book
Hostel Airport Mexico DF
Dorms from €16 a night
See dates and book
Casa Pancha
Dorms from €15 a night
See dates and book
Hostal Casa Fungi
Dorms from €34 a night
See dates and book
Casa Pepe Hostal Boutique Ciudad de México
Dorms from €12 a night
See dates and book
Hostal Cuija Coyoacan
Dorms from €14 a night
See dates and book
When to go
October to April is dry, sunny and mild. May is the warmest month. June to September brings an afternoon downpour most days. Late October and early November are busy for the Day of the Dead.
Jan
Dry, mild
Feb
Dry
Mar
Spring
Apr
Easter week
May
Warmest
Jun
Rain starts
Jul
Afternoon rain
Aug
Afternoon rain
Sep
Independence Day
Oct
Day of the Dead build-up
Nov
Day of the Dead
Dec
Holidays
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Nights are cool all year.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Mexico City prices.
Treat these as a guide. Day trips cost extra.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Mexico City questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Mexico City safe?
Most visitors have no trouble in the main areas. Watch for pickpockets and use Uber or DiDi at night.
Where should I stay in Mexico City?
Roma Norte or Condesa for cafés and bars; the Centro for sights and budget.
How do I get to Teotihuacán?
By bus from Terminal Norte, about an hour, or on a tour.
Do I need to book the Frida Kahlo Museum?
Yes, buy tickets online in advance.
Will the altitude affect me?
You may feel breathless at first; take it easy and drink water.
How many days do I need?
Four to five days.
When is the best time to visit?
October to April, or around the Day of the Dead.
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