Mexico City
Coyoacan 🌟
This is your go-to neighborhood for a full immersion in Mexican art and culture. Coyoacán has been a hub for artists for decades and was once considered to be the outskirts of the city, which is evident by the neighborhood feel. Wandering the streets of Coyoacan, you’ll find some of the most photogenic houses in Mexico City. From intricate carved doors to tiled walls and cobblestone streets, there are plenty of Insta-worthy spots in this area of the city.
Coyoacán was once a sleepy neighborhood outside the centre of the city where no tourists would ever think of entering. But since the Frida Kahlo craze and her rise to fame, this neighborhood which was once her home, has since become and a must-see destination for anyone visiting Mexico City. Take some time to discover the hidden secrets of the oldest neighborhood in Mexico City
Xochimilco 🌿
This is absolute must-do while visiting Mexico City. The colorful gondolas called trajineras are used to float through the canals of Xochimilco. While most of the canals are big party spots nowadays, there is still a part that has preserved nature, where you can find people still practicing the same agricultural techniques of the Aztecs.
Xochimilco is the Venice of Mexico. It’s an enormous network of canals which spread across this southern district of Mexico City. There are over 170 km of canals which spread out in all different directions. Before the Spanish arrived in Mexico City, the indigenous people of Mexico had created an incredible network of canals. They used these both as a means of transport and as a way to ensure there was a constant supply of water throughout the city.
Iconic Soumaya Museum💕
The Museo Soumaya is one of our favorite types of museums. It is not controlled and operated by the government but instead features one man’s private collection.
Named for the late wife of its millionaire owner Carlos Slim, the Museo Soumaya is the shimmering highlight in Mexico City’s vast art gallery collection. While it’s predominantly recognisable for its unique and striking architecture, the art collections housed in the jaw-dropping buildings that make up this museum are just as extraordinary. Here’s why Museo Soumaya is a definite Mexico City must-see.
Chapultepec Castle ✨👑
Chapultepec Castle is the reflection of Mexico’s intricate history and fusion between its pre-Hispanic and Hispanic culture.
This hill that now holds a panoramic view of one of the largest cities in the world and a clear image of the opulence and architecture brought by the Spanish in colonial times, was once a land surrounded by lakes, springs, mountains and kilometers of forest, and an important Mexica religious temple.
All the information provided inside the castle is in Spanish. So, to truly enjoy the experience, take a few minutes at the entrance to absorb the majesty of the castle, and then go inside the first building (bottom floor) and head to the shop to buy a guide in English. It has an inconvenient design, but offers great information and a map at the back that leads you to every room with its proper explanation.
National Museum of Anthropology 🫰🏼🌿
With a location in Mexico City‘s Chapultepec Park, a strikingly modern exterior, and a collection of artifacts far beyond your imagination; Mexico’s National Museum of Anthropology deserves a place among the world’s great museums.
The best place to start is the Introducción a la Antropología and work counterclockwise from there. Many short-on-time visitors jump straight into the Teotihuacán hall displaying models and objects from the Americas’ first great and powerful state.
In a clearing about 100m in front of the museum’s entrance, indigenous Totonac people perform their spectacular voladores rite – ‘flying’ from a 20m-high pole – every 30 minutes for tips.
La condesa and La roma 🌿
These adjacent neighborhoods are known for their lush green avenues, bohemian boutiques, incredible restaurants, and art galleries, as well as the best nightlife in the city. You may have heard about the Oscar-winning movie Roma, which is set in the Roma neighborhood. The colonial architecture and ample tree-lined boulevards give this neighborhood its romantic feel, which you’re sure to fall in love with.
There is a good reason why so many travellers refer to the area as the Williamsburg of Mexico City. If La Condesa is the “lungs,” then Roma Norte is Mexico City’s stomach. Roma Norte is known for having; the best bar scene, top-class restaurants, incredible street food, and picturesque cafes on every street corner. But the area is also home to some of the best-preserved colonial-era architecture. Every street is plush with greenery, ivy falling off the Juliet balconies above. Wide avenues are home to charming artisans and the idyllic parks are where locals come to relax.
Templo Mayor 🎒🔥
Ancient Templo Mayor. Over the years, after many successful excavations and archeological digs, much of this historic site has been uncovered. It is now able to be viewed once more by the public inside the Templo Mayor Museum. The museum is definitely worth visiting as it displays some of the most significant treasures and relics of the great Aztec people.
The entire modern metropolis of Mexico City was built atop the ruins of the ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. In the center of Tenochtitlan was the Templo Mayor, the city’s primary temple complex. The temple’s original name, in the native Nahuatl language, was Huēyi Teōcalli. According to legend, the temple was located where the god Huitzilopochtli gave the Mexican people the sign that they had reached the promised land. This sign was that iconic image of an eagle on a cactus with a snake in its mouth.
Bellas Artes Palace 📷🕶️
The palace of fine arts is an impressive structure and the prominent cultural center of Mexico City. Its spacious interior is often used to host large music, dance, and theatre events throughout the year.
The enormous murals hanging from its ceiling are truly unique to the history and traditions of Mexico.
El Palacio de Bellas Artes is easily one of the most beautiful buildings in the entire city. Its architecture is breathtaking! Inside you’ll find a popular art museum, a concert hall, a theater, and several halls with sculptures and paintings. Most notably, the building features works by some of Mexico’s most famous muralists, including Diego Rivera and Roberto Montenegro.
Postal Palace 👑✉️
The architecture of this jaw-dropping, century-old post office is absolutely worth seeing when in Mexico City! The post office was first built in 1907 when the mail system was separated from the governmental operations. Today, the Palacio Postal is still operating! If you’re looking to stop by this historic landmark, please be aware of the hours and plan your trip accordingly, especially on weekends. It is open from 10am-4pm on Saturdays and only 10am-2pm on Sundays. During the week it is open from 8am-7:30pm.
House of Tiles ✨
This historical palace was built in the 18th century by the Count del Valle de Orizaba family. Three sides of this building are completely covered by a gorgeous blue and white tile representing the Puebla State. The building today is still operational with a souvenir shop and restaurant located inside. You can snap some amazing photographs just outside the building featuring the incredible tile design.
