10-Day Mexico City Itinerary

Arrive and check in near Centro Historico

Land at Benito Juárez Airport, take a taxi into the city, and check into a hotel near the Centro Historico.

First tacos at a street stand

Ease in with tacos de canasta, soft steamed tacos sold from a basket by a street vendor near the plaza.

Zócalo and the Metropolitan Cathedral

Stand in Latin America's largest public square, then step into the ornate, centuries-old Metropolitan Cathedral.

Rooftop dinner overlooking the Zócalo

Watch the flag lowering ceremony from a rooftop restaurant terrace overlooking the illuminated cathedral.

Drive out to Teotihuacan

Head about an hour northeast of the city to the ruins of Teotihuacan, once one of the world's largest cities.

Climb the Pyramid of the Sun

Climb the steep stairs of the massive Pyramid of the Sun for views across the Avenue of the Dead.

Pyramid of the Moon and Quetzalcoatl Temple

Walk the Avenue of the Dead to the Pyramid of the Moon and the feathered-serpent carvings of the Quetzalcoatl Temple.

Mezcal tasting back in the city

Return to the city for a guided flight of smoky mezcals at a Centro Historico cantina.

Coyoacán's plazas and market

Wander the cobblestone streets and central plazas of Coyoacán, once a separate colonial village south of the city.

Frida Kahlo Museum, Casa Azul

Tour the cobalt-blue house where Frida Kahlo was born, lived, and painted, filled with her personal belongings and art.

Tostadas at Coyoacán market

Try tostadas piled with shrimp ceviche or tinga at the bustling Mercado de Coyoacán food stalls.

Churros and hot chocolate nightcap

Finish the evening with crisp churros dipped in thick Mexican hot chocolate at a Coyoacán classic.

Chapultepec Castle on the hilltop

Climb to the only royal castle in the Americas, once home to Emperor Maximilian, for city views and period rooms.

Chapultepec Park's lake and paths

Wander down through the park's forested paths, past the lake where paddleboats drift beneath ahuehuete trees.

National Museum of Anthropology

See the Aztec Sun Stone and treasures from Mexico's ancient civilizations at this world-class museum.

Dinner in Polanco

Choose from Polanco's upscale restaurant row, from contemporary Mexican tasting menus to classic mole dishes.

Coffee at Plaza Rio de Janeiro

Start with specialty coffee at a cafe overlooking Roma Norte's leafy Plaza Rio de Janeiro and its Neptune fountain.

Art Nouveau mansion architecture

Admire Roma Norte's early-1900s Art Nouveau and Art Deco mansions along tree-lined Álvaro Obregón.

Independent design and bookshops

Browse independent Mexican fashion labels, design studios, and bookshops through Roma's boutique-lined streets.

Mezcalería evening in Roma

End the day at a candlelit mezcalería, sampling regional mezcals with orange slices and sal de gusano.

Mercado de San Juan specialty market

Explore stalls of exotic produce, cheeses, and cured meats at this gourmet market favored by city chefs.

Taco al pastor pilgrimage

Watch a trompo spit shave off crisp, marinated pork for taco al pastor at a legendary taqueria counter.

Mexican cooking class

Learn to hand-press tortillas and prepare a salsa verde and mole in a hands-on afternoon cooking class.

Pulque and antojitos night

Try pulque, an ancient fermented agave drink, alongside antojitos street snacks at a traditional pulqueria.

Drive south to Xochimilco

Head south to Xochimilco, the last remaining network of Aztec-era canals and floating chinampa farms.

Trajinera boat ride through the canals

Drift the canals aboard a brightly painted trajinera boat as mariachi bands float by on neighboring vessels.

Chinampa farm and floating food stalls

Buy grilled corn and quesadillas from canoe vendors paddling alongside the boats selling snacks and drinks.

Dinner back in Coyoacán

Return north and finish with a relaxed dinner at a family-run Coyoacán restaurant near the plazas.

Palacio de Bellas Artes

Admire the marble Art Nouveau exterior and Tiffany glass curtain of Mexico City's premier arts palace.

Diego Rivera murals inside Bellas Artes

View Diego Rivera's monumental murals depicting Mexican history and revolution inside the palace's upper floors.

Palacio Nacional's Rivera staircase murals

See Rivera's sweeping staircase murals tracing Mexican history inside the Palacio Nacional near the Zócalo.

Ballet Folklorico performance

Watch a vivid Ballet Folklorico performance of regional Mexican dance inside the Bellas Artes theatre.

Slow breakfast in Condesa

Linger over chilaquiles and fresh-squeezed juice at a sidewalk cafe in tree-lined Condesa.

Parque México Art Deco stroll

Wander the Art Deco fountains and jacaranda-lined paths of Condesa's Parque México at an easy pace.

Polanco luxury shopping

Browse designer boutiques and Mexican jewelry shops along Avenida Presidente Masaryk in Polanco.

Farewell mole dinner

Close out the trip with a rich, chocolate-tinged mole poblano at a beloved Polanco restaurant.

Last visit to Mercado de la Ciudadela

Pick up Talavera pottery, woven textiles, and silver jewelry at this crafts market popular with departing visitors.

One last street taco stop

Squeeze in a final round of tacos de guisado from a corner stand before checking out of the hotel.

Transfer to Benito Juárez Airport

Check out and take a taxi or metrobus across the city to Mexico City International Airport.

Depart Mexico City

Clear check-in for the flight home after ten days of pyramids, markets, and mezcal.