Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.05 Days in Mexico City: Zócalo to Frida Kahlo, Markets & Roma Eats
Five days in Mexico City done right: day one in the colonial center — the Zócalo, Templo Mayor and Bellas Artes — day two among Chapultepec's great museums and castle, day three through Roma and Condesa's parks, markets and food scene, day four in colonial Coyoacán with the Frida Kahlo Museum, and day five up Reforma's monuments and Juárez museums. The plan re-plans itself around how you travel — your style, pace and budget.
Pick a style, a budget and a pace — the route and days below re-plan themselves.
15 stops · 10 meals · 3 hotelsThis is the editor’s pick.
5 days
Each day takes one part of Mexico City, kept close so you walk more than you ride. The map shows the whole route — pick a day to zoom in.
- Day 1Centro Histórico: The Zócalo & the Templo Mayor
- Day 2Centro Histórico: The Latin American Tower & Bellas Artes
- Day 3Polanco & Chapultepec: The Anthropology Museum & Chapultepec Castle
- Day 4Coyoacán: The Frida Kahlo Museum & San Juan Bautista Church
- Day 5Juárez & Zona Rosa: The Ángel de la Independencia & the Revolution Monument
Walk the grand stairwell beneath Diego Rivera's History of Mexico murals. Tours are free and run in Spanish. Go in the morning, before the tour buses arrive.
One of the world's largest public squares: the ceremonial heart of Mexico since Aztec times, ringed by the cathedral, National Palace and Templo Mayor.
- Tour the Rivera murals in the National Palace, then step straight onto the Zócalo — a minute apart.
Worth the trip
One of the Historic Center's most traditional restaurants, founded in 1912 in a colonial mansion a few blocks from the Zócalo, serving classic Mexican dishes with live music.
Closer: El Cardenal Centro, 6 min out of your way
Excavated ruins of the Aztecs' Great Temple plus an eight-hall museum of offerings found on site, including the Coyolxauhqui stone.
- Cross the Zócalo from the square to the Templo Mayor ruins: Aztec to colonial in one walk.
Beloved traditional Mexican restaurant since 1969, famous for its breakfasts: thick hot chocolate, fresh-baked bread and nata cream from its own dairy.
The grand dame of the Zócalo: an 1899 landmark hotel with a soaring Tiffany stained-glass ceiling and one of the city's great rooftop views.
- Take breakfast on the rooftop terrace looking straight over the Zócalo.
Where Mexican muralism was born: monumental Rivera, Orozco and Siqueiros murals in 16th-century baroque courtyards, plus rotating temporary exhibitions.
The original 1935 churrería of Mexico City's most famous churro family: freshly fried churros, thick hot chocolate and shakes, steps from Bellas Artes.
The 'art cathedral of Mexico': Art Nouveau exterior, Art Deco interior, Rivera/Orozco/Siqueiros murals and the Ballet Folklórico.
Alta comida mexicana on a calm square facing Bellas Artes: since 1994, preserving Mexico's alta gastronomía with live mariachi and specialty moles (rosa, blanco, verde).
Mid-century skyscraper icon: the 44th-floor open-air mirador gives 360° views from the Zócalo to the volcanoes. The ticket includes a tower museum.
A classic downtown seafood and Spanish restaurant open since 1936: the seven-course lunch, seafood soup and huachinango a la veracruzana with old-school white-tablecloth service.
Stay put: 11 min walk back from the Latin American Tower tonight, ~27 min by taxi to Chapultepec Castle in the morning.
The hilltop castle holding the National History Museum: Maximiliano and Carlota's Alcazar rooms, the malachite room and sweeping Reforma views.
Rufino Tamayo's contemporary museum: his private collection of Picasso, Miró and Magritte, plus rotating international shows in a landmark building.
The Polanco branch of the Monterrey-born late-night taquería: tacos al pastor, chicharrón and campechanos at MXN 100–200 per person — affordable in an upscale neighborhood.
The country's greatest museum: the Aztec Sun Stone, Olmec colossal heads and Maya halls around a landmark courtyard. Give it a full morning.
- The Tamayo and the Anthropology Museum sit three minutes apart in Chapultepec's first section — do them back to back.
A classic two-story fonda in Zona Rosa: kindly grandpa waiters serve caldo tlalpeño, romeritos con torta de camarón, huachinango and a mountain of guacamole.
Switch bases tonight. A Zona Rosa institution since 1907 with a lobby that doubles as a museum of the neighborhood's golden age: a mid-range classic.
La Casa Azul: Frida Kahlo's birthplace and lifelong home, kept as she left it — her studio, kitchen and garden, with her paintings, dresses and personal artifacts.
A traditional market with 500+ stalls of crafts, silver jewelry, piñatas and produce. The Tostadas de Coyoacán counter in the middle does excellent seafood and ceviche tostadas.
- Walk five minutes from La Casa Azul to Mercado de Coyoacán for crafts and tostadas de Coyoacán.
The one original 'El Morral' with 53 years in Coyoacán: family-oriented Mexican cooking on a cobbled square — enchiladas, tostadas, mole and seasonal dishes.
A beloved traditional coffee shop since 1953: café de olla, cappuccinos and pastries at honest prices. Locals take their chairs onto the sidewalk for quiet evening coffees.
One of the city's three oldest churches: a 16th-century Franciscan parish on Coyoacán's main plaza with baroque altars, colonial art and a peaceful cloister.
A contemporary Mexican restaurant on Jardín Centenario since 1995: Oaxacan dishes, own-label mezcals and tasting flights, with a patio overlooking the plaza.
Switch bases tonight. A beloved 3-star B&B in Coyoacán's Del Carmen: 7 individually decorated rooms around a garden.
- The Frida Kahlo Museum is a 7-minute walk away — book a quiet base here for your Coyoacán day.
Roma Norte's tranquil plaza centered on a fountain and a bronze replica of Michelangelo's David, ringed by old mansions. A quiet pause between meals.
Worth the trip
A casual oyster bar and grill in Roma Norte: very fresh Mexican Pacific seafood — oysters, aguachile, grilled octopus — plus natural wines and seasonal cocktails.
Closer: Sartoria, right on your way
Elena Reygadas' beloved Roma bakery: slow-fermented sourdough, Mexican-French pastries and the famous guava roll. Arrive early before the best items sell out.
The city's icon: a 1910 victory column crowned by a gold-winged angel, mausoleum to the independence heroes. Best seen glowing at night on its Reforma roundabout.
The world's largest triumphal arch: an Art Deco monument to the Mexican Revolution. Ride the glass elevator to the 360° mirador.
An early-20th-century mansion in Colonia Juárez inspired by southern European taverns: fire and charcoal cooking for sharing, 50+ mezcals and a 100-label wine list.
Switch bases tonight. A Zona Rosa institution since 1907 with a lobby that doubles as a museum of the neighborhood's golden age: a mid-range classic.
Where to stay in Mexico City
Ranked for first-timer travelers on a comfortable budget. The places this plan sleeps in come first.
Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico
The grand dame of the Zócalo: an 1899 landmark hotel with a soaring Tiffany stained-glass ceiling and one of the city's great rooftop views.
Hotel Geneve
A Zona Rosa institution since 1907 with a lobby that doubles as a museum of the neighborhood's golden age: a mid-range classic.
Casa Jacinta Guest House
A beloved 3-star B&B in Coyoacán's Del Carmen: 7 individually decorated rooms around a garden.
Flights to Mexico City
Fly into MEX (MEX)
Flight results via Travelpayouts — we may earn a commission on bookings.
Getting around Mexico City
How to actually move around the city — transit, rideshare, bikes, and taxis.
Public transit
The backbone of the city: the Metro, Metrobús bus rapid transit, the integrated MI fare card, the Cablebús gondolas and city buses. Everything runs on the rechargeable Tarjeta de Movilidad Integrada.
- Metro
One of the largest subway systems in the Americas: 12 lines and nearly 200 stations reaching the Zócalo, Chapultepec, Coyoacán and most major sights. A single ride costs $5 MXN (about US$0.25).
Tip: Runs daily 5am to midnight. The first 2–3 cars are reserved for women and children during peak hours; ride outside 7–9am and 6–9pm to avoid the crush.
- Metrobús
Bus rapid transit on dedicated lanes: 7 lines and 283 stations covering areas the Metro misses. Standard fare is $6 MXN per ride, paid only with the MI card (contactless bank cards and Apple/Google Pay also work at turnstiles).
Tip: Line 4 connects the airport to downtown: the Quetzalcóatl route runs from Amajac on Paseo de la Reforma to airport terminals 1 and 2 for $30 MXN, daily 4:30am–midnight.
- Tarjeta de Movilidad Integrada (MI)
The single rechargeable card for the Metro, Metrobús, Cablebús, RTP buses and Ecobici — and often the only payment method accepted. Buy it for $15 MXN at vending machines in any Metrobús station.
Tip: Get one on your first day; you cannot pay cash on the Metro or Metrobús.
- Cablebús
The city's gondola lift system: 3 lines and 19 stations. Line 3 links the four sections of Bosque de Chapultepec out to Santa Fe, and Line 2 in Iztapalapa is the longest urban cable-car line in the world (10.55 km). Fare is $7 MXN with the MI card.
Tip: Ride Line 3 for aerial views over Chapultepec park — it's genuinely useful for tourists, not just commuters.
Rideshare
Uber, DiDi and Cabify all operate widely in Mexico City and are the go-to for visitors — generally safer and more convenient than hailing a street cab, especially at night.
- Uber
The most widely used rideshare app in the city, with UberX, Comfort and airport pickups. Fares are cheap by international standards.
Tip: Use Uber at night and for airport runs; agree nothing in advance — the app sets the price.
- DiDi
The main local rival to Uber, often slightly cheaper with frequent promos. Works the same way: app-set fares, card or cash payment.
Tip: Worth having as a backup when Uber surges during rain or rush hour.
- Cabify
A third rideshare option operating in Mexico City, popular with business travelers.
Tip: Useful when Uber and DiDi are both surging.
Bikes
Flat central neighborhoods make cycling easy: the Ecobici bike-share covers Roma, Condesa, Juárez, Polanco and Centro, and every Sunday Paseo de la Reforma closes to cars for the Muévete en Bici ride.
- Ecobici
The city's public bike-share, with hundreds of docking stations across the central neighborhoods. Bikes unlock with the same MI transit card.
Tip: Best for short hops between Roma, Condesa and Juárez — stations are densest there.
- Muévete en Bici (Sunday ciclovía)
Every Sunday, Paseo de la Reforma and other major avenues close to car traffic for the city's weekly bike ride — ride an Ecobici or your own bike through the empty boulevard.
Tip: Go before 10am for the emptiest streets; the closure typically runs until early afternoon.
Taxis
Taxis are everywhere, but visitors should use authorized sitio (radio) taxis or the official App CDMX rather than hailing cars off the street. No tip is expected in taxis; 10% is customary in restaurants.
- Sitio (authorized) taxis
Licensed taxi stands (sitios) at hotels, airports and busy corners; the fare is set or metered and the car is registered. Avoid hailing unmarked street cabs, especially at night.
Tip: Ask your hotel to call a sitio taxi, or walk to the nearest marked stand — never get into an unmarked car.
- App CDMX
The city government's official app, which includes hailing and paying for authorized taxis at regulated rates.
Tip: Download it before you arrive so you can pay official taxis by card without negotiating.
Keep exploring
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