Guidebook for Mexico City
Arts & Culture
I think it should be the first visit because you will get the big picture of Mexican culture and will understand the different layers of our history. Book an Airbnb experience to get a guided tour: I've done it my self!
1503 locals recommend
Museo Nacional de Antropologia
s/n Av. Paseo de la ReformaI think it should be the first visit because you will get the big picture of Mexican culture and will understand the different layers of our history. Book an Airbnb experience to get a guided tour: I've done it my self!
Probably the most important Diego Rivera murals. Don't forget your ID: the President lives here!
89 locals recommend
National Palace
S/N P.za de la ConstituciónProbably the most important Diego Rivera murals. Don't forget your ID: the President lives here!
This is the perfect match to the visit to the Museo de Antropologia. This was the center of the Aztec empire and it´s underneath present Mexico downtown.
418 locals recommend
Templo Mayor Museum
8 SeminarioThis is the perfect match to the visit to the Museo de Antropologia. This was the center of the Aztec empire and it´s underneath present Mexico downtown.
Just ask where the basement is. You will find the ruins of an ancient Aztec "highschool", this is where warriors were trained.
26 locals recommend
Centro Cultural Espana en Mexico
18 República de GuatemalaJust ask where the basement is. You will find the ruins of an ancient Aztec "highschool", this is where warriors were trained.
a. It has been a church and a theater (Anna Pavlova and Enrico Caruso
performed there!!), and now it’s a library with amazing murals by the Russian Mexican artist Vlady.
Biblioteca Lerdo de Tejada
a. It has been a church and a theater (Anna Pavlova and Enrico Caruso
performed there!!), and now it’s a library with amazing murals by the Russian Mexican artist Vlady.
This museum has a collection of European art from the XVI century
to the beginnings of the XX century, with works by Cranach, Sánchez Coello, Zurbarán, Rodin and
Sorolla. The collection is good, but the building is – according to yourrs truly – one of the most beautiful in
Mexico, if not the whole continent. The oval patio has no rival.
50 locals recommend
Museo Nacional de San Carlos
50 Avenida México-TenochtitlánThis museum has a collection of European art from the XVI century
to the beginnings of the XX century, with works by Cranach, Sánchez Coello, Zurbarán, Rodin and
Sorolla. The collection is good, but the building is – according to yourrs truly – one of the most beautiful in
Mexico, if not the whole continent. The oval patio has no rival.
The collections are not great, but the house is certainly one of the
most important non religious buildings in Mexico. Notice the guitar playing mermaid fountain in its
patio, the dogs in the bottom of the stairs (the look sooo Chinese to me) and – most of all- the snake
head on one of the corners of the facade: the epitome of syncretism. This type of head was typically
set in Aztec pyramids and represents Quetzalcoatl, or feathered serpent, their main deity. It
certainly was part of one of the pyramids that were destroyed by the Spaniards during the XVI
century and recycled. Do not forget to visit the studio of the painter Joaquín Clausell on the top
floor of the house. He used its walls to paint hundreds of sketches and the result is impressive and
simply magical.
Museum of the City of Mexico (Museo de la Ciudad de Mexico)
30 José María Pino SuárezThe collections are not great, but the house is certainly one of the
most important non religious buildings in Mexico. Notice the guitar playing mermaid fountain in its
patio, the dogs in the bottom of the stairs (the look sooo Chinese to me) and – most of all- the snake
head on one of the corners of the facade: the epitome of syncretism. This type of head was typically
set in Aztec pyramids and represents Quetzalcoatl, or feathered serpent, their main deity. It
certainly was part of one of the pyramids that were destroyed by the Spaniards during the XVI
century and recycled. Do not forget to visit the studio of the painter Joaquín Clausell on the top
floor of the house. He used its walls to paint hundreds of sketches and the result is impressive and
simply magical.
In náhuatl, the language spoken by the Aztecs, Teotihuacán means “the place where
men turn into gods”, which conveys the magnificence of this site and – to me – is enough reason to
visit it, just in case. At its zenith, during the IIIrd century it had a population of more than 100,000.
It has astonishing pyramids, very nice museums and unique collections. It’s 25 miles to the northeast
of Mexico City. You can get by Turibús. Get a guided tour on Airbnb experiences.
Teotihuacan Pyramids
Pirámide del SolIn náhuatl, the language spoken by the Aztecs, Teotihuacán means “the place where
men turn into gods”, which conveys the magnificence of this site and – to me – is enough reason to
visit it, just in case. At its zenith, during the IIIrd century it had a population of more than 100,000.
It has astonishing pyramids, very nice museums and unique collections. It’s 25 miles to the northeast
of Mexico City. You can get by Turibús. Get a guided tour on Airbnb experiences.
It features colonial furniture and art. It has a delightful patio, a true oasis that gives you the sense of what must have been the
ambiance in those convents and houses of Mexico City in the old times. Don’t have lunch there, just
coffee. There is also an impressive library on the second floor.
169 locals recommend
Museo Franz Mayer
45 Av. HidalgoIt features colonial furniture and art. It has a delightful patio, a true oasis that gives you the sense of what must have been the
ambiance in those convents and houses of Mexico City in the old times. Don’t have lunch there, just
coffee. There is also an impressive library on the second floor.
It used to be a fire station and now hosts a collection of
Mexican arts & crafts. Don’t miss the museum store. Art deco building is amazing.
168 locals recommend
Museo de Arte Popular
11 RevillagigedoIt used to be a fire station and now hosts a collection of
Mexican arts & crafts. Don’t miss the museum store. Art deco building is amazing.
Our own new discovery. The room where they used
to mint coins is just fantastic, it has the strongest vibe (sala de fundición), don’t miss it! The entrance
is on República de Bolivia St, between República de Argentina St and El Carmen St, four blocks to
the north of Justo Sierra. You will have a museum just for you. Nobody knows about it. If the dorr is closed, just knock!
National Numismatic Museum
40 C. República de BoliviaOur own new discovery. The room where they used
to mint coins is just fantastic, it has the strongest vibe (sala de fundición), don’t miss it! The entrance
is on República de Bolivia St, between República de Argentina St and El Carmen St, four blocks to
the north of Justo Sierra. You will have a museum just for you. Nobody knows about it. If the dorr is closed, just knock!
e Gran Hotel de la
Ciudad de México with its magnificent stained glass ceiling by Tiffany. This building used to be a department
store owned by French entrepreneurs and modeled after Parisian stores such as Galleries Lafayette
or La Samaritaine. It is now a hotel, do not eat or stay there. Just look up!
41 locals recommend
Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico
82 16 de Septiembree Gran Hotel de la
Ciudad de México with its magnificent stained glass ceiling by Tiffany. This building used to be a department
store owned by French entrepreneurs and modeled after Parisian stores such as Galleries Lafayette
or La Samaritaine. It is now a hotel, do not eat or stay there. Just look up!
Parks
Chapultepec Forest
Our Central Park, many museums around. Perfect for joggers!
Gastronomía
Mexico City has always had great restaurants and Mexicans are always looking for new places and recipes. Recently, the food scene has become much more diverse and interesting. This list has our favorite restaurants, many are in or near colonia Roma. The challenge would be to choose which ones you would visit in your trip!
El Parnita
84 Av. YucatanDelirio Mónica Patiño
116 MonterreyContramar
200 Calle de DurangoMaximo Bistrot
San Ángel Inn
50 Diego RiveraVery good sea food! Arrive there early and get a table outside because it gets crowded.
Playas De Sinaloa
145 Calle de DurangoVery good sea food! Arrive there early and get a table outside because it gets crowded.
María la Pescadora
OMG! Excellent food from Baja! it has very few tables, so get there early.
Not the best food, good enough for quesadilla. But, hey, the view from this place is unmatched!
73 locals recommend
El Mayor
15 República de ArgentinaNot the best food, good enough for quesadilla. But, hey, the view from this place is unmatched!
Probably one of the best Mexican food restaurants created by men. Ask for a table upstairs. Near Zócalo.
282 locals recommend
El Cardenal
23 C. de la PalmaProbably one of the best Mexican food restaurants created by men. Ask for a table upstairs. Near Zócalo.
We are loving this restaurant! Great Merxican food & service. Has AC. Very near to Alameda.
18 locals recommend
Testal
16 DoloresWe are loving this restaurant! Great Merxican food & service. Has AC. Very near to Alameda.
Mazapanes are an almond delicacy which recipe came to us from North Africa through Spain.
Mazapanes Toledo
6 16 de SeptiembreMazapanes are an almond delicacy which recipe came to us from North Africa through Spain.
Popsicles! Not to miss! Our favorite flavors: conejito,
mandarina, mango and arroz con leche and watermelon and grapefruit. Try them all!
La Pantera Fresca
Popsicles! Not to miss! Our favorite flavors: conejito,
mandarina, mango and arroz con leche and watermelon and grapefruit. Try them all!
Our guests’ favorite. International. Table communale,
very nearby! Corned beef sandwich has no equal, perfect for breakfast (French
toast!)
177 locals recommend
Lalo!
173 ZacatecasOur guests’ favorite. International. Table communale,
very nearby! Corned beef sandwich has no equal, perfect for breakfast (French
toast!)
Fantastic cocktails & sandwiches (particularly the latter!).
Thom Yorke and Colin Greenwood from Radiohead eat there when they come
to Mexico City. Perfect for lunch & dinner.
149 locals recommend
Belmondo
109 TabascoFantastic cocktails & sandwiches (particularly the latter!).
Thom Yorke and Colin Greenwood from Radiohead eat there when they come
to Mexico City. Perfect for lunch & dinner.
La Casbah. Moroccan, delicious! It has been in business for ages, used to be in Condesa. Owner is from Morroco. You can walk there or take metrobus south and get off at Campeche station and walk East. Very near to Insurgentes. Closed on Mondays. 174 Campeche.
La Casbah
174 CampecheLa Casbah. Moroccan, delicious! It has been in business for ages, used to be in Condesa. Owner is from Morroco. You can walk there or take metrobus south and get off at Campeche station and walk East. Very near to Insurgentes. Closed on Mondays. 174 Campeche.
Usefull places for your trip
Sometimes you have a couple of hours before your plance leaves and you need to store your luggage somewhere to visit the last museum. This is the place! A 10 minute Uber drive from the apartment.
Luggage Keeper - Guarda equipaje - Angel de la Independencia - Luggage Storage
Sometimes you have a couple of hours before your plance leaves and you need to store your luggage somewhere to visit the last museum. This is the place! A 10 minute Uber drive from the apartment.