This sprawling, complex, always changing megalopolis is a study in contrasts. From its epic street food to its chef-driven, pilgrimage-worthy restaurants, Mexico City is arguably the most exciting food city in the world. Its art scene—folk and cutting-edge contemporary—is equally dynamic. And its sophisticated hotels, grand public parks and boulevards, and chic shopping streets rival those of Europe. There’s no way you can see, taste, and do all you’ll want to in one visit. But don’t worry, it’s a place that gets deep under your skin. You’ll be back.
Getty
Mexico City Travel Guide
Plan Your Mexico City Trip
Featured
In Mexico City, Aztec-Era Floating Gardens Offer a Path to Sustainable Eating
Xochimilco, largely known to travelers for its colorful party boats, has been an important food source during the pandemic.
Your Next Big Mexico Trip Is a Drive Across the Border
Last-meal-worthy fish tacos and biodynamic wineries are much closer than you think.
FAA Downgrades Mexico’s Air Safety Rating—Here’s What That Actually Means
The change in safety rating is not an assessment of individual airlines.
26 Best Hotels in Mexico City
This city’s choice of accommodations is as eclectic as the city itself.
Editor Hotel Recommendations
- Colima 71$$ | Mexico, Mexico City, Colima 71, col. , Del, Roma Nte.Read full reviewTucked within the dense Roma Norte borough, this four-story boutique hotel is a celebration of the country’s contemporary art scene
Hot List - The St. Regis Mexico City$$$ | Mexico, Mexico City, Paseo de la Reforma 439, CuauhtemocRead full reviewA luxurious experience awaits at this family-friendly hotel on Paseo de la Reforma.
Readers Choice Awards - Volga$$ | Mexico, Mexico City, Río Volga 105Read full reviewA boutique hotel offering a different kind of stay from the big hotels off the Paseo de la Reforma.
- Las Alcobas, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Mexico City$$ | Mexico, Mexico City, Masaryk 390, Polanco ChapultepecRead full reviewLas Alcobas earns its reputation as one of Mexico City’s top hotels, delivering on design, amenities, service, and especially food.Readers Choice Awards
Gold List - Casa Polanco$$$ | Mexico, Mexico City, Luis G. Urbina 84Read full reviewIn Mexico City’s posh Polanco neighborhood, this elegantly renovated Spanish Revival-style mansion feels like a peek inside the lives of well-to-do locals.Hot List
- Mondrian Mexico City Condesa$$ | Mexico, Mexico City, Aguascalientes 158Read full reviewA property that somehow manages to capture the metropolis’ thriving art scene, historical past, and modern cosmopolitan vibes.
- Hotel Carlota$ | Mexico, Mexico City, 73 Río AmazonasRead full reviewA design hotel with personalized touches near Mexico City’s Paseo de la Reforma.
- Umbral, Curio Collection by Hilton$ | Mexico, Mexico City, C. de Venustiano Carranza 69, Centro HistóricoRead full reviewAn ideal outpost for art-driven travelers who seek to experience Mexico City’s aesthetic delights of past and present.
- The Alest Hotel$ | Mexico, Mexico City, Eugenio Sue 45, PolancoRead full reviewA taste of British style in Mexico City’s poshest neighborhood.
- Brick Hotel$$ | Mexico, Mexico City, Orizaba 95, Roma Nte.Read full reviewA sleek, design-forward option with history in the heart of Mexico City’s Colonia Roma neighborhood.
- The Ritz-Carlton, Mexico City$$ | Mexico, Mexico City, Av. Paseo de la Reforma 509Read full reviewBook for the view of sprawling Mexico City from your private balcony 40 stories up.Readers Choice Awards
- Sofitel Mexico City Reforma$$ | Mexico, Mexico City, 297 Avenue, Av. Paseo de la ReformaRead full reviewWhere to find unmatched rooftop views and the best spa in Mexico City.Readers Choice Awards
- Casa Goliana$ | Mexico, Mexico City, Guanajuato 199Read full reviewCouples and solo travelers frequent this period-style boutique hotel in La Roma, known for its personalized service.Readers Choice Awards
- Hotel Habita$$ | Mexico, Mexico City , Av. Pdte. Masaryk 201Read full reviewA global smorgasbord of 30- and 40-somethings seek out this OG design hotel in Polanco, the Beverly Hills of Mexico City.
The Best Things to Do in Mexico City
- 25 Best Things to Do in Mexico CityEverything to do in one of the Americas' very oldest cities.
- 20 Best Museums in Mexico CityMexico City has long been a center for anthropology and history. In recent years, it's also become one of the world's hottest cities for art, design, and architecture—and it's got the institutions to prove it.
- 13 Best Markets in Mexico CityMexico City's markets run the gamut from food to antiques to spell-casting materials. Exploring them's not just a great way to shop—it's a great way to get to know the city's soul.
- 5 Best Day Trips from Mexico CityThese places make ideal getaways from the country's capital.
- What To Do in Polanco, Mexico City: Our GuideWhat to see, what to eat, where to shop in this opulent and artistic neighborhood.
- 14 Best Things to Do in Zócalo, Mexico CityCentro Historico, or "Centro," colloquially, is both the historic center and beating heart of Mexico City—like Times Square, but with more soul.
Editor Recommendations
- Proyectos MonclovaMexico, Mexico City, Lamartine 415Read full reviewCool, modern, and already classic.
- Self-Guided Centro Historico Cantina Crawl$ | Mexico, Ciudad de México, Let's start at Tío Pepe: Avenida Independencia 26 Colonia Centro CuauhtémocRead full reviewBeer and tequila prevail.
- Iglesia San Ignacio de LoyolaMexico, Ciudad de México, Avenida Horacio y Moliere Polanco Miguel HidalgoRead full reviewIt's both a place of worship and a haven for architecture nerds.
- Cárcamo de DoloresMexico, Ciudad de México, Avenida Rodolfo Neri Vela Bosque de Chapultepec II Secc Miguel HidalgoRead full reviewThose who've seen everything haven't yet seen this.
- Monumento a la RevoluciónMexico, Ciudad de México, Plaza de la República S/N Tabacalera CuauhtémocRead full reviewThe largest triumphal arch in the world.
- The Centro Zocalo Historico BodealoresMexico, Ciudad de México, Plaza de la Constitución Centro Histórico Centro Cuauhtémoc 06010 Ciudad de México CDMXRead full reviewOne of the best (and cheapest) shoe-shine experiences you'll find.
- Museo AnahuacalliMexico, Ciudad de México, Museo 150 San Pablo Tepetlapa CoyoacánRead full reviewPart studio, part museum and part shrine for Mexican art that Diego Rivera built as an architectural piece uniting past, present, and future to the natural environment.
- Sculpture Garden at the Museo Universitario Arte ContemporáneoMexico, Mexico City, Centro Cultural Universitario, Mario de La Cueva, UniversitariaRead full reviewEven if you don't love art or sculptures, this garden is still a lovely place to spend a few hours.
- Eat Like a LocalMexico, Mexico CIty, Calle Ozuluama 21, HipódromoRead full reviewThis Mexico City–based company runs intimate, casual culinary tours that immerse visitors in the city's vast food scene.
- Colonia JuárezMexico, Mexico City,Read full reviewOnce gritty, the area is now teeming with great boutiques, bars, and restaurants, especially the leafy central square.
- Museo JumexMexico, Mexico City, 303 Miguel de Cervantes SaavedraRead full reviewMuseo Jumex is a contemporary art museum with works by the likes of Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst.
- Lucha Libre at the Arena ColiseoMexico, Mexico City, República de Perú 77, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de MéxicoRead full reviewA giant venue that hosts sporting and entertainment events, the Arena seats as many as 23,300 spectators.
- Dolores Olmedo MuseumMexico, Mexico City, XochimilcoRead full reviewThe private art collection of Mexican heiress Dolores Olmedo is on display at her hacienda-style former estate, with impressive gardens.
19 Best Boutique Hotels in Mexico City
All you have to do is pick the right one for you.
The Best Places to Eat & Drink in Mexico City
- 28 Best Restaurants in Mexico CityThe stand-out spots in a city that's dense with incredible food.
- 20 Best Bars in Mexico CityFrom highbrow dens to working-class cantinas, and a few mid-range newcomers, we've got you covered.
- 13 Best Markets in Mexico CityMexico City's markets run the gamut from food to antiques to spell-casting materials. Exploring them's not just a great way to shop—it's a great way to get to know the city's soul.
- Mexico City Dance Halls in PhotosAn accompaniment to Mexico City Dance Halls
Editor Restaurant and Bar Recommendations
- LardoMexico, Mexico City, Agustín Melgar 6, Colonia Condesa, Cuauhtémoc, 06140 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
- Mi Compa Chava$$ | Mexico, Mexico City, Zacatecas 172, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City, Mexico,Seafood is a hangover cure in Mexico, and almost everyone eating here is intent on either fixing last night's damage or getting a head start on creating today's.Hot List
- Omusubi House$$ | Mexico, Mexico City, San Luis Potosí 188, Roma Nte.Soulful Japanese dishes served from a small Mexico City storefront, in perfect, ambulatory fashion.
- Jules Basement$$$ | Mexico, Mexico City,Enter through a sliding refrigerator door and head down the steps to this incredibly low-lit speakeasy and cocktail bar in the back of an unassuming restaurant.
- Licorería LimantourMexico, Mexico City, Álvaro Obregón 106Limantour is considered the ideal for cocktails in Mexico City, so much so that its mixologists train others across the capital.
- Ahuehuete$$ | Mexico, Ciudad de México,The team behind Ahuehuete has been collecting bottles throughout the years, traveling to rural villages to find interesting batches for their private collection.
- La Rifa Chocolateria$ | Mexico, Ciudad de México, Calle Dinamarca 47 CuauhtémocSip on some chocolate and learn all there is to know about this beloved Indigenous product.
- Los PanchosMexico, Mexico City, Tolstoi 9
- Sushi IwashiMexico, Mexico City, Av. Emilio Castelar 204
- La Docena$ | Mexico, Mexico City, Av. Álvaro Obregón 31, Roma Nte.Fresh seafood and cured meat for everyone.
- La Polar$ | Mexico, Mexico City, Calle Guillermo Prieto 129, San RafaelComing up on a century of birria.
- Limosneros$$$ | Mexico City, D.F.,Tourists staying in nearby hotels, wealthy Mexican families, and couples on early-in-the-game dates come here for creative agave drinks and snacks.
Foraging for Ant Larvae, the Past and Future of Mexican Gastronomy
In the highlands of Hidalgo, farmers forage and harvest ant larvae, known as escamoles, for some of the country’s most high-end gastronomic experiences.
More from Mexico City
Style & Culture
On Location: In ‘Rotting in the Sun,’ Jordan Firstman Confronts the Role of the Mexico City Tourist
Comedian Jordan Firstman sits down with ‘Condé Nast Traveler’ to discuss his new film, which follows him from Oaxaca to Mexico City.
Destinations
Ask a Local: Artist Luisa Salas’ Ideal Mexico City Weekend Includes Dance Parties and Cool Galleries
Curating the perfect CDMX itinerary isn't easy, but these art galleries, eateries, and garden parks are well worth your time.
Shopping
How I Packed for a Weekend in Polanco, Mexico City
The chic dresses, light layers, and comfortable walking sneakers I packed.
Food & Drink
My Favorite Airbnb Experience: An After-Dark Bike and Food Tour Through Mexico City
We cruised through Roma Norte and Condesa, picking up agua frescas, vegan suadero tacos, and esquites along the way.
Food & Drink
Author Gary Shteyngart's Dispatch From a Multi-Day Food Tour of Mexico City
Gary Shteyngart gathers some friends and heads out on an epic Mexico City grub crawl, hitting chilaquiles joints, creaky cantinas, and farm-to-table restaurants.
Style & Culture
Diego Luna's Favorite Places in Mexico City
The "Andor" actor opens up about his beloved home town—and the road trip he can't wait to take.
Style & Culture
On Location: How Alejandro Iñárritu's ‘Bardo' Captures the Magic of Mexico City and Pulled Off an Ambitious Scene at Chapultepec Castle
Lifting the curtain on some of the season's most exciting new releases.
Places to Stay
My Favorite Airbnb: A Bright Loft in Mexico City With Vintage Decor and a Lush Patio
It's a slice of mid-century modern Mexico City.
Destinations
The Mexico City Bar and Restaurant Openings We’re Excited About
From a hole-in-the-wall taquería to a French bistro with a top-notch wine list.
Destinations
A Mexico City Tour of Architect Juan O'Gorman’s Design Legacy
The architect behind Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo’s studio was known for fusing traditional Mexican motifs with functionalist design.
News & Advice
Why Colonia Cuauhtémoc Is Our New Favorite Neighborhood in Mexico City
In just a few streets, this neighborhood has a little of everything we love about Mexico City.
Places to Stay
Currently Obsessed With: The Pink Room at Ignacia Guest House in Mexico City
Just when I thought Mexico City's hotel scene couldn't get any better, Ignacia Guest House proved me wrong.
News & Advice
The Dance Halls of Mexico City Show Off a Different Side of the City
These decades-old dance floors are more intriguing than ever.
News & Advice
Our Favorite Places to Shop in Mexico City
The high-energy capital is known for its folk art and grand architecture. Now, modern design and homegrown fashion are bringing a new edge.
Places to Stay
My Favorite Airbnb in Mexico City: A Colorful, Tropical Oasis in Condesa
There's no better home base for eating your way through the city.
More Destinations
- Venice Travel GuideTrust us, you'll want to get lost
- Our Ultimate Italy Travel GuideAll of our best hotel, restaurant, and activity recommendations in one place.
- Phoenix Travel GuideAbundant sunshine, potent summer monsoon storms, and the Suessian cactuses and ancient petroglyphs of the Sonoran Desert.
- Miami Travel GuideWarm temperatures—and hotter beaches
- Chicago Travel GuideSecond City? Not by our count.
- Montreal Travel GuideLa belle vie—in French and English
- Charleston Travel GuideWhere Lowcountry meets high charm
- Vancouver Travel GuideThink of it as "rainforest chic"
- Rome Travel GuideThe world's greatest outdoor museum
- Key West Travel GuideWarm temperatures—and hotter beaches
- The Ultimate Guide to Exploring CanadaFrom scenic train rides to charming small towns, here's everything you need to bookmark for your next trip.
- Los Angeles Travel GuideWelcome to the West Coast's cultural epicenter
- Yellowstone National Park at 150Wonderland: The early nickname of America’s first national park is as apt today as when Yellowstone was founded, in March of 1872. On its sesquicentennial, we celebrate this miraculous place—while exploring a history that has too often excluded its original stewards—and consider how to ensure its survival for generations to come.
- Boston Travel GuideCharming and legitimately historic
