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The Ultimate One Week Mexico City Itinerary for Foodies & Culture Lovers

After crafting a Mexico City itinerary that allowed us to see the unique culture of the city and its fringes, I wholeheartedly believe it is one of the most underrated cities in the world. The most populous city in North America gets a bad rap a lot of the time. When telling friends and family I was going on a girl’s trip to Mexico City, I was constantly met with statements like, “Oh, why there?” and “Wow, you better be careful!”

Many people, especially our parent’s generation, allow the stories they see in the news and shows like Narcos to cloud their opinions. But there is so much more to this cultural metropolitan city than the negative stories shared by the media. Are there issues? Yes. The country still suffers from machismo culture and gender violence is still very much a problem. Cartels and drug wars are still prevalent, with the government doing little to help. But is there beauty despite the issues? So much.

In reality, you can walk down the street from your house and encounter violence or sticky situations. The key to staying safe in any new destination is using your smarts and allowing locals to lead the way!

My hope with this Mexico City itinerary is that it opens your eyes to the beauty and culture that Mexico City has to offer. Give it a chance despite others’ adverse opinions! Keep in mind that this shares just a small fragment of what this incredible city has to offer. Plus, traveling during COVID meant avoiding indoor bars, restaurants, and museums for the most part just to be extra safe.

It’s perfect for first-timers and those who are looking for a mix of exploration and R&R!

Day 1: Kick Off Your Mexico City Itinerary by Acclimating & Getting a Taste of the City

Mexico City actually sits at 7,300 feet, so you’re going to want to take it a little slow on your first day to acclimate, no matter what time you arrive. Drink lots of water!

Depending on when your flight arrives, get out and get a taste of the city exploring local restaurants by your hotel! We got in at 9:00 p.m. and had a bit of a snafu with our transportation, so we didn’t end up getting to our Airbnb until close to midnight. When we got to the Airbnb, we got Uber Eats delivered. No surprise, we ordered tacos. When in Mexico!

Not-So-Pro Tip: Uber.

Just take Uber from the airport. It’s super easy, safe, and affordable. Plus, you don’t need to speak Spanish because you’re inputting your destination from the get-go. You can also share your ride with a friend, which adds a layer of safety that gives peace of mind.

For our Mexico City itinerary, we booked a transfer service since there was a big group of us, and not everyone spoke Spanish. 0/10, do not recommend. We waited about 30 minutes because our flight arrived early, customs was super simple, and silly me figured they were just not anticipating us this early. But, come to find out, they hadn’t even booked the transfer for us. I worked it out, but it was super annoying, and Uber would have been a million times easier.

Day 2: Sightseeing in Centro Historico & Shopping at La Ciudadela

Brunch at El Mayor, Centro Historico

We started our day with brunch because there is no better way to start the day, obviously.

Try El Mayor for incredible eats, mimosas, and vistas! While there was a bit of a wait, it wasn’t too long, and we sat on the top deck overlooking the Templo Mayor ruins. It was really neat seeing the meshing of old and new in one singular viewpoint.

We ordered a bit of a Mexican-inspired smorgasbord and shared to get a little taste of everything. My favorite dish was the mollete, which I had never tried before. While it’s traditional Mexican fare, it’s not something that typically ends up on menus in the U.S. It’s what I would describe as the Mexican version of bruschetta. A toasted piece of bread, topped with cheese, refried beans, and chorizo or other meats. It was amazing!

Sightseeing Around the Zocalo

After brunch, we wandered through Centro Historico, led by our friend who is currently living there. We passed Palacio de Bellas Artes and spent some time in the Plaza de la Constitución, also known as the Zocalo. This is a must for any Mexico City itinerary because it’s truly the heart of the city where locals and tourists mesh as one.

Experience “Una Limpia” Amidst Sightseeing

This area is bustling with locals and tourists alike, with a soundtrack all its own. The deep blare of conch trumpets, humming rhythms of drums, and clattering of ayoyote seeds adorning the Aztec dancers and healers’ ankles as they swiftly move barefoot across the hot concrete create a cultural ambiance. We decided that we had to take part in “la limpia”, a short purification ceremony Aztec shaman healers offer in the square.

This spiritual cleansing rids your body of negative energy and bad spirits to find clarity, peace, and harmony. She started by spritzing us with water and asked us to wipe it off our bodies as we closed our eyes, I assume to start the process of washing away the bad juju. Then, she took a bouquet of herbs that she used to swipe us from head to toe. This swift movement is to rid your body of the evil forces and negativity. After that, she put some of the herbs in what resembled a molcajete of sorts that held a bit of copal or incense. From there, she burned the herbs and copal, blowing the smoke around us. To end the ceremony, she blew the conch trumpet behind us, sending good vibrations throughout our bodies.

Throughout the entire limpia, she shared sentiments of healing, peace, and wishes for a fruitful and fulfilling future, free of pain or suffering. It’s a really beautiful tradition that did have me feeling lighter immediately!  The video below shows just small snippet of the experience. We left a 200 peso note with them as a thank you. It was probably too much, but it was worth it! I’d highly recommend this affordable and unique experience to get a bit of a look into traditional Mexican culture.

Pop Into a Museum or Two

The Zocalo area is home to a few museums you can add to your Mexico City itinerary, including:

The list literally goes on and on. There are so many incredible museums in Mexico City!

We popped into the Citibanamex Culture Palace, Palacio de Iturbide to check out the pop-up art exhibits they had running. The building itself was remarkable. It was built in the late-1700s with Baroque-style architecture that was restored in the early-2000s and now displays a variety of traveling exhibits featuring both modern and historic art from around the world.

Photo Opp at Casa de los Azulejos

When walking around, make sure to stop at the Casa de los Azulejos, translated to House of Tiles, on Callejón de la Condesa for a photo.

It’s a historic palace whose entire façade features tiles handcrafted in Puebla, Mexico. While it was once an aristocratic home, it’s now home to a chain restaurant, unfortunately. But, the exterior is worth a stop!

You can find tiles similar to those you see on the building at the next stop of the day…

Shop Local Artisan-Made Crafts at La Ciudadela

Next up, shopping! Artisan markets are typically my favorite place in any country. They give you a peek at the culture, allow you to speak with locals, and who doesn’t love shopping?

I ended up getting a pair of huaraches which are now my most comfortable pair of shoes, no lie. The best part? I paid about $15 USD for them, which is pretty great considering they’re real leather and extremely well made. In this case, I didn’t negotiate because I felt the price was fair, but I’m sure you could have! I also got a beautiful, embroidered navy top with gold detailing and an embroidered clutch in similar colors. Embroidery goes back to pre-Hispanic textiles and can be found on most traditional Mexican clothing and accessories! You can get everything from handcrafted wood and glass décor, embroidered pillows and homewares, jewelry, paintings, and more. You’ll want to spend some time wandering the colorful aisleways just soaking up all the beauty and talent surrounding you!

While I wish I could have bought something from every stall, I tried to control myself a little bit, plus I was running out of pesos. Some spots will take credit cards, but it’s a good idea to just take enough cash with you to the market. This also makes it easier to barter because you can say you only have a certain bill. Usually, they’ll work with you to get to a price that makes everyone happy.

After the market, we went back to the Airbnb. I caught up on a few work emails and did a little yoga to stretch out after a bunch of walking. Then, we went to dinner!

Dinner & Drinks at Huset

When you think of Insta-worthy restaurants to add to your Mexico City itinerary, Huset should be at the top of your list. It gives off a whimsical garden vibe. I’m seriously impressed they’re able to keep the lush plant life alive in there, crawling from floor to ceiling with vivacious vines. I can’t even keep my desk plant alive, so I give them props.

Their menu offers international flavors and some really great cocktails. Salud!

Day 3: Day Trip to Teotihuacan with Locals & Churros

Teotihuacan Through a Local’s Eyes

Although this is a Mexico City itinerary, this specific day trip takes you outside the city limits. Teotihuacan is about 30 miles outside the city, which took about an hour to drive in the morning and nearly two hours in the afternoon traffic. But it’s worth the drive.

When looking at places like this, I always prefer to go with a local guide. They can give you insight and stories that you wouldn’t find in the guidebooks, the internet, or if you were just wandering solo, reading the plaques along the way.

After looking through a bunch of options, I chose an Airbnb Experience, Teotihuacan & My Grandma’s Food. Hugo picked us up early in the morning, ready for an adventure. We drove about an hour with a quick stop for breakfast and arrived at the ruins. There’s something pretty remarkable about seeing this grandiose pyramid appear on the horizon as you arrive!

One of the unique things about traveling in this weird time in the world is these major sites that are typically crawling with international tourists are nearly empty. We arrived, and we were almost the only ones there. Hugo walked us around, told us the history, and shared some of the unique stories that make these Mesoamerican ruins so special. A must-visit!

You can also take a bus or Uber out there, but I don’t think you’d get as much out of the experience without knowing the stories behind these vast structures. Here’s a great post on how to do this on your own if you prefer!

Lunch & Pulque Tasting at Abela’s House in Magdalena Tequisistlán

After a few hours of wandering and exploring Teotihuacan, Hugo brought us to his family home, located just a few miles away from the ruins. We were welcomed by his aunt, mother, and cousins, who were busy whipping up their family mole recipes for us to try!

We sat down and were served an enormous plate filled with rice, beans, and enchiladas, two with green mole, which I had never tried before, and two with traditional mole. This plate was essentially a battle of the abuelas because one mole was a family recipe from one side of the family, while the other mole came from the other side. I loved the green mole as it was a change from what we had tasted during the week! It paired perfectly with an ice-cold Indio beer, a local IPA.

After we enjoyed lunch, it was time to taste a little pulque! Pulque is a traditional alcoholic beverage made from fermented sap from the maguey plant. The taste is unique. It’s a bit thick and a little bit fizzy. It reminded me of green chile wine from New Mexico, with a hint of that peppery flavor after the initial sip. Hugo’s family owns a maguey farm, so they make their own pulque, and they’ve actually started a new trend which is distilled pulque that will be more easily exported to other countries. That was much thinner and had a smooth finish, it was more similar to mezcal for sure. The highlight for me, though, was the nopales liquor, which is a liquor made from cactus leaves. They boil it down and add honey, and it’s super sweet and delicious! It would make a mean margarita.

While they don’t export yet, they do sell there. Each bottle is made with clay and hand-painted by one of their artistic cousins. We got a few bottles to bring home, and they’re great for décor and enjoying!

After the tasting, we met their dogs and headed back to the city.

Churros y Chocolate at Churrería El Moro

While we were still full from lunch, we got dropped off right by the best churro place in the city, so we couldn’t pass that up. Every Mexico City itinerary must include churros!!

When we ordered, we ended up ordering the wrong thing. While we meant to order churros con chocolate, as in a chocolate dipping sauce, we ordered hot chocolate. It was really rich and obviously made from scratch but wasn’t what we were expecting. We ordered the paquete with four churros and chocolate. What you want to order is the “Orden de 4 churros con un dip de chocolate” for the real churros con chocolate experience.

Now, these aren’t like Spanish churros. They’re rolled in sweet cinnamon sugar and are a bit thinner than those you’d get in Madrid from Chocolatería San Ginés. They’re super crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside for a perfect afternoon treat!

Dinner at Mercado Roma

We went back to the Airbnb to relax and then grabbed dinner close to the Airbnb at Mercado Roma. This spot is a modern food hall-style spot where you order from one of many eateries and sit in communal cafeteria-style seating. It’s great for when people can’t decide what they want as everyone has options. They have everything from a vegan taco spot to an ice cream place. It’s definitely a little bit hipster and something you’d find in the United States, but it was really convenient and tasty.

After watching one too many Mexico City food shows before leaving, I knew I had to try birria and was so happy there was a stall selling it here. It lived up to the hype, friends. I got an order of quesabirria which was essentially a few tacos filled with birria and cheese, with the signature broth for dipping. And, of course, I had to pair it with a margarita!

Day 4: Spa Day & Mezcal Tasting

Sparty at hela spa

Who doesn’t love a good spa day? Seeing as how we had a few super busy days, we wanted a little R&R. After researching a lot of great spa options, I ultimately chose Hela Spa within the InterContinental Presidente Mexico City in Polanco.

They had a “sparty” package that included a massage and a glass of bubbly that was perfect for what we were looking for. Since there were six of us, they took three at a time for massages, and the rest of us were able to relax in the lounge chairs by the jacuzzi area with stunning views of the city!

Lunch at Nosh, Hotel Hippodrome

After the spa day, we decided we need a break from Mexican food and stumbled upon Nosh, a Tel-Aviv-inspired restaurant inside Hotel Hippodrome. The food was fresh, healthy, and really delicious. Not a tortilla chip or stewed meat in sight, which, as much as I love Mexican food, was welcome at this point in the week.

We started with the Salatim y Schmear, which was a sampling of small salads served with pita chips. There were standard and avocado egg salads, an Israeli salad, a whitefish salad, pickled beets with pomegranate and pistachio, fried cauliflower with spices and honey, and a cream cheese dip. Everything was infused with international flavors and was so delicious. For my entrée, I got the hummus and carrot falafel which was the best choice! The pita bread came out piping hot, and you could tell that the hummus was made fresh in-house.

Mezcal Tasting Airbnb Experience

Did you know that every tequila is a mezcal, but not every mezcal is a tequila? This was just one of the fun facts we covered in our mezcal tasting dinner we booked through Airbnb Experiences.

It was a multi-course meal, each with a different Oaxacan-produced mezcal. The owner was incredibly knowledgeable about the process and detailed each and every step of this epicurean artform, the history, and the cultural significance. The goal of the experience is to support indigenous communities still producing mezcal in small batches. You’d never be able to get these mezcales in the United States, which makes for a really unique experience.

The dinner was average, in my opinion. The food wasn’t great, but the mezcal and the intention behind it were phenomenal. So, if you do book this option, know you’re going for the mezcal, the stories, and the connection with a great host, not necessarily the best food you’ll have on your trip.

Day 5: Food Tour with an Intentional Company Empowering Women

Taste Your Way Through Roma, Condesa, And Mexico City Markets

One thing I do everywhere I visit is a food tour with a local. They can be hit or miss depending on who you get leading the tour. But when I found Eat Like a Local, I knew this company was something special. On the homepage, their tagline is “Food Tours for Tour Haters”.

Now, those who know me know that I hate traditional tours. The tours where they squeeze an ungodly amount of people on a bus, give them stickers to don on their chests, and tell them to follow their parasol-wielding guide. You won’t catch me on one of those if I can do anything at all to help it. So naturally, I was intrigued by her tagline.

When I kept reading, I learned that the owner is a survivor of domestic violence who escaped her situation and now uses her tourism company to empower women and support locals by preserving the authenticity and traditions of her beloved city.

So, we booked, and I thought I couldn’t love them any more. Until we actually went!

Culinary Adventure with Eat Like a Local (A Highlight Of OUr Mexico City Itinerary)

We met Rocio, and she told us more of her story, and led us through Roma, Condesa, and brought us to Mercado de Jamaica. But the highlight for me was our time at Mercado La Merced.

Now, Mercado La Merced is one of the most dangerous places in the city. It’s a home for gangs, prostitution, and pickpockets, and it’s not a place you want to go alone or after hours. If you do go, don’t wear flashy jewelry or clothing, try to fit in as much as possible, and hold your bag tight.

The second we entered the tented area you could tell a big bunch of gringas weren’t your typical market patrons. Heads turned, and men shouted “Ay, que lindas nenas” (oh, what pretty girls) and other derogatory remarks. Things that aren’t uncommon as a woman wandering the streets of Central or South America I’ve found. But Rocio has cultivated deep relationships with the people who live and work here, and they ensure that she and her visitors are well taken care of during their time in the market. So, I was not intimidated, just a wee bit uncomfortable because we were obviously out of place. All that faded when we met the girls she works with in the market.

We started at a stall where Wendy, a local girl whose family owns a stall in the market, taught us how to make micheladas. We met her sisters, Monse and Arely, as well as Arely’s son Pirru. They shared a bit of their life story, growing up and working at their family’s stall in the market, along with their dreams of learning English and traveling. Wendy is preparing for a trip to Europe this summer and is the first person in her family to ever own a passport. Rocio is helping her earn the money for the trip by allowing her to lead her own tours through the market, teaching her that hard work pays off. Monse took over the tour at this point and showed us to a few different areas of La Merced with super tasty, local eats.

I will tell more of the story of the food tour itself in a separate post soon. I could go on for days talking about all the good this company is doing. THIS is what real sustainable tourism is all about.

Dinner & Drinks at Supra Roma Rooftop

I had to skip out on this night out, but the girls loved it! They said the views of the city went on for days. Make a reservation and ensure you’ve dressed appropriately, as there is a dress code.

Day 6: Trip to Xochimilco (& COVID Tests)

Full disclosure, we didn’t actually get to Xochimilco during our time in Mexico City, although it was on our official Mexico City itinerary. We ended up having to shift our food tour a day because a few of us had been hit with a bad case of Mexican tummy troubles (gotta love traveling in Mexico). This would have made a food tour totally miserable. Rocio was so accommodating and understanding and allowed us to move our tour to our last day in the city so we could fully enjoy the experience. We’re already thinking about our next trip to Mexico City, and this will be first up because we were so bummed we didn’t get here!

We ended up spending most of the day in the Airbnb and ordered really great posole on Uber Eats from La Casa de Toño. I used to live in New Mexico so posole is super comforting and I am very picky when it comes to finding the good ones. I can attest that this one passed the test!

Here’s a great post all about how to do Xochimilco on your own! An alternative would be finding a tour with a local to show you the ropes like this Airbnb Experience started by two Mexican women looking to support and share local culture.

On the way back to the United States, we had to get our COVID tests within 24 hours of departure, so we spent some time in the Airbnb and got that done. We booked a company called Olab Diagnosticos Medicos that sent someone out to the Airbnb to do all of our tests at once. It was about 600 pesos, which is $30 USD. Totally worth the extra expense versus going to a pharmacy or care center nearby!  

Day 7: Head Home Full & Happy

Guava Pastries at Panaderia Rosetta

Today you say, “Adios,” to this incredible city! But before you go, enjoy a lovely breakfast at Panaderia Rosetta, famous for their roles de guayaba, aka guava rolls. They totally lived up to the hype. Even a friend who doesn’t usually like guava was obsessed! Each flaky pastry is made with layers and layers of buttery dough. In the center, you indulge in a bit of cream and sweet guava jam. I would literally go back to this city just for another bite of this pastry from the heavens!

After breakfast, we easily took an Uber to the airport. We hopped on our flight back to Newark, already missing the tacos and tequila.

For Next Time…

The first thing I learned when I started Google Mapping places in Mexico City was it is HUGE. There is no way to cover everything in its entirety in a week.

Now, I’m already thinking about my next Mexico City itinerary and what that will look like. Typical! I want to cover all the things we didn’t get to this time including:

  • Coyoacan & the Frida Kahlo Museum (Closed on Mondays! We made the mistake of planning this for a Monday and had to change our schedule.)
  • Attend a Lucha Libre event
  • Do a coffee tasting

I’m sure I will add more things to the list, but this is a good start for the next trip. Or, use this to switch some activities above out for your own!

Where to Stay in Mexico City

We stayed at an Airbnb in Roma Norte owned by a property company. It was big enough for our group, perfectly located, and really affordable in our minds. But, after learning a little bit more about the Airbnb situation in Mexico City, I will choose differently the next time I go.

When we were on the tour with Rocio from Eat Like a Local, she shared that while Airbnb can be a good option in Mexico City, it’s a bit corrupt. When it first started, a lot of companies negotiated with landlords. The landlords ended up evicting their tenants to create Airbnb rentals. Now, there are a ton of companies in Mexico City that have hundreds of listings at the expense of locals. They’re pricing them out of local housing markets, taking over safe and popular areas of the city, and other problematic situations. Check out her blog about it to get the full story. If you do want to stay in an Airbnb, she does give a few tips for how to do it responsibly to ensure you’re supporting locals, not alienating them in their own city.

That said, I am obsessed with unique hotels. Before becoming a copywriter, I was an event planner. So sourcing hotels for meetings and events was how I spent my days. That said, unless I’m traveling with a big group of friends like this trip, I will always choose a hotel first. Here are a few Mexico City hotels that really sparked my interest, in great areas close to attractions and foodie spots.

Hotel in Roma

La Valise Mexico City | Tonalá 53, Roma Norte

This three-suite property is an old townhouse that has been revived with traditional flair.

Hotel in Polanco

Las Alcobas, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Mexico City | Ave. Presidente Masaryk 390

Marriott’s Luxury Collection hotels are some of my favorite. I do prefer to stay at more local and boutique properties, but these typically give that feel. They’re a splurge but expect amazing service and unique history and architecture blended with modern amenities.

Hotel in Condesa

Condesa DF |Avenida Veracruz 102 Colonia Condesa

We spent a night on their Terraza rooftop bar and watched the sunset, and it was nothing short of magical. The design isn’t what you’d expect from the historic colonial exterior, but it’s super fun, and the rooms look simple yet luxurious!

Don’t love these options? You can browse on the widget below (if you do book via this link or any booking link on this page, I may receive a small commission – thank you!).

Booking.com

How to Get Around Mexico City

I’ll be honest, I hate public transportation. Ever since I lived in Ecuador and had to take the bus to work every morning, crammed with sweaty humans resting their arms on my head (short person problems), there’s no appeal to me.

Uber

That said, my recommendation is to Uber everywhere! They’re super easy to get and really affordable.

Metro

We did take the subway once, and it was also easy and accessible if you don’t want to deal with traffic, but I wouldn’t take it at night simply due to petty crimes. The one thing that’s great about the Mexico City subway system is that there is a women and children’s car. So, if you’re a solo female traveler or a group of ladies like us, it’s a bit more comfortable.

Taxis

Taxis are also readily available and affordable. Just make sure they have the taximeter on so you don’t get ripped off. If you notice it isn’t running when you get in you can just ask, “Puede poner el taximetro, por favor?” This translates to, “Can you please put the meter on?” The official taxis in Mexico are typically pink and white Nissans or green and white Volkswagen bugs. Don’t use unmarked taxis!

Random Mexico City Travel & Safety Tips To Consider for Your Mexico City Itinerary

Get travel insurance.

I’ll be honest, I didn’t always buy trip insurance. I figured the coverage on my travel credit card was sufficient. But I’ve changed my tune with COVID and all the additional unknowns that come with a global pandemic. Just a little bit extra peace of mind! Due to COVID, I wanted to ensure my travel insurance covered a hotel stay if I had to extend my time in the city. I ended up going with HTH Travel Insurance. Usually, I use World Nomads, but their COVID coverage wasn’t as good. I chose HTH because they had the highest per day and highest total travel delay reimbursement that covered COVID as a reason for delay.

Learn a teeny tiny bit of Spanish.

I was surprised that not too many people spoke English in Mexico City. For me, it didn’t matter because I speak Spanish fairly well. I ended up translating a little more during the week than I initially anticipated. Good practice! In addition to planning your Mexico City itinerary, you may want to download an app like Duolingo or Babbel to get the travel basics down. Especially if you don’t have someone in your group that speaks the language! Just gives you a little more confidence when you’re navigating and exploring a foreign place.

Ladies, pack tissues.

Not all bathrooms have toilet paper, or if it is provided by the attendant, they don’t give you much. Ahem, you know we talked about tummy troubles earlier, and it surely isn’t enough to handle those unfortunate situations.

Don’t wear expensive things.

Honestly, this is a tip I follow anywhere in Latin America. I don’t wear my wedding rings or any flashy jewelry. Plus, I make sure to have a purse that isn’t too bold and zips easily. It just helps avoid pesky pickpocket situations.

Be aware of your surroundings.

Don’t walk with anything in your back pockets. If you’re in a market, public transportation, or on a busy street, move your backpack or purse to the front of your body. If you get a bad feeling in your gut, get outta there. Common sense will keep you safe!

Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).

This program allows you to register yourself with the local embassy. In the case of a natural disaster, terrorism, etc. they will contact you and make sure you’re safe.

HAVE FUN!

Don’t let these tips make you fearful of planning your own Mexico City itinerary. Preparing for a trip is essential anywhere you go. Mexico City is just like any other big city. Be smart, and you’ll have the best time!

Are you planning an epic Mexico City itinerary for an upcoming trip? I hope this helps spark some authentic travel ideas and cuts down your planning time. Que se vaya bien!

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