As an American, when I think of “international travel” I fantasize about places like Thailand, Italy, Chile, or other far away exotic destinations and often forget that we have a superb international travel destination right in our backyard in Mexico. Growing up so close, I had gone to some of the all-inclusive tourist spots like Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and Cozumel. AS beautiful are those places are, the all-inclusive days are thankfully past me, as I am now more focused on experiencing the culture, food, people, and sights of the country. Enter Mexico City, a bustling city breathing culture at every turn.
Mexico City has become a very popular travel destination for Americans, and for good reason. The city is pulsating with history, culture, and energy. The nightlife is vibrant. The food is incredible. And you are only 45 minutes away from some of the most incredibly intact temple ruins in Teotihuacán.
I went to Mexico City for 3 days and thought that was the perfect amount of time for a quick weekend visit. I want to share with you the Ultimate 3 day Mexico City Itinerary that will ensure you get a great Mexico City experience.
*I want to note that this itinerary is based on having 3 full days to explore Mexico City. If you are coming on a long weekend and only have 2 full days, consider taking your favorite activities from the 3 days.
Here’s a brief overview:
Day 1
Explore Mexico City
-Zocalo City Center
-Chapultepec
-Lucha Libre
Day 2
Teotihuacán Day Tour
Day 3
Xochimilco Half Day Tour
DAY 1
Today you will be covering many of the major sights of Mexico City. Get an early start to make the most of your day, as you will be doing a lot of walking, photo taking, and of course, eating.
ZOCALO CITY CENTER
In my opinion, the Zocalo Historic City Center was the most interesting area of Mexico City in terms of “tourist” sightseeing. You are immediately greeted by the massive Mexico flag swaying in the wind in the center of the gigantic city square. It’s honestly got to be one of the biggest city squares I’ve ever seen.
Right away you will notice the stunning Cathedral lining one of the sides of the square. It’s stunning Spanish colonial architecture dominates the square, with intricate facades and towering spires. You can admire the Cathedral both from the outside and inside, so do yourself a favor and take a quick look inside the Cathedral before moving on.
Next to the Cathedral you will find a slew of souvenir markets as well as people dressed in traditional garb performing cleansing ceremonies with sage. This practice is often associated with spiritual cleansing, healing, and connection to ancestral traditions among indigenous communities in Mexico.
The ancient ruins of Tenochtitlan are also right outside of the Cathedral, and they are remains of the ancient Aztec capital that was founded in 1325.
The National Palace is also located in the square, which is the official residence and workplace of the President of Mexico.
After exploring Zocalo, take a 15 minute walk to the Palacio de Bellas Artes, a majestic cultural center that houses rotating art exhibits, an opera house and a concert hall where you can catch a show.
CHAPULTEPEC PARK
After a morning of exploring the Zocalo city center area, make your way over to the peaceful Chapultepec Park. Spend your afternoon strolling around the Central Park of Mexico City, checking out souvenir and food stands along the way.
One of the more interesting sights in Mexico City is the Chapultepec Castle, a historic fortress and imperial residence. You enter from inside the park, and you’ll walk up a winding path to the castle which sits atop Chapultepec Hill overlooking the city.
It’s a great place not only for views of the city from its terraces, but inside you can admire the lavish rooms that were originally constructed as a retreat for Aztec rulers. It also contains some beautiful gardens and the National Museum of History that includes artifacts and exhibits detailing Mexico’s history.
Get lunch in La Condesa before getting ready for a wild night of Mexican wrestling.
LUCHA LIBRE
For your first night in Mexico, throw yourself into the culture by going to a Lucha Libre wrestling show. There are many tours you can find that will include beer & mezcal tasting, along with tacos before the show. I highly suggest going this route as they take care of everything for you and make the experience much easier. You will also learn a little bit of the history of Lucha Libre which makes the shows more fun.
I found my tour through Airbnb Experiences and we had a nice group of about 12 people, which made the night entertaining. The show itself was a lot of fun and the final match was very impressive.
We finished around 10pm so if you are looking to go out for the night you still can explore some of the nightlife in Roma Norte or La Condesa. But save some energy for tomorrow as you will be getting an early start to head to some amazing ruins.
DAY 2
TEOTIHUACÁN
On your second day, journey outside of Mexico City to explore the ancient temples of Teotihuacán. This archeological complex is a popular tourist attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
For me, this was what I was most looking forward to when I was visiting Mexico City, and it did not disappoint. Many tours from Mexico City are available, and I'd highly suggest taking a tour that will not only provide you transportation from the city, but also help learn more about the history. My friend and I booked a tour on Airbnb and were happy to have a guide take us through the complex.
Highlights of Teotihuacán include the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon, and the Avenue of the Dead.
The museum, Museo de la Cultura Teotihuacana, has a plethora of interesting artifacts from the archeological site including sculptures, masks, pottery, murals, tools, jewelry, and figurines.
This will likely take up most of your day as you'll be exploring the temples for a few hours and the drive back and forth will take a big chunk of the day. Treat yourself to some incredible food back in Mexico City to end your day.
DAY 3
XOCHIMILCO
Your final day in Mexico City will again take you a bit out of the city down south to Xochimilco. Developed by the ancient Aztecs, Xochimilco is a network of floating gardens and canals. The artificial islands were made from mud and vegetation, a Pre-Hispanic farming technique.
Today, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a popular tourist destination where visitors can float down the canals. A vibrant, festive atmosphere, a boat ride through Xochimilco includes music, food, flowers, great scenic views, and of course, tequila.
After your half day trip to Xochimilco, you'll have enough time to enjoy a final evening in Mexico City at your own leisure.
Mexico City is an amazing city with lots to offer. While three days is a short trip, there is a lot you can see and do in that amount of time. For people living on the US west coast, it's an easy flight for a weekend getaway. I can't wait to go back again to spend more time in this unique city.
