So, you’ve only got three days in Mexico City. With so much to do, see, and eat, how do you make the most of your time in one of the largest cities in the world? First, accept that you won’t see it all in three short days but get ready to cover some ground. This 3-day weekend Mexico City itinerary will focus on the must-dos, must-sees, and must-eats to make the most out of your short time in the city.
Friday: THE TOURISTY STUFF
For the purposes of this quick itinerary, we’re going to assume you land in Mexico City on Friday morning. We’ll make sure you hit all the important historical sights first, starting with the city’s Centro Histórico or city center.
Zócalo
Every city in Mexico has a Zócalo, or public square, at its center. Mexico City’s Plaza de la Constitución is the largest public square in Latin America. At the Zócalo, you can see the palace, city hall, and stunning architecture. Take a photo with the giant Mexican flag that flies above the Centro Histórico.
Palacio de Bellas Artes
It’s a nice walk through the city center to the Palacio de Bellas Artes in the neighboring area of Alameda. With a colorful art nouveau dome, it’s hard to miss the Palacio de Bellas Artes. It’s home to a museum with rotating modern art exhibits and a permanent collection of murals that were painted by famous Mexican muralists like Diego Rivera. Tickets to visit the museum are 75 MXN and it’s free on Sundays.
If you want to get a good view of the Palacio de Bellas Artes from above, go across the street to Sears and look out the window.
Alameda Central
Next to Palacio de Bellas Artes is Alameda Central, a lively park with a market on the weekends. At the little market, you’ll find street food, agua frescas, and souvenirs. Through the trees, there’s a good view of the Torre Latinoamericana.
Torre Latinoamericana
At 44 stories tall, Torre Latinoamericana towers over Centro Histórico. That may not sound very tall but it used to be the tallest building in Latin America. Today, it is a fixture in Mexico City’s skyline and acts as an iconic photo op. You can go up to the observation deck for 170 MXN or go for a drink on the 41st floor for the price of a cocktail.
Lunch at El Huequito
When you’re in Mexico City, you need to try the tacos, specifically al pastor. It’s a Mexico City pork specialty that is cooked on a Middle Eastern-like spit with pineapple, making it better than the al pastor you might have tried at home. At El Huequito, you can grab a few tacos at the window or sit down for tacos, a beer, and sides like queso fundido and guacamole.
La Ciudadela and Mercado San Juan
For the ultimate artisanal market experience, head to La Ciudadela. It has rows and rows of vendors selling everything from ceramics from Puebla to textiles from Oaxaca. Many vendors accept credit cards but make sure to bring cash just in case. For a more chill vibe, go to Mercado San Juan. Here, there are fewer vendors and people so you can shop on your own time.
Dinner at Azul Histórico
For a delicious traditional dinner, go to Azul Histórico. They serve elevated Mexican classics like enchiladas and mole dishes. There’s also a location in La Condesa if you want to go back to your hotel and freshen up before dinner.
saturday: get to know the neighborhoods
Walking around neighborhoods is the best way to get to know a city. The trendiest neighborhoods in Mexico City right now are Roma Norte and La Condesa. They both have a cool, laid-back vibe.
As you walk around Roma Norte and La Condesa, you’ll notice romantic villas amongst lush greenery, plazas with dancing fountains, and cute coffee shops on every corner.
Breakfast at Plaza Río de Janeiro
Start your morning at the famous and delicious Panadería Rosetta. Order a guava roll and coffee to go and walk over to the nearby Plaza Río de Janeiro. At the plaza, there’s a fountain with a replica of Michelangelo’s David in the middle.
Later in the afternoon, you’ll find vintage popups in the plaza. These popups are typically more affordable than the secondhand shops in the neighborhood.
Avenida Ámsterdam
After you devour your pastries, walk along the treelined Avenida Ámsterdam with your coffee in hand. The avenue is a loop that surrounds Parque México. You can walk through the median under the shade of trees but don’t forget to stop at cafes and shops on either side of the street.
Parque México and Parque España
These two parks are a great place to kick your feet up and relax after exploring the neighborhood. Parque México is the larger of the two and attracts dog walkers, skate enthusiasts, and salsa dancers. At both parks, you’ll see a lot of locals enjoying the green space.
Secondhand Shopping
From vinyl records to secondhand clothes, Mexico City loves vintage. If you wander the streets of Roma Norte, you’ll bump into vintage stores like Erre Vintage, Goodbye Folk Vintage, and Roma Vintage. Fair warning that these stores are well-curated; therefore, they aren’t cheap.
Mercado Medellín
If you want a taste of a traditional Mexican market, go to Mercado Medellín. You can pick up Mexican candies, ingredients, and goodies to take home with you.
Dinner and Drinks in Roma Norte
To finish off the day, get drinks at Licorería Limantour, the #4 bar in the world, before heading to Rosetta (the restaurant) for dinner. You’ll need reservations at both places, so make sure to book them in advance.
SUNDAY: the park and Polanco
For your final day in Mexico City, you’ll spend the morning at Bosque de Chapultepec, Mexico City’s largest park. It has museums, lakes, castles, history, and so much more. After exploring the park, you’ll head to Polanco, Mexico City’s ritzy neighborhood that is often compared to LA’s Beverly Hills.
The Paseo de la Reforma and The Angel of Independence
Start your day walking down the Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City’s main street, toward Chapultepec. Along that way, you’ll run into The Angel of Independence or El Ángel. It’s a golden angel that commemorates the centennial of the start of the Mexican War of Independence. Walk all the way down until you run into the Puerta de los Leones, an archway with two lions that guard the main entrance to Chapultepec.
Niños Héroes Monument
If you walk directly through the main entrance at Puerta de los Leones, you’ll bump into the Niños Héroes Monument, which commemorates six cadets who lost their lives at one of the last battles of the Mexican-American war. From this monument, the park splits up into different pathways that you can take.
Museum of Modern Art
On Sundays, the Museum of Modern Art is free to enter. It’s a three-story museum that showcases Mexican modern art. Stop by to see the famous ‘The Two Fridas’ by Frida Kahlo.
Snack on Street Food
There are hundreds of vendors in and around Chapultepec that sell everything from sunglasses to snacks. Stop by a stand for Mexican candy or savory elote, but make sure to save room for a late lunch in Polanco
Bike Chapultepec
To make the most out of your day in the park, rent a bike. Across the street from the museum, you can rent bikes from Ecobici by downloading their app. It was 7 USD to rent bikes for about 2 hours. Chapultepec is divided into three sections, with section one being the closest to the city center. The park can be hilly at times so be prepared for some uphill stretches.
National Museum of Anthropology
The National Museum of Anthropology is worth the visit for the museum’s architecture. The exhibit halls wrap around a courtyard with a giant fountain. The must-see artifacts are the Aztec Sun Stone, Montezuma’s Headdress, the Olmec Colossal Head, and the recreation of Palak’s tomb. Tickets to the museum are 90 MXN for foreigners and free on Sundays for locals.
Late Lunch in Polanco
After spending your morning in Chapultepec, you’ll work up an appetite, so head north to Polanco to try one of the best restaurants in Mexico City and the world.
In 2023, Pujol and Quintonil were named in the top 15 of the World’s Best 50 Restaurants list. Both restaurants focus on elevating Mexican cuisine and offer tasting menus. Although both tasting menus come at Polanco price tags, it’s much more affordable than going to a similar dining experience in Europe or the United States. Make sure to book your table far in advance.
Staying in Mexico City for longer? Check out this 5-day or 7-day Mexico City itinerary.
More Mexico City Resources
The Ultimate Guide to Mexico City
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