How we spent three days in Mexico City

Mexico City is the sixth largest city in the world. So it goes without saying that three days is nowhere near long enough to fully explore it all. But we did our best.

Here is how we spent three days in CDMX. From getting there, to exploring this vast city.

How to get to Mexico City

We flew directly from Heathrow to Mexico City with British Airways. Although we landed quite late at night, it was easy to catch an Uber to our hotel in La Condesa for about $30.

The flight took around 11 hours, and prices vary throughout the year. You can also get cheaper flights with connection via the USA or Europe.

What's the weather like in Mexico City?

The first part of our trip was during the last week of March. And unlike the at this time of year UK, the weather in Mexico City was hot and quite humid. Even in the evenings, only a very light layer was needed over my sun dress.

Things to do in Mexico City

Teotihuacan

Teotihuacan is an ancient city about 40 minutes out of CDMX. We took the Blue Bus from the Angel of Independence monument here on our first morning in the city. There was water, snacks, and beer included in the ticket price. And we were dropped and Gate 2, which offers easy access to the site. The shuttle cost about £25 and we paid for our entry tickets separately on arrival.

We had 3.5 hours to explore the ruins. The site is enormous, but this gave us enough time for us to walk almost the entire length of it. We got to see all the main pyramids and listened to some of the private walking tours about the history. The Blue Bus also played us a documentary during the drive with information about some of the more recent archeological digs.

Zocalo

Zocalo, or the Plaza de la Constiticion, is the main square in CDMX. It's home to the country’s parliamentary buildings and an imposing cathedral. Many of these buildings are usually open to the public. But when we visited, there were still some Covid restrictions in place which meant that we couldn’t go inside. I had wanted to see the Diego Rivera mural in the Palacio Nacional. But it was still interesting to wander the busy streets in this area, which turn from luxury shopping destination to bootleg market in a matter of minutes.

Templo Mayor

Right in the centre of Mexico City is the Templo Mayor. It's the site of an old Aztec temple that dates back to 1325. Not only is it super interesting to see such incredible history, but it’s a good place to get out of the midday sun as lots of the exhibition is indoors!

Mexico is proud of its Mayan and Aztec heritage, and there are reminders everywhere of how far back its history dates. The Templo Mayor Museum is home to ancient carvings, paintings, pottery. But my favourite exhibit was a wall of carved skulls excavated in the 19th century.

Frida Kahlo Museum

One of the main sights to see in Mexico City is the home of Frida Kahlo, La Casa Azul. We took a taxi out to Coyoacan and spent time wandering the peaceful neighbourhood before entering the museum.

This is one of the city's most popular tourist attractions. So be aware that you can't just show up. You need to book a time slot for in advance, and there will still be a queue to enter.

Though it gets busy, only a certain number are allowed in at any time so you can wander through the one-way route at a fairly relaxed pace.

I might be biassed as I have a mild obsession with the life of Frida Kahlo since reading The Lacuna. But it was amazing to see the home and garden she lived in with her family and, later, with Diego Rivera. Frida’s art, belongings, and even her death mask still placed on her bed make it feel like you’re entering an untouched relic of the past.

However, that’s not exactly true. Things have changed in the house since her death. But throughout there are photos of the family in the home which made it feel all the more fascinating to imagine them living here.

Coyoacan Market

Before our trip to La Casa Azul, we had time to visit the Coyoacan Market. Though not on its original site, the market is still a main feature in the neighbourhood, selling everything from spices to flowers to toys. We ate in one of the traditional kitchens and wandered the maze of market alleys for about 30 minutes.

Being in this neighbourhood market gave us an authentic feel of life in CDMX. Which is something that you can feel you miss out on when staying in the centre of town.

Trajineras Xochimilco

Xochimilco is a network of canals on the outskirts of CDMX. You hire a trajinera, or wooden boat, from the embarcadero, then spend a couple of hours sailing. The boats drift through a maze of rivers and chinampas (floating gardens), which date back to the Aztec period.

We took a taxi from CDMX to the embarcadero. Don’t be fooled by locals telling you the entryway is closed and offering you a lift… You will be able to park up and get out in the car park right next to where you catch your boat. From there, you’ll need to haggle with a boatman for a reasonable price (I think we paid $30 for 2 hours. Although they undercut that by bringing us back a little early!) and board your vessel.

The bright boats, mariachi bands, and sombrero might look tacky. And maybe in a way it is. But it’s also great fun and has a real fiesta vibe to it. Even on a quiet afternoon like the day of our visit, it was busy with locals partying on the boats with their own sound systems.

You can bring your own food and drinks on board. Or you can buy beers and snacks like roasted corn from vendors in their own boats that pull up alongside yours. This is also how you hire a personal mariachi band to play you a song to two – which I highly recommend.

The boat is slowly pushed through the water by a boatman with a long pole, surrounded by other brightly coloured and heavily decorated barges. It’s not quite the romantic gondolas of Venice, but in its own way it’s even better.

Eat out!

As one a gigantic metropolis, it's no surprise that Mexico City is packed with incredible places to eat and drink. From roadside taco trucks to some of the top-rated bars and restaurants in the world, you' can'll find amazing food at any budget. And whatever you choose, you won’t be disappointed. In fact, I'm actually not sure it's possible to find bad food in Mexico City.

To find out where we ate and drank in Mexico City, read my blog: The best places to eat and drink in Mexico City.

Where to stay in Mexico City

We chose the neighbourhood of La Condesa, in the south of the city’s Zona Rosa, as our base in CDMX. Though quite busy, it felt safe and friendly even at night. We walked to a number of bars and restaurants near our hotel in Condesa and in Roma Norte, but used taxis to get anywhere further than our neighbourhood.

We stayed in the Uliv Condesa aparthotel in a ground floor room with a terrace. This was under £50 per night in 2022, but prices will vary depending on the time of year and the length of your stay.

Uliv has a staff member on the front door at all times and feels very safe and secure. We didn’t make use of the gym or communal areas, but there are facilities available for guests beyond the four walls of your room.