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Your Complete Guide to Mexico City

Your Complete Guide to Mexico City
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Mexico City is the capital of Mexico and the largest city in North America, located in the south-central part of the country at an elevation of 2,240 metres.

Despite the city being massive, it’s actually quite easy to navigate thanks to an affordable and widespread transit system, and it’s division into a diversity of unique and individually fascinating neighbourhoods.

Whether you’re planning a low-key getaway to slowly wander through the city’s streets and parks or an active adventure to try and cram in as much as possible, Mexico City offers itineraries for all travellers.

In this guide, we’ve set out to give you a solid overview of what you can look forward to on your trip to this amazing city, so let’s dive right in!

Your Complete Guide to Mexico City - Chapultepec Park and Castle

Mexico City – How To Get There

Mexico City has two major airports: Mexico City Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX) and Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU).

The majority of flights from Canada use Mexico City Benito Juárez International Airport, but it is possible to book a flight that will arrive/depart from Felipe Ángeles International Airport .

If you’re given the option, it’s easiest to arrive and depart from Mexico City Benito Juárez International Airport since this airport is closer to the central part of the city and has more options for getting to and from its location.

Your Complete Guide to Mexico City - Airport

Mexico City Benito Juárez International Airport

To get from Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX) to the centre of Mexico City, you have the following options:

  • taxi
  • rideshare such as Uber or Didi
  • public transit (bus or subway)

If you’re taking a taxi, make sure to book through one of the official vendors at the airport. The price for this option will likely be between $25-40.

When you land, you can also try to connect with an Uber or Didi car (made easier if you’ve already got data with an eSIM for Mexico), but be aware that there are rules for where ride-shares like these can pick you up, so you’ll likely have to go on an adventure to find the pick-up location.

For travellers with only a small amount of luggage, public transit is also a reasonable option. However, while this option easily costs the least, it does take the most amount of time, and you will have to transfer routes at least once.

Felipe Ángeles International Airport

If you’re flying to or from Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU), the fastest way to get to Mexico City’s historical centre is by car. You can either book a taxi or car service, or you can attempt to use Uber or Didi, though our research shows mixed results for the latter option.

Alternatively, you can take one of the many buses that depart from the in-airport bus terminal — just make sure to choose the one that’s headed nearest to the neighbourhood that you’re staying in.

Your Complete Guide to Mexico City - Milesopedia-AeroMexico

Mexico City – Where to Stay

Mexico City has such a wonderful diversity of neighbourhoods that you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing where to stay.

Neighbourhoods like Polanco and Reforma are excellent options for travellers who want to stay in a more high-end area known for shopping, museums, and fine dining.

For someone who’s craving a bit more of a historical vibe, the Centro neighbourhood is packed with historical buildings, even more museums, and lots of great food.

Plus, if you’re hoping to use some hotel points to save on your accommodations, these three neighbourhoods are home to lots of popular hotel brands so you can use your Marriott Bonvoy points or Hilton Honors points.

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$120
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$990
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
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Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).

The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card is the best credit card in Canada for free hotel nights.

New Cardmembers can earn up to 110,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points with the current offer:

  • Earn 80,000 points after you spend $6,000 on your Card in your first 6 months of Cardmembership.
  • Plus, earn 30,000 points by making a purchase during your 15th month of Cardmembership.

This offer ends on September 22, 2026. The annual fee is $120, and there is no annual fee on Additional Cards, so you can add a partner or a family member at no extra cost.

Every year after your first Card anniversary, you receive an Annual Free Night Award good for a redemption of up to 35,000 points at eligible hotels and resorts worldwide. At a valuation of 0.9 cents per Marriott Bonvoy point, that certificate is worth roughly $315, which on its own more than covers the $120 annual fee. That is the main reason to keep this Card year after year instead of cancelling it.

To get the most out of the certificate, aim it at a night that would otherwise price close to the 35,000 point ceiling.

The Card also gives you 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status. Those credits count toward the next Elite tier, so you begin every year 15 nights ahead of where you would otherwise start.

You move up to Gold Elite status automatically when you reach $30,000 in purchases on the Card in a year, or when you combine 10 qualifying paid nights within one calendar year with the 15 Elite Night Credits from your Card.

Marriott Bonvoy points are generally valued at 0.9 cents each. On that basis, the 110,000 point welcome offer is worth about $990, and an Annual Free Night Award used at its full 35,000 point ceiling is worth about $315.

Marriott Bonvoy points pull their weight on free nights rather than on gift cards or merchandise, which is why this Card should be judged on the hotel stays it produces.

You earn 5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. Points can be redeemed for free nights with no blackout dates at more than 7,000 hotels around the world.

The Card carries a solid package of coverages: $500,000 travel accident insurance, flight delay, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage and hotel or motel burglary at $500 each, car rental theft and damage up to $85,000 for rentals of up to 48 days, Purchase Protection for 90 days and a one year Extended Warranty.

Two things to plan around: the 2.5% foreign transaction fee on purchases made in a foreign currency, and the 21.99% purchase interest rate, which makes this a Card to pay in full every month. Like all American Express Canada Cards, no minimum income is published for this Card, and you can see whether you would be approved before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xMarriott Bonvoy hotels
  • 2xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,437
2nd Year Value$312

Travel insurance

Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days
Featured
Annual fee
$150
Our valuation
$990
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 110,000 points
Ends Sep 22, 2026
Apply Now

on American Express's website

Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class="checkmarks"]This credit card has been the Best Business Credit Card in Canada for hotels for many years. For a limited time, you can earn 50,000 points as a welcome bonus. With this Card you can earn:
  • 5 points per dollar on Marriott Bonvoy purchases
  • 3 points per dollar on gas, dining and travel purchases
  • 2 points per dollar on all other purchases
Also, as a Cardmember, you get many benefits such as:
  • An Annual Free Night Award for up to 35,000 points
  • 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year for your Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status
  • Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status membership
  • Access to American Express promotional offers
  • Access to pre-sale tickets
Finally, you are covered with reliable insurance for your travels and purchases. Like most American Express Credit Cards, there is no minimum income required to apply for this Card.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

The Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express®* Card is the best credit card for the self-employed, professionals and small business owners who travel.

With this welcome offer, you can earn up to 110,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points:

  • Earn 80,000 points after you spend $10,000 on your Card in your first 6 months of Cardmembership.
  • Plus, earn 30,000 Points by making a purchase during your 15th month of Cardmembership.

This exceptional offer ends on September 22, 2026.

It’s a card we recommend you keep, because each year at renewal, you’ll get an Annual Free Night Award for up to 35,000 points, plus 15 Elite nights per year, counting towards your Marriott Bonvoy Elite status.

With this Card, you earn 5 points per dollar for all your spending at Marriott Bonvoy establishments, and you can earn 3 points per dollar for :

  • Gas
  • Dining
  • Travel

And 2 points per dollar on all other purchases.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

Annual fee

Primary card$150
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xMarriott Bonvoy hotels
  • 3xTravel
  • 3xGas & EV
  • 3xRestaurants
  • 2xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,520
2nd Year Value$347

Travel insurance

Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days
Your Complete Guide to Mexico City - Templo Mayor

If you prefer to stay in smaller, boutique hotels or Airbnbs, take a look at the beautiful art deco buildings in Roma and Condesa or get cozy with the small-town feeling in Coyoácan.

To learn more about each of these amazing neighbourhoods, check out the guide we’ve written about some of the most popular places to stay when in Mexico City. You can also explore our article on how to save money when staying at Airbnbs and smaller hotels to help you keep more pesos in your pocket.

Your Complete Guide to Mexico City - Roma and Condesa

Mexico City – What To Do

When visiting Mexico City, there’s just so much to see and do that you could easily spend years exploring.

However, given that most of us will only be lucky enough to visit this amazing city for a short time, we’ve tried to highlight some of the best and most popular activities, along with some more unique opportunities to help you plan a memorable trip.

You can also read about Jonathan’s itinerary in Mexico City to see a real trip in action.

Enjoy the cuisine

One of the absolutely best things about Mexico City is that there’s so much amazing food to try.

From incredible street food stalls to Michelin-starred restaurants to everything in between, the food scene in Mexico City is legendary!

As a massive city, Mexico City is home to people from across the entire country and beyond, so during your visit, you’ll have a chance to taste food from pretty much any of Mexico’s many regions.

In fact, lots of popular dishes have regional variations and thanks to the diversity of the city, you can sample and compare these differences.

Your Complete Guide to Mexico City - tacos al pastor

With so many options, it’ll be impossible to try everything, but to get you started here’s a few suggestions:

For breakfast, consider stopping in at one of the many local markets to try chilaquiles, huaraches, and a fresh juice. Or if you prefer a sweet breakfast, you can always grab a pastry from a panadería like the very popular Panadería Rosetta.

Later in the day, when you’re ready for lunch or a snack, I recommend enjoying some street food favourites like tacos (al pastor and birria are a couple classic options), tortas, tlayudas, and quesadillas.

Then, if you’re looking for a sit-down option for dinner, you could get fancy with one of Mexico City’s Michelin-starred restaurants like Expendio de Maíz and Pujol.

Additionally, if you want to try a lot of different things but would rather not do a ton of planning, you can always book a food tour with GetYourGuide or Civitatis. With a food tour, all you have to do is show up hungry and curious, and you’ll get to try all sorts of Mexican treats!

Your Complete Guide to Mexico City - Get Your Guide EN

Grab a drink

For travellers who enjoy a nice drink from time to time, Mexico City will not disappoint.

The city is home to a handful of the top 50 bars in North America so there’s no shortage of delicious and innovative cocktails to choose from.

Plus, if you want to take your exploration of Mexican spirits further, you can also sign up for a mezcal tasting. Similar to the food tours we mentioned above, you can find informative experiences through Airbnb Experiences, GetYourGuide, Civitatis, and other tour operators.

In these tastings, you’ll learn about the agave plant, how it’s been used by the Indigenous people of Mexico for thousands of years, and how it’s now used to make mezcal, tequila, pulque, and more, giving you a deeper appreciation for this fascinating plant and these incredible spirits.

Your Complete Guide to Mexico City - Drinks at Mauro 2

Go shopping

The shopping options in Mexico City are as expansive as you’d expect for a city of its size.

From high-end shops in Polanco and Reforma to hip vintage stores and cute boutiques in Roma and Condesa, shopping fans can easily spend their entire trip exploring all that’s on offer.

Don’t forget to also look out for specialty Mexican crafts like rugs from the town of Teotitlán del Valle that showcase the Zapotec weaving traditions or obsidian carvings that make use of captivating volcanic stones from the region.

And, of course, you can always pick up a nice bottle of mezcal to bring home, or you could head to Mercado de Artesanías La Ciudadela for some fun souvenirs to share with friends.

Your Complete Guide to Mexico City - Angel Statue in roundabout

Get cultured

Mexico City is home to over 150 museums, making it basically essential that you spend an afternoon or two getting some culture.

There’s pretty much a museum to suit everyone’s taste, whether you prefer contemporary art, ancient artifacts, political history, or just about anything else.

With so many interesting and unique options, we recommend that you do a bit of research to pick out a few that speak to your interests and that will fit in with your trip’s itinerary.

However, in case you need a bit of insipiration, here are a few of the most popular choices:

  • National Museum of Anthropology – A beautiful museum located next to Chapultepec Park, sharing the anthropological history of the region and beyond. An absolute top pick for any traveller.
  • Frida Kahlo Museum – Frida Kahlo’s home and studio turned into a museum (also known as the Casa Azul). Pre-booking tickets is highly recommended as this is a small space that limits its daily visitors.
  • Fine Arts Museum (Palacio de Bella Artes) – Stunning building in the historical centre of the city housing important works of fine art.
  • Soumaya Museum – This architecturally unique museum can be found in Polanco and is free to visit. It offers 5 floors of sculptures, paintings, and more. Keep in mind that you’ll probably have to wait in line to get in, but there’s a nice array of food/drink vendors nearby to make the wait more enjoyable.
  • Anahuacalli Museum – Located to the south of Coyoácan, this museum is the work of Diego Rivera and showcases his collection of pre-Hispanic work alongside contemporary pieces. The building itself is also a work of art and was inspired by historical Mesoamerican structures.
Your Complete Guide to Mexico City - Chapultepec Castle

Head back in time

During any trip to Mexico City, it’s pretty much required that you take part of a day to head just out of town to visit Teotihucan, a massive archaeological complex that used to be a pre-Columbian city.

While visiting the site, you can marvel at the incredible structures, learn about the history of the area, and, if you’re lucky (and not afraid of heights), you can climb the Pyramid of the Moon.

Our recommendation is to visit Teotihuacan in the morning before it gets hot and busy around midday. The best way to visit is to book a tour since this not only gets you a ride to and from the complex, but it also gives you a knowledgeable tour guide to help you understand what you’re seeing.

For the more adventurous, another popular option is to take a sunrise hot air balloon ride to take it all in from above. Just make sure to bring a jacket, as it can get chilly when you’re up in the sky.

Your Complete Guide to Mexico City - Teotihuacan

Another fantastic activity that will take you back in time is to visit the canals of the Xochimilco area to get an idea of how the city was when it was first founded.

While in Xochimilco, you can take a quieter trip on a kayak to explore the canals and chinampas (built islands for living and agriculture) which showcase how Mexico City looked when it was mostly water, or you can choose to party it up on a boat (trajinera) for a more contemporary option with drinks and mariachi music.

Your Complete Guide to Mexico City - Xochimilco

Cheer for the local team

For all the sports fans out there, you’ll definitely want to take a look at which games are in town during your trip to Mexico City.

Although the most popular local sport is soccer, there’s also lots of opportunity to check out other athletic events like baseball, basketball, Formula 1, wrestling (especially the infamous Lucha Libre spectacles), and more.

I highly recommend checking the sports calendar for while you’re in the city to see if you can join in and cheer on the home team!

Your Complete Guide to Mexico City - Baseball stadium

Mexico City – 2026 FIFA World Cup

As a major North American city (it’s actually the largest city on the continent), Mexico City is unsurprisingly home to many major events, including a number of matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

There are currently 5 matches scheduled for Mexico City, including 1 in the Round of 32 and 1 in the Round of 16.

The games will be held at Estadio Azteca (Azteca Stadium) which is located in the southern part of the city, not too far away from the Coyoácan neighbourhood, so if you’re a soccer fan, you’ll definitely want to plan you visits accordingly!

We’ve put together a couple guides for this massive event, so definitely check the out if you’d like to learn how to secure tickets, save on accommodations, or use your points to find affordable flights.

Mexico City – Tips For Your Visit

Take some cash

Although most brick-and-mortar stores and restaurants in Mexico City will take credit cards, having some cash on hand in pesos will let you enjoy delicious street food and will help cover you for any unexpected situation.

Practice your Spanish

The primary language in Mexico City is Spanish so consider practicing a few polite phrases to help you make friends and make your visit more enjoyable.

To do this, you could grab some free language-learning resources from your local library or try out an app like Babbel that makes it easy to learn no matter where you are.

Bring the right credit card

It’s always a great idea to take a credit card that doesn’t charge FX fees, like the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card. This not only saves you the 2.5% fee on all your purchases in Mexico City, but it also lets you earn Scene+ points on every purchase.

Plus, if you want, you can then use these earned points to save you even more on your trip by redeeming them against travel expenses made on the card.

Annual fee
$150
Our valuation
$350
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 35,000 points
Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now

on Scotiabank's website

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card +* CardMC, you’ll earn 25,000 welcome bonus Scene+ points after charging $2,000 in purchases to your account within the first three months.

Plus, every year, earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points when you charge at least $40,000 in purchases to your account. In total, the offer represents up to 35,000 Scene+ points and a value of up to $1,250 in the first year, including rewards, savings on foreign transaction fees and airport lounge access.

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you earn 3 points per $1 spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and participating Co-ops, and 2 points per $1 spent at other grocery stores, restaurants, eligible entertainment and eligible daily transit. You earn 1 point per $1 on all your other everyday purchases.

These points can be redeemed against any travel purchase at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb), or as cash back with Scene+ at the same rate.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card also offers:

  • No fees for foreign currency transactions
  • 6 complimentary airport VIP lounge passes
  • Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
  • Visa Infinite* Concierge Services

We have named this credit card the Best Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Annual fee

Primary card$150
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

0%

Earning rate

  • 2xGroceries
  • 2xRestaurants
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xEntertainment
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$650
2nd Year Value$397

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7
Airport lounge access$240

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $1,000,000 / 3 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Bottom Line

Any trip to Mexico City is sure to be an amazing experience thanks to the city’s diverse food scene, the incredible art, culture, and architecture, the region’s fascinating history, and more.

We hope our guide has helped get you excited about all the amazing things you can see and do while exploring this incredible city, and we wish you fun and safe travels!

Planning to explore different regions in Mexico? Read our guides to help plan your trip:

Our featured card

Annual fee
$150
Our valuation
$350
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 35,000 points
Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now

on Scotiabank's website

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card +* CardMC, you’ll earn 25,000 welcome bonus Scene+ points after charging $2,000 in purchases to your account within the first three months.

Plus, every year, earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points when you charge at least $40,000 in purchases to your account. In total, the offer represents up to 35,000 Scene+ points and a value of up to $1,250 in the first year, including rewards, savings on foreign transaction fees and airport lounge access.

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you earn 3 points per $1 spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and participating Co-ops, and 2 points per $1 spent at other grocery stores, restaurants, eligible entertainment and eligible daily transit. You earn 1 point per $1 on all your other everyday purchases.

These points can be redeemed against any travel purchase at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb), or as cash back with Scene+ at the same rate.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card also offers:

  • No fees for foreign currency transactions
  • 6 complimentary airport VIP lounge passes
  • Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
  • Visa Infinite* Concierge Services

We have named this credit card the Best Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Annual fee

Primary card$150
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

0%

Earning rate

  • 2xGroceries
  • 2xRestaurants
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xEntertainment
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$650
2nd Year Value$397

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7
Airport lounge access$240

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $1,000,000 / 3 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Our editorial integrity

Our reviews and rankings are based on an objective assessment. Advertisers do not influence our content. We may receive compensation through some links; our analysis and opinions remain independent.