Ker and Jen in front of the Mexico Mi Amor sign in Mexico City

4 Days in Mexico City: The Ultimate Girls Trip Guide

I just got home from an awesome 4 days in Mexico City, and I’m living to share all the fabulous deets with you!

This was a girls trip (yay!) that’s been over a year in the making, because we planned it around seeing Metallica at Foro del Sol! I mean, is there a more perfect pairing? Metallica and Mexico City are 2 iconic peas in a pod. Loud, hard, turbo-charged beautiful chaos. 

Thank goodness we had the foresight to grab tickets way back in 2023 — Metallica sold out 4 night’s worth of Foro Sol’s 65,000 seats. Take that, T-Swift! But don’t worry – you don’t have to be a metalhead to enjoy this 4 day Mexico City itinerary. In fact, most of the places we frequented in CDMX were quite tranquil, lovely and posh. 

I designed this 4 day Mexico City itinerary to introduce first-time visitors to the best Mexico’s capital has to offer without being overwhelmed. I regularly visit this rollicking metropolis because it’s a quick flight from Merida, where I live. But it was my bestie’s first visit. This inspired me to curate a trip that strikes the right balance of history, culture, art, and the great outdoors, with heaps of love from the world class mixology and foodie scenes thrown in. 

You’ll be amazed at how much you can explore and discover in this behemoth of a city in less than a week! So, without further ado, here’s how to spend an incredible 4 days in Mexico City with your bestie!

4 Days in Mexico City Itinerary

Day 1 | Tour Mexico City’s historic center and enjoy a swanky night out in Polanco

The historic center of Mexico City decked out for celebrations on Mexican Independence Day on September 16th.

Arrive at Mexico City Airport and grab a taxi to your accommodation.

On your way to exit the airport, you’ll see kiosks touting multiple taxi companies to choose from. BEFORE you get in a taxi, pay at the respective taxi company’s airport kiosk IN ADVANCE of joining the taxi queue. Then, present your receipt to the driver and you’re in business. 

I take the Imagen Nueva taxi, which is easy to spot because it’s black and white. Their taxis are always spotless, and I love that the drivers come correct in crisp, white shirts and black ties. My ride to Polanco, where we stayed in a beautiful AirBnB, cost $12. 

If the taxi queue is outrageous, you can always call an Uber. In fact, when we weren’t walking everywhere around Mexico City, Uber was our jam. It’s super efficient here, and very affordable compared to other major cities.

Once you’ve settled into your spot, kick off the first of your 4 days in Mexico City with a walking tour of the historic center. This area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s filled with marvels dating back to Mexico’s Aztec roots. I love starting trips off with a deep dive into history, especially in richly-layered destinations like Mexico City. It gives you a great foundation for interpreting so many things you’ll see and experience going forward. 

Start your tour in Plaza de la Constitución, the hectic but breathtaking main square that you’ll also hear called Zócalo. Locals gather here for the country’s biggest events and celebrations, like Mexico’s Independence Day on September 16th. To mark the occasion, Mexico’s President appears on the balcony of Palacio Nacional (more on that below) to deliver El Grito de Independencia, or the Cry of Independence. You probably know this as “Viva Mexico!” 

Since our trip began on the 17th, I got some great shots of the celebration’s aftermath.

Jen in Plaza de la Constitucion on the first of our 4 days in Mexico City.

Zócalo is no arbitrary location. It’s where Mexico City was born in the 16th century after the invading Spanish conquered the Aztecs. This space was the Aztec’s main ceremonial center, then known as Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec empire. When the Spanish arrived, they decimated Tenochtitlan and renamed it Mexico, because it was easier for them to say. 

The Spanish flattened Aztec structures, looting the materials to build opulent colonial behemoths over Aztec remains. On the north side of Zocalo, the Spanish built the remarkable Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral right on top of an Aztec temple. For a vivid picture of what the area was like before the conquistadors came to town, visit the nearby Templo Mayor, an archaeological site that preserves what remains of this impressive Aztec temple, as well as to its neighboring museum.

Flanking the eastern edge of the plaza is the sprawling Palacio Nacional, the official residence of the President of Mexico. Venture inside to view the tryptic of murals painted along the main stairwell by Diego Rivera, the celebrated Mexican artist, and the husband Frida Kahlo. Painted between 1929 – 1935, Rivera’s murals depict 400 years of Mexico’s history in prolific scenes entitled “The Epic of the Mexican People.” 

The Metropolitan Cathedral in the historic center of Mexico City.

Next, we headed over to the Palacio de Bellas Artes, a cultural center and event space that’s an architectural feast for the eyes with its incorporation of Art Nouveau, Neoclassical and Art Deco styles. I worked in Vatican City for years, and believe me, there’s enough marble in this palace to give the Pope’s house a run for its money! Inside, expect more mind-bending Diego Rivera murals, as well as murals by Mexican artists Gonzalez Camarena and Siqueiros.

For the best pics of Palacio de Bellas Artes, head across the street to the department store Sears. Grab a coffee at the upstairs cafe and you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views of Bellas Artes.

Sears. I know – how random!

Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City.

Another cool thing to do in the historic center is check out the exquisite Tiffany stained glass ceilings at Palacio de Hierro, and at Gran Hotel de la Ciudad de Mexico. We didn’t go this time around because we both wanted to rest after traveling. But if you’re up for it, they’re a pretty spectacular sight! 

And there’s always plenty of museums to visit in Centro Storico. Did you know Mexico City has a staggering 170 museums? That’s second in the world only to London! 

After exploring all morning, we popped back into our AirBnb before having a swanky girl’s night out in Polanco. This luxurious neighborhood is famous for having some of Mexico City’s finest restaurants. These include the Michelin Star darlings, Quintonil and Pujol. But your girl is a hardcore vegetarian. So I can’t report on either restaurants’ earth-shatteringness because they aren’t very veggie friendly.

We did, however, have a spectacular time at Ticuchi, a sexy, moody upscale spot that’s a serious vibe. Trendy, low-lit and packed with Polanco’s most beautiful people, Ticuchi turns out scrumptious plates and cutting-edge cocktails. They also have a peek-a-boo kitchen you can see from the street, which generously ups the cool factor. 

And the service! We’re talking top-notch and super flirty. It’s obvi that the staff is meticulously trained in the art of making you feel like the only girl in the room. Immediate introductions. Lingering handshakes. Major eye contact. Don’t get me wrong – Ticuchi is also a great spot for couples and groups of friends. But with the attentive (and hot!) staff, this is an A+ spot in Mexico City for a girls night.

The kitchen at the restaurant Ticuchi in Polanco, Mexico City.
Jen and her friend Kerin having dinner at Ticuchi on the first of our 4 days in Mexico City.
A cocktail at Ticuchi in Polanco.

After dinner we grabbed a table on the terrace at Licoreria Limantour, a legendary Mexico City cocktail bar that’s currently Number 7 on the World’s 50 Best Bars list. One sip of my deceptively-simple looking Margarita al Pastor, which expertly mimicked the flavors of the famous Mexican dish, immediately backed up the ranking.

Another round, please!

The menu at Licoreria Limantour in Palenquito, where we had cocktails on the first of our 4 days in Mexico City.
Jen drinking a cocktail at Licoreria Limantour in Palanquito.
A delicious cocktail at Licoreria Limantour in Palanquito.

Day 2 | Visit the Frida Kahlo Museum and Leon Trotsky House, then browse Mercado Coyacan, or head out to Xochimilco. Enjoy a posh dinner at Carmela y Sal followed by drinks at the St. Regis.

Jen at Casa Azul, which we visited on the 2nd day of our 4 days in Mexico City.

Breakfast this morning was at Cafe Toscano, a unique and whimsical spot with several locations around town serving all day breakfast. We ate at the Polanco outpost, which has terrace seating and several interior dining spaces done up in swoonworthy, Art Nouveau style. There’s also a tea room, and a rather random but adorable nook where you can purchase shampoo, conditioner and other bath time goodies.

Jen posing with a cup of coffee at Cafe Toscano in Polanco.
The bath time shop at Cafe Toscano in Polanco, Mexico City.

After breakfast we Ubered across town to visit Casa Azul, the live and work space of Mexico’s most famous and beloved artist, Frida Kahlo. Frida’s home is now a museum, and I highly recommend booking your tickets in advance so you can choose a time slot, avoid the on-site queue and ensure entry on your desired day. I booked a week in advance, and only two morning slots were left.  

Frida grew up in Casa Azul with her family, and worked here as an artist her entire life. She later shared the home with her husband, the Mexican painter Diego Rivera. Casa Azul is also where Frida died on July 13, 1956.

You feel Frida everywhere, which makes for an incredibly poignant visiting experience. Beyond Frida’s artwork, you see exactly how she lived, including every last painstaking arrangement made to accommodate her deteriorating body after the terrible streetcar accident she suffered at the age of 18. 

A treasure trove of Frida’s paintings, letters, drawings, books, and other personal effects are on display, and the grounds of Casa Azul are just stunning. My favorite part of the museum is the exhibition of Frida’s elaborate dresses. The exhibit explores how Frida adopted traditional Tehuana dressing, an homage to her mother’s Oaxacan roots, in order to disguise her failing health.

A fascinating takeaway is that the rigid corsets Frida wore, to keep her fractured spine intact, inspired designs by some of the world’s biggest fashion houses, including Givenchy and John Paul Gaulltier. 

Frida Kahlo's dresses on display at Casa Azul.
A painting of watermelons by Frida Kahlo on display at Casa Azul.
The wheelchair where Frida Kahlo painted in her studio at Casa Azul.
Jen outside of Casa Azul.

After Casa Azul, we walked over to the Mercado Coyoacan. If you’re looking to visit a traditional Mexican market, this one’s a must. Mercado Coyoacan is filled with everything from clothing and tchotchkes, to colorful produce and heavenly-scented spices. 

We opted for lunch inside the market at Tostadas Coyoacan. I’d heard lots of good things, but I wasn’t too impressed. The mushroom tostadas were flavorless, and only salvageable thanks to the crema and cheese on top. I tried ordering a bottle of water, but there’s no water on the menu. Just sugary juices and coconut milk. My bestie got a mole tostada, and an asado tostada. She said they were delicious going down, but within a few hours she was sick. Yikes!

I will say the guacamole was solid, though.

If you go to Mercado Coyocan, there are lots of other food counters to choose from.

With its colonial mansions and cobblestone streets, the neighborhood of Coyocan is worth exploring while you’re in the area. It’s a well-to-do area with an intellectual bent.  The main campus of Mexico’s largest university, UNAM, is located in Coyoacan, as is the Leon Trotsky museum. 

The Trotsky museum is close to Casa Azul, and it’s a great bit of history to explore. The museum is where the Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky lived after denouncing Joseph Stalin.

Forced to flee Russia, Trotsky found political asylum in Mexico, thanks to the help of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. In fact, Trotsky initially lived with them in Casa Azul when he arrived. But a falling out forced Trotsky to find his own home, where he was eventually assassinated inside the study in 1940. The study remains in exactly the same state as it was that day.  

Our plan afterward was to visit Xochimilco, a quintessential Mexico City experience that cruises you through winding waterways on technicolored gondolas. It’s super fun and festive. If you go, expect tequila, mariachi bands and spooky dolls to make a grand appearance. 

Xochimilco is only about 10 miles from Coyocan, so it makes sense to add it to your day’s itinerary. Without traffic, it takes about 15 minutes to get there. With traffic – which is always insane in Mexico City, you can expect it to take an hour.  

Because my bestie wasn’t feeling great, we iced our plans to dine at Carmela y Sal, and pop over to the St. Regis afterward for rooftop drinks. But you certainly don’t have to! Carmela y Sal is a super chic, Mexican food hotspot, and the St. Regis is where you can indulge in some of Mexico City’s best cocktails, along with exceptional, 360-degree city views. 

For dinner, I picked up a pizza bianca from Farina in Polanco, which was right next to our AirBnB. Holy amazeballs! It was one of the best pizzas I’ve eaten outside of Italy! 

A Pretty Cobblestone Street in Coyocan which we visited on the 2nd of our 4 days in Mexico City
Jen posing with tchotkies at Mercado Coyoacan.
A display of beans, lentils and sauces at Mercado Coyoacan.

Day 3 | Explore the beautiful neighborhoods of Roma Norte and La Condessa. Bookend your day dining at the Rosettas.

A row of house in Roma Norte, a neighborhood that we visited on the 3rd of our 4 days in Mexico City.

Thankfully, my bestie woke up on day 3 of our 4 day Mexico City trip back to 100%. This was news worthy of a brunch celebration, so we beelined it to Roma Norte to indulge at the sweet and flaky culinary heaven known as Panaderia Rosetta.

Everything awesome you’ve ever heard about Panaderia Rosetta is true. The pastries are divine, the service doting, the atmosphere wholly enchanting. After the host informed us It’d be a half hour wait for a table (which is miraculously short for this jam-packed spot), it was only 10 minutes before he escorted us inside to their cozy counter space.  

The French have a wonderful word to describe something with a perfectly flaky crunch on the outside, and a pillowy soft texture on the inside. Moelleux. Let me tell you, the croissant I had here was the most impeccably moelleux thing I’ve eaten outside of France. I don’t say this lightly — I lived 4 years in Paris, and I’m married to a Frenchman. In fact, my croissant actually warranted a brag text to my husband who was home in Merida. The eggs in my mushroom quiche also rivaled the French for fluff. And even my oat-milk cappuccino was heavenly! 

A cappucino and croissant at Panaderia Rosetta in Roma Norte.
A display of different breads and pastries at Panaderia Rosetta in Roma Norte.
The counter at Panaderia Rosetta in Mexico City.

We could’ve spent the whole day chowing down at Panaderia Rosetta. But we resisted temptation in favor of roaming two of Mexico City’s most gorgeous neighborhoods, Roma Norte and La Condesa.

Both colonias, or neighborhoods, were built in the early 20th century to accommodate wealthy Mexicans who wanted to leave Mexico City’s crowded center. Built practically side-by-side in the southwest part of Mexico City, Roma Norte and La Condesa are easy to make a day of exploring on foot. 

While they have lots in common, like incredible restaurants and jaw-dropping Art Nouveau and Art Deco architecture, you’ll see once you hit the ground that each neighborhood boasts its own unique flair.

Roma Norte is all about the edgy cool vibes. It has a stellar mix of buzzy bars and eateries, organic food shops, boutiques, art galleries, concept stores brimming with design porn, and digital nomad-magnet coffee shops. I often hear it called the Williamsburg of Mexico City. But personally it reminds me of where I grew up, in gritty, boho Venice Beach, which is now wildly gentrified by new money. I guess that’s why I felt right at home zipping through a political protest to duck in and out of snazzy boutiques, and pricey, vintage clothing shops.

One of my fave shops here is Goodbye Folk, which carries meticulously curated second hand goodies spread unassumingly across three floors. Another wow spot that’ll tempt your inner fashionista is Innerbaum, a multi-level, avant-garde concept store that carries a cache of the coolest accessories, like bags and shades, from Germany, Italy and Japan. Obsessed.    

Lots of the action in Roma Norte is centered around Avenue Colima. This where you’ll find MODO, short for The Museo del Objeto del Objeto. This is the first museum in Mexico City dedicated to communication and design. A visit only sets you back $3, and you can zip through in less than an hour. During our 4 days in Mexico City, we popped in for the Art of Nonsense exhibit. 

The vintage store Goodbye Folk in the Roma Norte neighborhood of Mexico City.
An exhibit at MODO in Mexico City.
A beautiful row of Art Nouveau houses in Roma Norte.

Next, it was off to La Condesa. With its majestic, tree-lined avenidas, lush green spaces, teeming plazas, sidewalk cafes, and delectable foodie scene, La Condesa is just as beguiling as Roma Norte, minus the grit and pretension. 

The heart of La Condesa is Avenida Amsterdam, an oval-shaped boulevard which betrays its past life as a horse racing track. The pedestrian walkway that cuts through the center of Amsterdam is an ideal place from which to take in the neighborhood’s marvelous confection of Art Deco and Neo Colonial mansions.

Other leafy escapes beckoning for a visit in La Condesa are Parque Mexico and Parque España. There’s a pretty, flower-adorned quiet space in Parque España that’s perfect for those seeking solitude. Parque Mexico, on the other hand, leans more vibrant. The park’s big square, Lindbergh Forum, is teeming with people and pooches day and night. 

Don’t leave La Condesa without treating yourself to the sinfully good churros at Churreria El Moro. Several locations of this Mexico City institution exist throughout the city, but the al fresco situation in La Condesa makes this outpost people-watcher perfect. And don’t skimp on ordering hot chocolate. I take mine French-style, topped with whip cream, and with a hint of vanilla.

A painting of the word Condesa and a woman on the side of a wall in the La Condesa neighborhood of Mexico City, where we roamed on the 3rd of our 4 days in Mexico City.
A churro at Churreria El Moro in La Condesa, Mexico City.
A neighborhood scene in La Condesa, Mexico City.

Dinner tonight was a full circle moment. The day started at Panaderia Rosetta, and we ended it at the beautiful restaurant Rosetta, its Michelin-star, sister establishment that’s just a stone’s throw down the street. Chef Elena Reygadas, who’s recognized as the best female chef in the world, runs both Rosettas. I didn’t realize it at the time, but when I Googled her while putting this article together, it hit me that she’d been sitting next to me with a colleague the entire time I was sitting at the counter in Panaderia Rosetta that morning.  

Unfortunately, our dinner experience at Rosetta was a mixed bag. Not because of the food, which was excellent, but because of the lackluster service. The restaurant had been super amazing communicating with me about changes to my reservation via WhatsApp before we arrived. But the on-site service left much to be desired. 

When I noticed three free neighboring tables, I politely asked our server if we could switch because our table was directly in front of the bathroom. He immediately reported to the hostess, who came over and bristled at me for not making my reservation sooner. Apparently the sooner you book, the better your choice of table. I totally get this, but I can’t get behind sassy employees chastising patrons. 

And not once in 90-minutes did our server feign warmth, or break a smile. As soon the check dropped, he hovered uncomfortably close to our table. The universal language for GTFO.

Rosetta redeemed itself a bit after dinner, at the intimate, beautifully-appointed bar above the restaurant. Drinks were simple but refined, the setting 10/10 gorgeous and the bartender – hallelujah! – was all smiles.

I could brunch all day, every day at Panaderia Rosetta. As for the fine dining restaurant, focus on the incredible food, and not the wonky service.

Jen inside of Restaurant Rosetta, a Michelin-star restaurant in Mexico City.
A plate of mole decorated with beautiful vegetables at Rosetta in Mexico City.
The bar above Rosetta in Mexico City.

Day 4 | Do some chic shopping in Polanco, then explore the wonders of Chapultepec Park. Celebrate your last night in Mexico City at a cultural event, or spectacular show.

Jen sitting on a bench under a sign that says Viva la Vida at Tane in Mexico City.

The last of our 4 days in Mexico City was a little lighter on exploration because… Metallica is tonight! But we still managed to get in a decent chunk of sunshine and sightseeing.  

Breakfast this morning was on the terrace at Ivoire, a French-influenced eatery in Palenquito that’s across the street from the lovely Parque Lincoln. Parque Lincoln is an inviting place to linger for a time out. It’s filled with statues and monuments honoring famous politicians and pacifists, like Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Abe Lincoln. The park also has an aviary, a small art gallery, and a tranquil pair of ponds.  

Because we’d only really seen Polanco at night, after breakfast we spent a few hours roaming the neighborhood’s chic streets and verdant parks. 

With its concentration of high-rise hotels, glamorous shopping, impeccably tailored locals, foreign embassies, and tempting restaurant terraces, Polanco is all luxury and international flair. Even the street names are sourced from around the globe. Calle Jules Verne (French novelist), Avenida Presidente Masaryk (former president of Czechoslovakia) and Campos Eliseo (Champs Elysee). 

You can also expect plenty of fabulous shopping in Polanco, which is the cherry on top of any girls trip! We weaved in and out of boutiques until arriving at Shulée by Galerias Triunfo, a multi-story mega-shop featuring all manner of bric-a-brac that you really don’t need, but desperately want! Think Home Goods on steroids. My bestie bought a neon painting of a Spanish dancer to lug back to the States, while I stocked up on Halloween decorations that I had zero business buying. Then it was off to window shop at the luxury stores on Avenida Masaryk, where you’ll find Hermes, Tiffany’s, Gucci, and the like. 

A statue of Abraham Lincoln in Parque Lincoln in Polanco, Mexico City.
Luxury shops Fendi and Dolce & Gabana in Polanco in Mexico City.

Next, we traded urban sprawl for leafy green Mother Nature, hopping in an Uber to Bosque de Chapultepec, or Chapultepec Park. This massive, verdant lung three miles west of the historic center of Mexico City is one of the city’s most popular escapes. The park stretches over a whopping 1,600 acres, making it twice the size of Central Park. You can easily spend an entire day here because it’s brimming with amazing things to see and do.

The park’s most frequented must-sees are the brilliant National Anthropology Museum, which has an incredible Mayan temple replica, Chapultepec Zoo (it draws over 5.5 million visitors a year!) and Chapultepec Castle, which houses the National History Museum. Chapultepec Castle, only one of two royal palaces in North America, is built atop a sacred Aztec hill. It boasts unmissable views of the city. 

If you’re looking for even more to do in Chapultepec Park, you’ll find several more museums, an amusement park, Mexico’s national cemetery, a lake where you can rent and paddle boats, as well as a few lakeside restaurants.   

Back at our AirBnB, we freshened up for the concert. Then we met for an early dinner with a few of my girlfriends who’d also flown in from Merida for the concert at La Chica.

This Roma Norte eatery is super popular, but hardly as fancy as everywhere else we’d eaten during our trip. But that’s why I chose it – La Chica’s stripped-down vibe was the perfect Metallica pregame spot. They also have a terrific, seasonal menu featuring tacos, Mediterranean plates like patatas bravas and hummus, and a vast selection of vegetarian and vegan plates. If you’re plant-based, go for the carnitas de setas tacos. So delish!

Stained glass windows in a gallery at Chapultepec Castle in Chapultepec Park, Mexico City.
The restaurant La Chica in the Roma Norte neighborhood of Mexico City.

And then it was off to lose our minds seeing Metallica in Mexico City!

Metallica put on an insanely badass headbanger’s ball that made the whole year of planning and traveling to Mexico City 1000% worth it! Getting to see them in one of the world’s greatest cities, where they also have a giant, loyal fanbase, was a big ‘ol check off my bucket list. 

I’m pretty sure Metallica won’t be here when you visit. But this is Mexico City, where spectacular live shows flow on tap. Here’s a few suggestions to cap off your epic 4 days in Mexico City:

🤼‍♀️ Catch a Lucha Libre performance – Lucha Libre is as quintessentially Mexican as it gets, with the first fights dating back to 1933. Check dates and ticket prices in Mexico City here

🎻 Enjoy an opera or symphony at Palacio Bellas Artes – Spend a lovely evening engulfed in opulence and sublime acoustics at Palacio de Bellas Artes. Check performances here.

🎸 See a major act at Foro Sol – Foro Sol is Mexico City’s major concert venue and draws some of the biggest performers in the world. To see what acts are rolling through Foro del Sol during your trip, check out the venue website.

🎼 Looking for something different? Visit the Mexico City Culture Secretary website for the 411 on all the goings-on about town.

Jen adn her friend Kerin at the Metallica concert ant Foro Sol on the last of our 4 days in Mexico City.
Jen and her girlfriends at Foro Sol to see Metallica on the last night of our 4 days in Mexico City

4 Days in Mexico City: A Quick Reference Guide for Everywhere to Eat & Play Mentioned in this Article

A view inside of Churreria El Moro in Mexico City.

Here’s a handy list of everywhere we ate and played during our 4 days in Mexico, at a glance:

Food & Bev

🥬 Rosetta
🥐 Panaderia Rosetta
🥃 Ticuchi
🍸 Licoreria Limantour
🌮 La Chica
🍩 El Moro
🍕 Farina
☕️ Cafe Toscano
🌯 Tostadas Coyoacan
🌶️ Carmela y Sal
🥂 Rooftop bar at the St. Regis
🥞 Ivoire

Must-Sees

📍 Historic Center
📍 Palacio de Hierro (historic center)
📍 Gran Hotel de la Ciudad de Mexico
📍 Polanco
📍 La Condesa
📍 Roma Norte
📍 Bellas Artes
📍 Casa Azul
📍 Trotsky Museum
📍 Xochimilco
📍 Mercado Coyoacan
📍 Museum of Objects
📍 Chapultepec Park
📍 Chapultepec Castle
📍 Chapultepec Zoo
📍 National Museum of Anthropology
📍 Foro del Sol
📍 Lucha Libre

4 Days in Mexico City: FAQs

A statue of David at Park Chapultepec in Mexico City.

Is Mexico City Safe?

Here is the current U.S. State Department Travel Advisory for Mexico City:

“Exercise increased caution due to crime. Both violent and non-violent crime occur throughout Mexico City. Use additional caution, particularly at night, outside of the frequented tourist areas where police and security patrol more routinely. Petty crime occurs frequently in both tourist and non-tourist areas.”

It’s true that some areas of Mexico City can be violent — just like some areas of New York City, Los Angeles or Chicago. I’m an Angeleno, and I would never frequent certain areas of my hometown, especially at night. Likewise, if you don’t go off the beaten path in Mexico City or walk alone at night, you should be fine.

While you should exercise caution, and avoid some areas of Mexico City all-together, I’ll be blunt: Mexico City is not the cartel-infested, kidnapping war zone some people and media would have you believe.

It is, however, a major global financial and cultural hub that hosts 40 million visitors a year, the majority of whom experience the city without incident. It’s a cosmopolitan destination that’s very heavily policed, and a place where most travelers can’t wait to return.

Polanco, Roma Norte and La Condesa, where we spent most of our time on this trip, are some of the safest neighborhoods in Mexico City. You’ll see women out walking alone or in groups in these areas all the time. For the most part, I felt very safe everywhere we went on this girl’s trip, even surrounded by 65,000 strangers at a stadium I’d never been to before. This was my bestie’s first trip to Mexico City, and she also felt safe the entire time.

In the historic center, I didn’t feel particularly unsafe, but I remained very vigilant while there. It’s a major tourist area, and major tourist areas all around the world attract petty crime like pickpocketing. 

Maximize your safety by always being aware of your surroundings. Don’t flash valuables or money, don’t get excessively drunk or do drugs, don’t get in unmarked or dodgy-looking taxis, don’t trust or go home with strangers and, if you’re taking the metro, stick to the women only cars.

Do I Need to Speak Spanish to Visit Mexico City?

Of course it’s helpful to have some grasp of Spanish if you’re visiting Mexico City. No one expects you to be fluent, but knowing some Spanish will help you be more confident and efficient doing things like ordering food, asking for directions and communicating with shopkeepers. It will also make it less likely that you’ll get swindled by someone taking advantage of your lack of the language.

You’ll hear English spoken in many of the neighborhoods and establishments mentioned in this article. This should help ease some fears you have about communicating with locals. Although I live in Merida, 90% of my friends are from Mexico City, and they speak excellent English. Children start learning English in school when they’re young, and many retain it throughout their lives. 

Mexicans are incredibly friendly regardless of what language you speak. But they’ll be that much more inclined to embrace you when you try communicating in Spanish. 

When’s the Best Time to Visit Mexico City?

If weather is your concern, anytime between March and May brings the year’s most pleasant climate, with sunny days and little rainfall. Summers tend to be rainy, and winters can be pretty chilly. 

What’s the Currency and Exchange Rate in Mexico?

Mexico’s currency is the peso. Currently, the exchange rate is pretty favorable for the US dollar, hovering anywhere between $20 – $19 USD for $1 MXN.

To help you check the current exchange rate, here’s a handy currency converter.  

The Wrap

I hope this article has given you plenty of inspo for planning the perfect 4 days in Mexico City! You can pack A LOT into 4 days in this sprawling, vibrant metropolis. But the to-do list is endless in Mexico City, so I know you’ll be back!

Looking for more amazing Mexico destination guides? Have a peek here and here.

Tell me in the comments how your trip goes! And each out if I can help you with any questions. 

As always, inspired travels Amiga! 💜

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