If you’re headed to Mexico City for a short trip, we’ve put together the ultimate 2-day guide to make the most of your time in the city.
You might be surprised at how big the city is, so following a plan is crucial. In this blog, we’ll share the ultimate two-day Mexico City Trip ideas, covering two of the most prominent areas in the city.
Why is Mexico City so popular?
Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, welcomes over four million international visitors each year, according to the official government website. This city has long been popular with both local and international tourists, but recently, its appeal has grown even more.
With the rise of remote work during the pandemic, Mexico City has become a hotspot for digital nomads. Some stay briefly, while others take advantage of the full six-month visa.
The city’s appeal is easy to see—its vibrant food scene, historic architecture, and beautiful urban parks make it a must-visit destination.
Your Free 3 -Day Mexico City Itinerary!
Packed with everything you need to make the most of your trip to Mexico City. You’ll find daily schedules, insider tips and top-rated tours – all easily accessible right on your phone!
How To Get To Mexico City
It’s important to know that Mexico City now has two international airports. Benito Juarez is the old airport, located fairly close to the main points of interest in the city. The brand new airport, named Felipe Angeles is located a bit further away from the city centre.
It seems that right now, most international flights arrive at the old airport in Mexico City (Benito Juarez), while most domestic flights arrive at the new airport.
From either airport, you can either take a taxi, use a ride-share service or hop on the metro. Of those three transportation options, we’d recommend using one of the ride-share apps, like Uber or InDrive as this is the safest and most convenient option.
If you leave Mexico City via Felipe Angeles International Airport, don’t miss visiting the lounge – its beautiful and one of the best we’ve ever experienced.
Can't read now? Pin it for later!
How To Stay Safe in Mexico City
Like in most big cities, it’s important to stay aware and take a few precautions in Mexico City. While it’s generally safe, you should be mindful of potential theft and the possibility of encounters with corrupt cops.
To stay safe, avoid unfamiliar neighbourhoods, particularly areas like Tepito and Merced. Even locals who grew up in Mexico City often steer clear of these places.
😷 Looking for affordable travel insurance? Find the best plan here!
It’s also wise not to carry too much cash or wear flashy jewellery. Some dishonest cops may search your belongings, so keeping cash and valuables to a minimum is best. If you encounter a corrupt officer, avoid confrontation—it could lead to further issues.
Pickpocketing is another common concern. A typical scam, also seen in cities like Playa del Carmen, involves three people working together. One will put something like toothpaste on your clothes, and two others will approach to “help,” claiming a bird has pooped on you and offering napkins. While they “help” clean it off, they may steal from your bags and pockets. If this happens, politely refuse help, move to a nearby restaurant or public area, and clean up on your own.
🚨 Want to avoid getting scammed in Xochimilco Mexico City? Read this next!
The Best Way To Move Around The City
Mexico City is massive, so there are plenty of transportation options to choose from. For first-time travellers, we recommend using ride-share apps as the easiest choice. It’s especially helpful if you’re not comfortable speaking Spanish, as some other options may be harder to navigate without basic language skills.
Ride-Share Apps (Uber, InDrive, and DiDi): These are the main ride-share apps available. We’ve tried all three, but InDrive is usually the cheapest. Just note that InDrive operates on a cash-only basis, so have cash on hand. If you prefer to pay by card, Uber or DiDi are good alternatives.
Metro: Mexico City’s metro system is extensive and affordable (around 50 cents per ride) and can get you almost anywhere in the city quickly, as it bypasses traffic. However, routes may be challenging to figure out if you’re unfamiliar with the city or if you don’t speak Spanish.
Metro Bus: This is a clean, well-maintained bus system with its own dedicated lanes, helping it avoid some traffic. It’s also budget-friendly. We suggest avoiding it during peak hours, as it can get very crowded.
Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus: This is a tourist bus that travels to all the major attractions. It’s a great option if you’re focusing on sightseeing. Tickets are reasonably priced, but be aware that you might end up waiting between stops, and it only runs during limited hours.
Renting a Car: If you’re comfortable driving in large cities, renting a car is an option. However, parking is difficult, and the traffic is intense, so we don’t recommend it as the best way to get around.
🚗 Looking for an affordable rental? Here are the best options!
Is Two Days In Mexico City Enough
Mexico City is a massive city, and getting around can take time, so two days is really short for exploring it fully. To truly experience what the city has to offer, we recommend planning at least five days here, but we were recently in Mexico City for 9 days and felt like this was the perfect amount of time to really enjoy much of what the city has to offer.
But if you only have two days, don’t worry—you can still see a lot! Soon, we’ll share a 2-day itinerary covering two of the city’s main areas. Just be ready for a busy schedule, as there’s plenty to see in a short amount of time.
Where To Stay In Mexico City
Before booking your accommodation in Mexico City, it’s very important to determine the type of vacation you’re after. The city is huge and offers a wide range of diverse neighbourhoods. Additionally, moving around the city takes quite some time, so we recommend picking your neighbourhood based on the attractions you’re most drawn to. Here are our top 4 recommendations for the best place to stay in Mexico City:
Condesa or Roma
Type of neighbourhood: Upscale, quiet, beautiful, slow-paced
Close to: Parque Mexico, great restaurants & fancy cafes
Price Range: $$$ – $$$$
These are neighbouring areas and you can easily move from one to the other in an Uber. These are two of the most popular neighbourhoods amongst foreign travellers and digital nomads – hence the plethora of gorgeous cafes, restaurants and well-groomed dogs.
You’ll love the fact that this is one of the few quiet spots in the city, and Parque Mexico is within walking distance.
Recommended Stays:
$$ – Puerta Roja Roma Norte
$$$ – Nido Condesa
$$$ – Hotel MX Roma
$$$$ – Andaz Condesa by Hyatt
Mexico City's Historic Centre
Type of neighbourhood: Historical hub, upbeat, a bit loud & chaotic
Close to: Most major monuments, Templo Mayor, The Zocalo
Price Range: $$ – $$$$
This is the city’s historic hub. If you’re really into witnessing the history and the busy worker lifestyle, you’ll want to base yourself here.
You’ll find almost all of the major monuments here, as well as some amazing street food and local restaurants. If you’re sensitive to noise and lots of people, this is not the best spot to book your accommodation.
Recommended Stays:
$$ – IBIS Alameda Hotel
$$$ – Zocalo Central & Rooftop Mexico City
$$$ – City Centro by Marriott Ciudad De México
$$$$ – Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico
😴 Use this interactive map to find your ideal stay in Mexico City
Insurgentes Sur
Type of neighbourhood: Mini financial hub, cool upscale local area
Close to: Luxury shopping centres, cinemas, great restaurants & bars
Price Range: $$ – $$$$
We ended up staying in this part of town because we happened to get good rates on a decent CityExpress – which was great!
This area is right on the main thoroughfare that runs through the city, so it’s easy to move around. You’ll get a good taste of upscale local life. Plus, no one seems to know about it – just yet! We loved the fancy malls and clean streets lined with highrises. Plus, we could easily hop on the Metro Bus, which was awesome.
Recommended Stays:
$$ – City Express Plus by Marriott
$$$ – Casa Nou
$$$ – Hotel Novito
$$$$ – Hyatt Regency Mexico City
Paseo de la Reforma
Type of neighbourhood: Financial hub, clean & elegant, high traffic
Close to: Chapultepec Park, El Angel, luxury hotels & restaurants.
Price Range: $$$ – $$$$
This is one of the major financial hubs of Mexico City. It also sits on the border of the biggest park in The Americas – Bosque de Chapultepec.
You’ll find some of the most luxurious accommodations here. You’re also likely to stay in a room with a gorgeous view of the massive park and bustling financial hub. Reforma Avenue is also one of the main thoroughfares in the city, making it easy to move around via Uber or MetroBus.
Recommended Stays:
$$ – Hotel MX Más Reforma
$$$ – Fiesta Americana Reforma
$$$ – City Express Plus by Marriott
$$$$ – The Ritz-Carlton
How To Spend Two Days In Mexico City
Day 1 - Mexico City's Historic Centre
Centro Historico is an absolute must-see, especially if you’re into culture and history. The best way to explain Centro Historico is that it is like the heartbeat of the city. Here, you’ll find the most beautiful historical buildings and monuments. You’re also going to find and abundance of very affordable local food.
As this part of Mexico City is so large and there is so much to see and do, we’d recommend starting your day early and wearing your most comfortable shoes. This is how we’d structure your first day in Mexico City:
Mercado San Juan
This is a very popular local market, most well-known for its exotic products. And when we say exotic, we really mean it. You can expect to find things like; tarantulas, scorpions, lions, buffalo, crocodiles and lots more on offer. This is not only a great place to try some local food, but also to browse the endless stalls selling fresh produce and interesting ingredients.
If exotic food is not what you’re after, there are many stalls selling great local dishes, such as tacos, tortas and chilaquiles. We’d highly recommend finding a stall selling fresh-pressed juices. You can ask them to add anything you like and a 500ml juice only costs around US1.50. Additionally, we’d recommend ending off your time at Mercado San Juan by getting a coffee from the sweet elderly man who runs Triana Cafe.
Explore China Town
On your way to the hub of Mexico Citys Historic Centre, you’ll walk right through China Town. We’d recommend allocating at least 45 minutes to browse the never-ending trinket stores and perhaps grabbing an interesting beverage.
⛔️ Want to know exactly how to stay safe in Mexico City? Read this post next!
cafe Don Porfirio for The View of Palacio de las Bellas Artes
If you ask us, we’ll tell you that Palacio de las Bellas Artes is easily the most beautiful building we’ve ever seen in Mexico. You can see it from the ground and you can also pay a small entrance fee to go inside. Truthfully, we’ve never been inside, but you’ll find some of Diego Rivera’s artwork here – which is pretty awesome.
To get the absolute best view of this gorgeous building, you’ll want to head into the Sears, right across from Palacio de las Bellas Artes and take the elevator to the top floor. You’ll find a cafe, named Don Porfirio, which has a patio facing the historical building.
You’ll need to purchase a coffee or pastry to be permitted access to the patio, and you’ll be given a time frame in which you may sit there as it gets very busy.
The 9-Day Mexico City Itinerary & Map
✔︎ Step-by-Step Itinerary:
every day is thoughtfully planned to maximize your experience.
✔︎ Coordinated Google Map:
which means no more getting lost or wasting time.
✔︎ Essential Travel Tips:
all the insight needed to ensure your trip is smooth & stress-free.
Torre Latino Look-out Point
The Torre Latino is one of the only high-rise buildings in this part of the city. From the outside, it just looks like and old, unmaintained building. But, if you head inside and purchase a ticket to the look-out point, you’ll be able to ride the elevator up to the top floor which will give you 360-degree views of the city.
You could compare this building to the Empire State building in New York, it’s just a bit older, but you still get the best view of Mexico City Historic Centre and beyond.
Aztec Cleanse at The Zocalo
Just a few blocks away from the Torre Latino, you’ll find yourself in The Zocalo, which is a massive courtyard, surrounded by some of the most important government buildings in Mexico.
You’ll easily spot the people dressed in traditional Aztec attire, who are offering cleanses, in exchange for a donation. We’re not sure how legit the practice is, but it’s a fun thing to try out while you’re there.
Templo Mayor
Hundreds of years ago, the Zocalo in Mexico City was once the heart of an Aztec city called Tenochtitlan. When the Spanish arrived and conquered the area, they built their own city directly on top of the Aztec structures.
By paying a small entrance fee to Templo Mayor (meaning “Great Temple”), you can explore the remains of this ancient Aztec city. Even if you’re not a big history fan, this site is fascinating and worth including in your itinerary.
👀 Looking for something fun to do in Mexico City? These are the TOP-RATED tours in the area!
Grab A Drink At The Gran Hotel
The Gran Hotel is one of the oldest and most beautiful hotels in Mexicos Historical Centre, and they’ve got a Terraza that looks right out onto the Zocalo, giving you a unique perspective of the area.
We unfortunately couldn’t go in because we didn’t realise that the Terazza is not available every day of the week. Drink service is only available on the weekends and public holidays and we’d highly recommend making a reservation in advance to ensure you get a table.
Pasteleria Ideal (Bakery)
Lastly, we’d recommend heading to Pasteleria Ideal to grab some fresh Mexican pastries and cookies. This bakery is the oldest in Centro Historico and is very popular with locals and tourists alike, as you’ll see by how it’s so busy no matter the time of the day.
🇲🇽 Looking for something more in-depth? Book this popular Centro Historico walking tour
Day 2: Chapultepec Park
This part of Mexico City can be thought of as the lungs of the city. Chapultepec Park is located in one of the largest financial hubs of the city, so it’s got a very different vibe and aesthetic to Centro Historico.
Chapultepec Park is the biggest park in The Americas and is double the size of Central Park in New York City, so you can easily spend an entire day here and still not see everything the park has to offer.
Casa De Toño For Breakfast
Before heading to Chapultepec, we’d recommend looking up the nearest Casa De Toño and heading there for a nice Mexican breakfast. This is a popular chain restaurant in Mexico City and there are dozens of branches in the city, so there will definitely be one near your accommodation.
We’d specifically recommend trying out the pozole, which is a typical dish from Mexico City. Pozole is a soup, traditionally served at breakfast time and it’s absolutely delicious.
Chapultepec Park
Since Chapultepec Park is very large, we recommend starting at the entrance near The Ritz Carlton. This entrance takes you directly to a beautiful monument called Los Niños Héroes, which honours the six young boys who died defending Chapultepec Castle during the Battle of Chapultepec.
Chapultepec Castle
Next, we recommend visiting Chapultepec Castle, located at the highest point in Chapultepec Park. After paying a small entrance fee at the base, it’s about a 10-minute uphill walk to reach the castle.
For history enthusiasts, a guided tour is a great way to learn more about the castle’s past. We opted to explore on our own and enjoyed the museum, which highlights the political leaders who once lived there.
The best reason to visit, though, is the stunning view of Chapultepec Park. The castle’s unique black-and-white checkered patio offers beautiful photo spots and panoramic views. Plan to spend at least 1.5 hours here.
Dorilocos
For a unique snack, check out the many stands around the park offering “Dorilocos,” which translates to “crazy Doritos.”
Each vendor has their own twist on this popular Mexico City treat, but you get to choose what goes in it. Start by picking your favourite flavour of Doritos, which are then topped with a mix of ingredients like shredded jicama, carrots, peanuts, gummy bears, and Salsa Valentina.
It may not be for everyone, but it’s worth trying just to see why it’s so popular!
Lucha Libre
A visit to Mexico City isn’t complete without seeing a Lucha Libre show. While you could go on your own, taking a tour adds a lot of insight into the culture behind this iconic Mexican sport.
On our tour, we first met up with the group at a great taco spot, where we enjoyed tacos and drinks. Then, we walked over to a rooftop bar to try some mezcal, and our guides gave a fun, engaging presentation on the history and culture of Lucha Libre.
After the rooftop, we headed to the stadium just in time for the night’s three main matches. Refreshments were also available for purchase at the stadium.
Why Mexico City Is Worth Visiting In 2024
Mexico City’s popularity surged around 2020, as it was one of the few places with relaxed COVID restrictions. Even now, it continues to attract many international visitors.
While many travellers head to Mexico’s popular resort areas like Cancun or Playa del Carmen, choosing Mexico City gives you a chance to experience its deep history and vibrant culture. If you’re considering Mexico City for your next trip, we highly recommend it—it’s a fascinating and diverse city with something for every kind of traveller.
In short, yes, Mexico City is absolutely still worth visiting in 2024!
