Mexico City walking tour & city guide
Aztec ruins, colonial palaces and world-class street food.
Video by HP Walking Tours on YouTube. All rights belong to the creator. Like or comment on YouTube ↗
Mexico City (CDMX) is one of the largest cities in the world, built on the ruins of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan. It is a city of grand plazas and colonial churches, leafy neighborhoods full of cafés, world-class museums and some of the best street food anywhere.
The Centro Histórico
The Zócalo, one of the largest public squares in the world, is surrounded by the Metropolitan Cathedral and the National Palace, where Diego Rivera's murals tell the history of Mexico. Just next to the cathedral, the Templo Mayor was the main temple of the Aztecs, rediscovered in 1978.
Avenida Madero, a pedestrian street, leads to the Palacio de Bellas Artes, a white marble palace with an Art Nouveau exterior and Art Deco interior. The Alameda Central park and the Torre Latinoamericana, with its observation deck, are nearby.
Neighborhoods and museums
Roma and Condesa are leafy neighborhoods of Art Deco buildings, parks, cafés and restaurants, popular for walking. Chapultepec Park, one of the largest city parks in the Americas, contains a castle and the National Museum of Anthropology, home to the famous Aztec Sun Stone.
In the south, Coyoacán is a colonial village absorbed by the city, home to the Frida Kahlo Museum in her blue house. Nearby, the canals of Xochimilco are famous for colorful trajinera boats with mariachi music on board.
Visiting tips
Mexico City is at 2,240 meters, so take it easy on your first day and drink plenty of water. The pyramids of Teotihuacan are an easy day trip. Use registered taxis or ride-hailing apps, and the metro is cheap and fast outside rush hours.
Top sights in Mexico City
- 1
Zócalo and Metropolitan Cathedral
The heart of the historic center.
- 2
Templo Mayor
The ruins of the main Aztec temple.
- 3
Palacio de Bellas Artes
A marble palace of the arts.
- 4
National Museum of Anthropology
Mexico's greatest museum.
- 5
Frida Kahlo Museum
The Blue House in Coyoacán.
- 6
Xochimilco
Canals with colorful boats.
Food markets & where to eat in Mexico City
Mercado de San Juan
A gourmet market with exotic ingredients.
Mercado de Coyoacán
A local market famous for tostadas.
Roma and Condesa
Taquerías, cafés and food stalls.
Centro Histórico street stands
Tacos al pastor and tamales on every corner.
Mercado de la Merced
One of the largest traditional markets in the city.
Food to try in Mexico City
Tacos al pastor
Spit-roasted pork with pineapple, the city's favorite taco.
Chilaquiles
Fried tortilla chips in salsa, a classic breakfast.
Tamales
Steamed corn dough with fillings, sold in the mornings.
Churros with chocolate
Fried dough with thick hot chocolate.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
Plan your trip to Mexico City
Enjoyed the walk? Here is everything you need to see it for real.
- Hotels in Mexico CityCompare places to stay and prices.
- Tours & ticketsWalking tours, museums and day trips in Mexico City.
- eSIM for MexicoStay online from the moment you land.
Some links may be affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
More cities in Mexico
▶ 6 videosCancún
White sand and turquoise Caribbean water.
▶ 6 videosTulum
Mayan ruins on a cliff above the Caribbean.
▶ 6 videosPlaya del Carmen
A beach town with a famous walking street.
▶ 6 videosOaxaca
Colorful streets, indigenous culture and Mexico's best food.
▶ 6 videosSan Miguel de Allende
A pink gothic church and colorful colonial streets.
▶ 6 videosGuadalajara
The home of mariachi and tequila.
▶ 6 videosMérida
The 'White City', capital of Yucatán culture.
▶ 6 videosPuerto Vallarta
A Pacific beach town between jungle hills and the bay.
▶ 6 videosGuanajuato
A colorful silver town of tunnels and alleys.