Things to do in Mexico City?

I'm heading to Mexico City after Christmas for 6 days. Looking for recommendations beyond the standard pyramids, etc. Musical entertainment venues? Restaurants? Parks or zoos? Oddities? Bizarre landmarks?
Muchas gracias!


I hear the street tacos are good.


National Museum of Anthropology..............superb

Ballet Folklorico.............also a treasure

Don't buy a lottery ticket


Watch the Taco Chronicles on Netflix!


Museum of Anthropology definitely, and Chapultepec Park which surrounds it. The Templo Mayor in the Zocolo (city center plaza) is another great archaeological site, as of course are the pyramids of Teotihuacan, an hour out of town.

I like churches, so we visited the cathedral and several other rather ancient churches in the historic center, and also went out to see the La Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe shrine. 

Diego Rivera murals in the Palacio Nacional and the Palacio Bellas Artes. Diego's and Frida Kahlo's house, Casa Azul, in Coyacan. (This will be a zoo; it's practically a pilgrimage site, but still worth visiting. Nice neighborhood and another good church too.)

Walk around the Zocolo (cathedral, city center plaza, surrounded by old streets and buildings), and the neighborhoods of Colonia Roma, Condesa, and glitzy Polanco,  Visit some markets -- Mercado Medellin was lively and fun. The Mercado Roma is also great (more of a food court -- with outposts of some very spendy restaurants, where you can sample bites for much less). The Mercado de Artesanias is a wonderful craft market.

Xochilmilco is fun with a group.

Eat at El Cardinal and Cafe de Tacuba. And street food too!


In addition to the comprehensive list from iwasmim, We enjoyed the Museo Dr Arte Popular (folk art and fun exhibits) and Leon Trotsky Museum (near the Frida Kahlo house and much less frenetic).  There are multiple museums near the Zocalo that may be of interest. Definitely get out of town to places like Teotihuacan or colonial towns.


I noticed on your other thread that you were into mariachi. (And I recall your recommending Flor de Toloache, who were awesome!) So -- I wanted to be sure you were aware of the mariachi mecca Plaza Garibaldi in the DF. We didn't wind up going ourselves, which I regret. But with your musical interests, you definitely should!


iwasmim said:

I noticed on your other thread that you were into mariachi. (And I recall your recommending Flor de Toloache, who were awesome!) So -- I wanted to be sure you were aware of the mariachi mecca Plaza Garibaldi in the DF. We didn't wind up going ourselves, which I regret. But with your musical interests, you definitely should!

 I'm so glad you saw Flor de Toloache. Did you see them at SOPAC?  That was a great show. They are the best! I've seen them 5 or 6 times going back to when they were unknown. Now they tour the world.

I will definitely check out the mariachi mecca at Gribaldi. I think it's on the ever-expanding list of things to do but I'll confirm. I'm looking forward to lots of music down there. 


yes, heard FdT at SOPAC -- simply loved the show; they were so virtuosic and so marvelously fun. I don't really know much about mariachi, but assume they transcend the genre. They played mariachi-flavored versions of all kinds of things. Just great!

They say that Pl Garibaldi can get a little hairy, although maybe not really dangerous as supposedly wealthy people go there to hire their wedding and party bands.But I'm sure you'll watch your back. Please come back and report.



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