Consider this a full circle moment – after I was in Mexico for an entire month, I dropped the ball and never posted my Mexico City Travel Guide. It sat in the drafts for 9 months! Then, I took my mommy to Mexico City for a Black Girl Meets World adventure, and remembered how much I loved this destination. It gave me the perfect reason
[four months later]to blow the dust off of this Mexico City Travel Guide and share updated highlights of one of my favorite cities in the world.
| Destination: | Mexico City, Mexico also referred to as “CDMX” for Cuidad de Mexico City |
| Language: | Spanish; English likely understood by those in Tourism industry |
| Airport Code: | MEX – Benito Juárez International Airport |
| Best Weather: | October – May |
| Best Value: | June – September |
| Currency: | MXN – Mexican Peso |
Getting To Mexico City
I booked a direct flight from Houston to Mexico City on AeroMexico, a SkyTeam Alliance partner. Benito Juárez International Airport (Airport code: MEX) is Latin America’s largest (and busiest) airport, so it can get hectic, especially when traveling during a pandemic. However, MEX is easier to navigate than other unnecessarily complicated airports (looking at you LAX.)
Mexico City’s High Altitude
The most important thing I can caution about traveling to Mexico City is to brace yourself for the change in altitude. Sitting at more than 7,300 feet (2235 meters) above sea level, things can get dicey very quickly if you’re not used to being that high up. However, with a little preparation and awareness, altitude sickness doesn’t have to ruin the vibes.
Getting Around Mexico City
When I visited Mexico City as a solo traveler, I walked 90% of the time. Polanco and La Condesa neighborhoods were pretty walkable, so I only took Ubers if it was really late at night or I ventured out to another neighborhood.
Uber rides cost on average $2-3 USD including driver tips, while Uber Black prices fluctuated from $10-15 USD depending on demand. Overall, using ride share services were more cost efficient (and spacious) than the traditional Taxi cabs.
BGMW Tip: If booking a tour, be sure to confirm if transportation is included and take into account you may have to meet up in another neighborhood if hotel pickup isn't included.
Who Should Visit Mexico City?
Foodies
Yes, you can find good Mexican food in Mexico City – including just about every regional Mexican cuisine you can imagine, but you’ll also find outstanding cuisines from all over the world. From street food to fine dining and everything in between, CDMX is great destination for foodie adventures.
History & Culture Lovers
Mexico City is one of the oldest cities in North America, so there are endless opportunities to submrrge yourself in the country’s history and culture. My mom has a deep appreciation and curiosity for history and I love art, so we really took our time to explore the museums and historic architecture.
Is Mexico City Safe?
I understand personal experiences and media (mis)representation often shape most people’s idea of safety so I don’t malign people who are more apprehensive than I am about traveling to certain destinations. However, my general safety philosophy is that safe is a practice, not a place. With that said, I felt safe visiting Mexico City.
BGMW Tip: Follow general safety guidelines, respect the community, and exercise common sense wherever you are.
I encourage all travelers to have a personal safety plan and make sure it’s tailored to your needs and comfort level so you can enjoy all of your travel experiences. For example, I always share my travel itinerary with a trusted family member or friend, and we check in when I make it back to my room each night.
Safe is a practice, not a place.
Black Girl meets world
Where to Stay in Mexico City
CDMX is one of the largest cities in North America – yes, even bigger than New York City – and has several neighborhoods to appeal to visitors. I split my month-long stay between Polanco and La Condesa, and preferred Polanco overall.
Polanco
In Mexico City’s “ritziest” neighborhood, travelers have their pick of 5- star hotels, fine dining, art galleries and museums, and a shopping strip (Avenida Presidente Masaryk) lined with most of the major European luxury brands. If I had to compare Polanco to a destination in the USA, for casual reference only, I’d say Polanco gives big vibes similar to LA’s West Hollywood or NYC’s Chelsea neighborhoods.
Polanco is also hailed as the “safest” neighborhood in Mexico City, but I suspect that’s because of the extremely high police presence in the neighborhood. Personally, I was unsettled seeing 3-4 cops with huge guns on every corner because it’s not my idea of community safety. Being safe and feeling safe are two different things.
La Condesa
La Condesa had a lot more hustle and bustle, so it was much easier to “blend in” with the neighborhood. The main streets are lined with coffee shops, casual restaurants and a variety of retail stores. My favorite thing about La Condesa was Parque San Martín, a huge park with lots of greenery and art. After logging out of work, I’d take long walks through the park and wander into whatever restaurant caught my eye for dinner.
Other Popular Mexico City Neighborhoods for Visitors:
- Roma Norte
- Roma Sur
- La Condesa
- Centro Historico
Click here to keep up with my foodie adventures.
Mexico City Accommodations
Hotels
As a travel writer with a focus on Hospitality, it’s no secret that I’m a hotel gal. I LOVE the comfort of a nice hotel room or suite and the magic a good hospitality team creates to make my stay perfect.
Read: “Check-In: Luxury at Zadún, a Ritz Carlton Reserve [REVIEW]”
If you’re looking for a luxury hotel in Polanco, I recommend the JW Marriott Mexico City. From check-in to checkout, every single team member went out of their way to ensure my mother and I had a luxurious and welcoming stay.
Photo By Raquel Seymone/Black Girl Meets World
There are other 4- and 5- star hotels located in Polanco’s hotel zone, including The W, and the Intercontinental. There are also Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton hotels a short distance from Polanco’s hotel zone.
One thing to keep in mind – the luxury hotel brands are definitely charging American luxury prices, so take advantage of discounts wherever you can.
Accommodations were the biggest expense for me on both visits, but well worth it. If quality accommodations are a high priority for your travel experience, I recommend splurging on your stay because everything else is a great value.
Short-Term Rentals
Sonder
During my month-long stay in Mexico, I spent the majority of my time in a Sonder apartment. Sonder specializes in hybrid apartment-hotels designed to give travelers the comfort of an apartment with the convenience, amenities, and service of hotel stays. They offer properties at various price points all over the world and you can filter by location, room size, and amenities that suit your personal needs.
Casa Tais
I originally booked 3-nights at Sonder’s Casa Tais because I planned on neighborhood hopping and just wanted to get a feel for Polanco. It was quiet and perfectly located, making the entire neighborhood walking distance in just about any direction.
Casa Tais offers different floor plans with various square footage and bed types to choose from. I first picked a Superior Queen room, and it was spacious and had a lot of natural light (which varies by room location).
Photo by Raquel Seymone/Black Girl Meets World
When I decided Polanco would be the neighborhood I stayed in for the remainder of my month in Mexico, I booked a larger room – the King Suite – with a workstation so I could comfortably telework without having to go to their work lounge.
BGMW Tip: Bring a compliant extension cord to plug up your electronics. Some of the outlets are in weird spots.
Photo by Raquel Seymone/Black Girl Meets World
AirBnb
I also stayed in an AirBnB in La Condesa. It was a colorful apartment above an art studio in a three-story walk up. The building let right out on to a busy street lined with coffee shops, restaurants, and shopping.
My cute Airbnb was designed with intention to unplug. Seriously, there weren’t any electronics in the house! That was a big adjustment for me but I ended up appreciating it.
Unfortunately, on the final night of my stay, there was an incident in the building involving the host, and I was so glad it was my last night. It further cemented that I absolutely prefer hotels over Airbnb spots most days.
Where to Eat in Mexico City
As I mentioned earlier, Mexico City is absolutely a foodie city! I ate so many cochinita pibil (think Mexican pulled pork) tacos I thought I’d turn into one!
Beyond tacos and tequila, Mexico City’s dining landscape is studded with gems! From casual to fine dining and everything in between, you can find delicious food across cuisines! A bomb spicy chicken sandwich certainly wasn’t on my Good Eats bingo card, but here I was… A month in Mexico without a kitchen meant I spent a lot of time eating out. I visited over 50 restaurants, and rounded out a list I think will serve you well as you plan your own Mexico City adventure. [Coming Soon]
Things to do in Mexico City
Visit the Zócalo
Located in Mexico City’s Centro Historico neighborhood, the zócalo is the heart of Mexico City! It’s home to some of the city’s most popular tourist attractions – including the National Palace and the Metropolitan Cathedral (the largest cathedral in Latin America.) The hustle and bustle of the zócalo reminded me of New York’s Times Square. However, the zócalo is far more visually interesting thanks to the beautiful architecture with Baroque, Renaissance and Neo-Classical designs mixed in.
BGMW Tip: Enjoy sweeping views of the city from the balconies of restaurants around the zócalo.
The zócalo is much busier on the weekends so plan your visit accordingly to give yourself time to take it all in. Between parades, street vendors with handmade crafts, and various shops and restaurants, the zócalo is a great option for an afternoon adventure.
Visit the Frida Kahlo Museum
Wander over to the Coyoacán neighborhood to visit La Casa Azul, the brightly colored home-turned-museum dedicated to the art and life of iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.
BGMW Tip: Your ticket to Frida Kahlo museum includes complimentary admission to the Anahuacalli Museum
Buy your advanced ticket directly from the museum. If you want to take pictures inside the museum, you’ll need to pay an extra fee. Video is not allowed.
Visit the National Anthropology Museum
Mexico City’s Museo Nacional de Antropología is one of the best museums in world! It deep dives into Mexico’s history, exploring the daily life and cultural contributions of modern Mexico’s indigenous peoples.
With over 20 permanent collections, there’s no shortage of things to see and learn. Tickets are only 85 Mexican Pesos (~$4 USD) so this is one the most affordable tourist attractions in Mexico City. I’d recommend at least 2-3 hours here, but you could easily spend an entire day in the museum.
BGMW Tip: Museums are great itinerary fillers for rainy days, .
Other Mexico City Museums:
- Palacio de Bellas Artes
- Museo de Arte Popular
- Soumaya Museum
- Tamayo Museum
Book a Food & Drink Tour
Taco tours and tequila/mezcal tastings are the most popular food and drink activities in Mexico City, and there are hundreds of tours offered on every major booking site. However, if you’re open to something different, I’d recommend the foodie classes and workshops offered by Foodie Club on AirBnB Experiences.
Ricardo Lopez is an AirBnB Experiences Community Leader in Mexico City. He offers unique culinary classes out of his beautiful home in La Condesa. There are several experiences to choose from, including learning how to make fun Mexican desserts like churros and Day of the Dead bread, but I opted for a less involved chocolate and coffee pairing class.
Christian, a Foodie Club co-host, shared his chocolatier and Q grader (think coffee sommelier) knowledge to walk our small group through different Mexican chocolate profiles and how to pair them with various coffee beans. Leaning about chocolate’s Mexican history while sampling rich chocolate and coffee was such a treat – but my favorite part of the experience was learning how to make pour over coffee!
In my opinion, the foodie experiences in Mexico City are an absolute must-do! Whether you pick your experience by food, neighborhood, or BGMW-suggested Foodie Club offerings, you won’t regret it. (If you do, leave me out of it!)
Visit Teotihuacan
Down for a day trip? Book a tour to visit the archaeological site of Teotihuacan. Walk down Avenue of the Dead and explore the Palace of Quetzalpapalotl and the Temple of Quetzalcoatl. If you’re up for the adventure, climb the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon for breathtaking views of the Valley of Mexico City.
BGMW Tip: book the early morning tours to avoid the heat and be sure to have good sun protection. Once the sun is high, there's no where to hide.
Entry into the complex is about 80 pesos ($4 USD). I recommend booking a tour that includes transportation and other activities in the area. Unfortunately, my tour got cancelled last minute, so I didn’t get to go see the pyramids firsthand. While I never need a reason to go back to Mexico City, visiting Teotihuacan is priority #1 for my next visit!
Final Thoughts on Mexico City
Mexico City is a maze of wonder and one of my favorite cities in the world! Every neighborhood has a distinct personality, and there’s something new to discover every time I return. I hope this Mexico City Travel Guide helps you plan your visit. Let me know if you visit any of the places I recommend by tagging me on social media!
Want to keep up with my Black Girl Meets World adventures? Follow me on Instagram (click any of the images below) and subscribe to my Black Girl Meets World newsletter.
