Mexico City Visitor Guide 2024: Everything you need to know

The capital of Mexico, Mexico City, is a vibrant and densely populated place unlike anywhere else on earth. Once the heart of the Aztec empire, the city became home to the country's Spanish rulers following European conquest. This merging of two distinct cultures can still be seen today in the art and architecture of the city. The old Aztec Templo Mayor sits right next to the National Palace like a symbol of the forces that have shaped both the city and the country's culture.

But there's more to Mexico City than just its past. It's also the cultural hub of the entire country, home to many of Mexico's most important institutions. And of course, since this is Mexico, you know there's going to be great food. Drop off your bags at a Mexico City luggage storage service and explore this vibrant metropolis for yourself.

A weekend in Mexico City

8 Best Ways to Experience Mexico City in 2024

Mexico City is a sprawling and vibrant place that befits the nation it’s the capital of. From ancient Aztec ruins to bustling shopping districts, Mexico City has something to offer just about anyone. If you want to gain a deeper insight into the city and what it has to offer, it’s a good idea to hire the services of one of the following tour companies. These unique experiences will help you really enjoy your trip to Mexico City. Don’t forget to drop off your luggage at a Bounce luggage storage so you won’t be weighed down by unneeded bags while you enjoy yourself.

Best Riviera Maya tour — Stepping Mexico

The Mayan Riviera is a jewel of Mexico and a truly unique place. Combining ancient Mayan ruins with gorgeous beaches, it’s a place well worth visiting. Mexico City is nowhere near the Riviera Maya, but this company brings them closer together by providing tours that leave from Mexico City to the Yucatán Peninsula. Along the way, you’ll see more of Mexico and get a glimpse of the many different facets of this vast and diverse country. Contact them at stepping.mexico@hotmail.com or 52 1 553 961 5094.

Best e-bike tour — Nomad Mexico E-Bike Tours

Traveling by bike is a great way to see more of a new city. But it can be exhausting. Ebikes make it much easier by providing powered bikes that let you travel further in an eco-friendly way. Nomad Mexico can provide several different tours, including food tours and city tours. Each bite comes with a phone holder, USB charger, and storage basket, making for a comfortable ride as you explore. They also help you get comfortable operating your bike before you head out. Contact them at info@erusi.com.mx or 52 1 55 6678 9681.

Best food tour — Sabores Mexico Food Tours

Mexican cuisine is justifiably popular around the world. And Mexico City has some of the best Mexican food you will ever taste. But there’s more to the city’s cuisine than tacos and burritos. These food tours combine walking and driving tours to take you to some of the city’s best locations for cuisine. Operated by locals, this company can help you really come to grips with what’s new and exciting in Mexico City’s food scene. Contact them at info@saboresmexicoft.com or 52 55 55 5350 9565.

Best free city tour — Mexico a Pie

If you’re traveling on a budget, no price is better than free. This company provides a free two hour tour through the heart of Mexico City that will show you many of the top attractions. Local guides share their deep knowledge of the city, and you can download a tourist map for free too. Just remember to tip your guide for their expertise. The company also offers paying tours that explore more hidden facets of the city and are well worth checking out. Contact them at tours@mexicoapie.com.

Best bike tour —Pedalea Mexico

Biking around Mexico City can help you explore more of what the city has to offer. These eco-friendly tours help you explore the city’s culture or its archaeological remains. They even offer graffiti tours so you can admire the cutting-edge street art of the city. Contact them at pedaleamexico@gmail.com or 52 155 182 934 66.

Best off the beaten path tour — Bondabu

The knowledgeable guides of Bondabu can show you parts of the city most tourists never see and even many locals remain unaware of. For instance, visit the Kiosko Morisco, an unexpected Islamic-inspired building in the heart of Mexico City. You can also see some of Mexico City’s most interesting murals and overlooked neighborhoods that allow you to explore the city like a local. Contact them at hola@bondabu.com.

Best Chapultepec Forest tour — Polanco bike

The Chapultepec Forest is a city park that was once the heart of the sprawling Aztec empire. Explore the remains of this fascinating ancient culture while riding a bike through the shade of the trees. This company offers guided tours so that you won’t miss anything. You’ll get a better understanding of the complex history of the Aztec empire and their collapse at the hands of the Spanish. Contact them at contacto@polancobike.com or 5566475599.

Best historical and cultural tour — Ecotour México

These eco-friendly tours utilize electric vehicles to travel around the city and explore its rich history and culture. Focusing on the charming San Angel neighborhood, these tours explore the quaint cobblestone streets and many shops and restaurants of this historic district. You’ll learn more about an often overlooked part of the city and have fun traveling in these unique vehicles. To book, contact them at ecotour.pagina@gmail.com or 5542498123.

There's so much to do in Mexico City that a single weekend will never be enough. However, a couple of days should be sufficient to see some of the city's more famous attractions. If nothing else, it will make you want to come back and see more of what Mexico has to offer.

• Immerse yourself in the unique culture of the Aztec world at Mexico's National Anthropology Museum. The exhibits here span thousands of years and pay tribute to the indigenous people of the country. Don't miss the famous Aztec Sunstone, along with thousands of other fascinating artifacts.
• See one of Mexico's top arts venues at the Palacio de Bellas Artes. This stunning Art Deco auditorium was begun in 1904 but wasn't completed until the 1930s. The best way to see the building is by taking in a show by the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico.
• Take a wander through the historic center of Mexico City. Once the site of the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan, the site was destroyed by the Spanish and rebuilt in Baroque style. The National Palace replaced the Palace of Montezuma, and the Cathedral incorporated the ruins of the main Aztec temple. Many of Mexico's most significant cultural sites are here, along with almost limitless cafés, bars, and restaurants to explore.

Mexico City lockers

Mexico City could only exist in the Americas, with its merging of European and indigenous culture. However, its ancient heart is like a European city in that it is often best explored on foot. Drop off your unneeded bags at a Mexico City luggage storage shop to make exploring easy. The lighter you travel, the more you'll be able to see.

Off the beaten path in Mexico City

Mexico City is home to some of the country's grandest and most famous monuments. But allow yourself to step off the beaten path, and you'll find plenty of more quirky attractions too. Escape the crowds at these lesser-known attractions.

• Explore the canals of Xochimilco. These historic waterways date back to before the Spanish conquest and are a unique place to visit. Take a ride on a flat-bottomed boat painted all the colors of the rainbow and visit floating gardens and bars before reaching the creepy Island of the Dolls, where hundreds of dolls dangle from the surrounding trees.
• Frida Kahlo is possibly Mexico's most internationally famous artist, but her husband Diego Rivera was also a big talent in his own right. His vibrant murals are a big part of Mexico City's identity. There's one at the National Palace and another in the Palacio de Bellas Artes, and all of his work is worth exploring.
• See where a bookstore becomes a forest at Cafebreria El Pendulo. This chain of bookstores/coffeeshops is famous for the impressive plant life that rises through the shelves. Drop off your bags at a Mexico City luggage locker and lose yourself in this unique business.

What to do alone in Mexico City

Mexico City is a great place to explore alone. Traveling by yourself can help you escape the sometimes oppressive tourist crowds. You'll be able to focus solely on what you're interested in on your visit. Drop off your bags at a Mexico City suitcase storage and enjoy the town for yourself.

• The Museo Soumaya was founded by the richest man in Mexico and named after his wife. This is Mexico's most widely visited Art Museum and is home to treasures by Tintoretto, Monet, van Gogh, Picasso, and many other world-famous artists.
• Explore the stunning Aztec ruins of Teotihuacan. Just outside Mexico City itself, this was the capital of the Aztec world. In its heyday back in the first century, it was the largest city on the continent and one of the biggest in the world. Laid out according to astronomical patterns, this haunting city is home to ancient temples, houses, a palace, and one of the world's biggest pyramids.
• Mexico City is one of the planet's great street food destinations. You'll find hole in the wall restaurants and food trucks just about everywhere, and you can even take a tour of the country's vibrant culinary scene. The variety is practically infinite, so bring your appetite with you.

The best souvenirs in Mexico City

Mexico City is embracing its tourist potential more and more, and so you'll find plenty of places to pick up souvenirs. Any corner store can sell you a sombrero or a bottle of tequila to take home with you. But for something a little more interesting, visit the Dia de Muertos store. Devoted to Mexico's famous Day of the Dead, this is the place to pick up sugar skulls, creepy figurines, and other essential festival supplies. Alternatively, you could head to Café Villarias and get your hands on some organic coffee beans. Mexico leads the world in the production of organic coffee, so this is an authentic and delicious treat to bring home. Or you could head to Mercado Medellin and pick up some genuine Mexican mole paste.