For my 3 days in Mexico City, I almost completely improvised the whole thing. And if my stacks of manila folders and excess of Excel spreadsheets could talk, they’d shout that winging it internationally is not my style.
So how did I fare during my 3 days in Mexico City? Well, I had a great time. But I could have had a phenomenal time, had I planned better. I did a lot of stuff, but I could have done all the great Mexico City experiences.
This post was originally published in December 2017 but has been completely updated for 2020.
Tips for spending 3 days in Mexico City
Instead, I picked up a bunch of great dos, don’ts, and tips to help your 3 days in Mexico City go perfectly.
1. Don’t wing your 3 days in Mexico City
The thing about Mexico City… it’s bigger than big. It’s enormous. Enormous-er than enormous, if such a thing exists. In fact, it’s actually the 7th largest city in the world. It’s home to more than 21 million (muy simpático) people.
Knowing this, it’s no wonder you may think spending only 3 days in Mexico City is loonier than a laced-up luchador. And while, sure, it actually is pretty cuckoo, you can still have a worthwhile time if you plan 👏🏼 your 👏🏼 days 👏🏼.
Traffic in Mexico City
In addition to being huge with literally a decade’s worth of things to see and do (and eat), Mexico City is also #1 in the world in terms of traffic congestion, everyone’s favorite.
So what does that mean for you, the casual short-term visitor? It means you’ll spend a large part of your 3 days in Mexico City in the back of an Uber if you don’t plan accordingly.
Because of these two striking statistics, I think it’s clear that winging it during your 3 days in Mexico City is simply a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad idea.
How to maximize your productivity during your 3 days in Mexico City
Plan your activities by neighborhood
Enter everything you want to see and do into a Google map and group your activities according to physical location.
Walking from one site to the next or relying on only the shortest of Uber trips will allow for so many more activities than will zig-zagging all over Mexico City. Especially considering all the sidewalk taco stands you’ll patronize along the way (i.e. all of them).
And let me just tell you, the latter will take between 45 minutes to an hour to get anywhere you want to go, regardless of distance or time of day. And you can say Adios to casual corner quesadillas.
Prioritize what you want to see and do
Know right now that with just 3 days in Mexico City you won’t be able to do everything you’d like. You will have to skip things, you’ll forget about them, and/or you’ll toss them due to lack of time.
Make a list of everything you want to do. Start with the things you absolutely need to see more than you need air to breathe. Then descend in importance to the things your co-worker suggested (but that you don’t actually care about).
Have a backup plan
Plan your days out, yes, but prepare to improvise in case of inclement weather, strike, a religious holiday you didn’t know existed, 12-car pileup on the highway, and/or (dear God please let it be “or”!!!), a devastating natural disaster that occurs shortly before your trip.
*The 2017 Puebla earthquake struck just before my very-planned-out trip. I’d actually planned on spending 3 days in Puebla, not Mexico City. Thus, why I had to improvise.
Plan for sleep
I know including sleep here seems counterproductive, but it’s quite the opposite. If you remember to get adequate amounts of sleep, your waking hours will be so much more productive than whatever it was I did the whole time I was in Mexico City.
I think I was just trying to take Dia de Muertos seriously by becoming an actual member of the walking dead during my trip.
Purchase admission tickets ahead of time
For certain activities you’ll need to pay admission. And since this is the 21st century, you can most likely do that ahead of time with this thing called a computer. Doing this will save you literally hours and hours for which you can use to eat more tacos.
What to pack for Mexico City
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What you need to pack for Mexico City might not be what you think. Read my full post on what to pack for Mexico City for clothing tips, packing essentials, and what you can just leave behind.
2. Don’t plan too much for your first day
Here’s the dilemma: you have only 3 days in Mexico City so you need to jam-pack your schedule. But there’s also this thing called altitude sickness that will make you feel as though a giant has just swung you around above his head 100 times then chucked you against a tree trunk head first.
Now he’s sitting on your chest enjoying some empanadas while you fight for oxygen, the jerk.
My suggestion for Day One, is to plan all the super chill activities for the first day. While the inside of your body is adjusting to the high elevation of Mexico City (7,382 feet), the outside of your body should be:
- taking it easy,
- staying away from anything hyper-physical,
- abstaining from alcohol,
- and drinking lots and lots and lots of water.
Maybe visit a cathedral and pray to feel like a normal human again, stroll the Zócalo or a local market, check out a quiet museum, or relax on a rooftop with a gorgeous view. Definitely kick back with some tacos, though.
Altitude sickness
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Read more about my harrowing experience with Mexico City-induced altitude sickness in my post on 17 things that shocked me in Mexico.
3. Do buy advance tickets to Casa Azul
Casa Azul—AKA Museo Frida Kahlo—is the former home and museum dedicated to Frida Kahlo, Mexico’s undeniably most famous artist. It’s also one of the most popular tourist attractions in Mexico City. Therefore, it’s the source of long, long lines ain’t nobody got time for.
Because this museum is so small, they only allow a certain number of visitors in at any given time. I highly recommend reserving your admission tickets ahead of time. A reservation that will guarantee you entrance into the museum at the hour you’ve chosen, regardless of how many schmucks are waiting in line outside. *sheepishly raises hand*
Because we had to wing it, my husband and I ended up waiting in line for entrance into Casa Azul for two hours. That was on a Wednesday and as soon as they opened, to give you an idea of wait times and how I ended up with a magnificent November tan.
That wasted time prompted the crossing off my list of something else I wanted to do. Tickets do sell out, but typically not much before the day you plan to visit anyway. (For instance, while we waited in line people bought tickets on their phones for later times so they could leave and come back.)
Where to purchase tickets to Casa Azul
Tickets can be purchased at boletosfridakahlo.org and, it appears, only up to a month in advance. Choose your date on the calendar, then choose an entrance time, then get started on growing in that unibrow. You’ve got a month!
Taking pictures at Casa Azul
They don’t allow photography inside Museo Frida Kahlo unless you purchase a photo pass. The photography permit was something like $1 and you can buy it when you get into the museum, not ahead of time.
4. Don’t go to Xochimilco at sunset
Because almost every part of our 3 days in Mexico City didn’t go as we’d hoped, we ended up at Xochimilco about four hours later that we’d planned. If you can call randomly deciding things we were gonna do as the day passed a plan.
Consuming muchas cervezas on a hilariously fun boat ride down the canals at Xochimilco was high on our list of goals we wanted to accomplish in Mexico City. Until we got there and decided consuming muchas cervezas on a sidewalk would have to suffice.
My friend Stephanie who lives in the area and has done the hilariously fun boat ride thing many, many times—on weekends, on holidays, at all times of the day—swears she has never waited in line at Xochimilco. Apparently, she’s never been at sunset.
Xochimilco at sunset
We arrived about an hour before sunset and there stood, by my husband’s estimate (that’s an important tidbit because I’m known to exaggerate and he habitually underestimates), no less than 600 people in line to reserve their trajineras—the brightly colored boats with benches for which my butt would not be boarding.
The line wove in and out of the food stalls and tables of people eating, down around and into the parking lot, to infinity and beyond. Fearing we wouldn’t get a boat no matter how long we waited (hello, pitch darkness), we opted for pounding our Modelos on the sidewalk to the sounds of hijacked reggaeton.
I should also mention that after the sun goes down, they rope off the streets to Xochimilco and prohibit taxis from entering the area leaving you no possible way of escape. For more on how we finally hightailed it outta there, again check out my post on the things that shocked me in Mexico. It’s a truly heartwarming tale.
4. Do eat all the food
If you’re the kind of person whose friends tag you in taco memes all the livelong day, you’re going to love Mexico City. But don’t tie yourself down to tacos. Try everything you can get your grubby little mouth on. (That actually seems a little harsh since I don’t know you that well…)
And I mean everything. Grasshoppers included. Empanadas, enchiladas, piña coladas, anything that ends in –ada is probably a winner. Quesadillas and chilaquiles and alambres and chicharrones. It’s all amazing and cheap and sometimes just a complete mystery. Eat whatever someone will give you in exchange for money. Don’t tell your mom I said that.
5. Do see a lucha libre match
Did I think seeing a lucha libre match was going to be… cheesy? Lame? Awesome? Well, I actually had no earthly idea what to expect. But did I want to find out? Oh hell yes.
To preface this, I don’t whatsoever care for WWE, or WWF, or Smackdown, or MMA, or UFC, and… I can’t even tell you if those things are different or the same. But how could I pass up the chance to see the Mexican equivalent of Jack Black in stretchy pants? Well, an “experience” is what I wanted and an experience (jazz hands) is what I got.
My lucha libre experience
Turns out, the lucha libre match we attended was one of the highlights of my entire year. It blew every high hope and elastic expectation I had of it right outta the ring. The entire arena was jam packed with screaming, shouting, jumping, boo-ing, airhorn-blowing fans—including myself.
There were lights and lasers, music and dancers, smoke machines, some mock ancient Aztec rituals, and a whole lotta latex. The luchadores are some of the most talented athletes I’ve ever seen. And, yeah, it’s clearly choreographed but that takes away nothing from the experience. It only adds hilarity, suspense, and in the end, shock and awe.
How to get tickets to lucha libre
To save much needed time, you can buy tickets in advance. However, know that the ticket buying process at the arena is an experience in itself.
Get in a line, tell whoever or whatever is behind the window (seriously, you can’t see or hear through it) that you want X number of the best seats available. For real though, even first row tickets to these things are like $20 USD. Feel free to go all “Money is no object!” tonight.
- Where to go: Arena Mexico, Calle Dr. Lavista 189, Doctores, 06720 Ciudad de México
- When to go: Lucha libre matches take place on Tuesday (martes) and Friday (viernes) nights.
- Website: cmll.com
- Where to buy tickets: ticketmaster.com.mx, or at the ticket window right before the event
- When to buy tickets: Tickets only go on sale about a week in advance.
- Where to sit: There isn’t a bad seat in the house but next time I’m aiming for the splash zone.
- Expect: amazement
6. But don’t take your camera with you
They don’t allow photography at the lucha libre matches and they will confiscate your camera upon entering the arena. Had the security guards been Spandex-clad luchardores themselves, maybe it’d be worth the spectacle but, alas, they were just guys in suits. Heading back to their offices with armfuls of DSLRs and the like.
Now, I don’t know what they do with them—I’d imagine you could get your gear back after the event is over? But do you really want to risk it? (Turns out money actually is an object. Wah-wahhh.)
However, cell phone photography is allowed and the matches themselves are broadcast live and uploaded to YouTube for you to watch and share later. (My phone camera is far superior to a lot of actual cameras so the rules have yet to catch up to reason, but here we are.)
There are bag checks heading into the arena so, whatever you do, don’t forget about the camera you have in your purse or try to smuggle one in. I’d heard this tip via word-of-mouth and decided not to risk it, but here are the words straight from Arena Mexico’s mouth, ridiculous translation courtesy of Google Chrome:
And trust me, those memories (read: outfits) are indeed graphic.
7. Do have breakfast in Mexico City’s best bakery
Mexico absolutely kills breakfast, as I’ve mentioned before, but I fell particularly in love with Malande, a bakery/café/breakfast joint in the Condessa neighborhood of Mexico City.
My husband and I went multiple times during our short visit, sampled everything our stomachs could hold, and begged and pleaded for more Pan de Muerto even after Día de los Muertos had come and gone.
Malande is a cozy, neighborhood-y spot with the best food and the nicest staff and you’d be stupid to pass up a morning here if you’re in the area. “The area” being the country of Mexico.
Personal recommendation: Chilaquiles verdes and a cappuccino.
My much more specific recommendation: Come during Dia de Muertos (between October 31st-November 2nd) for the absolute best pan de muerto around.
- Address: Av Nuevo León 260, 06140 Ciudad de México
- Information: Facebook
You might like
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Headed to Mexico City for Día de los Muertos? Be sure to check out my full guide full of tips for celebrating Day of the Dead in Mexico as a foreigner.
8. Don’t miss the 3 best views in Mexico City
When I visit a new city, one of my top priorities is to seek out the spots with the very best views. And I know you thought front row for luchadores was all the eye-candy I needed, but you’re (only slightly) wrong.
Café Don Porfirio @ Sears Centro
Located in a Sears department store is a small café with a massive view. On the 8th floor of the Sears, tucked away in the home decor section, is Café Don Porfirio, a Starbucks-like café offering sweet treats and an even sweeter view of Palacio de Bellas Artes, arguably the most gorgeous building in Mexico City.
The terrace is small but even in the middle of the day there were plenty of open tables and my (n/a) piña colada was the best piña colada I’ve ever had.
- Address: Av Juárez 14, Cuauhtémoc, Centro Histórico, 8th floor, 06010 Ciudad de México
- Hours: According to Google, 7am – 11pm Mon-Sat and 8am – 10pm on Sundays
- Website: There isn’t one as far as I could tell. I’m really no help here.
La Terraza @ Gran Hotel de la Ciudad de Mexico
La Terraza is a restaurant and bar located on the top floor of the Gran Hotel de la Ciudad de Mexico, AKA James Bond’s hotel. It’s the place with the grandly impressive stained glass roof and bird cages (with birds) in the hallways.
There’s likely a drop-dead gorgeous woman in a floor-length red gown having her photograph taken on one of the balconies while you fish a hair out of your mouth nearby. I just assume that’s a normal occurrence at the Gran Hotel.
We spent a good amount of time on the terrace enjoying the views, the booze, and the rising full moon. The margaritas are huge and delicious, the mezcal presentation is aces (where did that description even come from just now), and this view of the Zócalo is not to be missed.
- Address: 16 de Septiembre 82, Centro Histórico, 06000 Ciudad de México
- Hours: Brunch, Saturday & Sunday: 9 am – 6 pm / Daily, 1:30 pm – 11 pm
- Website: granhoteldelaciudaddemexico.com.mx
Torre Latinoamericana
In between the Palacio de Bellas Artes and the Zócalo is a tall, almost Empire State Building-like skyscraper. This is the Torre Latinoamericana and you can head to its observation deck for incredible 360° views of Mexico City. Also, the views of the Palacio de Bellas Artes from here are some of the best!
- Hours: Mon-Sat 9am – 10PM
- Admission: 130 pesos (about 7 US dollars) and that allows you to go up as many times as you’d like in one day.
- Website: miradorlatino.com
9. Don’t stick to just tequila – try mezcal too
Personally, I’m not a fan of mezcal. However, from my experience, I appear to be the sole possessor of this belief. Regardless, I tried way more than my fair share of mezcal during my 3 days in Mexico City and actually found one I didn’t hate. (small wins)
Mezcal is sort of like tequila but not really. You could call it tequila’s cousin, I guess—like they may have some similar personality traits and a comparable family history but only slightly resemble each other. It’s Mezcal who got tequila to try his first cigarette.
What is mezcal?
Mezcal, like tequila, is made from the agave plant and you can often find it with various “creatures” lying on the bottom. However, you’re meant to sip it, not shoot it, and it tastes absolutely nothing like tequila but more like… oh, I don’t know… the pit of a BBQ smoker? My usual comparison is “an ashtray” but I’m trying to actually get you to try it, not turn you off.
So yes, mezcal has a flavor and burn akin to a Mexican cowboy putting out a cigarette on your uvula but it’s a Mexican specialty you just have to try.
They often serve it with either orange or cucumber slices and a sprinkling of worm salt–because why drink a traditional Mexican agave spirit without also eating the bug that eats the agave plant from the inside out?
I realize I’m not helping get my point across here.
What I’m trying to say is, tequila is everywhere but good mezcal is still hard to find outside Mexico—and you may be surprised by how much more you like it. If you don’t know where to start, and you probably won’t, everyone we asked came across as pretty knowledgeable on the subject and will most likely have a list of recommendations. Seriously, listen to them, not me.
10. Do check out Templo Mayor
Templo Mayor is something you could easily miss and I know because I almost did. Just northeast of the Zócalo you’ll find the ruined remains of Templo Mayor, one of the main temples of the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan (now Mexico City).
You can clearly see preserved parts of the temple along with artist renderings, maps, and scale models of the ancient city, all at street level, and there’s probably a nearby tour group whose information who can jack. Head down into the museum for a subterranean view and to check out all the archaeological artifacts from before that guy Cortez came over and acted like a real jerk.
The museum costs just about $3 USD and, for the love of Quetzalcoatl, don’t bring anything suspicious with you—like energy bars. (I got my Clif Bar confiscated after about 10 minutes of the security guard trying to figure out if it was a weapon or not. Then when I went back to pick it up (you bet your ass I’m getting my snack back), I had to search for it in the locked box of suspicious items—a steel cabinet full of only protein snacks and cereal bars. While I was standing there, one girl came back to retrieve her three mandarin oranges.) I love Mexico.
Museo Templo Mayor
- Address: When you’re in the Zócalo looking at the cathedral, it’s in the plaza just behind it on the right.
- Hours: Tuesdays – Sundays, 9 am – 5 pm / Closed on Mondays
- Note: The outside parts are always open and free for viewing
Traveling around Mexico?
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If Mexico City isn’t your only stop, traveling via Mexico’s ADO bus system is cheap, really nice, and reliable. However, figuring it out can be tough to say the least. Check out my guide to making sense of Mexico’s ADO bus system here.
11. Do watch some relevant movies before your trip
This is something I do habitually both before and after my first trips to a new place. Like I said, I didn’t plan a lot for this trip but you can bet I watched these two movies:
Nacho Libre
One of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen and did you know this is actually based on a true story? Fray Tormenta is a Mexican priest who spent 23 years as a masked luchador to earn money to support the orphanage he directed and this couldn’t make me any happier.
Frida
The (way less hilarious) story of Frida Kahlo (and by association, Diego Rivera) starring Salma Hayek as Frida. This movie is a great explanation of Frida as an artist and takes place in many of the places you can visit around Mexico City, Casa Azul being one of them.
Bonus: The opening scene of James Bond’s Spectre, which you can watch here, takes places during Day of the Dead in Mexico City and even inside the Gran Hotel de la Ciudad de México.
What other movies would you suggest watching before/after a trip to Mexico City?
12. Don’t assume your flight’s canceled just because Aeromexico says it is
Long story short, Aeromexico is part of Delta–whether they realize it or not.
The night before I was to head to the airport for my pre-dawn flight to Mexico City, I logged on to check into my flight when I saw this message:
Uhhh… my flight’s in six hours…
Aeromexico told me to call Delta, get some code to get a new flight if there was one, yada yada, a whole bunch of crap, on the phone for an hour. Delta had no record of me as a passenger, no record of my confirmation number, nada.
Eventually we realized I’d been booked on a Delta flight (independent of Aeromexico) under a different confirmation number and, yes, my flight did totally exist. I was never made aware of this and even Aeromexico themselves had no clue that this had happened.
So if you see this message, don’t freak out and turn over your freshly packed suitcase in a heated rage. I mean, it’s possible that your flight was canceled without your knowledge, but chances are something similar to what I experienced could have happened as well. Even if Aeromexico tells you your flight doesn’t exist and you’re screwed, get a second (Delta) opinion.
13. Do save the bottom part of your immigration form
Upon arriving for your 3 days in Mexico City, you’ll get a standard immigration form on the plane that must be filled out along with a delicious turkey sandwich. Clearing customs, you’ll get the bottom part of the form back that you’ll quickly shove into a ball and squish down in the pocket of your personal item because who really cares?
Later on when you’re trying to return to the United States (or wherever), they’ll tell you can’t board your plane under any circumstances without the small portion of immigration form that was given to you when you entered the country; the one that not a single person hinted at possibly being of utmost importance later.
By the grace of whatever Aztec god is responsible for this, my husband and I both hadn’t cleaned the trash out of our carry-ons (judge us if you must) and were able to hand over our (very wrinkly) immigration forms.
More info for your 3 days in Mexico
Heading to Mexico City? Find great places to stay here.
What guidebook do you need? I recommend this onehttps://amzn.to/3CqwPw5!
Camera I used for this post: Olympus OM-D EM-5 Mark II w/ 12-40mm & 40-150mm lenses
What else have I written about Mexico? See these posts.
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