Mexico Vacation Reservations & Travel Information For Mexico City

Mexico City soars above the earth at an elevation of almost 8,000 feet.  The great basin of Anahuac, also known as the Valley of Mexico, is an ancient lakebed about 60 miles long and 30 miles wide.   It is on this vast surface, surrounded by towering mountains on all sides, that the original settlement was established by nomadic, indigenous people in the 14^th century. From that modest beginning, the city has grown in every direction to encompass 300 colonias or neighborhoods connected by everything from cobblestone streets and narrow alleyways to eight lane major thoroughfares. 

Mexico City is a place of incomparable energy and excitement.  It is sprawling and populous in the extreme, yet cosmopolitan and modern.  It is the site of  a wealth of historical attractions and museums, striking architecture, and world-class performing arts. 

The heart of the city is the Zocalo, a large plaza flanked by the Cathedral and the National Palace.  This 500-block virtual museum of colonial architecture, was built on ruins of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan. The Templo Mayor, one block from the Zocalo, is the foremost relic of that period. Artifacts unearthed at the site are displayed next door in the  Museo del Templo Mayor.

The park just west of the Zocalo, Alameda Central, is lined by museums, and the Palacio de Bellas Artes, a performing-arts venue and a must-see for its art-deco interior and elegant dome, is at its northeastern corner. Paseo de la Reforma, the city's stately, elegant boulevard, flanked by modern skyscrapers and hotels, runs along the western edge of the Alameda Central. From there, it travels southwest to Chapultepec Park, the site of several museums and the zoo.

There are many points of interest in other colonias (neighborhoods) southwest of the Historic Center. About halfway between the Historic Center and Chapultepec Park is La Zona Rosa, a commercial neighborhood of restaurants, shops and nightspots. Just south of La Zona Rosa is Condesa, an attractive residential  neighborhood popular for shopping, dining and nightlife.

Chapultepec Park is not only the city's largest park, but it's also home to many fine museums, such as the world-renowned Museo Nacional de Antropologia.   In the daytime, the park  is patrolled by police on horseback who are dressed to resemble charros, traditional Mexican cowboys. North of Chapultepec Park is Polanco, an upscale neighborhood with many fine hotels, restaurants and shops.

Mexico City defines flavor for food and art lovers alike, and you'll find great places to eat everywhere, from taco vendors to upscale restaurants. You'll also find cuisine from every part of the world, especially in Condesa and Polanco.

Those traveling to Mexico City will find symphony orchestras, a national ballet company, a national opera company and numerous theaters offering performances in Spanish.   Museums are plentiful and impressive, and most offer free admission on Sundays and are closed on Mondays. Ballet Folklorico's performances of traditional Mexican dance at the Palacio de Bellas Artes are particularly noteworthy.   The most colorful attractions are the traditional religious festivals occurring throughout the year.

Mexico City is an exciting combination of Aztec, Spanish colonial and modern art and architecture. Between Alameda Central and the Zocalo are several impressive buildings and museums, including the Palacio de Iturbide, an Italianate baroque palace, Casa de Azulejos (the House of Tiles), the Correo Central (the main post office), the Museo Nacional de Arte,  containing Mexican art exhibits, and Museo Franz Mayer which displays religious art and European antiquities.

About 6 miles south of the city center are Coyoacan and San Angel, both with lovely colonial buildings housing museums, galleries, cafes and shops.

The climate in Mexico City is delightful for outdoor recreation:  walking, jogging, golf, tennis, paddleboating, when the air-pollution level is not too high. Check the weather section of the local newspapers for pollution levels. If the levels are high, plan to exercise before 8 am or after 6 pm, when the levels are a bit lower.

There are jogging trails in Chapultepec Park and bicycle rentals by the hour in the first section of the park.   Most golf and tennis clubs are private, but some hotels offer guest privileges. Many hotels have swimming pools for their guests.

Shopping, sightseeing, culinary delights, sports and recreation, a vibrant nightlife, concerts, theater and fiestas year round:  these are the highlights of a vacation in warm and welcoming Mexico City.

Catedral Metropolitana

On the north side of the Zocalo,

Centro Historico, Mexico City.
Daily 8 am-8 pm. Free.
This is the largest cathedral in Latin America, begun in 1567 and constructed over a period of 250 years. Built in a fanciful baroque style known as churrigueresque, it's filled with exquisite details and has many small, lavishly embellished chapels. It also boasts one of the largest organs in the world:  concerts are given on special occasions. Restoration work is continually under way inside. The cathedral is sinking into the swampy soil beneath it and lists to one side, which is clearly visible from the outside.

El Monumento de la Independencia

Paseo de la Reforma (at the intersection with Avenida Florencia and Avenida Rio Tiber

near La Zona Rosa
The Angel of Independence monument, a gilded statue of a winged Victory atop a 150-foot column, is one of the most beloved and most often photographed landmarks in the city. 

Palacio de Bellas Artes

Avenida Hidalgo 1 (at the eastern end of Alameda Central, Bellas Artes metro station),

Centro Historico, Mexico City.

Phone 5512-2593

Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-5:30 pm.. Free on Sunday.
The gracious Palace of Fine Arts is a must-see whether you attend a performance, visit an art exhibition or simply take in the spectacular architecture. The art-deco building (with pre-Hispanic reliefs) was designed by renowned Italian architect Adamo Boari at the beginning of the 20th century. The interior is decorated with murals by Rivera, Tamayo, Siqueiros and Orozco, and the concert hall has a stand-out beaded-glass stage curtain by Tiffany that depicts the Valley of Mexico.

Palacio de Iturbide

Calle de Madero 17

Centro Historico, Mexico City.

Phone 5518-2187

Monday-Friday 9 am-5 pm. Free.
This 18th-century mansion, which boasts a baroque Italianate facade, sweeping columns and delicate ornamentation, was once the residence of the Spanish vice-regents and later of Agustin Iturbide, the general who drove them out of Mexico. Now meticulously restored, it houses a cultural center that sponsors art exhibitions and educational events

Palacio Nacional

Avenida Pino Suarez (facing the Zocalo)

Centro Historico, Mexico City

Daily 9 am-5 pm. Free

The National Palace, commissioned by Hernan Cortez, contains the federal treasury and the national archives. Until recently, it also housed the offices of the Mexican president. It contains some of Diego Rivera's best-known murals, colorful depictions of Mexico City's long history from before the Spanish conquest to the 20th century. Go to the main portal and show a form of picture ID to the guards.

Paseo de la Reforma
Emperor Maximilian wanted a direct path between the Historic Center and his palace in Chapultepec Park, so he laid out this famous boulevard to resemble Paris' Champs Elysees. Today, office buildings and hotels rise above the tree-lined promenades and glorietas (traffic circles).  It is a place to stroll and look at the many monuments, fountains and statues of Mexican heroes. Construction up and down the avenue is part of the city's renovation plan.

Torre Latinoamericana

Lazaro Cardenas 2  at Madero, Bellas Artes metro station

Centro Historico, Mexico City.
Daily 8 am-11 pm.
When this Empire State Building look-alike was built in the 1960s, it was the tallest building in Latin America. Its 43 stories tower above the Historic Center. The restaurant and observation deck on the top afford a good view of the city on a clear day.

Zocalo

The plaza is flanked by Avenida Pino Suarez, Avenida 20 de Noviembre, Avenida 16 de Septiembre and Avenida Madero. Centro Historico.

The Plaza de la Constitucion, commonly referred to as the Zocalo, is the second-largest plaza in the world  and is surpassed only by Red Square in Moscow. It's also the heart of the Centro Historico and of the entire city, as well as the main venue for national celebrations. On most days you can see dancers performing and vendors peddling their wares.

Museo Anahuacalli

Calle del Museo 150, Coyoacan, Mexico City.

Phone 5617-4310.
Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-6 pm.
A permanent display of Diego Rivera's huge collection of pre-Hispanic pieces. The impressive building is made entirely of volcanic rock and was designed by Rivera himself. It's in the shape of a pyramid, a tribute to Maya and Aztec cultures.

Museo de Arte Moderno

In Chapultepec Park, at the corner of Reforma and Gandhi (Chapultepec metro), Mexico City.

Phone 5553-6233.
Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-5:30 pm. free on Sunday.
This modern-art museum has permanent exhibitions of Mexican contemporary art by Rivera, Siqueiros, O'Gorman and Cuevas, to name a few. It also hosts temporary exhibits from around the world. A pleasant sculpture garden surrounds the museum.

Museo de Franz Mayer

Ave. Hidalgo 45 (behind Alameda Central, near the Bellas Artes metro station), Col. Guerrero, Mexico City.

Phone 5518-2270.

Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-5 pm (Wednesday till 7 pm). Free on Tuesday.
This 16th-century hospital has been beautifully restored and contains an extraordinary collection of religious art in gold and silver, as well as rare books and European antiques, which belonged to German collector Franz Mayer.

Museo del Templo Mayor

Seminario 8 (Zocalo metro station), Centro Historico, Mexico City.

Phone 5542-4943.

Phone 5542-4784 to reserve an English-speaking guide.

Tuesday-Sunday 9 am-5 pm. Free on Sunday for Mexican citizens. 
In 1978, workmen laying a telephone cable discovered the ruins of the ancient Aztec capital. Walls of temples and giant sculptures of warriors, the goddess of the moon and the god of war, along with thousands of other artifacts, suddenly came to light. The Museo de Templo Mayor, which houses all these treasures, was built on the site. You can view the excavation from the street level or, as part of your paid museum admission, English-speaking guides are available at no charge.

Museo Dolores Olmedo Patino

Ave. Mexico 5843.

Phone 5555-0891.

Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-6 pm. adults, free on Tuesday.

Col. La Noria (in the far south of the city, about 12 miles from the Zocalo), Xochimilco, Mexico City.
Housed in a renovated 16th-century hacienda, it contains some of the best-known works of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, as well as pre-Hispanic artifacts.

Museo Frida Kahlo

Londres 247, Coyoacan, Mexico City.

Phone 5554-5999.

Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-6 pm.
The artist's home in the years 1929-1954. She lived there at times with her husband, Diego Rivera. On display are some of Kahlo's paintings, costumes and furniture.

Museo Jose Luis Cuevas

Academia 13, Centro Historico, Mexico City.

Phone 5542-8959.

Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-5:30 pm.

free on Sunday for Mexican citizens.
Housed in a former convent, it has a permanent exhibition of erotic watercolors by iconoclastic painter and writer Jose Luis Cuevas as well as temporary exhibitions of contemporary art from around the world.

Museo Nacional de Antropologia

In Chapultepec Park at the corner of Reforma and Gandhi (Chapultepec metro station), Mexico City.

Phone 5553-6266.

Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-7 pm.

If you have time to see only one museum in Mexico City, this world-renowned anthropology museum is the one to choose. The most fascinating exhibits include the Aztec calendar stone, giant stone Olmec heads from the jungles of Tabasco, treasures recovered from a sacred Maya well, a replica of a Maya ruler's tomb from Palenque and ethnological displays of rural Mexican life as it is still lived today. It also has a very good model of the location and layout of Tenochtitlan, which puts present-day Mexico City in perspective.

Museo Nacional de Arte

Tacuba 8 (Allende metro station), Centro Historico, Mexico City.

Phone 5130-3403.

Tuesday-Sunday 10:30 am-5:30 pm. free on Sunday.
Temporary exhibitions in addition to its permanent, exhaustive collection of Mexican art. Another reason to visit is to explore the ornate building, constructed at the turn of the 20th century in the style of an Italian Renaissance palace.

Museo Nacional de Historia

In Chapultepec Park on the corner of Avenida Gandhi, with an entrance on Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City.

Phone 5241-3144.

Tuesday-Sunday 9 am-4:15 pm.
The National History Museum is housed on the grounds of Chapultepec Castle. Also known as the Caracol (snail) for its winding layout. It is filled with hundreds of paintings, murals, ceramics, furniture and carriages depicting the history of Mexico from the time of the Aztecs to the modern day, with an emphasis on the colonial era and military history.  Arrange for a guided tour of the castle: The rooms and exhibits are more interesting when viewed with some historical explanation.

Museo Nacional de las Culturas Populares

Ave. Hidalgo 289, Coyoacan, Mexico City.

Phone 5554-1265.
Tuesday-Thursday 10 am-6 pm, Friday-Sunday 10 am-8 pm. Free.

An excellent place to see native handicrafts from different areas of Mexico. It also gives you a deeper understanding of Mexican popular culture, with temporary exhibits about subjects such as the circus, wrestling and traditional nativity scenes.

Museo Rufino Tamayo

In Chapultepec Park, at the corner of Paseo de la Reforma and Gandhi (Chapultepec metro station), Mexico City.

Phone 5286-6519

Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-6 pm.
Hidden away in the heart of the Chapultepec forest, this museum can be difficult to find but is worth the time. Bright and spacious, it has a permanent exhibit of works by famed Oaxacan painter Rufino Tamayo. Temporary exhibits include both important international art and lesser-known works by Mexican artists. Most work leans toward the modernist and cutting-edge.

Papalote Museo del Nino

Constituyentes 268, in the second section of Chapultapec Park (Constituyentes metro station), Mexico City.

Phone 5237-1781.

Monday-Friday 9 am-1 pm and 2-6 pm, with evening hours Thursday 7-11 pm; Saturday and Sunday 10 am-2 pm and 3-7 pm. IMAX and Domo Digital showings run regularly when the museum is open. IMAX shows. On weekends, buy tickets early to avoid waiting in line.
Technology meets education in this futuristic park for children and their parents. There's an interactive science museum where children can play with and touch exhibits; an IMAX theater with a giant screen showing special documentaries; the Domo Digital, which takes visitors on a guided tour of the stars and planets; and the Autobus Fantastico, which takes children on a virtual trip through wildlife habitats around the world.

Basilica de la Virgen de Guadalupe

Plaza Hidalgo 1 (near the La Villa metro station), Col. Villa de Guadelupe, Mexico City. Phone 5577-6022

Visitors are welcome to visit the church 6 am-8 pm. The basilica museum is open 9 am-6 pm. Entrance to the basilica is free,
This shrine to Mexico's patron saint is one of the holiest places in the country. It's built on the site where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to peasant Juan Diego in 1531. Her image was miraculously imprinted on his homespun cloak, which hangs behind the altar of the church. The original church was built in 1709. When it began to sink into the swampy subsoil, a new basilica was constructed on the same plaza and was consecrated in 1976.

Alameda Central
A lovely green oasis in the heart of the city. Its focal point is the marble monument honoring 19th-century Mexico President Benito Juarez. The Palacio de Bellas Artes, on Avenida Juarez, is next to the park. The Alameda is particularly festive during the Christmas season  when it is filled with huge helium balloons, gift and food stands

Bosque de Chapultepec

The park is bounded by Avenida Paseo de Reforma and Avenida Constituyentes

Main entrances are across from metro stops Chapultepec and Auditorio.

Tuesday-Sunday 5 am-5 pm. Free.
Chapultepec Park is a huge expanse of wooded areas, lakes with paddleboats, hiking trails, playgrounds, botanical gardens, amusement parks, a zoo and excellent museums. There are often toy-and-balloon vendors, dancers in ancient costumes and voladores (men "flying" in circles on ropes attached to the top of a tall pole). The park is divided into three sections. The first covers ground from the eastern edge of the park to Boulevard Mateos, the second extends west from there and the third comprises the westernmost section.

Desierto de los Leones
A small national park in the forested hills about 12 miles southwest of Mexico City

Take a city bus from Tacybaya station or a coach from the Observatorio bus station.

Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-5 pm.

The main attraction is a nicely restored 17th-century Carmelite monastery, which now houses a museum. Inside there's also an elegant cafe.  There are several walking trails through the park, and you can rent horses, too.

 
Zoologico de Chapultepec

In Chapultepec Park, Mexico City

Phone 5553-6263.

Tuesday-Sunday 9 am-4:30 pm. It's crowded on weekends. Free.

The Chapultepec Zoo has clean, attractive enclosures that reflect the natural habitats of the animals on display. The primate section is particularly impressive, and the well-designed layout makes for a pleasant afternoon walk. The zoo boasts the world's first panda born in captivity.

City Population: 8,656,800.

Languages: Spanish.

Location: south central Mexico

Time Zone: Central Standard Time. Daylight Saving Time is observed from the first Sunday in May to the last Saturday in September.

Elevation: 7,350 feet.

Voltage Requirements: The country's electric voltage is 125 volts at 60 hertz. You don't need a voltage adapter unless your equipment is 220 volts. Most hotels have universal plugs, or you can purchase them at a hardware or department store.

Telephone Codes: 52, country code; 55, city code.

Currency: The monetary unit is the peso.

Average Temperatures:

When to Visit: Because of its high altitude in a tropical latitude, Mexico City has a mild climate much of the year. The rainy season is June-October. The afternoon rain showers may leave the streets flooded for a few hours. Smog is worse in winter from December-February, and you may also see some frost. Summers are warm, but not oppressively so. Popular times to visit are during Easter week and the Christmas holidays. Many residents leave the city and head to Mexico's beaches at that time, making the city seem less crowded. There is also less smog during those three weeks. Always take along a sweater and a light jacket. Shorts are not considered appropriate for men or women. Remember, even though Mexico City is in a tropical latitude, the weather is not tropical because the high altitude has a canceling effect: though it gets warm at midday, it is cool at night year-round.

National Holidays

January 1 New Year's Day

February 5 Constitution Day

March 21 Birthday of Benito Juarez

Good Friday-Easter Sunday Semana Santa (Holy Week)

May 1 Labor Day

May 5 Battle of Puebla (Cinco de Mayo)

September 16 Independence Day

October 12 Day of the Race (Columbus Day)

December 25 Christmas Day

Passport/Visa Requirements: Proof of citizenship and photo ID are needed for U.S. and Canadian citizens. Reconfirm travel document requirements with your carrier before departure.

Telephone
If you're calling Mexico from outside the country, first dial your country's international access code, followed by Mexico's country code, 52, and then Mexico City's city code, 55. If you're calling Mexico City from another part of Mexico, dial 01 and then 55, followed by the local number. To call the U.S. or Canada from within Mexico, dial 001 before the area code and local number.

Public Transportation
Taxis

Taxis are the most efficient way to get around, but it is not wise to hail a taxi from the street or take a cab from a taxi stand (even those parked in front of hotels.) Violent assaults on tourists and businesspeople have occurred in taxis and are increasing. The safest plan is to have your hotel's doorman or concierge arrange for a cab. The hotel can also arrange for you to engage a car and driver for several hours or by the day. There is a also stand inside the airport from which a taxi can be engaged.

Metro

Mexico City's metro, or subway, is an excellent system: clean, well run, on time and cheap. As in any crowded facility in the world, watch out for pickpockets in crowded subway cars and stations.

Bus

Buses can also be good options, especially on the long avenues such as Reforma and Insurgentes, and if you know where you want to get off.

Peseros (also called Colectivos)

These green and white vehicles travel along established routes and charge fixed rates. Route designations are posted on the windshield. They are an alternative to the often packed city buses.

Arriving

By Air
All international flights arrive at the international terminal of Mexico City International Airport (MEX), which is within the metropolitan area in the eastern part of the city. Travel time by car to major hotels is about half an hour, except during the morning and evening rush hours, when it can take up to an hour. The airport can be crowded, so plan your schedule for a long wait enroute to the gate and at immigration.

Connecting Transportation

Take an official Transportacion Terrestre taxi: Purchase a ticket from the booth inside the arrivals area of the terminal, next to the baggage-claim area. A ticket to most downtown areas will cost about M$130. You won't be able to mistake the yellow-and-white official taxis. These are the only ones permitted to park outside the airport exit.

Hotel courtesy vans and rental cars are available. The metro has a station within easy walking distance from baggage claim, if you have very little luggage.

Bus
Bus lines connect the city to all parts of the country. New buses offer such amenities as movies, soft drinks and clean bathrooms. In terms of comfort, executive-class buses put commercial airplanes to shame.

The bus terminals include Terminal Central del Norte, which serves northern destinations including Queretaro, Guanajuato, Zacatecas and border states; Terminal Central del Poniente, also known as Central Observatorio, serving destinations to the west such as Guadalajara and Michoacan; Terminal Central del Sur, with service to southern destinations including Oaxaca, Chiapas, Acapulco and Taxco; and Terminal del Oriente, also known as Terminal Tapo, which has service to Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Veracruz and the Yucatan peninsula.

For most bus lines, reservations can be made in advance or can be purchased over the phone with a credit card. Book early on holiday weekends, when tickets sell out quickly.

By Car
If you're going to stay within the city, it's usually better to hire a taxi by the hour than to rent a car. Driving into Mexico City can be confusing because the highways are not well marked, and rentals are very expensive. For a day trip outside the city, it is best to join a tour bus with a guide. It will give you more time to look at the scenery.