Why Mexico City Is Worth Your Next City Trip

When Mexico comes to mind, most people think of its beaches - Cancun, Puerto Vallarta or Tulum. But you shouldn't miss visiting the capital - Mexico City. Mexico City is considered the city with the most museums in the world; there are more than 150! But it's not just this number that should make you buy a flight ticket to Mexico City, but also the desire to explore a vibrant city buzzing with colors, scents, sounds, historic architecture and modern skyscrapers. This city has a rich history, has seen and experienced much, good and bad, and yet radiates such an exciting energy that is sure to inspire you.

As my partner is from Mexico City, we have traveled a few times to Mexico City, and I have kept a list of our suggestions for sightseeing, dining, brunch, and other activities. So here's our compiled list:

Museums

We visited four museums so far - the Museum of Anthropology (Museo Nacional de Antropología), the Castillo de Chapultepec, the Casa Azul, Frieda Kahlo's home, and the Soumaya Museum.

The Museum of Anthropology itself is already an architectural highlight. The monumental building consists of exhibition halls surrounding a courtyard with a large pond and a huge square concrete screen from which a waterfall descends. The museum has 23 exhibition rooms. The museum contains significant archaeological and anthropological artifacts from Mexico's beginnings, such as the Stone of the Sun and the Aztec Xochipilli statue, two impressive artifacts.

The Castillo de Chapultepec is located in the middle of the largest park in Mexico City and was built in the 19th century. The magnificent building has served various purposes over the years - it was the residence of Maximilian of Habsburg, a military academy, the president's residence, an observatory, and since 1940, the National Museum of History. It's really worth a visit as it offers a crash course in recent Mexican history as well as a great view of Mexico City. We also saw a performance of traditional folk dances there, one of the most beautiful I have ever seen.

The Soumaya Museum is a private museum built by the Mexican businessman Carlos Slim. He dedicated it to his wife Soumaya and the Mexican people and admission is therefore free. It has over 66,000 works from 30 centuries of art, including sculptures from pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica, Mexican art from the 19th and 20th centuries and an extensive repertoire of works by European artists such as Auguste Rodin, Salvador Dalí, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo and Tintoretto. It is considered one of the most complete collections of its kind.

One of the most memorable experiences for me was visiting Casa Azul, the former home of Frida Kahlo. This house, where she spent her childhood and also lived with her husband, the painter Diego Rivera, has been preserved exactly as it was during their time. Visitors can explore Frida's painting room, browse through her library, see her bedroom where she recovered after her accident, and wander around the beautiful courtyard. I was truly impressed by the size of the house, its vibrant colors, and greenery. Make sure to book your tickets in advance, it's usually sold out if you just show up!

Neighbourhood: Coyocan

One of my favorite neighborhoods we visited was Coyoacan, where Casa Azul is located. Following our visit, we strolled along the street and visited the Mercado de Coyoacan, a vibrant market with so much to see. If your stomach can handle it, don't miss the chance to sample some of the food stalls, you can even try insects. :) This market is renowned as one of Mexico City's most iconic for good reason. Nearby, you'll find the well-known coffee shop, el Jarocho, where you can grab a coffee to go or relax like the locals. This coffee shop has been around since 1953. As you continue down the street, you will reach the town square. It's full with local vendors, restaurants, musicians and greenery. We visited the artisan market and bought some unique souvenirs and jewelry.

Balloon Ride over the Pyramids of Teotihuacan

This is probably my most magical experience in Mexico City so far - a balloon ride over the ancient pyramids. I highly recommend it since climbing onto the pyramids is no longer allowed due to the discover of cracks by scientists.

This is for early birds. You have to wake up around 4am to catch a bus to the pyramids to enjoy a sunrise balloon ride. As the world is waking up, you fly over the pyramids in serene silence. It feels like it's just you and the world, with a dozen other balloons dotting the horizon, which makes the experience no less magical.

We chose the company Volare because they have a government license, fly very close over the pyramids and offer a great service. The ride ended with a glass of Prosecco, so we really couldn't complain. If you book the whole package, you are treated to a post-flight breakfast (Mariachi singers included), followed by the opportunity to explore the pyramids on foot. That was fun too, but we were too tired and it was way too hot, so you can also head back to the city after the ride.

Other Things To Do

Located in the city centre, you can find the cultural centre Palacio de Bellas Artes, one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. Just a 10-minute walk away is the National Palace, the seat of the government, located in the Zocalo. Originally, this site was the ceremonial center of the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. But be aware that the city center is incredibly crowded (the 20+ million people have to be somewhere :)) and you have to take good care of your belongings.

Palacio de Bellas Artes

Another stop worth making: The coffee shop and bookstore El Pendulo. It's a paradise for all book lovers. It's a restaurant, coffee shop, and bookstore under one roof. The architecture is also beautiful. With multiple locations throughout the city, we visited the one in Polanco and Condesa, but the one in Polanco is my favourite.

El Pendulo Polanco

A unique, slightly surreal experience is the Lucha Libre. It's a kind of freestyle wrestling, but for me, it was more a mixture of acrobatics, dance, and a lot of show. And of course, they wear the colorful masks you've probably seen before. Mexicans love it, and they go crazy in the arena. Grab a beer and get carried away as the atmosphere heats up (in a good way). We booked it through Turibus, which takes you to the venue and picks you up afterwards.

Food Recommendations

The most important category and yet the most difficult, because there are so many good places to eat in Mexico City. So here is a selection of places we went to:

• For delicious tacos:

  • Taqueria Orinoco

  • El Califa

• Brunch:

  • La Maque (lovely place)

  • Los Bisquets (very local)

  • La Mandolina (beautiful location), all restaurants in that street are lovely

  • Cuina

• Coffee Shops with amazing views:

  • Finca Don Porfirio (rooftop of Sears with a view on the Palacio de Bellas Artes)

  • Balcon de Zocalo (View on the Plaza de la Constitucion)

• Carajillo: half restaurant, half bar, great atmosphere

• Villa Maria: they have a Mariachi band

• El Moro: Churros and the sweetest hot chocolate in town

• El Pendulo: bookstore, restaurant and coffee shop

La Mandolina

View from Balcon de Zocalo

View from Finca Don Porfirio

There are so many more and if you have another favourite, share it in the comment section with us.

And that's a wrap, a few Mexico City recommendations packed in a blogpost. I'm sure this is not my last post about Mexico and its capital. If you have a recommendation for us, please let us know, we will be back soon. :)