I live in a city outside of Mexico City, that’s actually rather big. It’s called “Toluca” and it’s about an hour away.
In the Frida Kahlo movie, Selma Hayek actually quotes my city, saying, “I rather sit on the floor in the market of Toluca and sell tortillas, than have anything to do with those ‘artistic’ bitches of Paris.”
Now, that was nearly a hundred years ago, and I can’t tell you much about how Toluca was back then. These days, there’s still a market where you can definitely see people sitting on the floor selling tortillas. It’s a nice city, but it’s definitely necessary to get out and spend time in Mexico City.
A few weekends ago, my boyfriend and I did a “stay-cation” in Mexico City. While many people come to this country for the beaches, others come to get more intimate with the rich culture, a lot of which can be found in the capital city. While our “stay-cation” may be experienced a little differently for those who do a tour of Mexico, here’s how you can enjoy the city like a local:
Splurge on a Nice Hotel
Okay, I’m a budget traveler. Everyone who knows me knows as long as there is a bed (in some cases, just a mat), a bathroom, and a door I can lock, I’m satisfied. But, when you spend a weekend in a cosmopolitan city like D.F, it’s okay to want to treat yourself a bit.
The good news is that a five-star hotel in Mexico City with a spa, an amazing breakfast, and an executive suite will cost you about $250 for an entire weekend. And, when that hotel has a spectacular view of the city and is right down the street from Chapultepec Park, you’ll basically feel like VIP.
Of course, you don’t have to do it this way. But, it’s a great way to enjoy the city to the fullest.
Visit Places You Would Otherwise Not Have Time For
With only 48 hours in Mexico City, whether you’re doing a stay-cation, a long layover, or just a short visit, that’s not really a lot of time to see everything. Mexico City is one of the biggest cities in the world. Therefore, you need quite a lot of time to see all it has to offer. That being said, you should have enough time to visit these places:
- The Frida Kahlo Museum in Coyoacán. Not only is this museum a living piece of history (it’s where she lived and died), it’s also a beautiful piece of architecture. The line outside is usually long. To save time, book your tickets and a time online before you go. Of course, a tour can help you organize this.
- When you’re done exploring the museum, stay and walk around in the neighborhood of Coyoacán. There are so many cool artisan markets you don’t want to miss.
- There is even more art and history to see around the city. Check out the plaza at Zócalo which was in the James Bond movie, or the pyramids at Temple Mayor.
- Explore every inch of Chapultepec. This park has a zoo, street food, markets, a lake, and the famous Anthropology Museum.
- Watch the sun go down from the observation deck at Torre Latino, where you’ll get an awesome view of the city.
- Enjoy the nightlife in La Condesa, Roma, Polanco, and Navarte. These super trendy areas have great restaurants, bars, shops, and cute cafes.
- Taste a blend of Mexican food and foreign food. Mexico City has a K-town where you can eat delicious Korean food. There’s also Indian food, Japanese food, American food, and basically every other cuisine you can imagine.
Spread The Word of This Amazing City
It’s no secret that Mexico City is extremely underrated compared to other major cities around the world. Luckily, if you do a tour of Mexico, you can see all this country has to offer. Most of all, you’ll experience the magical heartbeat of this country in CDMX.
Check out tours to Mexico now!
Hana LaRock is originally from New York, though has called other places around the world her home for the last two years. She currently lives in Mexico and freelance travel writer. When she’s not working, she enjoys writing, reading, spending time with her dog, and of course, traveling. You can find her at www.hanalarockwriting.com.
