15 essentials: what to see and do in Mexico City in 2 or 3 days

Mexico It is one of the most attractive countries that can be visited in the world.

The first thing to keep in mind when preparing a trip to Mexico It is so large and varied that it is impossible to cover it even in a single visit.

It is likely, but not necessary, that the trip will begin or end in CDMX, but if so, we advise you to dedicate several days to discover all its attractions.

Know that CDMX It is the great Latin American capital in terms of heritage wealth due to its historical importance for several centuries.

Furthermore, it is a modern and thriving city, one of the most populated in the world.

It is also said to be the city ​​with the most museums in the world, in competition with London.

All this makes it an extraordinarily interesting place to visit, despite the fact that many visitors to the country do not really know the value of its attractions.

Mexico City, why it is a World Heritage Site

Do not forget that the historic center of Mexico City and gardens of Xochimilco were registered in 1987 on the list of World Heritage for the Unesco.

This is due to the importance that the city had, as much as capital of the aztec empire, as of Viceroyalty of New Spain, as well as the splendor of the monuments that remain from those two periods.

There is so much to see and do, that you will always leave things pending for a next trip.

What to see and do when visiting Mexico City

You will most likely start your visit to the city with a tour of its historic center, something essential.

Plaza El Zócalo in Mexico City

The immense Plaza de la Constitución, which everyone calls The Zocalo, Is the main square of Mexico City, and it is said to be the second largest in the world.

Mexico Cathedral

The first thing that stands out is the Cathedral, a building that dominates the entire complex.

It is not the most beautiful, but it is the largest on the continent and one of the most imposing.

It was built in 1573 with materials from a large Aztec temple to replace the modest temple built just after the conquest.

The interior is full of artistic treasures, but as a curiosity, don't miss the pendulum and the table on the floor beneath it, with signs so you can imagine how this building has moved over time.

This displacement is due to the fact that the city is built on very unstable soil and buildings, especially the heavier ones, tend to sink.

Next to the cathedral you will find the Metropolitan Tabernacle, one of the triumphs of churrigueresque style en Mexico City.

National Palace of Mexico in the Zócalo

Another side of the Zócalo is occupied by the National Palace on the place where the palaces of Moctezuma, Cortés and the viceroys were.

Its façade measures more than 200 meters and is an essential visit due to the extraordinary murals of Diego Rivera that reflect the history of Mexico, from the Aztecs to the revolution of 1910.

Templo Mayor in the Zócalo in Mexico City

If you leave the square at the corner between the two previous buildings you will find the remains of the Main temple, with an excellent museum.

If you don't have time to visit it, at least look at the model on the Zócalo to get an idea of ​​what this city was like in pre-Hispanic times, when it was located in the middle of a lagoon.

For the surroundings of the Zócalo Palaces and churches from the colonial era abound.

Palace and museums in Alameda Central of Mexico City

If you follow the Madero Avenue you will arrive at Central mall, an immense park overlooking the Palace of Fine Arts, with a beautiful interior and numerous cultural activities.

In this park there are also the fascinating museums Franz mayer and Diego Rivera Mural.

This last museum has only one work, but an extraordinary one: the mural Dream of a Sunday afternoon in the Alameda Central.

National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City

Just behind this museum you will find the Reforma walk, the great avenue that reaches the Chapultepec park, where is the Anthropology National Museum,

It is the most important museum in the capital and in which a complete review of the prehispanic civilizations or indigenous cultures of Mexico.

Hotel Camino Real Polanco in Mexico City

Nearby is the hotel Camino Real Polanco; A visit to the reception area and restaurants will allow you to discover one of the best examples of the modern mexican architecture.

Along the Reforma walk There are several imposing skyscrapers, some of the tallest and most modern in all of Latin America.

Coyoacán and other neighborhoods of Mexico City

Una CDMX more manageable and quiet you will find it in the Neighborhoods (called colonies) more elegant.

Coyoacan It has a bohemian air with its bookstores, its cafes, its cobblestone streets flanked by centuries-old mansions and the Frida Kahlo's House (London 247), but keep in mind that it is his home and studio, not a museum of his work.

En Saint Angel churches abound, colonial mansions and the secluded squares.

Condesa y Polanco They are two other neighborhoods full of shops and restaurants where it is very pleasant to walk.

Plaza of the Three Cultures in Mexico City

To know the essence of the Mexican topic there are several essential visits, such as the Plaza of the Three Cultures, in which the pre-Hispanic temple of Tlatelolco, colonial church of Santiago and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (representing pre-Hispanic, colonial and independent Mexico)-

Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City

Other essential visits are Basilica of Guadalupe (near the station Basilica subway) with its incessant flow of pilgrims and what is said to be the second most visited Catholic temple in the world after the Vatican; and the Garibaldi Square, which is attended by mariachis at dusk.

Other reference places are the House-Workshop of Luis Barragán and Central Campus of the University City for the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

Both places, which have been registered on the list of World Heritage for the Unesco in 2004 and 2007, were built in the middle of the last century, demonstrating the vitality of this city, which is more than just a historical place.

What to see and visit around Mexico City

The surroundings of Mexico City They are equally full of interesting places.

Xochimilco floating gardens

The weekend is the best time to approach the floating gardens of Xochimilco, one of the few reminders that Mexico was built on a lagoon.

Although they are a little far away. It is worth the trip since the atmosphere during the visit is very pleasant.

The most entertaining and cheapest thing is to tour the canals in a collective boat; the mariachis They sing the songs they request in the canoes, and before or after the tour you can eat in any of the open places next to the piers.

Dolores Olmedo Patiño Museum in Xochimilco

If you have a couple more hours, take advantage of the trip to Xochimilco to visit on the way Dolores Olmedo Patiño Museum.

Located in an old 17th century hacienda. This museum houses the best private collection of works by Diego Rivera and quite a few paintings Frida Kahlo, in addition to a large collection of pre-Hispanic art.

As a curiosity, we can say that in the museum garden you will have the rare opportunity to see the xoloitzcuintles, hairless dogs that were of great importance in pre-Hispanic Mexican culture.

Pre-Hispanic city of Teotihuacán

If there were only one place to visit in the surroundings of the Mexican capital, our choice would be pre-Hispanic city of Teotihuacán, which lived its time of splendor between the 1st and 7th centuries.

Known worldwide for its famous pyramids, this archaeological complex is located about 50 kilometers from CDMX.

Further away, about 100 kilometers, is Puebla, with a unique baroque neighborhood; Both sets are also included in the list of the World Heritage 1987 since.

These are just some of the many places worth visiting in Mexico City and its surroundings.