Mexico City: So Much To Do, So Little Time

Here’s what you need to do so make the most out of your long weekend in Mexico:

• If at all possible, arrive early on a Friday (or arrive on Thursday if your schedule permits). I was meeting a group of women coming in from the East Coast. They arrived a little over an hour before I did and then breezed through Customs on a Friday afternoon. By the time I arrived at Customs, I had to wait in line for an hour before my vacation really could start.

• If you are able to land early enough on your first day, try to schedule a food tour for that first evening. A food tour is a great way to give you the lay of the land of any city that you are visiting, and Mexico City is no exception. Plus, with the huge array of amazing food in Mexico City, this can give you the opportunity to have dinner and try a little bit of so many things (like tacos, tortas, and even cocktails!). Mexico City is also quite a large city, so this can give you a great history and help you narrow down areas where you might like to tour later.

• Don’t miss out by only focusing on the City Center. Make sure to spend plenty of time exploring the Condesa and Roma neighborhoods. You can stay at Casa Cleo, a great boutique hotel in Condesa. Or, if you are more into a larger hotel, the Andaz has an amazing property in Condesa. And not only are there so many amazing neighborhoods in Mexico City, but there’s so much to see if you are willing to hire a car to travel beyond the city limits. For example, I highly recommend the sunrise boat ride in Xochimilco.There, you can learn about ancient Aztec agricultural practices on chinampas, see locals going to work on the canals, watch birds fishing on the shores, and see tons of vegetables and herbs ready for harvest.Afterwards, you will have an unbelievable breakfast featuring the ingredients that you just saw being grown in the chinampas. It will probably be the best meal you have on your trip!

Sunrise in Xochimilco

• Make sure that you schedule a sunrise hot air balloon ride to see the incredible ancient pyramids of Teotihuacan. I thought I’d be so nervous, but the minute you drive up to the parking lots and see the balloons being blown up, you realize that it’s one big party and really not scary at all. I felt very safe inside the balloon, it was an extremely smooth ride, and it was one of the most beautiful scenery I’ve ever seen. I cannot recommend this enough!

On the ground at Tehotihucan pyramids

Tehotiuacan pyramids from above

Final thoughts:

I felt extremely safe on this trip. Obviously, this is still a city. So, take any precautions you would take in a city, like watching your wallet and passport closely. It was also really helpful to have a driver that stayed with us throughout our trip, especially if you decide to take these longer drives. A Mexico City trip is a magical experience.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Mexico City page.