Travel

Ultimate 5 Day Itinerary for Mexico City

Mexico City and its surroundings have a rich culture, are brimming with energy, and have countless sights to see. If you want to explore the city, you will either need a lot of time, or pick some of the many activities to make the best of your trip. Here is the ultimate five-day itinerary for a vacation in Mexico City.

Making the Best of Your Holiday

If you are taking a trip, you decide what truly relaxes you. For some people, it’s reducing any activities to a minimum. For others, feeling refreshed after a holiday has a lot to do with the things they have experienced there. These types of people have a hard time relaxing when they are doing nothing. Instead, feeling like they are using their time efficiently will be a much bigger stress relief.

For most people, the best holiday experience comes from a good balance between exploring their destination and relaxing. For example, those who want to focus on moving around a lot and seeing many things might also want to invest into booking one of the 5-star hotels in Mexico City. They will provide you with the necessary luxury and service to wind down between your trips.

A 5-Day Trip to Mexico City

Mexico City is a large city full of culture, charming neighborhoods, and countless events. If you want to dive a little deeper and truly get to know the area, you will need to plan in a few days. A two-week trip will give you enough time for a relaxed holiday that still shows you anything of importance. However, if you don’t want to waste an entire holiday on one city, you can reduce it to a 5-day itinerary:

●     Day One: The Historical Center

The Centro Historico is packed with museums and gorgeous colonial buildings. At its heart is the Zocalo, a historical square that has been there through the rise of the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan to the modern-day Mexico City.

From there, you can visit both the National Palace on one side and the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, the largest and oldest cathedral in Latin America, on the other. But the square itself and the many street vendors and performers are a sight to behold by itself. If you caught the right timing, you can see Mayan performances and traditional dance routines, as well as a spiritual cleansing ritual, the limpia. You can also make you travelling fun.

You can find more traces of the empires of the past at the Templo Mayor, the ancient ruins of an Aztec temple. It was found by electricity workers in the 1970, right behind the cathedral.

●     Day Two: Bosque de Chapultepec Park

The Bosque de Chapultepec are the Green Lungs of Mexico City. It covers 686 hectares, which makes it one of the biggest city parks in the western hemisphere. Due to its size, you might want to rent a bicycle to see more of the beautiful area. There are plenty of food stands around to keep you fed and happy.

You can find out more about Mexico’s culture and history in the National Anthropology Museum in the area. Also historically relevant is the Chapultepec Castle on a hill in the park. It is built on a sacred place for the Aztecs and has been used for many different purposes, from military academies to presidential residences.

●     Day Three: Roma Norte & La Condesa

Even if you like the action, a day to wind down will be important. Day three is the most restful on the itinerary. Roma Norte & La Condesa are the two prettiest neighborhoods in Mexico City. They will provide you with a calm oasis in the middle of your trip.

The two districts are close to each other and are quite similar. They are full of stunning parks, unique architecture, and many beautiful streets with art, cafés, bars, restaurants and more. It will invite you to just stroll through the neighborhoods, pick up a drink or snack here or there, and rest in many beautiful spots.

A good route to take is the Avenida Amsterdam. The path used to be a horse racing track. Now it is a circular way you can take to get to know La Condesa.

●     Day Four: Coyoacan & Xochimilco

Frida Kahlo and her art have been a major factor in Mexican culture, leaving her own footprint and perpetually influencing it. No wonder the Frida Kahlo Museum in Coyoacan is a big magnet for tourists. Here, you can visit the blue house where she lived out her days with her husband, Diego Rivera.

More of Frieda’s and Diego’s art can be found in the Casa de Cultura Jesus Reyes Heroles, a free-to-visit cultural center. It also showcases many Aztec relics.

Similarly artistic is the Bazar Artesanal Mexicano (Felipe Carrillo Puerto 25). You can explore this market for handcrafted goods and souvenirs.

●     Day Five: The Ruins of Teotihuacan

The Teotihuacan Ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Mexico’s archeological wonders. It is located in San Juan Teotihuacan, one of the small towns (pueblos) the authorities for tourism have marked as noteworthy. These spots usually have either exceptional natural beauty, unique traditions, or historical value.

It is 32 miles (ca. 51 km) northeast of Mexico City, taking you a 1-to-2-hour drive to get there. It’s best to start first thing in the morning and arrive there around 9, when it typically opens. This way, you will avoid exploring the archeological site in the midday heat, since the site is freestanding and lacks shade.

Conclusion

Mexico City is a big bustling city with a lot of culture, colors, and vibrant people. To really experience the city, you should spend at least two weeks around here, exploring all of the districts and surrounding areas. However, this 5-day itinerary will give you a great overview of the most interesting and beautiful locations in the city.

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