For anyone looking for an urban destination filled with culture, interesting sightseeing, art, beautiful greenspace, and lots of delicious food, there are few better places than Mexico City.
While Mexico City is more than worth a stop, it’s an absolute must on any Mexico itinerary. Although Mexico’s capital is a massive city with plenty to see and do, spending two days in Mexico City will allow you to experience its highlights and get a taste of what this fantastic destination offers. Ride-share services and public transportation are easily accessible here; remember that traffic can add to travel time when exploring the city.
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Top Things to Do in Mexico City
Condesa and Roma Norte Neighborhoods
Part of what makes Mexico City amazing is its seemingly endless charm, beautiful architecture, and lush greenery. Condesa and Roma Norte are two of the best places to experience this. These two picturesque neighborhoods are right next to each other, so spend some time strolling through and exploring the many shops, galleries, cafes, restaurants, and more.
Start in Condesa, walk along Avenida Amsterdam to see plenty of Art Deco and Art Nouveau architecture, and stop in Parque Mexico, one of the city’s loveliest green spaces, and Parque España, which, while more minor, is also pretty and peaceful.
Make your way to Roma Norte, where you can check out the street art, the small parks and plazas, and the many museums and galleries scattered across this delightful neighborhood.
Casa Azul
Casa Azul is a true gem in Mexico City. Tucked in the Coyoacán neighborhood, it’s the former home of artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Today, it’s a fascinating museum honoring Kahlo’s history and legacy in Mexico and across the world. The home is filled with Kahlo’s former art, furniture, and other artifacts. Apart from its historical and cultural importance, the house itself, along with its backyard garden, is also just a beautiful place to experience.
Casa Azul is open Tuesdays through Sundays. Admission for foreigners is 320.00 Mexican pesos.
Chapultepec Park

Mexico City has an imposing amount of open green space for such a giant city. The city has an abundance of various urban parks, but Chapultepec Park is the most massive and worthwhile. It’s the largest and the oldest metropolitan park in Latin America, and with nine museums, a zoo, and an amusement park, you could easily spend the whole day here.
But with only two days in Mexico City, plan your itinerary to spend two or three hours exploring some of the parks and one or two museums.
Anthropology Museum
The Anthropology Museum, or Museo Nacional de Antropología, is within Chapultepec Park and is well worth a stop. It offers a thorough overview of Indigenous Mexican history and is also home to the largest collection of ancient Mexican art. This museum is truly massive, so plan to spend at least a couple of hours here. It’s open Tuesdays through Sundays and costs 95.00 Mexican pesos, except on Sundays, when it is free.
The Natural History Museum
Another popular option within Chapultepec Park is the Natural History Museum. It’s uniquely located within the Castillo de Chapultepec, a castle built in the late 1700s. Like the Anthropology Museum, this museum is closed on Mondays and typically has 95.00 Mexican pesos, except for Sundays, when it is free. (Remember that most museums in Mexico City are closed on Mondays.)
Palace of Fine Arts

This is one of Mexico City’s most popular museums and cultural institutions. The Palace of Fine Arts, or the Palacio de Bellas Artes, is an art museum and cultural center. The architecture alone is gorgeous and makes this a worthwhile stop. Still, the Palacio hosts plenty of events, from theater to orchestra, to opera, to ballet folklórico, and more, along with its art exhibits, including impressive murals created by iconic Mexican artists like Diego Rivera. This museum is also open Tuesdays through Sundays. Admission is 90.00 Mexican pesos and is free on Sundays.
Zócalo

This downtown public square is a must for any visit, especially if it’s your first time in Mexico City. This area is historic and has been a gathering place since Aztec times. Today, it’s full of beautiful buildings and street vendors and is often the site of events.
It’s also home to one of Mexico City’s most historic and significant sites. Templo Mayor, located within the Zócalo, is an ancient temple that was once the capital of the Aztec empire. While it’s possible to see some of the ruins from outside without purchasing an admission ticket, a stop inside, which includes a visit to the on-site museum, is well worth the 95 Mexican pesos. (Templo Mayor is also free on Sundays and closed on Mondays.)
Teotihuacan
If you’re looking for even more impressive pyramids and Indigenous history, Teotihuacan is just an hour or two outside of Mexico City. Referred to as “the city of mystery” because many of its origins are still unknown, archeologists believe that it dates back to the Mayan period and was thriving as one of the world’s largest cities from 250 to 500 CE. If you’re looking for a proper bucket list activity, consider taking a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the ancient pyramids.
What to Eat in Mexico City

Mexico City has so much to offer in terms of food. From upscale restaurants to bakeries, cafes, and fantastic street food, you could spend weeks in Mexico City without getting bored of its culinary offerings. A walking food tour is a must, allowing you to taste multiple samples of the traditional and authentic cuisine here.
Since you only have two days, the absolute musts are street tacos. The most popular varieties are asada, which is a type of steak, and al pastor, which is pork and is considered by some to be Mexico City’s signature taco. Plenty of street vendors cook their meat on a vertical spit (called a “tromp” in Mexico), similar to how you’d see shawarma cooked in the Middle East. Street tacos are often served on corn tortillas with raw onion, cilantro, and a spicy salsa. Tacos are best enjoyed with a beer, a Michelada, or an agua fresca.
For breakfast, try chilaquiles and huevos rancheros, both beloved dishes incorporating tortillas, eggs, and flavorful sauce. For lunchtime, try a torta, a popular sandwich on a fluffy roll that typically includes some combination of meat, beans, avocado, cheese, and other toppings.
Other delicious entrees include mole, originally from Oaxaca and Puebla but also common in Mexico City. There are many different kinds of mole made with various combinations of chiles and seasonings, but the most standard is mole negro. Made with chocolate, mole negro is most commonly served over chicken. Enchiladas are tortillas rolled up with various fillings like cheese, meat, or seafood and topped with a spicy sauce and cheese. They are also delicious.
For dessert, churros are super popular in Mexico City and are best when served with chocolate (or, better yet, a hot chocolate) on the side.
Where to Stay in Mexico City
Particularly for first-timers, the best places to stay in Mexico City are Condesa Roma Norte or Centro, where the Zocálo is. Each neighborhood is walkable, with plenty of food options and sightseeing nearby.
In Mexico City, there are accommodation options for all price ranges, whether you’re looking for a dorm in a hostel or a more luxurious hotel. In Centro, Hotel Punto MX is a highly-rated option with private rooms typically ranging from $64 to $109 a night. At the same time, Casa Pepe, a popular boutique hostel in Centro, has beds in a shared dorm available for as little as $15.86. In Condesa, Condesa Cibel is also highly rated and has rooms for $117 per night.
Here, you are getting a marvelous introduction to the culture of this metropolitan area. Two days will go by like nothing at all. You’ll want to come back multiple times to enjoy the character of the local neighborhoods, historic architecture, and delicious food.