Mexico is one of my favorite countries to have a quick getaway to no matter which coast of the U.S. you’re on. It’s the perfect weekend vacation if you live in Southern California because if you spend just a little over four hours on a plane, you end up in a whole other country. While I have frequented the Cancun and Tulum area many times, I finally was able to make it to Mexico City and trust me, it did not disappoint. 3 Days in Mexico City is the perfect amount of time but if you can spend a couple more days there, take advantage of it. Mexico City is full of culture, delicious food, wonderful sites that are natural and manmade, and delightful humans. If you only have a long weekend or a few days to spend there, this is the best Mexico City itinerary for you.
Where to Stay
When I’m in the planning stages of any trip I head straight to Booking.com to search for lodging. I’m presented with a plethora of options that I can filter to show star ratings, reviews from past guests, amenities, and much more. My favorite part about the site is that they show short term apartment and guest house rentals in addition to hotels.
During my time in Mexico City I stayed at the Camino Real Polanco Mexico. This hotel is spacious and an architectural dream while still having minimalist qualities. I could’ve done cartwheels around my room and love that it wasn’t cluttered with furniture that I would’ve never utilized. The CDMX neighborhood of Polanco is extremely residential and walkable in my opinion. I love how spacious and green the area is, so much so that it took me out of “city life” at times.
The next time I return to Mexico City I’ll stay in the Roma Norte area as that’s where my uber’s during my trip usually ended up. While the hotels or other lodging offered in that area may be smaller, I prefer to be in the middle of the action especially when I only have a short stay. It’ll give me just that much more time to absorb all that an area has to offer versus spending time on the ride to that place.
Day 1
Mercado Roma
On my first day in Mexico City I hit the ground running. After a quick bite to eat at the hotel I headed on foot toward Roma Norte. I like to walk around the area I’m staying in to get an idea of what’s around me, especially while the sun is out. I recommend fueling up first at Mercado Roma. If you live in a major city you probably have some version of Mercado Roma in your downtown area. It’s a food hall with over two dozen food and drink vendors. This is perfect so that if you’re traveling solo you can try different types of food, but if you’re with a group it’s great because not everyone needs to be on the same page about what to eat. Everyone can go to their preferred vendors to get some grub and meet back up to eat together. Next to the market is a bar that’s labelled as Foley Bar but the name is actually As Happy As Larry. They had delicious cocktails and afterwards I had churros for dessert at the infamous Churreria El Moro. The churros were divine.
Museo Soumaya
The Soumaya Museum was my favorite of the entire trip because I’m very much a paintings and portraits type of art lover. We love a free museum and even though there was a line upon arrival, we didn’t wait long at all. This museum holds over 66,000 pieces of art that spans 30 centuries. If you’re an art lover, you’re sure to come across entire exhibits to fall in love with.
Lucha, Tacos, and Beer Night
I came across this nighttime Airbnb experience where, like the name says, you get to enjoy mezcal and beer, delicious tacos, and learn about the history of lucha libre before actually getting to witness the Mexican wrestling for yourself. I thought this was a perfectly unique experience that gives you a taste of Mexican Culture and history from local guides. It’s also the perfect time to chat with them and get tips for what else you shouldn’t skip during the rest of your 3 days in Mexico City.
Day 2
Cafe Toscana Polanco
This restaurant and cafe serves mainly Italian fare like pizzas and pastas in addition to traditional Mexican breakfasts such as chilaquiles. I popped in for a quick breakfast of a croissant and pain au chocolat while washing it all down with a pot of tea. There are multiple locations around the city but they feel like one of one locations. It’s a cute spot to sit and people watch from your sidewalk table or read a book while enjoying a meal inside. I’d return to this place again and again.
Museum of Anthropology
This museum happens to be the national museum of Mexico as well as the largest and most visited. It was like being transported back in time and felt like the museum itself was built around an archaeological site. Because it offers 23 exhibit halls, plan to spend a couple hours here and maybe even take a break at the onsite cafe and restaurant. It should come as no surprise that this museum contains the largest collection of Mexican Art that includes pieces from ancient Mesoamerican civilizations. There are recreations of life sized temples and tombs that left me breathless. Outside of the museum are vendors and you can almost always find some type of art of dance performance by indigenous people of the area.
Mezcal Mixology Class
I was perusing things to do in Mexico City when I came across a cocktail making class. This is just as good as a cooking class in my opinion and I usually do these to learn about what people in certain areas eat or drink and why. During the class we sampled mezcal and learned the proper way to consume it before making two cocktails. My first conception was a sort of cucumber margarita while my second involved me smoking cinnamon with an actual torch and sweeting the drink with an elote syrup. Both drinks were delicious and you can tweak the recipes to your preference. I would 100% do another one of these classes upon returning.
Day 3
Mercado Coyoacan
3 days in Mexico City isn’t complete without a trip to Mercado Coyoacan. I went to this market hoping to find unique textiles and or trinkets to take home as a souvenir. I ended up having breakfast inside that consisted of pancakes and eggs and was delicious. There were several food vendors although not all of them served breakfast so I’d hoped to hang around for lunch as well. At this market you can grab fresh seafood, meats, and veggies if you have kitchen access and want to cook with fresh ingredients. The market also extends outside and there are several vendors selling paintings, wooden toys, and other souvenirs to remind you of your time in CDMX.
Frida Kahlo Museum
Because of its close proximity to Mercado Coyoacan, I recommend visiting the Frida Kahlo Museum after the market during your 3 days in Mexico City. Unfortunately I didn’t get the chance to stop by but it’s high on the list of things to do when I return. You won’t be able to miss the beautiful cobalt blue house that itself is art and dedicated to the life and work of Frida Kahlo. It was both her place of birth as well as her lifelong home. There you can find everything from her clothing to her artwork. Anytime I see this place the line is especially long so pre-book your tickets in advance to avoid long wait times, or worse, tickets selling out.
Chapultapec Park
To take a break from walking around and sightseeing I recommend visiting Chapultepec Park aka Bosque de Chapultepec. It spans over 1,600 acres and is the perfect place to lay out on a blanket or find a bench to people watch. There’s so much lush greenery that you’re sure to forget that you’re in a bustling city and plenty of vendors if you haven’t stumbled upon any of the recommended markets yet. If you’re open to water activities, paddle boating is offered on the lake.
Dinner at Nonna
During my last night in CDMX I stopped at Nonna for a nightcap. While they serve Italian fare that looked and smelled divine, I highly recommend grabbing a couple cocktails as well. My drink was instagram worthy and came out literally smoking. It was some sort of rose and gin concoction that still has my mouth watering.
While there are endless day trips and activities to do outside of CDMX, I highly recommend this itinerary if you only have 3 days in Mexico City. Happy travels!
