5 Things to see and do in Mexico City
updated the 7 October 2015 à 00:02
Mexico City is famous for many things but if you’re looking for the authentic experience, here is our guide on the 5 must-do’s in the Mexican capital.
- Mexico’s capital is iconic for its rich culture and diverse heritage, its food, music and good-looking people. It is also notorious for its crime rate and for being one of the most deadly places to drive in but that shouldn’t anyone deter from visiting the city and getting a local friend to chauffeur you around everywhere. Life is full of risks and there is far too much to take in in this dreamy city to let the opportunity slip. Here are 5 places you should not miss in Mexico City.
- 1) Mexico City’s Zocalo (Centro Historico):
The historic centre of Mexico City, the stunning architecture and grandeur is reminiscent of St. Petersburg in Russia. The gothic-style cathedrals, that are over 250 years old, feature stunning artwork and tapestry, some of them even having gold-plated ceilings. It is also the heart of a bustling, stylish shopping district for the fashion-conscious. Unfortunately, the beauty won’t be around for much longer as the historical centre is slowly sinking into the ground – an unfortunate but unavoidable engineering problem. So visit the Zocalo as soon as you can!
- 2) The drive to Teotihuacan:
This car journey takes about four hours from the centre of the city and is an altogether picturesque and smooth one as you will pass by a large area of countryside. It’s a good idea to stock up on snacks and water for the journey, in case you get hungry and the earlier you go, the better. Leaving at 4 or 5am is a good idea because you have the option of stopping off for breakfast and fueling up before the drive and this ensures you reach the historical site at an hour where the sun won’t be at its hottest. Tickets cost as low as 250 pesos with a guided tour in English (other language options are available). Purchase a sun hat and some sunscreen at the retail outlets at the entrance of the site and don’t forget to pick up highly affordable little souvenirs like a Mayan sun calender or an aztec warrior figurine. Brave the narrow steps to the top of the Pyramid of The Sun and the Pyramid of The Moon and surrender yourself to Quetzalcoatl as you enjoy the strong wind and astounding site from the top of each pyramid.
- 3) Frida Kahlo Museum:
We’ve always believed there’s a Frida Kahlo inside of everyone – a quirky, compassionate self, masking our insecurities with external validation or whatever we can find that lets us forget our flaws. The difference with Frida is that while she had deep underlying issues, she embraced all that was bizarre about her with such unparalleled finesse, which is the entire reason why, whether or not you’re a huge fan of the talented magical realist painter, poet and author, you will be compelled to step into the museum that was once hers and her husband Diego Rivera’s home in the last 14 years of her life.
- 4) Coyoacán
The historic centre of one of the 16 burroughs in Mexico City is home to beautiful cathedrals and old relics dating back to colonial times. Famous for its extensive collection of restaurants, cafes and nightspots, it is a popular hangout for the Mexican youth to twenty-somethings. Explore the old cathedrals, enjoy a beer or two and be sure to stop on the street on your way home for some authentic ‘churros con nutella’. If you’re planning to have a good meal here, try some traditional Oaxacan chocolate mole – served with chicken tacos.
- 5) Visit Xochimilco
This market has been around since the ancient Aztecs ran the country. What’s unique about it? It resembles a floating garden – created using an ingenious technique the Aztecs came up with, of making the water in the lake arable (steppe engineering). This market is a homage to the great engineering of the time and whilst you float around on colourful boats and buy all sorts of traditional Mexican gifts, you can have a talented Mariachi band liven up your mood.
Diya-Maya Tsering Bhalla
