Mexico City’s attractions are spread out and traffic is heavy, so plan your visit by dividing the city into four sections—north, south, east, and west. Focus on one area per day, using the metro and Uber for transportation.
Watch the flag-raising ceremony at Constitution Square → Visit the Cathedral → Explore the National Palace (free, but passport registration is required; don’t miss Diego Rivera’s epic murals of Mexican history) → See the Templo Mayor ruins → Try pozole (a traditional corn and pork soup) at the Central Market → End the evening with a panoramic city view from the Latin American Tower observation deck.
Visit the National Museum of Anthropology (must-sees include the Aztec Sun Stone and the sarcophagus lid from Palenque) → Explore Chapultepec Castle → Enjoy dinner at a fine restaurant in Polanco or a casual bistro in Roma in the evening.
Take a bus from the Northern Bus Terminal (about 1 hour) directly to the archaeological site: Moon Pyramid → Avenue of the Dead → Sun Pyramid → Butterfly Palace murals. On the way back, stop by Tlatelolco (Plaza de las Tres Culturas) or the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. In the evening, catch a Lucha Libre wrestling match.
In the morning, visit the Frida Kahlo Museum (book tickets online in advance) and stroll the cobblestone streets of Coyoacán → In the afternoon, take a colorful trajinera boat ride through the canals of Xochimilco, with live Mariachi music on board → Head to the airport in the evening for departure.
For a comfortable 4-day trip to Mexico City, a daily budget of $85–$140 per person allows for good accommodation and meals: metro rides are just 5 pesos, Uber trips across zones cost around 50–120 pesos, and most museum entry fees range between 15–90 pesos. The Historic Center and Roma are relatively safe at night, but avoid venturing alone into the far eastern neighborhoods. Most museums and archaeological sites prohibit large backpacks, so travel light and spread your cash in different places. On weekends, the pedestrian streets in the Historic Center are closed to vehicles, making street performances and markets even livelier—consider scheduling Day 1 for a Friday or Saturday. Around Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), you’ll find marigold altars throughout the city, turning a simple walk into a vibrant open-air exhibition.