5 Days in Mexico City: An Itinerary For Those Short on Time

Ready, set, go — just have 5 days in Mexico City? Below is a fantastic 5 day Mexico City itinerary to cover a lot of ground. Mexico City is the ultimate comeback story. In the 1980’s and 1990’s, things got a little rough (to say the least!). But fast forward to today, and neighborhoods like Polanco, Condesa, Zona Rosa and Roma feel just as safe as high-end areas of Los Angeles. But a fraction of the cost – I mean, we barely spent $50 a day! In 2016, The New York Times listed Mexico City as their top travel pick in the world. It’s a world class sprawling city. Thank god for Uber!  For a special treat, see some recommendations for spending New Year’s in Mexico City.

DAY 1 

• Arrive in Mexico City and check into hotel
  • Picking a good neighborhood is critical: We recommend either Polanco (think high-end Beverly Hills) or Condesa (still very nice but with a little more funky). We stayed in Zocalo, which I would not recommend (since it clears out at night and can be a little dicey).
• 11 AM – 4 PM – Get your bearings on a tour with Mexico City Food Walking Tours ($84 per person).
  • We signed up for the tour called, “Tacos, Tamales and Quesadillas,” but ended up getting moved onto another tour (since they forgot about our booking). Oops! Be sure to have your hotel call them the day before to re-confirm.

• 5- 7 PM – National Museum of Anthropology,  considered one of the best in the world. Must see!
  • A beautiful bookstore and Starbucks is located right across the street. A great place to call your Uber (if you don’t have an unlocked phone).

• 7 PM – on – Head over to Zona Rosa, packed with restaurants and nightlife
  • Grab dinner at La Casa De Toño, super cheap and one of the best meals on the trip
  • Afterward get drinks at the super cool Bukowski’s Bar with nightly live music

DAY 2:

• 10 AM – Check out Polanco, considered the “Beverly Hills” of Mexico City
  • High end shops line the tiny district and there are some great coffee shops
  • After all the shopping, grab a seat outdoors on the patio at Catamundi. There is also a nice gourmet food shop inside with wines from Mexico’s Valle De Guadalupe

• 12 PM – Catch an Uber over to Chapultepec Castle, the only royal castle in North America, which was used as the home of Mexican Emperor. The views alone make it a must visit site.

• 2 – 4 PM – Walk from the castle to the nearby neighborhood of Condesa, packed with restaurants and cafes
  • Be sure to stop for some fresh baked bread at Pastelerias Esperanza to snack on during your walk

• 7 PM – Kevin and I love movies, so we headed to the Cinemex in Zona Rosa to watch Hacksaw Ridge
• 9:30 PM – Dinner at hipster hangout Hosteria La Bota in Zocalo. It’s sketchy in the neighborhood at night, but this place is hopping!

DAY 3:

• 8 AM – 3 PM – Visit the Sun Pyramid, the largest building in Teotihuacan and one of the largest in Mesoamerica. This is a must do!
  • We went with Estacion Tours ($25 per person). It’s a basic tour, which is what we liked. It’s cheap because they pack you in (30 people on this tour!), but was fun interacting with everyone.

• 3:30 PM – If your tour wraps near the historic central district (i.e. Zocalo), grab early dinner at Cafe De Tacuba. Live music, and really fun vibe and atmosphere.

• 5 PM – Walk 10 minutes north to Mariachi Plaza and check out the Mezcal Museum, which includes free tastings at the end!

• 8:30 PM – Lucha Libre (Mexican Wrestling). Mexico City is the place to see one of the country’s most dramatic sporting events.
  • Take an Uber out here and buy your tickets at the window (super cheap, just several bucks)
  • Matches generally happen on Tuesdays and Fridays. We enjoyed it, but you’ll likely get your fill of it after 1 hour or so.

• 9:30 PM – Head back to Bukowski’s Bar, nearby and some wonderful live music

DAY 4:

• 9 AM – Head to Condesa and grab some breakfast. We had a healthy(ish) Mexican breakfast at Frutos Prohibitos and ordered the Mollete and Chilaquiles. Okay, maybe it wasn’t that healthy after all. But really tasty! Highly recommended.

• 10 AM – 2 PM – Pedalea Mexico City Bike Tour ($45 per person)
  • By far, our favorite activity. Small group tours through parts of the city. We selected the “Coyoacan and Frida Kahlo Museum” ride
  • Tour goes through the historic neighborhoods and is completely laid back. It includes admission to the Frida Kahlo Museum. Grab some ice cream along the way at El Kiosko.

• 2 PM – 4 PM – Check out Condesa and stop at Maque Bakery (just south of the park) for the best corn muffin I’ve ever had. Then walk to Roma, a nearby neighborhood
  • First must-stop: Mercado Roma, a gourmet take on the Mexican food market.
  • Finish walking tour, relax at a cafe around the main square in Roma. Kevin loved the Starbucks here. His favorite coffee shop in the city.

• 8 PM – This evening, we celebrated New Year’s in Mexico City at El Balcon in Zocalo. It’s a scenic spot and had a blast. Another must-eat place is Pujol – a foodie mecca. Note that reservations must be made about 3 months in advance. Or you can try a month in advance for any last minute spots (some other travelers told us!).

DAY 5:

• Our last day – we’re so sad to go, but packed so much in!
• 12- 1 PM Spend time wandering Zocalo (where we were based). Grab lunch at Cafe El Popular (which is just as popular as it’s name!). Not the best food on the trip, but was one of the only places open on New Year’s Day.

So now you know what to see in Mexico City in 5 days!  If you want more ideas for five days in Mexico City, see our trip here that includes a side trip from Mexico City to Puebla.  Have more than five days in Mexico, we recommend you consider visiting San Miguel de Allende.  See our amazing two day trip here that won’t break the bank!