CDMX City Guide

Mexico City is one of the world’s most vibrant capitals. Arrive ready to dive into a rich blend of culture, gastronomy, and history! This guide provides essential information to help you prepare for your visit, including travel recommendations, weather, cultural considerations, and suggested activities.

The neighborhood: Polanco

Polanco is one of Mexico City’s most prestigious and polished neighborhoods, occupying a prime position between Bosque de Chapultepec and Paseo de la Reforma in the Miguel Hidalgo borough. It carries a distinctive dual identity: historically a Jewish enclave and still home to a significant Jewish community, while also functioning as the city’s diplomatic and corporate hub. Many foreign embassies, multinational headquarters, and luxury hotels are concentrated here. Polanco was originally built up in the 1930s for the era’s ornate, single-family homes. Today, the colonia is perhaps best known for its art galleries, luxury shopping malls, and high-end dining.

The streets are named after poets and intellectuals — Tennyson, Anatole France, Molière, Emilio Castelar — and lined with mature trees and manicured sidewalks. Av. Presidente Masaryk is the neighborhood’s spine and its most famous address, home to Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Prada, Porsche showrooms, and a procession of upscale restaurants with terrace seating.

Polanco is not exclusively for expense-account travelers. Parque Lincoln, the neighborhood’s beloved green square, is surrounded by casual cafés, juice bars, and taco stands where you could find a full breakfast for under 150 pesos. The side streets off Masaryk, particularly around Calle Anatole France and Av. Horacio, hide neighborhood fondas, torta shops, and lunch counters. The Mercado Gourmet at Parques Polanco, a small indoor market near Parque Lincoln, is a good and affordable spot for a traditional comida corrida (a set lunch of soup, main, and agua fresca for around 120 pesos). If you are on a budget, the trick is simply to step one or two blocks away from Masaryk. The prices drop considerably and the food is often just as good.

October is a particularly pleasant time to be in Polanco. The jacaranda trees won’t bloom until spring, but the air is cool and clear in the mornings, the terraces fill up at lunch, and the neighborhood’s energy — a mix of strolling families, suited professionals, and tourists heading to the nearby Soumaya and Jumex museums — makes it one of the most enjoyable places in the city simply to walk and observe.

Weather in October

October falls at the very end of the rainy season, meaning mornings are sunny and clear, afternoons occasionally shower, and the city is lush and green, all without the extreme heat of summer. Late October bleeds into Día de Muertos preparations, which transforms the city: altars appear in shop windows, marigold markets pop up, and the atmosphere becomes genuinely extraordinary.

• Temperature: 18–24°C (64–75°F) days; 10–14°C (50–57°F) nights
• Altitude: 2,240 m — expect breathlessness the first 1–2 days
• Rainfall: tail end of rainy season, brief afternoon showers, mostly sunny mornings
• What to wear: Layers. Light jacket or sweater for evenings; umbrella or packable rain jacket

Pro tips: Schedule outdoor sightseeing for mornings. Rain typically arrives mid-afternoon and clears by evening. UV is very strong at altitude even on cloudy days, so wear SPF 30+ daily.

Water and health

• Water: Do not drink tap water. Always drink bottled or filtered water, even when brushing teeth. Your hotel will provide purified water.
• Air: Mexico City’s air pollution can be severe, so take extra precautions on days when air quality levels are especially poor.
• Ice: At reputable restaurants, ice is made from purified water. Be more cautious at street stalls.
• Altitude sickness: Rest on arrival day. Avoid alcohol the first night. Stay hydrated.
• Pharmacies: Farmacias del Ahorro, Farmacias Guadalajara, and Farmacias San Pablo are everywhere, open 24h.

Street food

CDMX street food is world-class. Use common sense rather than avoiding it entirely, but remember that Moctezuma’s revenge is real.

• Safe bets: Hot cooked-to-order tacos, elotes, tamales, quesadillas. High turnover means fresh ingredients.
• Be cautious: Pre-cut fruit, raw salads, salsas sitting at room temperature all day.
• Must-try: Esquites, tlayudas, tlacoyos, tamales, churros.
• During lunch, try comida corrida, the three- or four-course lunches many restaurants serve at a fixed price.

Pro tip: Look for busy stalls. Locals line up there for a reason. Avoid stalls with no customers.

Transportation

In Mexico, Uber is the easiest taxi service to use, but you can also use the public transportation system, especially if you want to save money and time. You can buy a transport card at any subway station, which you then top up and use on trains, trams, buses, metro buses, and trolley buses. The subway and metro buses have cars exclusively for women. The Ecobici bike rental system is excellent in certain areas. The Polanco metro station is one stop away from Auditorio station, the closest station to the Anthropology Museum.

Official taxis are available at the airport, but they are very expensive. Avoid moving around the city during rush hour — the roads, buses, and trains are especially crowded from 7 am to 10 am and 6 pm to 9 pm. For travel to nearby cities like Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, or Acapulco, buses are a convenient and comfortable option. For longer distances, a domestic flight is usually easiest. If you rent a car, avoid driving at night for safety.

Money and practicalities

• Currency: Mexican Peso (MXN), roughly 18 MXN per USD.
• ATMs: Use ATMs inside banks or supermarkets (Walmart, La Comer, Fresko). Avoid standalone ATMs at night.
• Cards: Widely accepted in restaurants and shops. Always carry some cash for markets and street food.
• Emergency Police: 911 | Tourist helpline: 078 or the Angeles Verdes app | LOCATEL: 55 5658-1111
• Plugs: Mexico uses type A and type B plugs, the same as the US. Bring a power bank if you plan to be out all day.
• Shoes: Bring at least one pair of closed-toe shoes in case of rain.

Cultural sensibilities

• Greetings: A single cheek kiss is standard even on first meetings, especially in social settings. Say buenos días / buenas tardes / buenas noches to everyone.
• Punctuality: Social events run 30–60 min late. For restaurant reservations, be on time.
• Tipping: 10–15% at restaurants is expected. A small tip for hotel staff. Tipping taxi drivers or street vendors is not necessary.
• Language: Try your Spanish — a few words go a long way and locals appreciate the effort.
• Día de Muertos: Celebrated Oct 31–Nov 2. Altars and markets appear from mid-October.
• Photography: Always ask before photographing people or market stalls.
• Plumbing: Don’t flush your toilet paper. Most places in Mexico have plumbing that can’t handle excess paper, so throw used paper in the trash bin unless advised otherwise.
• Note that, due to gentrification, some neighborhoods may express anti-American sentiment. Stay respectful and don’t take it personally.

Things to do and see

Mexico City is big — the greater metropolitan area has a population of 21 million. Some ideas:

Teotihuacan Pyramids. These pyramids sit about an hour outside the city by car. Teotihuacan was built between 100 BC and 400 CE, long before the Mexicas arrived in the Mexico Valley; who exactly built them remains a mystery. The Mexicas named the city Teotihuacan, “The City of Gods,” in Nahuatl. Arrive early (around 8 a.m.) to avoid the traffic, crowds, and intense sun. The bus ride takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. Due to recent fatal incidents, the government has implemented enhanced security protocols.

Chapultepec Park. Chapultepec means “Hill of the Grasshopper” in Nahuatl. This huge park sits in the middle of the city and is home to the Anthropology Museum, the zoo, the Modern Art Museum, the Tamayo Museum, a castle, an artificial lake with pedal boats, and the Cárcamo de Dolores, where Diego Rivera painted an underwater mural and built a fountain in the shape of a giant Mexica god.

Downtown. Walk around the Zócalo, home to the cathedral and the national palace. Pop over to the Templo Mayor, the main temple of the Mexica people. Then visit the Palacio Nacional for Diego Rivera’s murals, and the Palacio de Bellas Artes, where there should be a free English-language tour of murals at 12:30 pm Tues–Fri. You can also visit the Palacio de Correos, the Alameda Central, and the Museo Mural Diego Rivera, home to the mural Sueño de una tarde dominical en la Alameda Central (1947).

La Ciudadela (Artisan Market). A trove of crafts and gifts, and a go-to spot for souvenirs.

San Ángel and Bazar del Sábado. On Saturdays, San Ángel comes alive with arts, crafts, and fine dining. Begin with breakfast at Saks, then explore the Bazar del Sábado and Plaza San Jacinto, visit the Casa Museo del Risco, and have lunch at Fabia, a farm-to-table restaurant.

Coyoacán. A neighborhood with a local atmosphere that has resisted gentrification; on weekends whole families stroll and enjoy churros, ice cream, or elotes. Ecosentli is good for handmade tortillas and tlacoyos, and Corazón de Maguey for mezcal tasting and tlayudas. Don’t miss Utópicas, a feminist bookstore.

Frida’s House (and Trotsky’s). Frida Kahlo’s bright blue house is where she was born, died, and produced much of her artwork. Tickets can be hard to get, so buy them a month or two in advance and arrive at the exact time on the ticket. While in the neighborhood, drop by Trotsky’s house of icepick fame, and check out the Coyoacán market.

Xochimilco. In the southwest of the city, this wetland contains the remnants of the chinampas, an ancient Mesoamerican agricultural system of small artificial islands built on freshwater lakes. Hire a party boat, similar to a gondola, or opt for a peaceful canoe trip with a local NGO. Mornings are calm and quiet; weekend afternoons can be crowded.

Museums near the venue

Mexico City has the highest concentration of museums in the country, with 168 in total — eight of them within Chapultepec Park. Most museums are closed on Mondays.

• Museo Nacional de Antropología — Mexica, Maya, and other pre-Hispanic treasures. Allow 3–4 hours.
• Museo de Arte Moderno — The Two Fridas, plus Remedios Varo and Leonora Carrington.
• Museo Tamayo — Rufino Tamayo’s works and contemporary art.
• Museo Soumaya — Free entry, with an impressive Rodin collection. Arrive before noon.
• Museo Jumex — Free. Contemporary art.
• Palacio de Bellas Artes — Art Deco architecture and renowned murals. Has a restaurant.
• Templo Mayor Museum — Ancient Mexica ruins in the city center.
• Casa Estudio Luis Barragán — Color, light-filled spaces, and gardens. Buy tickets two months in advance; guided visits in groups of up to 6.
• Bosque and Castillo de Chapultepec — The urban park and the Castle of Emperor Maximilian and Empress Carlota.

Places to eat, dance, and unwind

• Rosetta — One Michelin star.
• Contramar — One Michelin star; the legendary tuna tostada.
• El Cardenal — Classic breakfast in Centro Histórico; arrive early.
• Mercado de San Juan — Gourmet (and exotic) market. Go hungry.
• Parque México — Open-air bachata, salsa, and cumbia classes.
• Mama Rumba — Cuban salsa with live music at 11:00 PM.
• Centro Budista de la Ciudad de México — Classes, activities, and workshops in Roma Norte.