Top Places to Visit in Mexico City

Founded by the Aztecs, Mexico City is the capital and the largest city in Mexico and is nestled in the Valley of Mexico, at an altitude of 7,217 feet above sea level. It is also the financial and cultural capital of the country. As tourists, you will be duly impressed with all that the city has to offer.

The city is home to a huge influx of expatriates from all over Central and South America, who flock here, each year, in search of better opportunities, as well as people from Europe and the Middle East. This has led to overcrowding and excess pollution, but it has also led to the city transforming into the melting pot of the country.

The city is a haven for art lovers, being full of museums, palaces, and churches. Interestingly, it has earned the distinction of being the city with the highest number of museums in the world! So read on further for a list of the best places in Mexico City that should be on the must-see list of every tourist there.

The museum exhibits artifacts from Mexican history as well as archaeological objects dating back to the pre-Columbian era. It also contains treasures from the Aztec, Mayan, and Olmec civilizations, the most famous being the Sun Stone, also called the Aztec Calendar. The museum also depicts rural life in present-day Mexico.

This is a government building, and tourists can take a tour of the inside to view beautiful murals painted by Diego Rivera, which depict Mexican history through the ages.

The palace faces the east side of the Zocalo. Independence Day is commemorated every year from the main balcony of the National Palace from where the president utters the Cry of Independence.

Take a leisurely stroll around this sprawling square, sampling local Mexican cuisine, and enjoy the colorful street performers. You can also buy local souvenirs here, but make sure you know how to bargain. The place has a terrific ambiance and is always filled with tourists.

In winter, the place is converted into a gigantic skating rink and concerts and performances are held, which are the main draw of the season.

Situated in the historic center of Mexico City, the exterior façade of this white marble edifice has been constructed in the Art Nouveau style, and the interior in the Art Deco style. It also houses two museums, one dedicated to arts featuring work from classic as well as contemporary artists.

The other showcases Mexican architecture, including layouts and models of important engineering works.

Located near the Great Temple, this is the biggest and oldest church in North and South America. It faces the north side of the Zocalo. You will be impressed by its magnificent interiors as well as exteriors. The cathedral contains sixteen chapels, and each one is dedicated to a saint.

This is another magnificent park located in the city. Aesthetically created, this park is comparatively modern in style and is inspired by European elements of architecture. It hosts a number of events of cultural importance and is considered as one of the trendiest spots in the city. It has beautifully carved fountains.

The Lindbergh Open Air Theater is a must-see, which comprises five tall pillars crowned with canopies. Soccer and biking are popular activities that are carried on in the park.

This victory monument was built to memorialize the centennial of the Mexican War of Independence. This four-sided column has bronze sculptures on all four sides, plaques in memory of those who fought in the wars at its base, and on top of the column rests a golden statue of the Greek goddess of victory.

To the northeast of Mexico City lie the pyramids of Teotihuacan, dating back to the pre-Columbian era. The most famous features of this massive archaeological site are the Avenue of the Dead, Pyramid of the Sun, and the Pyramid of the Moon. This site has now been listed as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.

This suburb is world-famous for its chinampas, floating gardens which have been created out of shallow lake beds, surrounded by wattles,
and layered with mud and decaying matter.

These gardens are isolated from each other with canals running around them, which are wide enough for a boat to pass through. These boats are often painted in bright colors and carry a dozen passengers at a time.

For this reason Xochimilco is often dubbed as the Venice of Mexico. Food and drink is served on these boats and musicians (mariachi) regale the tourists with their lively music.

Originally an Aztec marketplace, this park is full of beautiful statues, fountains, and paved walkways. This park contains a white, semi-circular memorial dedicated to Benito Juarez, Mexico's most famous president. The park is a great place to unwind and people flock here to relax in the park's lush green surroundings.

This is one of the most revered Catholic shrines in the world housing the Our Lady of Guadalupe, an iconic image of Virgin Mary. This shrine is situated on Tepeyac Hill in the northern part of Mexico City. This church is the second-most visited Catholic pilgrimage in the world.

The excavations revealed an Aztec pyramid, believed to be built over seven centuries ago, and a mass grave that contained the bodies of what were presumably warriors, and it also bears witness to certain Aztec rituals such as animal sacrifice, which were carried out in ancient times.

Another archaeological excavation, this temple was originally built like a Mesoamerican pyramid, and dedicated to the Aztec deities of war, and rain and agriculture, with shrines built for them at the top of the temple. Rebuilt several times over the course of history, these ruins are now a part of the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Visit the museum located near the site to explore the artifacts and findings related to Templo Mayor which were unearthed during the excavation, from urns containing the remains of dignified personalities, to the offerings required for sacrifice, and even instruments like knives and weapons.

Built on a rock formation, this vast park serves to replenish the much-polluted city with oxygen. It is home to almost 2000 species of flora and fauna. The park also houses some major museums, the Chapultepec Castle, and the Chapultepec Zoo, a major draw for kids and families.

These are a group of dancers, known as voladores, dressed in the traditional Totonac costumes who perform their dance routines in front of the National Anthropology Museum in the Chapultepec Park, on a long pole. These men, with their unique dancing skills, attract hordes of tourists to the park.

This is an adventure-based theme park located in Parque Madero, replete with several fun-filled activities for kids, including a ride in a mini-train, pony rides, carnival games, ice cream and balloon vendors, and face-painting services.

This is a children's museum and has several activities which provides the young ones with hands-on experience on many subjects, including the human body, the world, communications, etc. It also houses an IMAX theater and conducts science workshops catering exclusively to children.

Apart from these, Mexico City has numerous restaurants specializing in authentic Mexican fare, which are sure to tantalize your taste buds. Have a tremendous shopping experience at any of the flea markets for local handicrafts and souvenirs, or wine and dine at any of the upmarket, trendy shopping malls that abound the city.

In short, the city has it all, from high-rise buildings and lush green parks, to colonial neighborhoods with an old-world charm. The city has a good network of public transport, including subways and buses, so getting around is not a problem. So pack your bags and visit this magnificent city to experience the grandeur of the place for yourself.