THE BEST ACTIVITIES IN MEXICO CITY

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THE BEST ACTIVITIES IN MEXICO CITY

Mexico City is the bustling capital and a lively cultural hub of Mexico and with that, there are plenty of activities to try in the area. Check out some of my favorite activities, from seeing lucha libre shows to riding in hot air balloons, in Mexico City.

Looking for more inspiration to book your trip? Check out the guides below:

Ride Hot Air Balloons Over Teotihuacan

My favorite activity we did on our whole trip was taking a hot air balloon tour over the Teotihuacan Pyramids! Our tour, purchased through Viator, was the perfect Saturday activity. They pick you up from your hotel at around 5:30 AM and drive you about an hour north to the pyramids. Once you arrive, there’s coffee and breakfast waiting as you divide up into groups and head to your respective balloons. Then, you’re off! We were in the air for a little less than an hour, peacefully floating over the ancient pyramids at sunrise. I’ll admit, I was nervous before going up, but it felt extremely safe the entire time (although might not be the activity for those scared of heights).

Check out my full review of riding a hot air balloon over Teotihuacan here!
See a Lucha Libre Show
Lucha Libre, essentially Mexican masked wrestling, is a sight you don’t want to miss on your trip. We headed to the Lucha Libre show at Arena Mexico and were able to get our tickets at the door for only around $10 USD. Inside, you’ll find a handful of men in tiny little spandex and masks dramatically wrestling each other for show. Grab a beer and enjoy the show!
Ride a Gondola in Xochimilco
Xochimilco, a neighborhood located in the south of Mexico City, is full of small canals and as such, tourists and locals alike come here to rent the gondolas for an hour and take a peaceful (or rowdy) ride through the canals. While I thought at first that this was a super touristy activity, I later noticed that a lot of Mexican families ride the gondolas to celebrate birthdays and other events. When you show up to Xochimilco, you’ll see stalls and stalls of bright-colored, tchotchkes, similar to those in the market that I mentioned earlier, and then rows of gondolas in the water. Locals will come up to you offering their best price to ride their boat, you’ll accept one of them, and, voila! You’re riding a gondola in Xochimilco.

I will say that if there’s anything to skip out on during your trip to CDMX, it’s probably this, but if you have the extra time and would like to relax in the sun for a bit, it’s the perfect activity.

Tour the Frida Kahlo Museum

My favorite museum in all of Mexico City and a must-see on your trip! You usually only need to get tickets a day or two in advance here and you have to choose a date and time when buying your tickets.

The reason that this museum is a must-see is that it’s the home where the iconic feminist artist, Frida Kahlo, was born, lived, and eventually died, and her self-portrait table and even her ashes are on display in the house. The tour will teach you more about Frida’s life, her struggles with her health, and where she drew inspiration for her art.

Tour the Luis Barragan House & Studio
One of the famed architects of Mexico City is Luis Barragan, who both lived and worked in the area. The most well-known of his works is his home & studio, which is on tour for a limited number of visitors each day. If you can’t get a reservation, then his last completed work is called Casa Gilardi, which is also an astonishing work of art nearby. If you have time, I recommend touring both the Luis Barragan House & Studio as well as Casa Gilardi to get a complete look at Luis’ work in the area.

First up: Casa Gilardi. You can make reservations in advance to tour it, but we just walked up and rang the doorbell and they told us the next tour time and let us join. No promises this will work every time, but it worked for us! Casa Gilardi is actually still used as someone’s primary residence today, but it was the last home designed by Luis Barragan before he passed and is a stunning example of the light and color that Luis used across all of his work. Even if you can’t get into the Luis Barragan House & Studio (where Luis actually lived), this tour will definitely suffice on its own.

Next up: The Luis Barragan House & Studio, which is the actual home and studio of the architect. These tickets sell out in a matter of minutes and go on sale once per week, so look up the times well in advance in order to not miss it! I personally preferred the architecture of Casa Gilardi, but there’s something to be said for actually being in the personal home of the famed architect that adds a certain touch to the experience.

Quick Tip:

If you miss out on getting tickets for the House & Studio, since they’re few and far between, head to Casa Gilardi first, tour that home, and then the tour guide there may be able to get you a tour of the Luis Barragan House & Studio as well, if there are last-minute cancellations. I can’t guarantee that this will work, but it worked for us and is worth a shot!

Visit Mercado de las Artesanias La Ciudadela
For some shopping, head to Mercado De Artesanias La Ciudadela, which is a local open-air market with goods and tchotchkes to grab all of your souvenirs. While it’s not the most authentic market I’ve ever been to, it’s massive and you can definitely find some good souvenirs to purchase there.
See the View from the Latin American Tower
If you go on the same walking tour as we did, you’ll end right below the Latin American Tower, which, when it was built, was the highest tower built in a seismic zone. Although today it might look a little outdated, it has the best view of Mexico City that I found, and I’ll do almost anything for a good view.
Quick Tip:

To get to the top floor of the tower (where the 360 view is visible), you’re supposed to wait in line and buy a ticket. BUUUT, fun fact, if you just enter the lobby and take one of the elevators up to the 37th floor, you can get to the lookout free of charge and with no wait!

Take a Mexican Cooking Class

One of my favorite activities to do in any new city is take a cooking class. It helps you to learn all about the culture as well as gain a few new skills along the way. We took our cooking class through Viator with Mexican Food Tours. They start off the class with a tour of a local Mexican food market and then bring you back to work together to cook a three-course authentic Mexican meal. I personally love taking cooking classes when I travel abroad because it’s a good way to get to know the local culture and history through the cuisine.

Eat Your Heart Out

Mexico City is known for its outstanding cuisine. Whether you’re looking for street tacos, Michelin-starred restaurants, or some of my favorite pastries of all time, there’s something for everyone.

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ABOUT ME

Welcome! I’m Natasha, a 27-year-old living in Manhattan and constantly itching to get out. I created Exploring Elsewhere to inspire those like me, 20-something women with shallow pockets and too few vacation days, to take adventurous solo trips in far-off lands.
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