Coming soon...Mexico City travel guide

 

 

Every culture in the rich tapestry of Mexico has contributed to its music and dance. The Ballet Folklórico de México ... more

Every culture in the rich tapestry of Mexico has contributed to its music and dance. The Ballet Folklórico de México celebrates twice a week with performances at the Palacio de Bellas Artes that incorporate Aztec ritual movements with traditional dances from other cultures and regions of Mexico, all accompanied by mariachis, marimbas, and song. When the Bellas Artes books other events, the Ballet Folklórico moves to the National Auditorium in Chapultepec Park. close

 

 

Two churches— the old basilica built more than 300 years ago and a much newer one built in the 1970s— stand on the hi... more

Two churches— the old basilica built more than 300 years ago and a much newer one built in the 1970s— stand on the hill where Saint Juan Diego had a vision of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the 16th century. The new basilica displays the cloth that her image is said to have appeared on, making it one of the most revered—and most visited—holy sites in Catholicism. close

 

 

The cultural blend within the Valley of Mexico is on full display in this classic mansion, built in 1778 as the El Pa... more

The cultural blend within the Valley of Mexico is on full display in this classic mansion, built in 1778 as the El Palacio de los Condes e Dantiago de Calima. The serpent-shaped corner support at the base of the building was once part of an Aztec pyramid. The exhibits tell the story of society's development from 8000 B.C., when the first inhabitants arrived, through modern day. close

 

 

This house in Coyoacan was where painter Frida Kahlo was born and later lived for years with her husband Diego Rivera... more

This house in Coyoacan was where painter Frida Kahlo was born and later lived for years with her husband Diego Rivera, and much remains of their life here. Kahlo's studio displays unfinished canvases, personal possessions, and her wheelchair, while the rest of the home is decorated with works by Kahlo as well as with other Mexican art and artifacts that she and Rivera collected. close

 

 

In Náhuatl, Xochimilco means "place of flowers." The 80 kilometers (50 miles) of canals now traversed by festive, pol... more

In Náhuatl, Xochimilco means "place of flowers." The 80 kilometers (50 miles) of canals now traversed by festive, pole-driven trajineras date back to the Aztec's ingenious chinampas, which were floating gardens that grew food for the continent's first metropolis. Tours — complete with mariachis — launch from 8 different piers. close

 

 

The Diego Rivera museum has a main room with photographs, documents and mural paintings that tell the story of the li... more

The Diego Rivera museum has a main room with photographs, documents and mural paintings that tell the story of the life and work of this renowned Mexican artist. This museum also displays his bronze death mask cast, as well as the bronze cast of the artist's right hand. Its four temporary exhibition rooms feature works of artists whose life and style were similar to Rivera's. This is also known as the Movimiento Mural (Mural Movement), the Mexican School of Painting. close

 

 

If the zócalo is the heart of the city, Chapultepec Park is its soul. One of the biggest city parks in the world, its... more

If the zócalo is the heart of the city, Chapultepec Park is its soul. One of the biggest city parks in the world, its 1,600 acres hold a centuries-old forest, a castle, a zoo, a lake, the National Auditorium, and Los Pinos, Mexico's presidential residence, with its lovely gardens. A number of museums, including the Museo Nacional de Antropología, are also here. close

 

 

In 1978, workmen accidentally discovered a stone wheel depicting the Aztec moon goddess Coyolxauhqui. Subsequent exca... more

In 1978, workmen accidentally discovered a stone wheel depicting the Aztec moon goddess Coyolxauhqui. Subsequent excavations revealed remains of the Pyramid of Huitzilopochtli or Templo Mayor — the most important religious structure in the Aztec empire. The Museo del Templo Mayor displays 6,000 pieces from the excavated ruins along with explanatory exhibits. close

 

 

This central plaza is the heart of the city. Because Mexico City was the capital of New Spain, its zócalo is a most i... more

This central plaza is the heart of the city. Because Mexico City was the capital of New Spain, its zócalo is a most impressive 10 acres surrounded by majestic 17th-century buildings. The east side of the zócalo is dominated by the Palacio National, the seat of the Mexican national government, and the Metropolitan Cathedral resides on its northern border. close

 

 

It's a rare thing to be able to stand at both the center of history and of present-day activity. Such an experience ... more

It's a rare thing to be able to stand at both the center of history and of present-day activity. Such an experience awaits you in the historic heart of Mexico City, just one of many amazing spots in this vibrant, ever-changing city. Everywhere you go you will find the old and the new living harmoniously, side-by-side. History shows up everywhere in the city, with much of the modern area laid out on top of one of more past incarnations. Mexico City also offers everything a modern, savvy traveler could ever want. The array of restaurants and culinary options is staggering, and, the nightlife is some of the best in the world. close

 

 

Mexican ice cream, or nieve (snow), comes in flavors Baskin never told Robbins about, like jicama-chile or hibiscus, ... more

Mexican ice cream, or nieve (snow), comes in flavors Baskin never told Robbins about, like jicama-chile or hibiscus, and family-owed Roxy's scoops the best in two locations. close

 

 

In this kid-sized village, children experience adult life by working real jobs and then choosing whether to spend or ... more

In this kid-sized village, children experience adult life by working real jobs and then choosing whether to spend or save their earned "kidzos." No, seriously, it really is fun. close

 

 

This adventure-style playground in the Chapultepec Forest has monkeys, an aviary, a petting zoo, a scaled-down railro... more

This adventure-style playground in the Chapultepec Forest has monkeys, an aviary, a petting zoo, a scaled-down railroad and wide green spaces to play on. close

 

 

At El Papalote, when kids get tired of touching more than 350 interactive exhibits in the Building of the Pyramids an... more

At El Papalote, when kids get tired of touching more than 350 interactive exhibits in the Building of the Pyramids and watching IMAX movies, grownups can play until 11:00pm on Thursdays. close

 

 

It's a rare thing to be able to stand at both the center of history and of present-day activity. Such an experience ... more

It's a rare thing to be able to stand at both the center of history and of present-day activity. Such an experience awaits you in the historic heart of Mexico City, just one of many amazing spots in this vibrant, ever-changing city. Everywhere you go you will find the old and the new living harmoniously, side-by-side. History shows up everywhere in the city, with much of the modern area laid out on top of one of more past incarnations. Mexico City also offers everything a modern, savvy traveler could ever want. The array of restaurants and culinary options is staggering, and, the nightlife is some of the best in the world. close

 

 

While the chefs here are keeping pre-Columbian cooking alive, the restored Centro Historico building is doing the sam... more

While the chefs here are keeping pre-Columbian cooking alive, the restored Centro Historico building is doing the same for colonial history. Yes, grasshoppers and ants' eggs are part of the spectacular menu. close

 

 

Fondue served in la fonda. Why not? Traditional German and Swiss cuisine appears in 5 cozy rooms decorated with a Sou... more

Fondue served in la fonda. Why not? Traditional German and Swiss cuisine appears in 5 cozy rooms decorated with a Sound of Music touch. close

 

 

Its name is Náhuatl for "peace," but here Paxia also means contemporary Mexican food focused on fresh, regional ingre... more

Its name is Náhuatl for "peace," but here Paxia also means contemporary Mexican food focused on fresh, regional ingredients, nueva cocina Mexicana, with a fine tequila list and South and Central American wines. close

 

 

Basque-style seafood cooked on the original 1936 coal and firewood stove and a great bar attract bullfighters, politi... more

Basque-style seafood cooked on the original 1936 coal and firewood stove and a great bar attract bullfighters, politicians, movie stars, artists, and writers to this family-owned place. close

 

 

The Grammy-winning alternative band took its name but little else from this Mexico City classic. Enjoy the ambience o... more

The Grammy-winning alternative band took its name but little else from this Mexico City classic. Enjoy the ambience of another century for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. close

 

 

Political satire on stage? Check. Romantic music? Check. Traditional mariachis into the wee hours of the morning? Che... more

Political satire on stage? Check. Romantic music? Check. Traditional mariachis into the wee hours of the morning? Check. Young crowd looking for a good time? Double check. close

 

 

Don't miss this Coyoacan mainstay. Outside, there's a laid-back patio to kill an afternoon; inside, there's live jazz... more

Don't miss this Coyoacan mainstay. Outside, there's a laid-back patio to kill an afternoon; inside, there's live jazz Tuesdays, rocking Wednesdays and kicking weekends. close

 

 

If you must watch the Minnesota Vikings on TV, do it somewhere comfortable. At Yuppies you'll find big screens and au... more

If you must watch the Minnesota Vikings on TV, do it somewhere comfortable. At Yuppies you'll find big screens and autographed sports memorabilia on the walls, buffalo wings and tacos on the menu. close

 

 

The weekend party gets started late at the upscale dance clubs Living, housed in a glorious colonial mansion in the R... more

The weekend party gets started late at the upscale dance clubs Living, housed in a glorious colonial mansion in the Roma. Living has two main rooms, three lounges and three bars on two floors. close

 

 

A visit to Mariachi Central can be a walk on the wild side after dark these days, but dancing to street music played ... more

A visit to Mariachi Central can be a walk on the wild side after dark these days, but dancing to street music played by guys in tight fancy pants is one for the bucket list. close

 

 

Get ready to bargain. More than 300 vendors sell everything from Taxco silver to hand-painted tiles indoors on two le... more

Get ready to bargain. More than 300 vendors sell everything from Taxco silver to hand-painted tiles indoors on two levels during regular weekday hours. close

 

 

Shop like it means something. Fonda Nacional para el Fomento de las Artes (FONART) helps village craftspeople by sell... more

Shop like it means something. Fonda Nacional para el Fomento de las Artes (FONART) helps village craftspeople by selling their textiles, earthenware, hand-carved wooden masks, straw goods, glass and folk art. close

 

 

Empty the biggest-box store and all the fans from Estadia Azteca into several buildings, and presto! You have the cit... more

Empty the biggest-box store and all the fans from Estadia Azteca into several buildings, and presto! You have the city's central market, which sells everyday items, fresh produce, and chilies, chilies, chilies. close

 

 

For once, bring the kids cool—if slightly inappropriate—T-shirts from this trendy Condesa boutique co-owned by teleno... more

For once, bring the kids cool—if slightly inappropriate—T-shirts from this trendy Condesa boutique co-owned by telenovela heartthrob Diego Luna. Naco means tacky, but oh-so über-hip. close

 

 

Sundays are for shopping, especially when a vibrant outdoor market sets up along Calle Juan Salvages. Stock up for th... more

Sundays are for shopping, especially when a vibrant outdoor market sets up along Calle Juan Salvages. Stock up for the week or browse for interesting antiques. close