Mexico City in 2 Days: everything you need to know

The city of mariachis, tacos and Aztec monuments is very large, but don't worry! In two days it is possible to take advantage of the best things to do in Mexico City. The main thing is to get organized and prepare an itinerary where you specify your route and the transports to use.

For this visit I recommend you to visit the best neighborhoods of Mexico City, where you can find hidden castles, monuments full of history, art exhibitions and more. You can also visit the Angel of Independence, Xochimilco, the palaces or historical museums.

If you have little time to visit the city, you will probably want to take advantage of the most popular sites. I recommend that you concentrate on the downtown area of the city, to visit Plaza Garibaldi, the best museums in Mexico City, the historic center, the Zócalo, the Zona Rosa and Paseo de la Reforma.

It is a tour that you can take by cab, bus or subway, for convenience. You can spend some time exploring, so I recommend that you spend at least an hour in the historic center and Chapultepec Castle. Although, if you can extend your visit and stay 5 days in Mexico City, you will have more time to detail each space.

Garibaldi Square and Tequila and Mezcal Museum

We recommend starting your day at Plaza Garibaldi, an emblematic site in Mexico City, located in the Lagunilla neighborhood north of the Historic Center. It is one of the best locations if you want to enjoy a mariachi show. This square is famous for its variety of Mexican musical groups with their typical costumes.

Near this square is located one of the best museums in Mexico City, known as the Tequila and Mezcal Museum. Specifically, it is located less than a minute's walk along the Eje Central Lazaro Cardenas. Here you can learn more about the making of tequila and other Mexican beverages.

Arena Mexico

After the museum, you can visit the Arena Mexico located about 15 minutes away by cab. Here you can experience wrestling in Mexico City. The energy of these events is impressive, as more than fifteen thousand people attend. You will surely recognize the famous masks that are a national symbol and represent gods, animals and other iconic characters.

Mexico City's Historic Center

To continue your tour, I suggest visiting the historical monuments of the city. The fastest way to get from Arena Mexico to the Historic Center is to take a cab for around 3 euros. You can also use metro line 3 or take advantage of a tourist bus tour of Mexico City.

This area is the best option if you want to try Mexican tacos, as there are many traditional restaurants. You will also find street stalls selling churros and other local products. Between these streets you can visit some of the best museums in Mexico City and other important sites such as:

• Museo del Templo Mayor: it is located less than a five minute walk, from the main stop in the Centro Historico. Here you can learn about the pre-Hispanic ruins. It has an archaeological area and the approximate price to enjoy the facilities is 4 euros per person.
• Museo Archivo de la Fotografía: it is located a four minute walk from the Museo del Templo Mayor, on Seminario Street. In this historic space you will find all the photographic material of outstanding events of the twentieth century. It is free, so it is an ideal visit.
• Metropolitan Cathedral: from the photography museum, you can reach the cathedral by cab in less than five minutes. It is one of the largest cathedrals in Latin America. If you are planning things to do in Mexico City in August, you can take advantage of attending the patron saint festivities that take place during this month.

The best Mexico City tours take you to get to know the historic center in detail. They usually offer a guided and personalized experience, which will help you optimize your time and get to know as many monuments and places in the area as possible.

Zócalo

To continue your tour you can head to the Zocalo, located in the center of the city. From the cathedral you can walk there in less than four minutes. I suggest you start by exploring the Plaza de la Constitución, known for being one of the main spaces in Mexico City. In the surrounding area you will find shows of Aztec dancers, which you will surely recognize by the feathers and handmade makeup.

If you come at eight in the morning, you will probably be able to witness the daily flag-raising ceremony, which includes drum shows and small parades. You can also take the opportunity to see buildings in the area, such as the Presidential Palace. Or venture out on Mexico City's best gastronomic tours, which explore the area's street st alls.

Pink Zone

To follow the tour you can take bus line 4, or metro line 1 and 2, to get to the Zona Rosa. It is one of the best areas to stay, as it is surrounded by art galleries, entertainment ven ues and restaurants. I recommend strolling through the shopping streets of Antwerp, London, Genoa and Hamburg. You can also visit the Wax Museum, where you will find sculptures and dolls of fictional characters and national icons.

Angel de la Independencia and Paseo de la Reforma

After strolling through downtown, you can head to the Angel de la Independencia, a mandatory stop during your visit. It is an eight-minute walk from the Zona Rosa. Here you can take pictures and take advantage of the best bike tours in Mexico City.

From this point it is very easy to find one of the most iconic locations in the city, better known as Paseo de la Reforma. It is a wide avenue where you can find the National Auditorium, the Roma neighborhood, the Alameda Central, among others. If you want to get to know the whole area, I recommend you to organize an itinerary of at least 4 days in Mexico City and dedicate a full day to it.

Chapultepec Castle and Chapultepec Forest

At the end of the afternoon, I suggest you head to Chapultepec Forest. It is located five minutes by car from Paseo de la Reforma. It is one of the most important forests in the world, and it is easy to walk through since it is divided into four sections. We suggest you to take a rideon the little train, or visit the Site Museum where you will discover the history of the place.

A few steps away is the Chapultepec Castle, where you can see the royal carriage used by the monarchy years ago to move around the city. You will also find gardens, murals, preserved rooms and archeological pieces. There are guided experiences that make the tour easier and optimize your time.

Polanco

From Chapultepec Castle you can take a cab to Polanco in less than five minutes. If you are looking for things to do in Mexico City at night, the night bus has a route that goes through this area. This is a famous neighborhood, where you can find luxury stores, renowned restaurants and cultural events.

Some of the places you can visit are:

• Soumaya Museum: here you will find exhibitions of different types of art from different periods. The tourist bus tour of Mexico City passes through this area, you can also take a cab and get there in less than three minutes.
• Inbursa Aquarium: it is one of the largest aquariums in Latin America, ideal if you are traveling with children. You can walk from the museum in less than three minutes. It has a species conservation program and you can enter for free if you have the City Passport.
• Avenida Presidente Masaryk: Polanco is one of the best neighborhoods in Mexico City and is known for its small streets with luxury stores. Here you can end the day, take advantage of eating in the best restaurants, or visit the main shop windows. This avenue is a nine-minute drive from the aquarium.

On your second and last day you can't miss the best neighborhoods of Mexico City, as they are traditional areas. You can also take advantage of the day and buy tickets for the Torre Latinoamericana, one of the most popular viewpoints in the city.

San Angel and Coyoacan Neighborhood

To start the day I recommend getting up early and going to the villages of San Angel. It is a charming neighborhood on the outskirts of the city, located an hour away by cab or car. From its terraces you can enjoy the panoramic views of the sunrise. The tourist bus tour of Mexico City has a route through the area. It is a more economical option, which allows you to visit the Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera museums.

On the way back you can take the tourist bus, a cab or the subway line 1 and 2. This will take you to the Coyoacán neighborhood. This is a tourist center that was created by the Mexican Indians. In this area I recommend you to stop by the Mercado 89 where you will find gastronomic delights, as well as the Jardín Allende where there are hundreds of art exhibitions.

Latin American Tower

If you want to see the city from above, you can go to the Torre Latinoamericana. To get around from Coyoacán you can take the metro line 2 or a cab. It is usually a very busy spot, as it offers a museum with the history of the monument, a restaurant on the heights and an experience with panoramic views.

It is approximately 139 meters high and its construction was completed in 1956. If you are thinking of buying tickets for the Torre Latinoamericana, you should take into account where the main attractions are located:

• Souvenir store on the 37th floor.
• MIRALTO Restaurant on the 41st floor, as well as a smaller cafeteria on the 37th floor.
• Bicentennial Museum on the 36th floor, while the City Museum and Tower is on the 38th floor.
• Terraces and observation decks from the 42nd to the 44th floors.

Chilango Street Art

To continue the tour, I suggest you go to Street Art Chilango. It is located four minutes away from the Torre Latinoamericana by cab. You can also take bus line 1 or the night bus, in case you want to take advantage of the things to do in Mexico City at night.

In this area you can enjoy the urban art, explore the graffiti and murals, or take advantage of the best Mexico City tours that will introduce you to the street art of the region and can even be done by bike.

Iturbide Palace

Palacio de Iturbide is an obligatory stop that I recommend you to take during your visit to the city. It is located a few minutes away from Street Art Chilango. You can take a cab for around 2 euros, or take the metro line 2 and 3. It is a jewel of Mexican baroque dating from 1779.

It is a free plan, where you will find Mexican handicrafts, as well as immersive experiences. Please note that flash photography is not allowed, in order to take care of the artistic exhibits.

Palace of Fine Arts

To finish the tour, I suggest you visit the Palacio de Bellas Artes. It is a cultural precinct, located five minutes by cab from the Palacio de Iturbide. Note that on Sundays the entrance is free, the rest of the week you must pay a fee of approximately 5 euros per person.

Inside you will find some of the best museums in Mexico City, as each corner houses a piece of Mexican history. You can attend a folkloric ballet show, explore the Adamo Boari Hall and the National Museum of Architecture, which has collections of the architectural heritage of the region.

With this itinerary you will be able to enjoy a complete visit in a short time. You will have space to visit emblematic places and hidden gems in the city. If you still want to live other experiences, such as an excursion to the Pyramids of Teotihuacan from Mexico City, I recommend extending your trip a couple of days.