Last updated on March 21st, 2024 at 10:56 pm
This post contains affiliate links, meaning that I make a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Do you have 4 days in Mexico City? 4 days in Mexico City is a good amount of time to experience this lively international metropolis. Of course, you could easily spend much longer there, but with this 4 day Mexico City itinerary you will be able to get a taste of one of my favorite places in the world.
Mexico City had been popping up on my radar during my travel research and when I stumbled on an affordable flight spanning the New Year’s holiday, I quickly booked tickets. Even though I had heard nothing but good things about Mexico City from other bloggers, there was still a whisper of doubt as we landed in CDMX. After our trip, I can safely say that Mexico City is one of my favorite places to visit. Read on for the best 4 days in Mexico City that will have you itching to take your own trip.
When to Visit Mexico City?
Mexico City is pleasant all year but can get hot and rainy in the summer and chilly in the winter. The spring and the fall are the best time to visit, but they can be crowded, especially around holidays like the Day of the Dead. Mexico City sees the most rain in July and August.
We visited over New Year’s and I only needed a light jacket and jeans for the trip. During the afternoon it was warm enough to walk around without a jacket. The mornings and evenings were a little chilly, but otherwise, the weather was perfect. Our second visit to Mexico City was in February and it was generally nice to be outside without a jacket, averaging around 74 °F.
What to pack for Mexico City?
We flew on Aeromexico and Volaris (booked separately to save money) and didn’t check a bag or plan to carry-on because Volaris has an additional fee for carry-ons. We had to pack very carefully so that our bags would fit under the seat in front of us.
I packed two pairs of jeans, a shirt for everyday, one pair of walking shoes, a New Year’s Eve dress and sandals, and the usual toiletries. I brought two light jackets, one jean jacket for the day and one leather jacket for nights or dressing up an outfit.
My noise-cancelling headphones
Altitude Sickness in Mexico City
We are fairly acclimated to high altitudes coming from Denver, CO, but since Mexico City is 7,382 feet above sea level it can be difficult for people coming from lower elevations. I recommend taking it a little slow on the first day, drinking lots of water, and trying to not immediately indulge heavily in all the wonderful mezcals that Mexico has to offer. 4 days in Mexico City is pretty ambitious if you are likely to experience altitude sickness. Also, make sure that you acclimate before doing any hikes around Mexico City.
Is Mexico City safe?
Like most big cities, pick-pocketing and other small crimes happen when in crowded places such as the metro. I acted the same way I would in Paris, New York, or Tokyo as I did in Mexico City. I wear my cross-body bag across my body and when passing through crowded spaces I usually put my hand over the zipper. If you have a safe at your hotel, keep any extra cash or cards that you don’t plan to use in there (or better yet, don’t bring credit cards you don’t plan to use to Mexico). I left my engagement ring at home, but I might just be traumatized by our previous experience. I did not feel any more unsafe in Mexico City than in any other big cities that I have visited.
The Condesa and Roma neighborhoods are generally pretty safe. I would be more cautious in Centro Histroico because that is the main touristy area. I also would avoid walking around Centro Historico alone at night.
Tips for 4 Days in Mexico City
The currency in Mexico is the peso ($1 MXN is currently equal to approximately $0.060 USD). We carried cash at all times in Mexico, even though in the city most places will take cards. Of course, if you want to eat tacos from a cart, they won’t take credit cards, so it’s good to be prepared.
Small change is useful because, at certain places like Xochimilco or Teotihuacan, you may have to pay to use the bathroom or get toilet paper. Or you can bring your own toilet paper for such emergencies.
The water in Mexico City is not consistently safe to drink, so I recommend getting a large jug of water from the convenience store. Ice in most restaurants should be from filtered water. We never worried about the ice in our drinks and didn’t have a problem.
Many museums will be closed on Mondays, so plan your trip accordingly if you were hoping to visit.
Read More: A Weekend in Los Angeles
Where to Stay in Mexico City?
Condesa and Roma are the most popular neighborhoods to stay in, but every neighborhood has something unique to offer depending on your interests.
We stayed at the Hotel NH Collection Mexico City Reforma and it was lovely. The Hotel NH Collection Mexico City Reforma is located in the Juárez neighborhood, which includes Zona Rosa. It has both modern restaurants and bars as well as local spots. It is known for nightlife, shopping, and its LGBTQ+ community. It is close to Chapultepec Park and within walking distance of Condesa and Roma Notre. This area can be loud since it is right off Reforma, one of the huge streets going through the city. The room at Hotel NH Collection Reforma was clean and had an in-room safe, air conditioning, and free WiFi. The hotel offers a rooftop pool and fitness center. It was about $100 USD per night.
Roma is known for architecture in the Art Deco style, featuring bold colors and patterns, and street art. There are great restaurants and an abundance of cafes in this area. If you want to stay in the Roma neighborhood, I recommend Hotel Marbella. This hotel is in a great location to explore one of Mexico City’s best neighborhoods. They also offer in-room safes, air conditioning, free WiFi, and a fitness center.
Condesa is similar to Roma, with colorful buildings, quieter streets, and great restaurants. I recommend staying at Casa Lalique, a boutique guest house with bold patterns, plants, and a lovely shared courtyard.
Other Neighborhoods in Mexico City:
Polanco, in contrast, is more high-end, known for shopping, fancy cocktail bars, and excellent dining experiences. This is home to Pujol, one of the best restaurants in the world. It is also adjacent to Chapultepec Park, where you can enjoy the outdoors or visit some of the popular museums. I find that Polanco has much less character than the other neighborhoods and is not as centrally located to many sites and restaurants, so I wouldn’t stay here.
Coyoacan is a bit further away from the heart of Mexico City, making it more relaxed. It is artsy and traditional, known for great markets with traditional food and the Frida Kahlo Museum. If it is your first time in Mexico City, I wouldn’t stay in this area, but would consider it for another visit.
Centro Historico is home to many of the famous sights that Mexico City is known for such as the Palacio de Bellas Artes and the Zocalo. This is one of the most touristy parts of town and can be dangerous after dark. I wouldn’t stay in this area even though it is near many of the main sights. I find it chaotic and crowded, with much less charm than some of the other neighborhoods.
Getting Around Mexico City
Mexico City is huge and getting around can sometimes be problematic. Walking is a good way to get around Mexico City because the weather is generally good, but it is much too large to solely rely on walking. Regardless of which transportation option you choose, make sure you leave plenty of time to arrive at your destination because it is a busy city.
Public Transportation
Public transportation is widespread and you can get around fairly easily using trains, buses, and, more recently, cable cars. It can be time-consuming and is not always faster than walking. Bus lanes allow the buses to avoid some traffic. Buses and trains often get very crowded, especially at commuting times. Along Reforma, people line up in a very orderly fashion to board the bus. Ensure you get in line as well or the people in line will get priority, even if you have been waiting longer.
To pay for public transportation in Mexico City, you will need to purchase a metro card at Metro station ticket windows, light rail ticket windows, or machines in the Metrobus station. The metro card costs $21 MXN and you may load as much onto the card as you like. The cards can be reloaded at the same locations. You cannot use foreign credit cards with tap-to-pay functionality or Apple Pay for buses or trains in Mexico City. We used public transportation to get to Xochimilco and Teotihuacan and found it useful, but in many cases, taking an Uber is an easier and fairly cheap way to get around.
Ride Share
For longer distances, we primarily used Uber to get around. Uber is generally affordable in Mexico City. DiDi is another ride-share app that can be used in Mexico City. It is very similar to Uber and can be cheaper. We did have some trouble with finding drivers available on Uber and had to wait 5 or more minutes on a few occasions, so it may be good to check DiDi as well. Again, traffic in Mexico City can be extremely bad around rush hour, so make sure you leave plenty of time to get to your destination if you are taking a car.
Ecobici
We discovered Ecobici on our most recent trip to Mexico City and found that it is our favorite way to get around. Ecobici is a bike-share program, which allows users to take a bike from the bike station and return it to the station closest to their destination. You can use a bike for any number of 45-minute trips, based on the plan that you buy. Plans are available for 1, 3, or 7 days or annually. A three-day plan is $234 MXN, or about $15 USD. To use Ecobici, download the app, choose your plan, and then you can scan the QR code on a bike and use the extensive bike lanes in Mexico City to get around.
There are a ton of Ecobici stations around the city and Luke and I found it easy to use. Of course, always exercise caution when biking on a road with cars. Ecobici is popular in CDMX, so you may struggle to find bikes around rush hour (especially on Reforma). Make sure you leave plenty of time to arrive in case you need to switch to a different mode of transportation.
4 Days in Mexico City – Itinerary
Our trip to Mexico City included four full days, which felt like the perfect amount of time to get a taste of this glorious place. There is much more to do in Mexico City than below, but we’ll save that for our next trip. Feel free to rearrange the days as needed, because we planned ours around the New Year’s holiday.
Arriving in Mexico City
We took an afternoon flight from Denver to Mexico City on Aeromexico and arrived in Mexico City after dark. There was tons of traffic leaving the airport, which might have been attributed to it being the Friday before a holiday weekend. We took an Uber from the airport.
Arriving at the hotel, we noticed that even though it was getting late, Zona Rosa showed no sign of slowing down as people wandered between clubs decorated with colorful lights and pinatas.
La Casa de Toño
If you’re hungry, drop your bags and head to La Casa de Toño. In our excitement we ordered quite a few things including pozole, flautas, sopes, quesadillas, and horchata. La Casa de Toño was delicious and affordable, I highly recommend it. They are especially well-known for their pozole, so make sure you try it.
Xaman Bar
The first speakeasy visit of the trip is to Xaman Bar in Zona Rosa, which is down a flight of unwelcoming stairs. The specialty is beautiful tiki drinks with unique flavors, influenced by Mexican ingredients.
We ordered a few drinks and then headed back to the hotel to get ready for our first full day in Mexico City.
Read More: The Perfect Three-Day San Francisco Itinerary
Day 1: Chapultepec Park and La Condesa
Huset
Start your day with brunch at Huset, a beautiful brunch spot in Roma Norte, about a ten-minute walk from the hotel. The patio at Huset has plants and lights dangling from the ceiling which gives it an earthly, magical feel.
The food is also delicious: Mexican with a modern influence.
Chapultepec Park
Next, we visited an ATM on our way to Chapultepec Park, which I recommend you do as well. We walked the distance to Chapultepec Park in about 30 minutes to get to know the city a bit better. Once at the park, we admired the Monumento a los Niños Héroes and the many vendors that peppered the sidewalks. Chapultepec Park is closed on Mondays.
National Museum of Anthropology
I recommend visiting the National Museum of Anthropology, which details the history of Mexico, long before it was Mexico. It was very interesting and many of the explanations were in English. Entrance is $95 MXN and they are closed on Mondays.
Lunch in Polanco
We were in search of our New Year’s Eve dinner, so we ate lunch at La No. 20 in Polanco. I had one of the first cocktails with Mezcal that I actually enjoyed here and the food was pretty good as well. We ordered ceviche and tacos.
Also in Polanco, and a great option for lunch, is Pujol, one of the best restaurants in the world. You must make reservations at least a month in advance. This restaurant was very high on our list, but they close for the week over the New Year’s holiday, so we were unable to go on our first trip.
However, we recently returned to Mexico City and had a lovely lunch at Pujol. The lunch menu includes seven courses for $3495 MXN. The mole madre, which was a plate of new and old mole, the old having been built upon with new spices and ingredients for 3,342 days when we visited, was exquisite. I would recommend a visit to Pujol for any foodie looking for a memorable meal in Mexico City. Of course, lunch at Pujol can take 2-3 hours so make sure you leave plenty of time.
Jardín Botánico del Bosque de Chapultepec
Next visit the Botanic Gardens at Chapultepec Park, which provides a peaceful break from the more crowded areas of the park. This area of the park is free, so don’t miss out.
Nevería Roxy
Grab some ice cream from Nevería Roxy in Condesa, a cute ice cream parlor where waiters deliver your ice cream to your table and things are served in adorable glass dishes. This shop opened in 1946 as a soda fountain and has been preserved ever since.
After you enjoy your scoop, wander around Condesa and enjoy the colorful buildings that line the streets. Stop in at Tout Chocolat and get some chocolate to take home.
Baltra Bar
Baltra Bar is a good place in Condesa to stop for a cocktail before dinner. It is a lovely spot on the corner near Parque Mexico. Baltra bar has made the list of 50 best bars in the world for a few years now, most recently in 2023 at number 45 out of 50. They offer signature cocktails, their takes on classic cocktails, and mocktails. It is best to make a reservation ahead of time.
Sesame
While there are plenty of nice places to eat dinner in Condesa, I really wanted to use the pool at the hotel (it’s so rare that we have a pool at the places we stay). We took a quick dip and then ventured out again for dinner at Sesame, which is an Asian fusion restaurant. Not exactly the traditional cuisine of Mexico, but we love Asian food and love the idea of experiencing this in a different country.
We ordered bao buns, samosas, and dumplings to start and for entrees, I ordered the pork belly fried rice and Luke ordered an octopus dish. Everything was delicious.
Since we had opted for a later dinner, we returned to the hotel, in preparation for another busy day.
Day 2 – Xochimilco and Lucha Libre
Breakfast at Niddo
For your second day in Mexico City, I recommend breakfast at Niddo. They have a cafe as well as a brunch restaurant, so pick whichever you are feeling. I recommend the pancakes, which are thick and fluffy.
Rent a Trajinera in Xochimilco
Afterward, head straight to the metro or grab an Uber to take you to Xochimilco, where you can rent a trajinera and sail down the canals. This was my absolute favorite part of our trip to Mexico City and it should not be missed. I enjoyed it so much, I wrote a separate guide to visiting the canals of Xochimilco.
Lucha Libre
Most people will take the opportunity to visit the Frida Kahlo Museum after because it is sandwiched in between the main area of Mexico City and Xochimilco in Coyoacán. If you decide to visit the museum, make sure you get your tickets in advance. We didn’t have time on this trip to visit the Frida Kahlo House because, in my post-trajinera enthusiasm, I decided that we needed to do something that likely never would have been our first choice: see a Lucha Libre fight.
So we rushed back to the hotel to drop off some of our items and then hurried over to the Arena Mexico, where the crowds were already clamoring to get inside.
I strongly recommend seeing a Lucha Libre fight if you can. There is nothing like it and it is something you can only find in Mexico. I also recommend putting any expectations or judgment aside and diving into something unfamiliar with a completely open mind. That’s what I did, at least, and I enjoyed it.
Where to see Lucha Libre?
For Arena Mexico, you can buy tickets on Ticketmaster or in person with both cash or card. The cash line was extremely long but seemed to move faster, whereas the card line was much shorter and slower. We were slightly late since this was an impulse decision, so we were still waiting in line when the fights started and the ticket counters were still busy.
Arena Mexico is the largest arena in Mexico City, with matches, or luchas, most Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. There are several other arenas that host Lucha Libre tournaments. Arena Coliseo in Centro Historico has luchas, usually on Saturdays. The smallest is Arena Naucalpan, which is about 30 minutes outside of the center of Mexico City.
There were many vendors outside the arena selling Lucha Libre masks and other souvenirs for cash only. Inside, there were snacks, drinks, and more souvenirs. Luke and I both got beer, which came as two beers poured into a large plastic cup. This definitely helped with our enjoyment of the show.
The whole show lasted about 2-3 hours and was broken up into several different fights, some more ridiculous than others but all with a flair for the dramatic.
Hanky Panky
After enjoying this cultural phenomenon, walk ten minutes to Hanky Panky, one of my favorite speakeasy bars. Hanky Panky is accessed via a closet of a nondescript restaurant with bright blue walls.
When Luke and I arrived, we stopped dead in confusion because we didn’t know it was a speakeasy. We almost left, but someone in the restaurant asked if we were looking for the bar. We didn’t have reservations, but they let us squeeze in before another party’s reservation. Reservations can be made on Open Table and over the phone. You are limited to an hour and a half.
The bar focuses on craft cocktails and doesn’t offer other drink options such as wine or beer. Each signature cocktail is themed based on a city or country. I tried the Tiger Punch on our most recent visit, a milk punch cocktail based around India using rum, black tea, and an array of spices. They also offer sharable food options. We tried the tuna tartare, which was fantastic. The bartenders are very good at their craft and provide quite a show for those seated at the bar. Hanky Panky often has takeovers where bartenders from around the world create a specialty menu and take over the bar. Count yourself lucky if you happen to visit on one of those nights!
Taqueria El Califa
We ate a late dinner at Taqueria El Califa, where we ordered tacos with pork pastor and beef sirloin. The food was good and the place was packed, but it was definitely a more modern place for tacos.
Day 3 – Roma Norte and Centro Historico
Mercado Roma
Start the day with a stroll through Roma Norte to Mercado Roma. Here you can grab some avocado toast and a smoothie at La Otilia or one of the other shops that makes up this market. They had everything including popsicles, books, mezcal, churros, and more. Not all of these shops were open when we arrived, so it may be fun to check it out later in the day too.
Roma Notre
Do some more wandering around Roma Notre, a very pleasant part of town with tree-lined sidewalks and colorful buildings. Oscuro Puro Chocolate y Semillas was a cute shop with chocolate treats, Mexican craft beers, wine, and other goodies perfect to take home as souvenirs or gifts. La Contra Roma is a wine shop that features primarily Mexican wines.
Next stop, El Moro, the popular churro shop where you can order churros with a side of chocolate or caramel dipping sauce. It was delicious and the shop itself is very cute.
La Ciudadela
Grab an Uber and head to La Ciudadela, a traditional market, in Centro Historico. Wander around and admire the handcrafted items from over 350 vendors. I picked up my favorite coffee mug and a cute pinata Christmas tree ornament at La Ciudadela.
8th Floor of Sears
After you’ve had your fill of the market, head to Sears in Centro Historico. On the eighth floor of Sears, there is a cafe with incredible views of the Palacio de Bellas Artes, the perfect spot to take pictures. The cafe is mediocre, but the views are worth it.
Centro Historico
Head back to the street and view the Palacio up close on your way to other Centro Historico sights. Check out the House of Tiles, Palacio Postal, and the Zocalo. Here you can explore the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral or visit the Templo Mayor Museum, which includes the remains of a temple of Tenochtitlan.
Also in Centro Historico, is the Torre Latinoamericana, where you can visit the mirador on the 44th floor and see great views of Mexico City. It is $150 MXN (about $9 USD) to visit the lookout. Alternatively, there is a restaurant and a bar with a similar view that you can visit instead of the mirador. The food doesn’t have great reviews, so we visited the bar, Nivel 40 SkyBar. The margaritas are good and cost about $150 MXN, not much more than a margarita at ground level.
When we visited the Zocalo there was a market, so we tried some elote, Mexican street corn, for the first time.
Dinner in Centro Historico
If you are looking for something low-key for dinner, Taquería Tlaquepaque has tasty al pastor tacos and micheladas.
Otherwise, Azul Historico is a great restaurant to get traditional dishes, such as mole, and mezcal. The restaurant is located in an outdoor courtyard covered with trees and candles hanging from the branches, a lovely atmosphere for dinner. We loved the buñuelos, pastry wrapping filled with duck and topped with mole. You must make reservations for Azul Historico.
After Dinner Drinks
If you are up to another amazing bar in Mexico City, and there are many, head to Handshake Speakeasy. In 2023, this bar was named the third-best in the world. Reservations are required for Handshake Speakeasy, but once your table is ready they will lead you through a personnel-only door and down several flights of stairs. When you enter the dark bar, all the waiters greet you with “Hola y Bienvenidos”.
Luke ordered the salt n pepper with strawberry-infused mezcal, bell pepper soda, and habanero tincture. It was fantastic and unique for a bubbly drink. I tried the Banana split, with rum, banana, a blend of sherries, and a delicious lego-shaped chocolate garnish. When it was eaten all together it tasted like a banana split. Handshake also offers a small food menu.
Day 4 – Teotihuacan
Panaderia Rosetta
For the last day in Mexico City, a visit to Teotihuacan is my suggestion. First, grab a coffee and a pastry at the famous Panaderia Rosetta. They have a couple of locations around Mexico City, including one in Roma Norte. Panaderia Rosetta offers a wide selection of European and Mexican-style pastries. Try the Mexican concha pastry, if you haven’t already. This location has a quaint sidewalk patio, reminiscent of those in Europe.
Teotihuacan
Teotihuacan is an archaeological site of an ancient Mesoamerican city. Its origins and history are not entirely known but the city was inhabited around 400 B.C. and discovered abandoned by the Aztecs in the 1400s. The site includes the Pyramid of the Sun, Pyramid of the Moon, and Temple of Quetzalcoatl as well as other structures.
Getting to Teotihuacan
It is easy to visit Teotihuacan with public transportation, so this is a good option if you are on a budget. However, taking a tour might be nice in this case because once at the archaeological site, there are not many signs or explanations at all. It would have been nice to have a guide to explain these things.
To get to Teotihuacan using public transportation, take an Uber or the metro to Terminal Central de Autobuses del Norte and walk to Gate 8 for Zona Arqueologico.
Here you can purchase a bus ticket for trips as early as 6 AM. I recommend getting there early, but in all honesty, we didn’t arrive at the station until 10:30 AM because we were recovering from New Year’s Eve festivities.
Purchase a round-trip ticket for “los pyramidos” or “Zona Arqueologico” for $106 MXN. The ticket to Teotihuacan will have a specific boarding time, but the return ticket is good for any time on the same day. Buses leave every 15 minutes.
We boarded the bus at 10:48 AM and left a few minutes later. We arrived at Teotihuacan around noon, after making a few stops. There will be a stop in the town of San Juan Teotihuacan, but this is not where you get off.
Visiting Teotihuacan
After you have arrived, wait in line to purchase a ticket at Gate 2. Entrance was $95 MXN or about $5.68 USD. Teotihuacan is open from 8 AM to 5 PM. Tickets are good for exit and reentry all day. Teotihuacan is open every day, including Mondays and New Year’s Day.
Once inside, you can view the pyramids and the Temple of Quetzalcoatl. As of 2021, you can no longer climb the pyramids.
I recommend bringing water, sunscreen, and sunglasses as there is little shade and it gets very hot, especially in the middle of the day. I also recommend bringing toilet paper or small change to buy toilet paper from someone who has stationed themselves outside of the bathrooms. There are some vendors selling food and there is also food in town, but bringing a snack is a good idea too.
Returning to CDMX
To return home on the bus, meet the bus near where it originally dropped you off, just outside of Gate 2. There will likely be a line of people waiting to return at the Bus sign. If the line is long, you may be better off waiting for the next bus, so you don’t have to stand on the journey back. From the Terminal, return to the hotel using Uber or the metro.
Preparing to Return Home
If you have time, you could try and squeeze in more activities on this day, but visiting Teotihuacan can be draining so you might be better off taking the rest of the day to relax and pack for the trip home.
I recommend getting an easy dinner at El Pescadito, specializing in fish tacos, or El Tizoncito, for al pastor tacos.
This Mexico City itinerary only scratches the surface of a city that has left an unforgettable impression on my heart. However, if you don’t have much time, this is the perfect way to spend 4 days in Mexico City. Hopefully, it will be as memorable for you as it was for me.
Have you ever spent 4 days in Mexico City? What was your favorite part?
Did you enjoy this post? Pin it for later!
