Mexico City, the oldest metropolis on the American continent, is perched atop a highland valley at about 2,240 meters (7,392 feet) above sea level. Towering high above the city’s southeast side are two volcanoes: Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl. The nation’s capital has some of the best weather in the world with an average temperature of 22º C (72º F).
Once known as the City of Palaces, Mexico City has two areas that were declared World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO. The first, the Centro Historico (Historic Center), has beautiful historic and religious buildings, such as the Catedral Metropolitana (Metropolitan Cathedral), one of the most important architectural structures in the Western Hemisphere.
The Palacio Nacional (National Palace) has spectacular Diego Rivera murals that chronicle Mexico’s history. And Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts), which hosts the city’s most important cultural events, is a beautiful construction that blends art nouveau and art deco styles. The other World Heritage Site, Xochimilco Ecological Park, is often called the Venice of Mexico due to its beautiful canals. Flower-painted boats offer tours of the canals and floating gardens.
If you’re interested in cultural events, Mexico City offers a wide variety of museums, such as the Museo Nacional de Antropologia (a world-class anthropology museum), the Museo Nacional de Arte (The National Art Museum) and the Museo Nacional de Historia (a history museum in Chapultepec Castle where you can see an amazing exhibit that chronicles the nation’s history and art, from the pre-Hispanic era to present day).
In north Mexico City, you can visit the Basilica de Guadalupe, one of the most visited basilicas in the world; in fact, it is second only to Saint Peter’s Basilica, in Vatican City, in the number of visitors it receives each year. This is a must-see for those who want to learn more about the city’s customs and traditions.
What’s more, Mexico City is a cosmopolitan metropolis, where new and old traditions coexist side by side. Here you can go shopping at bazaars and crafts markets in the Coyoacan and San Angel neighborhoods. Or you can go to exclusive boutiques and shopping centers in the posh communities of Santa Fe and Polanco, where you’ll be surrounded by the comfort of top-notch hotels and restaurants.
Hotels
Fiesta Americana Reforma Hotel Highlights:
Strategically Located on Paseo de la Reforma.
616 rooms and suites.
Restaurants and Bars.
Ask our expert concierge about the best that Mexico City has to offer.
Activities/Attractions
Culture
Arts & Crafts:
In Mexico City you’ll find crafts from any state in the nation: gold and silver jewelry, textiles, leather products, such as belts and purses, and wooden toys (spin tops, yo-yos and Mexican baleros). You’ll also see a wide selection of furniture made from various materials that require different techniques. These are just some of the arts and crafts that you can buy in markets such as the Ciudadela and the Centro Artesenal Buenavista
Festivals & Traditions:
Mexico City has always been considered the center of celebrations and religious festivities, yet it maintains the important traditions that prevail in other states across the nation. The festive atmosphere at these celebrations is cause for rejoice, particularly on holidays when the nation’s cultural and historical values reinforce the Mexican people’s sense of identity, such as Independence Day in the Zocalo. On Sept. 15, the night of the so-called Independence Day cry, the main square becomes a huge fiesta full of colorful lights, music and all kinds of traditional Mexican food.
Day of the Dead, an ancient tradition carried out each year on Nov. 2 to remember the deceased, is also an important national holiday. Some of the most beautiful Day of the Dead ceremonies and rituals take place in Mixquic. Another important religious celebration, Candlemas, falls on Feb. 2. This day marks the presentation of the infant Christ to the church. On that day in Mexico, families get together to eat tamales, drink atole and enjoy each other’s company. As part of Mexico’s Easter festivities, in Iztapalapa Catholic adherents reenact the passion and death of Jesus Christ on the Cerro de la Estrellas. The reenactment has many years of tradition in Mexico City.
Archeology:
In Mexico City you can find archaeological ruins of the Mexica culture (more commonly known as the Aztec culture). At these places, and in their museums, you can learn more about the mysteries of the Aztecs’ cosmo-vision and their customs, some of which persist in the capital today.
Templo Mayor – Located in downtown Mexico City at 8 Seminario Street. This is a small archaeological zone where you can see the remains of the Aztecs’ Grand Temple, the most important building of Tenochtitlan (the old Aztec capital now known as Mexico City). The site has a museum that houses objects found during excavation and restoration. The Aztecs built the temple in honor of their gods Tlaloc and Huitzilopochtli. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 to 5:00.
Tlatelolco – Located in the center of the city, on Eje Central Lazaro Cardenas, Col. Nonoalco-Tlatelolco. Considered the sister city of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec empire. The base of a main temple still stands at this site, similar to that of the Templo Mayor. There is also a round temple that was built to the honor the god of wind. The pre-Hispanic constructions form part of a group of architectural structures known as the Plaza de las Tres Culturas (Three Cultures Square), which is where you’ll also find colonial building la Iglesia de Santiago Tlatelolco (the Church of Santiago Tlatelolco) and a housing complex.
Cuicuilco – Located in south Mexico City at 156 Avenida Insurgentes Sur and Anillo Pereferico, Tlalpan District. This is one of the oldest pre-Hispanic urban zones in Mexico. Here you’ll find the preserved ruins of several religious and residential buildings, as well as the remains of a water works system. One of the most interesting ruins is a round terraced pyramid with five levels, considered the first attempt by Mexico’s pre-Hispanic civilization to create a relationship between religion and the cosmos.
Entertainment & Dining
Shopping:
Mexico City offers many options if you want to go shopping. From department stores that sell clothes and electronic goods, to first-rate shopping malls, such as Centro Coyoacan, Perisur and Centro Santa Fe, where you’ll find boutiques and jewelry stores selling the most prestigious brands.
All along Avenida Presidente Masaryk, in Polanco, you’ll spot many exclusive boutiques and stores selling top-notch designer goods. In the Zona Rosa, the Roma and the Condesa, you’ll come across the best art galleries selling works of renowned artists.
To buy crafts, you can hit La Ciudadela market and the Centro Artesanal Buenavista, where you can purchase items made in different regions throughout the nation. Finally, at the Lagunilla market or at bazaars in Coyoacan, San Angel, the Roma and the Condesa, you’ll find antiques, books, jewelry, coins, old records and photos, among many other objects
Dinning:
Mexico City offers a wide variety of restaurants where you can enjoy delicious national cuisine, such as sopas, guisados, tacos and antojitos (which are a fusion of indigenous and Spanish culinary traditions).
The city is also well known for its gourmet and international fare. In restaurants with many years of tradition, such as the Hacienda de Los Morales, the San Angel Inn, and El Arroyo, you can try a wide array of soups, entrees and desserts.
During your stay in the capital, be sure to try a tasty alambre dish or insect tacos stuffed with grasshoppers, maguey worms or ant roe and accompanied with beans, guacamole sauce and your favorite drink.
Entertaiment and Sports Events:
Mexico City is the nation’s entertainment, sports and cultural capital. For that reason, it has a wide offering of venues where you can go to concerts, theatrical performances, expos, book fairs, soccer matches, bullfights, and other exciting sports events. Among the most important are:
Festival de Mexico en el Centro Historico – Considered one of the most awaited events of the year, this festival offers a wide variety of cultural activities, such as music, dance and film. It takes place in April.
Feria Internacional del Libro (International Book Fair) – Takes place in February and March in the Palacio de Mineria on Tacuba Street in the Historic Center. At this fair you can find exhibitors from Mexico and abroad offering their latest titles.
Muestra Internacional de Cine (International Film Festival) – Takes place at the Cineteca Nacional and at different theaters throughout the city. The first edition runs in March and April and the second part in November and December. This is a highly anticipated event, particularly among cinephiles.
Teatro de la Ciudad – Located at 36 Donceles, Col. Centro, Cuauhtemoc District. This is one of the capital’s oldest theaters. Known for its eclectic acts, it draws legendary international artists, such as Enrico Caruso, Ana Pavlova and Maria Conesa (known as the white kitten). The theater holds up to 1,300 spectators.
Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts) – Located next to the Alameda Park at 1 Avenida Hidalgo, Col. Centro, Cuauhtemoc District. In this impressive eclectic construction you’ll find some of the nation’s most important museums and cultural events, such as its art and architecture museums.
In addition to a crystal curtain, which depicts a panoramic view of the Valley of Mexico, the building’s concert hall also has a notable stained-glass image of Apollo and the Nine Muses.
Also inside the palace are an audition room, a showroom for temporary exhibits and a library. Another strong draw is the art in the hallways, featuring murals of Rufino Tamayo, David Alfaro Siqueiros, Jose Clemente Orozco and Diego Rivera, among others. Open daily from 10:00 to 6:00.
Metropolitan Theater– Located at 90 Independencia, Col. Centro, Cuauhtemoc District. This gorgeous building has two floors with an elegant staircase. Here, all kinds of cultural events take place: concerts, movie premieres, awards shows and much more.
Auditorio Nacional – Located at 50 Avenida Paseo de la Reforma in front of Chapultepec Park. With 10,000 seats, this modern auditorium ranks second worldwide in admissions among venues of its kind. It is one of the most popular places for concerts, as it books big-name national and international acts. It also hosts various cultural and recreational activities, such as workshops and courses.
Centro Nacional de las Artes – Located in south Mexico City, at Avenida Rio Churubusco and Calzada de Tlalpan, Tlalpan District. This group of buildings has five art schools and four national research centers. It also hosts various cultural events, such as International Dance Day, theatrical performances, concerts, national and international film festivals and art exhibits.
Palacio de los Deportes – Located in east Mexico City, at Avenida Rio Churubusco and Anil, Col. Granjas Mexico, Iztacalco District. This is a sports complex with a metallic bronze dome ornamented with pyramid-like structures. The venue hosts concerts, expos and fairs.
Sports
Professional Soccer:
Estadio Azteca - Located in south Mexico City, at 3465 Calzada de Tlalpan, Tlalpan District. This is Mexico’s largest soccer stadium and can hold 110,000 spectators. It has hosted two World Cup soccer events, professional American football games, boxing matches, motocross races and large-scale concerts.
Car Racing: Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez – Located in east Mexico City, between Avenida Viaducto Rio Piedad and Avenida Rio Churubusco, in the Ciudad Deportiva Magdalena Mixhiuca, Iztacalco District. This track holds important auto races, such as the Cart Series, among others.
Bullfighting: Monumental Plaza de Toros Mexico – Located at 241 Augusto Rodin, Benito Juarez District. This bullfight arena, with a capacity of 50,000, is next to the Estadio Azul soccer stadium; together they comprise what is known as la Ciudad de los Deportes. Bullfight fans will definitely want to visit this bullring, which has drawn famous international acts such as Silverio Perez, Manuel "Manolete" Rodriguez, Eloy Cavazos, Eulalio "Zotoluco" Lopez, Enrique Ponce and Julian "El Juli" Lopez.
Horse Racing: Hipodromo de las Americas – Located in west Mexico City, at Avenida Industria Militar, Miguel Hidalgo District. This racetrack complex, which covers 52 hectares (128 acres), has traditional horse races. It also has restaurants, halls for special events and an expo center. Doors open at 2:30 pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Location/Services
Mexico City is linked to the nation’s main highways. To travel within city limits, you can take taxis, microbuses, the metro and the metro-bus. At Mexico City’s international airport (airport code: MEX), more than 20 international airlines offer flights: Aerolineas Argentinas, Air Canada, Air France, America West Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Copa Airlines, Continental Airlines, Cubana de Aviaicion, Delta Airlines, Iberia, Japan Airlines, KLM, Lan Chile, Lloyd Aeroboliviano, Lufthansa, Northwest, TACA (Aviateca-Lacsa), Tikal Jets, United Airlines, US Airways and Varig, among others.
Mexico City’s international airport (airport code: MEX) is located in northeast Mexico City at Avenida Capitan Carlos Leon, Col. Peñon de los Baños, Venustiano Carranza District. Tel. (55) 5571-3600
Central Camionera del Norte (Northern Bus Terminal) – Located in north Mexico City at 4907 Avenida Eje Central Lazaro Cardenas, Col. Magdalena de las Salinas, Gustavo A. Madero District.
Central Camionera del Oriente (Eastern Bus Terminal) – Located in northeast Mexico City at Calzada Ignacio Zaragoza and Avenida Eduardo Molina, Col. 10 de Mayo, Venustiano Carranza District.
Central Camionera del Poniente (Western Bus Terminal) – Located in southwest Mexico City at 122 Sur Street and Avenida Rio Tacubaya, Col. Real del Monte, Alvaro Obregon District.
Central Camionera del Sur (Southern Bus Terminal) – Located in south Mexico City at 1320 Avenida Tasqueña, Col. Campestre Churubusco, Coyoacan District.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS AND INFORMATION Tourism Secretariat – Tel. (55) 3002-6300 INFOTUR – Tel. 01 (800) 987-8224 Emergencies – Tel. 060
