Mexico City in 2 Days: everything you need to know

The city of mariachis, tacos and Aztec monuments is very big, 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 organised and draw up an itinerary where you specify your route and the means of transport to use.

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

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

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

Plaza Garibaldi and Tequila and Mezcal Museum

We recommend starting your day at Plaza Garibaldi, an emblematic site in Mexico City, located in the Lagunilla neighbourhood north of the Historic Centre. It is one of the best locations if you want to enjoy a mariachi show. This square is famous, as it gathers a 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 down the Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas. 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 taxi. Here you can experience wrestling in Mexico City. The energy of these events is impressive, with over fifteen thousand people in attendance. You will surely recognise the famous masks that are a national symbol and represent gods, animals and other iconic characters.

Historic Centre of Mexico City

To continue your tour, I suggest you visit the historical monuments of the city. The fastest way to get from Arena Mexico to the Historic Centre is to take a taxi for around 3 euros. You can also use the metro line 3 or take 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 Mexico City' s best museums and other important sites such as:

• Museo del Templo Mayor: it is located less than a five-minute walk from the main Centro Historico stop. 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 four minutes walking from the Museo del Templo Mayor, on Seminario Street. In this historical space you will find all the photographic material of outstanding events of the 20th century. It is free, so it is an ideal visit.
• Metropolitan Cathedral: from the Museum of Photography, you can get to the Cathedral by taxi 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 the patron saint festivities that take place during this month.

The best Mexico City tours take you on a detailed tour of the historic centre. They usually offer a guided and personalised experience, which will help you optimise your time and get to know as many of the monuments and sites in the area as possible.

Zócalo

To continue your tour you can head to the Zocalo, located in the centre 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 as one of Mexico City's main squares. In the surrounding area you will find shows of Aztec dancers, which you will surely recognise by their feathers and handmade make-up.

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 food tours, which explore the area's street st alls.

Zona Rosa

To follow the tour you can take bus line 4, or metro line 1 and 2, to get to Zona Rosa. It is one of the best areas to stay in, 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 the centre, you can head to the Angel de la Independencia, a must-see 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 the Paseo de la Reforma. It is a wide avenue where you can find the National Auditorium, the Roma neighbourhood, the Alameda Central, among others. If you want to get to know the whole area, I recommend you to organise an itinerary of at least 4 days in Mexico City and dedicate a full day to it.

Chapultepec Castle and Chapultepec Forest

In the late 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 as 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 archaeological pieces. There are guided experiences that make the tour easier and optimise your time.

Polanco

From Chapultepec Castle you can get to Polanco by taxi in less than five minutes. If you're looking for things to do in Mexico City at night, the night bus has a route that passes through this area. This is a famous neighbourhood, where you will find luxury shops, 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 taxi and get there in less than three minutes.
• Inbursa Aquarium: it is one of the largest aquariums in Latin America, ideal if you are travelling with children. You can get there walking from the museum in less than three minutes. It has a species conservation programme and you can enter for free if you have the City Passport.
• Avenida Presidente Masaryk: Polanco is one of the best neighbourhoods in Mexico City and is known for its little streets with luxury shops. This is where 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 neighbourhoods 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 neighbourhood

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

On the way back you can take the tourist bus, a taxi or the metro line 1 and 2. This way, you will arrive at the Barrio de Coyoacán. This is a tourist centre that was created by the indigenous Mexicans. 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 head to the Torre Latinoamericana. To get from Coyoacán you can take metro line 2 or a taxi. It is usually a very busy spot, as it offers a museum with the history of the monument, a restaurant on the heights and a panoramic view experience.

It is approximately 139 metres high and was completed in 1956. If you are thinking of buying tickets for the Torre Latinoamericana, you should consider where the main attractions are located:

• Souvenir shop 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 floor.

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 taxi. 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 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 taxi for around 2 euros, or take the metro lines 2 and 3. It is a jewel of Mexican baroque that dates back to 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 taxi from the Palacio de Iturbide. Note that admission is free on Sundays, the rest of the week you have to pay a fee of approximately 5 euros per person.

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

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 for a couple of days.