Don’t panic! A chaotic, unpredictable city with plenty of adventure for experienced travelers.

Petty theft and pick-pocketing are rampant in Mexico City.

So why travel here? Mexico city also happens to be home to North America’s only royal castle, an ancient pyramid complex, excellent food culture, and some of the most impressive churches in the Western Hemisphere.

As always, landing in a new city can be confusing and it will take some time to navigate if using the metro lines. Opt for an Uber to get you in fromthe airport. It’s affordable, reliable, and our experiences with the drivers were awesome.

You’ll want to start at Zócalo. This large square was built on top of the ancient Aztec capital. In fact, remnant stones from the Aztecs can be seen repurposed in the Spanish architecture. Check out the metropolitan Cathedral which was literally built on top of the Aztec temple and is currently sinking into the soft soil. Mexico city was actually built on a series of artificial islands in the middle of a lake. The Zocalo has many shops and markets to check out. You can even have an Aztec shaman perform a cleansing ritual over you, if you so desire.

Before leaving the Zocalo area, head over to El Morro Churreria. This churro shop has been making cinnamon coated dreams come true for nearly 100 years. It can be very busy with lines out to the street. Definitely grab a hot chocolate. There are now multiple locations of this churreria around Mexico city.

A Living Legend

One of the major sights in Mexico city is Our Lady of Guadalupe. An Aztec convert claimed the image appeared on his tilma (smock) after an apparition appeared to him and told him to build a cathedral. Don’t get too worn out here as you want to make sure you have the time and energy to enjoy the Anthropological museum. The museum is one of the best in the world. The exhibit rooms progress through Mexico’s deep history from the Olmecs to the Aztecs and the Mayans. Statues, pillars, and gardens help bring these ancient cultures to life and will impress any art or history lover. The museum has many pieces that are contemporaneous with other ancient civilizations helping bring to light a fuller view of world history. The centerpiece of the museum is the Aztec Calendar stone. Having a guide here would be great (or a bilingual friend), as there is not much English on museum placards.

An Ancient Mystery

One of the rooms at the museum contains artifacts recovered from Teotihuacan. A pyramid complex about an hour outside of Mexico City that predates Aztec civilization. Little is known about the civilization that built Teotihuacan, but the site was appropriated by the Aztecs who found it abandoned and they used the site for religious purposes (including human sacrifice) for some time. Visiting Teotihuacan is a must for any visitor to Mexico City. Viator has many package tours available. Visitors can climb the pyramids, but beware, too many damn tourists means this may not be possible for much longer.

Things to Remember

Summer is actually great time to visit! In August the weather is mild, but thunderstorms do happen. And with the help of your Uber drivers, package tours, and a good set of walking shoes you can get a lot done in 3 to 4 days. A week would allow you to do it all. Keep your passport locked in the hotel safe and be sure use only bottled water (seriously, even for brushing teeth. Whatever you do, you could get giardia!). Oh, and keep your hands on your phone! After these considerations, Mexico city can be a fun and vibrant adventure while Teotihuacan will take your breath away!