Mexico City Layover Guide (MEX)

Mexico City: Full-Day Hop-on/Hop-off Bus Tour

Explore Mexico City in one day in comfort, stress free and at your own pace. Discover the history of the city through pre-Hispanic, colonial, and modern times. The bus offers flexibility since you can hop on or off at the times that you want with the same ticket all day. There are many options for routes, such as the Historical Center Route that focuses on history, architecture, culture, and Mexican cuisine. While the Polanco Route allows you to enjoy shopping and the most avant-garde architecture in the city. » book this tour

Xochimilco & Coyoacan Full-Day Tour with Frida Kahlo Museum

Enjoy a full-day sightseeing on this tour full of culture and traditions in Mexico City’s most enchanting neighborhoods. Float down the tranquil canals of Xochimilco on a punt and stroll around the colonial district of Coyoacan with its bohemian atmosphere and art. Discover where the Conquistador, Hernando Cortes was born. Marvel at the stunning murals by Juan O´Gorman. Discover the magical world of Frida Kahlo at the Frida Kahlo Museum, one of the most passionate artists of Mexico. This museum is in a striking cobalt blue house where she was born and returned for the last years of her life. The Casa Azul also contains a large assortment of pre-Hispanic artifacts, Mexican folk art, and indigenous jewelry from her personal collection. » book this tour

Teotihuacan, Shrine of Guadalupe & Tlatelolco Day Tour

Discover ancient Teotihuacan, one of the world’s most impressive archeological sites, and climb the pyramids of the Sun and Moon. Visit Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica, an important pilgrimage site, and learn about the 3 cultures represented at Tlatelolco. These 3 are the culturally and historically important sites in Mexico City. Interestingly, uncover 3 distinct periods of Mexico’s history at Tlatelolco namely the pre-Columbian, Spanish colonial, and the independent mestizo nation. » book this tour

Zócalo

Zócalo, the birthplace of the constitution of Mexico or “ the heartbeat” of Mexico as most locals call it, is where the country’s first constitution was proclaimed in 1813. While used today for demonstrations, parades, and festivals, the Zocalo served the purposes of a market and bullfighting grounds in the early colonial period. Zocalo is certainly the best place, to begin with, if history is what you want from this city.

Time required: 3 hours.

Airport to here: It usually takes 6 minutes to get here by taxi or 10 minutes by bus.

Templo Mayor and the Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlán

Templo Mayor is the most important site to the temple of Tenochtitlán after the defeat of the Aztecs whose most historical sites have been displayed for many years now. Among the historic artifacts on display is the first relic discovered in 1978, a finely sculpted round disc more than three meters in diameter and weighing eight-and-a-half tons. A well-preserved temple wall excavated at a later time, along with the skulls of sacrificial victims – affirms that the temple site had been built by the Aztecs and their predecessors for 11 good times. 11 times!

Time required: 2 hours.

Airport to here: It takes 8 minutes to get here or 45 minutes by bus.

Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral

This cathedral dominates the Zocalo square considering its huge size. Apart from being the largest, it is one of the oldest churches in the whole of the Western hemisphere. Some of the features that stand out are the bell-towers which were added in 1793 and the statues of Faith, Hope, and Charity on the clock tower also dating as far back as 1813.

Time required: 3 hours.

Airport to here: It may take an average of 10 minutes to reach here by taxi or 30 minutes using the subway.

The National Palace

The Zocalo square is occupied by The National Palace built of reddish tezontle. It is a. 200-meter long building which is the official residence of the President. Guess what! This rare and magnificent building sits on top of an Aztec palace is one of the oldest and finest of its kind in the city. It has a grand courtyard with very fine frescoes which speak of the rich history of Mexico. One other feature that adorns the palace is the Freedom bell that is rung on the anniversary of the War of Independence from the first time it was rung on September 15, 1810, when the war started.

Time required: 1 hour.

Airport to here: It usually takes 10 minutes by taxi to get here or 55 minutes by train.

The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe

The Roman Catholic Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the twelfth day of each December when Feast day is celebrated attracts millions of tourists and worshippers every year but it is said to have attracted it’s first pilgrims when it first opened in 1531. It is a belief that the Virgin Mary appeared adjacent to the hill where the building is currently located. The beauty here isn’t something that must escape your curious mind.

Time required: 2 hours.

Airport to here: 10 minutes to reach here by taxi or or 30 minutes using the subway.

Chapultepec Park

Welcome to Mexico’s principal park, Bosque de Chapultepec. Being the largest park in the country, it covers an area of close to 5 square kilometers. It used to be a summer residence to the Aztec rulers and it has signs of ancient ingenuity, there is an aqueduct that conveys water from its springs to the temple precinct. Looking up the hill, one would see the portraits of the Aztec rulers carved up the slopes of the hill. To this day, the park is popularly known for botanical gardens, lakes, museums and sports facilities.

Time required: 4 hours.

Airport to here: It takes about 10 minutes to ge here by taxi or 50 minutes by train.

Roma Norte-Condesa

Over here, there’s always something for everyone one as this is exhibited through the diverse events and festivals,restaurants, sidewalks, boutique shops. You mention it. You would feel as if you’re home and may want to continue your stay here. The nightlife experience here alone will leave you in awe.

Time required: 2 hours or the whole night for anyone who comes alive at this time.

Airport to here: It usually takes 10 minutes to get here by taxi or 35 minutes by train.