3 Days in Mexico City | Itinerary + 10 Best Things to Do

Mexico City is probably the most surprising city we’ve ever visited, and definitely the most underrated. Whether you are spending 2 weeks in Mexico’s capital or just 3 days in Mexico City, you will likely find this culturally-rich city will exceed your expectations!

The thriving metropolis is known for both its modernity and its preserved history. With ancient ruins located right in the city center, posh, upscale neighborhoods, and so many culinary delights, Mexico City is a sensory journey with so many things to do that it will surely leave an indelible mark on your memory.

This guide to 3 days in Mexico City includes a suggested itinerary, tips for visiting and the top things to do in Mexico.

Our Personal Experience Visiting Mexico City for 3 Days

Gearing up for our 3 day trip to Mexico City, I didn’t get that pre-trip excitement. I wasn’t feeling giddy about going somewhere new. In fact, the day of our flight, I woke up almost dreading the trip.

Truthfully, I expected to hate Mexico City. Everything I’ve ever heard about Mexico City was negative. I had heard it was a dirty, smog-filled, over-populated, crime-ridden place.

It is a sad but common perception in the United States. We were actually visiting to prove that perception wrong, but a part of me feared we would prove it right. We set off to spend 3 days in Mexico City, but we with some many famous Mexico City landmarks and fun things to do, we left wishing we had stayed much longer.

The reality of Mexico City

Perhaps it was because I had low expectations, but Mexico City was a pleasant surprise. In fact, in my opinion, Mexico City is better than Paris.

It’s beautiful, full of culture, has hundreds of museums, the food in Mexico City can’t be beat, and the people are friendly and welcoming.

Additionally, it is also significantly less expensive than Paris. A travel budget for Mexico doesn’t have to break the bank.

Is Mexico City safe for travel?

While I’m sure there are parts of Mexico City that are not safe for tourists, the same is true for parts of New York City, Los Angeles, and other major cities in the United States. Still, it is probably the question we get asked the most about Mexico City. Is Mexico City safe for travel?

As with anywhere else you travel, just don’t let your guard down and trust your gut instinct and you should be fine. For us, we were comfortable taking our toddler to Mexico City, and other parts of Mexico like the Yucatan Peninsula, and never felt unsafe during our stay.

3 days in Mexico City: Itinerary and where to stay

There is a lot you can see and do if you have 3 days in Mexico City because many of the popular attractions are in a short distance from each other.

We arrived in Mexico City after spending a few days in the beach town of Cancun. If doing the same, don’t make the common mistake of packing only warm weather clothing! Mexico City sits at a high elevation and tends to get cold. Luckily, it was somewhat warm during our 3 days in Mexico City, but you’ll want to pack appropriately.

We stayed at Barcelo Mexico Reforma on the beautiful tree-lined street of Paseo de la Reforma. The hotel was beautiful, ideally located, and had a wonderful restaurant located at the street level. This hotel makes for a perfect base for exploring the historic center and the downtown area.

Here is our recommended Mexico City itinerary:

Day 1 of 3 in Mexico City

• Stroll through Alameda Central Park
• Palacio de Bellas Artes
• Mid-morning coffee with a view (find out where below)
• Metropolitan Cathedral
• Templo Mayor
• Zócalo
• Dinner at Sonora Grill at hotel

Day 2 of 3 in Mexico City

• Stroll down Paseo de Reforma
• Angel of Independence
• National Museum of Anthropology
• Chapultepec Castle

 Day 3 of 3 in Mexico City

• Monument of the Revolution
• Explore Historic Old Town
• Eat your weight in street food
• El Moro Churros

Top 10 things to do in Mexico City in 3 days

Staying along Paseo de Reforma, we were only a short walk from the historic center of Mexico City, where you’ll find several sights you will want to visit on a short trip. Here is a look at the top ten things to do in the culture capital of Latin America.

EXPLORE ALL THINGS TO DO IN MEXICO CITY AND FIND TOURS AND REVIEWS HERE.

Metropolitan Cathedral

In the center of the city is the beautiful Metropolitan Cathedral. It is the largest church in the Americas. The cathedral is free to enter and just as stunning as some of the famous European churches. Attached is a tabernacle which is used as a baptistry.

The church bells toll every hour. Our daughter was positively gleeful watching the bells toll. This was one of her favorite things on our last Europe trip, too.

Zócalo

In front of the cathedral is the large open plaza Zócalo. It is giant and often used for large festivals and events. It is also a popular spot for protests, as we witnessed while we were there.

Although half of the plaza was closed off during our visit, when it is fully open, roughly 100,000 people can fit in Zócalo. By far, it is the largest plaza in the Americas, as well.

Templo Mayor

The Metropolitan Cathedral was erected right where an ancient Aztec temple once stood, so literally right in the heart of this major city you will find the ancient ruins and pyramids of Templo Mayor.

Also referred to as Tenochtitlan, which is the name of the ancient Aztec city that once existed here. It is one of the most fascinating ancient ruins in Mexico because a modern metropolis literally sits on top of it.

In addition to visiting the ruins, there is a museum you can tour filled with artifacts found at the site.

Historic Old Town

Strolling through the historic center of Mexico City was one of our favorite activities. Vibrant street art and murals, shops, and markets make for a fun and exciting atmosphere. Besides just taking it all in, there is no particular attraction in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It’s just a cool part of town with awesome vibes. You’ll love wandering through the colonial-era plazas that transport you back in time and exploring the bustling markets, where the smell of street food and the sound of live music fills the air.

Paseo de la Reforma

While we were in Mexico City, we stayed in a hotel along Paseo de la Reforma. It is a wide avenue lined with tall trees. You will find several unique sculptures, monuments, and fountains in this modern area of the city.

There are also some great restaurants that offer a fine dining experience. One of the most famous monuments along Reforma is the Angel of Independence. The tall column with an angel on top towers above the street in the middle of a busy roundabout. It is dedicated to the Mexican War of Independence.

Monument of the Revolution

Just off of Paseo de la Reforma you’ll find another monument that shouldn’t be missed. The Monument of the Revolution is a large four pillar monument dedicated to the Mexican Revolution.

Remains from several important heroes of the Revolution are buried and memorialized there.

National Museum of Anthropology

There are more than 250 museums in Mexico City. And by visiting some of those museums, you can learn so many interesting facts about Mexico and it’s history that will leave you intrigued and wanting to know more about the country and it’s culture.

Of the museums in Mexico City, the National Museum of Anthropology is the largest and most visited of all of them. It is an enormous collection of artifacts from Mexico’s rich Aztec history and the colonization of Mexico.

It is about a two mile walk directly down Paseo de la Reforma. When planning your itinerary, keep in mind that all museums are closed on Mondays.

Palacio de Bellas Artes

Palacio de Bellas Artes is one of the most iconic buildings in Mexico City. The opulent neoclassical building hosts theatrical performances, operas, and art exhibitions. You’ll also find some of the most spectacular and famous Diego Rivera murals inside Palacio de Bellas Artes.

The dome roof is my favorite part of the building. It is colorful and seems to shimmer when the sun hits it.

We went to the top floor of the Sears building across the street where we were able to get an amazing birds-eye-view of Palacio de Bellas Artes. On the sixth floor, there is a small coffee house where you can sit out on a terrace and enjoy the picture-perfect view.

Eat street food

While we enjoyed one night of fine dining on Paseo de la Reforma, we also made sure to taste the delicious street food. Mexico City has some of the best street food in the world. Tamale carts, street tacos, sweet corn with lime juice and chili powder.

It’s not only fantastic, but it will be definitely keep you on budget. Street tacos for a dollar, sweet corn for $1 USD. You can eat inexpensively and enjoy every bite!

HUNGRY? CHECK OUT OUR POST ON THE BEST FOODS TO EAT IN MEXICO CITY.

El Moro Churros

While we are on the topic of food do not go to Mexico City and skip churros. If you’ve never tried a churro, it is a popular Mexican dessert.

It is cylinder-shaped pastry, deep fried and covered in cinnamon and sugar. It is crunchy on the outside and soft and doughy on the inside. Churros are often served with melted chocolate, caramel, or other dipping sauces.

While you can buy churros from a street vendor or churros cart, I particularly enjoyed our experience at El Moro Churreria. Just a few blocks from Palacio de Bellas Artes, this small churreria is inexpensive and the staff are extremely friendly. The churros are the best I’ve ever tasted!

You get 4 for approximately $2.50 USD. Although we shared an order, I wished I would have splurged for my own order. One person can definitely eat all four. And don’t worry about a fork. This dessert is best eaten by hand.

Other things to do if you have more than 3 days in Mexico City

While all of these attractions are within walking distance of each other, there are other areas of the city that will require taking a taxi or public transportation.

If spending just 3 days in Mexico City, you probably won’t have time to see or do much more than the things listed above.

If you plan to spend longer in Mexico City, there are a lot of great day trips from Mexico City, including historical sites, cultural attractions and natural marvels all within a couple hours drive. Here are a few other tourist sites to consider if staying longer.

Teotihuacan

This well-known ancient city is home to one of the largest pyramids in the world and sits right outside of Mexico City.

A day trip to Teotihuacan is definitely worth doing! Similar to the Mayan ruins in Belize and Tikal in Guatemala, Teotihuacan was a Mesoamerican city that will give you a glimpse of what life was like in the Pre-Columbian era.

FIND AND COMPARE PRICES ON DAY TRIPS TO TEOTIHUACAN HERE.

Coyoacán, Xochimilco Canals, and Frida Khalo museum

Take a boat ride through the waterways of Xochimilco and discover the colonial beauty of the artsy community of Coyoacán.

Visit the Frida Khalo Museum and learn more about this fascinating female leader, who has inspired books, movies, and women around the world.

FIND AND COMPARE PRICES ON DAY TOURS TO XOCHIMILCO AND COYACAN HERE.

Chapultepec Castle

Chapultepec Castle is near the Museum of Anthropology. You can definitely fit this into a full 3 day itinerary for Mexico City.

However, we stayed longer at some of the other attractions, and did not have time to visit during our stay. It offers some of the best views of Mexico City though.

Why Mexico City is the most underrated city in the world

Since returning home, I’ve actively been looking for airfare deals to go back to Mexico City. Most importantly, it taught me not to believe everything you hear about a place. There is so much to see and do in Mexico City, and it’s just a short flight from the United States.

Surprisingly though, we did not meet or see even one other person from the United States while in Mexico City.

Considering its close proximity and the number of tourist attractions we visited while there, you would think we would have met at least one other US resident. But I truly believe, most people from the US simply overlook Mexico City.

So if you’ve considered visiting, don’t let the misconceptions and the dangerous perceptions of Mexico City keep you away. And give yourself at least 3 days in Mexico City, if not more!

Have you ever been to Mexico City, or do you have a question or comment about this 3 day Mexico City itinerary or any of the best things to do in Mexico City? We’d love to hear from you! Let us know your thoughts on how you’d spend 3 days in Mexico City in the comments below!

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This guide to three days in Mexico City was originally published in August 2017 and was most recently updated in August 2023 for accuracy and current information.

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