Area in close walking distance to the Frida Kahlo Museum, and the renowned churro place…read more We left the hotel early, got dropped off with one hour before our ticket admitting us in so we walked to a Panera that Doc spotted on the ride there. We entered a church, had lunch in the area and did some shopping. Doc bought a bracelet I liked from a vendor and a T-shirt from a man across the street from the museum for me. I bought some bracelets and pouches from a man on the street. He could speak English and said his family was Aztec. He made the bracelets and his grandmother made the pouches. Many locals with their dogs and tourists were enjoying the nice warm weather. We saw people being blessed with special smoke or sage. Many shops and eateries on nice streets. There was one two story restaurant that looked very pretty and romantic with couples eating on the outdoor balcony.

Fun, lively area! Came on a Sunday and there were tons of people outs and about…read more Pros: -many restaurants to choose from -vendors galore where you can buy souvenirs -there are a few free Wi-Fi spots in this area -we saw performers dancing near the church Cons: -none

This was such a fun experience!…read more We got here early, so we were able to avoid some of the crowds that I've heard can impact the experience. It felt both relaxing and hype as we passed other boat with vendors, hopping on and off too offer food, beer and music. The group I was with welcomed the mariachi band who hopped on (for a modest fee) which really took the vibes up a notch. I also ordered a Michelada that was the size of my head with chamoy and tajin, which was novel yes but also delicious! Overall, the vibes were 10/10 - a fun and memorable experience!

Xochimilco is such a fun and unique experience-super lively, busy, and full of food and music…read moreeverywhere. We took an uber from Mexico City to Xochimilco which is about 1 hour or so. I recommend going into the area and getting a certified boat. The trajinera prices are per boat, not per person. As of April 2026, it's about $750 pesos per hour. I'd suggest doing at least 2 hours so you can really enjoy it without rushing. While you're on the canals, you'll be approached by mariachis, locals selling food and drinks, and honestly just about anything you can think of. You can also bring your own food and drinks onto the boat, plus a speaker if you want to set the vibe. Definitely a more fun experience if you go with a group of people! Also, your best bet is to visit Coyoacan while in the area, it's about 30 mins.

As I'm watching the World Cup from my cozy confines back in Sacramento-I see the FIFA Fanfest in…read moreMexico City happening at the Zocalo with over 50k fans packed in the Zocalo watching on big screens their beloved home team Mexico open the World Cup 2026. During my visit to Mexico City earlier this year,I really enjoyed visiting the Zocalo.Its kind of Mexico City's version of Times Square in that it's used as a central location for many events that happen in the city-While also housing the Capital Building where the Mexican President works at on a daily basis. It also houses one of the most historic cathedrals in all of Mexico City.This church is a true must visit for anyone who spends any time in Mexico City. There are also many restaurants and bars surrounding the Zocalo-though be warned,it's pretty much a tourist trap and you will be price gouged at most of those restaurants in the Zocalo area. I remember during my trip we visited the Zocalo almost every day and the trippy part was how much it changed day to day.That trait also reminded me of Time Square-You go to bed with it looking one way and wake up and it's something else-that happens a lot at the Zocalo. Two really good memories standout about the Zocalo during my visit,The first was I got to witness firsthand the ceremony of the military taking the huge Mexican Flag down that is located in the center of the Zocalo-It's like a whole ceremony that is used to take it down each evening and felt very lucky to have been there at the right time to witness it.The ceremony starts at 6pm local time each evening-it's pretty awesome.Its free to attend and I highly recommend it. The second memory I had was I was at the Zocalo the morning that Shakira was giving her free concert at the Zocalo in Mexico City-so I got to witness for a few days watching them setup for the concert and it was a massive project-the concert later that evening set an attendance record for the Zocalo as an estimated 400k people were in attendance for the free concert. That's the kid of things that randomly happen at the Zocalo-it's a very special place and a must-visit for anyone visiting the beautiful Mexico City.

The square itself is amazing, and the history is even more so. And while the square is a great…read moreplace to walk around and there is always something happing, it's great to go to the walking street and check out all the shops. But the people watching is the best. There are many souvenir shops around and it's worth going into the churches. One could easily spend a couple of hours here, more if you find a bar and have a nice, cool drink.

Mexican Food and Beer! This place is a cool pedestrian…read morestreet that the cops shut down to traffic, and the cafes and bars spill out into the street with tables and giant beers! This place is a cool place to sit out in the street and watch the crowds walk by. It's a hip, younger crowd that hangs out here- with music, food, and drinks! The food selections here are all moderately priced places that focus on Chilango- Mexico City food. Don't expect to find a chain restaurant here. The food choices are numerous. There are many Mezcal bars, and tequila joints that sell crickets in their guacamole. Cool! The outdoor bars serve huge beers- including a small mini keg that they place on the table so drinks don't run dry. There's also Pulque places around here- it's a syrupy sour and sweet fermented low alcoholic drink that is worth a sip, but that's it. The neighborhood seems like it's had hard times in the past, with older style of buildings that have been in various states of disrepair until the whole area seems to have been revitalized, with street art and the buildings fixed up. The area was very safe- especially since it's only pedestrian traffic. There were police at every intersection, as well as signs with maps to direct you to the highlights. The cops helped answer my questions with a smile.

If your travels take you to Mexico City, and you won't get the opportunity to visit other regions…read moreof this wonderfully diverse country, be sure to take some time out of your busy touring schedule (I'd say at least 2-3 hours or more) to explore every nook and cranny of this awesome crafts market. Even if you don't buy a thing (impossible!!) you'll feel like you've taken a whirlwind tour of some of the most beautiful and artistically productive areas of the country... I love the colors, the feel of "discovering" a great bargain or a unique piece of craftwork. It may seem like there's a lot of repetition here (and there is...) but if you take the time, and really check out all the hidden nooks and crannies, you're bound to find a true, one of a kind gem (or twelve...)!! I could spend a week in here!! There's a cafe mid way through the market, and restrooms toward the back. Don't miss the non-craft (foods, spices, etc.) vendors around the perimeter, don't waste too much time trying to bargain/heckle, as most of the prices are super reasonable (though some vendors will give you great deals for volume buying) and one of your purchases before leaving CDMX might just be another suitcase (or three!) to bring home all your WONDERFUL finds here at the Ciudadela Market!! ANIMO!!! Shop here, DON'T wait til you're leaving at the airport, and see lesser-quality work for 3x the price!!

You know the drill... you tell family and friends where you're jetting off to and all of a sudden…read moreEVERYONE needs you to bring them back a souvenir. In Mexico City you can get all your tías, tíos, primos, vecinos what they asked for at La Ciudadela. This art market is huge! Once you walk in through the front gates you will notice that the layout is just like a little city. You have about 8-10 "streets" which have multiple stores on each one. I was soooo amazed at all of the high quality pottery, jewelry, sculptures, hand embroidered Oaxacan dresses that met my eye. At this point, I had a big problem since I knew I wanted more than I could hold in my luggage. I found beautiful hand embroidered table clothes from Hidalgo and Oaxaca that were priced very well considering the intricate work. I also bought 2 hand painted pieces -- a pitcher and a vase -- that cost me less than $20USD for both. The vendors are open to haggling with you, but keep in mind that these people are artisans and should get paid at market value. I didn't feel comfortable haggling with them since the prices were already more than reasonable. On the outskirts of La Ciudadela you'll find additional stores that sell iron works, hand blown glass work, and more. I wish I had more time to comb through the whole area but shame on me for leaving my visit to the morning I was flying out. I can easily see spending 2-3 hours here checking out all they have to offer. Note that you need to bring Mexican pesos when shopping here. If you get hungry or thirsty there's a cool little food stand near the front gate where you can get yummy quesadillas and gorditas. There's a really neat park across the street as well where you can take a breather and recharge for more shopping. This place is a must for all that are visiting MX City. You not only have a one stop shop for your cool souvenirs but you support local artists and their crafts.

Xochimilco is a historic canal district in Mexico City, famous for its colorful boats (trajineras)…read morethat offer festive tours through the waterways. Xochimilco is a popular destination for tourists visiting Mexico City, even though it's a hike from the center of the city (you'll likely spend an hour getting to Xochimilco). We didn't visit on our first trip to Mexico City, but we did make a quick stop to tour the Xochimilco canals on our second visit to CDMX a few weeks ago. We visited with a tour group, which I recommend. I've heard it can be difficult to arrange things on your own. I believe it. When we visited, the market at this portion of Xochimilco had just been torn down (they are rebuilding it in time for the World Cup next summer), and it made for a confusing site. Without our guide, we definitely wouldn't have known where to go. There are lots of ways to experience and enjoy Xochimilco. For a lot of people, it's a party. You can eat, drink, and listen to mariachi music. I've heard it can be quite an experience and people can turn this into a party. You can also have a more historical- or ecological-focused experience, which is what we did (several groups focus on this kind of visit, including some that take you out at sunrise to experience it). Our tour guide taught us the history of Xochimilco (the waterways here were a main transportation venue from the pre-Hispanic period until the 20th century) and some of the ways people are trying to focus on improving the environment in the area (bringing back agriculture/chinampas and attempting to preserve habitat for the axolotl - Google it, it's amazing). If you're hoping for a particular experience, I highly recommend checking with a tour guide who can help you pick the portion of Xochimilco and ensure you get the experience you're most interested in. It's an interesting place, but given its distance from the city center, I wouldn't say it's a must visit for first time tourists to the city.

Our outstanding boat guide, born and raised here in Xochimilco, said that he thinks this magical…read morespot will be around only about five more years due to human contamination and dwindling water levels. I felt privileged to experience this place, perhaps for the last time, on a peaceful Friday afternoon. We took the 2 hour round-trip tour to Isla de la Llorona, and our guide recounted a bounty of historical and environmental information as well as some fascinating legends (spoiler alert - the original Llorona was probably not actually a remorseful perpetrator of infanticide but something else entirely). Aside from the totally unique experience of having special Mariachi, food and booze boats float by, the very best thing about this spot is the utter silence. On this day, there were no other boats on our route, so when we fell silent the only sound literally was the wind rustling through the leaves of the spindly trees on the river banks. Yet we were still right within the confines of a 20M+ inhabitant city! This is what all of Tenochtitlan used to look like before folks decided to pave paradise, save for this one last, delicate corner. As a bonus, on our way to the island, we passed by and got to photograph the exact image that is displayed (along with a giant axolotl) on the back of the new $50 MXN bill. Here's hoping that future thinking leaders of Mexico will commit to restoring this special place, before it's too late - before a simple rendering on the back of a banknote is all that we have left.

Want to see something super creepy? Go here…read more We went a couple days before Halloween/Dia de Los Muertos, thinking it would be a fun outing. It was! You arrive at the canals of Xochimilco, an ancient town that was once it's own city and was used as a major production of produce and agriculture. You can rent the gondola-like boats that will take you through the canals, you'll see small farmsteads still operating, boats selling house plants and tacos, pigs tied up being taking to slaughter (so sad), mariachi bands on boats singing to boats passing by, and finally, down one canal, there is, Isla de las Munecas, ominously waiting for you, dark grey, green and black hues settle into a backdrop of languid vines and drooping trees, and thousands, I mean thousands of dolls tied and fixed to trees, sides of a barn, along fence lines and on top of poles. These dolls have a deep significance that goes back many years. Story has it that a little girl drowned near the island and a man named Julian felt putting up the dolls would please her soul. Soon he felt the spirits of other girls were present so he continued to put up more dolls throughout his small island. Something like 40 years went by and hundreds and hundreds of dolls were put up to please the many spirits he felt connected to the tiny island. Sadly and equally odd, he was found drowned in the same place as the little girl was found many years before... Now another man runs the eerie island and for a few pesos he allows you to walk around and take pictures, he'll also give a short speech about the island's history in front of his rustic makeshift alter. Definitely an interesting place to visit, the whole set up of canals of Xochimilco are a great example of Mexican DF culture, colorful and vibrant, and at the same time still with austere seriousness.

From the owner: combinamos el bosque con la cercanía de la ciudad, único , casa estilo tutor, laberinto a base de…read morearbustos, salones para eventos sociales, jardines, campamento, alimentos, estacionamiento, sanitarios, seguridad y más