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.

Cool place to be at night. Vendor selling food and other nice items lots of shopping around the…read moreblock. Food is pretty decent on this street.

Definitely check this area out when in the city! It has many unique shops, good Asian food choices,…read moreand desserts. We walked by late at night so everything was closed down but the neon lights were on making it look so cool.

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.

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

Mercado Sonora is not for the faint of heart, its tight hallways and bustling patrons would give…read morethe best of you some heavy anxiety. (especially now 6 feet please, don't cough on me) If you don't look Spanish or have lighter skin, I would probably come here with a local. It would be very easy to get targeted in this area, try to not bring expensive cameras or shiny new objects. The people are all very welcoming but it's in a not so good area. I came here (in october 2019) with my GF who is Filipina and she got a lot of looks but people were mostly friendly and left us alone since I could be Mexican and speak fluent Spanish (we're both brown). There are some food stalls right outside the entrance of this market. I wouldn't rely too much on having a full lunch here, just grab some small bites to get you through the market (its very big) and then plan on having a proper meal later. Tip* I would ask prices before ordering, they don't list prices on most of these stalls. The inside market has stalls that not only sell fresh fruits and vegetables but traditional herbs, magical potions, and other indigenous Mexican spiritual objects. You can also find some toys and wrestling masks here, but not many. The Mercado de Sonora is located in the Colonia Merced Balbuena neighborhood of Venustiano Carranza Burrough in Mexico City. The indoor market is one of the many public markets built by the city to regulate retail commerce. The institution was officially opened in 1957.

Santaria! Need some mystical floor wash? Magical incense?…read moreSanta Muerte altars?! This is the place for all your spiritual and metaphysical needs. They've got everything you need for curses, spells, incantations, hexes and blessings. This flea market stretches far and wide, full of everything you'll ever need. One wrong turn, and you're in a separate kind of market. They not only sell religious materials, but also chickens, pigeons, doves, and other sorts of birds. Watch out! There aren't nearly enough restrooms here- and you gotta pay for the few that are in here. This place can be a bit overwhelming, with every possible inch used to sell weird and exotic stuff. The stalls are incredibly packed with goods, and all prices are negotiable. The market gets pretty crowded on Saturdays, which I hear is the best day to go.

You shouldn't come to Mexico City for the modern buildings and awesome amenities, although this…read moreplace has all of that. I like to come here for the old part of the city, Centro Historic is the section of the city that I like the best. If you like to people watch, then this section is for you. There are non-stop throngs and throngs of people every day of the week. This area is not perfect or clean, and really it's the imperfection and antique vibe which is what makes this area so special. I think when most tourists come to Mexico City they tend to get stuck either where the nightlife is, or where the big fancy hotels are at. Centro Historico has maintained it's original look and feel, with a few exceptions of course. My recommendation would be to check out all of Centro Historico, not just the area around Zocalo, because it really is quite amazing.

I have seen a lot of town squares and this is one of the if not THE most impressive one I have…read moreseen. For one, it is giant and has some stunning buildings and architectures all around. This is yet another Unesco site in Mexico City.

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.

The name, Plaza de las Tres Culturas or Plaza of the Three Cultures, can be applied to many sites…read morethroughout Mexico. It's the intersection of ancient civilization, their Spanish conquerors and modern culture. In this case, the ancients are the Aztecs and the remnants of their city of Tlatelolco in these stone expansive foundations seem to be faring better than the Spanish church, built in 1610, that lords its precarious shadow like a sundial over it all. In the late 19th century, during the regime of President Porfirio Díaz, this Church of Santiago was converted to an explosives warehouse. In 1948, the building made a return as a church although it appears as if a mere firecracker could send this volcanic stone edifice crashing to the ground. This area has become known for war, protest, and death. In 1473, a war between Aztec factions of Tenochtitlán and Tlatelolco led to many deaths here. (The remains of 54 people from that war were discovered here and a couple, seen in an embrace, is referred to as the Lovers of Tlatelolco.) Hernán Cortés invaded here in 1521 and was victorious over Cuauhtémoc. Dead bodies were supposedly everywhere stacked high one upon another. The pre-Columbian era was officially over. The modern era has not immunized this area from death, either. Hundreds of student protesters were massacred here in 1968 by troops of President Gustavo Díaz Ordaz. His extreme actions to enforce order and present stability to the world on the eve of the Mexico City Olympics resulted in world-wide infamy. There are no jaw-dropping pyramids or macabre sculptures on display so architecture takes a back seat to history and, surprisingly, modern life because this area still sees protests. Nearby murals attest to that. When I walk the platforms that snake through this complex, I look up at the surrounding 20th century apartment complexes and offices towers then wonder what residents see when they look out of their windows to Plaza de las Culturas? Do they visualize a thriving pre-Columbian marketplace considered the largest in the entire valley of Mexico, an ancient bloody battleground, or a center of protest that helps define the current culture and direction of a future Mexico?

This restaurant resides in a beautiful 18th century residential palace in Mexico City. The blue and…read moretiles outside the building reminds me of Portugal. Came for lunch with no reservations and waited for about half an hour. This place is massive and we opted to dine upstairs. Seating area are pretty tight and was a bit loud. We waited again for our server to get our order in. By this time, we were tired and hungry. I guess this is typical for a Sunday. I had the menudo and absolutely enjoyed it. My husband had the burrito which was fine, nothing special about it. Same with my Mom's mole and Aunt's fish tacos, just okay. Maybe come on a weekday with reservations to have a better dining experience.

By far the worst experience we've had in Mexico City. We couldnt wait to go this place because of…read moreits historic value and because ive had only great experiences at Sanborns. Well not this time, first off, we werent allowed to reserve on the main dining area which is on the first floor cause our party had 5 people, so we were told to go to the second floor to make reservations. While we waited i decided to go to the bar and order a drink. It literally took like half an hour to get two drinks. While waiting for the drinks our name was called. They sat our party in this huge hall that looked liked a quinciañera hall. Our waitres had the worst attitude and took forver to take our order. We ordered some appetizers and my friends order some drinks. After like 45 min of waiting, the appetizers finally get to us but still no drinks. So we ended up finishing our appetizers and still no drinks. We finally decided that we were not going to order any food and were going to cancel our drink order. The waitress finally arrives with the drinks so we took them but asked for the check. Never again, horrible customer service, horrible drinks. My drink had absolutely no alcohol in it, it tasted like freaking juice. Horrible horrible experience. Skip the restaurant go for La Casa de los Azulejos take pics and leave.