Mexico City itinerary for five days

Mexico City, or CDMX, is a vast metropolis that can be challenging to navigate for first-time visitors. We visited Mexico City in early May 2024 as part of a 14-day trip to Mexico, which also included a week in Baja California Sur. We got to spend the days in Mexico City with our local friends, and here is our five-day itinerary and some tips for CDMX:

📅 Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Coyoacán

• Frida Kahlo Museum: Tickets must be booked in advance online, and entry to the museum is available at the designated time.
• UNAM(National Autonomous University of Mexico): The leading university in Mexico. The botanical garden inside has many cactus species and is a great place to visit.
• Trinidad in the Market: Great breakfast spot, popular with both tourists and locals. If you want to eat in the local markets, bring some cash.
• Dinner: Restaurante Humberto el Yucawach, a Yucatan-style restaurant.
• Coyoacán: We stayed in the Coyoacán district. This district is close to the university and is home to many university staff and students. There are many markets and bars worth visiting.

Day 2: Teotihuacan

• Teotihuacan Pyramids: If you want a guided tour, look for official guides with badges at the entrance rather than those waiting outside. Be prepared to pay in cash, even if they say you can pay by card at the beginning.
• Mineral del Monte: A mining town once settled by people from Cornwall, England. Many places still sell English-style pasties.

Day 3: City Centre

• Templo Mayor, Palacio Nacional, Catedral Metropolitana
• Pre-ballet Dinner: Restaurante el Cardenal
• Evening: Folklore Ballet performance. The 1.5-hour ballet covers Mexican history and regional cultures. Tickets usually go on sale a month in advance.

Day 4: Cacahuamilpa Caves

Not recommended for those who don't speak Spanish. It’s a two-hour drive from CDMX. The cave tours are only in Spanish.

Day 5: Anthropology Museum & Chapultepec 

This was our last day, so we slept in and arrived at the museum around noon. We spent three hours there, with a much-needed break at the museum’s restaurant (a bit pricy, but there aren't many other options). The Anthropology Museum is huge, so we missed the Chapultepec Castle because we left the museum too late. ☹️

Dinner: Azul Historio (a slightly upscale farewell dinner).

🏧 Payment

Many places in Mexico City only accept cash, especially in the local markets. There are no free ATMs, and each charges differently. For example, Monzo cards from the UK cost £1.50 to withdraw at Citibanamex, but £10 at BBVA. Check the fee before withdrawing cash.

🛜 Internet

For UK travellers, O2 (with travel package) can be used directly in Mexico, charged at UK local data rates. Otherwise, it's a good idea to get a local SIM.