4 Days in Mexico City – The Ultimate Itinerary for First Timers

Have you been planning to spend 4 days in Mexico City?

Let me help! I recently returned from an awesome trip to Mexico City with my family. I lived there for 3 months in 1981 while dancing in a show, but I was young and busy and barely remember seeing anything other than the inside of the arena where we performed! So, when my girls wanted to take a trip to CDMX, I jumped.

Ciudad de Mexico (CDMX) is one of those places that seems very “popular” lately and now I know why. It offers a combination of fascinating history, beautiful culture, great weather, and an amazing food scene!

Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, is the largest city in Mexico and the most populated city in all of North America. Yes, it’s huge, with over 22 million people in the whole metropolitan area, and over 9 million in the city. The history of this region is no less impressive, dating back to the early 1300’s, Mexico City was built on islands in Lake Texcoco. 

Somehow, in spite of the sprawling neighborhoods filled with people, CDMX feels small, charming, inviting, and culturally very rich.

Pro Tips Before you go to Mexico City:

• Pack comfortable walking shoes you have.
• Make dinner reservations in advance. See recs below.
• Get your Tix for Casa Gilardi and Casa Azul in advance!
• Get tix for other entertainment ie: Ballet Folklorico de Mexico in advance.
• Consider using private tour guides with transportation for some of the activities. See recs below.
• Be prepared to give tips in Pesos. You don’t have to leave large tips, but you should be tipping often. The minimum wage is very low and the service is excellent! You can tip often with credit card, but pesos are always appreciated.

Click on the Map for all the places to see on your 4 Days in Mexico City

The Ultimate Itinerary for 4 Days in Mexico City

In just four days in Mexico City, you can explore the colorful neighborhoods, ancient ruins, world-class museums, and even canals filled with music and flowers. Here’s exactly how to spend the perfect 4 days in Mexico City.

Mix it up if you like, but know that Mondays are typically a day when some government buildings and museums are closed. So check websites and calendars carefully!

Day One of 4 Days in CDMX: Arrival & Roma Norte

Your first day will be low key, so you can take your time acclimating to the altitude of 7350 feet above sea level. You might experience a little fatigue or slight altitude sickness if flying in from a lower altitude. (We flew in from San Francisco sea level and were totally fine, just the usual mild jet lag.)

Your drive from the airport will be just about 30 minutes, depending on traffic. It’s recommended that you use a ride share app, such as Uber, and not use the local taxis. We’ve been told that you may be scammed, overcharged, or not be as safe in a taxi, whereas Uber fares will be consistent and trackable, thus safer.

Roma Norte

Roma Norte is known as one of Mexico City’s most hip and safe neighborhoods. These streets are filled with charming shops, chic restaurants, and beautiful architecture. You’ll see big doors, rod iron gates, and tree lined blocks. It’s clean and relaxed like some of your favorite European cities.

Where to Stay in Roma Norte

Typically, I would wait until the end of this itinerary to suggest accommodations. But I loved this hotel so much, I figured, why wait?

The Brick Hotel Mexico City is a gem of a luxury hotel at not-so-luxury prices. This boutique hotel is not only beautiful and in a perfect location, but the service was top notch – and the breakfast included! Really fabulous.

Explore Roma Norte

After settling in, stroll around Roma Norte. You’ll find bakeries and a bunch of sweet boutiques with clothes, art, and perfume. Depending on your timing, here are some options for coffee, drinks, and dinner.

Panaderia Rosetta
📍Colima 179, Roma Nte
This charming spot is famous for its guava pastries, but I’m sure everything here is wonderful! And they have gluten free breads!

La Casa de Las Brujas
📍Calle Rio de Janeiro 56, Roma Nte
This is a great bar with a hip atmosphere. The theme is witches and each drink has a comic story attached to it that you can find in the menu. 

Tacos Orinoco
📍Av. Álvaro Obregón 100, Roma Nte.
You’ll find many taco restaurants in this city, but this is one of the most famous and most delicious!

Day Two of 4 Days in CDMX: Bosque de Chapultepec & Zocalo

Today you’ll venture out of Roma Norte to the San Miguel de Chapultepec neighborhood. You’ll see one of the most famous houses in the city, designed by Luis Barragán, the beautiful Chapultepec Park, and take a tour of the historic city center.

Casa Gilardi

📍Calle Gral. Antonio León 82, San Miguel 
Casa Gilardi is one of Mexico City’s Luis Barragán Houses. Barragán was Mexico’s famous minimalist architect whose buildings are considered among the most important within the minimalist genre.

This experience was a fabulous surprise to us. We knew it would be colorful and beautiful, but didn’t realize the tour was given by one of the owners! The history of the home is of two friends and business partners, Luque and Gilardi who commissioned Barragan to design a home for them to entertain clients. The home is now occupied by the Luque family who offer the tours.

Pro Tip: You MUST make Casa Gilardi reservations in advance and they accept cash or PayPal only.
Take an Uber, about a 15 – 20 minute ride from Roma Norte.

Bosque de Chapultepec (Chapultepec Park)

From Casa Gilardi, take a few minutes walk toward Chapultepec Park. 

Chapultepec Park is Mexico City’s pride and joy. Think of Central Park or Golden Gate Park, and then multiply by almost 2!  Chapultepec is a mix of forest, culture, and history right in the middle of the city. It’s one of the largest urban parks in the world. Entrance to the park is free as are many of the museums.

Pro Tip: I recommend taking the Trenecito, a little train/tram that circles through the park with stops at some highlights. Look for stops and pay for a hop-on-hop-off ticket.

Lunch – Museum of Anthropology Cafe

We sat outside for a delicious lunch in the lovely museum cafe before exploring the exhibits.

National Museum of Anthropology 

If you speak to anyone who has visited this museum, they will all say it is a must-see. Even if you’re not an anthropology nut, you’ll be fascinated by all the artifacts and structures in this museum, especially the famous Aztec Sun Stone.

Book a Top Rated Tour to the Anthropology Museum Now!

Chapultepec Castle

A former home to an emperor and presidents, the castle is now the National Museum of History (Museo Nacional de Historia) at the top of the hill in the park. You can walk or take a tram up from behind the Niños Héroes Monument. You will also need to purchase tickets for the entrance into the castle museum.

Book this Best Selling Private Tour of the Castle Here!

Chapultepec Lake

 This beautiful lake was filled with families on paddle boats, vendors selling food and souvenirs, and pretty bridges to cross.

Monument to the Niños Héroes

You can’t miss this massive and important monument honoring the young soldiers.

Los Pinos

Formerly the official mansion for the president until 2018, is now a museum open to the public.

Get Tickets for a Bike Tour of Chapultepec Park HERE!

Chapultepec Botanical Garden

Peaceful paths with native plants and quiet corners.

Chapultepec Zoo

This is Mexico’s most famous zoo, with over 2000 animals and many rescue and preservation projects. If you have time and love zoos, check it out. Its free!

Modern Art Museum (Museo de Arte Moderno)

A very extensive Mexican modern art collection.

Historic Center Walking Tour

Schedule your walking tour for the afternoon. There is a lot of traffic in Mexico City, so be sure to leave the park with enough time to meet your tour. Exit the park onto one of the main streets surrounding the park and call for an Uber to take you to the Zócalo to meet your tour. 

Pro Tip: If you choose a Free Walking Tour (which we often do in a new city) know that it may not include entrance into any of the historic and federal buildings. In order to see the Diego Rivera Murals, for instance, in the National Palace you will need a tour that includes this stop. (Please learn from my mistake!)

Book this Best Selling Walking Tour of the Historic Center Here!

What You’ll See in the Zócalo

The city center is an extremely busy area with crowds, vendors, street performers, tourists, and sometimes protests. Buckle up because you may feel as though you’re in Times Square!

Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana)

📍North side of the Zócalo (Plaza de la Constitución), Centro Histórico.
This cathedral is both the largest and oldest cathedral in the Americas. You’ll see the Gothic, Baroque, and Neoclassical influences.

National Palace (Palacio Nacional)

📍East side of the Zócalo
This is where the president and her government go to work. This building is most famous for housing the historic Diego Rivera murals of Mexican history. The Rivera mural The History of Mexico depicts the eras from the Aztecs to the Revolution and the industrial age. 

Pro Tip: If there is a protest, or a special event, or the president is in the building, you may not be allowed in to see the murals. Check the status in advance! And make plans to see the murals at a different time, if you can’t enter on your tour. (This was a regrettable mistake we made on our visit!)

Templo Mayor

📍Northeast edge of the Zócalo next to the Metropolitan Cathedral.
These ruins are the most significant ancient remains of the main temple of ancient Tenochtitlan, built in 1325! There is a museum at the site that displays Aztec artifacts. This is where the Mexica people are believed to have seen the eagle and snake which became symbols of the Aztec world.

Palacio de Bellas Artes

📍Av. Juárez at Eje Central, a few blocks northwest of the Zócalo.
This is the iconic Art Nouveau venue that houses a theatre, art museum, and stunning stained-glass. Note: If you want to see the important Diego Rivera murals that are inside the Palace, be sure to choose a tour that will take you in before closing or plan another time to visit, see a performance, or to enter. There is a fee to enter on Tuesday – Saturday. Entrance is free on Sunday. 

Casa de los Azulejos (Blue Tile House)

📍Callejón de la Condesa, between 5 de Mayo Street and what is now Madero Street.
This is beautiful 18th-century palace that is covered in blue glazed tiles. It’s a restaurant owned by the Sanborn restaurant chain. 

Museo Nacional de Arte (MUNAL)

📍8 Tacuba, Col. Centro
This magnificent neo-classical building is home to  Mexico’s national art museum. 

Teatro de la Ciudad

📍Off the Zócalo on Calle 5 de Mayo
This historic building is a venue that hosts some of Mexico’s top performances.

Plaza de Santo Domingo

📍3 Blocks West of the Zócalo
The site of a former monastery, this is a historic plaza with the Church of Santo Domingo.

Roma Norte Cocktails & Dinner

Head back to the hotel to rest or freshen up for the evening.

Handshake Speakeasy
📍Colima 166, Roma Norte
Handshake Speakeasy is the famous bar, voted the #1 bar in the world! It’s a fun spot to try. Make sure you have a reservation! You’ll wait your turn and be escorted in and your arrival will be announced. The cocktails are special, but honestly, we found it a little underwhelming. Picture a beautiful bar with dark lighting and loud music.

Rosetta
📍Colima 166, Roma Norte
This Michelin Star restaurant is in a beautiful historic home with a beautiful and calm atmosphere. Bright, and light, with superb menu and excellent service. A Must-Go in my book.

Today is for your Private Tour to Teotihuacán. Among the smartest things we have ever done was to book a private tour guide for visiting the Teotihuacán Pyramids outside the city. (Contact me directly for my tour guides’ numbers).

What you’ll see will blow your mind! These structures are from civilizations in the Mesoamerican Classic period (roughly 1st–7th centuries AD). They were brilliant engineers, scientists, and seemed to be a highly evolved culture. These pyramids and dwellings were used for special ceremonies and sacrifices. The site is vast, so you’ll want to take your time to learn, listen, and soak it all in.

Pro Tip: The conveniences of having a tour guide are significant, in my opinion – vs going on your own:

• The door to door transportation.
• Not waiting in line for the ticket entry.
• Getting the history and information from a trained archeologist and historian.
• There are many choices for private and group tours, but you can contact me directly for the names of the guides we used. We loved them both, but they work independently, and don’t have website links.

What You’ll See in Teotihuacán

Pyramid of the Sun
The Pyramid of the Sun is  the largest pyramid in Teotihuacán and is one of the biggest pyramids in the world. 

Pyramid of the Moon
The Pyramid of the Moon is the second-largest pyramid in Teotihuacán. It is at the end  of the Avenue of the Dead. 

Avenue of the Dead
The Avenue of the Dead is the main road that runs from the Pyramid of the Sun to the Pyramid of the Moon. It gives you an idea of how huge and organized this city once was.

Temple of Quetzalcoatl (Temple of the Feathered Serpent)
The Temple of Quetzalcoatl is the third largest pyramid on the site. Its a perfectly carved pyramid with serpent heads and masks.

Palace of Quetzalpapálotl
The Palace of Quetzalcoatl is an astounding look at how the ruling class lived and its remains are still clear to this day. 

Danza de los Voladares
If you’re lucky, you may see a very tall pole in the parking lot with 5 men climbing on top to perform an ancient Mesoamerican ritual. This is called the Danza de los Voladares (Dance of the Flyers). One of the men, the Carporal, plays  drum and flute music to honor the sun. While he plays, all the men begin to spin (fly) from the pole attached by ropes down the 40 meter pole. It was quite beautiful and awe inspiring to see!

Teotihuacán Hot Air Balloon Rides at Sunrise

While we didn’t want to take a Hot Air Balloon Ride over Teotihuacán, we had hoped to see the colorful balloons flying on our visit. However, the rides only happen in the early morning, at sunrise. I have heard that it is a wonderful experience, not as scary as you may think, and worth the pricey ticket. You’ll have to get up about 4AM to be taken to the launch site, they’ll serve you coffee and fruit before you fly. Apparently, its chilly up there, so bring layers!
Check it out here.

Check Out The Hot Air Balloon Rides over the Teotihuacan Pyramids!

Lunch in Roma Norte

You’ll be ready to head back to the city after your day climbing pyramids in the hot sun. Ask your guide to drop you off at :

Tacos del Valle
📍Av. Álvaro Obregón 130, Roma Nte.
When people say this is the best taco restaurant in Mexico City, they aren’t kidding. You’ll have to wait in line for a table, but trust me, It’s worth it! I’ll never stop dreaming about the flautas!

Shopping in Roma Norte

After lunch, you’ll have time to walk back to the hotel for some down time or shop in the neighborhood boutiques. I highly recommend checking out some of the local perfumeries. These shops are not your average stores! Think more like a museum.

Xinú
📍Alejandro Dumas 161, Polanco
Xinu is not just any perfumery, it’s more like a museum. Tucked in a garden, it feels like you’re walking into a round house in the forest.

Fuegia
📍Córdoba 25-A, Roma Nte
Fugia is one of the most simple and yet gorgeous stores I’ve ever entered. It is just shelves and a long table filled with beautiful bottles, each with a unique scent.

Dinner at Maximo’s

After taking some down time at the hotel head to another one of Mexico City’s famous, Michelin Star restaurants.

Máximo’s
📍Av. Álvaro Obregón 65 Bis, Roma Nte.
This Michelin Star restaurant was my favorite meal in Mexico City. I loved the delicate and beautiful servings of everything that tasted like magic. The atmosphere was busy, but somehow not too loud. The service was a bit odd in that too many different staff took care of us instead of one consistent waiter. The tastes, however, more than made up for that! 

Day Four of 4 Days in CDMX: Coyoacán, Casa Azul, & Xochimilco

This is another day made perfect with the right tour guide. It involves a few drives to other parts of the city which you can do on your own with an uber, but the convenience of a guide makes it sod much more relaxing!
Pro Tip: Organize your day around the timing of your tickets to the Frida Kahlo Museum.

Coyoacán Market & Neighborhood Tour

Approximately a 30 min drive from Roma Norte is Coyoacán. Take an Uber or have your tour guide pick you up.

The Coyoacán neighborhood is one of the oldest parts of the city. Its name means Place of the Coyotes Many of the buildings, churches, and plazas are from the early colonial era in the 1500s when the Spaniards came to power. Over time, Coyoacan became the home of many artists ,bohemians, intellectuals, and a politically active culture, best known for where Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera lived.

Coyoacán Market

This historic market is one of the most lively and beautiful markets I’ve ever seen. It is filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, flowers, clothing, chocolate – you name it, it’s there. Wander through, but be careful not to get lost! We were so happy to have our tour guide maneuver us through.

Plaza Hidalgo & Jardín Centenario

Walk from the market to the main square in the center of town.

Plaza Hidalgo dates back to the 16th century when the Spaniards built the Parroquia San Juan Bautista Church. That church remains as one of Mexico City’s oldest churches.

 Adjacent to the square is the Jardín Centenario, which was developed in the early 1900’s to celebrate Mexico’s 100 years of independence. Look for the Coyote Fountain 

Casa Azul – the Frida Kahlo Museum

📍Londres 247, Del Carmen, Coyoacán
The most famous place in Coyoacan, and maybe in the whole of Mexico City, is the home of the country’s beloved Frida Kahlo. Whatever you do, make sure you have tickets in advance to this museum. If you are using a private guide, the tickets should be part of your package. 

This is the home where Frida grew up and continued to live with her family and later her husband, Diego Rivera. You’ll see their art and collections. The beauty of the home is one thing, but to imagine Frida’s life and medical illnesses, and how she was able to continue to create so much beauty, in spite of her pain, is remarkable.

Pro Tip: I DO NOT RECOMMEND using Viator or Get Your Guide for these tickets. I know, I’m an affiliate, however, I’ve read many bad reviews and heard disappointing stories about people who bought their tix for Casa Azul via these platforms and were turned down at the door due to wrong times, no availability, etc. Either get tix from the website directly, from your guide, or from your concierge.

Museo Casa Kahlo (the newer museum)

📍Aguayo 54, Del Carmen, Coyoacán
The Museo Casa Kahlo is a newer museum in Coyoacán, This museum is the historic home of Kahlo’s parents and family. The museum focuses on Frida’s earlier life and that of her family members, including her father Guillermo Kahlo, a well-known photographer.

Museo Anahuacalli – Diego Rivera’s studio

📍Museo 150, San Pablo Tepetlapa, Coyoacán
Rivera had this museum/studio built in the style of the ancient pyramids to display his artifact collections and the blueprints for his famous murals. The structure is huge and looks like on of the pyramids in Teotihuacan. Riveara passed away before the construction was complete, but he wanted the city to have it for the people.

Xochimilco Floating Gardens Boat Ride

The Xochimilco boat tour could be the highlight of your entire trip. About a 15 minute drive further south is the UNESCO historic site of Xochimilco.

This is an area of a lake and canal system that dates back to ancient times. Known for its flower growing gardens, the region is also famous for its gondolas. These very colorful boats trajineras, (3000 of them) take people up and down the canals. Your gondolier pushes the boat along with a long pole. Other boats are selling flowers, drinks, food, and even mariachi bands can entertain you.

Another time we were happy to have the guide negotiate and pay for the price of the boat as part of our package. We did tip or gondolier.

Dinner at Lina

📍Av. Yucatán 147, Roma Nte
Another highly revered spot in Roma Norte with a warm and elegant atmosphere. Lina is known as another one of CDMX’s best restaurants with locally sourced, seasonal specials. This would be another special meal- especially for your last night of celebration in Mexico City!

Where to stay in CDMX

I really highly recommend the Hotel Brick, but want to give you a few other options, also located in Roma Norte. These come very well recommended with excellent reviews. I’m sticking to Roma Norte because I really think it is the best neighborhood to stay in, especially for first timers.

Casa Seis Siete is a gorgeous 3 story mansion in Roma Norte with a garden and tons of charm and privacy.

Casona Roma Norte is another beautiful 1920’s building in Roma Norte with a pink facade, 32 lovely rooms, and great food choices!

Is It Worth Going to Mexico City for 4 days?

Absolutely! I think 4 days gives you a great feel for Mexico City and you can cover a lot of ground or scale it way back if you want to luxuriate a bit. We would have loved one more day if it had been possible, but we felt really full and energized with the amount of time we had!

What to pack for Mexico City?

• Very comfortable shoes for walking and a nice pair of shoes for evening wear.
• A light jacket and a light rain jacket if you’re visiting in the winter.
• Casual outfits for daytime touring.
• One nicer outfit for evening wear.
• A lightweight day pack.
• A portable phone charger.
• Your camera!
• Sunscreen.
• Water bottle.

Best Time To Go To Mexico City

The Fall is said to be the best time to visit Mexico City. The weather is great and the festivals for
Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) begin in October. We visited at the Christmas holiday time and the city was warm, festive, and we had very little rain.

Have More Time in Mexico City?

I almost always leave a new place thinking, “if I had more time…” This trip was amazing, but I could have used another day for a tour of the significant Diego Rivera Murals housed in the following buildings:

• National Palace
• Secretaría de Educación Pública
• Palacio de Bellas Artes
• Museo Mural Diego Rivera
• Museo del Cárcamo de Dolores

Are you excited for your 4 days in Mexico City?

In a nutshell…

Four days in Mexico City is just enough time to fall for this colorful and exciting city. The rich history, the art, the neighborhoods that feel like small towns, the music, and the food of Mexico City will keep you talking about returning as soon as you leave.

You may come for the sights, but you’ll leave with stories, flavors, and moments that stay with you forever and a quiet plan to come back for more.

xx,
Carrie