Two days in Mexico City is not enough, and it's enough to make you plan the next trip before you leave.
Day one: the centre, then Roma#
9am The Zócalo, the Cathedral, the Templo Mayor beside it. 11am Diego Rivera's murals at the National Palace or Bellas Artes, then the Palacio itself. 1:30 A cantina lunch in the Centro. 4pm A ride to Roma Norte: Álvaro Obregón, the Mercado Roma, Parque México in Condesa as the light goes. 8pm A mezcalería, dinner at a counter, tacos al pastor at 11.
Day two: Chapultepec, then Coyoacán#
9am Chapultepec Park and the castle on the hill. 11am The Anthropology Museum, two or three hours: the Aztec sun stone, the Maya rooms, the best museum in the hemisphere. 2pm A ride to Coyoacán: the market for lunch (tostadas), the two plazas, the churches, a coffee. Frida's house if you booked weeks ago; otherwise the outside. 7pm Back to Roma for the last dinner, or Coyoacán's cantinas.
Cut without guilt#
Teotihuacán, Xochimilco, Frida unbooked, Polanco, lucha libre unless it's Friday and you have the energy. They're all in the 5-day and 4-day versions.
Where to sleep#
Roma Norte or Condesa. Best neighbourhoods, airport to the city.
Practical#
Altitude: gently on day one. Cash for markets and tacos; cards elsewhere. Uber for rides. First time in Mexico City, is it safe?, where locals eat, the month you're coming.
The one real evening#
Post your dates on Roavi Community before you fly, and a Local Friend can meet you on night one: their taquería, their pulquería, a city of twenty million made personal in three hours.
Two days in Mexico City? Spend one evening with someone who lives there.
Meet a Local FriendFrequently Asked Questions
Is 2 days enough for Mexico City?
For a taste: the historic centre, the Anthropology Museum, Roma-Condesa and Coyoacán, with excellent food between them. Not enough for Teotihuacán or Xochimilco without rushing. Most people come back.What should I skip in Mexico City with 2 days?
Teotihuacán (a half day with travel), Xochimilco (an afternoon), the Frida Kahlo Museum unless you booked weeks ago, Polanco's shopping, and anything south of Coyoacán. Keep the centre, Chapultepec, Roma-Condesa and Coyoacán.Where should I stay for 2 nights in Mexico City?
Roma Norte or Condesa: walkable, safe, full of restaurants, with Chapultepec on foot and the centre a short ride away. The Centro Histórico is atmospheric by day and quieter at night; Polanco is upmarket and further from everything.How do I handle the altitude on a short trip?
Take the first morning gently, drink water, eat lightly and skip the heavy drinking on night one. Most people feel fine by day two.
