Mexico City was the 3rd part of my 9 days trip to Mexico. I flew from Cancun airport to Mexico City. I booked my flight with Volaris and it cost me $75 for a return flight. I purchased a return flight because my flight back home was from Cancun airport. It was a decent flight for the price. I didn’t take the risk of driving in Mexico City because it is super crowded  and decided to take Uber. I paid $5 – $9 for most of my Uber rides around the city.

Staying in Mexico City

I was staying in Hampton Inn & Suites Mexico City – Centro Historico,  located minutes from the main square of Mexico City. The hotel is located inside a plaza with a lot of dining and shopping options. I booked the hotel  using points earned through my Amex Card and ended up staying for free. It’s an old hotel with great condition and preserved very well.

Activities /Attractions

Zocalo

On day 1, I took a walking tour of the city and explored some of the famous landmarks of Mexico City which included Palacio de Bellas Artes, Parque Alameda Central , Lationo Americana, Garibaldi Square, Revolution Monument, Avenida Francisco Madera, Templo Mayor and Angel of Independence. I also tried different street food along the way. Street artists display their performances on almost every corner and some of those performances are mind-blowing.

Chapultepec Castle

On my 2nd day I took Uber to Chapultepec Castle, which was only 15 minutes from my hotel. The castle is located at the top of Chapultepec Hill and serves a historical site and local landmark because it has been home to Mexican leaders. It’s a steep walk to the top of the Hill to explore this beautiful castle and enjoy the views. The castle is an exhibition of great Mexican architecture. You can take a tour of the outside and inside of the castle and see different parts at your own pace. I enjoyed every corner of the castle and returned to my hotel in the afternoon. I highly recommend visiting this place to anyone visiting Mexico City.

Xochimilco

On day 3, I took Uber to Xochimilco  which was 40 minutes out of the city. It is known for the famous canals of Xochimilco. These canals are the last remnants of a vast water transport system built by Aztecs. This place is very colorful and lively. Boat tour is a must to experience this beautiful place and it costs 200 pesos. Food vendors, artisans and mariachi bands pass by if you are interested. After the boat tour, I enjoyed some good street tacos and walked to see the arts and crafts shops to purchase some gifts for my friends and family. I took Uber back to my hotel after relaxing day at Xochimilco.

Frida Kahlo Museum

While in Mexica City, Frida Kahlo museum was a must for me. The museum was 20 minutes from my hotel and I took an Uber to get there. I paid 200 pesos to get into the museum. This museum is dedicated to the life and work of Frida Kahlo. The house has blue walls and every part of it is nicely preserved and decorated with the work of the famous Mexican artist.  This was an amazing experience to see this artistic place and experience travel in time to visualize how Frida Kahlo lived and created her pieces. After spending 2 – 3 hours at Frida Kahlo museum, I explored the neighboring city and tried some street food and returned to my hotel in the evening.

Basilica of Guadalupe

On my 5th day in Mexico, I took Uber to Basilica of Guadalupe which was 20 minutes from my hotel. This is a Roman Catholic church and national shrine of Mexico. People from all over Mexico were here to visit this holy place. It was a good experience to see this place from a different perspective. I get to see the inside of shrine and took the stairs all the way to the top of the hill. I didn’t spend much time here as I have to catch my flight back to Cancun to catch my return flight back home to Atlanta.

Mexico City is a hustling and bustling city full of culture, history and great food. The city is crowded all the time and you will find art and craft displays at every corner to attract your attention.