Mexico City Holidays

Who is Mexico City best for?

A sky-high mega-city that’s home to more than 20-plus million people, Mexico City sure does make an impression. If it’s architecture you’re after, there’s plenty to discover here. Take a tour of the city and you’ll see everything from pre-Hispanic and colonial-era gems to cool contemporary beauties. Anyone with a craving for culture will find a wealth of fascinating museums to delve into and ancient canals to boat along, while foodies will delight in the exploding culinary scene and tasty tacos and tortas at every turn.

What can you find in Mexico City that you won’t find elsewhere?

The different cultures that have inhabited the city over the centuries have left an interesting architectural legacy. The modern city was founded on the ruins of the ancient Aztec site of Tenochtitlan, the excavated remains of which can be seen close to the Zócalo - the vast central square. Alongside such pre-Hispanic remains are colonial era buildings such as the richly ornamented national cathedral at one end of the Zócalo, and the National Palace, which houses Diego Rivera murals depicting the country's history.

The historic centre contains many other palaces, mansions and churches interspersed with modern skyscrapers, and there is plenty of green space too, notably vast Chapultepec Park. Leafy upmarket residential districts such as Condesa, Roma and Polanco are filled with beautiful buildings and stylish restaurants, bars and boutiques.

Mexico City also has a large number of quality museums, chief among them the National Museum of Anthropology & Archaeology, housing priceless artefacts from Mexico's early civilizations such as the Maya, Toltec, Zapotec and Aztec cultures.

Crazy, colourful and utterly captivating, there is so much to discover on a Mexico City holiday. Head to one of the many tianguis (open-air market or bazaars) where you can mingle with the locals and nab yourself a souvenir or two to take home. If you’ve got some time on your hands on your Mexico City holiday, take a tour of some of the neighbouring colonial cities: San Angel with its cute cobblestone streets and sidewalk cafes; Morelia with its pretty pink stone buildings; Taxco, famed for its silver jewellery and Spanish colonial architecture and Patzcuaro with its terracotta-tiled roofs and narrow, winding roads. Or head to the charming, colourful town of San Miguel de Allende, to enjoy its fantastic food and wine or explore the many museums and local boutiques.

Special things to do on your Mexico City holidays

For a spectacle like no other, experience the rush of watching Lucha Libre (Mexican wrestling). One of the most popular spectator sports in Mexico, the crowds turn up in their hundreds to watch the action. Grab yourself a cold beer and take your place among the locals to watch masked, lycra-wearing luchadores throw each other around the arena, competing for the win.