🇲🇽 Mexico City

Culture, Color & Celebrations in Every Corner

If you’re thinking about visiting Mexico City – do it. This city stole my heart with its rich culture, historic beauty, delicious food, and nonstop energy. It’s a city that leaves an impression, and for me, it felt like the perfect mix of history, heart, and fun. From ancient ruins and majestic castles to colorful markets and floating fiestas, CDMX buzzes with life in every corner. It’s one of those places where you’ll want more time than you planned for (trust me). Here’s the full breakdown of our girls trip – what we did, what we loved, and what I highly recommend if you’re planning your own adventure to Ciudad de México (CDMX)!

✈️ Day 1: Arrival & Azul Evenings

We arrived in Mexico City excited and ready to explore. After a smooth airport experience (with a few laughs and a few luggage Tetris moments), we got settled into our hotel and headed out to toast the beginning of our adventure.

🥂 Drinks at The Bar LS

A sleek, chill spot with creative cocktails and perfect pre-dinner vibes. A great way to kick off our trip!

🍽 Dinner at Azul Condesa

Dinner was at Azul Condesa, and wow—this place is a must. The atmosphere was artsy yet cozy, with hanging plants and glowing lanterns, and the menu brought traditional Mexican dishes into a refined, modern spotlight.

✨ Pro Tip: Make a reservation here—this spot is popular for good reason. The chile en nogada and their handmade tortillas are chef’s kiss.

🎨 Day 2: Frida’s World, Floating Markets & Historic Sights

☀️ Morning: Frida Kahlo Museum – La Casa Azul

As someone who’s admired Frida Kahlo since I was a teenager, visiting her home in Coyoacán was emotional and surreal. Her art has always spoken to me—raw, vibrant, personal, and deeply political. She turned pain into poetry on canvas, and walking through her home gave me a new layer of understanding.

La Casa Azul is filled with her personal items: her iconic clothing, her wheelchair positioned in front of her easel, her corsets, letters, and even the bed where she painted while bedridden. You walk through the courtyard filled with cobalt walls, greenery, and indigenous artifacts—it’s like stepping into a sacred, creative space.

✨ Pro Tip: Buy your tickets in advance online, and try to book an early time slot. This museum sells out fast, and the lines can get long.

While waiting, we saw a local vendor prepping crunchy crickets seasoned with chili and lime 🍋🦗. It was oddly mesmerizing watching her hand-package them—only in Mexico City!

🚤 Afternoon: Xochimilco – Floating Fiesta + Local Treasures

From the quiet reflection of Frida’s world, we transitioned into full-on party mode in Xochimilco! This place is famous for its colorful trajinera boats that cruise through canals left behind by the ancient Aztecs.

We booked our own trajinera and filled it with guac ingredients, drinks, and snacks. One of the highlights? A guacamole-making contest right on the boat (some of the girls got way too creative, and I loved every second). The birthday girl got a special serenade from a live mariachi band that jumped on board mid-cruise—pure joy.

The floating vendors were a highlight too—selling everything from elotes to flower crowns 🌽🌸. After the ride, we explored the surrounding market stalls, picking up handcrafted souvenirs, local textiles, and beautiful pottery. If you’re looking for authentic and affordable keepsakes, this is the place!

✨ Pro Tip: Bring small bills for vendors, wear something colorful or coordinate fun shirts with your girlies for those Insta pics, and don’t be shy—bargaining is part of the culture here!

✨ Pro Tip: You can pre-book a private boat for your group or walk up and negotiate on-site. Bring snacks, drinks, and don’t skip the guac kit – some of our best laughs came from that!

🌆 Evening: Palacio de Bellas Artes, Zócalo & Chinatown

Afterward, we headed back into the city center and were stunned by the beauty of Palacio de Bellas Artes. The white marble exterior and the gold-trimmed Art Nouveau interior? Breathtaking. We lucked out with a professional photo shoot opportunity from some local vendors (totally affordable) and ended up with some of our favorite shots from the trip.

✨ Pro Tip: Want a killer view? Head across the street to Macy’s and find the coffee shop on the top floor (I think it was level 4 or 5). The view of the palace is next level.

Next up was a walk to Zócalo Plaza, the historic main square filled with energy—street dancers, indigenous performers, and musicians lit up the evening. We ended our night in Chinatown, where we found a cozy (and mystery-named!) Chinese spot for dinner. It hit the spot.

Back at the hotel, we danced the night away to live music at the hotel bar. Pure happiness. 💃

✨ Pro Tip: Always check if your hotel has events happening – some of our most unexpected fun happened right at “home base.”

🏰 Day 3: Castles, Pyramids & Underground Dining

☀️ Morning: Chapultepec Park & Castle

We started our day at Monumento a los Niños Héroes, honoring the six heroic cadets who died defending the city. It’s a powerful, beautiful memorial at the entrance to Chapultepec Park, one of the largest urban parks in the world.

A short walk took us to Chapultepec Castle—the only true royal castle in North America. Perched high on a hill, this 18th-century castle was once home to Emperor Maximilian and later became the official residence of Mexican presidents. Inside, we marveled at stained-glass windows, sweeping staircases, period furniture, and historical murals.

✨ Pro Tip: Wear comfy shoes—there’s an uphill walk to the castle, but the views of the city from the top are 100% worth it.

🌄 Afternoon: Pyramid of the Sun & La Gruta Cave Restaurant

From royalty to ancient ruins—next up was Teotihuacán, home to the Pyramid of the Sun. Standing at over 200 feet tall, this is one of the largest pyramids in the world. Built by an unknown civilization before the Aztecs, it was part of a massive urban complex. The precision of the stonework and the alignment with astronomical events still amaze archaeologists today.

Climbing to the top isn’t allowed anymore (for preservation), but walking alongside it and soaking in its presence was magical. There’s something about being in a place that’s over 2,000 years old that puts things into perspective.

🍽 Lunch at La Gruta

Right nearby is La Gruta, a restaurant literally inside a cave. As you walk in, you’re greeted with flickering candles, volcanic stone walls, and an ambience that feels both ancient and mystical.

We ordered tacos, salads, mole, and mango margaritas (some virgin, some not 😉). The food was phenomenal—smoky flavors, rich sauces, and warm tortillas that felt handmade with love.

✨ Pro Tip: Make reservations in advance, especially on weekends. Ask to sit near the center of the cave for the full experience!

🛑 Heads-up: Getting back to the city can be tough. Our Uber kept canceling and we had almost no signal. Pre-arrange a ride or book a roundtrip tour.

🌙 Evening: Basilica & Rooftop Romance

To wind down, we visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in all of Latin America. Even if you’re not religious, the architecture and reverence of the space will move you.

Dinner that night was on a rooftop at Zócalo, overlooking the cathedral lights twinkling below. It was the perfect quiet moment after a packed day.

And yes, we had to grab gelato from Amorino on our walk back—those flower-shaped scoops always get me 🍦🌸

🥐 Day 4: One Last Walk & Sweet Goodbyes

On our last morning, we visited the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, a towering presence in Zócalo. Then we wandered into Templo de San Felipe Neri, a lesser-known gem filled with quiet beauty and old-world charm.

Before heading to the airport, we stopped at local bakeries for pan dulce and packaged up treats to take home. Let’s just say the suitcase got significantly heavier (and sweeter 😅).

🧳 Final Thoughts, Tips & Things to Know

Getting Around 🚗

Uber is super affordable and reliable in most areas. But for longer day trips (like Teotihuacán), book private transportation or a guided tour to avoid getting stuck.

What to Pack 🎒

Fun Finds 💛

Souvenirs: Pick up handmade crafts, textiles, and sweets – support local!

Tea Forte: I fell in love with this tea brand during our hotel breakfasts. TTheir pyramid-shaped tea bags are elegant, aromatic, and totally soothing. I now keep a stash at home.

💬 Until Next Time, CDMX

From Frida’s paintbrushes to Aztec pyramids, floating fiestas to cave dining – Mexico City was unforgettable. It’s a place that blends ancient with modern, joy with reflection, and flavor with flair. I can’t wait to return.

Hasta luego, CDMX 🇲🇽❤️