What are your experiences as a tourist in Mexico City?

Question

Good or Bad?
Safe?
Areas worth visiting?
Areas not worth visiting?
Best Hotel?

Answer 1

Not worth it.
Nasty, dirty, horrible city, people have no education and manners.
Never again.

The only good thing was the archaeology museum.

Answer 2

I know obviously that you need a foreign tourist opinion, but let me give you mine.

I live in Mexico City and know several of the world's capital cities.

I think Mexico City's safe meanwhile you visit the nice or tourist areas. I mean, it's like going to NYC and get into the Bronx or Harlem, for sure I'll never do it.

Areas worth visiting:
Centro Histórico (downtown). Most of the ancient buildings of the whole continent are located here. Lots of thing to do if you like history and architecture.

Polanco: The fashionista quarter. Here are located the designer stores and Mazaryk Ave. is kind of 5th Avenue. Visiting Antara Polanco Mall is a must.

Roma-Condesa: These are the french quarters of the city. You'll find gorgeous architecture and lots of restaurants and cafes where hip youngs go. This is kind of East Village with a Mexican taste.

Coyoacan: And ancient spanish quarter. This place has a lot of culture and a bohemian atmosphere. Here is located the house-museum of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. There a wonderful handcraft market on sundays.

Reforma Avenue and Chapultepec Castle: Reforma Avenue is the beautiest avenues of the whole country and was once catalogated as one of the beautiest streets in the world. It was build by order of Emperor Maximilian of Habsburg (and austrian prince who governed Mexico for four years) as a copy of Champs Elysées avenue in Paris.

Chapultepec Castle was the house of the two empires that Mexico has and home of some presidents. This is the only formally castle in the continent.

Teotihuacan: This is an ancient city (700BC-200AC) cradle of Teotihuacan civilization. It has the highest pyramid in the western hemisphere and it's only 50 kms from the city.

Well... definitely there are lots of things to do and see in a 22 million people city.

The best hotel in town in my opinion would be The W and the JW Marriot.

Particularly I love The W hotel because of its architecture and atmosphere.
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1444&localeoverwrite=

Not worthy visiting:
Some people says Xochimilco is a must. But I find it a bit of boring.


Well, I hope this info can help you a little bit.

Regards.

Answer 3

I really enjoyed Mexico City. It can be overwhelming, but if you pick certain neighborhoods to explore, you'll find it much more manageable. It's similar to New York in that way.

First, check when you are visiting. Since most people who visit Mexico City come during hte week on business, many of the better hotels offer incredible discounts for the weekends. My wife and I stayed at the Four Seasons for less than $200 a night this January. So be alert for those sorts of deals. The Four Seasons was incredible. Other hotels in Polanco are nice as well.

If your budget is a bit tighter, stay at a boutique hotel in Roma or Condesa. I stayed at La Casona in Roma Norte -- very nice boutique hotel, but my bed wasn't very comfortable. You might want to try it out before settling in.

Roma and Condesa are lovely bohemian-esque districts with good restaurants. Polanco has terrific restaurants as well. I found that I ate as well in Mexico City as I have in any other city anywhere. Brilliant food, very reasonably priced.

For a good perspective on where to go, check out the Turibus -- this bus takes you past all the major sites, and even better, a ticket lets you jump on and off. It's a great way to get to certain areas of the city, like the Zocalo.

The Zocalo is the center of the Centro Histórico, the middle of Mexico. It used to be the central square of the Aztec city Tenochtitlan: they've uncovered the remains of the main temple just off the square! It's definitely worth a visit: check out the cathedral, the Aztec temple, the National Palace, and the side streets to the west and north of the square. Don't go east. And don't go too far, either.

You'll quickly learn that some areas of Mexico are perfectly safe and some are not. Be sure to call a cab when you need one: don't hail one. Any guidebook will explain the best ways to stay safe.

If you're into shopping and are there on a Saturday, take a trip down to the San Angel neighborhood to check out the Bazar Sabado. It's a cornucopia of great arts, crafts, and furniture. Well worth a visit.

Also, be sure to take a side trip to Teotihuacan, an immense city from more than two thousand years ago. Climb a pyramid. It'll give you character.

Don't be afraid to eat anything that's cooked. Do be afraid to drink anything other than bottled water.

Lastly, prepare to be impressed with the friendliness of the Mexicans. I found people in Mexico City to be much more tolerant of my inability to speak Spanish than people at the gringo beach resorts. Mexico Citians are helpful, considerate, and delighted to have people visit their city.

Oh, I forgot the Anthropology Museum. One of the best in the world. Resplendent. Truly amazing artifacts.

So go! It's totally worth it.

Answer 4

Huge place but watch your back.I was travelling on there metro and felt very uncomfortable.I wouldn't advise travelling alone and be extra careful at night. There's so much to see you'd need atleast a week,The sun & moon pyramids are excellent if a little out of the city centre.I enjoyed visiting The Azteca football stadium to watch a match and Pumas stadium too.The Cathedral is good and you've got the hidden village next to that which is excellent.If you go an hour or so out of D.F.you come to Taxsco ( spelt wrond ) but its where they produce and mine silver and if you carry on a few more hours you come to Acapulco now there's a place worth a week of anybody's time.The coach from D.F. to Acapulco takes 4 hours and costs about 350 pasoes ( $ 30 ) each way. Have a good time all the best Rick

Answer 5

Awesome! I loved it! I would go back every summer if I could! The people are friendly. There is always something to do. You should definitely visit xcaret. and there was this other little island that is fun but I cant think of the name! If you really want to know email me and I will find it out for sure for you! It was nice you paid so much and you take a boat to the island and then you can get a tour of the island. There are restaurants and you can eat at any restaurant you stop at for free and have all the free drinks you want. then they have snorkeling and plenty more.

Answer 6

I went I really enjoyed it, Ummmm i would say it depends on where you are, what you're wearing and what you're driving. I would definately visit the pyramids of the sun and moon, and if you get the cahnce to drive down to Acapulco (despite the fact its a 4 hour drive) I would recommend that too. We stayed in the Sheraton Isabella Towers I think which had amazing views of the Angel statue (can't remember waht its called). It can be really noisy in the morning with all the taxi's though...

Answer 7

I GO TO MEXICO CITY EVERY YEAR. TAKE THIS ADVICE FROM A MEXICAN CHICK. IT IS GOOD BUT U JUST HAVE TO BE REALLY CAREFUL IN SOME AREAS. DON'T SHOW UP WIT EXPENSIVE THINGS LIKE CLOTHES,JEWELERY, AND BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR MONEY.

Answer 8

Downtown is pretty hectic but lots of interesting stuff. I suggest you get a guide book like Lonely Planet so you won't miss any of the choices ... like Teotihuacan

http://sparks-mexico.com/mex2005/Cuerna/Museos/Diego/index.htm

http://sparks-mexico.com/mex2005/Cuerna/Museos/Olmedo/index.htm

http://sparks-mexico.com/mex2005/Cuerna/Xochimilco/index.htm