10 Budget-friendly Things to do in Mexico City That You Shouldn't Miss

May 1, 2022 Karren Gelb

Rising from the ruins of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, Mexico City offers a unique collision of contemporary city life and historic preservation. World-class museums, restaurants and parks rub shoulders with the remains of several cultures. The nightlife, the shopping and the history make it a must-see regardless of your travel style.
Restaurants in Mexico City

1. Museo Nacional de Antropologia

Av. Paseo de la Reforma s/n, Bosque de Chapultepec I Secc, Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico City 11560 Mexico 52 55 5553 6266 https://www.mna.inah.gob.mx/
Excellent
86%
Good
12%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
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1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 19,688 reviews

Museo Nacional de Antropologia

Considered one of the world's most comprehensive natural history museums, this famous institution houses four square kilometers of exhibits in 23 exhibition halls.

Reviewed By LauraGrabs4 - Hamburg, Germany

Huge museum, amazing exhibition halls, everything sehr explain, a wonderful way to get to know about the beginnings of Mexico's history and all about the prehispánico cultures, great guides, beautiful spaces, a shame the moctezuma´s headress is a copy, the original is in Vienna. Must visit!

2. Murales de Diego Rivera en la Secretaria de Educacion Publica

Calle Republica de Argentina 28, Mexico City 06000 Mexico
Excellent
83%
Good
15%
Satisfactory
2%
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0%
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5.0 based on 1,755 reviews

Murales de Diego Rivera en la Secretaria de Educacion Publica

Reviewed By LHOVancouver - Vancouver, Canada

Free entry with lineup and Pass. Inside the upper Corridors (second level) of the Palacio. Reminder no English descriptions so bring a guide or Book. You'll see ancient to modern. Diego Riviera foresaw the rise of Hitler and other Fascist regimes in his paintins (this done early 1920's). Also look for His self-portrait and that of his lover/wife, Frida Kahlo (on the final panel!) Good luck and enjoy!

3. Museo del Templo Mayor

Seminario 8 Centro Histórico, Mexico City 06060 Mexico 52 5 5424784 [email protected] http://www.templomayor.inah.gob.mx/
Excellent
68%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
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4.5 based on 4,327 reviews

Museo del Templo Mayor

The ruins of the temple the Aztecs believed to be center of the universe.

Reviewed By murali8121 - Kochi (Cochin), India

Located in the historical centre next to the Metropolitan Cathedral and the national Palace. Open 9.00 - 5.00 except Mondays Entry ticket 80 pesos Time required to see two hours and more depending on interest The temple construction began around 1325 and was rebuilt multiple times. The Spanish partly destroyed the temple to make way for a cathedral in 1521. Templo Mayor was built as the main temple in the ancient capital city of Tenochtitlan for worshipping the God of war Huitzilopochtli, and Tlaloc, god of rain and agriculture, on top of pyramids with separate staircases. Do not miss the museum behind the excavations which exhibit plenty of the findings in several floors.

4. Bosque de Chapultepec

Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico City Mexico http://data.sedema.cdmx.gob.mx/bosquedechapultepec/
Excellent
61%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
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4.5 based on 2,364 reviews

Bosque de Chapultepec

This 1,600-acre bucolic park has enough activities to fill days at a time and is particularly popular among families with children.

Reviewed By 759elib - Sydney, Australia

Its got to be one of the largest, best planned green spaces in the world, twice the size of NYC’s Central Park. There are nine museums within its confines giving me access to some of the best art and artefacts in the entire city. Lungfulls of clean oxygen in a city chocking with pollution. One of my fav spots is home to the Fuente de Tlaloc and the Carcamo de Dolores, featuring two of Rivera’s more unique and lesser known works of art- the massive mosaic tile fountain and mural. Its nice to sit and contemplate one’s navel or watch the never still locomotion of the populace at play or rest. I am in the reading garden audiorama sitting on the comfy multicoloured bench while all around me children, elderly folk and tourists like me take time out to let this marvel of great planning, seep- in and invade my pleasured sensorium. Its perfectly positioned opposite the amazing Anthropological Museum on the Paseo de la Reforma. Its a zig-zag kind of adventure with terrific views like nowhere else. All roads bordering the park have the best preserved Art Deco buildings which form a non ending eye-candy for this architectural buff. the best in my time in the capitol were: Avenida Mexico, Avenida Amsterdam, Campeche and Queretaro.

5. Zocalo

Calle Plaza de La Constitucion S/N Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Mexico City 06000 Mexico
Excellent
60%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
1%
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4.5 based on 5,522 reviews

Zocalo

One of the largest public plazas in the world, the Zócalo is the heart of Mexico City and is one of the city's most famous attractions.

Reviewed By susanaquerida - Vancouver, Canada

We saw the zocalo for the 2nd time at Christmas. Wow. The lights on the municipal hall, there was a stage for performers, an ice rink, it was amazing. Of course it's very crowded, but that's Mexico City.

6. National Palace (Palacio Nacional)

Avenida Pino Suarez, Corregidora esquina Guatemala Zócalo, Mexico City 06060 Mexico +52 55 3688 1255 http://www.hacienda.gob.mx/cultura/museo_virtual_pal_nac/index.htm
Excellent
67%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
5%
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4.5 based on 3,308 reviews

National Palace (Palacio Nacional)

This historic building was once occupied by Hernán Cortés, the Spanish explorer who conquered the Aztecs, and includes a famous panoramic mural of Mexican history by Diego Rivera.

Reviewed By k7vidya - London, United Kingdom

The National Palace building covers the one side of Zocala. Entry to this amazing Spanish Colonial building is free, but you must hand in a photo ID when you enter and get it back on your way out. Just make sure they are originals, not photo copies. The National Palace houses some of Diego Revera's murals. The one by the big staircase was my favorite. There are other exhibitions about Mexican history and culture along with a museum dedicated to Benito Juarez, the father of Mexico - showing the history of Mexico and his living area along with beautiful ground around the building. Again it's a shame that most of the information was in Spanish not in English.

7. Mercado De Artesanias La Ciudadela

Calle Baldera 6 Enrico Martinez, Mexico City 06040 Mexico +52 55 5510 1828 http://m.facebook.com/MERCADODEARTESANIASLACIUDADELA/
Excellent
54%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
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4.5 based on 945 reviews

Mercado De Artesanias La Ciudadela

For a great selection of Mexican crafts, visit the Ciudadela, four blocks south of the Alameda Park on Balderas Avenue just south of Paseo de la Reforma. It's a semi-covered market that covers 16,000 square meters with more than 200 stalls. It's worth quite a chunk of time if you want the full tour. There are some great comedores (food stalls) if you need a pick-me-up snack or beverage.

Reviewed By jjbeaumier - Hartsville, United States

We we’re looking for Alebrije (paper mache colorful monsters) and we found a great selection. Lots of junk but the gems are here too.

8. Museo Frida Kahlo

Calle Londres 247 Col. Del Carmen, Mexico City 04100 Mexico +52 55545999 [email protected] http://www.museofridakahlo.org.mx/en/
Excellent
63%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
2%
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4.5 based on 9,703 reviews

Museo Frida Kahlo

The lifelong home of Frida Kahlo is now a museum dedicated to the work of this famous 20th-century artist.

Reviewed By Seanspacifica - St. Albans, United Kingdom

I highly recommend visiting the Frida Kahlo museum, and if you’re English it’s worth paying the extra pesos to have an audio guide. The house is beautiful with so many original artifacts and paintings, and it’s a great way to get a feel for the colourful character that Frida Kahlo was. It’s a very popular attraction so to avoid VERY long queues, it’s best to book ahead.

9. Coyoacan

Parque Centenario, Mexico City 04000 Mexico http://coyoacan.df.gob.mx
Excellent
68%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
4%
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4.5 based on 7,805 reviews

Coyoacan

Coyoacan, a former village and now one of the 16 boroughs of Mexico City, is a historic center. It is a popular place to visit, especially on weekends, because many of the original layouts, plazas and narrow streets have been preserved and date from the 16th to the early 20th centuries.

Reviewed By lorrainew241 - San Francisco, United States

We stayed in this neighborhood in an AirBnB and loved this charming and historic part of Mexico City. Especially wonderful is the main square in which you can see all types of people of all ages enjoying the outdoors, kissing on benches and enjoying the fountains and performers. We delighted in how vibrant and alive everything was in the evenings - so many families and kids strolling even after 10-11pm. Loved it!

10. San Angel

Mexico City Mexico 46239459 http://www.barriosmagicos.com.mx/place/barrio-de-san-angel
Excellent
67%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
4%
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4.5 based on 880 reviews

San Angel

This neighborhood is known for its narrow cobblestone streets and is an oasis in otherwise bustling Mexico City.

Reviewed By advntr_skr - San Francisco, United States

Check it out on a Saturday. I stumbled upon this walk when downloading self guided walks on GPSmycity app

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