This itinerary combines Mexico City’s most important cultural sights with excursions to Teotihuacán, Querétaro, and Peña de Bernal. This route offers a mix of archaeology, museums, colonial architecture, local culture, and traditional towns.
We visited Mexico City while staying with friends, which gave us the flexibility to explore both the city and the surrounding region at our own pace. We travelled mainly by car, but within Mexico City many of the places on this itinerary can also be reached by public transport. The metro is particularly useful for moving around, although it can be crowded during rush hours. As in many large cities, it is worth exercising extra caution in less touristic areas and on the outskirts of the metropolitan region.
At a Glance
| Duration | 7 days, excluding arrival and departure |
| Base | Mexico City, with one overnight stop in Querétaro |
| Transport | Mostly car; public transport within Mexico City |
| Pace | Moderate |
| Approximate budget (2 people) | €800, excluding flights and accommodation |
Best for: History, archaeology, museums, colonial towns, local culture
Day 1 – Historic centre of CDMX
We started our trip in Mexico City (Ciudad de México) by exploring the Mercado Jamaica, one of the city’s most famous traditional markets. We spent the first part of the morning wandering between local fruits, traditional food stalls, and flowers. In fact, Mercado Jamaica is the largest flower market in the capital. Our attention was caught by the variety of piñatas, sold in every shape, size, and theme imaginable for all kinds of celebrations.
From there, we moved to the historical heart of the city: the Zócalo. Having seen this location countless times in books and documentaries, especially in discussions about Mexico City’s subsidence, standing there in person was a memorable experience. The square occupies what was once part of Lake Texcoco and the site where, according to legend, the Mexicas witnessed an eagle devouring a snake while perched on a cactus, the sign that led them to establish the city of Tenochtitlan.
We stopped at the Museo del Templo Mayor, an archaeological site where the remains of the most important temple of the ancient city can still be seen. Parts of the ruins are visible from outside the museum, but we highly recommend entering if you are interested in Mexican history and archaeology. Allow at least two hours to properly explore both the archaeological remains and the museum collections.
Next, we visited the Metropolitan Cathedral, where the effects of subsidence are impossible to ignore. Inside, visitors can observe a pendulum suspended from the ceiling, used to monitor the building’s differential settlement and movement over time. We spent around two hours exploring the cathedral and its chapels.
After leaving the cathedral, we headed towards the Palacio de Bellas Artes. Along the way, we made an unexpected but memorable stop at Panadería La Ideal. Unlike many bakeries, visitors walk through the different sections carrying a tray and tongs, selecting breads and pastries before paying at the counter. It felt more like exploring a market than visiting a bakery. For bread lovers like us, it was paradise.
Unfortunately, this delightful detour meant we no longer had enough time to enter the Palacio de Bellas Artes, although we admired the building from the outside. If your schedule allows, we would recommend setting aside one or two hours for a visit.
We finished the day by walking towards the Ángel de la Independencia, one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. It is beautiful during the day and particularly striking once illuminated at night.
Day 2 – Basilica of Guadalupe and Coyoacán
This day combined two very different sides of Mexico City. We started at the Basilica of Guadalupe, where we spent much longer than we initially expected. The basilica itself if part of a larger religious complex, with gardens leading to a small church on the Cerro de Tepeyac. In the gardens there is also an impressive monument dedicated to Juan Diego and the apparition of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
In the late afternoon, we headed south to Coyoacán, one of the city’s most charming neighbourhoods. Its plazas, streets, and artisan markets provide a completely different atmosphere from the historic centre of CDMX.
Planning tip: If the Frida Kahlo Museum is one of your priorities, this would be the obvious day to include it. We did not visit it, so it isn’t part of this itinerary.
Day 3 – Teotihuacán
We gave an entire day to Teotihuacán and the on-site museum. This proved to be the right decision. The archaeological zone is large, and there is much more to see than the famous Piramide del Sol and Piramide de la Luna. Walking along the Avenue of the Dead and exploring the different complexes takes time, especially if you also visit the museum.
Planning Tip: Arrive early to avoid some of the crowds and the strongest heat of the day.
Days 4-5 – Peña de Bernal and Querétaro
We left Mexico City for an overnight excursion to Peña de Bernal and Querétaro.
On the way to Peña de Bernal, we stopped for barbacoa, traditionally slow-cooked in an underground pit. This was a recommendation from locals rather than a carefully researched stop, and it became one of the memorable meals of the trip. Peña de Bernal is known for its enormous monolith, one of the largest in the world. We climbed part of the monolith and stayed to enjoy the sunset before continuing to Querétaro. Visiting during December made the city particularly atmospheric thanks to the Christmas lights decorating the historic centre.
The following day we joined a guided city tour using one of the electric vintage-style vehicles that operate around the city. This proved to be an excellent way to see the main highlights, including the Aqueduct, the Historic centre, and the Miradores (viewpoints). Our guide added a large amount of historical context and local anecdotes that we would otherwise have missed.
Day 6 – National Museum of Anthropology and History
Back to Mexico City, we dedicated an entire day to the National Museum of Anthropology and History. Even that was barely enough. We used the audio guide and initially tried to listen to every explanation while moving through the museum chronologically. This approach provided an excellent understanding of the development of Mexico’s civilizations, but we soon realised that seeing everything in detail in a single day is nearly impossible.
Highlights included Olmec colossal heads, Maya artefacts and Aztec collections.
One interesting detail is that the famous feathered serpent headdress associated with Moctezuma is represented by a reproduction, while the original remains in Europe.
Planning Tip: It may be worth prioritising sections that most interest you before exploring the rest.
Day 7 – Xochimilco
After six days dominated by museums, archaeological sites, historic centres and driving, we wanted the final day to be slower. Xochimilco, famous for its network of canals and colourful boats, was the perfect choice. We hired a colourful trajinera and spent several hours on the canals. The experience can be adapted to different travel styles: some visitors come to enjoy a relaxing cruise, while others use the boats for celebrations and larger gatherings. For us, it was simply a relaxed way to end our trip. We also visited an axolotl conservation centre, which added an unexpected stop to the day and introduced us to one of the animals most closely associated with Mexico City.
How It Worked for Us
We liked the variety of this trip. The overnight excursion to Peña de Bernal and Querétaro also added a change of pace while remaining easy to incorporate into a stay in Mexico City.
If we were planning the route again, we would keep the much of the same structure. The only adjustment would be scheduling a second visit to the National Museum of Anthropology and History, as one day was not enough to fully appreciate its collections.