Xochimilco is such a fun and unique experience-super lively, busy, and full of food and music…read moreeverywhere. We took an uber from Mexico City to Xochimilco which is about 1 hour or so. I recommend going into the area and getting a certified boat. The trajinera prices are per boat, not per person. As of April 2026, it's about $750 pesos per hour. I'd suggest doing at least 2 hours so you can really enjoy it without rushing. While you're on the canals, you'll be approached by mariachis, locals selling food and drinks, and honestly just about anything you can think of. You can also bring your own food and drinks onto the boat, plus a speaker if you want to set the vibe. Definitely a more fun experience if you go with a group of people! Also, your best bet is to visit Coyoacan while in the area, it's about 30 mins.

Historic fun riding on pontoon rafts called trajineras on ancient man made river beds in the heart…read moreof Mexico City. In the times of the ancient civilization these man made canals were used to keep water flow to grow crops and was a vital source for water in the region. Fast forward to modern day where the locals now offer scenic tours featuring great food and music while casually riding on the river. This is a must do tour while visiting Mexico City and even better to do at night I hear. Be sure to get yourself a Michelada to keep you cool in the warm days if partaking! Super fun all around but do watch out for the Mariachis as they can be pushy and demanding

Area in close walking distance to the Frida Kahlo Museum, and the renowned churro place…read more We left the hotel early, got dropped off with one hour before our ticket admitting us in so we walked to a Panera that Doc spotted on the ride there. We entered a church, had lunch in the area and did some shopping. Doc bought a bracelet I liked from a vendor and a T-shirt from a man across the street from the museum for me. I bought some bracelets and pouches from a man on the street. He could speak English and said his family was Aztec. He made the bracelets and his grandmother made the pouches. Many locals with their dogs and tourists were enjoying the nice warm weather. We saw people being blessed with special smoke or sage. Many shops and eateries on nice streets. There was one two story restaurant that looked very pretty and romantic with couples eating on the outdoor balcony.

Fun, lively area! Came on a Sunday and there were tons of people outs and about…read more Pros: -many restaurants to choose from -vendors galore where you can buy souvenirs -there are a few free Wi-Fi spots in this area -we saw performers dancing near the church Cons: -none

Sooo you told your friends you were going to Mexico City, and everyone wanted you to bring them…read moreback a souvenir. Never fear, Plaza de la Ciudadela is here for you! This admittedly tourist-driven market is a one-stop shop for any souvenirs, clothing, or art you might want to take back home. We just ended up buying a simple (fairly cheap) souvenir shot glass for a friend while here. However, even after our official shopping obligation was done, it was a lot of fun to just wander through the stalls and admire the arts and crafts on display. There are even some vendors selling various food items if that's the kind of souvenir you're into (I sure am!). I really appreciated how the vendors were not very pushy about forcing their wares on you, or in your face about luring you into their stores to take a look--this is always my least favorite part of shopping at markets in most countries. This, no doubt, contributed to the pleasantness of my experience here. There was a free dance performance by students from a local dance school while I was here, so that was fun to watch for a little while. There's also a restaurant in the middle of the market if you need some fuel to get you through your shopping spree.

If your travels take you to Mexico City, and you won't get the opportunity to visit other regions…read moreof this wonderfully diverse country, be sure to take some time out of your busy touring schedule (I'd say at least 2-3 hours or more) to explore every nook and cranny of this awesome crafts market. Even if you don't buy a thing (impossible!!) you'll feel like you've taken a whirlwind tour of some of the most beautiful and artistically productive areas of the country... I love the colors, the feel of "discovering" a great bargain or a unique piece of craftwork. It may seem like there's a lot of repetition here (and there is...) but if you take the time, and really check out all the hidden nooks and crannies, you're bound to find a true, one of a kind gem (or twelve...)!! I could spend a week in here!! There's a cafe mid way through the market, and restrooms toward the back. Don't miss the non-craft (foods, spices, etc.) vendors around the perimeter, don't waste too much time trying to bargain/heckle, as most of the prices are super reasonable (though some vendors will give you great deals for volume buying) and one of your purchases before leaving CDMX might just be another suitcase (or three!) to bring home all your WONDERFUL finds here at the Ciudadela Market!! ANIMO!!! Shop here, DON'T wait til you're leaving at the airport, and see lesser-quality work for 3x the price!!

Definitely check this area out when in the city! It has many unique shops, good Asian food choices,…read moreand desserts. We walked by late at night so everything was closed down but the neon lights were on making it look so cool.

Wow best serendipitous find our first night in Mexico City. We were in search of a taco place for…read moredinner 7 blocks or a 15 minute walk from our hotel. We walked past broken uneven sidewalks, men sprawled out on the sidewalk, garbage in the road. Lots of padlocked gateways then behold!!! Bright red lanterns, good luck cat figurines with waving paws or bobbing heads, a couple lafufu vendors, lots of Chinese restaurants. The throngs of crowds was unbelievable. The vibe was exciting, bright, a harpsichord player walking playing Italian music, It was like we followed the Pied Piper in by choice. We walked straight through til the end of the area. Hmm, just by chance we turned left and passed a restaurant filled with people. We walked past but took a double take and entered the best choice for our first meal in Mexico City.

Want to see something super creepy? Go here…read more We went a couple days before Halloween/Dia de Los Muertos, thinking it would be a fun outing. It was! You arrive at the canals of Xochimilco, an ancient town that was once it's own city and was used as a major production of produce and agriculture. You can rent the gondola-like boats that will take you through the canals, you'll see small farmsteads still operating, boats selling house plants and tacos, pigs tied up being taking to slaughter (so sad), mariachi bands on boats singing to boats passing by, and finally, down one canal, there is, Isla de las Munecas, ominously waiting for you, dark grey, green and black hues settle into a backdrop of languid vines and drooping trees, and thousands, I mean thousands of dolls tied and fixed to trees, sides of a barn, along fence lines and on top of poles. These dolls have a deep significance that goes back many years. Story has it that a little girl drowned near the island and a man named Julian felt putting up the dolls would please her soul. Soon he felt the spirits of other girls were present so he continued to put up more dolls throughout his small island. Something like 40 years went by and hundreds and hundreds of dolls were put up to please the many spirits he felt connected to the tiny island. Sadly and equally odd, he was found drowned in the same place as the little girl was found many years before... Now another man runs the eerie island and for a few pesos he allows you to walk around and take pictures, he'll also give a short speech about the island's history in front of his rustic makeshift alter. Definitely an interesting place to visit, the whole set up of canals of Xochimilco are a great example of Mexican DF culture, colorful and vibrant, and at the same time still with austere seriousness.

Paseo de la Reforma is a famous street in Mexico City, most notable for being closed to cars each…read moreSunday and being open to walkers, runners, and bikers. It stretches about 9 miles and has a variety of landmarks throughout: Ángel de la Independencia, Chapultepec Park, Diana the Huntress Fountain, and others. It's surrounded by various skyscrapers including but not limited to luxury hotels, office buildings, and banks. The street stretches along those modern aspects of the city as well as with the historic aspects of the Chapultepec Castle. We specifically went on a Sunday to see all the runners and bikers and it was so cool to see that this is just routine for them and just another day for a bike or a run. I wish more cities had car-free streets like this!

After a quick fuel, we were off for the Paseo de la Reforma, (one of the principal avenues in the…read morecity), which is closed on Sundays for walkers, cyclists and runners. It was an awesome and unique experience to be able to cycle on such a typically busy street, and see how many people were out and about enjoying the wonderful spring weather. Halfway through our ride along the avenue, we stopped to listen to our guide, Símon, talk about the lost 43 students that vanished in 2014. It was a very sobering history about the dark relationship between the Mexican government and cartels, but I'm glad Simon shared it with us, and we were able to view the faces of the victims as we continued our bike ride. https://traveltimewitht.com/2026/03/21/la-ciudad-de-mexico/

When in Mexico City, don't let anyone tell you that this unique, scenic, traditional, loud,…read morecrowded, boisterous adventure is too "touristy." Yes, it's (overly) glitzy at times, possibly too popular/busy, especially on holidays/weekends, but it's sooooooo MEXICAN!! Take the day trip from the city, either on your own (helps to speak SOME Spanish) or with a group and go with the FLOW!! We took an Uber from the Centro Historico and made our way to where we needed to be. Well, we actually got lost a few times, but managed to find this location (there are several launching points...) and managed to get a reasonably good deal for a two hour "ecological" tour, which meant we had some quality time in the lesser congested areas, and even saw some beautiful birds!! Our guide was super informative, and we really saw quite a bit in the two hours we were out there. We didn't do much eating and drinking, but saw many others taking advantage of the holiday season to have BIG fiestas on the water!! Xochimilco is definitely an EXPERIENCE... Andale!! In spite of the crowds, glitz, possible price gouging (it'll probably happen, get over it, it's how they make a living!!) it's WELL worth it!!

Xochimilco is a historic canal district in Mexico City, famous for its colorful boats (trajineras)…read morethat offer festive tours through the waterways. Xochimilco is a popular destination for tourists visiting Mexico City, even though it's a hike from the center of the city (you'll likely spend an hour getting to Xochimilco). We didn't visit on our first trip to Mexico City, but we did make a quick stop to tour the Xochimilco canals on our second visit to CDMX a few weeks ago. We visited with a tour group, which I recommend. I've heard it can be difficult to arrange things on your own. I believe it. When we visited, the market at this portion of Xochimilco had just been torn down (they are rebuilding it in time for the World Cup next summer), and it made for a confusing site. Without our guide, we definitely wouldn't have known where to go. There are lots of ways to experience and enjoy Xochimilco. For a lot of people, it's a party. You can eat, drink, and listen to mariachi music. I've heard it can be quite an experience and people can turn this into a party. You can also have a more historical- or ecological-focused experience, which is what we did (several groups focus on this kind of visit, including some that take you out at sunrise to experience it). Our tour guide taught us the history of Xochimilco (the waterways here were a main transportation venue from the pre-Hispanic period until the 20th century) and some of the ways people are trying to focus on improving the environment in the area (bringing back agriculture/chinampas and attempting to preserve habitat for the axolotl - Google it, it's amazing). If you're hoping for a particular experience, I highly recommend checking with a tour guide who can help you pick the portion of Xochimilco and ensure you get the experience you're most interested in. It's an interesting place, but given its distance from the city center, I wouldn't say it's a must visit for first time tourists to the city.

The square itself is amazing, and the history is even more so. And while the square is a great…read moreplace to walk around and there is always something happing, it's great to go to the walking street and check out all the shops. But the people watching is the best. There are many souvenir shops around and it's worth going into the churches. One could easily spend a couple of hours here, more if you find a bar and have a nice, cool drink.

Plaza de la Constitución is the current official name of this central square located in Mexico…read moreCity's historic district, with centuries of history, and formerly known by many other names. It's evolved from a site for early Aztec rituals to a venue for modern independence celebrations, concerts, protests and parades, with varied uses in between. Today it's known as "El Zócalo", Spanish for "base" referring to the base of a monument to independence that was never finished in this square. Instead a single flagpole stands in the middle. Built over the ceremonial center of the Aztec city Tenochtitlan previously located in the same spot, you can visit the city's teocalli (sacred precinct) called Templo Mayor in today's vernacular. This is directly north east of the square. To the direct north is the Catedral Metropolitana de la Ciudad de México (Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral), to the east is the Palacio Nacional (National Palace), to the south are city government offices including the City Hall and Supreme Court close by. Over the centuries it's functioned as a public square, makeshift or formal market place, park, gathering place for political uprisings and other major historic events. Nowadays it's still a popular gathering place, there are buskers, organized performances, cultural and civic activities, including the Day of the Dead annual parade. When I was there a few weeks ago there was a city sponsored art exhibit of cactus statues, looked to be designed, and painted/embellished/decorated by local artists. There were around 100 different cacti spread out in the central section around the flagpole. Entrance was free though the exhibition area was fenced with police monitoring the entry points, I suppose to prevent any malicious activity toward the public art. So many designs stood out, I posted some pics of my faves--what talented artists!

What a dream to have visited Xochimilco! We got trajineras at around 10am. It wasn't packed yet so…read morewe got in right away and rented the trajinera for three horas at $600 hourly . We rented a speaker for 550 pesos hourly. I'm sure we could have negotiated but we choose not too. We thought it was a good price. There are people selling food, snacks and Miches in little boats! We bought food , traditional tlacoyos which were yummy. We got a bunch of quesadillas as well for 1200 total. It was about 10 of us which is about 7 US dollars for each and we were stuffed! Great experience except when having to stop at a restroom. 10 pesos to use and no running water which was uncomfortable. The bathroom was not a great sight. I'm so happy I got to get on a trajinera!

For a DIY day trip to Xochimilco's canals, you can get there by using public transportation (though…read morethe journey is long and may require a few transfers), or taking an Uber. If you're not going to Xochimilco on a guided tour, you'll need to hire your own trajinera, or boat. The current going rate for a boat is 600 pesos per hour. Embarcadero Cuemanco is where we went. Apparently Nuevo Navitas is more of a party scene, which I didn't realize, but then we got the whole it's closed scam and our uber driver started taking us somewhere else which is apparently an even bigger scam. If you go to Embarcadero Cuemanco you can ask them to stop at the axolotyl place, it was cool to see the little lizards and they had bathrooms (10 pesos) too. A really nice way to spend a few hours!

This restaurant resides in a beautiful 18th century residential palace in Mexico City. The blue and…read moretiles outside the building reminds me of Portugal. Came for lunch with no reservations and waited for about half an hour. This place is massive and we opted to dine upstairs. Seating area are pretty tight and was a bit loud. We waited again for our server to get our order in. By this time, we were tired and hungry. I guess this is typical for a Sunday. I had the menudo and absolutely enjoyed it. My husband had the burrito which was fine, nothing special about it. Same with my Mom's mole and Aunt's fish tacos, just okay. Maybe come on a weekday with reservations to have a better dining experience.

This was a beautiful place, but the food was just okay. Enchiladas seemed to be very Americanized…read moreand the Mole was on the sweeter side (if you like that), but I was annoyed because the gentleman told me it was spicy & NO PICABA :( The lime agua fresca was also horrible. Very interesting architecture but avoid what we ordered.