MEXICO

👥 Family ◎ Cultural ▲ Adventure

I’ve traveled to Mexico several times over the years, including Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, and Cancún, but most of those visits were all about beaches and resort life. Mexico City put the country in a completely different light for me, with its history, vibrant culture, incredible food, and so much to experience together as a family. This guide is focused entirely on CDMX - a city we absolutely loved and one I still can’t believe it took me this long to visit.

Destination Guide

VISITED

September 2026

LENGTH OF STAY

8 days

TRAVEL STYLE

Family Trip

Our Experience

Living in Texas, Mexico has always felt like it was practically in our backyard. And while I had been several times before, those trips were almost entirely focused on resort life in places like Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, and Cancún. We had never really entertained the idea of visiting central Mexico because it felt so different from how we typically thought about traveling there.

I’m very glad we finally did. Mexico City gave us the chance to explore a place that felt familiar in one sense, but completely different from the Mexico we had experienced before. We built the trip around a mix of history and culture, exploring different neighborhoods, trying plenty of local food, and finding lots of ways to get outside along the way.

the full story…

We stayed at the JW Marriott in Polanco, which ended up being a great home base. The neighborhood was very walkable, with plenty of restaurants and small markets nearby for snacks and drinks, plus easy access to Chapultepec Park, the National Museum of Anthropology, and the Metro. There was even a large playground a short walk from the hotel that became a convenient end-of-day stop when our son somehow still had energy left to burn.

One evening, he ended up playing with a few other kids there, and it was one of those small reminders of why we love exposing him to new places. The kids spoke different languages and came from completely different backgrounds, but somehow none of that mattered. They just started playing together and figured it out.

If we returned, I would happily stay in Polanco again.

Cruising the canals of Xochimilco

Since Xochimilco was one of our first outings, it ended up being a nice way to ease into Mexico City after the travel day. The colorful trajineras are one of those classic images that seem to appear everywhere when you look up things to do in the city, but there is more history behind the area than I realized before going. The canals are remnants of the much larger lake-and-canal system that once defined this part of the Valley of Mexico, and that history is part of why Xochimilco is recognized as a World Heritage Site.

We booked a private two-hour trajinera for the three of us. Before boarding, we picked up quesadillas from a small family-run food stand nearby, grabbed some beers and waters from a convenience store, and brought our own speaker. Once we were moving, there really wasn’t much to do except relax, eat, drink, and watch everything happening around us - other colorful boats, floating vendors, mariachi bands, and plenty of activity along the canals.

It was exactly the kind of low-key introduction we needed.

Atop the Pyramid of the Moon

While Xochimilco gave us a chance to recover from the previous travel day and settle in, I was anxious to get to Teotihuacán. I’m a sucker for history, especially when you can physically stand somewhere and imagine what once existed around you. Teotihuacán was once a major city filled with temples, homes, plazas, and thousands of people, so walking through what remains makes the history feel much more tangible than simply reading about it.

We hired a private guide and driver, which is something Adam and I have often preferred when traveling even before having a child. With a kid in tow, though, that flexibility becomes even more valuable. We could move at our own pace, take breaks when needed, and avoid being tied to a larger group schedule.

The drive from Polanco took about an hour, and getting there around 9 a.m. worked out very well. The temperatures were cooler and the crowds were still fairly light when we started. By the time we left a few hours later, both the sun and the number of visitors had picked up considerably.

There is a lot of walking, much of it over dirt and uneven ground, so this is definitely not a place I’d recommend bringing a stroller. We were also able to climb part of the Pyramid of the Moon during our visit. The stairs were fairly steep and narrow, with a shared railing down the middle, which our four-year-old successfully navigated both up and back down!

Afterward, we stopped for lunch at La Cueva Teotihuacán. The restaurant is literally tucked inside a cave, which obviously gives it a little novelty factor, but the setting was peaceful and the food was actually very good. Between the drive, the walking, and being outside in the sun all morning, we were very glad we had intentionally kept the rest of the day light.

That balance between planned days and some flexibility ended up working well throughout the trip. On another day, we were planning to take the Metro to La Ciudadela for souvenir shopping when we passed a hop-on hop-off bus and changed plans on the spot. We had randomly taken one years earlier in South Africa, and knowing how much our son loves buses, it was an easy detour.

Seeing the city from the top deck

It ended up working out surprisingly well. We got to see more of the city and several neighborhoods without adding even more walking, and one of the stops still dropped us close to La Ciudadela.

We spent hours there. There are so many stalls and walkways winding through the market that it would be very easy to lose track of where you started. We went in thinking we would pick up a few small souvenirs and somehow left with jewelry, artwork, ceramics, lucha libre masks, and plenty of other odds and ends. We also found a little cantina tucked inside and stopped for food and margaritas.

Because we were there on the eve of Mexican Independence Day, the market was already filled with decorations and performances, which gave the whole area an extra level of energy. That holiday ended up becoming a bigger part of the trip than we originally expected.

Ready for lucha libre

The military parade route passed just outside our hotel in Polanco, so we were able to walk over and grab a good spot. For our son, who loves basically anything with lights, sirens, military vehicles, or trucks, this was a very good situation.

At one point the parade paused, and several kids around us were allowed to run out briefly for photos with the military vehicles and soldiers stopped in front of them. Our son immediately joined in, and we ended up with some great pictures from a moment we never would have planned for when we first booked the trip.

We skipped El Grito the night before - the traditional late-night Independence Day ceremony where the president leads the crowd in patriotic cheers - because the timing was not ideal for a four-year-old. And, frankly, his parents were tired too. But we still got to enjoy the decorations, crowds, performances, and celebratory atmosphere around the city.

Lucha libre fit perfectly into that same stretch of the trip. The fun for us wasn’t really about knowing the wrestlers or understanding every rivalry. It was simply being in the arena, wearing the masks we had bought earlier, and getting completely swept up in the crowd.

We were cheering, booing, laughing, and reacting right along with everyone else. Because children under a certain age aren’t allowed in the closest rows, we sat a little farther back, but the seats were still close enough that we could see everything well and feel completely part of the action.

The match started earlier than a typical one that evening, likely because of the Independence Day schedule, so because we got out earlier, we were able to squeeze in dinner at La Once Mil, a Michelin-starred taquería. There was a bit of a wait when we arrived, which was not surprising, and they handed us a beer while we waited outside. Once seated, we ordered a variety of tacos and other dishes, and everything was delicious.

The National Museum of Anthropology gave us a completely different kind of experience. I like a good museum, and this one is especially well done. The building itself is beautiful, with large open galleries organized around different cultures and periods in Mexico’s history, which makes it easier to prioritize what you want to see if you don’t have hours to spend there.

The Aztec Sun Stone is probably the piece most people recognize - the enormous carved circular stone you’ve likely seen in photos or history books. Seeing it in person gives you a much better sense of just how large and detailed it really is. There are also enormous stone sculptures, ceremonial pieces, recreated tombs, and entire galleries focused on civilizations such as the Maya, Mexica, and people of Teotihuacán.

There is far too much to see in one short visit, but that was part of what I liked about it. We could focus on the areas that interested us most without feeling like we needed to conquer the entire museum.

Outside the National Museum of Anthropology

We paired that with a Metro ride to Coyoacán because we wanted to experience another part of the city. It had a very different feel from Polanco and gave us more of an opportunity to simply wander without much of an agenda.

Coyoacán is closely associated with Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, and while we didn’t tour the Frida Kahlo Museum itself, we still stopped for the obligatory photo outside the Blue House. From there, we mostly let ourselves explore - walking through markets, passing little plazas, seeing the Fuente de los Coyotes, and stumbling across the beautiful Parroquia San Juan Bautista.

Chapultepec Park was another place where simply walking around became part of the experience. There were vendors everywhere, families enjoying the park, food stands, and plenty of little things competing for our son’s attention. Somehow, both he and Adam ended up with monkey hats that squirt water, which was apparently an essential purchase.

Fuente de los Coyotes in Coyoacán

We eventually made the long walk uphill to Chapultepec Castle. The building has had several lives over the years, including serving as a military academy, an imperial residence, and later a presidential residence, so there is plenty to see if you enjoy history. But one of the biggest reasons I enjoyed the stop was the view. From the hilltop, we got some of the best panoramic views we had of Mexico City.

I’m glad we went, but I also wouldn’t say someone should feel like their trip is incomplete if they don’t have time for it.

Since we were already in the park, we also took the little train ride through part of it. It is not technically a train - it runs on regular vehicle wheels - but our son was very happy with the experience regardless. It was also a cheap and easy way to see more of the park while giving our feet a break.

Monkey hats in Chapultepec Park

By the end of the trip, what stood out most was how many different versions of the city we had managed to experience in a relatively short time. We had ancient ruins, huge museums, residential neighborhoods, markets, parks, holiday celebrations, lucha libre, great food, and quiet moments mixed in between.

That variety is probably what surprised me most. Before going, Mexico City had never really been on our radar as the kind of trip we would build a vacation around. Now, I think of it as one of those places where the experience is less about one single must-see attraction and more about how many different layers of the city you can fit together.

We left feeling like we had seen a lot, but also like there was plenty we could come back for - which is usually a pretty good sign that a trip worked.

Worth Knowing

  • Xochimilco Drinks - You can bring your own food and drinks onboard, but vendors also stop by before departure offering cocktails like palomas and margaritas.

  • Teotihuacán Timing - Aim for an early start. Around 9 a.m., we had cooler temperatures and lighter crowds than we saw later in the morning.

  • Hop-On Hop-Off Tickets - We bought ours spontaneously, but booking online ahead of time would have saved us money.

  • Lucha Libre Tipping - If someone guides you to your seat inside the arena, expect that they’ll be looking for a small tip.

  • CDMX Photo Spot - Looking for one of the giant CDMX signs? We found ours in Chapultepec Park.

Trip Highlights

Four experiences we’d highly recommend

One of my favorite experiences of our trip. I’m a sucker for history, and there’s something incredible about standing in the middle of a place that was once bustling and alive, with only the remnants of that ancient city left behind. Walking through the site, seeing the pyramids up close, and climbing some of the ancient structures made the history feel much more tangible than simply reading about it. Teotihuacán is a little outside Mexico City, so we hired a guide who provided transportation and walked us through the history along the way. It takes about half a day and is absolutely worth the trip.

Teotihuacán

If you’re looking for an experience that plants you right in the middle of something uniquely Mexican, go to a lucha libre match. We didn’t know any of the wrestlers going in, and it didn’t matter at all. Between the dramatic entrances, colorful masks, over-the-top personalities, and a crowd that was completely invested in the action, it was just incredibly fun. We found ourselves cheering right alongside everyone else before we had any idea who we were supposed to be rooting for. Buy a mask, pick a wrestler, and join in. It was easily one of the most entertaining nights of our trip.

Lucha Libre

Mexico City’s National Museum of Anthropology is incredibly well done and filled with artifacts and exhibits covering Mexico’s long and fascinating history, including the famous Aztec Sun Stone. You could easily spend hours working your way through the entire museum, but one thing we appreciated was how easy it was to tailor the visit to the amount of time and attention span we had. We chose the areas that interested us most rather than trying to see everything. It’s also conveniently located near Chapultepec Park and was an easy walk from where we stayed in Polanco, making it simple to work into our day.

National Museum of Anthropology

The colorful trajineras floating through the canals of Xochimilco are one of those classic images you’ll see when looking up things to do in Mexico City, and experiencing them in person was such a fun change of pace. We boarded our own boat with food and drinks, stretched out, and simply enjoyed the ride. Along the way, floating vendors pulled alongside selling snacks, drinks, and souvenirs, while mariachi bands traveled between boats offering songs. It was relaxing, colorful, and completely different from the busy city we had been exploring. There’s also real history behind the canals, which makes the experience more than just a pretty boat ride.

Xochimilco

Moments from our trip

OUR VISIT: SEPTEMBER 2026

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

BEST TIME TO VISIT

March - May and October - November: Generally considered some of the most comfortable times to visit Mexico City, with mild temperatures and less rain than the summer months.

June - September: Warmer and wetter, with afternoon or evening rain more common.

OUR TAKE: We visited in September and had fantastic weather. Daytime temperatures were warm and pleasant, with slightly cooler evenings. Rain was forecast almost every day before we left, but we barely saw any and spent most of the trip comfortably outdoors.

CURRENCY

Mexican Peso (MXN). Credit cards are widely accepted at hotels, restaurants, and many tourist attractions, but cash is still useful for markets, tips, smaller vendors, and some food and drink purchases.

Carry Cash? Yes. We used pesos for tips, shopping and food at local markets, and drinks and snacks at lucha libre. We didn’t need large amounts of cash, but we were glad to have some with us.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

  • U.S. citizens traveling by air need a valid passport book.

  • A tourist visa is generally not required for stays of 180 days or less.

  • Your passport must be valid at the time of entry; Mexico does not currently require the six-month validity rule that some countries do.

Requirements can change! Refer to the Travel.State.Gov site for more info.

GETTING AROUND

Mexico City is sprawling, but many neighborhoods are easy to explore on foot. Uber, public transportation, and guided transportation make it relatively easy to cover longer distances.

OUR TAKE: We walked a lot and relied heavily on Uber, which was easy to use and fairly inexpensive. We hired private transportation for Teotihuacán, used a hop-on hop-off bus for sightseeing one day, and took the Metro to Coyoacán. The Metro was extremely inexpensive, easy to navigate, and a great option when we wanted to travel farther across the city.

LANGUAGE

Spanish is the predominant language. English is commonly spoken in hotels, restaurants, and major tourist areas, though less so outside the city center.

OUR TAKE: We encountered plenty of English speakers throughout Mexico City. I know basic Spanish, which helped bridge the occasional gap, but we never had trouble communicating or getting around.

HEALTH & VACCINES

  • Stay up to date on routine vaccinations.

  • CDC recommends Hepatitis A for unvaccinated travelers to Mexico and has additional recommendations depending on age, itinerary, and activities.

  • Mosquito protection is recommended in Mexico, though malaria risk is limited to certain regions - not Mexico City.

Requirements can change! Refer to the Travel.State.Gov site for more info.

POWER REQUIREMENTS

Type A and Type B plugs | 127 V | U.S. travelers generally do not need a plug adapter or voltage converter. Mexico uses the same basic outlet types as the United States, and most U.S. electronics work normally.

Travel Notes

Little tips and local finds that made our trip even better

If you’re looking for souvenirs, La Ciudadela is the place to go. The market is huge, with everything from magnets and clothing to Mexican artwork, jewelry, tortilla warmers, lucha libre masks, and beautiful kitchenware. We easily spent a few hours wandering the halls and stalls and genuinely enjoyed browsing everything on display. There’s also food tucked inside - we stopped at a small cantina for lunch. We ended up doing probably 98% of our souvenir shopping here and found the prices and variety better than at some of the major attractions.

Souvenir Tip

La Ciudadela Market

Before your trip, check whether any major holidays or celebrations overlap with your dates. We realized our visit fell over Mexican Independence Day, which helped us plan around closures, crowds, and schedule changes. The military parade route passed just steps from our hotel in Polanco, and arriving early gave us a front-row spot and a great photo of our son with one of the Mexican Army vehicles. We skipped El Grito because of the late timing, but still enjoyed the decorations and energy throughout the city.

Timing Tip

Check the Holiday Calendar

We debated simply showing up at Xochimilco and arranging a boat when we arrived, but we were very glad we booked ahead. We reserved the two-hour traditional tour through Las Flores Nativitas, and the company stayed in touch beforehand with clear instructions on exactly where to meet them. Once we arrived, we realized how helpful that was - the area around the docks is busy, with shops, vendors, and multiple access points. Two hours also felt like the perfect amount of time.

Booking Tip

Reserve Xochimilco in Advance

The Metro was easy to use, but some train doors closed surprisingly fast and aggressively. After Adam nearly got caught between them, we became much more deliberate about boarding and exiting together and made sure one of us was carrying our son. It was also a good reminder of why we always have a separation plan when traveling with a child, including how we use an AirTag in case we ever get separated.

Parent Tip

Watch the Metro Doors

If you want a lucha libre mask, buy one before heading to the arena. We found plenty at La Ciudadela, with different styles and prices, and were able to shop around for a good deal. Masks inside the venue were noticeably pricier, and while there were pop-up vendors outside, the area was packed and harder to browse. We were glad we had already bought ours, could skip the last-minute shopping, and just put them on and enjoy the night.

Money Tip

Buy Your Mask Early

Teotihuacán is definitely a place to dress for comfort. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes that you can easily walk and move around in - and ones you don’t mind getting a little dusty. You’ll spend a lot of time on your feet, and in dirt and gravel, and some of the accessible structures involve steep steps and climbing. We were glad we wore practical clothes and sturdy shoes that let us focus on exploring rather than worrying about staying clean.

Packing Tip

Dress for Teotihuacán

Last updated: October 2026