What To Do in Mexico City
What To Do in Mexico City
Lucha Libre
Teotihuacan Pyramids
Tenayuca Pyramid
Santa Cecilia Acatitlan Pyramid
Anthropology Museum
Xolchimilcho and La Isla de las Muñecas (The Island of the Dolls)
Chapultepec Park
Chapultepec Castle (Castillo de Chapultepec)
Templo Mayor
La Merced Market
Museo Mucho
Lucha Libre and Arena Mexico
You don’t have to be a fan of professional wrestling (I’m not) to enjoy this. It’s not realistic by any means, but the acrobatics are impressive. It’s a fantastic evening for anyone so long as you don’t take it too seriously. It is a spectacle from start to finish.
Lucha Libre is a Mexican cultural experience like few others. The main shows in Arena Mexico are televised and can be watched on youtube after a blackout delay, whereas the smaller shows (mostly Sundays) aren’t usually broadcasted.
The pricing for the shows caters to all budgets, with a huge range in price from the front row to the nosebleeds. The most expensive tend to be around 600MXN, but front row seats are worth it. Tickets are released for sale in bulk releases, so it is important to keep an eye on your preferred date.
The majority of big events are held in Arena Mexico, while some smaller shows are held at Arena Coliseo, and tickets can be purchased at the box office itself. I have heard of people paying for scalped front row tickets that turn out to be further back, but mostly I have mine purchased before I arrive in Mexico.
There will be posters outside the event highlighting the bill. Usually flyers are also available at the box office and inside the venue to follow the bouts. There will be street food and various items for sale outside the venue. Luchador masks and toys, mostly, which I found to be less worthwhile than at the Mercado De Artesanias La Ciudadela.
Once inside, there are refreshment stands and toilets. Beer and non-alcoholic drinks are available, as well as the most obscure assortment of food items from pizzas to popcorn to sandwiches to chicharrónes. Once seated, wait staff walk around the arena selling food and drinks, as well as toys, and will bring you beer. Ushers will help you to your seat if the numbering is too confusing.
The event will often start with an introduction of the luchadores and bouts. Then each individual bout will start with luchadores entering the arena to their walkout songs. These tend to be Hard Rock and Heavy Metal, adorned with lights, smoke machines and pyrotechnics. Dancers adorn the ramp in wild outfits, dancing to the music. The seats nearest the walkout ramp are often the most coveted as you can high five and heckle the luchadores.
Ringside seats are lucky enough to have wrestlers flung onto them and into the barriers in front of them on occasion. Be prepared for some close encounters. The security staff kneel once the bouts begin so as not to obscure vision, but sometimes you will have a cameraman in front of you. If you are excited enough, be prepared to be on the big screen!
The night begins with some preliminary bouts. Usually older established wrestlers, judging by the cheers of the crowd, and some newer luchadores. The bouts grow with intensity until the main event. Often there are tag team matches, all female bouts and royal rumble-esque shows. Keep an eye out for Kemonito, in his blue gorilla suit. There are even “doctors” who attend the injured and concussed luchadores.
The luchadores are national heroes in many ways and they are celebrated in Mexico City. There are websites dedicated to the soap opera and history of it all.
The first time I visited CDMX, I was lucky enough to be in town for the “Torneo de la Leyenda Azul 2016” (youtube). Without any background knowledge of just how spectacular this event would be, I simply bought a ticket to see Lucha Libre.
I have subsequently attended shows on Fridays and a Sunday. The Sunday show was a lot smaller and quieter, but it was the only one I could attend. Friday or Saturday shows are by far more worthwhile from an entertainment value.
The crowds at these shows is half the fun. Heckling and screaming, playing drums and blowing vuvuzelas and pining over the luchadores and dancers. As the beer flows, the crowds get more lively and the roar of the arena increases in volume.
This is a “must do” for CDMX in my opinion.
Teotihuacan
My advice is to start early. I didn’t get the first bus, but was on the 0900 one. You take the metro to the Autobuses del Norte metro station. The pyramid bus tickets can be bought near Puerta (door) 8. There are signs with the Teotihuacan pyramids. Buy a round trip, and make sure you don’t miss your departing bus. The ticket is only valid for that one. I think it cost 100 pesos or so. Ask which bay the bus will be in, I found the signage lacking. https://sightdoing.net/how-to-visit-teotihuacan-without-a-tour/
The trip isn’t quick. Bring a book or something to do. It’s a good idea to bring water too. I visited in the middle of November and got sunburnt standing on the pyramids for most of the day.
The gatehouse is a short walk to the front entrance. Tickets are 70 pesos. Once inside you should head straight up the Pyramide del Sol by turning left. The steep steps in the high altitude might be more difficult than you expect. Be aware that people will all want their photos taken and the selfie sticks will be out on top. So long as you arrive early enough, the tours won’t be filing the area, so enjoy the peace. From there I went directly to the Piramide de la Luna. You can only walk half way up, and this is also steep. But the views are special in their own right.
After these two important stops, I spent hours walking around the ruins. Explore the Palace of Quetzlpapalotl. Read all the placards, discover all the hidden paintings of jaguars and then walk down to Templo de Quetzalcóatl before leaving. The temple is easy to miss, but worth the few minutes walk over for the carvings.
Look out for the hawkers. Some of the jaguar whistles and silver items are decently priced, but barter them down as much as you can. The obsidian statues of the pyramids are of varying quality. I personally purchased a whistle as I liked the paint scheme. But I saw many of these items for sale at the market Mercado de artesanias/la Ciudadela (especially the pyramids).
Next to the Palacio de Quetzalpapálotl are some stores where you can buy water and really delicious ice cream (strawberries and cream, lemon and chilli).
I spent a good 5 hours at the site. i took a lot of photos and even spotted a few mesquite lizards (graphic spiny lizards).
My bus trip back left from almost the same location that I was dropped off at. I didn’t have to cross any roads.
Anthropology Museum
There is a very good reason why this is one of the highest rated things to do in Mexico City. It's simply overwhelmingly stacked full of exhibits.
Tickets are bought at the entrance, there is a coatroom for bags, and a gift shop with great books and various souvenirs.
The museum is a two-leveled U-shape with a fountain in the middle. Head to the right and start on the lower level. This is start of the museum, with the earliest history of Mexico. Upstairs at this point is more modern history from spanish colonialism onwards.
I, like most people I think, found the lower level the most interesting. From the prehistoric animals through the Olmec period, the stones of Teotihuacan and through the Aztecs. From giant stone carvings to the smallest most intricate gold jewellery, the wealth of history is worth hours of your time.
There are so many different facets covered, from prehistoric animals to domestication of different foods (maize especially) to giant historical civilisations and more modern traditions.
I found myself stuck behind a large russian tour group at one point. As I could not understand what was being said, I chose to leave where I was and go upstairs for a while, before returning. Tour groups and school groups were going through the museum the whole time that i was there, but they weren't overwhelming. It is easy to avoid them for the most part.
Many of the rooms holding the exhibits are dark, so be aware of that if you are looking to take photos. I chose a rainy day to visit, which was perfect.
Floating Gardens of Xochimilco and La Isla de las Muñecas (The Island of the Dolls)
The canals are some of the last remnants of pre-hispanic Mexico city. Tenochtitlan and later Mexico City were built on swampy islands and reclaimed land. The basis of farming to feed the masses of these cities became “chinampas” or floating gardens. The gardens were formed by hammering juniper poles into the canals to create a scaffolding, then dumping earth into the structure until it displaced the water and became a reclaimed island. The water and fertile floating islands provided crops for the populations, and even continues to this day to a lesser extent.
The canals are traversed by boarding colourful canal barges called “trajineras”, all with their own unique names and patterns. There are numerous launching points, called Embarcaderos, and various advice regarding the best locations and also times and days.
On my first visit in 2019, I chose to depart from Embarcadero Nuevo Nativitas Xochimilco. I took the metro to Universidad, and took an Uber to the Embarcadero as I was traveling with multiple people. I read instructions regarding the light rail from the metro, but we decided in the essence of time that an Uber would suffice. Interesting to note, the driver told us to ensure our doors were locked and not to open our windows on the journey, as there were motorcycle gangs looking to snatch phones and bags on those streets.
I had limited time during this trip, and I ended up only having Sunday morning free. I had read that Sunday was the worst time to go, due to the influx of locals causing boat traffic, but I wouldn’t let that sway your decision. Due to timing, and a delayed start, we arrived at 12:00 and chose to only have an hour on the boat. As many people have noted, a good amount of time is spent getting out of the boat traffic. For a true experience I’d suggest at least two hours, and if you are wanting to visit the island of the dolls an hour won’t suffice. Around the Embarcadero you’ll see many references to Axolotls (Mexican walking fish), often in cartoon form. This is a main location of Axolotls in the wild, and although you’re unlikely to see any, they are there.
We walked to the Embarcadero and simply asked for a boat for an hour. The price of MXN500 per hour was standard (in 2019), and although apparently open to negotiation, I chose to simply pay the asking price. We walked across the parked barges to the boat that we were taking and set off. We had our own boat for the four of us and weren’t pushed to join other people. The journey involved being punted North along the canals, weaving in and out of the barges moving slowly North and South. We were joined by a dog for a while, who then made his way to other barges when we collided (gently) and then eventually made it to dry land.
We past trajineras with full mariachi bands playing (for cash) and enjoyed witnessing the different songs as we weaved between the craft. We were asked if we wanted to hire any, and we declined. As we floated, we were approached by canoes selling food and drinks. I purchased a cob of corn (elotes), but there were numerous other options. You are able to stop and get off at various islands if you desire. There are islands growing flowers, available for purchase, but we were happy to just float. We tipped our young captains as they were fun and great translators, and genuinely took good care of us.
La Isla de las Muñecas (The Island of the Dolls)
I had seen La Isla de las Muñecas (The Island of the Dolls) on a few TV shows over the years, including on Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations (s05E01), and had read enough to know it was an experience I wanted to have.
As per advised, we headed to the Embarcadero Cuemanco via a metro ride to Lomas Estrella station followed by a quick uber trip. When I repeated the trip in 2022, we just took an uber from our hotel due to time and comfort for our group.
Once arriving at the embarcadero, I found the information booth with the tour lists and prices, explained that I wanted to visit La Isla de las Muñecas. I was posed with a question at this point if I wanted to go to the “real” island or the “pirated” version, which is a new homage being built a lot closer to the embarcadero for shorter trips. I chose the original island, which was a 5 hour trip. Of course, this depends on how long you spend on the island and how many extra stops you take, if any.
The original island and the fake one are both on google maps so you should be able to ensure that you are taken to the correct one. There was even a third island with some dolls that I noticed in 2022.
The legend of La Isla de las Muñecas revolves around the original owner, by Don Julián Santana Barrera, who became obsessed with the drowning death of a young girl who became entangled in water lilies. He claimed to have heard her calling for her doll. After this traumatic experience, dolls began to appear on the island. The Don Julián Santana Barrera became obsessed with curating the dolls and dedicated his life to the island. His descendants now run the island.
Local legends say that the dolls can be heard whispering to each other, calling to local boat to visit the island and moving their arms and opening their eyes.
The price for the 5 hour punt round trip to the island was MXN3000 in 2022 (up from MXN2500 in 2020). The journey is slow and relaxing. Ensure that you have water and let your captain know if you wish to stop at any of the random islands along the way. Depending on the day and time, there will be other boats offering fruit, corn and drinks. Alcoholic drinks used to be sold, but they were restricted due to the amount of people drunkenly falling in the water (I was told).
Our trip took about an hour to get to the island, but we were one of three trajineras heading out that afternoon. Busier times will take longer to get away from the crowd.
Once arriving at The Island of the Dolls, you are charged entry to the island (I think it was MXN45 each). You can then walk around, admiring the terrifying dolls and see old photos of Don Julián Santana Barrera with his island. There are often a couple of dogs to say hello. There is a toilet and a little refreshment stand with drinks and alcohol (including home distilled spirits).
A normal person likely needs 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the level of interest and uneasiness.
Once you have seen all the dolls, making sure to see the original doll, you can leave the island and head back on the boat. The journey back is about an hour and change. Be on the lookout for snakes swimming. Before the last straight stretch to the embarcadero, there is a larger open area often populated by pelicans.
If you were happy with your journey, you can tip your guide.
Chapultepec Park
Chapultepec Park/Bosque de Chapultepec was one of my favourite parts of Mexico City. I chose my hotel for proximity to the park and the metro, as well as attractions. Due to the proximity, I spent most afternoons walking around the park when I had spare time. Sundays are popular and vibrant, but there is always something going on every day of the week.
The park is huge, and that should be accounted for when walking. I tended to walk to the park along Avenue Chapultepec, often stopping for the best takeaway gorditas at Las gorditas de Sevilla. I’d walk past the chicken and taco stands outside the Chapultepec Metro station, and enter the gates to the park there.
The entrance to the park here had hawkers selling sandwiches, people playing 3-card-monty and a strange scam/magic act using a finch and a selection of paper notes (I was yelled at for taking a photo). I would walk along further into the park, then turn left and walk over the bicentario and into the park proper. This area of the park had various performances going on over the time I visited, as well as information events/conferences and educational stands for student. To say the park space is well-used is an understatement. The squirrels run through the crowds, looking for food. The bridge is spotted with statues and offers a great view of the monument to the Niños Héroes (Altar a la Patria).
The monument stands tall and is often busy, so getting a great photo can be hard. The late afternoon was the best time in my opinion. If you continue past the monument, you come to the base of the Chapultepec Castle. This is where the Mexican grey/red-tailed squirrels are in abundance, and many photo opportunities abound.
If you bear right, from the base of the castle, you walk into an avenue market. The sellers offering cheap tourist items from lucha libre masks to disposable cameras to selfie sticks to hats and sunglasses. But the standout is the food. The various potato chips and chicharrones, the ice cream, nuts and fruits. I can suggest trying a chicharron more, with hot sauce. There is also fresh fruit and juice (and more fruit just outside the park next to starbucks)
The public toilets cost 4 pesos to enter, so remember to bring coins if you aren't near any better facilities.
Throughout the park are small open-kitchen cafes. Various staff walking around with menus, beckoning for you to take a seat on the small plastic tables. Unlike the street food elsewhere, I didn’t find these places worthwhile financially and quality-wise.
Along the avenue are the lakes. Paddleboats and kite flying. Turn right before lakes to take you to a bookstore café and starbucks as well as the park exit next to the entrance to the Museo Nacional de Antropología/Anthropologie Museum. If you continue past the lakes, and turn right, you come to the zoo which is free (no need to pay to store your bags either). The standout attraction of the zoo is the pandas, and so the markets sell a large amount of panda toys.
The park has endless avenues and paths, and so much green space. The birds throughout the park are worth paying attention to. Oddly, one of the most striking is the Mexican grackle/great tailed grackle, a blue-sheened blackbird.
I felt no issues with safety, even walking around with my SLR. The hawkers were not pushy and very helpful (especially with my terrible Spanish). I can’t suggest a better way to spend a quiet afternoon.
Museo Mucho
A somewhat overpriced museum dedicated to the history of chocolate. It’s quite small but well put together and very modern. The various rooms and levels take an hour at most to walk through, but honestly could be a comfortable 30 minutes. The etching art and the photography displays of the history of chocolate production in Mexico are worth viewing. The museum covers chocolate use from pre-Columbian times through to the modern world trade
The museum also hosts a number of fossils, both flora and fauna, with a few dinosaur bones. There is a cocoa zen box to rake patterns as well as a room to smell flavouring smells. The museum contains historical processing equipment from manual methods to machinery.
But probably the best part, besides the smell of chocolate throughout the building, is the gift shop. So many unique flavours, from sea salt chocolate to chilli chocolate, pulque to mezcal, tequila to lemon! The single chocolates are beautifully crafter, but I found that the chocolate bars travelled better for souvenirs. You don’t need to go through the museum to visit the store, there is a separate entrance on the street.