The best of Mexico City in 4 days-a sustainable trip

Discover the best of Mexico City in 4 days with this sustainable and unforgettable itinerary. This vibrant metropolis offers a unique blend of ancient history, modern culture, and eco-friendly attractions. Whether you’re on a multi-destination trip in Mexico or planning a long weekend getaway, this guide will help you make the most of your time in the city while minimising your environmental impact.

Is Mexico City worth visiting?

If you’re wondering whether Mexico City is worth visiting, let me tell you – it absolutely is! While Mexico’s capital may not be a hidden gem, it’s still full of surprises. Mexico City’s cultural offer is unparalleled for travellers seeking an authentic Mexican experience.

From magnificent prehispanic ruins to colourful colonial architecture, chances to learn about any period of Mexican history, a fantastic and varied food scene, and plenty of entertainment options are the perfect ingredients for a truly enriching adventure.

Preparing for your sustainable journey: Mexico City in 4 Days

The sustainable traveller’s toolkit is all about making mindful choices that reduce your impact. With a little preparation, you can confidently embark on your journey, knowing you’re making eco-conscious choices. So, let’s prepare your sustainable travel kit!

First up, the obvious one – a reusable water bottle. There will be a lot of walking in Mexico City, so make sure that you always carry water with you. One of my favourite bottles is the Super Sparrow with a sling for easy carrying and accessibility.

Other daily sustainable travel essentials are a reusable shopping bag for any markets or stores you visit, a set of bamboo utensils to avoid single-use plastics and a collapsible silicone food container. They will come in handy if eating food at the local markets or from any street stall.

Another must-have is a Scrubba wash bag, very convenient for washing some of your clothes, allowing you to pack much lighter.

If you are considering group or private tours, opt for bike or walking tours whenever possible; this way, you will contribute to lessening the carbon footprint.

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Where to stay in Mexico City?

Mexico City is massive, with many unique and charming areas to discover. But if you are staying four days in Mexico City, I’d recommend focusing your stay on neighbourhoods that are close to the main attractions, have a great vibe and are safe. My picks are:

Centro Historico: For a classic, historic vibe, you can’t go wrong with the heart of Mexico City. With stunning colonial architecture, lively plazas, and some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, every little corner is a gem to be discovered. It’s a bit more crowded and hectic, but perfect for soaking up that authentic Mexican energy. This is the most convenient area if you are visiting Mexico City for 4 days.

Paseo de la Reforma: this is a quite large area with multiple options ranging from mid to top range. The area is extremely centric, and great for those who want to explore other areas out of the Historic Centre and may want to avoid the hordes of people walking its streets daily. The north area caters to business people with its high rises and 5-star hotels, while the south part is a mix of a traditional and hipster vibe. The famous gay friendly area, la Zona Rosa, is just south of Reforma.

Condesa and Roma Norte: It’s the current trendy area of the city, and they offer a more laid-back, bohemian atmosphere. These neighbourhoods are known for their tree-lined streets, indie boutiques, cosy cafes, and amazing food scene. It’s a great home base for a more relaxed stay, and it is closer to other areas of Mexico City, such as Polanco or Paseo de la Reforma.

Polanco: This is the upscale area of CDMX where you will continue to find 5-star hotels, fine dining restaurants and designer shops. While the area is great and within walking distance to Chapultepec Park and the Museum of Anthropology, it is quite far from everything else, which is why I do not consider it a good option if you are staying in Mexico City for four days.

4-day itinerary in Mexico City

This 4-day itinerary in Mexico City is designed for the conscious traveller who wants to soak up the culture while also being mindful of our planet. And let me be clear, there is no way on Earth that you get to see everything that you are interested in with a four-day visit, but if that’s all that you have, I will show you the most unmissable spots, plus a few extra recommendations.

So, without further ado, grab your reusable water bottle, jump on the Eco-bike and let’s enjoy this ride!

Note on starting times:
This itinerary has been designed with the following schedule in mind: daily itinerary starts between 9 and 10 am, lunchtime is between 12 and 1, and the itinerary ends between 5 and 6.

Day 1: Dive into the heart of Mexico City in its Historic Centre

Start your journey with the most emblematic part of the Historic centre, Plaza de la Constitución (Constitution Square), most commonly known as El Zocalo. The square is surrounded by buildings displaying colonial architecture such as the National Palace.

Presiding el Zocalo, you will find the Metropolitan Cathedral, the first cathedral ever built on the American continent, open from 9 to 5.30. After browsing the Zocalo area, hear to the east side towards Templo Mayor, the ruins of the most important building of the ancient city of Tenochtitlan. You can enjoy the views of the ruins from the lookout that has been built on the street and you can also go to the museum, which has on display the impressive Tlaltecuhtli monolith.

After a morning full of history and stunning architecture, it’s time to grab a bite. This area is the best place to have lunch with a view and you have several options like Gran Hotel, El Mayor and La Casa de las Sirenas. For a lovely meal on a lower budget, I found a little gem a block away from the Cathedral, Cafe Casiopea.

Once you are ready to hit the streets again, continue your walk through the historic centre. Don’t miss the Palacio de Correos, a stunning building with intricate details and a fascinating history. Then, venture into the bustling Chinatown, a rather small area but hectic and vibrant.

Next, make your way to the Alameda, a beautiful park filled with trees, fountains, and sculptures. Enjoy a leisurely walk, people-watch, and browse the stalls of the street vendors selling everything from handicrafts to souvenirs. If you feel like having a drink with a stunning view (who doesn’t?), go to the Sears building opposite the Palace of Fine Arts and visit Cafe Don Porfirio. They don’t have proper meals per se, but they offer a wide range of drinks. Tip for the eco-conscious traveller: Don Porfirio serves their drinks in single-use plastic cups, so have your reusable travel mug ready.

End your afternoon with a visit to thePalacio de Bellas Artes, one of Mexico City’s most iconic landmarks. This stunning neoclassical building is home to a theatre, concert hall, and art gallery. Explore the museum’s collection of artworks from famous muralists Diego Rivera and Siqueiros, or catch a performance. They have free guided visits from Tuesday to Friday at 1 pm and 1.30 pm.

If all this walking around sounds like you might get lost, try this Historic Centre walking tour instead and avoid looking at Google Maps every 10 steps.

It is time to return to your accommodation, rest a little and get ready for dinner. My recommendation is that you spend the evening close to your hotel.

If you want to keep on exploring the Historic Centre, try Terraza Catedral, the rooftop restaurant and bar in Hostel Mundo Joven. The food is good, the cocktails are decent, and they have music. Of course, the view is amazing!

Day 2: Day trip to Coyoacan and Xochimilco

DAY 2 AT A GLANCE

Skip breakfast and take an early ride to Coyoacan. Take line 2 from any Metrobus station close to you and get off at General Anaya stop. From there, take the metro line that takes you to the market. The whole ride will take around 45 minutes. Once at the market, find the small café Madre and order chilaquiles rellenos (stuffed chilaquiles). You are welcome. Once your appetite has been satisfied, browse the market and maybe buy a local craft.

Plan your day around the scheduled time to visit Frida Kalho’s house museum. You will need to book in advance and you will need to pick a date and a time slot to enter. Visitors come in every 15 minutes, but there are no time restrictions as to how long you would like to stay on the premises. In my opinion, 2 to 2.5 hours is sufficient. You will be guided through the different rooms in the house, which are full of personal items and finish once you reach the garden area. In the garden, there is a shop, a coffee area and yet another exhibit with more personal items from Frida’s collection.

Return to the Coyoacán Historic Centre and walk around Parque Centenario, take some pics of the Coyote Fountain and grab (another) bite in any of the nearby restaurants.

Once you are ready for Xochimilco, you can either go to the Taxqueña station and take the light train line 2 (tren ligero). If you do not feel like walking to the train station, take the bus from a nearby stop named Plaza Jardín Centenario and get off at the Vergel stop. Take the light train to Xochimilco Terminal. Both trips take about an hour.

How do I book a boat in Xochimilco?

Booking a boat tour in Xochimilco is very easy. You can either book a tour online or head directly to one of the docks. There are many of them, but the most popular one is Embarcadero Las Flores Nativitas due to their community efforts to preserve the natural and cultural heritage of Xochimilco.

Prices for a trajinera ride are 750 Mexican pesos per hour and boat as of September 2024. This is standard pricing, so walk away from anyone offering it for a different price. Having said that, boat riders will be reluctant to take anyone on a one-hour boat ride and, honestly, you won’t see much in one hour. My recommendation is 2 hours.

If you ask me, the trajineras tour is a tourist trap, it feels like a boat party with a crazy amount of boats going in all directions, music, food and booze. There are a bunch of stops that you still have to pay for if you want to visit, and honestly, are not impressive at all (for example, Doll Island and the animal mini zoos like the ajolotario). If you know that and you are cool with it, then do it, it’s a fun activity to do with a group.

When you get back to the pier, walk around the markets and the food stalls and enjoy the view of the Papantla Fliers and their ritual. If you have enough time, try pulque, a traditional Mexican drink made of fermented agave sap in the famous Pulquería El Templo de Diana.

Ready to head back? Go to the Xochimilco main terminal, get the light train back to Taxqueña, and switch to the subway northbound until the Hidalgo stop, right next to Alameda Central Park. The trip back takes from 1 hour to 1.5 hours, depending on which part of Mexico City you are staying in. That’s it for day 2!

Day 3: Museum of Anthropology and Chapultepec Park

The Museum of Anthropology is a must-visit for anyone interested in Mexico’s rich cultural heritage. If you only have the willingness to visit one museum, let it be this one. This impressive museum houses a vast collection of artefacts from ancient civilizations, including the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec. To make the most of your visit, focus on the exhibits that interest you the most as the museum is quite large and you will not be able to see it all. Allocate 3 to 4 hours.

The museum’s cafeteria and restaurant offer a variety of delicious and affordable food options, making it a convenient place to grab a bite to eat after exploring the exhibits or to take a break. If you do not want to eat in the museum, there are plenty of options to eat around Parque Lincoln. My favourite spot is El Péndulo coffee shop and bookstore because I love the bookshop vibe.

After learning about prehispanic cultures, cross the main road and immerse yourself in one of Mexico City’s largest and most popular green spaces: Chapultepec Park, the Central Park of Mexico. Stroll around, rent a bike or simply enjoy the tranquillity under the shade of a tree.

If you have the energy, I highly recommend visiting Chapultepec Castle, the only castle in Mexico and a historic landmark with a fascinating past. The castle now serves as a museum dedicated to Mexican history, offering visitors a unique glimpse into the country’s rich heritage. I was pleasantly surprised by how interesting I found the museum, and the views from the lookout onto Paseo de la Reforma are truly stunning.

It’s dinner time! Polanco is known for its fine dining scene, offering a wide range of options to suit all tastes. While vegan options may be less prevalent compared to other neighbourhoods like Condesa or Roma Norte, there are still plenty of farm-to-table restaurants with organic ingredients. Some highly recommended restaurants include Pujol, Quintonil, and Raiz Cocina de Estaciones.

Get a good night’s sleep, because tomorrow is going to be another busy day.

Day 4: Day trip to Teotihuacan

Note: With only 4 days at hand, you can choose to do a single day trip from CDMX and spend one more day exploring the city.

Start your day early and head to Teotihuacan, one of the largest cities of the ancient Americas, and one of Mexico’s most impressive archaeological sites, located about 40 kilometres northeast of Mexico City. This ancient wonder is a must-see, especially if you’re exploring Mexico City in 4 days, as it offers an incredible glimpse into the region’s rich prehispanic history. The journey takes approximately 1-1.5 hours by car.

You can take public transportation from Mexico City to Teotihuacán from the Northern Bus Station (Central de Autobuses del Norte). To reach the Autobuses del Norte station, you can take the following lines, depending on where you are located:

Once you are at the Autobuses del Norte bus station, head to gate 8, where buses marked “Pirámides” are located. Tickets cost around 50 pesos per trip, and you can often buy a return ticket at the same time. Buses run every 10 minutes and most arrive at gate 2 of the archaeological zone, with services until 6:00 pm.

You can visit the area all by yourself, but you will make the most of it if you hire a certified tour guide.

This place is so big that 5 different entrances connect with a major archaeological area. I drove by car, entered through gate 1, then got out and drove to gate 3 to skip the whole walk along the Avenue of the Dead, which is 2.4 km long. The main sites to see are the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, a pyramid adorned with a serpent head, the Pyramid of the Moon, accessible from Gate 3, and the Pyramid of the Sun, which is the 3rd largest in the world.

To save energy and avoid the intense sun, most tours will take you to gates 1 and 3, both ends of the Avenue of the Dead. From those two points of entry, you easily access and admire the three pyramids.

For lunch, there are several restaurants near the pyramids offering a variety of options, from casual eateries to upscale dining. There are a few that are within walking distance of each gate. The one I tried when I visited wasLa Gruta and I cannot recommend it enough. The food is delicious, and the ambience is unbeatable for the restaurant has been carved into a large volcanic rock cavity, giving it an air of mysticism.

After lunch, if you still have the energy, consider taking a cultural tour of San Jose Teotihuacan or San Martin de las Piramides, both of which are Pueblos Magicos. If you ask around, you can get bike or quad tours that will take you to different areas and show you a different perspective of the ancient city.

There are plenty of local businesses in the nearby towns that welcome visitors to experience traditional crafts, like making products from maguey—pulque being the most famous—and even the process of creating chocolate from cocoa. The best way to dive into this is by booking a tour, which you can easily arrange at any of the gates. I asked my local guide, and she set me up with a quad bike tour. I know, not the most eco-friendly choice, but a bike ride under the relentless Mexican sun just wasn’t happening!

Of all the places I visited, I can recommend the following: La Casa del Ixtle, Casa Museo del Cacao and a cave named La Jolla Tlanextic.

Catch the same bus back to Mexico City at Gate 2, and head to bed feeling fulfilled after four days of rich cultural experiences and unforgettable moments, knowing you’ve explored the city as a responsible traveller, and making thoughtful and sustainable choices along the way.

How to be a responsible traveller in Mexico City

As a visitor to Mexico City, you have the opportunity to experience a vibrant and culturally rich city while also making a positive impact. By choosing sustainable transportation options, supporting eco-friendly businesses, and respecting local customs, you can contribute to the preservation of Mexico City’s natural and cultural heritage.

Sustainable transportation options and tours in Mexico City

Sustainable stays in Mexico City

When choosing a place to stay in Mexico City, look for hotels and accommodations that prioritise sustainability. Some things to consider include:

• Energy Efficiency: Look for hotels that have implemented energy-saving measures, such as using renewable energy sources and reducing water consumption.
• Waste Reduction: Choose hotels with programs to reduce waste, such as recycling and composting.
• Local Sourcing: Look for hotels that source food and other products from local suppliers, supporting the local economy.

One sustainable hotel option to consider is El Patio 77, although I haven’t stayed there personally.

Eco-friendly food options in Mexico City

• Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants: Mexico City has a growing number of vegan and vegetarian restaurants, offering delicious and sustainable food options.
• Farm-to-Table Restaurants: Many restaurants in Mexico City source their ingredients from local farms, ensuring that the food you eat is fresh and sustainable.
• Street Food: Street food is a popular and affordable way to experience Mexican cuisine. While not all street food vendors are eco-friendly, there are many options that prioritize fresh, local ingredients.

Here are a few popular eco-friendly restaurants in Mexico City:

• Sud 777: This restaurant is known for its sustainable menu and commitment to environmental responsibility.
• El Hábito: This vegetarian restaurant uses organic and locally sourced ingredients.
• Raíz Cocina de Estaciones: This restaurant focuses on seasonal, local ingredients and sustainable practices.

Sustainable shopping options in Mexico City

Second-hand Clothes Shops: Shopping at second-hand clothes shops is a great way to reduce your environmental impact. Ciclo is a popular second-hand clothing store in Mexico City.

Sustainable Fashion Brands: Several sustainable fashion brands in Mexico City offer stylish and ethically produced clothing. Alejandra Raw is one such brand.

Low environmental impact activities in Mexico City

Park Visits: Mexico City has many beautiful parks where you can relax, enjoy nature, and get some exercise.

Walking Tours: Walking tours are a great way to explore the city and learn about its history and culture.

Cultural Events: Attend cultural events, such as concerts, theatre performances, and art exhibitions.

Volunteer Work: Volunteer your time to a local organisation that is working to protect the environment or improve the lives of local communities.

Cultural etiquette

Since I live in Mexico, I know one thing or two about Mexican etiquette. Here are the most important ones:

• Meeting new people: It is considered polite to greet people with a handshake and to make eye contact. If you meet a whole group of people, greet each of them individually. You will notice that at times, people kiss one cheek when they greet each other, especially among women. Don’t be surprised if you get introduced to someone and they make a move to kiss your cheek.
• Learn a Few Spanish Phrases: Knowing a few basic Spanish phrases can go a long way in making your trip more enjoyable and respectful, especially respectful words like con permiso, perdón or provecho.
• Be Patient: Things may move at a slower pace in Mexico than you may used to. Be patient and try to go with the flow.
• Bargain where appropriate: Bargaining is common in markets but not always appropriate. Ask politely is they can lower the price but that won’t always be the case. Some vendors in the Alameda Central have signs that ask potential customers not to barter.
• Dress Appropriately: Dress modestly, Mexico has plenty of beaches but CDMX is not the beach and people dress like in any other big city.
• Tipping: It is customary to tip 10% to 15% in restaurants.

By following these tips, you can help ensure that your trip to Mexico City is both enjoyable and responsible. Happy travels!