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Mexico City has evolved, without losing sight of its history, into one of the most culturally rich metropolitan areas in North America that has claimed high ranking positions on multiple places-to-visit lists. As the oldest and most populous city in North America, Mexico City has affordable transportation, hundreds of museums, and endless amounts of authentic, cheap Mexican food that makes this city a place you should visit at least once. Here are 8 reasons why Mexico City should be your next trip.
1/ you can get a cheap international flight
Depending on your travel dates, you can score some inexpensive flights to Mexico City. Once you arrive in Mexico City, food, transportation, and all the extras are also very affordable. Even if you book only a few months in advance, you can still find cheap round-trip flights to Mexico City for anywhere between $200-$500, depending on what airport you depart from. There are tricks to scoring cheap international flights such as booking multiple round-trip tickets, flying out of different surrounding airports, etc.
2/ once you’re there, it’s cheap
While you can book hotels in Mexico City for as low as $40 USD per night, you can book nicer places for the same price by using Airbnb. If you're unsure about Airbnb, there are many aspects of a rental you can analyze before booking to make sure you are making a smart, safe decision for yourself. For example, if the property doesn't have any reviews, don't book it. Or, if the comments renters have left on the property aren't positive, don't book it.
Once you get to Mexico City, transportation is inexpensive. You can choose to figure out the metro, or you can opt to use Uber as your mode of transportation. While I was in Mexico City, every Uber we took cost between $2 USD and $8 USD. So, if you don't have the patience to figure out or the time to get lost by using the metro, Uber is an affordable option to get you from place to place.
The food is also inexpensive. Whether you choose to take a break for lunch in a restaurant or keep touring the city and grab a bite to eat from a street vendor, you can eat a full meal for about $5 USD. You can buy a 1-liter bottle of water for about $.50 USD, a bottle of Coca Cola for about $1 USD, or a bottle of domestic beer for $1.50 USD.
Depending on what you what to do while in Mexico City, you can either spend a lot of money on entertainment or you can spend within your budget. The city is full of history and culture museums, and you should visit at least one while you're visiting. Most museums charge a small fee of $3-$10 USD to enter, so whether you visit one or five, you won't be spending much.
Tours are can be expensive in Mexico City, costing up to $100 per person. If you're looking to explore Mexico City on a budget, self-guided tours is your best option. Self-guided tours save you money, let you create your own schedule, and you’ll immerse yourself in just as much culture and history as you would on a guided tour.
3/ authentic Mexican food happens to be some of the best cuisine in the world
That statement may be a little biased, but whether you eat in a restaurant or on the street, you're guaranteed that your food will be both cheap and delicious. Chefs in restaurants across the city cook endless amounts of meat vertically skewered in a large stack on a rotisserie before shaving off thin slices to complete the perfect authentic Mexican dish. Street vendors sell everything from snacks (authentic Mexican corn and churros) to massive sandwiches to full plates of food out of carts or under umbrellas, and their dishes are just as good and authentic as the local restaurants. Pinpointing which places to dine at or which street vendors to grab a bite from can be a challenge. Sites like Lonely Planet, Trip Advisor, or Eater can help you figure out what some of the best Mexican restaurants and street vendors in the city are.
4/ there are over 150 museums celebrating Mexico's rich history and culture
Mexico City is full of rich, celebrated history and culture. Founded in 1324 in Tenochtitlan by the Mexicas (later known as the Aztecs), Mexico City has almost 700 years of civilization to learn about and explore. Over 150 museums take you through the depths of Mexican history and culture, but you don’t have to visit every museum to learn about the history and culture. The Museo Nacional de Antropología is the country’s most visited museum and a must see while you’re in Mexico City. With over 600,000 pieces of art and other ancient artifacts dated from the pre-Hispanic period, the Museo Nacional de Antropologia gives visitors an intimate look into Mexican history.
5/ you can see and climb Mesoamerican Pyramids
Architecturally significant and full of history, another must-see in Mexico City is the Pyramid of the Sun and the Moon. Located just outside Mexico City in Teotihuacan, the Mayan city is known as one of the first great cities in the Western Hemisphere. Believed to have been constructed in about 100 CE, the Pyramid of the Sun stands at 216 feet and draws thousands of visitors every day. The Pyramid of the Moon is also a place of cultural significance as researchers have found buried animals and bodies that are thought to be offerings to gods in the temple beneath the pyramid.
Public transportation can get you to Teotihuacan quickly and for a fraction of the price of a tour. Buses leave from the City's Terminal Norte (the Northern bus terminal) every 15 minutes. You can Uber from your hotel or apartment rental to Terminal Norte where you'll be able to purchase a round-trip bus ticket from Terminal Norte to Teotihuacan for about $5 USD.
6/ it's home to one of the world's oldest and largest parks
Not only is Mexico City the oldest and highest city in North America but it is also home to one of the world's oldest and largest urban parks. Bosque de Chapultepec spans over 1,600 acres with walking paths that connect a recreational lake, monumental buildings, museums, a botanical garden, a zoo, and more. It's a repository of national history and culture which makes it a prime place for visitors to spend a day submerged in authentic Mexican culture and learning about Mexican history. The park is full of snack vendors that serve up authentic Mexican corn, dishes, and treats and street performers entertaining crowds with traditional Mexican dances and acts. Whether you explore the park by foot, bike, or Segway, Bosque de Chapultepec is a great place to spend a day absorbing Mexican culture, history, and tradition.
7/ they have some of the best cocktail bars in the world
Mixologists across Mexico City are pushing the limits with their cocktail creations. Incorporating unusual ingredients in cocktails, becoming more artistic in presentation, and creating unique bar concepts and designs has bars across Mexico City gaining national and international attention.
Nestled in the neighborhood of Colonia Roma Norte sites a sophisticated, Art Deco inspired bar that currently hold the 11th best bar in the world designation, Licorería Limantour. Their unique cocktails made with the best local liquors and ingredients attracts bar enthusiast around Mexico City as well as international visitors who crave colorful, balanced cocktails and unmatched service and artistry.
Luciferina is another bar concept in Mexico City that has capitalized on cocktail drinker's adventurous tastes and demand for unique cocktails and bar concepts. This bar is best known for a signature cocktail called Aragog, which they can serve an average of 200 per night. The Aragog, named after the giant spider from the Harry Potter books, is made with a drop of tarantula venom. Yes, you read that right. Tarantula venom. As you take sips of the cocktail, the numbness caused by the venom starts with your lips, trickles into your tongue and down your throat, and leaves brave drinkers with a tingling or cramping feeling in their throat. The drink is a must-try when you're in Mexico City, and I can tell you first-hand that both the taste and the side effects of the cocktail won't disappoint. If you’re not up for the challenge of the Aragog, the mixologists also serve up a cocktail menu full other drinks that are suitable for drinkers of any taste.
8/ it might just change your perspective on Mexico
We’ve all seen it in the news. The Mexican Drug War, the boarder war, the migrant caravan… all issues that Mexico has a part in. While these (and other) issues are real and prevalent, they are often skewed by a dangerous political rhetoric that is designed to change or alter perceptions about Mexico. Visiting Mexico City and seeing just how much the country is misrepresented may change your perspective on Mexico.
It's also important to remember that Mexico City isn’t the only major city in North America that deals with crime. Major cities in the US, such as New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles, struggle with crime as well. But with all major cities, the experiences within the city far outweigh the slim chance of crime. There are things you can do to help keep you safe while traveling abroad, so don’t let fear of crime keep you from experiencing the vast culture and history of Mexico City.
Mexico City is a lively, fascinating city that is deeply rooted in their history and culture which makes this city one of the top places to visit in North America... and a must-visit for your next trip.