Buy a rechargeable Metro card for MXN 15 at ticket booths; women-only cars are the first two on trains during rush hour. Avoid using phones near open doors and keep backpacks in front of you.
Centro Histórico
Start at the Zócalo, tour the Metropolitan Cathedral, and descend into the Templo Mayor ruins next door. Palacio de Bellas Artes sells performance tickets online—you can also view murals for free from the third-floor balconies.
Food Markets
- Mercado de San Juan for exotic produce and tapas counters—carry cash and sit at counter 63 for seafood tostadas.
- Mercado Roma for a clean, modern food hall (good on rainy days).
- Mercado Medellín for Colombian pastries and spice vendors in Roma Sur.
Coyoacán + Xochimilco
Frida Kahlo Museum slots sell out weeks in advance; buy tickets online and arrive 15 minutes early with ID. Combine the visit with churros at El Moro and coffee at Café Avellaneda. For Xochimilco, insist on official trajineras with posted prices (approx. MXN 600 per hour) and agree on duration before boarding.
At night, stick to Condesa, Roma, and Polanco for walks. Use authorized taxi stands (sitios) or app rides; never accept unsolicited rides near bars.