Uche's 3-day plan
Mexico City in 3 Days: Centro, Chapultepec and Coyoacán
A trip plan by Uche
Museo Vivo del Muralismo
Start the trip at this free museum inside the historic Secretaría de Educación Pública building, where Diego Rivera's courtyard murals share three floors with work by Siqueiros, Montenegro and Nishizawa. Take the first day slowly given the altitude; this is an easy, mostly indoor start. (guide: mexico-city)Templo Mayor
Walk a few blocks to the excavated main temple of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, beside the Zócalo, where the site museum displays the Coyolxauhqui stone disc. (guide: mexico-city)Los Cocuyos
Grab lunch at this tiny, nearly round-the-clock taco stand on Calle Bolívar, known for suadero, lengua and longaniza. (guide: mexico-city)Pulquería Las Duelistas
Finish the afternoon at this century-old Centro pulquería under murals by Guillermo Carreño, trying the Tlaxcala pulque plain or as a curado like oat or guava. Go earlier rather than later; the pulque often runs out by 7pm. (guide: mexico-city)
Mercado de Medellín
Have breakfast at this Roma Sur market that doubles as the city's Latin American pantry, with Colombian arepas and coffee, Salvadoran pupusas and Peruvian ceviche alongside Mexican stalls. Go before noon, when it's least crowded. (guide: mexico-city)Audiorama, Bosque de Chapultepec
Spend a quiet half hour in this shaded grove in Chapultepec's first section, where speakers in the trees play music, talking isn't allowed, and there are books to borrow. (guide: mexico-city)Museo Nacional de Antropología
Move on to the world's largest collection of pre-Columbian objects, held in a modernist building nearby; it easily fills a couple of hours. (guide: mexico-city)Contramar
Have a late lunch at this Roma Norte seafood favorite on Calle Durango, known for tuna tostadas and whole fish in red and green sauce. Book ahead; it closes in the early evening. (guide: mexico-city)
Museo Frida Kahlo (Casa Azul)
Visit Frida Kahlo's birthplace and home in Coyoacán, now a museum of her life and work, with tickets bought in advance on its official site. (guide: mexico-city)Museo Anahuacalli
Head about 4 km south to Diego Rivera's temple-like museum of dark volcanic stone, built to house his collection of pre-Hispanic art, and climb to the rooftop terrace for a view across the south of the city. (guide: mexico-city)Coyoacán
Wander the colonial streets and Jardín Hidalgo in this small-town-feeling neighborhood before the evening, taking in its cafés and plazas at an easy pace. Expect extra crowds and decorated ofrendas around the plaza given the Día de Muertos dates. (guide: mexico-city)El Vilsito
Close out the trip with late-night tacos and gringas al pastor at this Narvarte taquería, a former mechanic's workshop at Petén and Avenida Universidad that only sets up its grill after dark. (guide: mexico-city)
Explore nearby
More places from the guide close to your stops, if you have time or want a swap.
Eat
El Compita
Tijuana-style beef birria on crisp tortillas with consommé, plus quesabirrias and shrimp birria; a sit-down spot at Medellín 242 in Roma Sur, with the original stand still at Puebla and Monterrey in Roma Norte.
Roma Sur · Near Day 2 · $ · afternoon or evening
Plonk
Small Mexican-Asian restaurant at Iztaccíhuatl 52 with an open kitchen and a terrace facing Parque México; its sommelier won the Michelin Guide's 2025 Sommelier Award.
Condesa · Near Day 2 · $$$ · dinner on the terrace
Milpa
Taquería opened in 2026 at Gobernador Tiburcio Montiel 24 by chef Antonio Peralta, with native-corn tortillas, fillings like pork rib, sea bass and pressed chicharrón, and Mexican wine pairings; open Tuesday to Sunday, 1pm to 11pm.
San Miguel Chapultepec · Near Day 2 · $$ · Tuesday to Sunday, lunch or dinner
La Once Mil
Taquería from chef César de la Parra, opened in 2024 in Lomas de Chapultepec with a second branch at Orizaba 83 in Roma Norte; it earned a Michelin star in 2026 for tacos of premium cuts like Angus rib eye. About 400 to 800 pesos a person.
Roma Norte · Near Day 2 · $$$ · lunch or dinner
Castacán
Gabriela Cámara's Yucatecan taquería at Puebla 387, from the team behind Contramar, serving cochinita pibil, roast lechón and castacán (crispy pork belly) in tacos and tortas; in the 2026 Michelin Guide.
Roma Norte · Near Day 2 · $$ · come early at lunch
Esquina Común
Michelin-starred tasting menu (2024 and 2025) at Fernando Montes de Oca 86 from chef Ana Dolores, mixing Mexican, Spanish and Peruvian cooking; it began as a secret supper club and opens Thursday to Sunday.
Condesa · Near Day 2 · $$$$ · Thursday to Sunday dinner
Los Panchos
One of Mexico City's oldest carnitas taquerías, on Calle Tolstoi in Anzures, serving carnitas, campechano and cecina tacos and mole de olla.
Anzures · Near Day 2 · $
Masala y Maíz
Michelin Bib Gourmand at Marsella 72 where Norma Listman and Saqib Keval cook Mexican, Indian and East African food together, as featured on Netflix's Chef's Table; known for suadero samosas and camarones pa'pelar.
Juárez · Near Day 2 · $$$ · lunch; book ahead
Drinks and nightlife
Tlecān
Small Roma Norte mezcal bar pouring agave spirits from small producers, with a focus on women distillers; No. 5 on North America's 50 Best Bars 2026.
Roma Norte · Near Day 2 · $$ · evenings
Loup Bar
One of Mexico City's first natural wine bars, at Tonalá 23, still among its best for funky low-intervention bottles, mostly European, with a small menu of shared plates.
Roma Norte · Near Day 2 · $$$ · evenings
Oropel
Vermouth bar at Chihuahua 182 with 20+ vermouths, house cocktails and Spanish-style snacks, mostly enjoyed at its sidewalk tables; no full dinner.
Roma Norte · Near Day 2 · $$ · early evening
Handshake Speakeasy
Hidden 1920s-style cocktail bar in Juárez's Zona Rosa, named the World's Best Bar in 2024 and the Best Bar in North America in 2026; book ahead and keep groups small.
Juárez (Zona Rosa) · Near Day 2 · $$$
Hugo
Natural wine bar at Veracruz 38 credited with making natural wine and Euro-style small plates popular in Roma; only about five wines by the glass, so it suits sharing a bottle.
Condesa / Roma Norte · Near Day 2 · $$$ · evenings
Si Mon
Wine bar at Zacatecas 126 with close to 200 labels, many Mexican (Valle de Guadalupe, Guanajuato), a big natural section, house charcuterie and cheese, and regular tastings.
Roma Norte · Near Day 2 · $$ · evenings
Bar Mauro
1970s Milan-style aperitivo bar at Tabasco 149, opened in late 2024 by Ricardo and Eduardo Nava; No. 2 on North America's 50 Best Bars 2026, known for vermouth, amaro and the Negroni 1929.
Roma Norte · Near Day 2 · $$$ · early evening aperitivo
Licorería Limantour
Two-floor art deco cocktail bar on Avenida Álvaro Obregón in Roma Norte, on the World's 50 Best Bars list since 2014; cocktails average about US$11.
Roma Norte · Near Day 2 · $$
Sights
Centro Histórico
The historic center around the Zócalo, with the Templo Mayor, cantinas and the city's main colonial sights.
Centro Histórico · Near Day 1
Roma Norte
Leafy, walkable neighborhood packed with restaurants, bars and cafés, and one of the most recommended bases for first-time visitors.
Roma Norte · Near Day 2
Condesa
Art deco neighborhood around Parque México and Parque España, known for cafés, cocktail bars and walkable streets.
Condesa · Near Day 2
Juárez
Central, well-connected neighborhood with many hotels, walkable to Centro, Roma Norte and Chapultepec.
Juárez · Near Day 2
Espacio Escultórico, UNAM Hidden gem
A 120-meter ring of triangular prisms around a solidified lava field, created in 1979 by six Mexican sculptors inside the Pedregal de San Ángel reserve on the UNAM campus; free, Monday to Friday, 7am to 4pm.
Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán · Free · weekday mornings (closed weekends)
Shopping
La Lagunilla (Sunday market)
Sunday antiques and vintage market around the Lagunilla market buildings; dealers arrive by 8am, replicas mix with real antiques, and it borders Tepito, so watch for pickpockets and leave before dusk.
Centro / Morelos · Near Day 1 · Free · Sunday morning
Tianguis Cultural del Chopo
Saturday street market of rock, punk and metal records, band T-shirts and alternative clothing on Calle Aldama beside the Biblioteca Vasconcelos, roughly 10am to 5pm.
Buenavista · Near Day 1 · Free · Saturday
Mercado de Jamaica
The city's main flower market, about 1,150 stalls across three halls, open 24 hours and free, with produce and food stalls like Carnitas Paty; Metro Line 9's Jamaica exit comes out under it.
Jamaica · Free · morning
Make this trip yours
Copy it into your own trip planner, free. Change the days, add places, and check stops off as you go.