Mexico

Massive, layered, and endlessly walkable — Aztec ruins, world-class museums, and some of the best food on the planet.

• Do

  Teotihuacán at sunrise

  Less than an hour from the city by Uber and surprisingly cheap (roughly 500–700 MXN / $25–40 one-way). Get there at opening to beat the tour buses and the heat — you can still climb several of the structures. Stop for lunch at La Gruta nearby, set inside a beautiful natural cavern.

• Do

  Templo Mayor & the Zócalo

  The Aztec ruins sit right next to Constitution Plaza (the Zócalo) and the cathedral — a thousand years of history in two city blocks.

• Do

  Palacio de Bellas Artes

  Art Nouveau outside, Art Deco inside, with Diego Rivera and Orozco murals upstairs. Cheap entry, big payoff.

• Do

  Casa Azul (Frida Kahlo Museum)

  Frida's cobalt-blue home in Coyoacán. Book timed tickets online days in advance — walk-ups rarely get in.

• Do

  Chapultepec Park

  Bigger than Central Park. The Museo Nacional de Antropología alone is worth a half-day; the castle, modern art museum, and zoo are all inside the same green expanse.

• Play

  Mezcal & tequila tasting

  Easy to book a small-group tasting on Viator or GetYourGuide — a good crash course in the difference between the two and how to drink them properly.

• Play

  Lucha Libre night

  Masked wrestling at Arena México is pure spectacle. Book a guided experience on Viator/GetYourGuide for transport, a mask, and a beer included.

• Eat

  Tacos al pastor — the CDMX classic

  Marinated pork shaved off a vertical trompo, served on tiny corn tortillas with pineapple, onion, and cilantro. El Huequito, Los Cocuyos, and El Vilsito (a mechanic shop by day, taquería by night) are essential. Eat them standing up at the counter — three for two dollars and they're life-changing.

• Eat

  Pulque — if you're brave

  A milky, slightly sour fermented agave drink that predates tequila by centuries. Not for the faint of heart, but trying it at a traditional pulquería is a only-in-CDMX experience.