BootsnAll Travel Community

I have a day to spend in Mexico City in between flights, so would really appreciate some suggestions of what to see and do around the city.

Also, some advice on safety in general and using taxis and the Metro system would be very useful (I´m arriving late at night and returning to the airport in the afternoon of the following day).

And, lastly, some hints on where to ATMs/money exchange, where to eat and where to stay (I´ve been recommended Hostal Moneda but if I can´t get in there, other good hostels).

Many thanks

PJ

The thing about Mexico City is that the places you want to visit really don't have much to recommend to a one day pass through.

There is an area called Zona Roja, I think(may be Zona Viva) anyway, sort of a clean walking mall and lots of restaurants and the like...But big deal! Why would you go there? Just like anywhere else

You can go up to the Zocalo, which has that massive Mexican flag. Interesting and good for some photos. Then head west into the streets that fan out from it and see the various fishmongers and the like. You head north you are into an interesting market area selling god knows what local stuff, there are interesting little stand up bars there which would get you your fill of the local colour.

There is a place that has statues to the Mariachi greats. That is a cool little park. And, of course, it attracts Mariachis.

That is all I can think of right now.

D

PS: By The By, Mexico City is in North America. Don't be surprised if this moves.

If you have 6-8 hours, I can give you an itinerary

1 hour( Getting to the center from the airport)

I would avoid the Zocalo, if only because its not much of a square.

However, in the center there is a perfectly good small pyramid worth an hour or two.

Teotihicuan is a perfectly huge complex, but its not something you want to be involved in when you have a plane to catch.

However, Chapultepec park is fun, is full of mexican flavor, and you can get out of there quickly. YOu could also do a quick turn in the Museo de Anthropologia, which is one of the best archeology/anthropology museums in the world. Some titles are actually in English.

Its a great overview of mexican culture.

It also is a 4 hour minimum visit if you want to be leisurely in your visit.

Of course, in Chapultepec park, you can climb up the large hill and see a nice castle where the King of Mexico once stayed.

It is a nice park, with clowns and mimes, not to mention melodramatic patent drug sellers.

Then you can take a cab, preferably NOT from the museum, back to the airport again. Expect a massive tab on both ends, but a day well spent. Take one of the green cabs. Take one of the public cabs where you stand in line for a ticket TO the area.

If its true you have 24 hours, you can do a lot.

Other places you may like, if you have a really full day:

Xochimilco, the floating gardens.

The Diego riviera museum.

The Frida Kahlo museum in Coyoacan.

Coyoacan at night.

The sinking cathedral

Here's a list of hostels. I have not stayed at any of them myself, but I've heard good things about "Moneda" (unnavailable, I know) as well as "Catedral" (because of location) and "Amigos" (because....can't remember).

I'm guessing you're arriving in the middle of the night after a transatlantic flight? Then you have to be back at the airport the next afternoon? The above posts have great ideas if you have the energy. Me? I'd pick an interesting neighborhood to stay in, SLEEP OFF THE FLIGHT, and then just leisurely take in the neighborhood before heading back to the airport. MC is too damn big to try to tackle with the window of opportunity you have. That, or I'm lazy.

If you are arriving and needing to find a place that is decent and cheap...Leave the front of the airport....There is a huge hotel in front of you. Go into the hotel...Go through it... Look off to the left. There is a door out. Goes out onto the back street. Nice local worker taverna. Local persons hotel. That´s a good spot to stay. This is where the workers go and where the locals go. I spent a New Years here once. The second best New Year's I have ever spent.

If you only have a day in Mexico City, then do head down to the Zocalo, which is not the square (that is Plaza de la Constitucion), and you can choose from half a dozen museums and galleries. Grab a city map at the airport or at any touristy looking site in the Zocalo.

There's a metro stop called Zocalo which will drop you off in the heart of it all, and which you can get from the airport, though not with large amounts of luggage. The metro is perfectly safe as are the streets around the Zocalo.

Taxis are fine..coming out of the airport, you'll have no choice but to get an 'official' taxi (which simply means having a license to pinch you for too much money). Getting back, you can grab any color taxi without much worry. Stories of bad VW bug taxis are highly exaggerated and about a decade out of date now.