How to spend 3 days in Mexico City
Three days gives you time to see Mexico City's historic center, world-class museums, and vibrant neighborhoods. Focus on Centro Histórico and Roma Norte on day one, Chapultepec and Polanco on day two, and Coyoacán and Xochimilco on day three.
- Plan your base location. Stay in Roma Norte or Centro Histórico. Roma Norte has better restaurants and nightlife within walking distance. Centro Histórico puts you closest to major sights but can be grittier at night.
- Book museum tickets in advance. Reserve timed entry for Museo Nacional de Antropología and Frida Kahlo Museum online. The anthropology museum sells out weekends, and Frida's house limits visitors to 200 per hour.
- Download Uber and get pesos. Uber works better than taxis for tourists and costs 40-80 pesos for most trips. Get pesos from ATMs - many places don't take cards, especially street food vendors and markets.
- Is three days enough for Mexico City?
- Three days covers the main highlights but Mexico City deserves a week. You'll see the essential museums, historic center, and key neighborhoods, but won't have time for day trips to Teotihuacan or deeper neighborhood exploration.
- How do I get around the city?
- Uber for convenience and safety - it's cheap and drivers know the city well. Metro is extensive but crowded and confusing for first-time visitors. Walking works well within neighborhoods but distances between areas are large.
- When should I eat meals?
- Breakfast 8-10am, lunch 2-4pm (the big meal), and dinner after 8pm. Many restaurants close 5-7pm between lunch and dinner. Street food vendors operate all day.
- What about altitude sickness?
- Mexico City sits at 7,350 feet. About 20% of visitors feel mild symptoms - headache, fatigue, or shortness of breath - for 1-2 days. Drink extra water, limit alcohol the first night, and take it easy your first day.