Travel Tips and Things to Do in Mexico City
We packed a lot into our four days in Mexico City, but running around from place to place was the MOST fun. While we stayed in an Airbnb in the Polanco area, we spent most of our time bopping around the Roma and Condessa areas, especially Colima street. Once we got back to NYC, Summer and I put our brains together and compiled a list of 10 things you should know before traveling to Mexico City as well as a comprehensive guide on some of our favorite shops and spots that we visited. Hope you enjoy!
10 Mexico City Travel Tips
Consider applying for Global Entry prior to traveling internationally. It is a customs program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. It’s a game changer when you’ve just gotten off of a long flight, and all you want to do is to get home, order Taco Bell, and go to bed. 🤣
Look into your cell phone international plan before you go. Most carriers have a travel pass for a small daily fee.
Download a currency converter app. This will make it easier to know what things cost when you’re shopping.
There is really no air conditioning in Mexico City…do with that what you will lol.
Avoid drinking the tap water. Stick to bottled water. However, the still water at restaurants is filtered (usually from a bottle) as is the ice, so you should be good in that regard.
Don’t flush toilet paper. The plumbing systems in Mexico aren’t designed to accommodate paper.
There is WiFi almost everywhere in Mexico City, so take advantage of it.
Uber is a fairly easy and inexpensive way to get around the city.
Chances are you’ll need to get a COVID test 24 hours before traveling back home. Here is where we were able to quickly get ours.
Speak Spanish as much as you can! It’s not super necessary as most people there speak English too, but it’s fun to try and have conversations with the locals. 🙂
Void
While Void has two locations, we visited the one in Roma Norte. It’s a really cool curated vintage shop with a little cafe in the middle of it.
Cardón
This was one of the cutest shops we popped in over the course of our trip. I mean just look at that fluffy purple purse. 😍
Mooni
This little art gallery for emerging artists is right next door to Cardón. Art from your travels is such a fun thing to collect, and this place has no shortage of amazing pieces.
Erre Vintage
This is another curated vintage shop with graphic tees, up-cycled denim purses, and lots of unique accessories.
Jarilla
Need a little afternoon pick-me-up? Visit Jarilla and pick up some fresh fruit or a cold beverage.
Casa Gilardi
If you’re looking for a fun instagrammable spot, visit the colorful Casa Gilardi designed by famous Mexican architect, Luis Barragán. Make sure to book tickets in advance!
Xochimilco
This boat ride down the Xochimilco canals was by far our favorite thing that we did. It’s about an hour outside of the city by Uber, but it is so worth it. You can bring your own snacks and drinks, but there are also smaller boats along the canals with locals selling margaritas, elotes, tacos, etc. You can even have a mariachi band play a couple of songs on your boat for a small fee — highly recommend! 🤩
