Ready to check out Mexico City? With its vibrant culture, rich history, and diverse attractions, it is the perfect destination for a long weekend getaway. Check out this 4 day Mexico City itinerary to get a glimpse of the best that Mexico City has to offer especially for foodies!
My husband and I recently took a long weekend getaway to Mexico City and this itinerary includes all of our favorite experiences from the trip plus some must-know tips for visiting CDMX.
Our goal was to have a relaxing, leisurely weekend soaking up the Mexican culture and cuisine! CDMX is home to some of the top restaurants and chefs in the WORLD so this itinerary is focused on dining at all the best spots while also taking in the unique culture.
Read on to plan the perfect 4 days in Mexico City.
4 Day Mexico City Itinerary Overview
An overview of what you can expect in this itinerary for Mexico City.
Day One
arrive to Mexico City
- Arrive to Your Hotel
- Cocktails at Fifty Mills
- Dinner at Rosetta
Day Two
see the sights
- Explore Historic Mexico
- Lunch at Mari Gold
- Tour Chapultepec Castle
- Dinner at Pujol
Day Three
enjoy a relaxing day
- Have a Massage at the Four Seasons
- Lunch at Botanico
- Explore the Condesa Neighborhood and Parque Mexico
- Tour the Frida Kahlo Museum
- Grab a Street Taco for a Snack
- Dinner at Quintonil
Day Four
depart Mexico City
- Morning walk through Bosque de Chapultepec
- Breakfast at Zanaya Restaurant
- Depart Mexico
Day One – Arrive to Mexico City
Check in to Four Seasons Mexico City
We absolutely loved staying at the Four Seasons Mexico. The rooms are very nice, comfortable, and we got upgraded to a room with a courtyard view. All the windows on this hotel can be opened so that you get to enjoy the fresh air.
The service is top notch and everything you would expect from a Four Seasons. Highly recommend staying here for your first visit to Mexico City.
It is definitely one of the best places to travel in December because the Christmas decor was so lovely!
Leisurely tip: Have the hotel arrange your airport transfers or book one of these options.
Cocktails at Fifty Mills
Fifty Mills is voted one of the best bars in the world. You can sit inside the dark and moody lounge area or outside in the vibrant courtyard of the Four Seasons Hotel. They have amazing cocktails, wines, and tons of mezcal to choose from.
Dinner at Restaurante Rosetta
Rosetta is ranked on the World’s Best List at #9! It is an Italian style restaurant with elements from Mexican cuisine. The restaurant space is one long, narrow building with floral painted walls and plants hanging throughout.
The food was incredible – we had the ravioli that was lemon-y and refreshing, cabbage tacos with pistachio pipián, sweet potato tamal, and one of the most unique desserts! Our dessert looked like a salad, but was actually a rosemary ice cream with fresh herbs – I felt healthier with every delicious bite.
Day Two - Explore Historic Mexico City
On day two, head to the Zócalo plaza in downtown Mexico City. This bustling area is full of life, full of history, and features a range of beautiful buildings such as the Metropolitan Cathedral and Palacio Nacional.
See the Sights in Centro Historico
Take an uber to the historic district and stroll around seeing these top attractions. I recommend to go early in the morning before it gets crowded.
- Zocalo - Located at the center of the city, the Zocalo Square is a large open space with fountains, trees, and monuments. It’s also home to the Palacio Nacional (National Palace), where the Mexican Congress meets.
- Metropolitan Cathedral - the Metropolitan Cathedral is the largest church in Latin America and was designed by Italian architect Giuseppe Valadier. It was completed in 1847 and stands as a testament to the power of the Catholic Church in Mexico.
- See the House of Tiles - a gorgeous 18th century baroque palace covered in blue and white tiles.
- Palacio Nacional del Bellas Artes - Palacio de Bellas Artes is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. Go inside for a tour where you will see works from Diego Riviera and other notable artists. The entry fee was very inexpensive – about $8USD per person.
- China Town -Yes, Mexico City has its own mini-sized China Town! The umbrella covered street is absolutely beautiful!
Lunch at Mari Gold
Mari Gold is a Mexican-Indian fusion restaurant tucked in a tiny little space near the Bosque de Chapultepec and Condesa.
We had the crudo (with grasshoppers), the most amazing fish quesadilla, a cucumber & grapefruit salad, and the dosa – it looks like a burrito and is crispy on the outside filled with Indian flavors of jitomate, tamarind, pineapple, potato, and chaat.
Visit the Chapultepec Castle at Bosque de Chapultepec
The vast Chapultepec area is best experienced over a full day or two to truly appreciate it all. Begin the afternoon at the Chapultepec Castle, which was built upon a rocky hilltop dating back to pre-Hispanic times and still contains murals, sculptures, and artifacts of major historic importance. Make sure you have time later in your trip to explore the stunning Chapultepec Forest and its lakes, where you can find walking trails and picturesque bridges leading to lush gardens and mariachi concerts.
The Castle dates back to 1785 and was home to Mexican leaders like Emperor Maximilian and Porfirio Diaz. It also played an important role in the Mexican-American War.
My favorite part was strolling around the rooftop garden space. I can only imagine how glamorous it was to attend parties here back in the day.
It’s only about $8USD to enter and totally worth it for the history and views over CDMX.
Dinner at Pujol
Pujol definitely lives up to the hype. It is ranked the 5th best restaurant in the world (per World’s 50 Best) and rightfully so. Enrique Olvera sticks to traditional Mexican style and ingredients, but with an elevated twist to each dish. You simply must go to Pujol when in CDMX!
Note: make reservations months in advance. We booked our dinner reservation and then flights and hotels around the restaurant’s availability.
Day Three - Relax and take in Mexico City's best Neighborhoods
Today will be a leisurely day with a little pampering followed by a long lunch and strolling around the residential areas to see how the locals live.
Morning at the Four Seasons Spa
Start your day at the amazing Four Seasons Spa with massage appointments!
Lunch at Botanico
I loved Botanico. It is a new restaurant in Mexico City in a super fun space in the Condesa neighborhood. The whole restaurant is open-air, so I think it would be a great lunch place to enjoy the sunshine.
We had the mussels that came with french fries, the green salad, tuna tostada, pumpkin ravioli topped with crab, and brie cheesecake. Each dish was amazing and highly, highly recommend.
Explore the Condesa Neighborhood
There are so many cute cafes and boutiques in this residential neighborhood in addition to the amazing restaurants. You will see moms strolling their babies, community yoga in the park, salsa dancing, and people in general going about their days.
- Bike and Gastronomy Tour in Mexico City through trendy Condesa
- Avenida Amsterdam - a beautiful side walk that wraps around the park. It sits in between two lanes of traffic and is an elevated sidewalk with plants and trees, making it feel like you are in a forest away from the cars.
- Parque Mexico - Large park in the Condesa Neighborhood with dog park, fountains, and people relaxing, exercising, dancing, etc.
- Street Tacos at El Güero - Of course you have to try some street tacos in Mexico! Our driver advised us to only eat tacos from places that we saw have a sink to wash hands. We went to El Güero in the Condesa neighborhood and it seemed like many locals were popping in for a quick lunch.
Dinner at Quintonil
Quintonil is also on the World’s Best Restaurant List for 2022 at number 8! It’s right around the corner from Pujol in Polanco. The restaurant features a 10 course tasting style menu with wine pairings. You can order off the a la carte menu, but go big or go home in my opinion!
Leisurely tip: Mark your calendar to book a table when they open reservations about 8 weeks in advance.
Day Four - Adios Mexico
Take a morning stroll around Bosque de Chapultepec
Move your body before boarding your flight. Bosque de Chapultepec is the Central Park of Mexico City, but double its size! The park is amazing with sidewalks for running/walking, a castle, monuments, a lake, and tons of green space.
Breakfast at Zanaya Restaurant at Four Seasons
Zanaya might be one of the most peaceful places to have breakfast in Mexico City. Also located at the 5-star Four Seasons hotel, this vibrant restaurant sits along the courtyard with major secret garden vibes. They have all kinds of options from chilaquiles to acai bowls to oatmeal.
Depart Mexico City
Adios, Mexico! Board your flight back home.
Optional Activities Near Mexico City
If you are up for more activities or leaving the city, I recommend adding these experiences into your itinerary.
Sunrise at the Chinampas
The chinampas are an agricultural system made up of these artificial floating islands. Today, it is a UNESCO protected area and many locals are utilizing these gardens as farms for restaurants. Visit Arca Tierra for a sunrise tour of the chinampas and have a fresh breakfast prepared for you. It is a more authentic experience than the party boats and you can see up close how this aztec farming method is used today in urban farming.
Mezcal Tasting
You will no doubt have many opportunities to taste tequila and mezcal in Mexico City. Book an organized tasting to learn more about this spirit.
Teotihuacan Ruins
About an hour outside of the city, head to the Teotihuacan Ruins – pre hispanic city that developed into one of the largest ancient cities in the Americas, with at least 25,000 inhabitants. Spend all day roaming around the ruins or book a tour in the hot air balloons to get a birds eye view!
Frida Kahlo Museum
Visit the home of Frida Kahlo located in the Colonia del Carmen neighborhood of Coyoacán in Mexico City. Known as the Blue House, this cobalt colored structure is a historic house showcasing the life and work of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. You can grab tickets here if interested!
Xochimilico Tour
Xochimilco is home to the famous canals which are the remnants of a water transport system created by the Aztecs. Today, colorful gondola style boats take visitors on cruises where food vendors, artisans, and mariachi bands float past. Depending on traffic it is about an hour south of Mexico City.
Mexico City FAQ
Answering all of your questions about Mexico City. Feel free to ask me any questions in the comment form below!
Mexico City definitely gets a bad wrap when it comes to danger. Sure, areas in Mexico are definitely not safe and horrible things happen. However, I stayed in the nicest areas of the city and felt safe while walking around and in ubers. Always be smart and pay attention to your surroundings. I stayed in nice hotels and dined at the best restaurants. Take extra precautions to ensure your safety in Mexico. It seemed like any other big city to me.
No, do not drink the water from the tap in Mexico. Always opt for bottled waters. At our hotel, I did feel comfortable having ice in my drinks and acai bowls as I felt confident they used filtered water.
Mexico City is a big city with 9 million residents. The traffic can be pretty heavy. Expect the airport transfer to take an hour at least. Getting around parts of the city typically took about 20-30 minutes so you need to plan ahead for any reservations.
The best way to get around in Mexico City is Uber. I have heard it’s safer than a taxi. My only note about Uber is to make sure your driver has at least 1000 rides and close to a 5 star rating. Always request a ride from in front of a business or hotel that’s well lit with people around. I heard of a scam where a driver will act like they are lost or had to take another route, meanwhile they’ve told their friends your location so they can mug you. Then, when the driver arrives, you are not there and they mark it as a canceled fare. However, all of my rides were completely safe and I didn’t experience anything sketchy. I don’t share that to scare you – just be aware and careful.
The Wrap Up: 4 Days in Mexico City
In just four days, Mexico City offers a perfect mix of luxury, culture, and culinary delights. It is an ideal destination for a long weekend getaway from the US.
Start by staying at the Four Seasons, where you’ll experience both comfort and style in the heart of the city. Be sure to indulge in world-class dining at places like Pujol, Rosetta, and don’t miss out on some of the best street tacos you’ll ever taste.
For sightseeing, spend your days shopping in Polanco, wandering through the lively streets of Condesa, and exploring iconic spots like Chapultepec Park and Chapultepec Castle.
Dive into the city's rich history with visits to landmarks such as Palacio Nacional, Palacio de Bellas Artes, the House of Tiles, and vibrant Chinatown.
With so much to see and do, Mexico City is a destination that will leave you wanting more—and eager to return.
Before You Go to Mexico City
These posts will help you make the most of your visit to Mexico City.
Leave a Reply