What I’d Do Differently: Mexico City Edition

Updated April 2026 | 3 min read

Mexico City is the best food city we have visited. Five days was not enough, and we made mistakes that better planning would have fixed.

Stay in Roma Norte or Condesa, Not the Centro

The Centro Historico has the sights but is chaotic and loud at night. Roma Norte and Condesa have the best restaurants, cafes, and walkability. Everything we wanted to do was within walking distance of our Roma Norte apartment.

Book Pujol and Contramar Weeks in Advance

We thought we could walk into the best restaurants in the city. We could not. Pujol needs a reservation a month out. Contramar fills up by Tuesday for the weekend. Book before you fly.

The Altitude Is Real

Mexico City sits at 2,240 meters. We felt short of breath walking uphill on day one and had headaches by evening. Drink more water than you think you need and take it easy the first day.

Uber Is Better Than Taxis Here

Uber is safe, cheap, and everywhere in Mexico City. Street taxis have occasional safety concerns. We used Uber for everything and never paid more than a few dollars per ride.

Day Trip to Teotihuacan — Go Early

The pyramids open at 9am and by 11am the sun is brutal and the crowds are thick. We took an 8am tour and had the Avenue of the Dead nearly to ourselves for the first hour. Worth the early alarm.

What We Got Right

Eating at market stalls and street vendors without hesitation. The tacos al pastor from a street corner in Roma Norte were better than any sit-down restaurant we tried.

Travel Tools We Actually Use

• eSIM Data: Airalo eSIM for Mexico City — Buy before you land. You need data the moment you arrive for navigation and translation apps.

Book Tours and Activities

• Mexico City Tours and Activities on Viator

Gear We Recommend

• Osprey Farpoint 40 Travel Backpack — Carry-on sized, opens like a suitcase.
• Anker Nano Power Bank — Essential for long days of navigating with your phone.
• Packing Cubes (6-Pack) — We bring these on every trip now.
• Universal Travel Adapter — One adapter for every country.

Find Flights to Mexico City

Plan Your Trip to Mexico City

Ready to book? Search flights to Mexico City to compare prices across airlines. And compare hotel rates in Mexico City to find the best deals for your dates.

Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. SafetyWing, Skyscanner, Airalo, Booking.com, Viator, GetYourGuide.

Plan your own trip: guides I actually use

More from this region:

• Paris vs London vs Rome vs Tokyo vs Mexico City: The Best City Trip for Your Budget
• Where to Stay for F1 in the Americas — Interlagos, Mexico City, and Miami
• Mexico City: Five Days in the World’s Best Food City

Cards, lounges & insurance:

• Best Airport Lounges I Have Actually Used — From Changi to Istanbul
• Is Priority Pass Worth It in 2026 — My Honest Review After 15 Airports
• Best Travel Credit Cards for 2026: The Cards I Actually Use and Why
• Best Travel Insurance for 2026: What I Actually Recommend After 15 International Trips
• The Credit Card Points Strategy That Funded $15,000 of Travel

Finding cheap flights:

• Going vs Dollar Flight Club vs Thrifty Traveler: Which Flight Deal Service Is Worth It in 2026?
• When to Book Flights by Region — The Booking Windows That Actually Save Money
• How to Find Error Fares and Flight Deals — The Services I Actually Use
• Google Flights vs Skyscanner vs Momondo — Which Actually Finds the Cheapest Flights

Staying connected abroad:

• Best VPN for Travel 2026 — NordVPN vs Surfshark and Why You Need One
• Best eSIM for Travel 2026 — Holafly vs Airalo vs Nomad

Travel gear I actually use:

• Best Portable Chargers for Travel in 2026: Which Size You Actually Need
• My Exact Travel Tech Setup After 15 International Trips
• Best Noise-Canceling Headphones for Travel in 2026: Tested on 40+ Flights
• Best Travel Backpacks for 2026: The 5 I Have Actually Used
• Phone Photography Tips for Travel: How to Take Great Photos With Just Your iPhone