Mexico City is a popular travel destination for Mexicans. In fact, just 11 percent of the tourism dollars spent in Mexico City come from international visitors. Still, the city boasts a lot for both domestic and foreign visitors.
It’s the oldest capital city in the Americas, having been founded as far back as 1325 by the Aztecs. Back then, it was known by another name — Tenochtitlan. If you’re a history nerd, this probably rings a few bells, because it was also the capital of the Aztec empire, right up until it was levelled by the Spanish conquistadors in 1521 in their quest for an expanding empire.
Today, the city’s been rebuilt and is much more peaceful. It’s an epicenter for Mexican economics and culture, and even has the largest metropolitan concentration of museums in the world. Keep an eye out as you zoom around the city, as many murals painted by Diego Rivera appear on the sides of buildings.
What to do in Mexico City
Mexico City is an ancient place, and no visit to the city is complete without honoring these roots at the Museo Nacional de Antropología. It’s the biggest and most popular museum in the entire country, after all. Once you get done here, head over to the iconic Plaza de la Constitucion around sunset to see a great photo op: Mexican soldiers marching out to bring down the flag for the night amidst the brightly-lit historic colonial buildings.
Must-visit eateries include El Moro, an 80-year old churro shop that makes fresh churros to order, or literally any taco or tamale stand you happen to pass. Once you’re ready to pass out from your food coma, a great place to stay is the Downtown Mexico hotel, a restored colonial-era palace that blends modern-day touches with historical elegance.
