Exploring Mexico City Through Streets, Shrines, Art, and Food
We had accumulated enough Hyatt points for a five-night stay at the Hyatt Regency Mexico City in Polanco. Upon our evening arrival, we decided to relax at the hotel's concierge lounge, an exclusive area with complimentary snacks and drinks, offering stunning views of the city. Our stay required 54,000 Hyatt points, which felt worthwhile. However, we chose to upgrade for two nights to enjoy the exclusive concierge lounge, which provided evening snacks and breakfast.
On our second day, we rose early and walked through the Polanco neighborhood. By 6:45 AM, the streets were already bustling with runners. Our plan was to explore the area, with stops at Museo Soumaya and the incredible statue of Damien Hirst's "The Virgin Mother" at the front of Museo Jumex.
By 7:30 AM, the streets were filled with office workers heading to work, street vendors selling breakfast, and even more runners out in groups. After our morning walk, we returned to the hotel for breakfast.
Next on our agenda was the National Museum of Anthropology (Museo Nacional de Antropología), just a short walk from the Hyatt Regency. This museum is a must-see, even for those not particularly interested in art or anthropology, as it houses the world’s most extensive collection of ancient Mexican art. Plan to spend at least two hours here, and don’t miss the Aztec Sun Stone!
Afterward, we walked across Chapultepec Park to Chapultepec Castle, which has become one of my favorite museums. Chapultepec Castle is the only castle in North America.
After our late lunch, we walked back to the hotel, enjoying the chance to explore the Polanco neighborhood. Walking allowed us to browse the shops and admire the elegant apartment buildings that characterize this affluent area of CDMX. We spent our evening relaxing at the hotel's concierge lounge.
On day three, we joined a group tour that departed from Miga Cafe. You can book this tour through GetYourGuide or Viator, and it is operated by Amigo Tours. The itinerary included a stop at a silverware workshop for souvenir shopping, followed by visits to Coyoacán, the Frida Kahlo Museum, the UNAM Central Library to admire the murals and a boat tour in Xochimilco. It was a fun-filled 10-hour adventure!
The tour's highlight was our brief visit to Coyoacán, where we enjoyed hot chocolate at Café El Jarocho and visited the San Juan Bautista Church and Monastery, along with Frida Kahlo's iconic blue house. Finally, we headed to Xochimilco, where we experienced the colorful trajineras, the gondola-like boats that "sailed" the last remaining waterways built by the Aztecs.
Dinner was at the Agua y Sal Restaurant in Polanco, located just across the street from Hyatt Regency CDMX.
Day four was another exciting group tour day. It included a 10-hour excursion to Teotihuacan, the Guadalupe Shrine, and Tlatelolco, as well as an opportunity to taste and purchase tequila and souvenirs. There was also a stop for delicious Mexican lunch on this tour.
The highlight of the tour was the Teotihuacan archaeological site, an ancient pre-Aztec Mesoamerican city located about 25 miles from CDMX, nestled in a sub-valley of the Valley of Mexico. You can book this tour through GetYourGuide or Viator.
We ended the day with dinner at the hotel’s Rulfo Restaurant.
Day five turned out to be eventful, though not in the way we had hoped.
We began our morning by walking through Chapultepec Park to La Condesa, another neighborhood in CDMX. We had breakfast at Lardo Café, a popular spot, where we arrived by 8 AM to beat the crowd.
After breakfast, we strolled through Parque Espana (where there were lots of dog walkers/sitters), Parque México and the Lindbergh Open Air Theater before taking a leisurely walk along the circular Avenida Amsterdam, stopping for a drink at a café whose name we can’t recall.
After a brief rest, we decided to continue our walk to Roma Norte, but that’s when an unfortunate incident occurred.
As my husband and I were engrossed in conversation and checking our map on the phone, he suddenly asked why my hair and back were dirty. To my shock, I discovered brown stuff that looked like poop all over me. Turning around, I realized he had the same substance on him. Just then, a couple approached us and kindly offered to help clean us up. We accepted their assistance, using the tissue paper they provided. We then decided to call an Uber back to the hotel.
Upon returning, my husband noticed that somebody had opened his sling bag and that a bag of nuts and his iPhone charging cable were missing. Those seemingly helpful individuals turned out to be pickpockets! Fortunately, our wallets were not in the bag.
Be cautious of fake bird poop trick! We later realized it was some sour-smelling brown sauce splashed on us as we walked along the tree-lined streets from La Condesa to Roma Norte. As a result, we never made it to Roma Norte. After showering and a change of clothes at the hotel, we got an Uber to take us to the historic downtown instead.
The Centro Histórico of CDMX was vibrant and crowded. Centered around the massive Zócalo plaza, the neighborhood is filled with historic restaurants and shops.
We visited La Dulcería de Celaya, a traditional candy shop founded in 1874 by brothers Alfredo and Luis Guízar de Arias, making it one of the oldest in Mexico City. We also stopped by the original churro shop, Churrería El Moro, and enjoyed lunch at the historic La Ópera restaurant and bar.
We decided to walk from Centro Histórico back to the Hyatt Regency Hotel—around 22,000 steps! The walk was filled with fascinating sights. We passed by the Casa de los Azulejos (House of Tiles) and the Palacio de Bellas Artes (a grand theater), explored a lively street market in front of the Palacio, wandered through Chinatown, strolled along Avenida Paseo de la Reforma, and finally made our way through Chapultepec Park to the hotel.
When you walk, you see more—and rack up those steps!
Take this guide as inspiration for your trip to Mexico City.
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