Destination Mexico: Here's what to do on your first visit to Mexico City

Editor’s note: Tampa International Airport Manager of Communications C.J. Johnson recently flew to Mexico City aboard TPA's nonstop flight on Aeromexico. This is a travelogue of his experiences and recommendations.

I've had the chance to visit Mexico many times over the last several years, but each of those visits was limited to coastal areas. When Aeromexico offered up the opportunity to fly me down to the heart of Mexico, I jumped at the chance to explore this capital city. I'm always down for an adventure, so I packed my bag and prepared for a new experience. 

HOW TO GET THERE (AND BACK): Aeromexico launched daily nonstop flights from TPA to MEX in July 2024 and has carried thousands of passengers between Tampa Bay and Mexico's capital since. For this journey and my first flights with them, Aeromexico hooked me up with seats in the AM Plus cabin. These seats are located at the front of the main cabin and offered ample legroom just behind Aeromexico's top-tier Clase Premier. Each seat on the aircraft offers a USB port, an inflight entertainment screen with plenty of options and Bluetooth-pairing technology. After breezing through security both at TPA and MEX, we took off for the less than 3-hour journey. On both flights, I purchased the $8 WiFi pass (each way) and was pleased with how fast and efficient the WiFi speeds were. Aeromexico also offers complimentary in-flight messaging, so staying connected with my work and home life was a breeze. 

WHERE TO STAY: Mexico City is the largest city in North America, so trying to narrow down where to stay took a bit of research ahead of my visit. Ultimately, I settled on staying at the Umbral, a Curio Collection property in the heart of the city's historic Centro district. This boutique hotel has a small number of rooms, which meant the staff was incredibly attentive and helpful. Plus, this property was just steps away from Zócalo, the central square of the city, and boasted easy walking access to many of the main attractions. With a rooftop pool and a unique design, I couldn't have asked for a better spot to call “home” during my visit. 

WHAT TO DO: The options for things to do and attractions to see abound in Mexico City. Here are a few I'd recommend: 

• Wander through the Centro Histórico district: I kicked off my first day with a very short walk to Zócalo, a beautiful plaza filled with everything from street vendors to a popup pickleball tournament. Tourists wandered around taking tons of photos of the beautiful architecture and buildings. On one side of the plaza, I stepped inside the Catedral Metropolitana, a Catholic church with soaring ceilings and ornate details. Then I made my way to the Palacio de Bellas Artes, an incredible structure that serves as a cultural home for Mexico City, hosting performing arts and literary events. I'd highly recommend stopping here. To wrap up my time in this area, I visited Palacio Postal, just two blocks from the Palacio de Bellas Artes. This incredible structure, built in the early 1900s, is part museum, part functioning post office. For less than $3 for a ticket, I thought I'd give it a try and was amazed as I wandered through room after room filled with exhibits. They’ll even give you a souvenir stamp to take home!
   
• Explore Chapultepec Castle: Home to amazing art and sweeping views of Mexico City, I would make sure a visit to Chapultepec Castle is high on your list. For less than $5, a visit to this amazing site (a 19th century summer home for the local Spanish colonial viceroy at the time) is all yours. There was quite a hike up to the castle, so I'd recommend visiting earlier in the day to beat the midday and afternoon heat. Once I made it to the top, the views out over the city below and the amazing exhibits inside were 100% worth the hike. One could easily spend most or all of an entire day here exploring and learning about Mexico’s history.
   
• Go sky-high in a hot air balloon tour: Out of all of the adventures I've done in my entire life, this one ranks pretty high up on the “intimidating” list. I booked a sunrise hot air balloon tour from Volare. While my nerves almost got the best of me, I'm so thankful I did it. After waking up at 4 a.m. for an early morning pickup, we made our way through the dark streets of Mexico City. After 45 minutes of travel, we arrived at Teotihuacan and I watched as the balloons began to rise up into the sky all around me. I leaped in over the side of our balloon's basket and found my spot. Soon, I heard the rocks scraping against the bottom of the basket as we began to lift off into the sky. Once airborne, much of my fear drifted away and I gawked at the views below. We flew near the ancient pyramids, one of which was constructed nearly 2,000 years ago. My ears popped as we got higher and higher, nearing 10,000 feet. We were surrounded by cool air and even cooler views below. Before I knew it, our ride in the sky was over. We landed with a thud and I was so thankful to have my feet back on solid ground. Afterward, Volare treated us to a full breakfast with a mariachi band. Pro tip: Be sure to layer up, wear sunscreen, have sunglasses and pack a little courage.
   
• Immerse yourself in culture at Mercado de Coyoacán: This large indoor shopping area is a sensory overload and offers everything from potted plants and souvenirs to fresh food and clothing. It was an incredible display of color and creativity. As I wandered the market, I was constantly greeted with the delicious smells of all kinds of snacks and treats. The aisles are quite tight, so stay close with anybody you’re traveling with. 
   
• Cruise and party at Xochimilco: Famous for its canals and colorful gondolas, one of the last stops on my trip was to Xochimilco. If you plan to go for a cruise through the canals, I'd recommend booking your ticket ahead of time. I opted to do some souvenir shopping at the Embarcadero Nativitas, one of the gateways to the famed gondolas, as happy chatter and live music filled the air. 

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK: In a city with thousands of options, I felt a bit overwhelmed narrowing down where to go. Here are a few of my favorite spots: 

• Terraza Cha Cha Cha: Oh. My. Goodness. Out of all the places I ate (or snacked) in Mexico City, this rooftop spot was my favorite. With amazing views of the Monumento a la Revolución and guacamole to write home about, you won't want to miss Terraza. In addition to the guacamole, I warmed up with steak tacos and finished with shrimp enchiladas. The vibes and music were just stellar, so be sure to make a reservation ahead of time and enjoy! 
   
• Nueve Nueve Bistro: Say hello to an outdoor paradise. Located in the trendy Roma Norte neighborhood, I settled in for a dinner complete with shrimp tacos and chicken mole. The atmosphere was upscale yet relaxed, and I found an amazing menu filled with a wide variety of options. 
   
• Balcón del Zócalo: Looking for a spot with a great view? Look no further! Balcón del Zócalo was just steps away from my hotel and featured a beautiful open terrace with views of Zócalo. I ordered a Toronja Romero mocktail and tried tlayuda, a traditional Oaxacan dish similar to a pizza. It was an airy and rich sensory delight. 10/10 would order that dish again!
   
• Churrería el Moro: A visit to Mexico City isn't complete without stopping for some churros. Luckily for me, I found Churrería el Moro, a chain of churro shops located throughout the city. For just a few bucks, I was soon in possession of several of the lengthy and sugar-coated treats. I can neither confirm nor deny the number of churros I consumed. 
   
• Finca Don Porfirio: Across the street from the Palacio de Bellas Artes is a Sears (yes, Sears!) building with an 8th floor cafe you shouldn't miss. Say hello to Finca Don Porfirio, an incredible spot perched up high. With coffee to match its amazing views, you must add this spot to your itinerary. I ordered a Mazapan latte and watched as tourists below made their way through the city.
   
• Cafe Milou: Speaking of coffee, be sure to add this beautiful cafe to your list. Cafe Milou is a short walk away from Chapultepec Castle, so I'd recommend grabbing an outdoor seat and resting here for a while. The iced latte I consumed in short order? Delicious! 

FINAL THOUGHTS: I didn't know quite what to expect during my first visit to Mexico City, but it was a thrilling visit to the capital city. In just two full days, I found myself able to get a feel for the amazing culture and pulsating energy for which this city is known. 

If an adventurous trip to Mexico City is on your horizon, book your flight today aboard Aeromexico: https://www.aeromexico.com/en-us

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