Neighbourhoods of Mexico City

Kat´s Truth About Travelling

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Mexico City is absolutely huge. I had the luck to not only be able to see the main sights, but also have the time to explore the neighbourhoods a little. The neighbourhoods of Mexico City are, just like the city itself, incredibly diverse and different. Therefore we have everything from a european and/or international flair with a lot of green, over chique and elegant and admittedly expensive to calm, mexican and incredibly cute. And obivously those neighourhoods that don’t feel like Mexico City at all. Or those that basically are as big parks that they make up an own neighbourhood. So yeah there’s plenty to see 🙂 😉

Polanco

Roma

Condesa

Coyoacán

Xochimilco

Chapultepec

Chapultepec – Castle

Chapultepec – Botanical Garden

Chapultepec – Lake

Polanco

Basic information

What: Polanco
Where: Neighbourhood of Mexico City (next to Chapultepec and so just about centrally located. At least for Mexico City :D)
Opening hours: 24/7
Fee: free
Website: none

Chic. Expensive. Clean. And to be honest, not my vibe. But well, that’s the case with most of the expensive and chic neighbourhoods that exist in every big city. 😀 In Mexico City, the neighbourhood that would be Marienburg or Bayenthal or even Lindenthal in Cologne, is Polanco.
It’s actually quiet visible. The streets are cleaner, the buildings are fancier, it has by far the highest proportion – if not the only – of skyscrapers. People here wear suits and ties or costume-suits etc to work and all the shops of expensive brands or fancy restaurants etc are here. Polanco you know 😀

In fact it was the first neighbourhood in Mexico City that I got to know. Not because I had chosen to get to know this neighbourhood first, but because the mate I was staying with for a short time at that moment worked in Polanco and therefore dropped me off there before work. So on my very first visit to Mexico City, I got to know the streets of Polanco – and the German embassy 😀 – as well as Museum Soumaya pretty soon. Actually Polanco also is where people let others walk their dogs and park their cars just before work. I swear I’ve never seen such a long row of cars parked so close together. Fascinating…

The Museo Soumaya is an architecturally strange, let’s say alien-futuristic building that honestly arouses curiosity – me included. Inside, you walk up a winding corridor and then have an exhibition in a large room or let’s call it large platform at the top. I thought it was quite cool, but the architecture and the presentation of the museum itself are definitely the special features of this museum, making the price. Because yes, I found it a bit overpriced, but at the same time, that’s kinda just Polanco somewhere. And yes, Polanco has the same atmosphere as any other slightly more expensive and chic neighbourhood. Just in Mexican. 😀

Go or not? It’s not a neighbourhood I’d want to move to – just not my vibe – but it’s definitely worth a trip just to walk around and have a look. Also for the museum. It wouldn’t be my first choice when it comes to exploring neighbourhoods, but it’s definitely worth going for a walk in Polanco. Neighbourhoods are always a matter of taste anyways. And eg in terms of safety, it’s definitely one of the safest neighbourhoods in Mexico City 😊

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Roma

Basic information

What: Roma
Where: Neighbourhood of Mexico City (near Chapultepec and Condesa)
Opening hours: 24/7
Fee: free
Website: does not exist

Lively but relaxed, beautiful but not chic, cosmopolitan. For me, Roma is like Little Europe in Mexico City. It has a relatively cosmopolitan vibe with a European touch, is tidy and clean but not over the top, completely plastered with European countries, cities or anything else in the street names and even has a replica of the Cibeles fountain in Madrid on a central roundabout in the middle of the neighbourhood. There is also a Museo de Jamón here, which I know from Madrid and a few other places in Spain. What I’m trying to say is that Europeans have the highest chance of finding something familiar here.
At the same time, it’s quite green, not quiet, but quieter than other neighbourhoods or areas in Mexico City and you also see more non-Mexicans. In Condesa it’s even more blatant and a good bit greener and a bit quieter, but there’s a separate post about Condesa.

Roma was honestly the first neighbourhood I planned to visit (Polanco was unintentionally the first) and I loved it straight away. But I also love the Museo de Jamón. Just the fountain of Cibeles in Madrid…. It’s one of my favourite places ever in Madrid and the replica just doesn’t even come close for me personally. But as I said, I’m also a real fan. So it’s actually quite cool. Especially because there’s also a really tasty burger restaurant (Mataleon) at the roundabout, which made fantastic burgers when I was there. Highly recommended!

Go or not to go? I personally really like Roma. Roma is actually divided into Norte and Sur, but that’s more because Roma is just a relatively large neighbourhood I think. Apart from that, as I’ve already said elsewhere, I would only do the neighbourhoods once you’ve seen everything touristy etc. Then go according to your personal taste or which side of Mexico City you would like to get to know first/better. Personally, I had heard about Roma and Condesa and it sounded like my vibe. That’s why I went there first. And as the neighbourhoods are right next to each other and really very similar, sometimes you don’t even know exactly where you are. 😊

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Condesa

Basic information

What: Condesa
Where: Nighbourhood of Mexico City (next to Chapultepec more or less on the side where Polanco is not :D)
Opening hours: 24/7
Fee: free
Website: none

Green, clean, quiet and relaxed. I think that’s how I would describe the neighbourhood Condesa. Together with the neighbourhood Roma, which is right next door, I would say it comes closest to European flair.
Maybe it’s the European flair, although I personally think it’s the relaxed atmosphere, the greenery and the general vibe. I mean that I like the neighbourhood. Because yes: I love Condesa. It’s the neighbourhood I would move to if I ever moved to Mexico City. One hundred per cent. They have a péndulo (favourite café and in another post), el Moro (a famous churrería), two parks – both of which are wonderful to chill out in – and a kind of green ring road. Basically a footpath, inbetween the normal street, which is lined with trees and where you always see joggers and people with their dogs.
Oh, and if you don’t notice how you walk on from Roma to Condesa or vice versa – I felt the same way the first time. They are quite similar neighbourhoods in terms of vibe.

Condesa also is by no means a neighbourhood that you would necessarily visit for tourist purposes. Unless you have a bit of time and want to check out some cool parks or something, because the Péndulo and the Moro have several locations that are easier to reach from the centre – but they’re also not as quiet and beautifully situated.

The big question now is go or not? I think my answer is pretty clear. From a tourist point of view, I would only include all the neighbourhoods once you have seen the more touristy part of Mexico City. Simply because the city is really huge. For neighbourhoods, I would then decide according to personal taste. Or also with regard to which sides of Mexico City you want to get to know. And not speaking neutrally: YAAAAA you absolutely have to go! 😀

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Coyoacán

Basic information

What: Coyoacán
Where: Neighbourhood of Mexico City (quite far outside; first take Metro 2 towards Tasquena, get off at General Anaya & then take microbus/bus 34 (if I remember correctly) towards Coyoacán -> the bus takes you directly to the centre and costs 6 pesos)
Opening hours: 24/7
Fee: free
Website: none

Coyoacán is a beautiful, quiet neighbourhood. If I had to describe it in one word: familiar. Because that’s what it is. Made for small families with some cool cafés for remote working, a great and very cheap bakery (Lecaroz) and an incredibly tasty food market. The only problem is that it’s actually quite far out of town, so it takes about an hour to get there. Meaning you kinda do have to plan a little going there.

The first time I was in Coyoacán, I was there for a public holiday and Coyoacán was packed. There was a fair, lots of stalls and of course even more people. There were clowns performing in the large main square around the pavilion, a few treats as well as souvenirs to mark the occasion and so on. I was struck by Coyoacán’s beauty that day and knew I wanted to come back to see the neighbourhood in peace. That day I also discovered the market, where you can get pretty much anything you want. Tacos, tortas, pozole…. You name it they have it. Just a typical Mexican market. We were there (at the very back in the centre right by an older lady) where it looks like you definitely wouldn’t fit sitting down and it was so incredibly delicious!!!! Big recommendation here from my part!

On my second visit to Coyoacán, I got to know the neighbourhood in a quieter and more relaxed way. I explored the neighbourhood and discovered a school, a bookshop and a few other things. And everything was so peaceful and beautiful and…. Just really incredibly relaxed.

Go or not? Personally, I think Coyoacán is great. It’s a wonderful, relaxed neighbourhood and there’s a Frida Kahlo museum here – which I haven’t been to yet – but you could combine Coyoacán with that, because the neighbourhood is really worth a visit 😊 Apart from that, the following still applies: first touristy things, then the neighbourhood. Nevertheless, Coyoacán would really be worth it 😀

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Xochimilco

Basic information

What: Xochimilco
Where: Neighbourhood of Mexico City (far outside; probably metro and bus)
Opening hours: I think the rides start around 10 in the morning and go until 16/17.00
Fee: either there is a fixed price or you have to bargain, but it was priced in the Latin American midfield
Website: there is none

Xochimilco is the neighbourhood in Mexico City that you would never guess is part of Mexico City. Never. For one very simple reason: you go to Xochimilco if you want to take a nice boat trip through canals. Doesn’t sound particularly metropolitan or like Mexico City, does it?

I actually ended up in Xochimilco through friends and completely by chance. I’d read about it somewhere, but I don’t think I was convinced by the pictures and I thought it was too far away and that it was ‘pointless without a group’ – which is true, by the way. Nevertheless, I’m incredibly glad that I went to Xochimilco with this group of friends because…. Dude, it’s beautiful in Xochimilco!

Xochimilco is like a paradise full of beautifully painted boats, each with a different name and each harbouring a different group of people. The boats are pushed or driven by men – I didn’t see a single woman – who stamp a long stick into the ground to push and steer the boat forwards, sideways or to the left. Sounds exhausting and it certainly is. However, I suspect that it gets easier as soon as the boats have picked up speed.
We stopped and took a break in a true natural idyll. And also the drive through the canals…. It’s just really beautiful, incredibly relaxing and you really get away from the Mexico City vibe and feel like you’re in another world. In short, you really calm down.

Go or not? Definitely! This neighbourhood, unlike any other, is basically a tourist attraction in itself and therefore absolutely worth a trip. So get a few people together and head to Xochimilco. It’s really worth it because it’s just super quiet and really beautiful 😊

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Chapultepec

Basic information

What: Park of Chapultepec
Where: Mexico City
Opening hours: most days 5am to 8pm
Fee: free
Website: not DIE but one site: https://www.planet-mexiko.com/mexiko-stadt/chapultepec-park/

Mexico City is – as already mentioned – absolutely huge. You can pretty much do everything in this big city and you never really feel like you’ve seen everything. The central park of Mexico City is correspondingly large and not only basically its own neighbourhood, but actually its own district. Because yes, the ‘Bosque de Chapultepec’ is also a neighbourhood/district of Mexico City.
Needless to say, Chapultepec is huge and therefore perfect for long walks, jogging, cycling, inline skating, picnicking and everything else your heart desires. Chapultepec itself also has a castle, a botanical garden, a cool garden made of recycled plastic, a lake and much, much more. It really is a neighbourhood in its own. Oh, and the Anthropological Museum is also right next to the park and even has its own bus stop 😀

You enter Chapultepec in the same way as other parks: through gates. The main entrance is at the end or beginning (depending on how you take it) of the Reforma and leads directly to a beautiful white monument, from which you can access a few stalls with snacks and directly behind it the botanical and plastic gardens. Oh, and there’s also a zoo in Chapultepec. As you can see: lots to see and do 😊

Go or not? Yes, definitely. Chapultepec is absolutely perfect for going for a walk, doing sport, having a picnic or simply chilling out. And for a while, you feel like you’ve escaped the noise and chaos of the big city. Apart from that, Chapultepec is wonderfully green and just really beautiful 😊

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Chapultepec - Castle

Basic information

What: Castle of Chapultepec
Where: Chapultepec
Opening hours: 9-17.00, closed on Mondays
Fee: 100 pesos, free on Sundays
Website: I don’t know if it’s THE site, but info at: https://mnh.inah.gob.mx/informacion-general

As typical for a huge large park, Chapultepec also has a castle. The castle itself is not huge, but it has a really beautiful view and the interior is decorated with marble.
You can get there relatively easy on foot from the entrance (the one at the Reforma) of the park. So you basically walk in and then another 15 minutes I think and then you come to the gate from where you can walk up a short and slightly uphill but absolutely doable path to the castle.
The castle itself then offers some really beautiful views and a few rooms with marble and royal splendour.
Go or not? Personally, I found the castle quite beautiful and also liked the views, but would definitely put the castle on priority two or even three. Not because it’s not beautiful, but because it’s just not thaaat cool and Mexico City is really, really huge. So if you don’t really have time, I don’t know if I’d do it 😀

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Chapultepec - Botanical Garden

Basic information

What: Botanical Garden in Chapultepec
Where: Chapultepec
Opening hours: 5-20 h
Fee: free of charge
Website: there is none. Just go there 😊

Like all major cities and, to be honest, many parks, Mexico City also has a botanical garden. And that is in Chapultepec.
As I personally am not a huge flower person, I went there more out of a sense of duty, but got surprised.
As there are not only flowers in Mexico, but also cactuses, there is a huge section of cactuses here. Of course there are flowers and so on, but I was more surprised by the cactuses and therefore more taken by them. Especially because there are of course an incredible number of different types of cactuses in Mexico.
However, the thing that blew me away the most was the plastic garden, where the river, bridge, birds, flowers and everything on site is made of recycled plastic. Really everything. Really weird and totally cool at the same time. It doesn’t look like much from a distance, but when you walk through it, you realise how much detail has gone into it. In other words, how much thought has gone into this plastic garden and what a complete work of art it actually is.
Go or not? Yes, definitely indeed. Not because it’s the most beautiful or cool thing ever, but because I’ve honestly never been to a plastic garden before. And I got really impressed. The rest of the botanical garden in Chapultepec is of course also worth seeing. But I personally found the plastic garden by far the coolest 😀

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Chapultepec - Lake

Basic information

What: Lake of Chapultepec
Where: Chapultepec
Opening hours: 5-20 h
Fee: free
Website: none

Just like any large park, Chapultepec also has a lake. To get there, simply follow the main path from the large white monument at the entrance and you’ll be there in about 10 to 15 minutes. The path to the lake – at least the frontal main path – is lined with stalls selling tourist stuff as well as snacks, ice cream, soft drinks and water.
The lake itself is not necessarily quiet, but it is relaxed and you can sit down and enjoy the view. Especially as there is a ‘CDMX’ sign in front of the lake and a skyscraper skyline looms in the background. You can also go pedal boating on the lake itself.
Go or not? I don’t think the view of the lake is suuuuper great, but if you’re already there and exploring Chapultepec, you can also just take it with you. It’s not far and it’s a really good place to relax and probably also sit down for a while.

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- In Chucks Around The World -