MEXICO CITY
Mexico’s capital and one of the world’s largest cities, Mexico
City (Distrito Federal) combines sophistication and modern
conveniences with rich culture and thousands of years of
history, making it one of the country’s most popular tourist
cities.
Located in the south center of the country equidistant from the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts, Mexico City is connected by a
modern subway system, communicated with other Mexican
cities by a network of superhighways and can be reached
directly by air from Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New York, Washington D.C., Toronto and many other North
American cities.
The longest continuously-inhabited city in the Western
Hemisphere, Mexico City sits atop the lake basin where the
Mexica Indians founded their empire in 1325 and were
defeated by the Spanish under Hernan Cortes two centuries
later. The immense, volcano-dotted valley in which Mexico City
sits harbors a population approaching 23 million. The traveler
can spend two weeks in the city and still not experience all the
major attractions it has to offer.
MEXICO CITY ATTRACTIONS
A perfect place to begin a tour of Mexico City is the zocalo, or
main plaza, the world's third-largest town square. Located right
in the middle of the city’s main historical district, the zocalo is
bordered on its north side by the Metropolitan Cathedral, which
is constructed of stones taken from the Mexica’s Great Temple
(Templo Mayor), the remains of which can be toured at the
cathedral’s northeast end. On its west side lie several hotels,
among them the Majestic Hotel and the Holiday Inn Zocalo,
from which the square can be admired in all its splendor. The
area around the zocalo is dotted with palaces, mansions and
churches in baroque, neoclassical and other styles.
Other areas not to be missed are the southern colonial
neighborhoods of San Angel, Coyoacan and Tlalpan that used
to be on the outskirts of Mexico City but have become
enveloped in the expanding metropolitan area. The trendy
Condesa and up-and-coming Roma neighborhoods
northwest of the center were built in the French and art deco
styles, while the residential and commercial district of Polanco
sports many upscale restaurants and shops, particularly along
Mazaryk Avenue. In the extreme south, a tour by colorfully
decorated rafts (trajineras) through the canals of Xochimilco
with its floating plots of land offers a glimpse into what the
valley looked like when Cortes gazed upon it for the first time.
The impressive pyramids of Teotihuacan, meanwhile, lie just
one hour north of the city.
MEXICO CITY MUSEUMS
Mexico City boasts a wealth of museums containing everything
from prehispanic artifacts and colonial treasures to handicrafts
and modern art. Some of the most outstanding include the
National Museum of Anthropology, the History Museum in
Chapultepec Castle, the Modern Art Museum, the Museum of
Natural History, the Rufino Tamayo (Art) Museum, the El
Papalote Children’s Museum, the Mexico City Museum, the
National Art Museum and the Frida Kahlo Museum.
MEXICO CITY SHOPPING
One can buy virtually anything, from antiques to handicrafts to
the latest fashions, in Mexico City. Interesting places for
traditional Mexican handicrafts include the Bazaar del Sabado,
a Saturday-only bazaar in San Angel’s Jacinto Plaza; the open-
air market alongside Coyoacan’s main square; and downtown’
s Mercado de la Ciudadela (Balderas, between Ayuntamiento
and Dolores). Fonart stores (Juarez 89, downtown; and
Patriotismo 691, Mixcoac; tel. 5521-0171), part of a national
fund for the promotion of Mexican handicrafts, offer the best
handicrafts from all over Mexico, including black pottery from
Oaxaca and silver from Taxco. And the colorful Mercado de
Sonora (corner of Fray Servando Teresa de Mier and San
Nicolas) sells everything from magic potions to herbal teas.
To purchase hand-blown glassware and watch the items
being made, head downtown to the Carretones glass factory
(Carretones 5 near the La Merced subway stop, tel. 5550-
4439, open Wednesday through Sunday from 11AM to 7PM).
For traditional Mexican sweets, from candied figs to coconut
bars, the nearby Dulceria de Celaya (Cinco de Mayo 39, tel.
5521-1787) is sure to satisfy. Paintings, sculptures and
jewelry by world-famous Mexican artist Sergio Bustamante can
be found in the Zona Rosa shopping district (Amberes 13, tel
5525-9059) as well as the Nikko and Camino Real hotels in
Polanco. Famous silver stores include Ballesteros and Tane
on Mazaryk Avenue in Polanco. Uriarte, one of Puebla City's
most prestigious makers of Talavera pottery, also displays
and sells its wonderful pieces in its Polanco showroom
(Alejandro Dumas 77, tel. 5282-2849).
MEXICO CITY RESTAURANTS
Mexico’s cosmopolitan capital offers a wealth of restaurants
including everything from regional specialties to international
delicacies. Restaurant El Lago, overlooking Chapultepec
Lake, serves up the best Sunday brunch in the city. Other
typical restaurants include El Cicero, El Gallo Centenario and
El Candelero, adorned with Mexican antiques and serving
Mexican delicacies. For the more budget-conscious, the
restaurant chains VIPs and Sanborn’s, scattered throughout
the city, offer a wide variety of dishes at excellent prices. The
Sanborn’s Casa de Azulejos (Madero 4 -- about one block
from the Fine Arts Palace) is located in a beautiful colonial
building whose outside walls are covered in tiles and interior
decorated with murals. The Condesa district offers a wealth of
different cuisines to satisfy any taste and budget.
MEXICO CITY HOTELS
As one of the world’s great cosmopolitan capitals, Mexico City
offers visitors an extensive variety of hotels, many operated by
leading Mexican and international hotel chains. Rooms total
more than 44,000, with 4,000 in the five-star range. A number
of the hotels are housed in beautifully preserved historic
buildings, while others feature the latest in contemporary
architecture and design. New hotels include the towering
Sheraton Centro Historico, part of a recent movement to
restore and beautify the historic downtown area; as well as the
first Latin American outpost of the prestigious W Hotel.
MEXICO CITY ENTERTAINMENT
Mexico’s bustling capital also offers the visitor all sorts of
entertainment possibilities during the day and at night. Many
nightspots are located on or near Insurgentes Avenue, one of
the longest avenues in the world and Mexico’s main north-
south axis. A drink at Bellini’s at the top of Mexico’s World
Trade Center offers a spectacular view from above of the city.
Destinations within this state:
MEXICO CITY FACTS
Population: 8,600,000
Size: 570 square miles
Location: Central Mexico
Borders: States of Mexico and Morelos
Major airport(s): Benito Juarez International aka Mexico City
International Airport (MEX)
Time zone: Central Standard Time
Website: www.df.gob.mx
Mexico’s capital and one of the world’s largest cities, Mexico
City (Distrito Federal) combines sophistication and modern
conveniences with rich culture and thousands of years of
history, making it one of the country’s most popular tourist
cities.
Located in the south center of the country equidistant from the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts, Mexico City is connected by a
modern subway system, communicated with other Mexican
cities by a network of superhighways and can be reached
directly by air from Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New York, Washington D.C., Toronto and many other North
American cities.
The longest continuously-inhabited city in the Western
Hemisphere, Mexico City sits atop the lake basin where the
Mexica Indians founded their empire in 1325 and were
defeated by the Spanish under Hernan Cortes two centuries
later. The immense, volcano-dotted valley in which Mexico City
sits harbors a population approaching 23 million. The traveler
can spend two weeks in the city and still not experience all the
major attractions it has to offer.
MEXICO CITY ATTRACTIONS
A perfect place to begin a tour of Mexico City is the zocalo, or
main plaza, the world's third-largest town square. Located right
in the middle of the city’s main historical district, the zocalo is
bordered on its north side by the Metropolitan Cathedral, which
is constructed of stones taken from the Mexica’s Great Temple
(Templo Mayor), the remains of which can be toured at the
cathedral’s northeast end. On its west side lie several hotels,
among them the Majestic Hotel and the Holiday Inn Zocalo,
from which the square can be admired in all its splendor. The
area around the zocalo is dotted with palaces, mansions and
churches in baroque, neoclassical and other styles.
Other areas not to be missed are the southern colonial
neighborhoods of San Angel, Coyoacan and Tlalpan that used
to be on the outskirts of Mexico City but have become
enveloped in the expanding metropolitan area. The trendy
Condesa and up-and-coming Roma neighborhoods
northwest of the center were built in the French and art deco
styles, while the residential and commercial district of Polanco
sports many upscale restaurants and shops, particularly along
Mazaryk Avenue. In the extreme south, a tour by colorfully
decorated rafts (trajineras) through the canals of Xochimilco
with its floating plots of land offers a glimpse into what the
valley looked like when Cortes gazed upon it for the first time.
The impressive pyramids of Teotihuacan, meanwhile, lie just
one hour north of the city.
MEXICO CITY MUSEUMS
Mexico City boasts a wealth of museums containing everything
from prehispanic artifacts and colonial treasures to handicrafts
and modern art. Some of the most outstanding include the
National Museum of Anthropology, the History Museum in
Chapultepec Castle, the Modern Art Museum, the Museum of
Natural History, the Rufino Tamayo (Art) Museum, the El
Papalote Children’s Museum, the Mexico City Museum, the
National Art Museum and the Frida Kahlo Museum.
MEXICO CITY SHOPPING
One can buy virtually anything, from antiques to handicrafts to
the latest fashions, in Mexico City. Interesting places for
traditional Mexican handicrafts include the Bazaar del Sabado,
a Saturday-only bazaar in San Angel’s Jacinto Plaza; the open-
air market alongside Coyoacan’s main square; and downtown’
s Mercado de la Ciudadela (Balderas, between Ayuntamiento
and Dolores). Fonart stores (Juarez 89, downtown; and
Patriotismo 691, Mixcoac; tel. 5521-0171), part of a national
fund for the promotion of Mexican handicrafts, offer the best
handicrafts from all over Mexico, including black pottery from
Oaxaca and silver from Taxco. And the colorful Mercado de
Sonora (corner of Fray Servando Teresa de Mier and San
Nicolas) sells everything from magic potions to herbal teas.
To purchase hand-blown glassware and watch the items
being made, head downtown to the Carretones glass factory
(Carretones 5 near the La Merced subway stop, tel. 5550-
4439, open Wednesday through Sunday from 11AM to 7PM).
For traditional Mexican sweets, from candied figs to coconut
bars, the nearby Dulceria de Celaya (Cinco de Mayo 39, tel.
5521-1787) is sure to satisfy. Paintings, sculptures and
jewelry by world-famous Mexican artist Sergio Bustamante can
be found in the Zona Rosa shopping district (Amberes 13, tel
5525-9059) as well as the Nikko and Camino Real hotels in
Polanco. Famous silver stores include Ballesteros and Tane
on Mazaryk Avenue in Polanco. Uriarte, one of Puebla City's
most prestigious makers of Talavera pottery, also displays
and sells its wonderful pieces in its Polanco showroom
(Alejandro Dumas 77, tel. 5282-2849).
MEXICO CITY RESTAURANTS
Mexico’s cosmopolitan capital offers a wealth of restaurants
including everything from regional specialties to international
delicacies. Restaurant El Lago, overlooking Chapultepec
Lake, serves up the best Sunday brunch in the city. Other
typical restaurants include El Cicero, El Gallo Centenario and
El Candelero, adorned with Mexican antiques and serving
Mexican delicacies. For the more budget-conscious, the
restaurant chains VIPs and Sanborn’s, scattered throughout
the city, offer a wide variety of dishes at excellent prices. The
Sanborn’s Casa de Azulejos (Madero 4 -- about one block
from the Fine Arts Palace) is located in a beautiful colonial
building whose outside walls are covered in tiles and interior
decorated with murals. The Condesa district offers a wealth of
different cuisines to satisfy any taste and budget.
MEXICO CITY HOTELS
As one of the world’s great cosmopolitan capitals, Mexico City
offers visitors an extensive variety of hotels, many operated by
leading Mexican and international hotel chains. Rooms total
more than 44,000, with 4,000 in the five-star range. A number
of the hotels are housed in beautifully preserved historic
buildings, while others feature the latest in contemporary
architecture and design. New hotels include the towering
Sheraton Centro Historico, part of a recent movement to
restore and beautify the historic downtown area; as well as the
first Latin American outpost of the prestigious W Hotel.
MEXICO CITY ENTERTAINMENT
Mexico’s bustling capital also offers the visitor all sorts of
entertainment possibilities during the day and at night. Many
nightspots are located on or near Insurgentes Avenue, one of
the longest avenues in the world and Mexico’s main north-
south axis. A drink at Bellini’s at the top of Mexico’s World
Trade Center offers a spectacular view from above of the city.
Destinations within this state:
MEXICO CITY FACTS
Population: 8,600,000
Size: 570 square miles
Location: Central Mexico
Borders: States of Mexico and Morelos
Major airport(s): Benito Juarez International aka Mexico City
International Airport (MEX)
Time zone: Central Standard Time
Website: www.df.gob.mx
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