10 Days in Mexico City - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Highlights of Mexico City & Tepoztlán

Foodies and history buffs will appreciate the archaeological sites and culinary experiences on this well-rounded highlights tour that combines the best of Mexico City with two nights in the charming mountain village of Tepoztlán. You'll sip artisanal mezcal and sample street food in Narvarte, visit the pyramids of Teotihuacán, browse ancient artifacts and taste squash blossom fritters in Tepoztlán, hike to the clifftop ruins of El Tepozteco, and witness ancestral and contemporary cooking techniques at a chef's table experience. 

Get your first taste of Mexico City in the Narvarte district, where you'll sip small-batch mezcal and devour "volcanoes" (tortillas cooked over a charcoal flame, topped with cheese and peppers). After a good night's rest, embark on a walking tour that includes stops to see the murals at the Palacio Nacional and snack on esquites (street corn) on the car-free Calle Madero. Next, you'll taste pulque (fermented agave juice) in the Mercado de San Juan and shop for handcrafted souvenirs at the nearby artisan market before learning about Mexico's Indigenous heritage at the National Museum of Anthropology.

Take a day trip to see the Mesoamerican pyramids of Teotihuacán, then return to the city and visit Casa Azul, the former home and now museum of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, in the San Ángel neighborhood. The following day, you'll step back in time on a trip to Tepoztlán, a mountain village where you can browse Maya, Olmec, and Zapotec artifacts at Carlos Pellicer Pre-Hispanic Art Museum and try traditional tlaltequeadas (squash blossom fritters). End your journey with a hike to the clifftop pyramid at El Tepozteco and a chef's table experience at Tezontle, a modern Mexican fusion restaurant. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Best of Mexico City & the Bajío: Culture, Cuisine & Pueblos Mágicos

This colorful Central Mexico itinerary is ideal for travelers interested in mixing urban exploration in Mexico City with an introduction to the surrounding region's Pueblos Mágicos (Magical Villages). In the capital, you'll cruise the Xochimilco canals in a traditional boat, attend a Mexican wrestling match, and join a cooking class. Then, soak up the history and culture of several Pueblos Mágicos as you stroll cobblestone streets, admire the architecture of Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel and other historic sights, sample local wine and cheese, and enjoy a hot-air balloon ride and a dip in local hot springs. 

Experience Mexico City's cantina culture and satisfy your taco cravings with a tasting tour. After seeing the Metropolitan Cathedral and other sights in the historic center of the city, hop in a trajinera (traditional canal boat) and cruise past floating food vendors and islands along the Xochimilco canals. Then, you're off to Teotihuacán for a bike ride around the ruins and a picnic amid the pyramids before transferring to Querétaro. Here, you'll have free time to check out the pedestrian-only historic district before tasting wine, cheese, and honey in Bernal, a designated Pueblo Mágico (Magical Village).

Set an early alarm for a sunrise hot-air balloon ride over the vineyards of the Pueblo Mágico of Tequisquiapan, then continue to San Miguel de Allende, where you'll relax in the Escondido hot springs and see Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel's "wedding cake"-style towers. Next, you'll check out the Boca del Inferno, a 1,970-foot (600 m) mineshaft, on a tour of Guanajuato's silver and gold mines. Finally, return to Mexico City to attend a dramatic lucha libre (Mexican wrestling) match and level up your cooking skills in a workshop at Aura Cocina Mexicana. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Hiking, Biking & Volcano Adventures Around Mexico City

Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Mexico City and its surroundings on this adventurous itinerary. Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, this trip combines cultural immersion with active excursions. Highlights include a biking tour of Teotihuacán's ancient pyramids, a hike in Iztaccihuatl-Popocatepetl National Park, a meditative forest walk and a purification ritual in Amanalco, and a two-day trek in Parque Nacional Nevado de Toluca. You'll also get a taste of Mexico City's culture and cuisine through a street food tour, a mezcal tasting, and a lucha libre wrestling match.

Freshen up at your hotel, then head out to the Roma neighborhood to check out Art Deco architecture, or grab a coffee and do some people-watching at a San Ángel café before meeting your guide for a street food tour. You'll also have time to wander amid the colonial architecture, craft shops, and galleries of the Coyoacán neighborhood. Next, your driver will take you to Teotihuacán to cycle along the pathways of this ancient "City of the Gods" before transferring you to the Puebla region. Here, you can choose to hike an active volcano or a snowcapped mountain in Iztaccihuatl-Popocatepetl National Park.

Continue to Tepoztlán, where you can visit the UNESCO-listed Church of Natividad then savor tapas and mezcal at the open-air bar, La Cueva. Your journey then leads you through the mountains to Amanalco for a meditative forest walk followed by a shaman-led purification ritual. The following day, you'll set off on a two-day trek through Parque Nacional Nevado de Toluca, camping in mountain cabins along the way. If you're visiting between December and February, you can witness the monarch butterfly migration before returning to Mexico City for a final night of mezcal tasting and Mexican wrestling. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Sacred Mexico: Culture, History & Cuisine in Mexico City & Cholula

This relaxed customs and cuisine tour is another great choice for foodies and culture enthusiasts who prefer a more leisurely pace. You'll tour the capital's historic center, taste fresh produce and street food in local markets, and learn about archaeological excavations and human-made agricultural "islands." Participate in a sacred cave ceremony in Teotihuacán, and take a two-day trip to Cholula to visit its Great Pyramid and prepare corn tortillas and mole in cooking workshops. 

Dive into Mexican cuisine with your first meal at Los Danzantes, a restaurant known for its fusion of ancient culinary traditions with contemporary flavors. In the morning, you'll tour the Centro Histórico (Historic Center), stopping by Museo del Templo Mayor to learn about the Aztec ruins and ongoing excavations. Then, you'll hop in a boat and cruise to the chinampas, small floating gardens in the canal where vegetables are grown. The following day, a trip to Teotihuacán offers the chance to trek among the ancient ruins, partake in a sacred cave ceremony, and taste prickly pear cactus in a cave restaurant.

Your next stop is Cholula, a cultural hub where you'll sample cemita (a sandwich made with deep-fried chicken) in the market, climb up the Great Pyramid of Cholula, and try your hand at making corn tortillas. Then, you'll add another Mexican recipe to your repertoire when you prepare (and eat!) mole poblano (a sauce made from chilies, seeds, nuts, and chocolate) alongside a local chef in Cautlancingo. You'll return to Mexico City for a guided tasting tour through the Mercado de San Juan, and end your trip at the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe, a sacred site visited by millions of pilgrims every year. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Off the Beaten Path in Mexico City, Puebla & Cuetzalan

Travelers eager to experience a blend of history, culture, and nature at some lesser-known sites will enjoy this authentic exploration of Central Mexico. You'll learn Mexican history through the arts, architecture, and food as you take a mural tour and cooking class in the capital, visit historical sites and a pottery factory in Puebla, and check out the pyramids of Yohualichan. You'll also sample coffee at an Indigenous farming cooperative, trek to waterfalls along the Río Tecolutla, and see local flora and fauna at the Xoxoctic Botanical Garden and the Butterfly Atrium.

Delve into Mexico City's history through the arts on a mural tour, then head to a culinary school to learn culinary history during an interactive cooking class. Your adventure continues with a bike ride through the archaeological site of Teotihuacán. Then, your driver will whisk you away to Puebla for a walking tour that includes the Palafoxiana Library (one of the first in the Americas), shopping at the El Parián Handicrafts Market, and Talavera pottery at a local factory. Continue to Cuetzalan for a chance to see the "Flying People" ceremony at Parroquia de San Francisco de Asis and the pyramids of Yohualichan.

Before leaving Cuetzalan, you'll also hike to some waterfalls along the Río Tecolutla, observe a variety of thriving species at the Butterfly Atrium, and taste locally produced coffee and honey at an Indigenous farming cooperative. Afterward, your driver will bring you back to Mexico City, where you'll tour the colorful neighborhood of Coyoacán, pausing to see the works of artist Frida Kahlo at Casa Azul. You'll have time for one final night of mezcal and guacamole at a local cantina, followed by a drama-filled lucha libre match between masked técnicos (heroes) and rudos (villains) before departure. Learn more

More Great 10-Day Mexico Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Mexico? Check out these other 10-day Mexico itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.