The smell of roasted corn, Aztec dancers showing off their moves, and ‘healers’ beckoning tourists to try a miracle cure: this is just a regular Monday afternoon in Mexico City. This vibrant capital city was once the capital of the Aztec Empire; today it's one of the most populated cities in the world with more than 22 million inhabitants. Most travellers taking flights to Mexico City stop over briefly on their way to other regions in Mexico, but stay a little longer and you’ll quickly discover what inspired the likes of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.
Wandering through the streets of Mexico City is the best way to embrace its heritage and savour some authentic Mexican street food. The area of Zocalo is a good starting point from which to explore the city. Here Mayan ruins live beside modern buildings and colonial churches while dramatic Rivera mural adorn the walls. Art lovers coming off their Mexico City flights will make the museums their first stop. Kahlo fans can’t miss a trip to the Museo de Frida Kahlo in La Casa Azul and Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo, where the famous couple once lived.
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Because of its high altitude, Mexico City has pleasant summers and mild winters. May is the warmest month with temperatures reaching the high 20s (Celsius), and January is the coolest with temperatures generally in the teens and 20s, but night frosts are possible. The rainy season is June to September with July getting the most rain. February is the driest month.December and January also have the most smog, although the pollution levels are improving.
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Peak Season:
The three-week Festival del Centro Histórico in March takes over the city with cultural events.
The holiday periods of Semana Santa (Easter week) and Christmas to New Year are particularly busy with Mexicans visiting the cities as well as tourists.
Off Season:
With its mild climate, you will be hard pressed to find an off season in Mexico City. For fewer crowds, booking flights to Mexico City during a non-holiday period is the best bet.
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There is a Metro service from the airport to downtown Mexico City. Taxis are regulated and passengers can pay in advance at the taxi counter in Arrivals. There are also suburban bus services. Some hotels offer a pick-up service, however it is worth checking their charge as it's generally cheaper to take a taxi.
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The biggest city on the planet has an efficient and cheap public transport system — getting around Mexico City is easy. The metro is clean, fast, easy to use, and runs from 6am to midnight. The bus service is extensive and reliable, but easier to use if you speak Spanish. Minibuses (peseros or colectivos) are smaller, faster, more comfortable than buses, and will stop anywhere along the route. All public transport is very crowded during rush hour. Crime levels are high on the subway and buses, particularly during rush hour and at night.
There are areas that are pleasurable for walking, especially the cobble-stoned streets of the central square.
Taxis are available, but do not hail a taxi or take an unauthorised taxi as their passengers are often crime victims. Most hotels and restaurants can arrange for a reliable cab.
Driving in Mexico City is tricky and rental fees are high. If you do drive, your car is not allowed within the city limits one day a week. Check the last number of the licence plate against the list at any tourist office. December and January smog levels are so high that your number may come up twice a week.
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- The city lies on the ruins of Tenochtitlan, the ancient Aztec capital. There are ghosts of the past at every turn: the Mexican National Palace is built on the site of Montezuma’s Palace, while the Metropolitan Cathedral is built on the Temple of the Aztecs.
- The city has two Unesco World Heritage sites. The Historic Centre has the Metropolitan Cathedral and National Palace, and the Palace of Fine Arts is home to many of the city’s cultural events. Xochimilco Ecological Park is the other World Heritage site. It is made up of canals, lagoons and floating gardens and is often called the Venice of Mexico. A trip on a trajinera, a square-shaped, brightly painted boat, which carries up to 12 passengers, is a treat. It is possible to hire a floating mariachi band to serenade you too.
- The Basilica de Guadalupe is in the north of the city and very popular. Only St Peter’s Basilica in Rome gets more visitors each year.
- The Coyoacan and San Angel areas have great craft markets, while Santa Fe and Polanco offer a more upmarket shopping experience.
- One of the best places to admire the city is from Bellini, the revolving restaurant on the 45th floor of the World Trade Centre.
- Teotihuacan is Mexico’s most popular archaeological site. Tourists can climb up the Pyramid of the Sun, the world’s third-largest pyramid, and its companion, the Pyramid of the Moon.
- The world’s largest bullring is here too - the Plaza de Toros.
- Chapultepec Park is an enormous green park – more than 800 hectares (2,000 acres) - in the centre of the city. It is home to the National Museum of Anthropology, the Museum of Modern Art, the National History Museum and Museum Rufino Tamayo.
- The city’s oldest park is Alameda Park. It dates from 1541.
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