It’s time to take a trip that I’ve been planning for almost 4 months. We are going on a 25-day tour. Our first stop is Mexico City, our second stop is Oaxaca for the Day of the Dead , our third stop is the Yucatan Peninsula and finally Cuba . You can find my detailed travel articles about all the stops on my blog. I also pinned my instant story posts to my Instagram profile . So you can access more details from there.
We went with Turkish Airlines, which has a direct flight from Istanbul to Mexico City, and returned directly to Istanbul from Havana. Air France tickets, which are the most suitable alternative for this trip, were not cheaper than the tickets we bought, so we never had the chance to find a different economical flight alternative. I tried to explain our adventure in detail, region by region. But first, some things that interest me in Mexico City.
Some Mexico City Facts That Surprised Me
- The streets are sparkling clean in Mexico City, a city of 20 million people. While we were wondering how it could happen, we learned that throwing garbage on the ground is a fine. Please let it be implemented immediately.
- There are fines, but people are also clean. Every morning, shops and streets are washed with detergent water. After a while, we started to fear that we would get dizzy from detergent.
- Free internet is available in many parks and on busy streets. You can easily log in and the internet speed is also very good. While we were wandering around the same places, our phone automatically connected and started receiving notifications.
- All museums are free on Sundays. It’s also free for tourists. Since it’s a pretty bearable crowd, it might be a good idea to quickly check out those you’re not sure about and leave.
- On Sundays, some streets are closed to traffic and opened to pedestrians and bicycles.
- The subway built in 1969 remains the same. The city has a very good but very old metro network. Some trains and stations have no ventilation and are very crowded.
- Especially in Mexico City, almost no one speaks English:( You have to trust Google translate and your body language.
- The country looks like it was stuck 20-30 years ago. Everything, from the music playing in venues and streets to the shops, took us back to our childhood.
- Instead of automatic washing machines and dishwashers, old type boiler machines are sold, very strange.)
- Be prepared to see lots of volkswagens and old cars. The economy is bad, but may our hearts be united.
- It is truly committed to Mexican culture and has not yet fallen under the sameizing effect of globalization. I hope it always stays like this.
- As you know, the food culture is very developed, so you will find great food on the streets.
Where Did We Go in Mexico City?
We used the metro a lot for transportation during our stay . Although it had problems with ventilation and crowding since it remained as it was built in 1969, we preferred human traffic rather than never-ending vehicle traffic.
Taxi use is quite common and not very expensive. If you want it to be more reliable, there is Uber , but a cheaper option is Cabify , which was almost half cheaper at the times we looked at. It is best to install and follow both.
Since we were going to travel by car during the rest of our trip, we bought a contoured package from TellCell , a company recommended by everyone. We used this 26-day package comfortably throughout the entire trip.
Frida Kahlo Museum
The most iconic name of Mexico is definitely Frida Kahlo. The house where he lived has been converted into a museum and opened to visitors. We waited at the door for 2 hours to enter the museum, where we spontaneously queued up at the door half an hour before it opened.
You should definitely buy your ticket online and go there, because there is a high probability that your turn will not come. Entrance to the museum costs 230 MXN (Mexican Pesos) per person, and you have to pay an extra 30 MXN to take photos inside 🙂
Anyway, it is definitely worth it for its magnificent garden and this house full of Frida’s belongings and works. There is also a cafe in the garden where you can spend time. When we went, another area where their clothes were displayed had been added, but it may be temporary. Since more than a certain number of people are not allowed in at the same time, you do not have to deal with overcrowding inside, but this may affect your waiting time at the door.
Teotihuacan
The Aztec city, which you can reach with a journey that takes about 1 hour from Mexico City. It is famous for its two huge pyramids. The Pyramid of the Moon and the Pyramid of the Sun are open to visitors, so you can climb them if you wish. I recommend you do research before you go, because the explanations in the ancient city are very inadequate. Also, since it is not a wooded or green area, you are required to travel with a hat and water.
The entrance fee is only 75 MXN and it is open from 08:00 in the morning. You should spend at least half a day here. It is useful to throw a snack in the bag. We went from the city by public transportation and the journey was very enjoyable. If you wish, you can also reach here with daily tours. For those who want to go by themselves, transportation is as follows:
Transportation to Teotihuacan
- Take the metro and get off at Autobuses del Norte station.
- Cross the road and enter the bus station.
- You can buy your ticket from the box office with “Pyramids” written on its window, right next to entrance gate No. 8 on your left.
- Buses depart every 20 minutes and drop you off right opposite the entrance gate.
- The cost of a round-trip ticket is 104 MXN, approximately 5 dollars. The buses are air-conditioned and very comfortable.
- When you exit gate number 2 and cross the road, you will see a bus stop sign. From here you can take the return bus and return to the bus terminal.
Mercado de Coyoacan
This is one of the delightful Mexican markets where you can find both souvenirs and food. Prices are quite good, but bargaining is possible. We bought many of our souvenirs from here and as we continued to travel in Mexico, we realized that we made a good choice. We found a daily menu and an English-speaking waiter in the restaurant in the middle 🙂
Coyoacan District
Frida Kahlo’s house is located in the Coyoacan neighborhood. Thus, when you leave the museum, you have the chance to visit this area. Be sure to spend time here, because Coyoacan is definitely a must-see for its architecture. You can spend a day here with its coffee shops, market places and pleasant venues.
Mercado de la Merced
This was my least favorite marketplace in Mexico. The inside was like the Mexican version of the evening dress shops in Izmir Kemeraltı. The outside of the market, where traditional clothes for boys and girls are sold, is full of textile products that you may not want to buy. Of course, it can be tried for a different experience.
Mercado Artesanal Mexicano
Another delightful market place in Coyoacan. Another stop where you can find Mexican souvenirs.
Templo Mayor
When you go to the right of the Zocalo, you can see the ruins of Templo Mayor. Instead of going inside, we preferred to go to the cafe opposite and watch from the front while drinking coffee.
Zócalo
All historical squares in Mexico are called Zocalo. Mexico City’s huge historical square is surrounded by Secretaría del Medio Ambiente, Palacio Nacional, Sagrario Metropolitano, Catedral Metropolitana de la Ciudad de México . Especially in the Palacio Nacional, the works of the famous mural artist Diego Rivera can be seen, but when we went, we could not see it because it was closed due to the Day of the Dead:(
Well-preserved streets full of history await you in the streets of the square. Don’t forget to make time for a trip around this area.
Palacio de Bellas Artes
When entrance to the museums was free on Sunday, I immediately went to the Palace of Fine Arts. The museum, where classical and modern works of art can be seen together, has a wide selection of paintings, sculptures and photographs. It would take hours to visit in detail, but be sure to stop by, it is a very beautiful museum.
Diego Rivera Mural Museum
The only work worth seeing in the museum, which I was very happy to see on the free day, is the artist’s 15-meter mural work Sueño de una tarde dominical en la Alameda Central (Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in the Alameda Central)
chapultepec
A huge park in the middle of Mexico City. It has everything from the lake to the buffets. It’s a very nice space, but the only problem is that there are too many stalls. We couldn’t understand much from the vendors’ kiosks and noise. My favorite area was the Auditorium. Classical music is played in an area surrounded by rocks and trees in the forest. You can spend time comfortably on the benches or borrow a book from the table. The only rule is to be quiet. Stop by for 15 minutes to relax.
Mercado Rome
The Roma neighborhood is one of the younger areas of Mexico City. We decided to come to this region on a rainy evening and spend time at Mercado Roma, which has a Food Market concept. Although it seems like a small version of Time Out Market in Lisbon, unfortunately it did not please us at all as an experience. The hamburger we ate was very ordinary, in fact it was one of the worst things we ate in Mexico. Although the environment is not bad, if you have seen better ones, it will not please you. Of course, there is a restaurant, bar, ice cream shop, whatever you want.
Museo Nacional de Antropología
Spend half a day at the huge museum that separates all the civilizations living in Mexico from time to time. In the museum, which I like very much, you can trace the traces of many civilizations, from the Aztecs to the Mayans, and see how many civilizations Mexico has hosted.
You will have the privilege of seeing the well-known Aztec Sun stone up close in the museum. Entrance to this magnificent museum is only 75 MXN, or 3.5 dollars.
El Angel de la Independencia
While walking towards Chapultepec, we wanted to see the Angel of Independence , but we could not see it much because it was under renovation. However, we came across the wonderful open air exhibition on this boulevard. Due to the Day of the Dead, there were La Catrina , or skull designs, by different artists all along the boulevard . After wandering among the huge adaptations, we found ourselves among the creatures.
Again, an Alebrijes competition was organized for the Day of the Dead and hundreds of different adaptations were displayed on the streets. Not to mention that they are all Paper Mache art made from paper.
Alebrijes are brightly colored Mexican folk art sculptures of fantastical creatures. This art, which started when Pedro Linares had hallucinations about a forest full of brightly colored animals during a feverish illness and drew them, has turned into one of the traditional arts of Mexico. You can also find souvenirs everywhere.
Places We Would Like to Visit Again in Mexico City
El Moro
We couldn’t have had a better start to Mexico City. On our first night, when our flight landed early and we had to sleep in the hotel lobby, we asked if there was a restaurant nearby, and we learned that there was El Moro, open 24 hours a day, around the corner. It felt so good to start the day with churros and hot chocolate at 7 in the morning . Of course, we went again later, because it was really beautiful. Since it’s always crowded during the day, you may have to wait in line, but it’s worth it.
Bazaar El Sabado
We had just arrived from the road and slept for a few hours at the hotel. Logically, we needed to visit the surrounding area and do a light tour. But since it was only open on Saturdays, we took the metro to El Sabado and we did great.
While walking towards the market, we passed through a botanical park and were fascinated. Bazaar El Sabado is one of the most beautiful markets in Mexico. We drank coffee in a magnificent courtyard and dived into Mexican culture with live music. We were blown away by the Mexican embroideries, La Catrina figures, jewelry, wrestler masks, food and beverage stands, and treats. It’s a wonderful market, you should definitely stop by.
Los Cocuyos
It’s also a 24-hour taco buffet. There’s no place to sit, but there’s always a line in front of it. Its most important feature is that it can make all kinds of offal. If you don’t eat offal like me, you won’t understand that the list says brain, kidney, etc. in Spanish. The tacos at the buffet, which also includes red meat, are really delicious.
Pasteleria Ideal
We walked into Pasteleria Ideal when we were not yet familiar with Mexican pastry shops. My perception was spoiled when I saw that it was the biggest patisserie I have ever seen and that there were hundreds of varieties. Everyone was walking around, filling huge trays to the top.
You already get lost among the cakes, breads, pastries, cookies, etc. It’s a great place to have breakfast and grab a snack in your bag. But as we traveled around Mexico, we realized that there was such a patisserie culture.
The House of Tiles
House of Tiles, where we decided to take shelter by chance while escaping the rain and having a meal because we liked the interior, turns out to be one of the most famous places to visit in Mexico City. It can be very enjoyable to both visit the interior and eat in this beautiful environment.
El Buen Taco
One of the city’s famous taco restaurants. It’s always crowded. Tacos are nice, but fresh juices are also legendary 😉
Taqueria la Autentica
There was a series on Netflix called Taco Diaries. Both different types of tacos and restaurants were being promoted. This was one of the addresses I saw and saved from there, but I didn’t like it very much. I don’t think you particularly need to go.
Mexico City impressed us more than we expected with both its culture and energy. When we saw the people living on the streets, we remembered how everyone had become withdrawn and afraid of the streets, and we felt sad. We hope that we will realize that the main problem is not the economy and regain our old joy.
