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EXPLORING MEXICO CITY

30+ Things to do in Mexico City
by Ron Mader

MEXICO FORUM

What is the city but the people?
- City Notebook

PHOTO GALLERY: Mexico City
SLIDESHOW

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Mexico City is the cultural and political hub of the nation. Here are just a few things you can do.

WALK SLOWLY
Think fast. Travel slow. Buy a postcard outside the national post office in the Centro Historico. And if you are looking for a good place to sit down and write, get a cup of coffee at the Habana café.

GO BIRDING
Mexico City has some beautiful spots to see birds. Check out the city parks.

VISIT A MUSEUM
Mexico City has some of the best museums in the world. Must-sees include the Anthropology Museum in Chapultepec Park and the Templo Mayor just off of the Zócalo. Also recommended is the Museo de Arte Popular near the Alameda Park.

SEE ANGELS
If you have time to see just one angel during your visit, make it El Ángel on the Paseo de la Reforma.

VISIT THE FLOATING GARDENS
Xochimilco, one of the original breadbaskets of the Americas, is an hour south of the Zócalo.

MORE GARDENS
One of the country's largest botanical gardens is located on the UNAM campus.

LEARN ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT
There are plenty of places to learn about the environment. Here's our eco guide for journalists and researchers.

GO TO CHURCH
Mexico City has numerous churches, including the famous Basilica de Guadalupe. Look for the Lord of the Rebozo at Santo Domingo and the shrine to chocolate at the Cathedral.

RUN AMOK IN A NURSERY
Viveros is a working nursery (yes, it's another garden) and one of the country's original sites for reforestation efforts. It has a great 2-kilometer jogging trail and you might see some beginner's bull-fighting practice.

BUY CRAFTS
Support the arts! Ciudadela is located on Balderas, four blocks south of the Alameda. For more tips, consult our Tourism and Crafts Guide.

CHANGE THE WORLD
When making a purchase that involves change, plan ahead (as much as possible) and bring a few coins.

CHANGE THE WORLD, PART 2
Left over change? Take it to the street and give it to musicians. Support the local arts!

TOUR AN ANCIENT CITY
The Aztecs built this city in the 1300s. Be sure to visit the Templo Mayor.

ZOO
Take your time at the zoo in Chapultepec Park.

HEAD SOUTH
Visit Coyoacán.

WATCH SOCCER (FUTBOL)
There are three amazing soccer stadiums in the city: Estadio Azteca (home of America), Estadio Azul (Cruz Azul) and Estadio Olimpico (UNAM).

BUY A BOOK ... AND WALK THROUGH HISTORY
Calle Donceles is home to the classics.

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SING ALONG WITH MARIACHIS
Mariachi bands can be hired at Garibaldi Plaza. It's a popular destination 24 hours a day. The San Camilito Market has a row of modest restaurants serving excellent pozole and other specialties. Highly recommended is the combo stand (#15 and #16 -- Los Gueros).

WATCH BASEBALL
Diablos Rojos play in town. Foro Sol stadium is located on the brown metro line inbetween the Velodromo and Ciudad Deportivo stops.

PLAY RUGBY
Mexico City has more rugby clubs than all of the other cities in the country combined! For links, consult the Rugby Guide.

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LOOK AT THAT BUILDING!
Mexico City has stunning examples of a variety of architectural styles ranging from Colonial construction to Art Deco masterpieces.

VISIT THE LARGEST UNIVERSITY IN LATIN AMERICA
UNAM boasts the largest campus in Latin America. Located in the southern part of the city, the campus is worth visiting just to see the amazing mosaics on the Rectory Building and the Olympic Stadium.

READ THE NEWS
Mexico City has more than 20+ daily newspapers, some of which are indexed in our directory of news sources. If you are seeking out-of-town news, visit La Torre de Papel on Filomena Mata #6-A (just a few blocks from the Allende metro).

READ A GOOD BOOK
Opened in 2006 and closed for renovations in 2007, the Vasconcelos Central Public Library is a 44,500-square-meter building in the heart of the capital. Suspended book aisles climb to the top of the five-story building. The library is named after the 20th century public servant José Vasconcelos, who inspired an overhaul of the Mexican education system.

RIDE A BIKE
If you have your own wheels, join environmental group, Bicitekas, for nocturnal rides! Bikeless? Bici-taxis are available for spins around the Zócalo. For general tips, consult our Mexico Biking Guide!

ROCK AND ROLL
The earth trembles in Mexico City. Check out the map of Mexico's most recent earthquakes.

MEAT MARKETS
Raw meet, fresh vegetables, cut flowers are sold at various markets including San Juan, Jamaica, Sonora and La Merced.

PATRONIZE A PLAZA
Some of the most interesting public spaces can be found in Mexico City's Centro Historico. A must-visit is the Zócalo -- the centerpiece for visits to the Templo Mayor and nearby landmarks. Other spectacular plazas include Tolsa, Santo Domingo and Garibaldi.

SURF THE WEB
There are plenty of cybercafes if you want to check your email

CLIMB A MOUNTAIN
There are many places for rock climbing and mountaineering in Mexico. One store that specializes in equipment is Deportes Rubens.

GET ON THE BUS
It's touristy but a great value with 130 sites of interest along the route. Ride the Turibus!

DAY TRIPS
Recommended get-aways are the famous excursions to the Pyramids of Teotihuacán, Desierto de los Leones and the Ajusco Mountains