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5 Awesome Mexico City Day Trips
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Avenue of the Dead at the Teotihuacan site as seen from the Pyramid of the Moon with the Pyramid of the Sun as the focal point.

5 Awesome Mexico City Day Trips

Looking to venture further out from Centro Histórico? In this post, I share 5 of my favourite Mexico City day trips.

The Thrill of Pursuit logo.

As the largest city in North America, it would take several visits to Mexico City to experience everything that this vibrant city has to offer. In a previous post, I highlighted the Mexico City neighbourhoods that are worth checking out on foot. Once you become familiar with some of Mexico City’s trendiest neighborhoods, you may want to explore areas that you can’t reach on foot from the city’s core.

Watercolour drawing of Mexico City’s trendiest neighbourhoods.
Re-sharing my hand drawn map to help you visualize where all these neighbourhoods and boroughs are relative to each other.

In this post, I discuss five Mexico City day trips that are worth checking out if you’re staying in the Mexican capital. I was fortunate enough to have fit these day trips into my itinerary during my stay in CDMX. In addition, I will talk about two other Mexico City day trips that I WISH I was able to go on but will definitely be on my must-try list for my next visit..

1) Teotihuacán – City of the Gods

A lady sits on the Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan and looks out towards the Pyramid of the Moon and Cerro Gordo.
The Thrill of Pursuit sitting on the Pyramid of the Sun looking out towards the Pyramid of the Moon and Cerro Gordo.

Located 40 kms (25 miles) northeast of Mexico City is Teotihuacán – City of the Gods. Teotihuacán is the most visited and largest archeological site in all of Mexico. It is the most popular of the Mexico City day trips. Teotihuacán was once the largest city in Mesoamerica but was abandoned centuries before the arrival of the Aztecs.

Avenue of the Dead at the Teotihuacan site as seen from the Pyramid of the Moon.
Avenue of the Dead at the Teotihuacán archeological site.

Not much is known about the founders of the city. In fact, “Teotihuacán” is not its original name but a name given to the site by the Aztecs. In Nahuatl (the Aztec language), Teotihuacán means “City of the Gods”. The abandoned city was such a sight to behold that the Aztecs recognized its significance during their time and designated it as a pilgrimage site where the sun was created.

Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan, Mexico.
The Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacán, Mexico. It is the third largest pyramid in the world after the Great Pyramid of Cholula (also in Mexico) and Great Pyramid of Giza.

Boasting towering pyramids, stone temples with detailed statues, and intricate murals, Teotihuacán gained its UNESCO World Heritage site status in 1987.

Including this picture for scale. For the ladies, I recommend wearing comfortable clothing if you plan on climbing up the pyramids. As you can see, the steps are steep and you may not want to flash the other visitors. I also recommend comfortable footwear, sun protection, and bringing water!

How To Get There

For the adventurous, Teotihuacán is accessible via public transportation. The ride takes a little over an hour (depending on traffic) from Autobuses del Norte Metro Station to Teotihuacán. The pro to this option is that you have full control on how long you stay on the archeological site. The site is massive and you may want to allocate 5 hours to explore. The con to taking public transportation here is that it will be a self-guided tour.

Temple of the Feathered Serpent in Teotihuacan, Mexico.
Temple of the Feathered Serpent. If you are opting for a self-guided tour, I recommend reading up on the site first to understand and appreciate everything you will see at Teotihuacán.

My personal recommendation is to book a small group tour. This is the option I chose for my visit and I got so much out of having a personal tour guide. I also liked the convenience of a private bus picking me up directly from my hotel and having someone else take care of the logistics of my day trip. The con to this option is that your time will be at the mercy of your tour guide and you may not necessarily get to explore for as long as you would like.

A preserved mural at the Palace of the Jaguars in Teotihuacan, Mexico.
A preserved mural at the Palace of the Jaguars in Teotihuacán. Without a tour guide, I would have easily missed this. I personally prefer hiring tour guides to learn as much as I possibly can about the places I visit.

2) Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe

The interior of the modern Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Juan Diego’s cape with the likeness of Our Lady of Guadalupe is visible above the altar.
The interior of the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. You can see the Saint Juan Diego’s cape above the altar.

Outside of Vatican City, the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe is the most visited Catholic site in the world. It is located on the northeast portion of Mexico City. You don’t necessarily need to be a Catholic to enjoy the site. The complex has some interesting architecture and, in my opinion, the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe is interesting from a historical perspective. Our Lady of Guadalupe has a played a huge role in shaping Mexican history.

The Antigua Parroquia de Indios (Old Indian Parish) on the same complex as the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The church built specifically for the indigenous worshippers in the area from 1649. It is the oldest structure on the complex. They allowed Juan Diego to live the rest of his life next to this hermitage.

The story of Juan Diego (aka Cuauhthlatoatzin)

As the story goes, a peasant of Aztec decent named Cuauhtlatoatzin, more commonly known as Juan Diego, had four separate apparitions of the Virgin Mary. These events supposedly took place in December 1531 on Tepeyac Hill. The Virgin Mary had told Juan Diego to ask the bishop of Mexico City to erect a chapel for her so that she may relieve the stress of those is need.

The roof of the Pocito Chapel on the same complex as the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Pocito Chapel on the complex of Our Lady of Guadalupe. I just loved the details on this building.

Juan Diego followed the apparition’s instructions but the bishop turned him down. When the Virgin Mary followed up on her request, Juan Diego had explained that his mission failed and that perhaps she should ask a non-indigenous person to carry on with the request thinking that they would have better luck. The Virgin Mary insisted that Juan Diego should be the person to ask. When Juan Diego asked the bishop a second time, the bishop had asked Juan Diego for proof that the request really did come from the heavens.

The exterior of the modern Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.
The modern basilica completed on 1976. It currently houses Juan Diego’s cape.

The significance of Juan Diego’s mantle and Our Lady of Guadalupe

Juan Diego had relayed this message to the Virgin Mary during their next meeting. She had told him to climb up Tepeyac Hill to gather flowers in his cape (aka mantle). He did as he was told and was surprised to find an abundance of flowers at the top of the hill. These flowers were not in season and had grown in an area where only cacti and shrubs normally grow. The Virgin Mary told Juan Diego to take the flowers to the bishop. Later, when Juan Diego opened his cape in the presence of the bishop, the flowers rolled out of the cape and revealed an imprint of the Virgin on the cape. The bishop venerated the image on the spot as “Our Lady of Guadalupe”.

Saint Juan Diego’s cape with the imprint of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Saint Juan Diego’s cape with the image of the Virgin Mary. It is displayed above the altar of the modern basilica.

Today, the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe stands very close to the location of Saint Juan Diego’s apparitions. Juan Diego’s cape with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is displayed over the altar. There are actually multiple churches, chapels, and a convent on the site. Many Mexico City day trips pair a visit to the basilica with tours to Teotihuacán because it is possible to pass by the basilica on the way back to Mexico City.

The Marian Square of the Americas where the old and modern basilicas of Our Lady of Guadalupe are both visible. The old basilica is visibly tilted and sinking.
The Marian Square of the Americas. You can see the modern basilica on the left and the old basilica from 1709 on the right. The old basilica had to be vacated because, as you can see in the picture, it started sinking. Like the rest of Mexico City, the basilica was built on the old lakebed of Lake Texcoco.

How to get there

Getting to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe from the center of Mexico City is relatively easy. You can take the Metro; the closest station is the La Villa – Basilica on the red line (Line 6). For convenience, you can take an Uber. Or as suggested above, you can book a small group tour that would take you to Teotihuacán AND Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The old Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The old Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe completed on 1709. It was vacated because the basilica was starting to sink. You can see it sloping forward in this picture.

3) Coyoacán

South of the CDMX core is the charming borough of Coyoacán. Once upon a time, Coyoacán was its own village and served as the Spanish headquarters during the Conquest of Tenochtitlan. It served as the capital of New Spain for two years until Cortes recognized the strategic importance of Mexico City and moved the capital there. Today, Coyoacán is a borough of Mexico City. The urban sprawl of CDMX swallowed Coyoacán to its south around 1857 but up until then it was a village where the upper class of New Spain society lived.

Pillar in the historic center of Coyoacán that dates back to the time of the Spanish conquest of Tenochtitlan.
Pillar in the historic center of Coyoacán that dates back to the time of the Spanish conquest of Tenochtitlan.

The sprawl changed farms, ancient lake beds, and forests into developed areas. They have preserved the architecture and layout of former villages built between the 16th and 20th centuries, giving the borough its distinct character. Because of its charm, Coyoacán is a popular destination for locals to visit on weekends. Because it is not walkable from the city’s core, I am counting Coyoacán as one of my recommended Mexico City day trips.

Points of Interest

Jardín Hidalgo and Parque Centenario

A woman looks at the Fuente de los Coyotes in the Coyoacan neighbourhood in Mexico City.
The famous coyote fountain in the middle of Jardín Hidalgo. Coyoacán comes from the Nahuatl word meaning “place of coyotes”.

Jardín Hidalgo is the main square of historic Coyoacán. At the center of the square, you will find the famous fountain with two coyotes playing. Coyoacán means “place of coyotes” in the Nahuatl language. It is said that coyotes or jackals roamed this area in pre-Hispanic times. From the square, you can head north on Calle Ignacio Allende for some snacks while you explore the colonia on foot. You absolutely MUST grab a drink from Cafe el Jarocho, a Coyoacán institution since the 1950s. I particularly loved their Moka but the cafe is known for its good coffee and chocolate caliente.

Centro de Coyoacan colourful, colonial buildings in the Coyoacan neighbourhood of Mexico City.
Iconic plaza across Jardin Hidalgo and Parque Centenario.
Jardín Centenario square in Coyoacán, Mexico City, Mexico.
Parque Centenario.

Parque Centenario is a smaller square west of Jardín Hidalgo. You can find the San Juan Batista Parish on this square which is one of the oldest parishes in all of Mexico City.

Ceiling of the convent of Parroquia de San Juan Bautista in Coyoacán, Mexico City, Mexico.
I was obsessed with the ceilings of the convent of Parroquia de San Juan Bautista just off of the Parque Centenario.

Mercado de Coyoacán

If you follow me on Instagram, I think it’s pretty evident that I am a HUGE fan of local markets. I like to go to markets specifically for street foods. When I was in the Mercado de Coyoacán, my haul consisted of pan de muerto (a sweet bread made specifically around Día de Muertos) and a mango with ancho chile popsicle. You can also find spices and moles here as well. Mercado de Coyoacán mostly offers food items for sale. If you were looking for souvenirs and handicrafts I would opt to go to the Mercado de Artesanías.

Eight different types of mole paste for sale in the Mercado de Coyoacán.
A selection of moles from the Mercado de Coyoacán.

La Casa Azul (aka Frida Kahlo’s House and Museum)

The Frida Kahlo Museum is probably the most visited attraction in the Coyoacán borough. I was short on time and not a big enough fan of Frida Kahlo to warrant investing time in this attraction. However, I don’t think I can talk about Coyoacán without talking about its most famous resident,  Frida Kahlo. Line ups to the museum are always long so other travellers told me that if I were to go, I should get tickets online to beat the long queue.

La Casa Azul or Museo Frida Kahlo with a long queue of visitors waiting to purchase their entrance ticket in Coyoacán, Mexico City, Mexico.
Lineups for tickets to La Casa Azul are super long. Beat the queue and purchase your tickets online before your visit!

Alternatively, you can visit the Museo Casa de Leon Trotsky also located in the Coyoacán borough. Trotsky’s life in Mexico City was closely coupled with that of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. For a time, Trotsky lived in La Casa Azul until he had a falling out with Diego. Admission prices are cheaper here in comparison to La Casa Azul and there are no line ups! In addition, Kahlo’s art is frequently displayed in the Museo Casa de Leon Trotsky.

How to get there

  • You can take the Metro; the closest station is Coyoacan on the green-ish line (Line 3).
  • For convenience, you can take an Uber.
  • My personal suggestion: book a small group tour that would take you to Coyoacán, Ciudad Universitaria, and Xochimilco. Tour operators would pick you up and drop you off at your hotel. In addition, I enjoyed having a Guide to give me context on this fascinating borough.

4) Ciudad Universitaria

This refers to the main campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Ciudad Universitaria (Or University City in English) is located in the Coyoacán borough. I believe this impressive collection of buildings warranted its own section in this post. Built in the 1950s, the completion of Ciudad Universitaria was the largest construction project in Mexico since the time of the Aztecs. It received its UNESCO World Heritage Site designation in 2007.

Central Library in Ciudad Universitaria. It features the world’s largest mosaic titled Historical Representation of Culture by the Mexican artist Juan O’Gordon.
The largest mural on Earth. The Central Library is the most iconic building in Ciudad Universitaria. The entire building is covered in a mosaic titled Historical Representation of Culture by the Mexican artist Juan O’Gordon.

Ciudad Universitaria is recognized as an ingenious example of urban architectural design. The complex consists of the 1968 Olympic Stadium, the Central Library, 40 faculties of UNAM, an ecological reserve, the Cultural Centre and a few museums. Ciudad Universitaria has plenty of beautiful, open space that is a popular destination for local families to explore its footpaths and gardens on Sundays.

The 1968 Olympic Stadium in Ciudad Universitaria of Mexico City.
The 1968 Olympic Stadium located in Ciudad Universitaria.

How to get there

  • You can take the Metro; the closest station is Universidad on the green-ish line (Line 3).
  • For convenience, you can take an Uber.
  • My personal suggestion: book a small group tour that would take you to Coyoacán, Ciudad Universitaria, and Xochimilco. Tour operators will pick you up and drop you off right at your hotel so you don’t have to worry about logistics!

5) Xochimilco

South of the Coyoacán borough is the borough of Xochimilco.

Trajineras on the Xochimilco canals. Photo by Roberto Carlos Roman on Unsplash.

Xochimilco is internationally famous for its system of canals and the trajineras (colourful, flat-bottomed boats) that float on them among chinampas (man-made floating gardens). The canals in Xochimilco measure up to about 170 km². These canals are the only reminder of the traditional, pre-Hispanic use of the lagoons on the Mexico City basin. This fact helped grant Xochimilco its UNESCO World Heritage Site designation in 1987.

Mariachis playing their violins on a trajinera on the Xochimilco canals.
Mariachis on a trajinera on the Xochimilco canals.

Renting a trajinera on Xochimilco is a special treat for Mexico City residents. Expect the canals to be PACKED on Sunday. Trajineras can be rented by the hour with a recommended minimum of two hours to enjoy the canals. The quoted price per hour refers to the boat; so the more friends you invite to rent a trajinera with you, the more economical.

Tourist eating tacos and tequila on a trajinera on the Xochimilco canals.
Trajineras, tacos, and tequila! This is a typical Sunday afternoon scene on the Xochimilco canals. Note the traffic on the canals.

How to get there

  • I highly recommend doing a small group tour for Xochimilco. You wouldn’t have to worry about how to get there or haggling for a good price on a trajinera. If you don’t want to spend an entire day at the canals, you can even book a tour that bundles Xochimilco with Coyoacán and Ciudad Universitaria.
  • Via Metro, you can take the blue line (Line 2) to Tasqueña station and then the Light Rail (Tren Ligero) all the way to Terminal Xochimilco. The con to this option is having to haggle with tour operators at the canals on trajinera rental prices.
  • As always, there’s always Uber for convenience but again, you’ll have to haggle for trajinera rental prices.

Bonus: Mexico City Day Trips for Future Visits!

If you’ve been following along my adventures in Mexico City on the blog, then you’ll know that I fell low on time at the tail end of my visit because I kept adding things to my must-see list. Below are two more Mexico City day trips that I would like to experience when I come back to CDMX!

San Ángel

San Ángel is a charming neighborhood of cobblestone streets and bougainvillea-covered colonial homes. It is located west of Coyoacán. Much like its neighbour on its east, it was once its own rural, village. It was also eventually swallowed up by the urban sprawl of Mexico City. Much of its historic buildings were preserved however giving the colonia its distinct character. As a sucker for idyllic, colonial towns, San Ángel is on my list for the next time I want to get away from the hustle and bustle of CDMX!

Toluca

Toluca is about an hour’s drive away from Mexico City. To be more precise, it is located 64 miles west of CDMX. Many people come there to hike to Nevado de Toluca (Toluca volcano). Nevado de Toluca is a dormant, stratovolcano. Google images of Toluca and you will see snow-capped peaks (the city has one of the highest elevations for a Mexican city) and picturesque lakes.

I am a huge fan of hikes and this one looks absolutely amazing! Beware though. With an altitude of 4,200 m (13,780 ft) you may experience altitude sickness.

Related: check out my tips under “Physical Preparation” in Travel Guides: Preparing for the Inca Trail.

Did I miss any Mexico City day trips that you would recommend to friends? I would love to hear from you in the comments below…

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