In this article:
- Lucha libre, the Mexican version of professional wrestling, offers an adrenaline-pumping experience that’s pure, over-the-top fun.
- Among the many amazing museums in Mexico City, the Antique Toy Museum is probably the most unique and eccentric. It contains over 20,000 toys that are stuffed into every nook and cranny.
- One of the most important things to do in Mexico City is eat all of the tacos that you can. Mexican street food is tops.
- If you’re interested in some ancient history, visit the Mesoamerican pyramid complex of Teotihuacan.
Rich in culture from the underground to the mainstream, offering some of the best culinary experiences you can find anywhere in the world, and full of happy and friendly people, Mexico City is a destination that every traveler should make their way to during their lifetime.
But, in a city of over 22 million people that sprawls out over 577 square miles, it can be hard to know where to go first. On the other hand, in a city so big, there’s something for everyone.
So, whether you’re into history, culture, food, partying, or pretty much anything else, there’s something for you in Mexico City. You just need to know where to go.
Of course, the best way to have a unique and interesting experience in Mexico City is by chatting with locals and finding out where the most authentic spots are. As things are constantly changing in Mexico’s capital city, there are always new experiences to be had that the internet can’t tell you about.
However, if you’re arriving in Mexico City completely blind, this article can help you get started on your adventure.
After traveling through Colombia, I recently spent three weeks in La Ciudad de Mexico and had the time of my life. The following activities are both the highlights of my trip and my suggestions for what you should do with your own trip. Here are four interesting things to do in Mexico City. Thanks for reading!
Cool and Unique Things to Do in Mexico City
Go to a Lucha Libre Event
Attending a lucha libre event was one of the best things that I did while in Mexico City bar none.
As a fan of the WWE growing up (and particularly of lucha libre-style wrestler Rey Mysterio), I was dead-set on going to a lucha libre match while in Mexico City, regardless of whether or not my girlfriend was on board.
Luckily, she happily agreed to come and we had a blast.
The event we attended was at Arena Mexico, the oldest and most well-established venue for lucha libre. Arena Coliseo and Arena Naucalpan also host lucha libre fights. We paid 330 Mexican pesos (about $16 USD) per ticket and sat only a few rows from the ring.
There are even cheaper tickets, but I wanted a clear view of the action. Outside of the venue, there are vendors selling all sorts of memorabilia as well as food. Inside, you can buy all sorts of snacks and beverages.
The show was absolutely electric.
Luchadors of all sizes and genders were flying across the room. I was sitting next to a middle-aged Mexican woman who was going berserk. The beer was cheap and good. The fighters were over-the-top. It was everything I could’ve possibly asked for.
Visit the Antique Toy Museum
There are quite a few magnificent museums in Mexico’s capital city. However, in my humble opinion, the most unique and interesting one is the Antique Toy Museum. Known as the Museo del Juguete Antiguo Mexico (or MUJAM) in its native tongue, this museum is anything but orthodox.
Instead of the typical organization and easy-to-read labels of most museums, the Antique Toy Museum is a chaotic sprawl that seems to grow as you walk through its halls.
First, you see a massive antique telescope and think, Wow, that’s quite impressive. However, take a closer look and you’ll realize that inside the telescope is a miniature scene of an alien invasion made from other toys.
Turn into a room that looks like a bathroom and find an entire interactive art installation made from crocheted pieces. This is the kind of magic that awaits you in the Antique Toy Museum.
Lovers of street art will also be thrilled with this museum as every inch of wall that isn’t lined with toys is adorned with stimulating and surreal paintings. Head up to the rooftop and you’ll stumble upon endless stickers, murals, and some nice views of the city.
Find the Spiciest Taco
Without a doubt, one of the best things to do in Mexico City is eat.
Walking through Mexico City with a dietary restriction is like walking into a concert wearing noise-canceling headphones. You’ll be missing out. The streets of Mexico City are lined with stands selling a variety of cuisines, all of them delicious and affordable.
But, when it comes to Mexican street food, there’s one dish that reigns king: the taco.
If you think you’ve had some good tacos in the United States or wherever you’re from, prepare to have your mind blown in Mexico City.
The whole experience of getting a taco is a sensory masterpiece. You walk up to the stand and tell them what kind of taco want. You watch them press corn tortilla dough and cook a tortilla right in front of you.
Then, they proceed to masterfully slice up your meat on the grill and flip it into the tortilla ninja-style. In front of you is a line of trays containing salsa verde, salsa roja, pickled vegetables, chopped cilantro, pineapple, cucumbers, and whatever other secret ingredients that particular vendor offers. It’s all pure magic.
Be careful, though, as some of these taco toppings can be seriously spicy. It’s always better to ask whether something is spicy before slathering it all over your taco. My girlfriend learned that the hard way when she audaciously bit into a taco lined with jalapeño, serrano, and habanero peppers.
Visit Teotihuacan
Now, while visiting Teotihuacan is among the most touristy things that one can possibly do while in Mexico City, it’s an experience that you absolutely should not miss out on.
To get there, you simply have to go to the Terminal Central de Autobuses del Norte in Mexico City and take an hour-long bus ride to the base of the pyramid.
Step off the bus and you’ll find yourself at the base of the Pyramid of the Sun, the centerpiece of the complex and one of the most important structures ever built in ancient Mesoamerica.
The precision with which the Pyramid of the Sun was built is astounding for a structure that was believed to have been finished in 100 CE.
The slopes of the pyramid ascend with remarkable evenness and the entire structure is in excellent condition for something that’s been around so long, a testament to the architectural prowess of the ancient civilization that built it.
You can also walk down the Avenue of the Dead to the Pyramid of the Moon and imagine what this ancient city would have looked like bustling with its ancient inhabitants. The experience of walking around Teotihuacan and considering the eons of civilization that existed there is truly humbling.
Plus, once you’re done with your historical tour, you can stop into one of the restaurants outside of the complex and try a glass of pulque, a traditional alcoholic beverage made from fermented agave sap that was used by the ancient Mesoamericans in ceremonies. It might not be your drink of choice, but it’s definitely worth trying in the interest of cultural exposure.
