The hook
One of the world's great capitals, built on the ruins of the Aztec island city of Tenochtitlán, layering ancient temples, colonial grandeur, world-class museums, and some of the best food anywhere, near the vast pyramids of a civilisation that vanished before the Aztecs arrived.
01Why it's worth it
Mexico City is enormous, high, and endlessly rewarding. Its historic centre rises directly over the Aztec capital, whose Templo Mayor is excavated beside the vast Zócalo square and cathedral, and the incomparable National Museum of Anthropology tells the whole story of Mesoamerica. Beyond the monuments, the city is a feast: neighbourhoods like leafy Coyoacán and hip Roma-Condesa, Diego Rivera's murals, Frida Kahlo's blue house, floating gardens at Xochimilco, and a street-food and restaurant scene ranked among the world's finest, from taco stands to temples of modern Mexican cuisine. An hour away stand the pyramids of Teotihuacán, the "place where the gods were created," a colossal ancient city, larger in its day than almost anywhere on Earth, whose builders remain mysterious, dominated by the huge Pyramids of the Sun and Moon along a grand avenue. The combination of a thrilling megacity and a monumental lost civilisation makes it one of the world's essential destinations. It sits high, so allow for the altitude.
02How to experience it
Give the historic centre, the anthropology museum, and neighbourhoods like Coyoacán and Roma real time, and eat constantly, from street tacos to a fine-dining splurge. Visit Teotihuacán early to climb the pyramids before heat and crowds. Pace yourself for the altitude, and use the metro to beat the traffic.