Steal my CDMX itinerary
Here's how I spent 5 days as a solo, food loving traveler
Where to Stay:
Roma Norte is a trendy neighborhood that felt like Williamsburg.. but in Europe.. but in Mexico.
I stayed at this Airbnb, and was welcomed with such warmth by my hosts: José, his mom Consuelo, and all of their beautiful plants!
FUN + FOOD:
All of the experiences I booked had meeting spots that were walking distance, or a very short Uber ride away from this airbnb.
Take a cooking class. As excited as I was to try all of the food CDMX has to offer, I was most excited to learn how to make some of my own! Arturo teaches you how to make two types of tamales (one in a corn husk, and one in banana leaf), and two types of salsa (verde and roja). There were 6 other travelers in my class, we became fast friends during the process of cooking and eating! Book this experience.
Visit Teotihuacán. Experience the largest pre-Aztec civilization in Central Mexico with local experts. I loved this day trip because the guides take you to their grandma’s house before you visit the pyramids for coffee and pastries, and then back afterwards for a delicious mole meal and some homemade pulque (a traditional kombucha). Book this experience.
Experience Luche Libre. Luche Libre is way more fun with friends. This experience allows travelers to meet up for mezcal, beer, and tacos while learning the history of Luche Libre. Book this experience.
JUST FOOD (still fun):
Maíz Tinto, Roma Norte: I ordered the guacamole with crickets (do it!!!!), braised short rib, and elote appetizer.
La Esquina del Chilaquil, Condesa: I got the chilaquiles verde milanesa torta and will be thinking about it forever. They open at 8am and the line is long so try to get there when they open.
Panadería Rosetta, Roma Norte: Started my day with chai latte, elote muffin, & Huevos tibios, mantequilla de estragón y campesino de centeno (soft boiled eggs with tarragon butter and rye bread). You don’t understand how much I mean it when I say tarragon is my favorite spice to mix with butter.
Karaspan, Downtown: It was love at first self serve panadería (bakery!). A cuter concha does not exist.
Ballaró, Roma Norte: There’s a sit down or self serve section of this panadería. I went self serve, and got pan de chocolate y banana & pastel de mazapán.
FUN (before and/or after food):
Salsa Dancing! Mama Rumba in Roma Norte has free salsa lessons every Wednesday from 8-10, and then live music from 10-close!
Go Downtown. If I had more time, I would have visited the museums! The Museo Nacional de Antropologia itself is massive, and could take a full day to explore. Major NYC vibes.
Visit Coyoacán. This is where you’ll find the Museo Frida Kahlo (get tickets online in advance, it sells out quick!). Even if you don’t visit the museum, take the train and explore the shops. The neighborhood is a tranquil one.
Walk around Bosque de Chapultepec. This is one of the largest parks in Mexico, and felt like Central Park in NYC! I found a hammock swing and it was the perfect place to rest after my torta de chilaquiles.
Model for a Photo Shoot. As a solo traveler, I love a photo shoot experience. It’s such a fun way to see a local area, feel great about yourself, and to encapsulate your adventure. Gilmar gave me the opportunity to practice my Spanish, which made me feel even more confident as I posed for pictures around the neighborhood. Book this experience.
Logistics:
¿Hablas español? My required Spanish classes ended my junior year of high school… that’s 14 years ago (ew). I get frustrated playing Duolingo, because my knowledge of vocab is still there, but I need practical practice for conversation.
So, I’ve been taking conversational Spanish classes via zoom from Pura Buena Onda! Classes have been helping me retrain my language muscles, and helped me feel confident (enough) in conversation in CDMX. I am still very much a beginner, but am excited to see how much I progress by the next time I visit.
Flying into Mexico City. From San Diego, I took the Cross Border Xpress (CBX) to access the Tijuana airport. If this is accessible to you, it’ll save you a lot on airfare!
Public Transportation. I downloaded the Mexico City Metro Map app before arriving to get familiar with their subway system - it only costs 5 pesos to ride, which is equivalent to about a 0.25 in USD.
Tips to help you feel safe & confident:
Get familiar with the map ahead of time
Don’t be in a rush. Take as much time as you need to navigate with clarity
There are subway cars that are just for women and children. I experienced both to feel the difference. The regular cars were obviously more crowded (the population of Mexico City is 8.8 million, just above NYC’s 8.4 million)
In either, maintain situational awareness as you would in any big city. Try to stay off your phone, and choose Uber when your gut tells you to
El Fin
I hope my trip inspires your own. Mexico City holds such a special place in my heart. I am so excited to bring the delicious parts of Mexican Culture that I’ve tasted back into my own kitchen. Until next time, hasta la próxima!
