Mexico, in ten minutes.
A quick primer to help you feel at home: where this country comes from, what to eat, what it celebrates and how everyday things work. Not to make you an expert — just so you walk the city understanding what you see.
Five moments to understand the country.
Tenochtitlan
The Mexica (Aztecs) founded their capital on an islet in Lake Texcoco, right where downtown stands today. That’s why the city slowly sinks: it’s built on the bed of a drained lake.
The Conquest
After a two-year siege, Hernán Cortés and his Indigenous allies took Tenochtitlan. Three centuries of Spanish rule began: the Viceroyalty of New Spain.
Independence
In the early hours of September 16, 1810, the priest Miguel Hidalgo gave the “Grito” that started the war. Mexico won independence from Spain in 1821.
The Revolution
An uprising against more than 30 years of Porfirio Díaz’s dictatorship. Figures like Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa still shape the country and its culture.
The megacity
Mexico City and its metro area are home to more than 20 million people — one of the largest urban areas on Earth, at 2,240 meters (7,350 ft) of altitude, which is why the air can feel thinner your first days.
Food is the best way in.
Mexican cuisine is a UNESCO cultural heritage for a reason. These are the basics worth trying — from the street to the restaurant.
Tacos al pastor
Marinated pork spun on a vertical spit, served with pineapple, onion and cilantro. The capital’s signature taco.
Chilaquiles
The national breakfast: tortilla chips simmered in green or red salsa, with cream, cheese and sometimes egg or chicken.
Tamales
Corn dough with a filling, wrapped in a leaf and steamed. A street breakfast — even tucked inside a bread roll (the “guajolota”).
Mole
A thick sauce that can have dozens of ingredients, sometimes chili and chocolate. Mole poblano is the best known.
Pozole
A hominy-corn soup with meat that you dress yourself with lettuce, radish, oregano and lime.
Elotes & esquites
Street corn: on the cob or in a cup, with mayo, cheese, chili and lime.
Good to know
- The main meal is 2–4 pm, not noon. Dinner tends to be light and later.
- “¿Pica?” (is it spicy?) Many salsas are. Ask for “sin picante” or “poquito” if unsure.
- Mezcal and tequila are cousins: both come from agave. Tequila is smoother and more commercial; mezcal is more artisanal and smoky.
- Water: filtered or bottled, not from the tap. Every Maia home has a filter, so you can stay hydrated without buying bottles or adding plastic.
The calendar that moves the city.
Knowing what’s celebrated helps you plan: some days are huge festivities, others nearly everything closes.
Three Kings’ Day
Families share a “rosca de Reyes”; whoever finds the hidden figurine hosts tamales on February 2. A public holiday.
Holy Week
Movable date. The city empties out (many go on holiday) and several businesses close for a few days.
Independence
On the night of the 15th, “El Grito” in the Zócalo; on the 16th, a parade. Festive mood and street closures downtown.
Day of the Dead
Altars, marigolds and cemetery visits. The big parade is usually on the days before. The country’s most alive tradition.
Virgin of Guadalupe
Millions make a pilgrimage to the Basilica in the north of the city. Heavy traffic that day.
Posadas & Christmas
Posadas run Dec 16–24; on the 24th and 25th almost everything closes. New Year’s too.
Movable dates (like Holy Week) change each year — double-check them as you plan.
How to move like a local.
Small codes that make everything easier — and that locals appreciate you knowing.
Tipping
10–15% at restaurants, rarely included. Cash is best.
Keep cash handy
Taxis, markets, street stalls and tips run on cash. Not everywhere takes cards.
“Ahorita”
Can mean “in a moment”… or never. It’s flexible; don’t take it literally.
Social time
Showing up late to a gathering is fine; for a tour or reservation, be on time.
The greeting
A kiss on the cheek between women and in mixed greetings; a handshake between men.
The check won’t just come
Asking for it is normal and polite: “la cuenta, por favor”. Lingering to chat (the sobremesa) is part of the meal.
Grocery baggers
Whoever bags your groceries often works for tips alone; a few coins are enough.
Getting around safely
Use Uber or Didi, especially at night; mind your things on crowded transit. The areas in this guide are calm.
The great classics, beyond your neighborhood.
Several already have a card with hours and directions in Explore CDMX.
Historic Center & Zócalo
The city’s heart: the cathedral, the National Palace with Diego Rivera’s murals, and the Templo Mayor ruins.
See in Explore CDMXTeotihuacan
The Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, an hour from the city — a civilization long before the Aztecs.
National Museum of Anthropology
The country’s finest museum, inside Chapultepec Park. The way to understand pre-Hispanic Mexico.
See in Explore CDMXXochimilco
Colorful trajineras along ancient canals and chinampas — the closest thing to the Aztec capital.
See in Explore CDMXCoyoacán
Cobblestone streets, colonial squares and the Blue House where Frida Kahlo lived.
See in Explore CDMXPalacio de Bellas Artes
The art déco theater-museum downtown, with murals by Mexico’s great masters.