10-hour layover in Mexico city. What to do?

Question

I'm heading for Buenos Aires to study for the summer and have a 10-hour stop in Mexico City. I'd like to hit the Centro histórico and to do some general sight-seeing (parks, architecture, murals, etc.--I'm basically looking for lots of photo-opps). I'd also like to grab a good meal and/or hit a bar, and maybe grab a souvenir or two.

What do you think I could reasonably (and safely) cover during the layover (from 12:00-10:00 pm) ? Any suggestion on how much cash I should bring?

Thanks a lot!

Answer 1

viva mexico

Answer 2

I agree wholeheartedly with every place Juan suggested. Go on the Turibus, especially since you're on a limited schedule and have never been here before. You seriously don't want to walk all of Paseo de la Reforma because the avenue is VERY long (it's like being in Washington DC long where you want to walk from the Congress building to the Lincoln statue long). The Turibus will show you major downtown Mexico City and come back.

The place where the Turibus sets out is the Auditorio nacional which is right next to a subway station of the same name. With a bit of subway line switching, you can travel by subway all the way back to the Zocalo in about 30 minutes and walk around.

I also reccomend you going to the Casa de los azulejos. It's the first Sanborns restaurant (a sort of restaurant-cafeteria chain that's everywhere in Mexico, this building is the first) and the interiors are beautiful with a lot of peacock murals and colonial architecture. I personally suggest las Enchiladas Sanborns with red sauce but they have some more western dishes in their menu as well if you just want a hamburger. This restaurant is just a street away from Bellas Artes, easy as h**l to get there by subway.

The Torre latinoamericana is right in front of Bellas Artes. Go up there and use the paid binoculars. You will be able to get a great view of the city. I'm quite sure you won't resist the temptation of photo taking from up there. The building also has an aquarium.

If you have the time, visit the Castillo de Chapultepec which is near the Auditorio Nacional. It's on an inhumanely steep hill which will take you 2 hours to climb to the top, I suggest you to get on the trains to save time and energy which will only take 10 minutes. It's a beautiful castle and a nice museum.

If you want to go to a bar and have some extra time, the Zona Rosa is right in the area just a few blocks from the Angel of Independance.

The airport is next to a subway station that's next to a major station named PANTITLAN. To get to the Zocalo, get on the brown line and connect to the blue line in Chabacano.

The station Pino Suarez is right before Zocalo and it isn't a bad idea to get off there if you want to take photos of people running in every direction like crazy (I still think the Hidalgo station is more boisterous though). Pino Suarez has a cute Aztec statue dedicated to the wind god Éecatl which you can take photos of.

Getting off there isn't the worst idea ever because Pino Suarez and Zocalo are connected to eachother underground. Between the two stations, there's a ton of book stores that sell real cheap if you want to give someone a book souvenir. If you walk swiftly without stopping, you'll get to the other station in like 7 minutes.

As for souvenirs, hrm.. If you don't mind subway travelling a bit, I reccomend you dropping off at Hospital General or Centro Medico, but only if it's a weekday and it's in the morning because there's street stands that set up around that time only that sell awesome indian scarves, blankets and clothes for a more accesible price. Plus, there's no tourists in that area. I do warn about pickpockets in that area because it's infested with people.

You could be adventurous and eat a taco at a street stand while you're in the area as well. There's some really good taco stands in that area. Going to centro medico isn't a waste of time either if you're into photos because the Siglo XXI building is gorgeous (you can enter the main plaza, no worries) and the hospital is very famous nationwide partially because it survived the 1985 earthquake. There's some beautiful statues too. It's supposed to be against the rules to take photos there, but if you're quick you might not get caught. You mention you'll be travelling during the afternoon, you might not get lucky getting a scarf (chances are higher at Hospital general because they usually leave at 3pm), but if you're at the Siglo XXI hospital at around 3 pm, there's very few people by then and you can take some photos without getting caught.

Hospital General is just 3 blocks away but you can't get in unless you're a patient (believe it or not there's a lot of non mexican patients that go there for treatment). As a tourist there isn't much to see inside anyways because the original hospital was fully destroyed in the 1985 earthquake, but there is a plaque that shows the staff that died and if you're really confident in your spanish and you're lucky, you might find a doctor who was there the day of the earthquake.

Anyhow, if you still have an extra hour to tour, I wouldn't count visiting Tlatelolco out since it's just a few subway stations away from the Zocalo area. The building architecture is amazing (and not because it's necesairly very pretty, but those social project buildings are just really unique) and there's a pyramid just a few blocks away.

Too bad you might not have the time to visit Ciudad Universitaria in just 10 hours, the architecture there is.. wow.

Answer 3

*Turi-Bus*

This is a great “tour” to take on the first day as it helps to orient you to the city. It's a big red  double-decker bus that has on and off privileges. It runs from 0900 to 2100 daily and the fare is paid, $100.US$10 per person. They give you disposable headphones in order to listen to a narration about the city as the bus travels. The route goes from the Zocalo past the Alameda, down Paseo de la Reforma and around Chapultepec Park. The bus then goes though the Condesa, Zona Rosa and Polanco districts. Bring a hat and suncreen so you can sit on the upper deck for the best view.

Great Diego Rivera murals in the Palacio National just off the Zocolo.No charge but bring your passport.If you leave your bags at the airport you can catch the Metro(subway) to the Centro Historico for 20 cents.and also ride it back to the airport.

There is a lot you can see and do in 10 hours.If you change US$50 at an ATM in the airport you should have more than enough for the bus and something to eat and drink.

For something to eat try Sanborns Casa de Azulejos in a 16th century building at Avenida Madero 4.The main restaurant is is in a covered courtyard with a fountain and collection of odd murals of mythical landscapes.The food is Mexican and very good.Platillos Mexicano run from US$2.50 to US$6.00.Lots of atmosphere here,don't miss it.In the Centro Historico.and it's been there forever so anyone should be able to direct you.

Buen Provecho!

juan23