I'm going for a holiday in Mexico, about 1mth, what must I see? What should I not miss?

Question

I'd prefer a mix of touristy and off the beaten track stuff? Can anyone recommend an itinerary? I have no idea of the best way to get around either??

From, an Australian.

Answer 1

would love to help , but I need a starting point in MEXICO.

Answer 2

Mexico City is a wonderful place to land!  It is a world gem as it takes its place among the places in the world that have well preserved their ancient history.  Buildings who's Architecture date back earlier than the 1500's that are still open for business in our modern times create such a romantic atmosphere and take you back to totally different eras in time.  For a first time visitor, I agree with Babyselle.  You must try to catch a performance at Palacio de Bellas Artes (as well as tour the museum itself), tour Palacio Nacional, and visit the ruins and the Popo volcano. If you are a soccer fan, catch a Seleccion Nacional game.  By all means go online and look these places and entities up to see what is of interest to you.  I was there in 2006 and got around very easily by subways and taxis.  There are many open air markets that you can enjoy sampling some of the best varities of Mexican food from.  Yes, museums, shows, ruins, soccer, volcanos, and great, great food and much, much more!  Besides the City, there is one other place that I would recommend.  It is Oaxtepec.  This is basically a hotel swimming pool resort some hours south of Mexico City.  It is famed for the fact that Moctezuma used to take baths in the springs located there.  It is located in some quiet hills.  Again, by all means look these places up and enjoy your trip!

Answer 3

The first link below is a recommendation of a bedget hotel in Mexico City.

The second link is the ruins of Teotihuacan just outside Mexico City.  You can find tours to take you out there if you need someone to explain what you're looking at.  If you just want to wander the site by yourself, you can catch the bus at Autobuses Norte.

After a week in Mexico City, the pollution may start to get to you, so head on down the highway to the towns of Cuernavaca, Taxco, and Acapulco.

Answer 4

Ok, you have some ideas of what to do in Mexico city, and they sound great, now from there you can go west to the Pacific someone gave you that one already: Cuernavaca, Taxco (lovely town with cheap silver) and Acapulco.

Or north of Mexico city also to the Pacific Querétaro, Guanajuato, Morelia, Guadalajara, Tequila, Puerto Vallarta. Where you have a mix of culture and traditions in cities founded by the Spaniards and a big cosmopolitan city: Guadalajara, and also end up at the beach.

Or south to the Gulf of Mexico: Puebla (beautiful 2 mill people, colonial city) Veracruz, the oldest town in the continental America and the most important port of the country still nowadays, Villahermosa where you start with the jungle like weather and ancient ruins, Campeche a fortified city by the see.

Or south all the way to the Caribbean Puebla, Veracruz, Villahermosa, Campeche, Merida, Cancun.

You can travel by bus with ADO, ADO GL or UNO (which are the same company, different buses with more space as the ticket becomes more expensive) is very clean, cheap and a safe way to do it, but it's better if you stop and spend some days in each city of your preference.

Go see some ruins either in Teotihuacan, by Mexico city; Cholula by Puebla; or Chichen Itza and Tulum by Cancun.

Drink always bottled water, not from the tap, and bring something for an upset stomach so you can dare to try delicious and great new food, that can be spicy and hot, but totally worth it!

Hope you enjoy it a lot!

Answer 5

If you go to Mexico City, definitely  go to Belles Artes, which is a stunning historic opera house (seriously don't miss it and if you can catch a performance it's world class). The Palacio Nacional is amazing, dating back from before the 1600's (and it's free to tour). Visiting the ruins that are in el Zocalo (Mexico City's main plaza) is mindblowing. If you can stay at least one night at the Sheraton Maria Isabel hotel, ask for a room with a view of El Angel, a Mexico City Icon. You can spend a week just exploring Chapultepec park. The Castle, the zoo (really nice), the mueseum of anthropology... there is just so much to see. The metro is a great way to get around and soooo inexpensive (FYI just get in and out of the train doors quickly. trust me) Cabs are good too. If you find a particular cabbie you like, make sure to get a business card and stick with them for the remainder of your stay. They took good care of us. At night use a car service; if I remember correctly they were called taxis ejecutivos. I can't begin to tell you where to eat cause everything is so good. But try my personal favorite La Casa de Tono in Colonia Claveria. They  make the best pozole (a red chile based soup with hominy), even with a vegetarian version for the non carniverous. The Globo bakery chain is really good too.

Answer 6

Flying into Mexico City is an excellent way to start a first trip to Mexico.If you are a "tourist"and used to five star hotels, gourmet dining ,and being led around by a tour guide in a cheap suit then I can't help you. Conversely, if you are more of a "traveler" that is not afraid of taking public transportation and can choose a hotel and restaurant by yourself then I'm confident I can help you to plan an inexpensive itinerary based on your interests if you will help plan a like itinerary in Australia for my sister(quid pro quo)who is looking to visit Oz sometime next year.

I have been traveling, working and occasionally living in Mexico for many years. If you want to see and experience the "Real Mexico" email me through my profile page.It is a little restrictive but you can still remain anonymous. There are just too many questions, options and choices to plan an itinerary here in the "Answers" format. If I don't hear from you,buena suerte y buen viaje!

juan23

Answer 7

go to the state of chiapas (it's not a long flight from mexico city). Chaiaps has many impressive mayan ruins(the best one is Palenque), natural attractions(like el cañon del sumidero)...if you like adventure thats were you should go.