7 Best Mexico City Tours & Experiences

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If you’re planning your trip to Mexico City and want to book a few tours and experiences, this is the guide for you. Mexico City is a massive metropolis layered with history and culture, so while you can explore it independently, some experiences are better with a guide, especially when solo travelling in Mexico City. In this guide, I share 7 fun, entertaining and educational Mexico City tours that are worth your time and money.

Best Mexico City Tours Quick Links

1. Walking Tour of Centro Histórico in Mexico City

A walking tour of Mexico City’s Centro Histórico is the perfect introduction to the history and significance of the city. I always recommend doing a walking tour on your first or second day because it allows you to become acquainted with the city and get recommendations and insights from a local.

Most tours of the Centro Histórico begin in El Zócalo, the massive central square that has been the heart of the city since precolonial Aztec times. Then the tours continue past the Metropolitan Cathedral, ancient ruins, the Palacio Postal, and end near Palacio de Bellas Artes.

In about 2 hours, you’ll learn about Mexico City’s prehispanic history, colonization, independence, and modern transformation. It’s the perfect introduction to the Centro Historico, which can be overwhelming if visiting on your own.

Book a free (tip-based) tour on GuruWalk, or this highly-rated one on GetYourGuide:

2. Xochimilco Tour in Mexico City

A visit to Xochimilco is one of the most popular things to do in Mexico City. Xochimilco’s canals are part of an ancient lake system that once covered much of the Valley of Mexico. Today, you can float along the existing canals on colorful boats past the famous “floating gardens” (chinampas), where many people still live and farm today.

Most people book a party-style boat tour in Xochimilco, complete with music, tequila and micheladas. This is a really fun group activity where you can party while learning about the history and culture in Xochimilco. Check out this highly-rated tour on GetYourGuide:

If you prefer a quieter tour of Xochimilco, I highly recommend booking a cultural or ecological tour instead, which is what I did. I booked this unique tour on AirBNB experience, which included a walking tour of the neighborhood, a visit to the local mercado, a slow boat ride on the canals, Quesadillas for lunch, and even a stop at an axolotl sanctuary. Our tour guide, Sam, was from Xochimilco and taught us so much about the importance of the neighborhood and the chinampas, historically and today.

3. Mexican Bread-Making Class (Conchas)

This was unexpectedly my favorite activity from my most recent trip to CDMX. In this Mexican bread-making class, we learned how to make conchas, a traditional Mexican sweet bread, in a intimate apartment setting with a local baker.

The experience honestly felt more like hanging out with a friend than attending a formal class. With the instructor Ricardo and the 3 other participants, we mixed and kneaded the dough, shaped the conchas, made the sugar topping, and baked everything. Ricardo’s apartment had an amazing view over Chapultepec Park, so we watched the sunset while waiting for the conchas to rise and bake. At the end of the night, we ate our fresh conchas with hot chocolate and chatted with our new friends.

So if you love to bake like me and want a unique, cozy experience with a local baker, this is the experience for you! Book here on AirBNB experience.

4. Lucha Libre Show

Even if you’re not into wrestling, a Lucha Libre show is one of the most entertaining things you can do in Mexico City. There’s dramatic entrances, colorful masks, elaborate storylines, and a crowd that is totally pumped for the show.

You can buy tickets to see a Lucha Libre show yourself, but if you don’t want to deal with logistics (or if you’re a solo traveler and want a more social experience), booking a guided Lucha Libre tour is a great option. Many include round-trip transportation from your accommodation and a local guide who explains the cultural background of the sport.

If you’re vegan or vegetarian like me, this is an amazing tour from a local vegan company that includes a stop for vegan snacks and a tequila tasting.

5. Hot Air Balloon Over Teotihuacán

If you want a true bucket-list experience, book a sunrise hot air balloon ride over Teotihuacán. This ancient city, located just outside of Mexico City, is home to the Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon and is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the country.

Watching the sunrise while floating above the pyramids is something you will never forget. Most tours include early morning pickup from your hotel and return you to the city in the early afternoon. When booking your tour, you have the option to add breakfast and a guided tour of the ancient city. Check out this highly rated tour which provides all different booking options.

I haven’t personally visited Teotihuacán yet (the hot air balloon was a bit over my budget!), but I have heard amazing things about the experience, so its at the top of my bucketlist for my next trip to Mexico City.

6. Mexican Street Food Tour

Mexico City is one of the best food cities in the world, but navigating street food stalls on your own can feel intimidating, especially if you don’t speak Spanish. A guided street food tour takes away the stress and helps you discover the best vendors and exactly what to order. It’s great for trying new foods and learning about each dish, like the origins, the ingredients and how it’s prepared.

If you’re vegan or vegetarian like me, don’t worry, Mexico City is surprisingly vegan friendly, and there a few vegan street food tours offered around the city. I’ve done two vegan street food tours in CDMX, one through a locally- and woman-owned company called Traveling Herbivore, and another free (tip-based) tour on GuruWalk. They were both fun, delicious and informative, featuring traditional Mexican street food dishes, such as tacos, tortas, Tlacoyas, agua frescas, and churros, all with with a plant-based twist. Read more about these two vegan food tours in my post Vegan & Vegetarian Guide to Mexico City.

7. Tequila or Mezcal Tasting

If you want a fun and educational evening activity in Mexico City, definitely book a tequila or mezcal tasting. Mexico is famous for both tequila and mezcal, but most people don’t actually know the difference, how they are made, and how to properly taste them.

During a tasting, you’ll learn how tequila/mezcal are made (both from agave, but prepared differently), how different regions impact flavor, and how to sip them slowly instead of shooting them. If you’re used to drinking tequila but have never tried mezcal, definitely do a mezcal tasting. You will walk away with a new appreciation for this liquor, and will find yourself ordering mezcalitas instead of margaritas!

There are many bars around the city that you can walk into and just request a tasting, but for an elevated experience, I recommend booking a tasting like this one, that pairs mezcal with mole. You’ll get to learn about and taste different types of both of these Mexican delicacies.

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