Itinerary Mexico City with Kids
Mexico City with kids tops our list of amazing family destinations. First and foremost, Mexico City is child friendly. Starting with restaurants, to the lush outdoor spaces, children are not only welcomed, they are embraced. From the gorgeous colors around every corner to the perfect climate, it is clear why this is a popular travel spot. To be clear: this is a TRIP, not a vacation- expect lots of walking and discovering. In short, it will be like nothing you have experienced before with your family.
Here is our quick itinerary followed by details about each day:
Who? Mom and Dad, three kids (8,8,7)
Day 1: Arrive/Airbnb in Polanco Neighborhood/Walk around neighborhood
Day 2: Explore Parque Chapultepec/ Children’s Museum (Papalote Museo)
Day 3: Xochimilco Canals and Boat Rides/ Dinner at Cafe Tacuba
Day 4: Teotihuacan Pyramids and Surrounding Areas
Day 5: Chapultepec Zoo and Chucky Cheese Polanco
Day 6: Zocalo/Double Decker Bus
Day 7: Museo Soumaya and Plaza Carso
Day 8: Say goodbye to an amazing city!
Where to Stay: We opted for a condo with a pool in the the upscale Polanco area. Finding a taxi was easy, security was tight, and the pool was much needed after several long days exploring the city.
Day 1: We arrived to our beautifully appointed Polanco condo and gasped at the sparkling view of Museo Soumaya practically at our doorstep. The Polanco neighborhood is an upscale Mexican neighborhood for young professionals and families. While walking around we found sidewalk cafes and twinkling restaurants. On our first night we had dinner at the DELICIOUS Caldos d’ Leo for authentic Mexican home cooking.
Day 2: Early in the day, we jumped into a taxi straight to Parque Chapultepec. We took a stroll through the park ending at El Museo Papalote (The Children’s Museum) where we spent an awesome day of hands-on learning and experiences. We spent several hours shopping at the kid-sized supermarket for traditional Mexican foods, exploring the unique outdoor areas, playing with bubbles, and completing STEM activities.
Day 3: Xochimilco Canals and Boat Rides: We have visited Xochimilco several times with kids. If you visit on your own without a travel guide, follow these recommendations: It is about half an hour to one hour out of town depending on the traffic. Sometimes taxi drivers will try to take you to the drop off they are most familiar with and this is not necessarily the one you want. Be sure to ask for “Nativitas” or dock with the biggest market. These docks will offer a huge variety of boats you can choose from, tons of different foods and music you can purchase on the water (a mariachi band will get on your boat to serenade you!), and awesome shopping. Go early in the day on Saturday or Sunday and be prepared for a delightful time! In our experience, it is best to leave before dark as the scene changes from family friendly to party time in the evening. Be sure to learn about the the famous AXOLOTL before you go- we love this book detailing the unique amphibian: Not a Monster by Claudia Guadalupe Martinez
Day 4: Teotihuacan Pyramids: Located about one hour outside of the city, depending on traffic, this pre-Hispanic site is well worth the visit. The history and vibrant nature is palpable and thrilling for families. We recommend hiring a guide to give you facts and details that can’t be found on any signage- and if you really like your kids you will get them a jaguar whistle- you just need it! The guides truly bring history alive by explaining where important festivals and gathering spots would have been, they are also able to point out ancient carvings and even paintings that you might miss. Guides are available in multiple languages- highly recommended! We ate in one of the many restaurants located near the entrance and had some of the most delicious tacos of the entire trip.
We had limited time and opted to take a taxi to get to the pyramids. This was a great option for us – it took about an hour to arrive to the site.
Day 5: Chapultepec Zoo- On day five we headed back to Parque Chapultepec. This zoo surpassed our expectations and the kids loved it. On the day we visited in mid- July, the weather was perfect. The animals were lively and we even saw the tigers put on a show by playing with their toys. The panda exhibit was a highlight for us. The zoo is clean, well-kept, and it was another great chance for our little ones to interact with local kids. There are food stalls inside the zoo selling everything from ice cream to churros to tostadas.
Day 5 Evening: Chucky Cheese Polanco: We did it and we loved it, no shame here. The Chucky Cheese was by far the cleanest one I have visited- far and away better than the one near our home in the U.S. The kids loved it, and there were smiles all around. Done and done.
Day 6: Zocalo/ Double Decker Bus: After several days of walking we spent this day on the double decker bus to see the sights. We rode the Turibus. To be honest the bus itself was not the best, it was a little uncomfortable, but it was near us, reasonably priced, and I would rate it just ok. The pick-up area was near our condo and we saw all of the points of interest, then got off at the Zocalo. One “must-see” when you are in the Zocalo is Diego Riviera’s mural in the Palacio Nacional. We were stunned by the detailed history presented by the mural and again, a great learning opportunity for kiddos.
Day 7: Museo Soumaya and Plaza Carso: Staying near the Plaza Carso was a huge benefit on our trip. It houses the better-than- Wal-Mart store, Chedraui. We were able to do a big grocery shopping trip when we arrived, and we kept running in there for everything from delicious pastries (delicious, I have to say it again, like so good!) to water shoes we needed one day, to a pair of sandals when my son’s broke. It was easy and convenient. The gorgeous Museo Soumaya was less than a five minute walk from our condo- don’t miss the Rodin sculptures. Read this post for all the details on visiting Museo Soumaya with kids!
If it seems like we did a lot on this trip, well, you are right! One thing we did on purpose was plan to be home by early evening every other night so that our kids could swim and chill out. The availability of a pool was a major factor in choosing the Polanco neighborhood.
All pictures taken by Kimberly Chacon and are property of Kimberly Chacon. Pictures may not be used or reproduced.
