MEXICO CITY SIGHTSEEING INPUT
 

Spending a week in Mexico City May 7th. Would appreciate your favorite sites to visit. Won't be able to see it all. Welcome input.

My absolute favorite places in and around Mexico City:
Teotihuacan (the Sun & Moon Pyramids; take a busride
approximately 1-1/2 hr.trip each way or hotels have
guided tours); the Zocalo and the Aztec temple ruins;
the National Archeological Museum; Xochimilco (the
floating gardens reachable by subway & train about a
one hour trip; Sunday is the best day to go; this is
really wonderful but probably best to go with a
friend or two). My next favorite things: Bellas
Artes near the Alameda Park; lunch or a coffee or
drink at the Hotel de Cortez' lovely courtyard
restaurant; the Sanborn House of Tiles; the Frida
Kahlo Museum in the Coyoacan area; the Ballet
Folklorico. I'm sure you will find other amazing
things to see & do, also! Best wishes for a great
trip!

I will also be in Mexico city in may. Iappreciate your suggestions . How bad is the pollution and how is the weather in may.

I've never been to Mexico City in May but I will be
going through there on May 4th on my way home from
San Miguel de Allende. I could post some info about
the weather after I get home. When I was there in
April several years ago, the weather was pleasant
for shirtsleeves with maybe a light jacket at night.
The last time I was there was about a year and a
half ago in the fall and it rained a little but was
still warm and pleasant. Although I have asthma,
the pollution has never bothered me. But I've
never been there for more than about 4 days at once.

Dara, Thank you for all the good information. You have added some new ones to my list. I have been to San Miguel de Allende. Beautiful city. We plan to go there again and spend more time, only there for 2 days on way to San Louis. Also went to Guanajuato, which is unbelievable. So many places to see. Will keep your e-mail for help on sights in San Miguel. I am meeting my sister in Mexico City, she heard the rain starts mid May and is best to have layered clothes. Cool Am and evening, but pleasant. Cool is all relative though to where one is coming from. Thank you again.

Please read message regarding crime wave in Mexico City--pretty serious

Will be in Mexico City for two days for a meeting. I have one day to see the city & perhaps shop for silver jewelry. What is the safest way to see the city on my own- any great, must see shops?
Will be staying at an airport hotel.

Please see warning by U.S. Gov. about travel and use of public transportation in Mexico City. Please pay attention to all warnings. The warnings are merited.
cuevas

Please heed all warnings about use of public transportation in Mexico City. The crime wave there is quite serious, and travel there indeed risky.

Again, everyone should take very seriously the crime wave in Mexico City. Heed all warnings, and be very careful. We have family there, and the situation is frightening.

What are the warnings on crime? Is a man traveling alone OK. Is a man and woman not safe traveling Mexico city or is all of Mexico unsafe. Please, any info will be appreciated. I read conflicting reports on the situation there. Would I be better off going elsewhere in Mexico?
Thanks

Regarding the postings about crime in Mexico, I looked up some of the government web pages after seeing 20/20 last Monday night. My daughter was scheduled to go on an education internship there and I was very concerned. I came across a warning on both the Australlian and Canadian State government pages asking their citizens to rethink travel plans to Mexico because of the seriousness of the crimes that are happening to people in broad daylight. I couldn't find the American page, but 20/20 referred to it and said that the American Government is very concerned. There is very little our government can do when an incident occurs. The victims are on their own and little help from authorities there. There will be a follow-up segment about all this on 20/20 again tomorrow night (5/1).

I am joining my sister in Mexico City on the 7th of May. She has told me to leave my jewelry at home. I have a passport and money holder for under my clothes, a small back pack for extra garments and water only. She said the less we look like tourists the better. I will wear long pants......(shorts are a give a way) or dresses. Old comfortable shoes. Don´t bring brand new Nikes. We have set up for our own driver for most trips. My sister was in Mexico City for 9 months last year and now 10 weeks. She has had no trouble. Like New York City, know where you are going, pay attention and don´t go out at night. I plan to carry a spanish newspaper under my arm. They say people think you are local when you do this. With all this hastle, why bother???Because Mexico City is still one of the most fascinating places to visit. I will write again upon my return to the States.

I agree with Kathy Martin's advice. Also the advice
to heed all warnings! I was worried about going but
my trip was planned and tickets bought so I went
anyway. I love Mexico. Just returned on May 4th
without any unpleasant incidents. There were 4 of
us, all women in our 40's. The US Gov't travel
info said that from the airport you should take the
yellow taxis with the picture of an airplane on
them, which we did. From our hotel to the bus
station the next day, we took a "sitio" taxi that
the hotel desk clerk called for us. This also is
what the US Gov't info says to do. They say avoid
the green and yellow VW bug taxis or any taxis
lurking outside hotels and tourist spots. Buses in
Sinaloa state have been robbed. We went to
Guanajuato state. I sure do hope that travel in
Mexico will not become too risky, because it's a
wonderful country. The vast majority of Mexican
people are wonderful. Criminals and murderers are
probably fewer than in the US!