3 Best Sights in Mexico City, Mexico

An elliptical avenue that feels like it could be in Paris or Madrid minus the unusually lush semitropical foliage, Amsterdam was designed in the early 1900s as the outer perimeter of a racetrack that would eventually become Parque México. Today it's among the best streets in the city for a stroll. The two lanes of auto traffic are divided by a landscaped median with a paved sidewalk, old-fashioned street lamps, and a smattering of art nouveau tiled benches. There are three roundabouts connecting Amsterdam, each named for one of the city's cloud-scraping peaks: Popocatépetl, Iztaccihuatl, and Citlaltépetl. This is also one of the best streets for admiring the neighborhood's distinctive residential architectural, from ornate art deco and art nouveau beauties to strikingly contemporary mid-rise towers. Although predominantly residential, the ground floors of many of these buildings contain hip coffeehouses, ice-cream shops, bistros, and bars, along with a handful of noteworthy boutique shops. The avenue completely encircles Parque México, and at the northwestern side of the ellipse, you can walk from Parque México just two blocks along restaurant-lined Avendia Parras to reach Parque España.

One of the prettiest and most historic streets in the city, this narrow tree-lined thoroughfare paved with stone is a delightful destination for a short stroll or (if you're feeling a bit more ambitious) as the most scenic way to walk between the historic centers of Coyoacán and San Ángel. From Jardín Centenario, it runs west for just under 2 km (a little over a mile), ending at Avendia Universidad beside the tiny and historic San Antonio de Padua Chapel. Along the route you'll pass grand 19th-century mansions hidden behind, or towering over, colorfully painted walls. The surrounding neighborhood has been home to various celebrities over the years, from Dolores del Río, Luis Buñuel, and Octavio Paz to, more recently, actor Diego Luna, singer Lila Downs, and Like Water for Chocolate novelist Laura Esquivel. The sidewalks become narrower the farther west you walk, and ancient tree roots have in places pushed up and broken the pavement to an almost comical degree (it can feel more like bouldering than walking in a couple of spots).

The plaza surrounding 16th-century Santa Catarina Chapel is especially picturesque, hung with strings of colorful papel picado and dotted with stone benches and pretty trees. Across the street, the shaded, peaceful grounds of Casa de Cultura Jesús Reyes Heroles are also lovely to walk around, and you may witness a dance or crafts class taking place in one of the cultural center's workshops. Up and down Sosa, and especially closer to Jardín Centenario, you'll pass by inviting cafés and boutiques. There are a few attractions of note on or near this street, such as Fonoteca Nacional and Museo Nacional de la Acuarela Alfredo Guati Rojo. The narrow lanes that intersect with Francisco Sosa are also quite pretty, especially the allegedly haunted and oft-photographed Callejon Aguacate, an alley lined with ivy and flowering shrubs that's reached via a quick turn south onto Calle Tata Vasco. To reach San Ángel, cross Universidad where Francisco Sosa ends and continue west on Calle Arenal and Avenida de la Paz (past Parque de la Bombilla); without stops, it's about a one-hour stroll from Jardín Centenario to San Ángel's Plaza del Carmen.

Roma's main east–west boulevard is wide and tree-lined, with a central promenade that's studded with sculptures and fountains. With dozens of restaurants, bars, cafés, and shops lining either side, Álvaro Obregón is an ideal place to stroll and take in occasional cultural exhibitions and events like classic car shows and public art displays.