Top 10 Free Things To Do and Attractions in Mexico

"The greatest urban park in Mexico City, Chapultepec is the capital’s lung with an extension of roughly a thousand and a half acres. This urban oasis is not only extremely rich in flora and fauna, hosting also its own botanical garden, but also in art and history being home to the Chapultepec Castle and some of the best museums in town: the Museum of Anthropology, one of the finest museums in the world of its kind, the Museum of Modern Art and Tamayo Museum. Locals love spending their weekends there walking, visiting one of the museums, rowing a boat in the lake, or just relaxing."

"1.30pm: Get some lunch on the go from any of the street vendors that can be found in the nearby Chapultepec park, or on the streets leading up to it. It’s a brief walk to the park from the museum and you can enjoy the sights of Paseo de la Reforma on your way. Find a bench and watch the squirrels scrabbling up and down the trees, on the lookout for kind tourists offering them food. After you’ve eaten, stroll around the park – it’s the largest inner-city green space in all of Latin America."

"Finishing the tour at around 4, I’d recommend spending the last few hours of daylight in the Bosque de Chapultepec. Check out the castle, take boats out on the lake if you desire, and just enjoy being in the largest green lung of the city."

"Make sure to check out Chapultepec Castle while you’re there, which feels more like something you might find in Versailles, France, than in this vibrant Latin American country. The castle has a small entrance fee and is home to the National Museum of History, where you can get a great insight into Mexico’s past."

"Chapultapec Castle: the Paseo de la Reforma is the main street that closes for pedestrians and bikes on Sunday morning, so on our way to the castle we observed like all of Mexico City riding bikes and running."

"Inside this grandiose colonial palace you'll see Diego Rivera murals (painted between 1929 and 1951) that depict Mexican civilization from the arrival of Quetzalcóatl (the Aztec plumed serpent god) to the post-revolutionary period. The nine murals covering the north and east walls of the first level above the patio chronicle indigenous life before the Spanish conquest. "

"Plaza de la Constitución S/N, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06066 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico. Though his reputation is now arguably overshadowed by that of his former wife, painter and muralist Diego Rivera—commissioned by Mexico’s postrevolutionary governments starting in the late 1920s to adorn several national monuments in..."

"Calle Querétaro 225, Roma Nte., 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico. Beer drinkers beware, once you visit this classic beer garden at Mercado Roma you may never want to leave. I have a soft spot in my heart for the Biergarten because it’s where Dan and I unwound after our first (of now, unfortunately, many) earthquakes in Mexico City."

"Mercado de Roma is located, unsurprisingly, in the Roma neighborhood of CDMX. In line with the area’s stylish reputation, this Mexico City street food market has a hipster vibe with many popular local cafes serving food from pop up stalls. Here you can eat chilaquiles, tacos, and many other Mexican dishes."

"Mercado Roma is unlike the traditional Mexico City markets we’ve highlighted. This market is part of the newer generation of Mexico City markets. It was the first gourmet market in Mexico City and it resembles a food hall more than a food market."

"Housed in a building designed by Teodoro González de León, the architect of the Museo Tamayo, the Reforma 222 shopping mall is a glass-covered delight. The four-story mall has shops to suit every budget, ranging from the budget-friendly Bershka to upmarket cosmetic brand Mac Cosmetics and high-street Spanish favorite Zara. Bookstores, a food hall and a cinema make Reforma 222 the complete package for anyone looking for a bit of downtime away from Mexico City’s hectic streets."

"The Reforma 222 is a place which caters to all your shopping and entertainment needs under one roof. This shopping mall is located at Paseo de la Reforma and houses high-end brands like Zara, Bershka, Women's Secret, Nine West, Tommy Hilfiger, Steve Madden etc. At Reforma 222 you can find things like clothing, accessories, cosmetics, electronics, furniture, books, music and more."

"Address: Balderas S/N, Colonia Centro, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06040 Cuauhtémoc, CDMX, Mexico | Phone: +52 55 5510 1828 | Website | Market open 10 am to 7 pm daily (closes 6 pm Sundays). If you’re looking to shop for local handicrafts or folk art, or just a colorful souvenir to take home from Mexico, definitely check out the market at the Mercado de Artesanías La Ciudadela, close to the historic center. At this market, you’ll find stalls of artists and vendors lined up along the street and hawking their art and wares to locals and travelers alike."

"S/N, Balderas, Colonia Centro, Centro, 06040 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico. Looking for traditional Mexican crafts and home wares, such as the beautifully colored, hand-painted bowls and plates you've eaten off of at so many restaurants?. Head to La Ciudadela, an artists' market that for more than a century has drawn..."

"A dizzying selection of covetable crafts (hand-embroidered linens, leather sandals, embellished mirrors) at reasonable prices. Balderas and Plaza de La Ciudadela No. 1&5"

"2pm: Grab lunch at the Mercado de Coyoacán. This fantastic indoor market was said to have been frequented by Kahlo when she was alive, and it has a great assortment of foods to choose from. Either eat as you browse or head to the neighbouring Jardín Centenario to enjoy your lunch alfresco style. Alternatively, give seafood a go at the famous El Jardin del Pulpo."

"Seriously you have to go here for the best tostados you will likely eat in your entire life – they are just that good. They have every filling you could imagine and and they pile them on. The market is huge so you might be wandering around for a while until you find the bright yellow tostadas restaurants section but once you do you’ll know."

"As well as its famous tostadas, this Mexico City market in Coyoacan is known for street food, souvenirs, pinatas, and flowers. Here you can try many traditional Mexican dishes from breakfast chilaquiles to meaty tacos. Don’t miss La Cocina de mi Mamá Coyoacán, a modest, traditional Mexican cafe."

"I am a market lover, if you haven't guessed it yet, and Mexico is the country of colourful and traditional mercados where many locals still go shopping or have lunch. My favourite food market in the historical centre is Mercado San Juan, famous for its huge variety of exotic products - meat, insects, fruits and vegetables - as well as a very special attention to customers. Among its gourmet products, it is well renowned for its fishes’ quality."

"Mercado de San Juan is situated near the historic center, so a stop here won’t be too far out of your way. This market is know for its selection of exotic meats, like crocodile and wild boar. Just wandering through and people watching is an experience."

"In one of Mexico City’s most famous skyscrapers, you’ll find the highly exclusive Paseo Arcos Bosques shopping mall. It sits inside the interconnected tower building just next to the instantly recognizable and appropriately nicknamed structure El Pantalón (the Pants). As well as a Cinépolis cinema, this shopping center plays host to some of the most high-end designers around, such as Kate Spade and Hugo Boss."

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user gabofr used under CC BY 2.0. Paseo Arcos Bosques is an exclusive shopping mall occupying one of the most iconic skyscrapers in Mexico City. The mall is in an interconnected tower building, also known as The Pants."

"Another Polanco option is the less exclusive Pabellon Polanco, with clean white walls and some lesser-known brands, such as Tanya Moss for jewelry, Fiorentina for clothes and Prada for shoes (not to be confused with the Italian luxury brand of the same name). There are also some great beauty salons if you need a quick blow-dry or manicure. It’s smaller than some of the Mexican malls on our list but also notably quieter."

"The Pabellón Polanco is a casual shopping complex in the cultural Polanco district where you can buy footwear, health and beauty related products, clothes, and they even have a Ferrari shop. If you get peckish, stop by at the fast food joints and restaurants, including a TGIF, to have a bite after some serious retail therapy. Pabellón Polanco also has regular sales and also offers generous discounts on your purchases."