The Ultimate Girls’ Trip Itinerary for 5 Days in Mexico City

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My girlfriends’ and I really wanted to celebrate our friendship this summer with a quick trip from NYC that was just under 1-week long. We were deciding among a few options, but the city we kept coming back to was Mexico City. Both its vibrant food scene and fascinating history had us sold, and it turned out to be the perfect 5-day getaway that I still daydream about. I wanted to share our Mexico City girls’ trip itinerary, which you can use as inspiration for your next vacation, or even bachelorette trip!

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Best Neighborhoods to Stay in Mexico City

We stayed at an Airbnb in Condesa, right by Parque España. Based on my research, we were torn between staying in the Condesa and Roma Norte districts for their safety and centrality. Condesa felt more chic and upscale, while Roma Norte felt trendier and more Bohemian. Both are equally great neighborhoods, though looking back, Condesa felt slightly closer to all of our key attractions. If you are into luxurious stays, then also consider Polanco which is CDMX’s most upscale neighborhood.

How Many Days Do You Need in Mexico City?

Combining my experience with a few others who had gone before me, the ideal number of days to stay in Mexico City seems to be between 4-5. Although I share a 5-day itinerary, we actually flew out in the evening on the fifth day. This option seemed to be the best way to maximize our time as first-timers in Mexico City. Below is how we portioned out our agenda, with a balance of sightseeing and amazing food.

5-Day Mexico City Girls’ Trip Itinerary

Day 1: Exploring Condesa, Palacio de Las Bellas Artes

• Brunch at Lardo – top-rated Mexico-European fusion brunch spot in Condesa
• Walking tour of Condesa
• Palacio de las Bellas Artes
• Explore Mexico City Chinatown
• Dinner at Masala y Maiz: Mexican, African, and Indian Fusion

Day 2: Frida Kahlo Museum, Mercado de Artesanías La Ciudadela, Speakeasy

• Brunch at BrewBrew + pastries at Panadería Rosetta (Roma Norte)
• Frida Kahlo Museum
• Mercado de Artesanías La Ciudadela
• Casual dinner at Gracias Madre Vegan Tacos
• Drinks at Handshake Speakeasy – reservations required!

Day 3: Explore Polanco, Museo Nacional de Antropología

• Breakfast at Ona in Polanco – Nice ambiance, but food was okay.
• Window shopping along Avenida Presidente Masaryk (longest running shopping street in CDMX that is filled with upscale boutiques and luxury shops)
• Museo Nacional de Antropología
• Dinner at Ling Ling – nice skyscraper views of Mexico City atop the Ritz Carlton
• Rayo Cocktail Bar

Day 4: Explore Teotihuacán (Pre-Columbian Ancient Ruins) + Hot Air Balloon Ride

• Early morning hot air balloon ride over Teotihuacán (absolutely magical)
• Exploring Teotihuacán and the ancient pyramids after the ride
• Early dinner at Rosetta (1-Michelin star Mexican Italian fusion) + Churros at El Moro

We rode through a trusted and licensed hot air balloon company (Volare), and they offer protections against bad weather. Worn Here: My favorite MZ Wallace Crossbody Bag for travel (also reviewed HERE).

Day 5: Chapultepec Castle + Quintonil (Fine Dining) Tasting

• Brunch @ Freims in Condesa – Hip spot with a nice outdoor patio, located in Condesa.
• Chapultepec Castle
• Fine Dining 10-course tasting at Quintonil (rated #7 best restaurant in the world with 2-Michelin stars) in the late afternoon before our flight

Mexico City Girls’ Trip Itinerary: Highlights & Misses

As with all trips, not every ‘must-see’ spot becomes a top hit. On the other hand, there were some experiences I was skeptical of that ended up surpassing my expectations. Here are my personal highlights and misses from the trip that may help you decide what is worth seeing.

Mexico City Highlights: Hot Air Balloon Ride, Frida Kahlo Museum, Handshake Speakeasy, Quintonil (Fine Dining)

• Hot air balloon ride over Teotihuacán: Initially, the $200 splurge and mixed reviews gave me some pause. But my adventurous girlfriends were undeterred by the 3am wake-up time. As someone who is terrified of heights, I can say the experience was totally worth it. We flew with Volare, which was super organized, and safe. We paid a few extra dollars to get a ride to the Pyramids afterward. I recommend scheduling the hot air balloon ride in the middle of the trip. In case of bad weather, you can still get a shot at rescheduling.

• Frida Kahlo Museum: The museum is located in Coyocan, which is a little further south in the city. However, it was worth venturing out to see some of the more historic parts of CDMX. The visit feels intimate, as you get to tour parts of her house, greatest masterpieces, and even her iconic wardrobe collection. We spent ~2-hours here.

• Handshake Speakeasy: Such an incredible bar that I get why it’s one of the best in the world. Swanky and intimate vibes, with great alcoholic and non-alcoholic options! If you don’t drink, then you must get their Jasmine Tea Champagne. It is subtly carbonated, and the most refreshing tea drink I’ve ever had.

• Quintonil: Two-Michelin star restaurant and rated the top 7th best restaurant in the world. We splurged on a 10-course tasting menu that blew us away with its creativity, presentation and service. Expect to spend ~$300 per person after tip, but it was so worth the experience to try some of the most indigenous ingredients to Mexico. (I had insects for the first time!)

Mexico City Misses: Museo Nacional de Antropología, Rosetta, Masala y Maiz

• Museo Nacional de Antropología: This may be a hugely unpopular opinion, but I found the layout of this museum to be quite challenging to navigate. First, it is a huge place you can get lost in for hours. Second, the layout of the museum is by region, rather than chronological. And majority of the displays had no English subtitles, or was hard to read. I appreciated the historical content, but the presentation was hard to absorb personally.

• Restaurante Rosetta: (Not to be confused with its bakery – Panadería Rosetta) This restaurant is beautifully nested within a restored mansion, and serves Mexican-Italian fusion. However, we were disappointed that some of the most sought-after dishes were no longer on the menu. Apparently they swap it often based on their available ingredients. The newer pasta dishes we tried were underwhelming. In hindsight, I would have been okay with skipping Rosetta and only visiting their bakery.

• Masala y Maiz: This restaurant is a Mexican, African, and Indian hybrid. However, my friends and I all seemed to agree that the flavors were a bit lacking, though presentation was nice. One positive detail is that this restaurant is vegetarian-friendly, and good for family-style sharing.