Mexico City Car Hire

Guide to Mexico City

History

Modern-day Mexico City is located in an ancient valley which was the stomping ground of various indigenous groups for most of the first millennium AD. But the city literally took shape during the Aztec period, when they cleverly built an artificial island in Lago de Texcoco by filling the lagoon up with soil. Then called Tenochtitlan, it was built to fulfil one of the Aztec’s most powerful ancient prophecies – that their deity would show them where to construct a great city when they saw an eagle sitting on a cactus with a snake in its mouth. The city was destroyed by Hernando Cortes and his Spanish invaders in the early 16^th century and the Europeans rebuilt it in its modern form as Mexico City thereafter.

Alternative Mexico City

If you march to the beat of your own drum, you might be wondering about slightly offbeat things to do in Mexico City. There are quite a few to choose from, as it happens. For instance, contemporary architecture fans love taking a tour of the unique Casa Gilardi, which was built in the 1970s by Luis Barragan. It’s actually a private home but its owners welcome tours at certain times. Another modern gem is the Biblioteca Vasconcelos, a lovely modern library located in the Buenavista area. And if you want a lesser-known panoramic view across the entire megalopolis, take the elevator to the top of the Sears building opposite the Palace of Fine Arts – breath-taking.

Sports

Lucha Libre (masked wrestling) is a quintessentially Mexican sport and if you’re a fan of hyped-up WWE type entertainment, you’ll love spending a few hours watching these high-flying fighters somersault from top ropes, clothesline each other and stir the crowd into a frenzy as each match takes its dramatic twists and turns. Football (or futbol as it’s known here) is global, but Mexicans are particularly passionate about the beautiful game, so taking in a live match in Mexico City’s Aztec Stadium is an experience no football fan will ever forget.

Things to do in Mexico City

Arty

Mexico City is a haven for contemporary art and the home turf of some of the world’s greatest artists. So if you’re a bit of a culture vulture, its galleries and museums are real eye-openers. Work your way around a selection of these eclectic emporiums and you’ll find everything from indigenous sculptures to modern North American classics and Old Masters from Europe – variety is the spice of life in art as well as food here. There are lots to choose from, but Museo Jumex at Boulevard Miguel de Cervantes showcases the biggest collection of Latin American art in the world, as well as work from the likes of Andy Warhol and Marcel Duchamp. And right next door, you’ll see the gorgeous curved silhouette of Museo Soumaya, where prehispanic pieces sit next to masterpieces by El Greco and Da Vinci. If you want the inside track on emerging artists in an intimate environment meanwhile, try JO-HS at Gobernador Jose Guadelupe 46, San Miguel Chapultepec – an exciting new(ish) gallery space managed by Danish guru Elisabeth Johns.  

Party

Mexico City, like Mexico at large, is a phenomenal place to party. Seasonal festivals like Day of the Dead are mind-blowing but whichever time of year you’re visiting, there are lots of exciting, welcoming and diverse bars and clubs to choose from. The wonderfully named Hanky Panky Cocktail Bar in the Juarez district is a good place to start your evening – the cocktails are divine but it’s also entertaining watching the exuberant mixologists creating them. Parker & Lenox is another Juarez bar you might want to move on to for live music and a stripped-back industrial vibe. And Licoteria Limantour in Roma Norte has been voted as the 6^th best bar in the world and serves good, strong cocktails you won’t find anywhere else. Last but not least, when you’re ready to bust a few moves to bouncing beats, head for Patrick Miller nightclub in Roma, where floor-filler tunes and cheap beers are top of the menu.

Family

Taking your kids to such a huge city can be daunting. But there are plenty of family-friendly activities in Mexico City and you can plan ahead to keep everyone happy (or at least as happy as possible if you’ve got terrible twos or grumpy teenagers). Kids interested in science love Planetario Luis Enrique Erro – a mega-cool 400-seat planetarium that brings the night sky alive like a blockbuster movie. Meanwhile, active kids can play football or explore the botanical gardens at Parque Bicentenario, and the Six Flags theme park in the Tlapan Forest area in the south of the city is the place to visit for rollicking rollercoasters, laser tag, bumper cars and more. And if you need a backup plan for a (rare) rainy day, it’s always worth keeping ice skating at La Pista San Jeronimo up your sleeve.

Eating out in Mexico City

Traditional

You won’t have to venture far to find sumptuous traditional dining in Mexico City. La Opera in Centro is a delightful Cantina-style restaurant with tiled floors, wood-panelled walls and velvet seats, where you can enjoy tequila, custom cocktails and snacks like refried beans. Ask the bartender to show you the hole in the ceiling where Pancho Villa blasted a bullet back in the day. Meanwhile, Dulce Patria in Polanco in Polanco has a (deliberately) light, airy, feminine feel, with creative chef Martha Ortiz serving contemporary dishes with their roots firmly in the old school Mexican kitchen.

Fusion & international

For something a little different in Mexico City, try Quintonil. Chef Jorge Vallejo takes things to another level with stunning dishes combining unusual flavours and textures like cactus, corn and escamoles (ant larvae) and dishes like fish in grasshopper marinade. And Italian cuisine is popular in Mexico too – Rosetta is an excellent choice for immaculate risotto, gorgeous gnocchi and superb short rib with polenta.

Street food

Mexico City has a well-deserved reputation for some of the world’s best street food. So unless you possess a steely resolve, you might as well let your belt out two or three notches right now, invest in some elasticated leisure wear and go where your taste buds take you. Don’t leave town without trying delicious savoury street food staples like tortas, tacos, tlacoyos and pambazo. And flip the script on your palate with sweet treats like sweet bread and churros with hot chocolate. Mmm-hmm.

Transport in Mexico City

Airport

The main airport is Mexico City International Airport (MEX). Book your MEX hire car right here, hop in when you clear customs, and hit the road.

Public transport

Mexico City has an extensive bus and Metro (subway) system – the latter has 12 colour-coded lines and 120 miles of track.

Driving

If you want to travel independently and explore Mexico beyond the city boundaries, hiring a car here is the best plan. Hire a car in Mexico City with Enjoy Travel ASAP and grab a great vehicle at an affordable price.