Posted: 6/1/2023 | June 1st, 2023
I love Mexico City. It’s dynamic, diverse, bustling, and filled with incredible museums and restaurants.
There’s so much to do here. It takes a long time to peel back the layers of this onion and get to the essence of the city. We run week long tours to the city and that only gets you a good overview of it all!
However, with so much to see and do, I always suggest that first-time visitors here take a walking tour (or three) during their trip. History, food, nightlife, markets — there are all kinds of tours that can introduce you to the city with the help of an expert local guide.
Here’s my list of the best walking tours in Mexico City:
Best Overall Tour
Devoured
Run by friend and food expert Anais Martinez (aka The Curious Mexican), Devoured tours go in-depth into the food scene of CMDX, with five different four-hour tours to choose from. On each one, you’ll meet a local “tastemaker,” an expert in their craft who shares the process behind Mexican gastronomic traditions like making mouth-watering tacos or crafting exquisite mezcal cocktails.
Best Free Tour
The Monkey Experience
The Monkey Experience, a Mexico City-owned-and-run travel company, offers free two-hour walking tours every day. You’ll set off for a tour of the historical center and get to learn about the Zócalo, the city’s main cathedral, the local food markets, the Palace of Fine Arts, and much more. Just remember to tip at the end!
While those may be the best free and paid tours in town, Mexico City has a lot more to offer, no matter your interests. Here are seven other insightful and educational tours:
1. Food Tour of Polanco
The upscale neighborhood of Polanco is a great district for eating. You can find everything from excellent street food to elevated and creative takes on Mexico City staples. This three-hour food tour is a super introduction to the neighborhood. In between munching tacos, grazing on Oaxacan specialties, and feasting on tortilla soup, you’ll learn about the history and the culture of the area from the local guide. This tour does a great job of giving you a wide range of food.
Tours start at 1,590 MXN.
2. Mexico City at Night
The Mexico City at Night tour is two hours of strolling the historical center streets and stopping to gawk at the lit-up architecture while learning about the history and culture of the area. Some of the popular sites you’ll see at night include the Zócalo, the city’s main cathedral, Templo Mayor, and the Torre Latinoamericano, a 44-floor skyscraper that is like the Mexico City version of the Empire State Building. It’s a great tour to get a taste of the night food scene in the city.
Tours start at 394 MXN.
3. Volcano Hiking Tours
If you want to get out of the city for the day, book a day trip to go hiking up a volcano. You’ll be shuttled to La Joya where you’ll walk the trails, learning about the flora and fauna of the area as you go. You’ll even see legendary Paso de Cortés, the spot where Spanish explorer Hernan Cortes and his army passed through on their way to the Aztec city of Tenochititian in 1519. Tours last a full 11-12 hours.
Tours start at 1,180 MXN.
4. Lucha Libre Tour
Lucha Libre is the term for professional wrestling in Latin America and, on this tour, you’ll learn all about this popular sport. The four-hour experience starts with a two-hour walking tour where your guide explains lucha libre culture. After that, you’ll spend a couple hours at an actual lucha libre event. During the match you’ll get to drink tequila and munch on chips and guacamole. And you’ll leave with your very own lucha libre mask. It’s one of my favorite experiences in the city.
Tours start at 1,590 MXN.
5. Poray Street Art Bike Tour
This three-hour guided tour takes you to some off-the-radar parts of town to marvel at the city’s best street art. You’ll learn about the history of the street street art scene, the political significance of most of the art, and discover out of the way neighborhoods you might not normally have visited. The tour also has some authentic street food stops so you get eat along the way. Street art is big here and this is the best way to see a lot of it.
Tours start at 525 MXN.
A massive, sprawling city, Mexico City is an incredible destination that is really just one of the new hotspots in the world. Tourism here is growing by leaps and bounds.
Taking a tour will get you insider tips and give you a local perspective on the culture and people of the city in a way that would be impossible if you just walked around on your own.
And, while these are some of the top walking tour options in town, for even more, check out the online marketplace Get Your Guide, where you can find and book tours offered by local operators.
Book Your Trip to Mexico: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned!
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the largest inventory. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.
If you’re looking for a place to stay, here are my favorite hostels in Mexico City as well as the best neighborhoods in which to stay.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- Safety Wing (for everyone)
- Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
- Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)
Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel — and I think it will help you too!
Want More Information on Mexico?
Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Mexico for even more planning tips!
