Why Honeymoon in Mexico City
Mexico City is ideal for couples who like a city break with real depth. You can see the excavated Aztec Templo Mayor beside the cathedral in the morning, the Museo Nacional de Antropología after lunch and a ballet folklórico performance at the Palacio de Bellas Artes at night.
The food is the other headline. Street tacos al pastor cost a dollar or two. Meanwhile the city's top restaurants, including Pujol and Quintonil, regularly appear on international best-restaurant lists. Between those extremes are hundreds of excellent seafood spots, bakeries, cantinas and mezcal bars.
It is also convenient. Nonstop flights arrive from most large US cities. From here, flights link easily to every beach destination in the country. Starting a honeymoon here and finishing it on the sand gives you a trip with two very different halves.
When to Go
The city's altitude keeps temperatures mild all year, with daytime highs mostly in the 70s Fahrenheit. The dry season runs from about November to April. March and April are the warmest months and the jacaranda trees cover the avenues in purple blossom from late winter into spring, a lovely time for walks.
The rainy season runs from about June to September. Mornings are often bright, but afternoon storms are common and can be heavy. Plan museums and long lunches for the afternoon. Air quality tends to be better in the wet months and worse in the dry winter.
December and January bring chilly nights, so pack a jacket. Day of the Dead at the start of November fills the city with altars, marigolds and a large parade. Many residents leave during Holy Week and around Christmas, which makes the city quieter but closes some restaurants.
Where to Stay
Choose your neighborhood first. It shapes the trip more than the hotel.
- Roma Norte and Condesa: tree-lined streets, parks, cafés, bars and many of the city's best casual restaurants. Small boutique hotels and design guesthouses dominate. It is the most fun base for walking couples.
- Polanco: upscale and calmer, next to Chapultepec Park and the big museums. Las Alcobas is an intimate luxury hotel on a quiet street here, with a spa and well-known restaurants nearby.
- Paseo de la Reforma: the grand boulevard between Chapultepec and the center. The Four Seasons Mexico City wraps around a garden courtyard here and suits couples who want a classic luxury hotel.
- Centro Histórico: atmospheric by day with rooftop views of the cathedral. It empties out at night, so choose it for one night at most.
Ask for a room facing an inner courtyard if you are sensitive to street noise.
Romantic Things to Do
Get up before dawn once for a hot air balloon flight over Teotihuacán, the ancient city about an hour northeast. You drift above the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon at sunrise, then explore the site on foot.
Book timed tickets online for the Museo Frida Kahlo, the Casa Azul in Coyoacán. They sell out days or weeks ahead. Afterward, walk to Coyoacán's squares for churros and coffee.
Ride a trajinera, one of the painted flat-bottomed boats, through the canals of Xochimilco. Weekends are a party with mariachi boats floating by. Weekdays are calmer.
Wander Chapultepec Park and climb to Chapultepec Castle for views down Reforma. Visit the Casa Luis Barragán by reservation if you love architecture.
In the evening, take a slow walk around Parque México in Condesa, then settle into a mezcal bar.
Getting There and Around
Mexico City International Airport (MEX) has nonstop flights from many US cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, Atlanta and Miami, among others. Flight times run from about two and a half hours from Texas to roughly four to five from New York or the West Coast. Some domestic flights use the newer Felipe Ángeles Airport (NLU) north of the city, so check which airport your connection uses.
From the airport, take an authorized taxi from the booths inside the terminal or a ride-hailing app from the designated pickup areas. Traffic can turn a 30 minute ride into an hour.
In the city, Uber, Didi and Cabify are cheap and easy. The Metro and Metrobús are fast and inexpensive but crowded at rush hour. Walking is the best way to enjoy Roma, Condesa and Coyoacán. Do not rent a car. Driving here is stressful and parking is scarce.
Food and Drink
Plan your days around meals. Start with pan dulce from a bakery or chilaquiles at a corner café. Lunch is the main meal in Mexico City and often starts after 2 p.m. Contramar in Roma is a long-running seafood favorite for a lingering lunch with tuna tostadas and grilled fish.
For a celebratory dinner, book a tasting menu at Pujol or Quintonil in Polanco. Both are hard to get, so reserve as soon as your dates are set.
At night, follow the crowds to taco stands for al pastor shaved from a spit, then end the evening in a cantina or mezcal bar. Mercado de San Juan and Mercado de Coyoacán are good for snacks and browsing.
Drink bottled or filtered water rather than tap. Restaurants and most hotels serve purified water and ice.
Honeymoon Tips
- Give yourselves a slow first day. At 7,300 feet you may feel the altitude, especially with alcohol.
- Book key reservations early: Casa Azul tickets, Teotihuacán balloon flights, Casa Luis Barragán tours and tasting menus.
- Use ride-hailing apps or authorized taxis rather than hailing cabs on the street, especially at night.
- Keep phones out of reach on the Metro and in crowded markets.
- Many museums close on Mondays. Plan your Monday for markets, parks and Xochimilco.
- Pack layers and a compact umbrella for summer afternoons and chilly winter evenings.
- Pair three or four nights here with a beach or with Oaxaca, which is about an hour's flight away.
