Mexico City
Mexico City Birthday Trip: My 9-Day Itinerary
So boom, Mexico City was my birthday trip (I went from end of April to May), and this city really gave me a little bit of everything. Food, culture, architecture, history, day trips, and some experiences I genuinely did not expect to love as much as I did.
I put together my full itinerary so you can steal it, remix it, and make it your own.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you book through them, at no additional cost to you. I only share experiences I’ve actually done and would recommend.
Watch the Trip
Want to see the trip before you steal the itinerary? Watch the Mexico City vlog below.
Trip Snapshot
Where: Mexico City, Mexico
Neighborhood: Condesa
When we went: April 28 to May 7
Trip style: Birthday trip
Airport: Mexico City International Airport
Best for: Food, culture, architecture, museums, and really good day trips
Day 1 | Arrival + Condesa
We arrived in Mexico City, got settled in, and kept the first day pretty easy.
We stayed in Condesa, which ended up being a really good location for the trip because there was plenty around us while still making it easy to explore other parts of the city.
That evening, we went to Café Toscano for dinner. They had a happy hour starting around 6 PM with discounted drinks and food, so it was an easy way to kick off the trip without doing too much on arrival day.
Day 2 | Birthday + Art + Skyline Dinner
This was my actual birthday.
We started the day exploring the city and visited the National Museum of Art, which was a great way to get some culture and history into the trip without making the whole day feel overly structured.
That evening, we had birthday dinner at Ling Ling.
The views alone make this place worth considering. You get these huge panoramic views of Mexico City while you eat, so it definitely feels like a birthday or special-occasion dinner.
💡 SHANE’S TIP
If you’re celebrating something in Mexico City, I’d definitely book one dinner somewhere with a view. The city is massive, and seeing it lit up from above really puts into perspective just how big Mexico City actually is.
Day 3 | Grutas de Tolantongo
This was easily one of my favorite parts of the entire trip.
Grutas de Tolantongo is a full-day experience outside Mexico City with turquoise thermal pools, caves, mountain views, and a completely different feel from being in the city.
It’s a long day, but for me, it was absolutely worth it.
💡 SHANE’S TIP
This is not a quick little day trip. Be ready for an early start and a long ride. Bring water shoes, a change of clothes, and only carry what you actually need.
BOOK A GRUTAS DE TOLANTONGO EXPERIENCE →
Day 4 | Basilica, History + Teotihuacán
This was another full tour day, and I liked that it was more than just going straight to the pyramids.
We started at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, where we saw the original image associated with Our Lady of Guadalupe and learned more about its history and significance.
We also stopped at Tlatelolco and learned about the history of the area, including the 1968 student massacre.
From there, the tour included a tequila tasting before heading to the final stop: Teotihuacán.
We walked the Avenue of the Dead, explored the archaeological site, and spent a good amount of time taking everything in.
The grounds are bigger than they look, so this is not one of those places I’d try to rush through.
💡 SHANE’S TIP
Wear comfortable shoes and give yourself enough time. There’s a lot of walking, and the site is much bigger in person than it looks online.
BOOK A TEOTIHUACÁN EXPERIENCE →
Day 5 | Brunch, Biblioteca + Bazaar Sábado
We started the morning with brunch at Qué Sería de Mí.
From there, we spent time exploring and visited a library before heading to Bazaar Sábado, an arts and crafts market that ended up being one of my favorite shopping stops of the trip.
There were tons of local artists, handmade pieces, and art throughout the market. I ended up buying paintings here, so if you like bringing home something unique from your travels, this is definitely worth checking out.
That evening, we went to Cabuya Rooftop for dinner and drinks.
💡 SHANE’S TIP
If you like buying art or something that feels more personal than a souvenir, leave some room in your luggage before you go to Bazaar Sábado. I definitely did not leave empty-handed.
Day 6 | Lunch + Pizza Night
We had lunch at Cambalache.
One of the coolest things about the restaurant is the waterfall right outside, which gives the whole space a really nice atmosphere before you even get to the food.
That night, we kept things more casual and had dinner at Balboa Pizzeria.
💡 SHANE’S TIP
At Cambalache, get the frozen tamarindo margarita. That is the recommendation.
Day 7 | Brunch, Museo Soumaya + Luxury Shopping
This was one of our more relaxed city days.
We went back to Qué Sería de Mí for brunch, then visited Museo Soumaya.
Even if you’re not someone who normally builds museums into every trip, the building itself is worth seeing. The architecture is one of the most recognizable parts of the area.
After that, we went to El Palacio de Hierro, one of the most luxurious department stores and shopping destinations in Mexico City.
This was basically a walk-around, explore-the-city, see-where-the-day-takes-you kind of day.
Day 8 | Frida Kahlo + Tacos + Historic Center
We visited the Frida Kahlo Museum, also known as Casa Azul.
It’s not a huge museum, but if you’re interested in art, Frida Kahlo, or Mexican culture, it’s absolutely worth seeing while you’re in the city.
Later, we went to Taquería El Califa de León, the Michelin-starred taco spot.
And yes, the tacos were actually good.
We also spent time exploring the historic center near the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, which gave us a completely different feel from neighborhoods like Condesa.
💡 SHANE’S TIP
Book your Frida Kahlo Museum tickets in advance. This is not one of those places where I’d wait until the day of and hope there’s availability.
BOOK A FRIDA KAHLO EXPERIENCE →
Day 9 | Café Nin + Departure
We had brunch at Café Nin before heading to the airport.
Once we got there, we hung out in the VIP lounge before our flight home.
Simple ending to a very full trip.
Getting Around
We had a rental car, but we also used Uber and walked depending on where we were going.
For shorter trips around the city, Uber was easy. We walked a lot in neighborhoods where things were relatively close together, and having the car gave us more flexibility when we needed it.
💡 SHANE’S TIP
I wouldn’t rent a car just because you think you need one to experience Mexico City. Between Uber, walking, and organized tours, you can do a lot without driving yourself. For our trip, having the car was more about flexibility than necessity.
Would I Do This Trip Again?
Absolutely.
Mexico City gave me the mix I want from a trip. There was plenty to do in the city itself, but some of my favorite experiences came from getting outside of it too.
Between the food, culture, architecture, art, Teotihuacán, and Grutas de Tolantongo, this was one of those trips where every few days felt completely different.
I’d absolutely go back.
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