Greater Mexico City

Those who venture beyond the city's immediate central neighborhoods, and even beyond popular Coyoacán and San Ángel to the south, will be rewarded with the opportunity to visit some fascinating attractions, including several charming historic neighborhoods (such as Tlalpan Centro and Xochimilco, with its extensive canal network and gondolalike boats), some outstanding museums (especially on the beautiful campus of UNAM), and a selection of both inexpensive and high-end restaurants and shops.

In the north, there's the iconic Basílica de Guadalupe, a gigantic church dedicated to Mexico's patron saint, as well as the underrated Parque Bicentenario. CDMX's western mountains are also home to Mexico's first national park, the alpine-aired Desierto de los Leones as well as the futuristic edge city of Santa Fe, with its forest of contemporary skyscrapers.

Many of the top sites worth visiting are located in the south of the city, a large district of lava-covered foothills and slopes that include not just Tlalpan Centro and Xochimilco, but also a number of interesting parks, restaurants, and museums. UNAM's picturesque and culturally rich main campus was constructed in the 1950s on a particularly scenic patch of lava—now known as Ciudad Universiteria (University City)—and contains some truly superb cultural attractions and performing arts venues; the campus is one of four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the metro region. You'll also find a couple of key Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera sites in this part of the city: Museo Anahuacalli and Museo Dolores Olmedo.

How to best balance your time while exploring Greater Mexico City depends a lot on your particular interests and your tolerance for potentially dense traffic, which can be tiring whether you're the driver or a passenger in this sprawling metropolis. Most of the sites on the city's immediate periphery can be reached without too much effort by public transportation or a short Uber ride. To fully appreciate Xochimilco, give yourself at least a half-day, and perhaps consider combining that trip with nearby Tlalpan. Exploring Desierto de los Leones pairs nicely with lunch, dinner, or a movie in Santa Fe, and if you're visiting the outstanding Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo (MUAC) at UNAM, consider seeing a performance in one of the adjacent performance halls. If you're in Mexico City for at least four full days, it's well worth setting aside at least a day to embark on some of these side trips. Many travelers who do make the effort to venture farther afield discover some of their favorite attractions or meals of the trip.