Mexico City

Rise early to climb the Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon at the ancient city of Teotihuacan, 50 km north-east — arriving at dawn beats the crowds and the midday heat.

~$30

The world's finest collection of Mesoamerican archaeology, housing the Aztec Sun Stone, extraordinary Maya stele, and artefacts from every pre-Columbian civilisation in Mexico.

~$5

Tour the cobalt-blue house in Coyoacán where Frida Kahlo was born, lived, and died — her personal belongings, studio, and garden are preserved exactly as she left them.

~$12

Pole through the UNESCO-listed canal network on a colourfully painted trajinera boat, passing floating gardens, mariachi boats, and vendors selling corn and mezcal.

~$35

Sample Mexico City's signature street taco from El Huequito and El Tizoncito in the Centro and Roma — the trompo (vertical spit) loaded with pork and pineapple is the city's edible icon.

~$12

Marvel at the art nouveau and art deco exterior before entering to see Diego Rivera's magnificent murals and catch a performance by the Ballet Folklórico de México.

~$4

Plunge into one of the largest traditional markets in the Americas — sprawling across multiple covered halls packed with chiles, tropical fruits, prepared food stalls, and piñata makers.

~$10

Watch masked wrestlers stage acrobatic bouts at the "Cathedral of Lucha Libre" — a theatrical spectacle combining sport, comedy, and Mexican folk tradition under one raucous roof.

~$20

Explore the vast urban park that contains two museums, a zoo, and Chapultepec Castle — a 19th-century imperial palace with stunning valley views and the National History Museum inside.

~$3

Join a guided mezcal tasting at La Clandestina or La Botica, learning to distinguish between espadín, tobalá, and tepextate expressions from different Oaxacan producers.

~$30