Exploring Mexico City with the World Wanderers

Bella Artes cultural center. Mexico City, home to 20 million people, is a cosmopolitan international city that has something for everyone. All photos provided by the World Wanderers.

Amanda Kingsmith and Ryan Ferguson are a Canadian couple who travel full time, but they do it slowly, often staying in one place for weeks or months at a time. Over the last year, they fell in love with Mexico City and its incredible food and culture scene. Did you know that Mexico City has more than 40,000 restaurants and the second-highest number of museums after Paris?

Amanda and Ryan, who co-host the World Wanderers podcast, joined me on the Postcard Academy to talk about their location independent life and all their best travel recommendations for Mexico City. Listen to the Postcard Academy to hear their whole story. Below, you’ll find links to what we talked about on the show. (subscribe for free).

“Xochimilco is about an hour south of the city and is a number of river canals where people rent boats for a couple of hours, play music, drink and have a good time.”

Must-See Sites in Mexico City

• Palacio de Bellas Artes
  Insider tip: You’ll find the best view of this building from the coffee shop on the 9th floor of the Sears building across the street

• The Zocalo - the main square in the heart of the Historic Center of Mexico City

  • Metropolitan Cathedral

  • The National Palace

• Chapultepec Park

• Paseo de la Reforma

Xochimilco.

Must-Have Experiences in Mexico City

• Teotihuacan

• Xochimilco

• Zona Rosa

Best Museums in Mexico City

• The National Museum of Anthropology

• Frida Kahlo Museum

• Soumaya Museum

• Chapultepec Castle

Best Neighborhoods in Mexico City

• Roma Norte

• Condesa

• Polanco

Explore Mexico City

• Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour

• EcoBici

• Mobike

• Bird scooters

• Lime scooters

“Make sure you try the Kesitos Cabanna taco – you won’t regret it!” Amanda says.

Foods You Need to Try in Mexico

• Tacos

• Tamales

• Enchiladas

• Mole

• Chapulines (grasshoppers - a Oaxacan specialty)

• Cochinita pibil (a pulled pork dish from the Yucatán State)

• Flautas

• Pozole soup

• Chilaquiles

Best Restaurants in Mexico City

• Azul Restaurantes

• La Casa de Toño

Best Cocktail Bars in Mexico City

• El Palenquito

• La Clandestina

• Limantour

“Teotihuacan, or City of the Gods, is an impressive set of ancient ruins located about 40kms outside of Mexico City. It’s best known for its two big pyramids: The Pyramid of the Sun and the The Pyramid of the Moon.”

Amanda & Ryan’s Favorite Places in Mexico City

• Bakeries

  • Delirio

  • Panadería Rosetta

  • La Maison Kayser

  • La Otilia (gluten-free)

• Coffee Shop

  • Tierra Garat

• Lunch Spots

  • La Guapachosa

  • Green Grass

  • Cabanna

  • Mora Mora

  • Ojo de Agua

• Dinner Spots

  • Romelia

  • Izakaya Sushi

  • Comedor de los Milagros

• Night Out

  • Huset

  • Contramar

  • Álvaro Obregón (street to find good restaurants)

  • La Docena

  • Patrick Miller

Is it safe to visit Mexico City?

Mexico gets a lot of press for its drug wars, which are real. But Lonely Planet says Mexico City has largely been able to distance itself from that, and describes the nation’s capital as “a safe haven of sorts” for travelers.  

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If you found this article useful, please share it, and subscribe to the Postcard Academy podcast. Each week, expats and adventurers share their insider travel tips on the best food, nightlife, and cultural experiences in the most interesting places around the globe. I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel, an American who's spent the last 8 years living in, and traveling around, Europe.