Mexico City is huge. There’s so much to do, that like London, it’s pretty much impossible to do everything. So I like to split my bucket list items into categories, which makes it more fun! One good challenge is to find free things to do in Mexico City, as these are usually intriguing and entertaining. As a backpacker, this helps to manage money too.
Another fun thing to do is cafe-hopping, and I’ve written an article about the best and most inspiring cafes in Mexico City.
Here are 10 free things to do in Mexico City:
1. Walk around Barrio Chino
The small but vibrant Chinatown in Mexico City is well worth a visit. There are a couple of cute shops to peruse and some great photo locations. The colourful umbrellas stretching above the milling crowd are stunning.
Wander past the food stands packed with colourful baozi, or just take a seat to people-watch. There are always market stalls to look at too.
Barrio Chino is located only a few minutes away from Palacio de Bellas Artes, so it’s pretty central. From here there are a ton of places within walking distance to continue exploring.
2. Market hop
There are so many markets in Mexico City it would take a little while to visit each one! There are 317 public markets, along with over 1,000 tianguis. That’s sure to keep anyone busy.
Some of the best markets include:
- Mercado de San Juan for fresh food.
- Coyoacan for souvenirs and crafts.
- Tanguis cultural del chopo for Camden town vibes (Saturdays only).
- El Bazaar Sabado for art (Saturdays only)
- Mercado Portales 30 zona for a colourful market of food and crafts.
- Mercado de sonora for witchy vibes.
There’s such a wide range of markets that you’re sure to find one to suit you.
3. Palacio postal
In the historic centre sits the Palacio Postal. From the outside, it looks like all the other buildings around it. But inside it’s a fully-working post office with incredible architecture. Perhaps that’s its allure – at over 100 years old, it’s still being used for everyday purposes. Step straight into The Great Gatsby and marvel at the intricate goldwork.
It’s possible to wander around the ground floor but upstairs is off-limits. That’s okay though, just look up to see the delicate engineering of this building.
There’s also a small exhibit showing the postal service through the ages, and the history is interesting.
Read more about Palacio Postal here.
4. Visit museums
Another free thing that is in abundance in Mexico City is museums. There are over 150 of them. That would surely take weeks to complete! Most of them are free, but not all.
Some of the best free ones include –
Estanquillo Museum – This houses a private pop culture collection Carlos Monsivais and it’s a fantastic display of Mexico’s history. At the top, there’s a lovely rooftop terrace cafe which I write more about here.
Museum of Mexican Medicine – This deeply historical building holds a fascinating display of medicine through the ages. The wax figures are not for the squeamish though!
Ex Teresa Actual – this free museum is intriguing in more than one way. Which is often the case in Mexico City. It displays contemporary art exhibits, take a closer look. From the outside the building is slanted, and inside you can feel the slanting of the floor. That’s because it’s sinking! The lake bed and ruins underneath the building have proved to be unstable.
5. Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico
Located in Zocalo, it would be quite expensive to stay here. But to walk around the lobby is free. And a good thing it is, because it has a breathtaking Tiffany stained glass ceiling, designed by Jacques Gruber. It’s made from 20,000 glass pieces and is worth a look. The Art Nouveau style is beautiful, and a glass candelabra sparkles above the staircase as you ascend into the lobby.
Stay a while, take some pictures, and soak in the ambiance.
Read more here.
6. Mexico city metropolitan cathedral
The full name is the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven. It sits right in the middle of Zocalo square so can be busy. The site it’s built on has centuries of history and is surrounded by museums and other historical sites.
Zocalo Square is an extremely busy area, so take a step into the shaded hush of this cathedral. There’s incredibly detailed artwork here that everyone can appreciate.
The floor of this cathedral is slanted too, like the Ex Teresa Actual, as it was built over ancient ruins.
7. Metro Auditorio
Technically it may cost $5pesos to get to this metro station, but it’s free to see this exhibit.
As a Londoner who’s been away from home for a while, this was a fun thing to do! Metro Auditorio is located at the North Western corner of Bosque de Chapultepec, a good stop-off before the next item on this list.
It’s decorated to look like the London Underground, along with great art. The walk through the station is entertaining and to see how they’ve done it. It has some great photo locations too!
8. Bosque de Chapultepec
The Bosque de Chapultepec is a huge beautiful green park that is also free to wander around. The main path is lined with colourful vendors and there are some lovely places to relax your afternoon away. It would cost to see Chapultepec Castle though.
There is also a zoo within the park. The Zoo itself is free entry to walk through the winding paths and see the animals. It’s a good way to spend an afternoon.
It does cost to see the exhibits in the buildings. It’s not necessary, so it depends on if you would like to spend any money here.
9. Vasconcelos library
Biblioteca Vasconcelos is located in downtown Mexico City and is a unique structural building. It’s dedicated to philosopher José Vasconcelos, a modern contemporary building with a minimalist style.
The hundreds of shelves look like they suspend from the ceiling as you look up at them.
The quietness is comforting as you walk through the aisles.
There’s a great viewpoint on level 7 which allows you to see through to the other side of the building. It brings all of the shelves into view so you can see the full scale of this place.
Take some time to read or just bask in the cool quiet of this library.
10. Frikiplaza
I could have spent so much time in this place! Step straight into Tokyo in this multiple-story building that’s crammed full of Japanese style stalls. Squeeze down the narrow isles and marvel at all of the colourful, varied crafts they offer.
Whether you’re looking for Pokémon cards, old gaming consoles, or plushies, take the time to look at every booth.
They have a food court selling mouth-watering food, and the top floor is dedicated to gaming. They have game consoles with comfortable sofas to sit in and play for hours with friends. In the centre of this large open space is a stage and tables for performances.
It is such a fun place to spend time and I only wish I was there longer.
You don’t need to buy anything. It’s a great photo location too.
One of the best free things to do is to walk as much as possible. It’s a wonderful way to get acquainted with a new destination, and to quickly learn the layout of the city.
Add these to your bucket list (don’t have one? Read my article on how to create a bucket list).
Have fun exploring la Ciudad de Mexico!
