080 Entertaining Things to Do in Mexico City with Kids

Are you looking for a family vacation option that is closer to home? Mexico City is a family-friendly destination that is easy to get to from the USA, has a great arts scene, lots of culture, amazing food, and great historical sites to explore! Sarah Wilson from The Wandering Rumpus joins Lisa to share her family’s vacation experience in Mexico City with excellent insights into where you should stay and what you can see and do in this fabulous Mexican city.

Join us to learn about pyramids, canals, food, murals, and neighborhoods you won’t want to miss on a visit to Mexico City.

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“The colorful and bright art scene in Mexico City is amazing. ”

— Sarah Wilson

Where to Stay

If you are looking for a quaint neighborhood, Sarah suggests renting an Airbnb in the Roma Norte or La Condesa neighborhoods in Mexico City. Staying in an Airbnb allows you have to a kitchen plus extra space for everyone to spread out.

(You can use this link to save $40 on your first stay with Airbnb!)

What to Eat

One of the great things about food in Mexico City is that many of the foods are familiar to kids which is great if you have a picky eater. You can find quesadillas and bean burritos almost anywhere. There are also many great spices and flavors for the more adventurous eaters.

Be sure to check out La Gruta if you are up for eating in a cave and trying fried ants!

Don’t forget about the churros. These freshly fried donuts rolled in cinnamon and sugar and then served with dipping sauces should not be skipped. Sarah recommends visiting el Moro which has several locations around the city.

Sarah shares five of her family’s favorite Mexico City food favorites in this article.

Things to Explore

The art scene. Mexico City is filled with art museums so pick one (or more!) that sounds interesting to your family. Don’t miss all of the brightly colored murals along the streets. Consider spending an afternoon walking around town and seeking out murals. They will make a great backdrop to your pictures while you admire the talent of others.
Playgrounds & Open Spaces. Mexico City is full of playgrounds so be sure to plan in some time to stop and enjoy them during your visit.
Teotihuacan Pyramids. Plan on visiting this ancient ruin site about an hour north of the city. As of now, you are allowed to climb to the top of the pyramids which is unique since many ruin sites make you keep off. Sarah used ShoreTrips for an excursion out to the pyramids which is a great option since it’s an hour north of the city and they provide transportation.
Xochimilco Canals. Be sure to plan a half-day to spend time floating along these unique canals. You can do this as part of an excursion or you could do it on your own. Sarah recommends having someone negotiate a price for the boats before you arrive. If you aren’t doing a planned excursion, you could ask a hotel concierge to help you. You float along in your boat while other boats cruise by you with different vendors (jewelry, food) plus musicians. You may want to pack a lunch and then supplement food with what looks good on the boats.

Getting Around

You can definitely rent a car at the airport when you arrive. This is what Sarah’s family did when they visted Mexico City. She said that she probably wouldn’t rent a car next time because parking was a bit of a hassle and she thinks it would be easier to combine some public transportation along with rides from tours or hiring a private driver.

Ward and I got to visit Mexico City about 10 years ago and we hired a driver anytime we wanted to go somewhere.

What do you think? Are you putting Mexico City on your travel bucket list? I hope so!

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