Mexico City
Why go?
Love it or loathe it, Mexico City is at once exhilarating and
overpowering. One moment the city is all music, glamour and
excitement; the next it's drabness, poverty and suffocating crowds.
There’s no denying that it’s a seething megalopolis
with serious pollution problems, and that it’s sinking every
year. But, at the same time, it’s impossible to ignore its
stunning colonial palaces, peaceful green parks and fascinating
museums. Nearly a quarter of the country's population - over 20
million people - live in the city that's the economic, political
and cultural centre of Mexico.
A city this size predictably also comes with a wide range of
entertainments, day or night. From museums, art galleries and
markets to cheap cafés and 5-star cuisine, from street
mariachis to symphony orchestras, there's something for everyone
here. This is a 24-hour city with furious traffic and an
unpredictable beat - you won't be bored but you may quickly become
exhausted!
The city's 350 colonias (neighborhoods) sprawl across the
ancient bed of Lago de Texcoco and beyond. Although the vast urban
expanse is a daunting sight from the air, the main area of interest
to visitors - the historic centre, based around the hub that is the
Zócalo - is more compact. Avenida Madero and Avenida Cinco
de Mayo link the Zócalo with the Alameda Central park. West
of the Alameda, across Paseo de la Reforma, is the Plaza de la
República - a fairly quiet, mostly residential area. Mexico
City's grandest boulevard, Paseo de la Reforma, runs across the
city's heart, connecting the Alameda to vibrant Zona Rosa and to
Polanco and the Bosque de Chapultepec.
Habita, in the affluent and cosmopolitan district of
Polanco, is a stunning base from which to explore. Alternatively,
in the trendy upcoming district of Condesa, 2 miles west of the
centre, is the very cool Condesa DF and a beautiful
family-run Art Deco mansion. In the city's business
district is sleek hotel Distrito Capital, with panoramic
city views and chic bars. Or you can stay in a stylish
suite with a rooftop terrace, an eco-conscious
guesthouse, or a candy-coloured hotel in Zona Rosa. And
if you must escape, there are several excursions that are well
worth the effort.