Mexico City Walking Tour: Aztec Ruins, Sweets & Art Highlights

4.93

(28 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing that hit me near Templo Mayor was the faint scent of copal drifting from a street vendor. Our guide, Sofía, had this way of weaving Aztec stories into the ruins—she pointed out a spot where you could still see the old stone carvings poking through the earth. It was busy but not overwhelming; you could hear the hum of city life mixing with the distant sound of church bells.

Stepping onto the Zócalo felt like entering a different world. The square’s huge—pigeons everywhere, kids chasing each other while locals leaned against the National Palace fence. Sofía explained why it’s called “Zócalo” (it means “base” or “plinth”) and how this was once the heart of Tenochtitlan. You get a clear view of the Metropolitan Cathedral from here—its shadow stretches across the plaza in the late morning. Inside, it’s cooler and smells faintly of old wood and incense. The mix of baroque and neoclassical details is wild; I never realized how many styles one building could have.

We ducked into Dulcería Celaya next—tiny shop, shelves stacked with candies wrapped in bright paper. I tried a chewy coconut sweet called cocada; honestly, I’d never tasted anything quite like it. The owner told us they’ve been making these by hand for over a century. You can hear the old wooden floor creak as you walk around.

The Centro Histórico is full of surprises. We wandered past Casa de los Azulejos—the blue-and-white tiles catch the sunlight just right around noon—and then stopped at the Palacio Postal. It still works as a post office, but inside it looks more like a golden palace than anything else. There’s always someone mailing a letter or snapping a photo of the staircase.

Palacio de Bellas Artes is hard to miss—its white marble glows even on cloudy days. Sofía pointed out the murals inside (the schedule changes, so check ahead if you want to catch a show). Just a few blocks away is the Diego Rivera Mural Museum. Standing in front of his mural, I felt like I was seeing Mexican history unfold in color—there’s so much packed into one wall, you could stare at it for ages and still find something new.