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Mexico City (Spanish: Ciudad de México, locally [sjuˈða(ð) ðe ˈmexiko] ⓘ; abbr.: CDMX; Central Nahuatl: Mexihco Hueyaltepetl, Nahuatl pronunciation: [meːˈʃiʔko wejaːlˈtepeːt͡ɬ]; Maya: u noj kaajil México, Otomi: 'Monda) is the capital and largest city of Mexico, and the most populous city in North America.
- 2,240 m (7,350 ft)
- Latin America and the Caribbean
Aug 4, 2023 · Ranking of the top 16 things to do in Mexico City. Travelers favorites include #1 Museo Nacional de Antropología, #2 Bosque de Chapultepec and more.
- Overview
- Character of the city
Mexico City is the capital of Mexico and is synonymous with the country’s Federal District. The term Mexico City can also apply to the capital’s metropolitan area, which includes the Federal District but extends beyond it to the west, north, and east. It is called México in Nahuatl and Ciudad de México in Spanish.
Why was Mexico City chosen as the capital?
After Hernán Cortés defeated the Aztecs at their island-capital of Tenochtitlán in 1521, New Spain was created. The capital of New Spain, Mexico City, was built atop the razed island-capital and remained the capital after the country gained independence in 1821.
What is Mexico City’s significance?
Mexico City is one of the most important political, cultural, educational, and financial centres in North America. Mexico City’s leading position can be attributed to its origins in a rich and diverse environment, its long history as a densely populated area, and the central role that its rulers have defined throughout the ages.
Why is Mexico City sinking?
Mexico City is a metropolis of contrasts, a monument to a proud and industrious country also faced with many problems. Some observers have fixated on the city’s dangers, horrors, and tragedies—views that were reinforced by the Mexican novelist Carlos Fuentes when he called the city “the capital of underdevelopment.” In the late 20th century the writer Jonathan Kandell retorted, “To its detractors (and even to a few admirers), Mexico City is a nightmare, a monster out of control.…And it just keeps growing.” Others have acknowledged the capital’s drawbacks while holding that it is a true home to millions—a bustling mosaic of avenues, economic interests, and colonias (neighbourhoods) that are buttressed by extended family networks, reciprocity, and respect.
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39 of the Most Challenging World Capitals Across History
By itself the Federal District (the city proper) is comparable in many ways to New York City, Mumbai, and Shanghai. But the capital’s huge metropolitan population constitutes some one-fifth of Mexico’s total, representing one of the world’s most significant ratios of capital-to-national population. The country’s next largest city, Guadalajara, is only a fraction of its size. Moreover, its dense population has yielded an unparalleled concentration of power and wealth for its urban elite, though not for the denizens of its sprawling shantytowns and lower-working-class neighbourhoods.
The city’s rich heritage is palpable on the streets and in its parks, colonial-era churches, and museums. On the one hand it includes quiet neighbourhoods resembling slow-paced rural villages, while on the other it has bustling, overbuilt, cosmopolitan, heavy-traffic areas. Its inhabitants have sought to preserve the magnificence of the past, including the ruins of the main Aztec temple and the mixture of 19th-century French-style mansions and department stores that complement its graceful colonial palaces and churches.
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- What should I pack for Mexico City? Mexico City is privileged in the weather department since it enjoys a consistent temperature averaging the low 20°Cs most of the year.
- Some restaurants and museums should be booked months in advance. The Mexico City dining and bar scene is lively and includes some of the best restaurants in North America, and the world.
- How long should I stay? Plan a four- to five-day trip to have enough time to explore the city's most popular neighborhoods and attractions. If you wish to visit Teotihuacan – an archaeological site located 39km northeast of Mexico City – or Xochimilco's Cuemanco ecological area in the southern part of the city, set aside an entire morning for each activity since it can take around 1.5 hours to reach each destination coming from the central areas of the city.
- How much should I tip and when? Mexico City is a predominantly working-class city, and there is a lot of economic disparity in the service and hospitality industry.
Discover Mexico City, a high-octane megalopolis with old-school charm, intriguing museums, inspired dining and boating along ancient canals. Explore the best things to do, from the Palacio de Bellas Artes to the Templo Mayor, and get local expert advice on planning your trip.
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Mar 20, 2023 · Our top recommendations for the best things to do in Mexico City, Mexico, with pictures and travel tips. Find fun things to do, best places to visit, unusual things to do, and more for...
Oct 21, 2023 · Discover the best Mexico City has to offer, from Frida Kahlo's home to lucha libre matches, from libraries to food tours. Explore the city's history, culture, art and nature with these suggestions from Lonely Planet.
