something about mexico city and a busted camera strap
i don't know why i keep coming back here. it's not like i planned it. the light was doing that thing around 4pm where everything goes slightly gold and you just stand there like an idiot with a camera nobody asked for.
Quick Answers
Q: Is this place worth visiting?
A: Mexico City is absolutely worth it if you don't need hand-holding. You eat wrong, you get lost, you end up somewhere better than the place you were trying to find. Someone told me it's the best city for 'accidental discovery' and they were right.
Q: Is it expensive?
A: No. I ate lunch for like $4 USD and that included a beer. Stay in Coyoacán or San Ángel and you're looking at $25-35 a night for a decent Airbnb. A local warned me the Centro Histórico hostels are sketchy after midnight though.
Q: Who would hate it here?
A: People who need everything to be on schedule. The metro runs fine-ish but the signage is a nightmare and half the street names change depending on which block you're on.
Q: Best time to visit?
A: Right now basically. 20°C, low humidity, pressure sitting normal - the weather's just doing its thing without drama. Avoid December holidays if you hate crowds. October to April is the sweet spot.
the temperature is sitting at 20.59°C but it feels like 19.91 because of the breeze off the hills. humidity's 46% which means your film doesn't curl up in the bag and your lens fog is basically zero. i walked from Coyoacán to San Ángel in one afternoon and didn't sweat through my shirt which, for this city, is a miracle.
it smells like chlorine and fried pork
A local at a fondita in Coyoacán told me: "You want good mole? Don't go to the place with the menu in English. Walk three doors down and ask for Doña Rosa." I did. Best decision of the week.
I'm not gonna romanticize this. Mexico City is chaotic. The sidewalks are cracked, someone is always selling something from a blanket, and the traffic sounds like a headache with wheels. But that's exactly why I shoot here. You can't fake that energy in post.
*Coyoacán is where you go if you want to feel like a tourist without being a tourist. The Frida Kahlo museum is fine - I mean it's worth it, but go at 8am or you're in line until noon. I heard on Reddit that the free museum days get mobbed with school groups who have zero chill.
"I spent two weeks in CDMX and my camera bag weighed more than my laptop bag. Every block is a shot. It's exhausting and I'd do it again tomorrow." - some guy on a photography forum I can't find now
Cost-wise, you can live well here on almost nothing. A meal at a local spot runs you 60-120 MXN depending on where. That's $3.50 to $7 USD. A coffee is 25-40 MXN. I saw a dude eating the most incredible tacos al pastor out of a wheel cart and paid $1.50 for four. tacos al pastor - the thing you need to eat here, period.
Sustainability tip if you're carrying gear: the pressure is 1017 hPa, which is normal. No weird weather alerts. Your equipment is safe. The ground level pressure reads 730 hPa which is lower because of altitude - we're at roughly 2,240 meters above sea level so yeah, you'll breathe a little harder the first day.
the neighborhood nobody talks about enough
here's what I actually think about San Ángel: it's quieter, more residential, and the art scene is real without being curated-for-tourists. I found a gallery on a side street that had a one-person show and the artist was literally sitting in the corner drinking coffee. That's the vibe. No velvet ropes, no entrance fee.
Safety-wise, a taxi driver told me Coyoacán is "okay if you're not stupid" which is the most honest safety advice I've ever gotten. Stick to main roads after dark, use Uber instead of flagging cabs, and don't flash a nice camera on the metro.
> if you're shooting street stuff, the Xochimilco canals at golden hour are unreal. You get color, movement, old boats, and zero Instagram crowd if you go past 6pm.
The canals of Xochimilco are twenty minutes from the center and they feel like a different country. Someone on TripAdvisor said it's "overrated in summer but perfect in the shoulder season" and I agree - the water levels drop and it gets crowded with families in July. Right now though, it's gorgeous and empty enough to work.
I need to talk about the food because I can't not. The humidity at 46% means food stays hot longer and nothing gets soggy on the walk home. A bowl of
Someone on Yelp wrote: "I came for the museums and stayed for the food." That's the whole review. That's the whole trip.
Nearby cities worth a day trip:
final thoughts from a tired person with too many SD cards
I keep saying this city breaks you open in the best way. Not because it's perfect - the noise, the smog on certain days, the bureaucracy if you need anything official - but because it gives you more than you expect and doesn't apologize for it.
the light at 5pm over Coyoacán* is the reason I keep coming back. It's warm without being harsh. It makes everyone look like they belong in a photo even if they're just buying churros.
Five things I'd tell a friend:
- Eat where the locals eat, not where the TripAdvisor reviews say to eat
- Bring layers because the nights drop and the altitude hits different
- Get an OMNIBUS card for the metro, it's cheaper than individual rides
- Book the Frida museum online or suffer
- Walk more, metro less - the city reveals itself on foot
a hotel manager in Roma Norte told me "the secret is to stop trying to see everything" and honestly? she's right. You'll miss the thing you were looking for and find something better.
TripAdvisor Mexico City guide
Yelp Mexico City food listings
Reddit r/mexicocity
Xochimilco canal info
Mexico City public transport
You might also be interested in:
- DIY Busker’s Cold Week in Toronto: Gear, Gossip, and the Quick‑Hop‑Away Vibe
- Clinique Moisture Surge Facial Care Set 100 ml - Moisture Surge SPF25 Sheer Hydrator 50ml/Moisture Surge 100H Auto-replenishing Hydrator 50ml (EAN: 0192333258293)
- Ho Chi Minh City: Sticky Rice, Motorbikes, and a Whole Lotta Humidity
- Belgrade Extraction Log: Chasing Third-Wave Caffeine Through Concrete Alleys
- hidden costs tourists face in medina that no one warns you about