Begin your day in Mexico City with a stay at the Gran Hotel de la Ciudad de México. Guests at the Gran are escorted to their rooms in one of the country’s oldest functioning elevators — a short, memorable ride. The National Palace across the street houses an even older elevator.
From the hotel you look out over the Zócalo, officially the Plaza de la Constitución and the largest plaza this side of Red Square. Historically known as the Plaza de Armas when viceroys lived in what is now the National Palace, this square sits on the site of the former Halls of Montezuma. Hernán Cortés ordered those structures removed and built the Spanish palace from the ruins. A block away, the remains of the Great Temple of the Aztecs are visible, and an adjacent museum provides context about the city’s pre-Hispanic past.
Enjoy breakfast on the hotel terrace and take in the energy of one of the oldest capitals in the Americas. Mexico City is also the largest city in the New World, with a metropolitan population exceeding 20 million. A lifetime could be spent exploring its neighborhoods, but even a single visit to the Zócalo can occupy an entire day.
Traditional customs remain alive on the Zócalo, which has long functioned as a marketplace and public gathering place. Strolling through the square reveals vendors, artisans, and street performers. Feathered dancers often perform there, moving to the sound of flutes and drums in a vivid display of living culture.
From the hotel terrace you can see the National Palace across the plaza and, to its left, the Metropolitan Cathedral. The cathedral is the largest church in Mexico and dominates the skyline. Beyond religious ceremonies like weddings and baptisms, it plays a practical civic role as well: skilled tradespeople — plumbers, carpenters, and others — wait near the gates with signs announcing their specialties, ready to be hired.
The National Palace serves as the official presidential office, though modern presidents often prefer to work elsewhere due to the city’s notorious traffic. While the presidential quarters are off-limits, much of the palace is open for visitors to explore. Above the central stairway, Diego Rivera’s murals narrate Mexico’s history in powerful, colorful scenes that are essential viewing.
For lunch, consider the rooftop terrace at the Hotel Majestic, which offers pleasant views and a relaxed atmosphere. Afterward, you can wander the narrow streets of the old vice-regal city, discovering colonial architecture, markets, and cafés, or board a double-decker tour bus for a condensed, three-hour overview of the city’s highlights.