Travel center

Survey: Perceptions of Mexico City

The Government of Mexico City conducted a telephone public opinion survey in the United States and Canada in late 2009 to measure perceptions of business and leisure travelers toward the destination. Because Mexico City receives more than 2 million visitors a year from these markets, the government was interested in learning how it could enhance their travel experience and explore ways to improve its North American tourism marketing. The slide show below summarizes the findings of the research project. (Note: Click the "Toggle full screen" icon in the bottom-right corner to view the slideshow full screen).

FITA 2011

What is Fita 2011?

Mexico City will host the second annual International Tourism Fair of the Americas (Fita) from September 22-25, 2011. The fair will bring together tourism industry professionals from around the world and be the meeting point of a variety of destinations, hotels, travel agencies, airlines and enterprises focused on tourism.

Fita 2011 will feature a major exhibition area displaying the finest exponents of national and international tourism and will attract a large group of local and foreign buyers interested in learning about potential business opportunities in the tourism market.

Fita 2010 Success

The 2010 fair attracted 2,000 national and international buyers and 3,000 exhibitors. Over 25,000 business meetings were arranged between buyers and exhibitors. In total, the fair welcomed 30,000 people interested in the tourism industry.

A post-event survey found that  FITA 2010 met the expectations of 94% of attendees and 80% of the exhibitors agreed they would attend future fairs.

Why Mexico City?

As a city that receives 12 million visitors each year and offers first-class tourism attractions and services, Mexico City is the ideal place to host this international tourism fair

Mexico City boasts hundreds of museums, archeological sites, colonial architecture, shopping centers and other attractions that make it one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. Mexico City has more than 48,000 rooms available in more than 650 hotels for all tastes and budgets. It also has a wide-range of cuisine options and was declared by Forbes Magazine as one of the world’s best cities to eat well.  

For more information, visit: http://www.fitamx.com/home_eng.shtml

Shopping

The latest fashions and styles are easy to come by in Mexico City, where you will find the enormous modern shopping malls and small fashion boutiques to be among the best in the world.

Visitors can discover great value and unique gifts in apparel and clothing, home furnishings, jewelry and accessories, handicrafts, furniture and art. Mexico City shopping opportunities are sure to meet the interests of all shoppers.

Global luxury fashion, jewelry and automobile brands have established boutiques in Mexico City, catering to both the city's wealthy professional class as well as visitors.

Polanco

Head to Polanco, and you may think you are strolling Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Here is where you can find some of the most exclusive boutiques and famous designer stores lining the cosmopolitan President Masaryk Avenue. Make sure to take a break from the shopping with lunch at a picturesque sidewalk café or an upscale restaurant.

Bazar del Sabado

Enjoy the Saturday market in San Angel, a charming colonial neighborhood just south of Mexico City. Browse high-quality handicrafts, antiques and woodwork, ceramics, and textiles from hundreds of vendors.

Mercado Artesanal La Ciudadela

The Mercado Artesanal La Ciudadela is the place to find traditional Mexican crafts and the best bargains in Mexico City. The market is open every day and has more than 200 stalls for you to browse. Some stands will even ship your purchases internationally.

Centro Santa Fe

The Santa Fe Mall is one of the largest shopping complexes in Latin America. With something for everyone in the family, the mall houses department stores and an exclusive selection of high-quality shops, fine dining restaurants, movie theaters and more.

Getting Around

Mexico City, one of the world's greatest urban centers, welcomes more than 12 million visitors per year. Despite its size, it is easy to get around the city, especially with a modern subway system that links the hundreds of popular attractions.

Getting to Mexico City

Unlike a trip to Europe or beyond, Mexico City is just a few hours away. The city enjoys non-stop air service from many U.S. cities, including Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Newark, Miami, Phoenix, San Francisco and Washington D.C.

Transportation

There are many great options for getting around Mexico City. Hotels can arrange for private vehicles and taxis - an easy option since many drivers do not speak english. The city's modern subway system has 163 stations and runs late into the night. You can always get a cab — the city has over 100,000 taxis. And new dedicated traffic lanes make low-emission buses one of the faster modes of transportation. As the city expands its Green Plan, an increasing number of people get around by bike. Mayor Ebrard has encouraged bicycle use around the city with free bike loans and new and upgraded bike paths.

Neighborhoods

Mexico City is a city of neighborhoods, each with its own charm and personality. The historic center is the heart of the city and is the home of many of the city's most famous landmarks. Polanco and Condesa each have numerous hotel, restaurant, shopping and entertainment options. About ten miles to the west is the city's modern neighborhood of Santa Fe, home to multinational corporations, boutique hotels, and chic dining and nightlife. Be sure to take advantage of the unique aspects of all of these neighborhoods during your stay.

Public safety

Mexico City is a safe place to visit, and public safety is one of the highest priorities for the city's leadership. As in any large metropolitan area, visitors should take common-sense precautions to ensure their well-being. Mexico City has an experienced, well-trained police force of more than 80,000 professionals.

Mexico City is currently installing a network of 8,000 video cameras in high-traffic locations to aid in crime prevention – the first 2,100 cameras were installed in December 2009. The video surveillance system will be the most modern in the world, with each camera system containing a loudspeaker for public announcements during times of crisis, a fire alarm and a "panic button" for citizens. The video system will be integrated with the city's five command, control and communications centers, with two mobile CCC units soon to be deployed. The city's video surveillance network will represent an investment of nearly $500 million.

Mexico City's leadership has sought extensive police and security advice from officials in London, Paris, Israel and Singapore, among other cities, as is developing and implementing crime prevention programs based on some of the best practices of each of these jurisdictions.

Attractions

Mexico City is one of the world's most important centers of archeology and urban architecture, with 31 different archeological or historic sites. The city's historic center is a UNESCO-designated district, featuring many important, well-preserved Pre-Colombian archeological sites and historic colonial era buildings. The city is home to beautiful churches, authentic colonial neighborhoods, and one of the largest and most beautiful urban parks in the world. Foreign Policy magazine ranked Mexico City as one of the world's Top 10 cultural destinations.

Even as Mexico City has become a modern, cosmopolitan city, it continues to invest in its past. More than 83,000 sq. meters of the city's historic center are being renovated during 2009. As one of the largest and most unique examples of colonial architecture in the world, the city is working to improve transportation flows in the historic center, create pedestrian walkways, and support renovations in many of the magnificent buildings and public spaces located throughout the historic city center.

Historic Center

The Centro Histórico, or Historic Center, features numerous archeological sites and historic colonial buildings. The heart of the historic center is the Plaza de la Constitución, known locally as the Zócalo, one of the world’s largest urban squares. The Zócalo has been the prime gathering point for Mexico City residents over many decades, and it is bordered by the National Palace, the Aztec ruins of the Templo Mayor, the Metropolitan Cathedral (Latin America’s largest Catholic Church) and important government offices, including Mexico City’s City Hall.

Make sure to visit the National Palace, once the seat of the Mexican Government and the home of the president of Mexico. Built on the grounds of Montezuma's home, it features murals by Diego Rivera depicting Mexican history. In addition to many famous sites, the historic center also features charming cafes and restaurants, boutiques and handicraft shops, museums and churches.

Museums

Few cities in the world can rival Mexico City's collection of over 150 museums, including the National Anthropology Museum, home to the largest collection of ancient Mexican pieces in the world, and the Museum of Modern Art, which features permanent exhibitions of painters and sculptors from the modern Mexican art movement.

Chapultepec Park

Make time to visit Chapultepec Park, one of the largest city parks in the world and home to the Chapultepec Castle, the former residence of Mexican Emperor Maximilian I and Empress Carlota. The park also features the country's largest zoo, botanical gardens, lakes for paddleboat rides, an aquatic park with water slides, and miles of walkways and jogging paths. There are three museums contained in the park, including the hands-on Papalote Children's Museum with an IMAX big-screen theater.

Paseo de la Reforma

The Paseo de la Reforma is Mexico City’s major avenue. It bisects the city from east to west, and features numerous traffic circles, fountains and historic monuments, including the Independence Column, where El Ángel – the monument to Mexico’s independence –sits atop a 36–meter column. Cultural fairs and expositions are frequently organized along La Reforma’s broad sidewalks and promenades. Hotels, office towers, government buildings, banks and historic buildings are situated along La Reforma.

Nearby Attractions

To experience the Venice of Mexico City, spend an afternoon at the floating gardens of Xochimilco (pronounced so-she-MIL-co). Mariachi musicians serenade visitors as they ride colorful gondolas through city's only remaining canals.

Spend a few hours in the picturesque colonial-era neighborhood of Coyoacán, a bohemian enclave with a colorful weekend market that spills into the streets surrounding the main square of Hidalgo Plaza. Stop by the former home of artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, which is now a museum called The Blue House. Or Marxist theorist Leon Trotsky's house, also a museum.

One hour northeast of the capital sits Teotihuacan, the most-visited archeological site in the country, which dates back to 300 B.C. The Pyramid of the Sun, one of Teotihuacan's two pyramids, is the third largest pyramid in the world. No one knows who built them — by the time the Aztecs discovered them, they were already ancient ruins. Often included in this trip to the pyramids is a visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, one of the most visited churches in the world.

Two hours southeast of Mexico City is the city of Puebla, famed for its tile-embellished colonial-era buildings and its cuisine. Tlaxcala, another colonial city, and the nearby ruins of Cacaxtla (A.D. 650-900) and Xochitecatl (dating from 1000 B.C.) are also only two hours east of the capital. 

 

Entertainment, Nightlife & Recreation

Whether you are looking for a one-of-a-kind cultural experience or simply a night out on the town, Mexico City has virtually unlimited options to keep you entertained during your stay.

The Arts

Throughout the year, the city is home to numerous art exhibitions and film festivals, continuing the country's rich tradition of artistic expression. Some of those exhibitions can be found in the more than 100 art galleries that call Mexico City home.

For those more inclined toward the performing arts, the city's 30 theaters and concert venues provide a wealth of entertainment. Here visitors can expect plays, musicals, and dance, as well as every genre of music imaginable.

A world-class orchestra, the Orquesta Filarmónica de la Ciudad de México, has its own performing space in the Sala Silvestre Revueltas. Mexico City also welcomes a range of international superstars each year to its modern music venues, and traditional mariachi performances can be found across the city.

Nightlife

The young or young-at-heart can enjoy lounges and nightclubs throughout the city. For trendy cocktails and celebrity sightings, try the Polanco or Condesa neighborhoods. For the adventurous, try a night out in the Roma district.

Sports

Mexico City is an important sports center. The city hosted the 1968 Summer Olympic Games and the finals of the FIFA World Cup in 1970 and 1986. It has twice hosted the Pan American Games. Popular sports include soccer, baseball, basketball, bullfighting, and auto racing (Mexico City has hosted NASCAR and Formula 1 races). In 2005, Mexico City was the first city outside the United States to host a National Football League game, attended by 103,000 fans. It has also hosted NBA pre-season exhibition games.
 

Cuisine

Visitors are often surprised by the level of culinary sophistication to be found in Mexico City, but they shouldn't be: Forbes Magazine rated Mexico City the world's fourth-best culinary destination, behind only Paris, Rome and Tokyo. Chefs can prepare dishes from any cuisine and are no strangers to creativity.

Gastronomic Melting Pot

No matter your tastes, you will be able to find something to satiate your hunger in Mexico City. A true gastronomic melting pot, it offers a global range of both traditional and modern cuisines. Visitors can expect delicious meals, perhaps served in one of Mexico City's restored haciendas, and some of the most recognizable international names associated with quality food are available if you want something familiar.

Mexico City features cuisine from every part of the world — it has adopted not only each of Mexico's regional cuisines but the finest dishes from the United States, France, Italy, Japan, Greece, Thailand and China, to name a few. Many restaurants feature organic foods, fusion cuisines and unique interpretations of both Mexican and international dishes.

Traditional Mexican Fare

The colonial atmosphere of the downtown Historic Center is a good place to find traditional Mexican and Spanish food. Many restaurants feature food from the Mayan culture, including the Yucatecan staple "sopa de lima," which is chicken, lime and tortilla soup. If you are in a rush, you can always pick up delicious tacos on the go, a staple Mexican fast food.

Wine and Spirits

You might not commonly drink Mexican wine at home, but a trip to Mexico City could open your palate to some award-winning wineries located south of the U.S. border. For spirits, try the tequila or mezcal, which are made from the agave plant.

Hotels

Luxury hotels abound in Mexico City with all the amenities of the finest high-end resorts around the world. There are also a growing number of smaller, boutique properties characterized by their unique design and highly-personalized service.

Not only can guests expect world-class restaurants, full-service spas and breathtaking views of the Valley of Mexico, but many hotels also offer their own English-speaking tours of the city's numerous art galleries and private archeological expeditions to ancient Aztec and pre-Aztec sites. Guests can arrange for a private car with an English-speaking guide and cultural expert to take them around.

Polanco

The Polanco neighborhood, often called the Beverly Hills of Mexico, is home to many of the city's best upscale hotels, including the same international shopping luxury chains that you can find in New York, London, and Paris. Polanco is also home to chic restaurants and sweeping mansions alongside Chapultepec Park, one of the largest and most beautiful urban parks in the world.

Condesa

Consider the tree-lined Condesa neighborhood, which features Art Deco houses, cafes and boutique hotels that provide a relaxing alternative to the hustle and bustle of downtown.

Business Travel

Mexico City has an abundance of four-star and three-star hotels that have the capacity to host large business conferences and congresses. These hotels are able to provide business travelers with all the amenities needed for a large or small scale conference.