9 Best Mexico City Walking Tours

Searching for the best Mexico City walking tours for your trip?

We have collated the best 9 walking tours in Mexico City, including free, paid, group and private tours, as well as general and themed tours. You are sure to find something to suit you in our list of recommendations. 

We did several walking tours of Mexico City when we first moved here. They were a great way to orientate ourselves in our new home and to discover new and interesting places to visit. We learned more on our walking tours than we have ever learned from a guidebook.

Plus, joining walking tours was a great way to make local connections and pick up local tips on where to eat, what to do and where to party.

We are now part-time Mexico City residents, but we know that each tour we do will show us something new about the exciting city we choose to call home.  

Whatever your mobility, interest, age or the budget you have allocated for walking tours Mexico City has something for you. 

Best FREE Walking Tours In Mexico City

Mexico City free walking tours are ideal for visitors travelling on a budget. You can join a tour for as little or as long as you like to fit in with your schedule and pay as little or as much as you like.   

The best free walking tours Mexico City has to offer include all the principal attractions, but you can also take free themed walking tours. 

The following free Mexico City walking tours require pre-booking well in advance, and as visitor numbers are limited, the tours kindly request notifications of cancellations. 

#1 Free Walking Tour: Secrets Of Downtown

WHY BOOK THIS TOUR

This 2-hour Mexico City free walking tour is led by a knowledgeable local guide. It is best suited to people looking for a general introduction to and orientation to Mexico City. It will also give you tips on what to see during your time in the city, what souvenirs to buy and the best places to eat. 

WHAT’S INCLUDED

ITINERARY

You will meet the guide (look for the pink umbrella) outside the National Art Museum in the Centro Histórico. You will then walk to various locations around the city centre, including the Palacio de Bella Artes, as well as visit the filming locations for James Bond and Coco. 

This is a general ‘pass by’ tour, but it will help you decide where to return to at a later date. Your guide will be willing to help with tips on things to see and do, as well as help with information about getting around the city. So don’t be afraid to ask questions! 

#2 Free Street Food Tour In Mexico City

WHY BOOK THIS TOUR

If you are a foodie like us, this highly-rated free street food tour is a must-do activity. It is led by a local resident passionate about food, so you will learn where Mexians go for the best tacos and quesadillas in downtown Mexico City. 

We think it is one of the most enjoyable free walking tours Mexico City has to offer, and it is suitable for all ages. 

Note that all food on the tour costs extra, but there is no obligation to buy or try any of the food you see.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

ITINERARY

You will meet your guide outside the Palacio de Bella Artes. 

Your tour guide will lead you around the gastronomic hotspots of downtown Mexico City. You will visit two bustling local food markets: Mercado de San Juan and Mercado Independencia. You can also visit Taqueria Arandas, Pastelería Ideal, Barrio Chino, Los Especiales and Santa Clara.

For what you will see and learn in 2 hours, we think this is one of the best walking tours Mexico City has to offer – and it’s free!

Best Walking Tours In Mexico City Downtown

When thinking about where to go on a Mexico City walking tour, Centro Historico should be at the top of your must-visit list. We guarantee that you will learn much more about this fascinating area than you would be wandering around on your own with a guidebook! 

#3 TOP RATED Tour Of Downtown

WHY BOOK THIS TOUR

This comprehensive 3-hour walking tour covers all the major sights in downtown Mexico City. We like it because it has a maximum number of just nine guests, so you will be able to see and hear your guide at all times. Plus, we found the local guides to be knowledgeable and passionate about CDMX. 

The tour is affordable and allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. It is accessible by both wheelchair users and pushchairs. 

WHAT’S INCLUDED

ITINERARY

You will meet your guide (look for the green umbrella) outside the cathedral on Plaza de la Constitución.

You will make seven stops on the tour, including the Zocalo, the Catedral Metropolitana de la Ciudad de México and the Museo del Templo Mayor (dedicated to the god of rain and the god of the sun). 

The tour group will walk along Francisco I. Madero Avenue is a street where you can see both past and present-day Mexico living side by side. You will also see Torre Latinoamericana, the House of Tiles (Casa de los Azulejos) and Palacio Postal. The tour ends at the Palacio de Bellas Artes.

This tour covers lots of sights (from the outside only), and your tour guide will give you tips on places to return to and other must-sees in the city, as well as advice on places to eat and drink. 

Best Private Walking Tours Of Mexico City

If you are short on time or are someone who likes to find out a lot about new destinations, consider booking a private Mexico City walking tour. 

There are private tours to suit all interests and schedules, from general introduction tours to art or history tours. We are sure you will find the perfect walking tour Mexico City has for you in the following recommendations. 

#4 100% Personalised 3-4 Hour Long

WHY BOOK THIS TOUR

This tour can be tailored to fit your schedule, your interests and your fitness levels. If there is somewhere you want to visit, but you don’t feel confident going on your own, this is the tour for you. 

If you are in Mexico City for several days, we recommend doing this tour on your first day in the city as it will help you to get your bearings and plan the rest of your trip. 

Note that you will need to liaise with your guide in advance to determine your itinerary for the day. 

WHAT’S INCLUDED

ITINERARY

As this is a fully personalised tour, the exact itinerary depends on what you and your tour guide agree upon in advance. 

However, your tour guide will suggest several key sights on the tour. These include the  Centro Historico, the Palacio de Bellas Artes, the Coyoacán neighbourhood, and the Museo Frida Kahlo (also called The Blue House).

Note that entrance fees are not included in this tour. Plus, it is important to be realistic as, depending on the time frame you choose, you may not be able to visit all the sights suggested due to the distance involved. 

#5 Custom With Options From 3 To 8 Hours

WHY BOOK THIS TOUR

This private tour is available for half a day or a full day. Its itinerary is fully negotiable according to your interests and schedule. This tour also allows free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance. 

The tour can be either a general orientation tour or it can focus on specific areas such as the arty San Angel or Coyoacan. You could also choose a fully guided visit to the Frida Kahlo Museum or the Museo Nacional de Antropologia.

Plus, if walking isn’t an option for you, other transportation can be arranged for an additional cost. 

WHAT’S INCLUDED

ITINERARY

As previously mentioned, the tour itinerary depends on your interests and time frame. 

However, in addition to the above locations, your tour is likely to include the Zócalo, the Mercado de San Juan, Santa Maria la Ribera and Polanco, one of CDMX’s high-end designer shopping areas.

#6 Chapultepec Castle & Anthropology Museum

WHY BOOK THIS TOUR

If Mexico City walking tours don’t satisfy the history lover in you, we recommend booking this private tour of Chapultepec Castle and the Anthropology Museum. 

You will learn much more than if you visit on your own and, as it is a private tour, you will be able to ask as many questions as you like and tailor the tour to your personal interests. 

The tour allows free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance. Unfortunately, due to the terrain involved, it is not suitable for wheelchair users. 

This tour has consistent 5-star reviews, and it is on our CDMX to-do list. 

WHAT’S INCLUDED

ITINERARY

After meeting your guide outside the Museo Nacional de Antropologia, you will enter the museum together for a 2-hour tour of three of the most important rooms in the museum. These include the Teotihuacan Room, the Mexica Room and the Mayan Room. 

You will then take a break from indoors with a half-hour walk around Lago del Bosque de Chapultepec, where you will learn about the history, flora and fauna of the park.  

The next stop is a quick visit to the archaeological site Bosque de Chapultepec and the Altar a la Patria, a monument to the first invasion of Mexico by the
The U.S. 

You will then have 1.5 hours to tour Chapultepec Castle and, if time allows, the National History Museum.

Best Walking Tour In Condesa & Roma 

There are several Mexico City walking tours that offer an in-depth focus on one particular area of Mexico City. These tours allow you to visit neighbourhoods that you might not feel comfortable navigating on your own. 

We think the best way to immerse yourself in a CDMX neighbourhood truly is with a guide who lives there.

#7 Mexico City Walking Tour With A Local

WHY BOOK THIS TOUR

This 2 – 6 hour Condesa and Roma Mexico City walking tour visits two of the capital’s trendiest and hippest neighbourhoods. Your guide will be able to point out things that only a local will know. 

It is a fully customised tour, so you can choose to focus on neighbourhood art, food, history or architecture – or a combination of everything. It’s your tour, so it’s your decision! 

WHAT’S INCLUDED

ITINERARY

As previously mentioned, your itinerary is completely up to you. However, the guide can include the colourful colonial buildings and street food in Roma and the vibrant Mercado Roma. In Condesa, you can choose to stroll around Parque, Mexico, or visit some quirky art shops. 

You might add Bosque de Chapultepec and the Zócalo to your itinerary, as your guide will be happy to share their knowledge of Mexican culture and history. 

We would also recommend seeing the Ángel de la Independencia and trying as many different tacos and churros as you can! 

Best Street Art Walking Tours Mexico City

There is an abundance of high-quality street art in CDMX, so you won’t be surprised to learn that you can join a Mexico City street art walking tour. Plus, Mexico City is famous for its murals and we feel the only way to appreciate the symbolism and stories behind the murals fully is on a tour. 

These tours are a good way to quickly and easily visit the best street art and murals in the city; we think it’s a bit hit-and-miss if you try to view them on your own. 

#8 Muralist Art In 3.5 Hours

WHY BOOK THIS TOUR

This afternoon Mexico City mural walking tour lasts 3.5 hours. We like the fact it has a maximum number of 14 guests, so you can move around the city quickly and easily yet still hear your guide and get a great view of the murals. 

WHAT’S INCLUDED

ITINERARY

You will visit three locations on this tour so you have plenty of time at each location.

The first stop is the Secretaria de Educacion Publica (the Ministry of Education)

to see the first large-scale mural ever painted by Diego Rivera. The level of detail in the mural is mindblowing, and the stories and people hidden in the painting can only be fully revealed by a knowledgeable guide. 

You can also see other murals here by artists, including Roberto Montenegro, Federico Canessi, and Chávez Morado.

The second stop on the tour is Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso, where you can see murals by Jose Clemente Orozco, Diego Rivera and Jean Charlot. The most famous mural here is Rivera’s ‘La Creación.’ This 18th-century Baroque-style building used to be a Jesuit college, then a school before being transformed into the museum it is today. 

The final stop is the Palacio de Bellas Artes. This incredible building houses 17 different murals by artists, including Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros. Our personal favourite is the intricate and detailed ‘Carnival of Mexican Life’. Don’t miss it! 

#9 Mexican Muralis In 2.5 Hours

WHY BOOK THIS TOUR

This highly rated 2.5-hour walking tour is ideal for visitors who are short on time. It covers all the capital’s most important murals. 

The maximum group number is small (10), so you will get a lot of personalised attention from your guide. It also offers free cancellation 24 hours before departure. 

WHAT’S INCLUDED

ITINERARY

This whistle-stop tour starts at the Catedral Metropolitana de la Ciudad de Mexico before exploring the rest of the Zócalo. You will then see the Museo del Templo Mayor before arriving at the Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso San Ildefonso College, where you will spend 30 minutes viewing the murals. 

You will then visit the Anfiteatro Simon Bolívar before spending 40 minutes at the Secretaria de Educacion Publica. 

It is a quick tour but a good overview of the history and symbolism of murals in Mexican culture. 

Best Mexico City Walking Tours: FAQs

Are free walking tours really free?

Yes, free Mexico City walking tours really are free! The free tour concept is not solely in Mexico City. It has been around for a number of years and is found throughout Mexico and around the world. 

However, the idea behind free tours is that if a tour guide gives good value for money on the tour, then guests show their appreciation with a tip. The amount per person you pay is entirely up to you based on the quality of the tour and what you can afford.

This tip-based format encourages the tour guides not to be complacent about their job and to keep up their energy, enthusiasm and local knowledge. It also enables visitors to take a tour that otherwise they might not be able to afford. 

How much do you tip a walking tour guide in Mexico?

We suggest tipping what you think the tour is worth.  If your tour added to your knowledge, confidence and enjoyment of your trip to Mexico City, then that is worth tipping. 

Remember that giving a free tour may be the guide’s only job, or they may be supporting themselves through university. 

However, there is no pressure to give more than you can afford. We normally tip around $10 per person.

Where can I walk around in Mexico City?

It is generally considered advisable to stick to the main tourist areas if you want to walk in Mexico City.  These include Centro Historico, Coyoacán, Roma or Condesa, though it is better not to walk between the districts if you can. CDMX Uber is the best way to get between the neighbourhoods.

Wherever you walk, we always recommend following normal safety precautions: avoid walking in unlit areas, avoid walking alone at night and try not to flash cash or valuables when out and about. 

Plus, due to the crazy congested nature of Mexico City traffic, be extra careful when crossing the road and only cross in a designated spot. 

Is Mexico City safe?

This is a question we get asked all the time.

Like any capital city, Mexico City has areas that are considered safe and areas that you should definitely avoid. Most travellers have an incident-free visit to CDMX, and we wouldn’t live here part-time if we didn’t feel safe. 

However, it is a fact that there is crime in Mexico City – both petty crime and violent crime – and that Mexico City has a higher crime rate than many other capitals around the world.  

We recommend following the usual travel safety precautions, even in areas deemed to be safe. In addition, be careful on public transport or in crowds and avoid travelling around at night. 

If you are unsure where to avoid in Mexico City, we recommend asking your hotel or host for advice. From our experience, we recommend avoiding Tepito and Iztapalapa, as well as some areas of the historic centre at night.  

Always check your government’s foreign office advice before travelling for the latest updates about Mexico. Heed any warnings; they are given for a reason. Don’t forget that another danger is natural disasters, so keep an eye on the local news while staying in Mexico City. 

If you don’t feel comfortable walking around Mexico City on your own, join one of the Mexico City walking tours. You feel safer in a group, and your tour guide can also give you tips on where to go and where to avoid. 

Best Mexico City Walking Tours: Final Word

We love taking walking tours wherever we go and have enjoyed several Mexico City walking tours. We have found walking tours to be engaging, informative and useful – and we are residents! They will be even more useful for visitors. 

Walking tours – whether free, paid or group tours – are a great way to introduce yourself to the fascinating history, culture and geography of our diverse city.