Five days is enough for one strong slice of Mexico, and the best pairing for a first visit is Mexico City plus Oaxaca: ancient ruins, world-class museums, markets and the country’s deepest regional cooking. This plan spends three days in the capital, a day trip to Teotihuacan on day 4, and a flight south to finish in Oaxaca. If you have a full week and want a beach at the end, use our 1 week in Mexico itinerary instead; for a slower capital-only trip see 3 days in Mexico City.
Planning a budget? Use our Mexico trip cost calculator to turn trip length and travel style into a daily and total estimate.
How the five days fit together
- Days 1-3: Mexico City (base in Roma Norte or the Centro Historico)
- Day 4: Teotihuacan in the morning, then a flight or night bus to Oaxaca
- Day 5: Oaxaca city and Monte Alban
The route works year-round, though November to April has the most settled weather in both cities. Mexico City to Oaxaca flights take about 50 minutes and start around 500 MXN if booked ahead (Volaris, VivaAerobus and Aeromexico all fly it). The ADO overnight bus takes 6-7 hours at roughly 380-480 MXN. See Mexico City to Oaxaca for the overland detail, and check fares on Aviasales.
Day 1: Mexico City historic centre
Morning. Start at the Zocalo before tour groups arrive. The Metropolitan Cathedral opens at 8:00; inside, look at the Altar of the Kings and Altar of Forgiveness. Next door, the National Palace (free, bring photo ID) holds Diego Rivera’s murals.
Late morning. Visit the Templo Mayor (about 90 MXN as of 2026), the excavated heart of Aztec Tenochtitlan, with twin temples to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc just beside the colonial blocks.
Lunch. Cafe de Tacuba (Tacuba 28), open since 1912, serves classic dishes such as enchiladas and caldo tlalpeno for around 150-250 MXN a head.
Afternoon. Walk Madero street to the Palacio de Bellas Artes. The exterior is free; seeing the murals by Orozco, Rivera, Siqueiros and Tamayo inside costs around 90 MXN.
Evening. El Cardenal (Palma 23) does traditional Mexican food well, including mole and pozole, for roughly 200-350 MXN per person.
Where to stay for days 1-3: the historic centre is walkable but loud; Roma Norte and Condesa are quieter with better cafes. Our Mexico City hotels guide, where to stay in Mexico City and Roma neighbourhood guide have vetted options, and you can compare rooms on Booking.com or dorms on Hostelworld.
Day 2: Museums and neighbourhoods
Morning. Give the National Museum of Anthropology in Chapultepec at least three hours (about 80 MXN, closed Mondays). Start with the Mexica hall, then the Maya and Olmec rooms.
Midday. Eat at the stalls along Chapultepec’s main avenue (tortas, tacos, aguas frescas at 30-80 MXN).
Afternoon. Walk through Condesa’s oval Avenida Amsterdam into Roma Norte, with galleries, bookshops and specialty coffee along Alvaro Obregon and Orizaba. See Condesa and Roma.
Evening. Contramar (Durango 200) is the city’s signature seafood restaurant; reserve ahead or arrive before opening (about 350-500 MXN). For a casual option, El Califa (Altata 22) is known for tacos al pastor from around 40 MXN each. More ideas in best restaurants in Mexico City.
Day 3: Coyoacan and Xochimilco
Morning. Take the Metro to Coyoacan. The Frida Kahlo Museum (Casa Azul) opens at 10:00, Tuesday to Sunday, at roughly 270 MXN for foreigners; book online ahead, especially in high season. Our Frida Kahlo Museum tickets guide explains how. Allow another hour for the colonial streets and craft market; see Coyoacan.
Lunch. Coyoacan market serves tostadas de tinga and tamales for 60-100 MXN.
Afternoon. Travel 20-30 minutes to Xochimilco and hire a trajinera on the old canals, around 500 MXN an hour for the whole boat. Weekends are loud and festive, weekdays calmer. Agree the price before boarding.
Evening. Polanco has the capital’s high-end dining. Quintonil (Newton 55) is among the best restaurants in Mexico, with a tasting menu around 2,000 MXN or more per person; book well ahead. For lower budgets, see our Polanco guide.
Day 4: Teotihuacan, then Oaxaca
Morning. Take a bus from the Terminal Norte (Autobuses del Norte Metro, line 5) at 7:00 or 7:30; it takes about 45 minutes and costs roughly 100 MXN. The site opens at 9:00. Walk to the Pyramid of the Moon first, then climb the Pyramid of the Sun (over 240 steps, with views across the valley). Also see the Palace of Quetzalpapalotl and the murals at Tepantitla. Entry is about 100 MXN (as of 2026). Our Teotihuacan guide has more. If you prefer a guide and transport handled, browse Mexico City tours or Teotihuacan tours.
Afternoon. Return to the city by 14:00 to catch your flight or night bus. The airport is 30-40 minutes from the centre by app taxi (about 200-280 MXN). See the Mexico City airport transfer guide.
Day 5: Oaxaca
Morning. Oaxaca’s colonial centre is walkable. Start at the Santo Domingo church (16th century), one of the richest baroque interiors in the Americas, and its museum (around 90 MXN). Early risers can reach Monte Alban, the Zapotec capital above the valley, before 9:00; buses leave from the city every 30 minutes or so (about 150 MXN return plus roughly 90 MXN entry). See the Monte Alban guide.
Lunch. The Benito Juarez market is the place for tlayudas, memelas, mole negro, tasajo and, for the brave, chapulines (grasshoppers), at 60-120 MXN. More in our Oaxaca food guide.
Afternoon. Wander Jalatlaco’s galleries and craft shops. For mezcal, small-producer tastings at the city’s bars run about 80-150 MXN a glass; see Oaxaca mezcal tours.
Evening. Casa Oaxaca (Garcia Vigil 407) cooks seasonal modern Oaxacan food for roughly 350-500 MXN a person. Stay in the centre; see Oaxaca City hotels and Oaxaca tours for day trips if you can extend.
Daily budget (excluding international flights)
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Higher-end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | 350-900 MXN | 1,800-2,500 MXN | 3,500-5,000 MXN |
| Food | 150-250 MXN | 400-700 MXN | 800-1,500 MXN |
| Local transport | 30-80 MXN | 100-250 MXN | 250-500 MXN |
| Entry fees | 80-200 MXN | 200-350 MXN | 350-600 MXN |
| Total per day | ~700-1,400 | ~2,500-3,800 | ~5,000-7,500 |
Approximate, at about 20 MXN to the US dollar in 2026; check the rate before you go. For a deeper breakdown see Mexico budget and costs.
Practical tips
- Mexico City sits at 2,240 m and Oaxaca at about 1,550 m. Drink water and go easy on alcohol on day one.
- Use ride-hailing apps or authorised airport taxis, not street cabs, in Mexico City.
- Buy a rechargeable Metro card, and set up a local SIM or an eSIM before arrival.
- Take travel insurance; see our first time in Mexico guide for the rest.
- Check opening hours with INAH at inah.gob.mx because museums change schedules, and many are closed on Mondays.
Looking for something longer? Try 10 days in Mexico or browse everything in our things to do in Mexico overview.