Places to Visit in Mexico City Region (Valley of Mexico)

The Mexico City region occupies the Valley of Mexico, a closed highland basin at about 2,240 metres above sea level, ringed by mountains and by the volcanoes Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl, which are visible from the city on clear mornings after rain. The Mexica built Tenochtitlan on an island in Lake Texcoco, and the Spanish drained most of the lake system after the 1521 conquest, leaving the soft clay lakebed that still makes buildings sink unevenly and amplifies earthquake shaking. Mexico City is a federal entity of 16 boroughs (alcaldías) surrounded by the State of Mexico, and day trips reach Teotihuacan to the northeast, Puebla and Cholula to the east, and Tepoztlán and Cuernavaca to the south.

The climate is mild because of the altitude, with cool nights from December to February, warm dry days in March to May, and a rainy season from about June to October marked by short afternoon downpours. The most comfortable months for sightseeing run from February to May and from October to November, with Día de Muertos in late October and early November as a major draw. Altitude can cause headaches and fatigue in the first day or two, so pace the first itinerary and drink plenty of water.