A city with high viewpoints, colonial courtyards, a lake full of decorated boats and mariachi available by the hour offers more options than most. These ten are chosen for the setting rather than the price.
With a view. The Torre Latinoamericana and the Mirador of the Monumento a la Revolución both look out over the whole valley; Chapultepec Castle, on its hill above the forest, is the romantic one and the one that needs no explaining.
With atmosphere. A trajinera in Xochimilco, hired by the hour with a mariachi boat alongside. The lava gardens of the Espacio Escultórico. A serenade at Plaza Garibaldi, where mariachis have gathered since the 1920s. Or dinner with a view and a show, which is a format this city still does well.
Worth knowing. Trajineras are hired by the boat and by the hour, not per person, and mariachi is negotiated per song — agree the price before they start playing. The best light for a viewpoint is the hour before sunset. Book restaurants ahead, and on a Sunday expect Xochimilco to be busy and loud rather than intimate: a weekday morning from the Cuemanco landing is the quiet version.
