Mexico City, the oldest metropolis on the American continent, is perched atop a highland valley at about 7,392 feet above sea level. Towering high above the city’s southeast side are two volcanoes: Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl. The nation’s capital has some of the best weather in the world with an average temperature of 72º F.

Once known as the City of Palaces, Mexico City has two areas that were declared World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO. The first, the Centro Historico (Historic Center), has beautiful historic and religious buildings, such as the Catedral Metropolitana (Metropolitan Cathedral), one of the most important architectural structures in the Western Hemisphere. The Palacio Nacional (National Palace) has spectacular Diego Rivera murals that chronicle Mexico’s history. And Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts), which hosts the city’s most important cultural events, is a beautiful construction that blends art nouveau and art deco styles. The other World Heritage Site, Xochimilco Ecological Park, is often called the Venice of Mexico due to its beautiful canals. Flower-painted boats offer tours of the canals and floating gardens.

If you’re interested in cultural events, Mexico City offers a wide variety of museums, such as the Museo Nacional de Antropologia (a world-class anthropology museum), the Museo Nacional de Arte (The National Art Museum) and the Museo Nacional de Historia, a history museum in Chapultepec Castle where you can see an amazing exhibit that chronicles the nation’s history and art, from the pre-Hispanic era to present day.

In north Mexico City, you can visit the Basilica de Guadalupe, one of the most visited basilicas in the world; in fact, it is second only to Saint Peter’s Basilica, in Vatican City, in the number of visitors it receives each year. This is a must-see for those who want to learn more about the city’s customs and traditions.

What’s more, Mexico City is a cosmopolitan metropolis, where new and old traditions coexist side by side. Here you can go shopping at bazaars and crafts markets in the Coyoacan and San Angel neighborhoods. Or you can go to exclusive boutiques and shopping centers in the posh communities of Santa Fe and Polanco, where you’ll be surrounded by the comfort of top-notch hotels and restaurants.

W Mexico City Special Offers

The enormous amount of interesting activities that take place in Mexico City will give you the opportunity to be part of traditional parties, shows and sports events.

February:  International Contemporary Film Festival of Mexico City Hosted by Cinemex, the Mexico City International Contemporary Film Festival is a ten-day showcase featuring 150 international pictures, among them winners at the Venice, Berlin and Cannes film festivals.

Between March and April: Holy Week Beginning with Palm Sunday and ending with Easter Sunday, the week's religious celebrations include reenactments of the events leading up to Christ's crucifixion.

April: Xochimilco Festival Held annually two weeks before Easter, this four-day event dates back to pre-colonial times when Mexicans honored the goddess of flowers (Xochipilli) and the goddess of dance (Maculxochitl) to ensure good harvests. Every year, a young woman is crowned La Flor Mas Bella del Ejido (the most beautiful flower of the land) who presides over colorful parades on flower-decorated barges along Xochimilco's famed canals.

April: Annual Mexico City Festival Regarded as one of Latin America’s most vibrant celebrations of art and culture, this two-week festival features diverse events including opera, concerts, theater, art exhibits, dance productions and gourmet fare. More than a million local and international spectators will flock to Mexico City for the festival, and proceeds go toward the rescue and restoration of the art and architecture of Mexico City’s historic downtown area.

September 16th: Mexican Independence Day Mexico celebrates its declaration of independence from Spain in 1810. The night of September 15, marks "El Grito," a dramatic reenactment of revolutionary Father Hidalgo's call for his fellow Mexicans to join the uprising, which takes place at city halls across the country. On September 16, military parades are held in almost every Mexican city.

December 12th: Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe The most important holiday in Mexico in which millions of pilgrims converge on the Mexico City Basilica of the country’s patron saint to pay tribute. The square in front of the Basilica is a stage for singing, dancing and celebration.