Mexico City, solo: why I stopped listening to the warnings
5 daysApril 2025Colonia Roma
I still remember when I asked for recommendations for Mexico City because it was my first time going and I knew some friends had already been. Most of them told me the same thing: be careful. Five days later, my conclusion was that you have to live it yourself before believing anyone. Mexico was country 21 of my challenge of 30 countries before turning 30.
In front of the Palacio de Bellas Artes, with the jacarandas in bloom.
Everyone warned me, nobody was right
Before traveling to Mexico City in April 2025, almost everyone I talked to told me the same thing: be careful. I arrived with that alert on, ready for the worst.
But my experience was completely different: everything normal, everything calm, everything fine from start to finish. I even spent an entire day alone, walking around the city on my own, and everything went well.
That's where you understand something: if you don't experience a place, you let yourself be carried by what people say. I'd rather live it myself so I can give a valid and more realistic opinion. That doesn't mean you should lower your guard against the insecurity that exists in any big capital in the world: you always have to find out about the area where you're staying and keep your eyes open.
Trip facts
Duration5 days
Trip dateApril 2025
Approx. temperature~26 °C by day
What I loved mostThe food
Colonia Roma, my base
I stayed in Colonia Roma, the area I chose after doing a bit of research before traveling, and it turned out to be the right decision. It's one of those neighborhoods with tree-lined streets, cafés and plenty of places to eat, and from there everything was within walking distance.
Nearby I found cafés, museums and viewpoints I could reach on foot without a problem, all within real distance from where I slept. No crossing half the city to do anything.
Bellas Artes and the purple of the jacarandas
In my cover photo the jacarandas are in bloom in front of the Palacio de Bellas Artes, with its golden dome in the background. In Mexico City they bloom in spring, roughly between March and May, and paint squares and avenues purple. If you can choose your dates, aim your trip at that season because the city looks different.
The girl at Chapultepec Castle
One of the most memorable stories of the trip happened on the day I spent alone, my last day. Chapultepec Castle sits high up in Chapultepec Forest and today houses the National Museum of History. I was in the museum section, among corridors with stained glass, when I ran into a Mexican girl who was also traveling solo.
One of the stained glass corridors at Chapultepec Castle.
We helped each other take photos, ended up chatting for a while and we've followed each other on Instagram ever since. We have a photo together from that day.
Seeing her there, alone, exploring, living exactly the same thing I was, was one of the things I enjoyed most about the trip.
Two women traveling solo and helping each other is a short interaction that stayed in my memory.
The food, separately
The thing I enjoyed most during this trip was definitely the food, no discussion, because it was spectacular. It's one of those cities where eating well happens almost without looking for it. Take the time to sit down, order without rushing and try what you don't know.
At the Tequila and Mezcal Museum.
My tips if you're going solo
01
Choose the area before the accommodation. I did my research and stayed in Colonia Roma; that decision organized the whole trip.
02
Look into what's near your accommodation. Knowing how far everything is saves you time and doubts in the moment.
03
Live it before believing anyone. Listen to the warnings, but form your own opinion from what you see in person.
04
Save a day to go at your own pace. My last day was solo at Chapultepec, and that's where I lived one of the most memorable stories.
What I take away from Mexico City
If I take anything from these five days, it's exactly that: the city wasn't what they warned me about, it was what I lived myself. And that's still my rule for any new destination.
Travel map
Going to Mexico City solo?
I'm leaving you the same map I used to get around Colonia Roma, Bellas Artes and Chapultepec Castle, with the cafés and viewpoints I found along the way. Arrive with the route sorted out, without depending on what anyone else tells you.
In my experience, yes: I spent an entire day alone and everything went well. As in any big capital, it's a good idea to find out about the area where you're staying and use common sense.
Which area is best to stay in Mexico City?
I stayed in Colonia Roma. From there I could walk to cafés, museums and viewpoints at a real distance from where I slept.
How many days do I need in Mexico City?
My itinerary is 5 days and includes Bellas Artes, Chapultepec Castle and the cafés, museums and viewpoints near Colonia Roma.
When do the jacarandas bloom in Mexico City?
In spring, roughly between March and May. That's when squares and avenues look purple, as in the cover photo.
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