Mexico City is one of the largest capital cities in the world. This dynamic metropolis gets under your skin thanks to the blend of history and heritage with the cutting-edge contemporary. With its huge variety of museums, monuments, traditional neighbourhoods, historical buildings and cultural centres, you will never get bored!

• Day of the Dead Parade: This year the city will host the third official Day of the Dead Parade. This extraordinary procession demonstrates an avant-garde and innovative face of Mexico whilst at the same time acknowledging its rich ancestral history. This Mexican tradition is told through many elaborately themed floats, giant puppets, musical groups and other exciting elements. The parade will take place on Saturday, October 27 on Reforma, one of the city’s main avenues.

• Alebrijes Festival: The alebrijes figures, featuring in our opening ceremony, are a key element at the heart of Mexican cultural heritage. In 2007, the Popular Arts Museum started this exhibit of fantastic animals, for which it invites hundreds of artisans around the country to participate. This year a parade will be held on October 20 after which, the best alebrijes will be exhibited on Paseo de la Reforma until November 4th. Make sure to witness it for yourself before you leave!

• Traditional markets: From busy Aztec-era trading bazaars (called “tianguis”) to modern-day, mixed-use food halls, the city’s markets come in all shapes and sizes and are filled with everything from produce to antiques. As mundane as they are for locals — who still seek out mercados for their weekly grocery shopping — for travelers, they’re a riot of commerce, color, sound, smell, and, of course, taste. We recommend you visit “gourmet cathedral” – San Juan’s food market, arts and crafts market of La Ciudadela or the city’s main supplies storage, Central de Abastos.

• Zócalo Square: Zócalo is the popular name by which the main square in downtown Mexico City is known. Prior to the colonial period it was the main ceremonial centre in the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. Today, however, it is the stage for several public events that take place in Mexico City, from political rallies to world-class concerts. It takes up a whole city block and is amongst the largest squares in the world.

• Chapultepec Park: Bosque de Chapultepec is Mexico City’s largest lake and one of the most picturesque places to visit. It is divided into three sections and, at the top of Chapultepec Hill, you’ll find the Chapultepec Castle. Today Chapultepec Castle is the National History Museum, however from it you will find breathtaking panoramic views overlooking Mexico City. More attractions located within the first section of Chapultepec Park include the Chapultepec Zoo, Botanical Gardens and several interesting museums such as the Modern Art Museum, Tamayo Museum and National Museum of Anthropology.

• Xochimilco: Situated on the city’s far south side, the famed “floating gardens of Xochimilco” offer an unforgettable, tourist experience aboard colourful gondolas (rentals include the oarsman) that cruise beside other boats sporting mariachi bands, family celebrations, dancing revellers, food, souvenirs, cervezas galore, etc. If you’ve a few hours to spare, ask your skipper to take you to the gardens’ rural part — a verdant break from the madding crowd — and its creepy, hard-to-forget “Doll Island.”

• The Angel of Independence Monument: This monument stands as a tribute to the heroes of the Mexican War of Independence from Spain. The 36 metre column is made up of steel enclosed with quarried stones, highlighted with garlands and rings with the names of Independence figures. It also contains a two-hundred step staircase which leads to the standpoint area. It is known for being the meeting point where moments of national impact must be celebrated.

• Teotihuacán: Roughly an hour north of Mexico City, the ruins of this ancient, pre-colonial city have not lost their magnificence or their emotional power. The centrepieces are the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, which visitors climb to commune with the cosmos as they take in breathtaking views. Be sure not to miss the Temple of Quetzalcóatl, featuring portrayals of its namesake deity carved right onto the façade. To get the most from your visit, consider hiring an English-speaking guide.

• Our Lady of Guadalupe’s Church: Lady of Guadalupe is a symbol of Mexican culture. She is the most adored religious figure in the country, even being respected and adored by members of non-Catholic creeds. The new Basilica has a circular floorplan so that the image of the Virgin can be seen from any point within the building. Its relevance is considerable given the majority of catholic population in the country.

• Metropolitan Cathedral: Mexico City’s cathedral, is located north of the Zócalo. Over centuries it has gone through several construction phases. The variety of architectural and artistic styles combine to create a fascinating testament to the passage of time. The cathedral is also replete with colonial religious art and beautiful gilded altarpieces.

• Lucha Libre: Mexico’s answer to professional wrestling (and kabuki theatre), featuring histrionic, wildly costumed heroes and villains, is raucous good fun (especially for kids). Try a match on Friday nights at Arena México where a mixed crowd of raffish locals, out-of-towners and slumming hipsters gathers to take in body slams, flying leaps and giant-sized brewskis. Politically incorrect and a complete hoot.

• Nightlife: Mexico City’s diversity does not exclude its nightlife and, although it isn’t the “official” city that never sleeps, it really doesn’t. Locals and visitors can find an option to F1^®ESTA any day of the week all over CDMX. From super glamourous night clubs with a unique interior design or great views of the city – in Polanco or Juárez, to latin music hot spots in antique houses where you can dance to the rhythm of rumba or salsa – in Condesa or Roma, Mexico City has a never-ending entertainment offer that will definitely adjust to any taste or preferences!