Free Walking Tours in Mexico City

Mexico City is a vibrant and diverse city that reflects not only the modern landscape, but also provides glimpses of its multifaceted history and culture. Discover remnants of architecture dating back to the Aztec empire found within walking distance of cathedrals and castles bound to capture your attention, as you join one of the many free walking tours in Mexico City.

You will find below all you need to know about free walking tours, one of the best options for sightseeing tours in Mexico City.

How do free walking tours in Mexico City work?

With a free walking tour in Mexico City, you can reserve space on a walking tour without paying any booking fee upfront. These tours rely on you to tip your guide on a “pay-as-you-wish” basis at the end of your tour.

There are free walking tours that need a minimum number of participants to operate, so it is advisable to make your booking online in advance. At the end of the tour, you will tip your guide based on your experience, so remember to bring cash with you on the day.

How much should you tip for a free walking tour in Mexico City?

You get to decide how much to tip your guide after your free walking tour. You can base your tip on your experience during the excursion. Most people choose to tip between US$10 and US$15 per person, but tips can range from anywhere between US$5 and US$50.

What are the best free walking tours in Mexico City?

There are several kinds of free walking tours in Mexico City. Many give you a good overview of the city and old historical sites. There are food tours also available, street art tours and specific neighborhoods guided visits as well.

An introduction to Mexico City walking tours

An introductory walking tour of the city will give you an oversight of the history of the Aztecs with the Spanish colonization and onward to the Mexican Republic.

The tour guide will talk about the politicians, artists and other influential people who have given identity to the city, as you visit places on and off the usual tourist routes.

You can expect to pass by the following sites:

• The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven: Construction on the cathedral started shortly after the Spanish conquest of Tenochtitlan and replaced an Aztec temple. Inspired by Spain’s Gothic architecture, the cathedral contains numerous artworks, relics and crypts.
• The National Palace: The seat of the Mexican federal executive, the palace also serves as home to the President of Mexico.
• The Templo Mayor or Main Temple: The Templo Mayor is temple for the Mexica people of Tenochtitlan, this archaeological site is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
• The Santo Domingo Plaza: This iconic square features a statue of the revolutionary Josefa de Domínguez.
• The House of Tiles: This 18th-century Baroque palace is distinguishable by its façade, which is covered by blue and white colonial Talavera tiles.
• The Palace of Arts is Mexico City’s cultural center: It hosts music, dance and theatre events and also has galleries, exhibitions and mural rooms.

Due to weather disturbances or other disruptive factors, free walking tours may change their routes, or you may not enter affected sites. However, tours will advise you about planning your visit if you want to enter at a later time.

Frida Kahlo and Coyoacán free walking tour

Learn more about artist Frida Kahlo, as you explore the neighborhood of Coyoacán where she lived. As you explore the streets surrounding the birthplace and home of this remarkable artist, your guide will describe Kahlo’s life and how her family’s political views shaped her life.

Itinerary

Your tour will commence at the Fountain of the Coyotes inside the Centenary Garden before you explore the streets and squares of the bohemian Coyoacán neighborhood.

Walk past the church St. John the Baptist, a new Hispanic-baroque building, before arriving outside of Casa Azul or The Blue House, the home of Frida Kahlo. Entry to the home, which is now a museum, is not included in the tour, but you are free to visit after the tour ends.

Time permitting, you will also see the home of Frida’s lover Leon Trotsky, where his assassination took place.

A gastronomic introduction to Mexico City

This free walking tour gives you an opportunity to sample different tacos in the neighborhoods of Roma and Condesa.

The tour teaches you the correct taco eating technique, discusses how to identify the various taco sauces and gives you the chance to sample “garnachas” – typical Mexican snacks.

While you don’t have to pay for the tour, you will need to pay for your tacos.

Itinerary

On this free tour, you will visit four taquerias and learn about the process of preparation of this traditional dish.

You and a partner will have some assistance in preparing your tacos, and you will learn more about Mexico’s culinary history.

Available tacos include vegetarian, seafood, Downtown and tacos from the north and south-eastern parts of Mexico. You can also buy traditional Mexican drinks and fresh water, as well as typical Mexican sweets.

In which languages are free walking tours in Mexico City operated?

English and Spanish are the languages in which most free walking tours in Mexico City are operated. Most of the guides are multilingual, and your tour may include tourists who are both English and Spanish speakers.

Free tours in Italian are less frequently available. The language of operation for your tour should be clearly specified in your tour description.

Where do free walking tours in Mexico City start?

Most of the free walking tours of Mexico City start in the city’s historical center. The Metropolitan Cathedral, Palace of Fine Arts, Frida Kahlo Museum, Museum of Anthropology and Alameda Park are all popular meeting points.

Guides will often wear a specific color or carry an item such as a colored umbrella to be easily recognizable.

Some tours start outside of the center of the city and usually meet close to one of the metro stations. You will be able to walk if your hotel is close enough, or you can choose to either ride the Mexico City Metrobús or use a private taxi.

How long do free walking tours in Mexico City last?

Typically, free walking excursions in Mexico City take 2.5 to 3.5 hours, although some tours are slightly shorter or longer than this. As the tours are not too long, you can easily participate in more than one tour in a day.

When is the best time to join a free walking tour in Mexico City?

If you are booking a tour to orientate yourself within the city, then it is best to take your walking tour in Mexico City at the beginning of your stay.

We recommend taking a tour in the morning when the weather is mild. Most tours take place in the late morning or early afternoon, although tours including markets may begin earlier. Tours that include evening sights might begin closer to sunset or early in the evening.

As there are several free walking tours available with different focuses, it is possible to book more than one tour.

The best time to visit Mexico City is during spring, from March to May. Although these are busy months, you may avoid the cooler winter months and rainy summer.

Should Mexico City free walking tours be booked online?

To ensure that guides can adequately plan and prepare, make an online booking for your free walking tour in advance. Booking online is especially important for tours that need a minimum number of participants to operate.

In the peak season, free walking tours in Mexico City may be booked to capacity, so it is always best to book early.

Booking free walking tours online is fast and convenient. There are no upfront payments or booking fees. You are not charged if you choose to cancel. You know your itinerary in advance and will be told if you are going to need to pay any entrance fees.