Things to Do at Zócalo (Plaza de la Constitución)

The Zocalo hits you with scale before anything else. One of the largest public squares on earth - 240 meters per side - and on any given day it might hold a political protest, an Aztec dance circle, a military parade, or all three simultaneously. The massive Mexican flag at the center snaps in the highland wind, and the Metropolitan Cathedral sinks visibly into the soft lakebed beneath it. This is where Mexico City began as Tenochtitlan, and the ground still hasn't settled. Admission to the plaza is free and open 24 hours. The Metropolitan Cathedral (free entry) took 240 years to build, which explains why its facade mixes Baroque, Renaissance, and Neoclassical styles like a architecture student's sampler. The National Palace (free, bring ID) houses Diego Rivera's epic murals depicting Mexican history across 450 square meters - allow at least 30 minutes just for those. What most people miss: the cathedral's sagrario (side chapel) has some of the finest churrigueresque altarpieces in Mexico, and hardly anyone walks in. Best time to visit is 8:00-9:00 AM on a weekday when the flag-lowering ceremony hasn't drawn crowds yet and the morning light hits the cathedral facade. Allow two to three hours to see the plaza, cathedral interior, and National Palace murals. Only a local would know: the rooftop terrace at the Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico (enter through the lobby, take the elevator - no purchase required) gives you a bird's-eye view of the entire Zocalo for free. Is it worth it? This is the beating heart of Mexico - you can't understand the country without standing here.

Metro Zocalo (Line 2, blue) exits directly onto the plaza - the cheapest and fastest option at MXN 5. From Roma or Condesa, an Uber costs MXN 40-70 depending on traffic. Metrobus Line 4 stops at Republica de Argentina, two blocks north. The Zocalo sits at the center of the Centro Historico, so most walking tours start or end here. From the Frida Kahlo Museum in Coyoacan, take Metro Line 3 to Hidalgo, transfer to Line 2 eastbound to Zocalo - about 45 minutes total.