Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX)
Mexico City Airport was renamed Benito Juarez International Airport in 2006, after one of Mexico’s most beloved Presidents. Benito Juarez, the first indigenous President of Mexico, served five terms in the 19th century. The airport, Mexico’s largest, is just east of the Centro Historico. San Juan de Aragon Zoo, with its tropical habitat and jaguar exhibit, is directly to the north.
Centro Historico - Downtown
The Centro Historico is the cultural and retail center of Mexico City. In it you’ll find the Plaza de la Constitucion, or Zocalo, a bustling public square surrounded by historic buildings. One of these buildings is the Palacio Nacional, where murals by Diego Rivera are on display. Nearby is the excavation site of Templo Mayor, believed by the ancient Aztecs to be the center of the universe.
Industrial Area
In the northern part of Mexico City, the Industrial Area includes the municipalities of Naucalpan de Juarez and the city of Tlalnepantla de Baz. Heavily industrialized, the area also contains many retail businesses and several large, open-air markets. In pre-Columbian times, Naucalpan was knows as the kingdom of Tacuba. Today, it is the hometown of the famous Mexican rock band Café Tacuba.
Polanco
The Polanco area is a collection of seven neighborhoods bordering Mexico City’s famed Chapultepec Park. Both residential and commercial, the area hosts trendy night clubs and high-end boutiques. Chapultepec Park contains many cultural and recreational attractions, including the amazing Anthropology Museum, with the largest collection of pre-Columbian art in the Americas on display.
Roma - Condesa
The Condesa/Roma district is just south of the Centro Historico and east of Zona Rosa. Split by Insurgentes Avenue, the area is residential, with many vibrant cafes, restaurants, and bars. Once popular with movie stars, the district is now home to a mix of urban hipsters and upper-middle-class families. Architecture in the area, especially in Condesa, includes Art Deco and other modernist styles.
Santa Fe
Located in the western part of Mexico City, Santa Fe is a financial and business area consisting mostly of office towers. One of Mexico’s largest shopping mall, Centro Comercial Santa Fe, is located here, as is an upscale residential neighborhood, and a number of college campuses. Paseo de la Reforma runs from Santa Fe, through Chapultepec Park, to the city center.