Good to Know

Best time to visit:
December to April.

Flight duration:
From Vienna to Mexico City 15 hours with a stopover in Munich.

Covid-19 measures:
Currently, no official 3G proof is required for entry, but some airlines do require it.

Etiquette:
If a Mexican avoids eye contact and looks in another direction when bumping into you, this is not an insult, but a sign of respect.

Don't miss it:
The cenotes (karst caves) in Yucatán, with their wonderfully clear water and mystical cave atmosphere, attract divers and adventurers from all over the world.

Bienvenido a México! The colors, the life, the culture - the "Casa Cuixmala" on the Pacific coast is a good example of Mexican lifestyle. ©Davis Gerber

"Wow!" Mexico City is huge - the metropolis has about nine million inhabitants. But little by little, you also discover the chillier corners: You can stroll through the historic old town, past the elegant stores and the small restaurants under the arcades. At some point, you will arrive at the Plaza de la Constitución, the lively center with its huge cathedral.

Just around the corner is the Museo del Templo Mayor, a former Aztec temple complex; fascinating but creepy, with a wall of skulls telling of human sacrifice. To deepen your historical knowledge, take a trip to the magical ruined city of Teotihuacán. The view from the Pyramid of the Sun is breathtaking - also because you quickly run out of breath on the ascent (be sure to take plenty of water!).

If you want to take a more relaxed approach, head to the Yucatán Peninsula first, famous for its long sandy beaches with turquoise-blue water. Tulum instead of Dubai: during the pandemic, this picturesque corner of Mexico established itself as an influencer hotspot. To party around the clock, you can find like-minded people here. But it would be a shame to leave this paradise to only young revellers. The five-star hotel density is high, so places to retreat are also provided. Why you should definitely come here, however, is not only the Caribbean feeling, but also the Mayan ruined city of Chichén Itzá, which is considered one of the seven wonders of the world.

©Illustration: Blagovesta Bakarjieva by carolineseidler.com

The highlight is the Kukulcán Pyramid, with its stone serpents that are illuminated at sunset two days a year as if they were winding down the steps. Also a World Heritage Site is the small town of San Miguel de Allende in the state of Guanajuato, where Spanish and pre-Columbian architecture intermingle. Many wealthy Mexicans have a weekend retreat here, and the density of first-class restaurants is correspondingly high. Before heading back home, the beach of Riviera Nayarit is the best destination to indulge yourself once again. On the private peninsula of Punta Mita, the weather is summer all year round and the sunsets are spectacular. Viva México! 

Related: Best of Mexico - The best hotels, restaurants and souvenirs 

©Unsplash

Text: Karin Cerny, Marion Genetti and Christina Horn