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Sandos Cancun All Inclusive - Adults Only, Mexico

Things to do guide

The best things to do in Mexico

Updated 1 October 2026 · 14 things to do

Pictured: Sandos Cancun All Inclusive - Adults Only

Mexico isn't one holiday but a dozen. There's the Caribbean coast with its white sand and cenotes; the capital, a vast, brilliant city of museums, murals and street food; the colonial heartlands of Oaxaca and Puebla; and the Pacific and Baja coasts, where desert meets ocean. Pick one or two and you'll barely scratch the surface.

What ties it all together is history. Long before the Spanish arrived, the Maya, the Zapotecs and the people of Teotihuacán built cities that still take the breath away, and you can walk through them in the morning and be back on a beach by lunch. Then there's the food: if you do one thing here, eat well.

Don't miss

  1. 1Chichén Itzá
  2. 2Teotihuacán
  3. 3Tulum
  4. 4Museo Nacional de Antropología
  5. 5Cenotes of the Yucatán

Ancient Mexico

The great cities of the Maya, Zapotecs and the people of Teotihuacán.

  1. Chichén Itzá

    Landmark

    El Castillo, the pyramid of Kukulcán at Chichén Itzá
    Photo: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The great Maya city of the Yucatán, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Its centrepiece is El Castillo, the stepped pyramid of Kukulcán, famous for the serpent of shadow that slithers down its steps at the equinoxes, alongside a huge ball court, the Temple of the Warriors and an observatory.

    It's a day trip from Cancún or the Riviera Maya, and a long one. Go with a guide who can explain what you're looking at.

    Tip: Arrive when the site opens, before the heat and the tour coaches. You can no longer climb the pyramid.

  2. Tulum

    Landmark

    The Maya ruins of Tulum above the Caribbean beach
    Photo: Erik Cleves Kristensen, CC BY 2.0

    Maya ruins don't come with a better setting than this: a walled city perched on a cliff above a turquoise Caribbean sea. The buildings are modest compared with Chichén Itzá, but the views are superb, and there's a small beach at the bottom where you can swim.

    Tip: Go first thing, when it is cooler and quieter. Bring a hat, water and swimwear.

  3. Teotihuacán

    Day trip

    The Avenue of the Dead at Teotihuacán with the Pyramid of the Moon behind
    Photo: MIKHEIL, CC BY-SA 4.0

    North-east of Mexico City, the ruins of a huge ancient city spread out along the Avenue of the Dead, dominated by the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon. The city flourished long before the Aztecs, who gave it the name that means "the place where the gods were created". The scale of it's astonishing.

    Tip: Start early. There is little shade and the site is big.

  4. Monte Albán

    Day trip

    The ruins of Monte Albán above Oaxaca
    Photo: WendyAvilesR, CC BY 4.0

    The hilltop capital of the Zapotecs, on a levelled mountain top above the city of Oaxaca, with grand plazas, platforms and tombs and views across three valleys. It's a good day trip from Oaxaca, and far quieter than the big Maya sites.

Beaches, cenotes and islands

  1. Cenotes of the Yucatán

    Nature

    Cenote Ik Kil, an open sinkhole pool in the Yucatán
    Photo: Shinya Suzuki, CC BY 2.0

    The limestone of the Yucatán Peninsula is riddled with cenotes: natural sinkholes filled with clear, cool fresh water. Some are open pools ringed by jungle, others are caves lit by shafts of daylight. Swimming in one is unforgettable, and the sacred pools were important to the Maya.

    Tip: Rinse off sun cream before you get in. Some cenotes ask visitors to shower first and use biodegradable products.

  2. Isla Mujeres

    Day trip

    A small island a short ferry ride from Cancún, with calm shallow beaches, golf-cart tours and an easy, unhurried feel. Playa Norte is the beach to head for, with warm clear water and a handful of beach bars.

  3. El Arco

    Landmark

    The rock arch of El Arco at Cabo San Lucas
    Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

    At the tip of the Baja California peninsula, Cabo San Lucas ends in a dramatic rock arch where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez. You reach it by boat from the marina, and a trip also takes you past sea lion colonies and sheltered beaches.

Mexico City

One of the world's great capitals, and the best city break in the country.

  1. Museo Nacional de Antropología

    Museum

    The exterior of the Museo Nacional de Antropología in Mexico City
    Photo: Per source. Please credit "Family photos of Infrogmation"., CC BY-SA 4.0

    In Chapultepec Park, Mexico's finest museum is the best place to understand the civilisations of the country before the Spanish. The collection includes the Aztec Sun Stone, jade masks and vast stone heads from the Olmec, set around a grand courtyard with a huge fountain.

    Tip: It is enormous. Pick two or three halls and take your time.

  2. Zócalo

    Landmark

    Aerial view of the Zócalo in Mexico City
    Photo: ProtoplasmaKid, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The great square at the heart of the old city, ringed by the cathedral and the National Palace, which holds Diego Rivera's murals of Mexican history. Right next door, the ruins of the Aztec Templo Mayor lie exposed in the middle of the modern city, a striking reminder of what stood here before.

  3. Casa Azul

    Museum

    La Casa Azul, Frida Kahlo's blue house in Coyoacán
    Photo: Rebeccananonof, CC0

    In the leafy district of Coyoacán, Frida Kahlo's cobalt-blue childhood home is now a museum, with her paintings, studio, clothes and garden. It's moving, colourful and very popular.

    Tip: Tickets often sell out, so book ahead.

  4. Xochimilco

    Activity

    Colourful trajineras at a landing in Xochimilco
    Photo: ProtoplasmaKid, CC BY-SA 4.0

    In the south of the city, a network of ancient canals is lined with floating gardens and plied by brightly coloured trajineras. Hire a boat with a group of friends, bring food and drinks, and let a mariachi band float alongside. It's Mexico at its most festive.

    Tip: Weekends are lively and crowded. Go on a weekday for a calmer trip.

Eat and drink

  1. Tacos al pastor

    Food

    A plate of tacos al pastor
    Photo: City Foodsters, CC BY 2.0

    Marinated pork shaved from a spinning spit, tucked in a small corn tortilla with pineapple, onion and coriander. The dish owes a debt to Lebanese immigrants and their shawarma, and it's the signature taco of Mexico City. Eat it standing up at a street stall.

  2. Mole

    Food

    Black mole from Oaxaca served with chicken and rice
    Photo: ProtoplasmaKid, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Mexico's great sauce: a deep, glossy, complex blend of chillies, nuts, spices and often chocolate, served with chicken or turkey. Oaxaca is famous for its many moles, and Puebla is the home of mole poblano. It's worth a trip on its own.

  3. Mezcal

    Food

    Smoky, complex and made from agave, mezcal comes mostly from Oaxaca, where small family distilleries welcome visitors for tastings. Sip it slowly, with a slice of orange and a pinch of worm salt, as the locals do.

Where to stay in Mexico

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in Mexico →

Getting around

Mexico is huge, so pick your region and stick to it. Domestic flights link the main destinations, long-distance buses are comfortable, and in resort areas tours and transfers are easy to book. In Mexico City, use ride-hailing apps or the metro, and avoid hailing street taxis.

When to go

The dry season, from roughly November to April, is the most popular time for the coasts and the Yucatán. Summer is hotter and wetter, and the Atlantic hurricane season runs through the late summer and autumn. Mexico City and the highlands are mild for much of the year.

Questions about visiting Mexico

What is Mexico best known for?
Mayan and Aztec ruins, Caribbean beaches, tacos and mole, tequila and mezcal, and the colourful cities of Mexico City, Oaxaca and Puebla.
Is Mexico worth visiting?
Yes. It offers beaches, ancient ruins, great food and colonial cities, with easy flights from the UK and a trip to suit almost any taste.
What is there to do in Mexico with kids?
Beach days on the Riviera Maya, swimming in cenotes, climbing around Maya ruins like Tulum, boat rides in Xochimilco and big family resorts are the favourites.
How many days do you need in Mexico?
A week is enough for a beach stay and one or two excursions. Two weeks lets you combine a beach region with Mexico City or Oaxaca.
Do you need a car in Mexico?
Not for most holidays. Resort transfers, tours, domestic flights and long-distance buses cover the main routes. A hire car is useful in the Yucatán if you want to visit ruins and cenotes independently.

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