How many days in Mexico? 10 days: Mexico City, Oaxaca and the Yucatán
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Mexico is too big to see in one trip, so choose a line. In ten days, the best first route links three very different regions with two short flights: Mexico City, one of the great capitals of the world; Oaxaca, the southern city of markets, mole and mezcal; and the Yucatán, with Maya cities, cenotes and the Caribbean. Fly home from Cancún, which has the most international connections.
Short answer
Seven days covers Mexico City and the Yucatán: three days in the capital, then Mérida, Chichén Itzá and Tulum. Ten adds Oaxaca, which many travellers end up liking most.
The 10-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Mexico City: the Zócalo and the historic centre
Morning. Start at the Zócalo, one of the largest squares in the world. Visit the Templo Mayor, the excavated main temple of Aztec Tenochtitlan, and its museum (about MX$100), then the Metropolitan Cathedral beside it.
Afternoon. See the Diego Rivera murals of Mexican history in the Palacio Nacional (free with ID, when open), walk Madero Street to the Palacio de Bellas Artes, and go up the Torre Latinoamericana for the view (about MX$150-200).
Evening. Eat tacos al pastor at El Huequito or Los Cocuyos, then mezcal in the centre or in Roma.
Mexico City is at 2,240 metres. Take the first day slowly, drink water and go easy on alcohol.
Day 2: Chapultepec, Roma and Condesa
Morning. Spend 3 hours at the Museo Nacional de Antropología (about MX$100, closed Mondays), with the Aztec Sun Stone and the Maya rooms.
Afternoon. Climb to Chapultepec Castle in the park (about MX$100), then walk 30 minutes into Condesa and Roma, the leafy Art Deco districts, for lunch.
Evening. Dinner in Roma, where a meal with drinks costs MX$500-900, or a lucha libre night at Arena México on Tuesday or Friday.
Use Uber or DiDi rather than street taxis; most rides across the centre cost MX$80-150.
Day 3: Teotihuacán and Coyoacán
Morning. Leave by 7:00 for Teotihuacán, about 1 hour north (about MX$100). Walk the Avenue of the Dead between the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. Balloon flights at dawn cost about MX$3,000-4,000.
Afternoon. Return south to Coyoacán for the Museo Frida Kahlo, the Blue House (book online days ahead, about MX$300+), and the plaza of the old village.
Evening. Optional: ride a decorated trajinera boat on the canals of Xochimilco, about MX$600-800 an hour per boat.
Bring sun protection at Teotihuacán; there is almost no shade.
Day 4: Fly to Oaxaca
Morning. Fly from Mexico City to Oaxaca, about 1h15 (roughly MX$1,200-2,500).
Afternoon. Walk the pedestrian Andador Macedonio Alcalá to the church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, with its gilded interior, and the cultural museum in the former monastery next door (about MX$90).
Evening. At the Mercado 20 de Noviembre, walk the Pasillo de Humo, the smoky aisle where you choose meat to be grilled and eat it with tortillas and salsa.
Late October to early November is Día de Muertos; Oaxaca is full, so book months ahead.
Day 5: Monte Albán and mezcal country
Morning. Take a bus or shuttle 30 minutes up to Monte Albán, the Zapotec capital on a levelled mountaintop above the valley (about MX$100).
Afternoon. Drive about 1 hour to Santiago Matatlán, the 'world capital of mezcal', to watch agave roasted in earth pits, and on to the mineral springs of Hierve el Agua.
Evening. Taste the seven moles of Oaxaca at a restaurant in the centre. A meal with mezcal costs MX$400-700.
The Sunday market in Tlacolula is one of the oldest in the region; tours combine it with mezcal and Hierve el Agua.
Day 6: Fly to Mérida
Morning. Fly to Mérida, the capital of Yucatán state, usually via Mexico City (about 4-5 hours in all).
Afternoon. Walk the Plaza Grande with the cathedral and the Casa de Montejo, the 16th-century conquistador's house.
Evening. Stroll the Paseo de Montejo of mansions built on henequen wealth, and eat cochinita pibil.
Mérida is hot all year: plan walking for early morning and after 17:00.
Day 7: Uxmal and the Ruta Puuc
Morning. Drive 1h15 south to Uxmal, whose Pyramid of the Magician and the Nunnery Quadrangle are the finest Puuc-style buildings (roughly MX$500 with state fees).
Afternoon. Visit Kabah nearby, or the chocolate museum Choco-Story next to Uxmal.
Evening. Back in Mérida, many nights have free music and dance in the squares.
Uxmal is far quieter than Chichén Itzá; it is many people's favourite Maya site.
Day 8: Chichén Itzá and Valladolid
Morning. Leave by 6:30 to be at Chichén Itzá at 8:00, about 1h45 east. See El Castillo, the Great Ball Court and the Sacred Cenote. Tickets cost about MX$650-700 with state fees.
Afternoon. Swim at Cenote Ik Kil or Cenote Suytun (about MX$150-250), then continue to Valladolid, 45 minutes away.
Evening. Dinner in Valladolid's square near the San Servacio church.
Chichén Itzá fills with tour buses from Cancún after 10:30. Arrive at opening.
Day 9: Tulum and the cenotes
Morning. Drive 1h30 or take the Tren Maya to Tulum. Visit the Tulum ruins on the cliff above the Caribbean (about MX$100, plus park fees).
Afternoon. Swim in the Gran Cenote (about MX$500) or Dos Ojos, cave cenotes with clear water.
Evening. Dinner in Tulum town, cheaper than the beach strip.
Tulum beach hotels are expensive; staying in town costs about half.
Day 10: Beach day and departure from Cancún
Morning. A last swim at Playa Paraíso or in the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve south of Tulum.
Afternoon. Transfer to Cancún Airport, about 1h45-2h by ADO bus (about MX$300-400) or car.
Evening. Fly home, or add a night on Isla Mujeres.
Allow plenty of time; traffic and roadworks on Highway 307 can add an hour.
Only have 7 days?
With 7 days, drop Oaxaca: three days in Mexico City, then fly to Mérida and follow Days 7 to 10.
Got extra days?
Add San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato (3-4 hours from Mexico City), Puebla, or Bacalar with its lagoon of seven colours south of Tulum.
Where to stay in Mexico
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Mexico City Centro / Oaxaca centre | Hostels and simple hotels near the main sights. | MX$700-1,200 |
| Mid-range | Roma / Condesa (Mexico City) | Safe, leafy and full of restaurants. | MX$1,800-3,200 |
| Mid-range | Mérida Centro / Valladolid | Colonial houses with pools around a patio. | MX$1,500-2,800 |
| Comfort | Polanco / Tulum beach | Luxury hotels near Chapultepec, or on the sand in Tulum. | MX$5,000-12,000 |
Getting around
Fly between regions with Aeroméxico, Viva or Volaris; book early. ADO buses are comfortable and punctual for the Yucatán. The Tren Maya links Mérida, Valladolid, Cancún Airport and Tulum. In Mexico City, the metro costs MX$5 a ride but is very crowded at rush hour; use Uber or DiDi at night. From Mexico City Airport, the centre is 30-60 minutes by authorised taxi (about MX$300-400).
What to eat in Mexico
Mexico's cooking is regional. In the capital, eat tacos al pastor, tlacoyos from street stalls and chilaquiles for breakfast. In Oaxaca, order mole negro, tlayudas (large crisp tortillas) and chapulines (toasted grasshoppers), with mezcal. In the Yucatán, try cochinita pibil (slow-roasted pork in achiote), sopa de lima and panuchos. Street tacos cost MX$20-35 each; a restaurant meal MX$300-700. Drink only bottled or filtered water.
Best time to visit
November to April is the dry season, with highs of 22-26°C in Mexico City and Oaxaca and 28-32°C in the Yucatán. May is very hot on the coast. The rainy season runs from June to October, with afternoon showers inland and the hurricane risk on the Caribbean from August to October. Sargassum seaweed can affect Caribbean beaches from about April to August.
Month-by-month weather for Mexico →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | MX$400 | MX$1,200 | MX$3,000 |
| Food & drink | MX$350 | MX$800 | MX$1,800 |
| Sights & tickets | MX$200 | MX$500 | MX$1,000 |
| Local transport | MX$100 | MX$300 | MX$800 |
| Total per person, per day | about MX$1,050 | about MX$2,800 | about MX$6,600 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Mexican pesos, not including the two domestic flights. Hotels add a state lodging tax of a few percent, and Quintana Roo charges visitors the VISITAX fee before departure.
Before you go
Common questions
Is Mexico safe for tourists?
The places on this route, including central Mexico City, Oaxaca, Mérida and the Yucatán, are among the most visited and generally safe with normal care. Use ride-hailing apps at night, avoid showing valuables, and check your government's travel advice, which rates Mexico state by state.
Is 10 days enough for Mexico?
Ten days is enough for three regions if you fly between them. Trying to add the Pacific coast, the Copper Canyon or Chiapas would mean too much travel. For a first trip, Mexico City plus Oaxaca plus the Yucatán is a well-balanced route.
Can I drink the tap water in Mexico?
No. Drink bottled or filtered water, which hotels and restaurants provide. Ice in restaurants and drinks is usually made from purified water. Street food is safe when stalls are busy and food is cooked in front of you; choose places with queues of locals.
Should I base myself in Cancún for the Yucatán?
Only if you want a beach resort. For the Maya sites and colonial towns, Mérida and Valladolid are much better bases, closer to Uxmal and Chichén Itzá and with lower prices. Fly into Mérida and out of Cancún to avoid backtracking.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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