Mexico City is a hot destination right now and for good reason.  It is a city steeped in tradition, with incredible history and culture, but it also contains amazing modern architecture, cutting-edge design and great cuisine.  The food alone is worth going for, as the lowliest street taco can be as delicious as the Michelin-starred experimental cuisine at the finest restaurants. The city is fun for shoppers as well; there are chic local designers as well as numerous craft markets.

The cultural offerings span an incredible time period: the Teotihuacan Pyramids from 100 AD (an hour outside of the city, but reachable in 15 mins by helicopter) up to modern architectural masterpieces such as the Soumaya Museum and Museo Jumex. The star-crossed artists Frido Kahlo and Diego Rivera’s studios are open for touring as well as several homes that the iconic modernist architect Luis Barragan designed. Mexico City has more museums than any other city in the world.

There are both luxury and boutique hotel options in Mexico City as well as direct flights from numerous U.S. cities. The weather doesn’t vary terribly much so almost anytime of year is a good time to visit. The question of safety often arises when thinking about traveling to Mexico, but Mexico City has a lower crime rate than many U.S. cities. When I was there, I never felt unsafe, but of course it’s wise to stick to the neighborhoods that contain the sites, restaurants and markets that are interesting for visitors.