23 photos that’ll make you want to visit Mexico City right now

Mexico City’s downtown (Centro Histórico) is full of beautiful buildings. Even shopping can take you into a historic site.

These children were running in the Plaza de la República trying to catch a small rubber ball. That huge structure in the background is the Revolution Monument, which was originally intended to be a legislative palace.

Zócalo is the Mexico City’s main plaza. You can see the Metropolitan Cathedral on the left, and the shiny building on the right is the Government Palace.

These arches are located around the Zócalo.

One of the city’s museums, Anahuacalli, hosts Diego Rivera’s personal collection of pre-Hispanic pieces. The building is meant to emulate the architecture of Aztec building.

Paseo de la Reforma is considered one of Mexico’s most beautiful avenues - even if the Lotería Nacional building can always look rude.

The color palette of El Centro is stunning and unique.

Insurgentes is one of the busiest and longest avenues in the city. It’ll get you all across the city, but the traffic can feel like something out of a chase movie.

Coyoacan is one of my favorite spots in the city. - its old-time vibe will make you forget you’re in one of the largest cities in the world.

The Postal Palace is gorgeous.

Fairs are common around the city. They are great places to take photos at night.

A couple walking a dog around Centro Histórico. The architecture and light in these passages give them an atemporal look.

Packed with shops, bars, restaurants, and museums, Madero is one of the most popular walking streets in Mexico City -- and it's a great place to view sunsets.

Mexico City has great options for nature lovers. Just a couple hours away is Nevado de Toluca, a volcano with two crater lakes on top.

Two of Mexico’s largest volcanoes are just a short trip away. Popocatepetl (portrayed in the pic above) and Iztaccihuatl are located in the national park named for them. While there are some hiking trails, no hiking is allowed around El Popo due to volcanic activity and toxic fumes.

La Diana Cazadora (Diana the Huntress) is another highlight of Paseo de la Reforma.

No visit to Mexico City is complete without a ride in one of Xochimilco’s colorful trajineras.

San Ildefonso is a museum located just behind the Metropolitan Cathedral - beautiful on both the inside and the exterior.

The Independence Monument is the city’s most recognized monument. The angel statue fell down during an earthquake. The steps in the photo were not part of the original construction, but the monument foundations have prevented it from sinking at the same rate as the surrounding buildings. Most of Mexico City’s sinking at a steady rate.

The Latin American Tower was Mexico’s tallest building for a long time, at 44 stories. You can get a pretty nice view of the whole city from the lookout at the top.

Parks are an essential part of Mexico City’s life. These places bustle with activity during the weekends.

There are some great pre-Hispanic constructions inside the city, but Teotihuacan (one of Mexico’s top archaeological sites) is just an hour and a half away from Mexico City.

Bellas Artes Palace is one of my favorite spots in the city to take photos -- and a place where it always feels like Sunday.