Mexico City shopping is an entertaining way to spend your vacation time, in addition to visiting historical attractions and art museums, and enjoying Mexican cuisine. The capital city is home to some of the best (and most exclusive) shopping in Latin America. If you’re planning to shop in Mexico City, you will want to plan ahead, as many of the best options are spread throughout the large city. From small markets to upscale boutiques, Mexico City shopping has something for everyone with a few extra pesos in their pockets.

Downtown Mexico City, home to the Zocalo, has many shops and markets. One of the interesting facts about these shops is that many of them are located in converted colonial era mansions. From antiques to jewelry, this area is full of temptations. On Sunday, the Mercado de la Lagunilla is held in this area, and it offers a great variety of antiques and old coins. If you want to shop in Mexico City in an area that is full of life and restaurants and bars, head for the Zona Rosa. Small shops, boutiques, and craft stores promise one-of-a-kind items you won’t find anywhere else. Mexico City markets pop up in this area on the weekends, and they are a pleasure to wander through after having breakfast at one of the trendy sidewalk cafés.

Mexico City shopping continues in the fashionable Condesa neighborhood, where art deco buildings are home to art galleries, boutiques, and bistros. If you’re looking for international designers when you shop in Mexico City, there is one neighborhood to head for: Polanco. The Presidente Masaryk area of Polanco is home to famous designers such as Gucci and Christian Dior. Even if you aren’t in the market to buy anything, strolling along this street in Polanco is worth a look for the elaborate and high-class window displays.

Mexico City Map

Mexico City is also home to large shopping malls that offer a great variety of things. In the southern section of the city the Perisur and Coyoacan malls draw large crowds, especially of local people. The suburbs of San Angel and Coyoacan are known for their elegant shops, and San Angel offers a Saturday Market in Plaza San Jacinto that that has very high quality goods. Also on Saturday in Coyoacan is the Mercado de Artesanias. If you’re looking for handicrafts from across Mexico, Mercado de Artesanias is a good place to look. Classes for kids are also held each Saturday at this market, making it a good destination for vacationing families.

While markets are a fun way to spend an afternoon in Mexico City, tourists should be aware of the presence of pickpockets. In such large crowds it is easy for petty crimes to occur and the thief to disappear quickly. This isn’t such a problem in places such as Mercado de Artesanias or Mercado de la Lagunilla, but if you decide to venture to the Tepito near Centro Historico, for instance, be aware that this are has a poor reputation for crime. One tip for avoiding crime is to arrive at markets early in the morning when they are less crowded and not to store money or credit cards in outer pockets. Bring home a piece of your trip to Mexico with popular souvenirs such as jewelry, art, handicrafts, or local liquors.