A week is really the perfect amount of time for a trip to Mexico City. You’ll have plenty of time to tour the major sights and even a few less-frequented destinations without running yourself ragged, leaving yourself enough energy to spend a couple of evenings enjoying the city’s great nightlife. You’ll also be able to take a couple of days to visit one of the many towns set amidst the lovely countryside surrounding the capital.

DAY 1
Dedicate an entire day to taking in the Centro Histórico, taking the time to explore some of the lesser-known sites. Just north of the Templo Mayor is the Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso, a gracefully built religious school from the 16th century that now shows a variety of cultural exhibits; it also has some of first murals by Rivera, Orozco, and the other great painters of the early 20th century decorating the walls. Take a stroll through the Plaza Santo Domingo to watch the low-budget scribes writing missives for hire on their venerable old printing presses. For an aerial view of the Centro and the rest of the city, pay a nominal fee to ride up to the 38th floor of the Torre Latinoamericano office building, where there is an observation platform.

DAY 2
In Chapultepec Park, take in the Museo Nacional de Antropología e Historia, and two top-quality modern art museums—the Museo Nacional de Arte Moderno and the Museo Rufino Tamayo. If the park greenery appeals, take the time for a leisurely stroll, perhaps stopping into the zoo or just grabbing a bench by the lake and watching the day go by. After you’ve had your fill of Chapultepec, spend a couple of hours to tour either the chichi shopping and restaurant district of Polanco, or the more bohemian, relaxed Roma neighborhood, filled with old Porfiriato-era mansions, coffeehouses, and bookstores.

DAY 3
The ancient ruins of Teotihuacán, located just northeast of Mexico City, are without doubt the most popular day-trip destination for tourists, and with good reason. This huge city, built by an unknown civilization over 2000 years ago, leaves visitors in awe of the towering pyramids, grand avenues, and stone carvings. The blazing sun and arid landscape can be exhausting, so come prepared with water and a hat. If you’ve got some energy left on the way back into town, stop off at Acolman, a magnificent early colonial monastery with indigenous motifs carved into the church facade.

DAY 4
After being such a dedicated sightseer, a day without any touristy destinations might be in order. One option might be to catch an event of some variety. For example, you could catch a soccer match at one of Mexico City’s three stadiums, where you can join in the cheering for the America, Cruz Azul, or Pumas club teams—or, if you’re lucky, there might be a national team match. If you’d prefer a slightly more unusual sport, check out lucha libre, Mexico’s colorful and melodramatic version of professional wrestling. To get yourself some exercise, take a jaunt up to the parks at Ajusco or La Marquesa, where you can breathe crisp mountain air and hike around trails through the pine forest.

DAYS 5–6
Set aside two days to take an overnight trip to one of myriad destinations in Central Mexico. Everyone will have their own destinations of choice, but one great place to go for first-time visitors is the famed silver city of Taxco, perched precariously on a steep, lush mountainside in the state of Guerrero, south of Mexico City. Apart from shopping for the trademark silver jewelry and other handicrafts, the picturesque town has several museums worth visiting and plenty of good restaurants. On your way back to Mexico City the next day, take a short detour to Tepoztlán near Cuernavaca to visit the beautiful convent and hike up to a prehispanic hilltop temple just outside of town.

DAY 7
Spend your last day in Mexico City in the south of town, touring the colonial-era neighborhoods of Coyoacán and San Ángel, visiting different art and history museums, or just walking around the narrow, mansion-lined streets and enjoying the ambiance. Any day is a good day to go, but it’s worth going on a Saturday for the Bazar Sábado, one of the finest arts-and-crafts markets in the city, held on the plaza in San Ángel. Further south is Xochimilco, where you can rent a trajinera to paddle you around the ancient Aztec canals.