Mexico - Visiting Mexico City between Christmas and New Years - Ideas?

Hello everyone. Mr. FB found out a couple of weeks ago that he will be off December 25 until January 2. We have been trying to decide where to go, but he does not really want to go too far away. We have thought about Mexico City, and we have done a little research. It seems like there are more than enough activities to fill 5 days there. We will use Starpoints and stay at either the W or St. Regis.

I'm interested to know whether or not those who have been there think the last week of December is a good time to visit Mexico City. Also, what are the can't miss things to see or do that we might not find out about in a guidebook. I appreciate any feedback or suggestions.

Great time to visit, since the city will be "empty", so there will be little traffic, relatively little pollution, and no crowds. Museums, restaurants, etc. will still be open. The temperatures may be relatively low, however.

Winter has the best weather as it is the dry season. Expect clear skies and pleasant afternoon temperatures. It can get cool to cold overnight though.

The sun is more intense at Mexico City's high altitude; sunscreen is a good idea. The air is also very dry so stay hydrated - bottled water is sold everywhere.

Air pollution can get bad during the winter as there are usually no rain storms to clean out the air. During the week after Christmas air quality marginally improves as a lot of residents escape the city for a week of vacation (Acapulco and Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo are popular beach getaways).

If you can plan your trip to leave Christmas Day you'll likely avoid the overcrowded flights which are common in December as ex-patriate Mexicans head home for the holidays. But don't wait too long to book tickets as flights still fill quickly. And unfortunately fares reflect the high demand for seats during the holidays.

The city will be very quiet, relative to the most of rest of the year, but all of the tourist attractions will be open. Though the holiday period is one during which many or most city residents stay close to home, Mexicans from other parts of the country visit on vacation. Some smaller businesses and restaurants will close for a vacation, due to lighter business - but enough will be open to make you happy. The high altitude can be a problem for people with certain health issues. Have a great trip.

Re: specific things you might choose to do while there, here's a thought. Not a typical tourist thing. Mexico City government has for the past year or two been trying to build a culture of bicycle riding in town. Yes, for those of you familiar with traffic in La Ciudad, this might sound terrifying. BUT - on Sunday mornings, the entire length of La Reforma from Chapultapec Park all the way to the Zocalo is closed to motor traffic, and it becomes a bikeway. My wife have biked it on a couple of occasions and it was really fun. OP, if you're staying at the St. Regis you're right there; if the W, you're still pretty close. Some hotels are starting to offer free bikes, and there are LOTS of bike rental places now along Reforma. Seriously, check it out.