What is the capital of Mexico?
Mexico City is the capital of Mexico. Its metropolitan area has more than 21 million people, making it one of the largest urban areas in the Americas.
The city was built on the ruins of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital founded around 1325 on an island in Lake Texcoco. After the Spanish conquest in 1521, the colonial capital of New Spain was built over it, and much of the lake was drained over the centuries.
Today the historic center, with the vast Zócalo square, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the ruins of the Templo Mayor, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The floating gardens of Xochimilco are a reminder of the ancient lake.
A city at altitude
Mexico City sits at about 2,240 meters above sea level, which can leave visitors short of breath. Because it was built on old lake beds, parts of the city are slowly sinking.
Did You Know?
Mexico City hosted the 1968 Summer Olympics and was one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the Estadio Azteca staging the opening match.