Mexico City is the capital of Mexico and one of the busiest and liveliest cities in the world. It has grown over the years, taking over many towns which are now regarded as suburbs. The city is surrounded by volcanoes and mountains which offer a beautiful backdrop.

The city is the country’s centre of culture, nightlife and business, offering the best paid jobs, widest selection of bars and most tourist attractions. It also offers the most varoed accommodation. Five-star hotels can be found throughout the city although if these are out of your budget range, you will find mid-priced hotels available.

The city is home to more museums than anywhere else in the world and therefore culture and history buffs will be in their element here. There is a lively theatre scene as well as a thriving café culture, fancy restaurants and trendy bars. Other popular attractions include parks, churches, the historic old town, palaces, shopping centres, leafy avenues and Aztec ruins.

Mexico City is a cosmopolitan hotspot with many cultures living together. There are Native Indians, Spanish and Latin Americans all adding their own unique flavour to the city. This can be seen in the cuisine, cultural exhibits and festivals.

Travelling to Mexico City is easy by air. The international airport, Benito Juárez, sees flights arrive from Europe and the US, and as the airport is so close to the city centre, transfers are cheap and quick. Once in the city, there are many ways to get about, including the extensive metro system, public buses, taxis, mini buses and hiring a car.

Mexico City began life as an Aztec city in 1325. In its early years it was a thriving area known as Tenochtitlan and was situated on an island in the centre of Lake Texcoco. The Aztecs built a network of canals and islands so that they could continue to develop this new city, and did so peacefully for the following 200 years.

Trouble started in 1519 with the arrival of the Spanish conqueror, Hernán Cortés. His attempts at taking over the city were unsuccessful for three years, but eventually after a 79-day battle he managed to gain control. The city foundations, built by the Aztecs, were completely destroyed.

It only took a couple of years to rebuild the city and by 1525 it was home to the new governor of Spain as well as being the political and cultural heart of Mexico. As the city developed, it saw an influx of people settle.

The War of Independence in 1810 led to Mexico being granted independence in 1821. After Mexico became an independent state, Mexico City became the capital and home to the first leader of Mexico, Agustin de Iturbide.

In 1847, Mexico City was invaded by the Americans and saw groups of young Mexican soldiers wrapping themselves in the Mexican flag and jumping to their death from the top of Chapultepec Palace. Today, there is a monument honouring all those who died for the cause.

The Olympic Games were held here in 1968, but 10 days before the opening ceremony hundreds of students were tragically killed by the military in what is now known as the Tlatelolco Massacre.

The city managed to turn itself around despite the massacre and began to build on its cultural offerings. Unfortunately, development was brought to a sudden end in 1985, when an enormous earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale struck the city. Over 20,000 people were killed and tens of thousands more lost their homes.

The Mexican government initiated a massive rebuilding scheme immediately after the quake, which caused around four billion US dollars worth of damage in less than three minutes. The rebuilding program was so successful that just one year later, the city was able to host the FIFA World Cup.

In recent years, Mexico City has become something of a cultural hub, boasting more museums than any other city and hosting a number of annual cultural events. It has continued to move with the times, which has led to it becoming a popular holiday destination.

Mexico City is lucky enough to boast a warm climate all year round. There are four distinct seasons, with October being one of the best months of the year to travel here. At this time everything is green and the weather is warm, but not too hot.

The period of November through February can suffer from chilly evenings and low air quality, while March and April are very hot and dusty. These are not great times to visit if you suffer from asthma or allergies. June through September sees occasional rain storms which cool the temperatures down and significantly lower the pollution levels.