Mexico City. The name brings about images of beautiful monuments, world-class architecture, crowds of people, and ancient traditions. Close your eyes and you can almost hear the car horns, the people having conversations over the din, the marimba music — the rhythm of this eclectic and cosmopolitan city.
With an estimated 21.2 million residents, Mexico City is the largest Spanish-speaking city in the world and the eighth richest metropolitan area on Earth. It is truly an exciting place to visit with no shortage of things to do. Whether you’re there for business or pleasure, you can experience great museums, take a trip to nearby archaeological wonders like the pyramids at Tenochtitlan, and learn a lot about Mexico’s history through buildings such as the Mexico City Cathedral and the Castle of Chapultepec.
It’s also a wonderful place to shop. Here you can experience the best that Mexico’s rich cultural tradition has to offer and take a bit of it home with you. If you’re in the market for new rugs back at home, this can be a great place to pick up something that’s truly one-of-a-kind. Mexico’s carpet-making tradition is highlighted by Zapotec rugs. These beautiful area rugs are made in the Oaxaca state and are woven with unique patterns. You can find rugs such as these at any of Mexico City’s bazaars and markets.
Here are just a few you might want to explore:
Saturday Bazaar – A unique outdoor market where you can find authentic handicrafts including jewelry and decorative objects. Saturday Bazaar is located in San Angel at Plaza San Jacinto and is only open (you guessed it) on Saturdays starting at 10:00 am. The experience of being in a truly Mexican market is completed as marimba music fills the air.
Mercado la Ciudadela – A covered market featuring work from artisans from all over Mexico, Mercado la Cuidadela is located at the corner of Dondè and Balderas. You can find unique rugs, ceramics, handbags, and clothing. It’s open every day from 10:30-6:30 and you should come prepared to bargain (see below for more on that).
National Fund for the Development of Arts and Crafts – Called FONART, this market is a government effort to preserve the integrity of Mexico’s folk art traditions. You’ll find hand-crafted blankets, textiles, wooden masks, and beautiful blown glass at this unique market.
Once you’ve arrived at any of these markets, there are a few guidelines that are important for any traveler to remember in a setting such as this. Here are a few I’ve learned from experience:
Be aware of what you’re looking at – in situations such as this, it’s easy to get excited about bringing home a “one-of-a-kind” Mexican rug, especially if you don’t know when or if you’ll ever get the chance to return. However, there’s nothing worse than getting home and finding out that your “one of a kind” was mass produced somewhere (maybe not even in Mexico) with no way of getting your money back. You can guard against this by researching Zapotec rugs and other types you might find in a Mexican market. With that being said…
Don’t walk away too soon – It’s happened to me before. You see a great item at an international market and walk away thinking you’ll come back or decide to find one for a better price elsewhere. Guess what? That usually doesn’t happen. And you’re left still thinking about the item you wish you’d bought when it was right in front of you. So, if it’s authentic, if it’s a good price, if you don’t think you’ll find another one like it anywhere else, grab it before it’s too late. However, you should always…
Be prepared to bargain – In a setting such as this, it’s best to bring your A-game. And here, the “A” can mean the difference between hundreds of dollars. Most bazaar merchants expect you to bargain with them, so don’t be afraid to negotiate a little when you think the price is too steep. Heck, even if you don’t think it’s steep, bargain anyway. I once walked away from a sale such as this because I felt the price was too high. Without so much as a word, the seller immediately brought the price down by 20 percent.
Read more about Mexico City markets: