What kind of place is Mexico City? Is it touristy? Is it urban?

I"m native front mexico city. Mexico city is a huge city very crowded city it's the political,bussiness trade,art and cultural center of Mexico. Is very urban we have many huge buildings skyscraper,also we have roads,avenues ,high ways, mall,museums, subway transportation,axectly 11 differents lines that cross all the city in all directions,also we have taxis, busses,and all the services that big citys has.Like 5 stars hotels,travel agencys,tourist guides,luxurios restaurants,bars,nighclubs,zoo,amusement... parks,food ball stadiums, bull fighters plazas,wrestling arenas,cafes,so I think we have almost every thing. we have good things and bad things. like others multicultural citys we have,ill issues and problems,like violence,crime,prostitucion,drugadiction... we have some touristical places as downtown mexico city,the center is amazing historic prehispanic side is full of palaces front the conquer hispanic conquest also we have the templo mayor it were the most important places for the Aztec empire, it were ceremonial places ,is some piremids ,and there the Aztec did sacrifies them victims to purify to them gods. Here is a city full of history.also you can do the touristy trip by bus it show you the rute of the most famous museums,and hitorical places,also cross trough the donwtonw,also pass trough polanco and the hotelier zone and you finish the trip iat mexico city zoo,you furthermore has a lot others options the get fun all depend on you. what kind of entertainment of places are you looking for.So as I told yo煤麓麓I麓麓m living and I rose in M EXICO CITY BUT i had lived 13 year in U.S. so this is my personal opinion.

From Lonely Planet:

Mexico City is the political, financial and cultural nerve center of Mexico, and to understand the country one should spend some time here. Perhaps more than any city on earth, it is at the intersection of the first and third worlds, with all the ills, thrills and surprises that suggests.

One moment the city is all Latin beats, glamor and excitement; the next it's drabness, poverty, suffocating crowds and rancid smells. In spite of the negatives, Mexico City is a magnet for Mexicans and visitors alike. You certainly won't be bored in this complex, historic city.

From AAA:

Floating on a lake bed a mile and a half high, Mexico City is, in a word, unique. This ancient land of the Aztecs is a thoroughly modern world capital, yet a city with roots deeply entrenched in its indigenous and colonial Spanish cultures. It is the oldest (more than 675 years) and second highest (7,350 feet) capital in North America, and one of the most populous cities in the world.

Distinguished colonial buildings fill Mexico City's historic center. More than 2,000 years of history unfurl at the city's wealth of museums and their collections of priceless artifacts. The world-famous Ballet Folkl贸rico celebrates the history of Mexican folk music and dance. If you are a gourmand on a culinary quest, the capital offers memorable gastronomic experiences. And ardent shoppers will find a treasure trove of brightly colored bargains.

Mexico City's neighborhoods are as varied as the city itself. Polanco is a small residential area filled with art galleries, hotels, restaurants and foreign embassies. The shopping malls and exclusive international boutiques along Presidente Masaryk, the main street, are Mexico City at its most chic. Condesa is a middle-class neighborhood filled with parks and lovely turn-of-the-20th-century homes. San Angel and Coyoac谩n, two distinctive neighborhoods in the southern part of the city, reflect the Spanish colonial era in the form of venerable plazas, colorful markets and a vibrant sense of artistic expression. This is 鈥渙ld Mexico鈥?at its most beguiling.

Sunday is the best time to visit Coyoac谩n, when it is the site of a lively street bazaar. City residents converge at Plaza Hidalgo against a heady backdrop of sights, colors and aromas. Vendors display their wares鈥攃lothing, jewelry, balloons, trinkets, plants, paintings, puppies, paper flowers, incense, carved figurines, housewares and myriad other items鈥攊n stalls or spread on the ground on blankets.

Side trips are a relatively short hop away. Perhaps the most impressive is Teotihuac谩n, easily reached from Mexico City. While it lacks the lush jungle backdrop of Palenque, in southern Mexico, Teotihuac谩n is the most monumentally scaled of all the country's archeological zones. The temple remains and two majestic pyramids rise from a flat, open plain, with little surrounding vegetation to obscure the view. The wide open spaces and awe-inspiring ruins are the perfect antidote to the city's sometimes claustrophobic congestion.

Its urban, touristy and fabulous. It was the first major world city I had ever seen, made all others look small by comparison. A must see for all travelers.

I think it's more urban than touristy........ I know more people that come here for business or to study than just for fun. It's really crowded, polluted, huge and with all the problems a mega city would have, but we also have some really wonderful places that tourists love to visit, full of history, some great museums with all kinds of art, parks, etc.....

Mexico City is a huge metropolis. It is one of the largest and more densely populated cities in the world.

It has:
- a huge industrial area;
- large business community;
- huge urban area.

But of course it also offers several touristic attractions, including, museums, pre-hispanic ruins, parks, theaters, etc.

You can definitely see many tourist walking around almost any day of week and any time. But you can also see walking around millions of other people that call Mexico City home or a place to work.

So I guess you can say: Mexico City is a huge Urban Area with some touristic attractions (just like any other big city.)