Planning a photography and filming trip to Mexico City?
I put together a free Creator's Call Sheet for Mexico City — a complete one-day photography and filmmaking itinerary designed to help you shoot the city's best locations in the best light while avoiding the biggest crowds.
It's built to minimize planning so you can spend more time creating and less time figuring out where to go next.
Download it free here → Creator's Call Sheet for Mexico City
Follow me for more photography locations, filming guides, and creator tips from Mexico City.
Colonia Obrera Photography Guide
STYLE Rustic Street, Local Life, Documentary
PRICE Free
ADDRESS Colonia Obrera, Cuauhtémoc, CDMX
HOURS Public - Open 24 hours
Colonia Obrera in Doctores is where I spent most of my stay. It is a sleepy working class neighborhood generally untouched by tourism.
The pace of life is slower here, although the noise never stops.
Vendors driving by blasting through megaphones offers to buy old appliances for metal, political parties blasting speeches, the sirens of emergency vehicles always going somewhere, and the occasional drunk fights after dark.
Despite this, it is my favourite neighborhood in Mexico City to discover quiet moments.
If you are a photographer looking to capture authentic every day life, put this neighborhood on your list. For inexperienced photographers, I recommend you explore this neighborhood with a guide.
If you choose to go by yourself, be discreet with your gear, walk and shoot with purpose.
I carried my point and shoot camera in a small sling chest bag and was able to take shots in a few seconds.
Go early in the morning (sunrise) and you shouldn't have any issues.
Take this safe route and you will have a great time. I recommend you start at Plaza Tlaxcoaque in Centro (pictured above), and make your way down Calle 5 de Febrero.
When you hit Eje 2A Manuel Payno, make your way west to Roma. This walk will take about 3 hours.
