Mexico City tourism

Mexico City's Historic Center is the oldest part of the capital and it has many architectural treasures that are appreciated in Mexico and throughout the world. As you walk around the downtown area, you will find excellent examples of classical and colonial architecture. Many of the buildings are shrouded in magic and legend and the area has such an impressive architectural offering that the UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site. Among the most important structures are:

Palacio Nacional: Built on top of the houses of Aztec Emperor Moctezuma, this building lies in front of the Zocalo (Mexico City's main square). Inside, you can marvel at the spectacular murals of renowned artist Diego Rivera, which chronicle the history of Mexico.

Catedral Metropolitana (The Metropolitan Cathedral): Located next to the Palacio Nacional in the Zocalo, this important work is Latin America's largest religious structure. It brings together the artistic grandeur of a Viceregal construction with the religious fervor of Catholicism.

Palacio de Mineria: Locatedon Tacuba Street in the Historic Center. This neoclassical- and Baroque-style building hosts the International Book Fair, an annual event that takes place in February and March.

Edificio de Correos (Post Office): Located on the corners of Eje Central Lazaro Cardenas and Tacuba, this is one of Mexico City's most beautiful and elegant buildings. Its style reminds one of the grand palaces of Venice.

Mexico City has more museums than just about any other tourist destination in the world. Many are worth visiting for their architecture as well as their cultural offerings, which include art exhibits and history displays.

Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso: Located in the Historic Center at 16 Justo Sierra, Col. Centro, Cuauhtemoc District. This historic building houses permanent and temporary art exhibits and hosts various cultural events. It has three patio areas known as: el Patio de los Pasantes, el Colegio Chico and el Colegio Grande. In the latter, you will find murals from renowned Mexican artists, such as Diego Rivera. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Museo Nacional de Arte (National Art Museum): Located in the Historic Center at 8 Tacuba Street, Col. Centro, Cuauhtemoc District. This is one of the most important art museums in Latin America due to its collection, facilities and services. It exhibits Mexican art from the 16th to 20th centuries, including paintings, sculptures, engravings, photography, manuscripts and antique furniture. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Museo de la Ciudad (Museum of the City): Located downtown at 30 Pino Suarez in the Palacio de los Condes de Santiago de Calimaya, Col. Centro. This building is considered an architectural and cultural treasure of New Spain. Its 27 showrooms have various exhibits, including paintings, maps and models, which chronicle the history of Mexico City, from the pre-Hispanic era to present day. The museum also has temporary art exhibits, concerts, theatrical performances, conferences and workshops. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Museo Franz Meyer: Located at 45 Avenida Hidalgo, in front of Alameda Central Park, Col. Centro, Cuauhtemoc District. In a building that was once the San Juan de Dios church, this museum has an unparalleled collection of pre-Hispanic and colonial objects that were donated by the German businessman Franz Meyer. The museum has colonial-style showrooms, a lovely indoor patio and a library with a collection of books on decorative arts. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Museo Nacional de Antropologia (National Museum of Anthropology): Located on Avenida Peseo de la Reforma, Col. Chaputepec Polanco, Miguel Hidalgo District. This is considered one of the best anthropology museums worldwide. It has showrooms specializing in archaeology, where you will see important exhibits of pre-Hispanic culture and objects, as well as ethnology rooms, where you get to take a closer look at ancient indigenous artwork. The museum also has temporary exhibits, a library, audiovisual services, a restaurant and guided tours in English and French. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Museo de Arte Moderno (Modern Art Museum): Located off Avenida Paseo de la Reforma, at Gandhi Street in Chapultepec Park, Miguel Hidalgo District. This museum has an important collection of national and international 20th-century art, consisting of paintings, sculptures, drawings and photography. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Museo Nacional de Historia (National History Museum): Located in the first section of the Chapultepec Park in the Chaputepec Castle. It has 12 showrooms that house objects from various stages in history, including the conquest, the Viceregal era, Mexican independence, the reform movement and the revolution. On the top floor, in addition to a library, you will find two sections with recreated rooms of the castle during the time when Emperor Maximillian of Hapsburg resided there with his wife Carlota Amalia of Belgium. In addition, the museum has a garden area and an old observatory. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Museo Nacional de Culturas Populares (National Museum of Popular Culture): This museum is located at 289 Avenida Hidalgo, Col. del Carmen, Coyoacan District. It has six different areas with Mexican culture from various regions on display. It features also a cultural center with an auditorium and two patio areas where you can listen to music or see a theatrical performance. Guided tours are offered in German, French, Italian and Portuguese. Open Tuesday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Museo Casa Frida Kahlo Casa Azul (Frida Khalo Museum): Located in south Mexico City at 247 Londres, Col. del Carmen, Coyoacan District. This was the home of artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. In several rooms, you will see their personal objects, altarpieces, popular art and a large collection of pre-Hispanic art from Mexico's western, southern and Gulf Coast regions. You will also see works of such artists as Jose Clemente Orozco, Jose Maria Velasco and Paul Klee, among others. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Museo Soumaya: Located in southwest Mexico City in Plaza Loreto, at Avenida Magdalena and Avenida Revolucion, Col. Tizapan, Alvaro Obregon District. In these showrooms you can enjoy a permanent collection of New Spain portraiture, religious art and Latin America's most extensive sculpture collection of Auguste Rodin and Camille Claudel. You will also see a varied collection of national and international artists such as Rufino Tamayo, Paul Gauguin and Vincent Van Gogh. The museum also has a play area for children where they can enjoy fun activities related to the exhibit. Open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.


FESTIVALS AND TRADITIONS