Mexico City, Distrito Federal Hotels and City Guide

Mexico City - Attractions

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Remains of the old Mexican capital can be visited today or you can explore the more modern colonial treasures that are abundant, such as the Museo Nacional de Antropologia or the impressive Zocalo Square. The Palacio de Bellas Artes is a fabulous building, designed by the famous architect Porfirio Diaz and is worth visiting. You really need to spend as long as possible in Mexico City, to fully appreciate the majesty and excitement of this fabulous capital.

Mexico City Attractions

Museo Nacional de Antropologia
Section 1 of Bosque de Chapultepec, Mexico City 11560
Tel: +52 5 553 1902

With an amazingly extensive collection of artifacts, spanning some 100,000 square feet, Mexico City can boast one of the finest anthropological museums in the world. The ground floor focuses on the native cultures and societies of Mexico before the Spanish conquest. See the famous Aztec sun stone, among the fantastic collection of artwork from the indigenous population. Upstairs, the museum provides information about how the descendents of these cultures live today. This beautiful museum was designed by Pedro Ramirez Vazquez.

Castillo de Chapultepec
Section 1 of Bosque de Chapultepec, Mexico City
Tel: +52 5 553 6246

Resting on Grasshopper Hill, this splendid castle has served a variety of functions throughout Mexican history. The castle has been the home of Emperor Maximillian and several Mexican presidents. Since 1939 it has served as the Museo Nacional de Historia, where visitors can see exhibits portraying the rise and fall of Nueva Espana, the establishment of Mexico as an independent nation, and the Mexican Revolution. There are fantastic murals by O'Gorman, Orozco, and Siqueros decorating the first floor and the area where Maximillian once resided can be entered from a garden walkway.

Palacio de Bellas Artes
Eje Central Lazero Cardenas and Avenida Juarez, Mexico City 06050
Tel: +52 512 2593

President Porfirio Diaz commissioned this beautiful white-marble concert hall and arts center. The palace contains some of Mexico's finest murals, including works by Rufino Tamayo, Diego Rivera, and David Alfaro Siqueiros. Inside, there is a grand stained-glass stage curtain, which contains nearly one million pieces of colored glass. The theater is home to productions by international and national artists, including the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico.

Palacio Nacional
East side of the Zocalo, Mexico City

Serving as the home of the Mexican government, this structure occupies the entire east side of the Zocalo Square. The main attraction of the Palacio Nacional is the amazing display of murals by Diego Rivera. For 16 years, Rivera and his assistants painted the walls of the palace, producing 1200 square feet of fantastic, vivid murals that embellish the second floor. Rivera's view of the history of the Mexican civilization is represented through this vast display.

Templo Mayor
Seminario 8 at Repulica de Guatemala, Historic Center, Mexico City 06060
Tel: +52 5 542 4784

In 1978 when Mexico City telephone repairmen accidentally discovered an eight-ton stone carving of the Aztec Goddess, Coyolxauhqui, the excavation of this site began. The vast ruins, including the Templo Mayor, are now an extremely significant archaeological site. Decorated with 240 skulls, this temple was dedicated to the Aztec cult of death and was the location of thousands of human sacrifices made to Huitzilopochtli, the god of war. An amazing collection of Aztec artifacts including ceramic warriors, stone carvings and knives can be seen at the Museo del Templo Mayor.

Museo de Arte Moderno
Reforma and Gandhi, Section 1 of Bosque de Chapultepec, Mexico City 11560
Tel: +52 5 553 6233

This museum contains an excellent collection of modern art focusing on the works of Mexican artists. Exhibits displayed include Mexican painting, lithography, sculpture, and photography.

Metropolitan Cathedral
Madero, Mexico City

This, the oldest and largest cathedral in Latin America, was built over three centuries, beginning in 1573. The result is a structure of various styles and containing five altars and 14 chapels. An endless amount of beautiful paintings, statues, and altarpieces decorate the interior.

Museo de Frida Kahlo
Londres 247 at Allende, Mexico City
Tel: +52 5 554 5999

Frida Kahlo, the well-known feminist artist, was born in this interesting house and it was where Diego Rivera joined her from 1929 to 1954. Kahlo lived a most unusual life, as she battled with diseases and addictions, she participated in the lives of many infamous figures. Frida married Rivera twice and had numerous affairs including one with Trotsky. The museum displays her letters, diaries, and native costumes as well as works by Kahlo, Klee and Duchamp.

Teotihuacan
An hours drive, north of Mexico City

Take a fascinating visit to the ruins of the ancient city of Teotihuacan. The Avenue of the Dead divided the symmetrical city into two sections that contained apartment compounds with pyramidal structures. Today, you can travel on the avenue to see the ancient Moon and Sun Pyramids which are both massive and mysterious.

Bazaar del Sabado
North Side of Plaza San Jacinto, Mexico City

Every Saturday the Plaza San Jacinto contains a colorful bustle of vendors, artisans, and artists. At the Bazaar del Sabado you can enjoy shopping for Mexican paintings, sculptures, and excellent quality handicrafts. Also, there are many wonderful restaurants nearby for a fine meal.

Museo Nacional de Arte
Calle Tacuba 8, Mexico City
Tel: +52 5 521 7320

Housing a diverse collection of Mexican art, the museum represents a variety of artistic styles. The primary focus is Mexico's artistic development between 1810 and 1950.

Museo Rufino Tamayo
Avenida Reforma, Section 1 of Bosque de Chapultepec, Mexico City
Tel: +52 5 286 6519

Visit Tamayo's fine collection of art that includes paintings and sculptures from Picasso, Miro, and Warhol, as well as works by the renowned Mexican muralists.

Centro Cultural de Arte Contemporaneo
Campos Eliseos and Jorge Elliiot, Mexico City
Tel: +52 5 282 0355

Exhibits from the Louvre and the Prado are occasionally displayed here, and the permanent collections are also very impressive. The Center houses a fantastic Photographic Art section and many amazing pre-Hispanic artifacts.

Xochimilco
Southern suburb of Mexico City

The “Floating Gardens” came into existence 700 years ago, when the Aztecs created man-made islands south of Mexico City, near Xochimilco. For a relaxing afternoon, take a small boat through colorful canals to reach these ancient islands.

Hotels in Mexico City, Distrito Federal