10 Places To Visit In Mexico City: A Guide To Explore The Best Attractions

A view of Mexico City showcasing the stunning buildings and beach along with the coast.

There are several places to visit in Mexico City, which offers a vibrant mix of history and culture. The Zocalo, the city’s main square, is surrounded by landmarks like the Metropolitan Cathedral and the National Palace. Step back in time at Templo Mayor, an ancient Aztec temple located in the heart of the city. If you are an art enthusiast, you will love the colourful murals of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo’s iconic Blue House. The city features one of the largest urban parks in the world, several museums, a castle, and serene walking paths.

10 Places To Visit In Mexico City

The list contains popular places to visit in Mexico City to explore on your next trip to this historically rich city.

1. Zocalo

The famous square of Mexico City, which has a Mexican flag in the centre has people around.

Photo: Eric Zone / Pexels / Image For Representation Only

Zocalo is the birthplace of the country’s constitution and is one of the prominent tourist attractions in Mexico. It is also known as the Constitution Square, which is the beating heart of Mexico country, where the 1st Constitution was proclaimed. The Constitution Square measures around two hundred and forty metres in each direction and is one of the largest squares to exist. In the earlier days, the square was used for a variety of purposes, which included being used as a bullfighting arena and markets. Currently, it is being used as a platform for hosting festivals, parades, etc.

Location: Centre of Mexico City, Mexico
Distance From The Mexico City International Airport: 8 km

2. National Museum Of Anthropology

The inside view of the National Museum of Anthropology showcasing ancient artefacts.

Photo: Gary Todd / Wikimedia Commons

The National Museum of Anthropology is located within Chapultepec Park and is one of its kind among the tourist places in Mexico. While entering the museum, a giant monolithic figure is placed at its entrance. The National Museum of Anthropology was constructed around 1964 and has contemporary architecture. It houses magnificent art treasures that originated from the extinct civilisation of the Indian subcontinent and is said to be a national treasure. Here, many ancient artefacts related to anthropology and archaeology can be seen. Some of the well-known artefacts here are the Aztec statue of Xochipilli and the Aztec sunstone.

Location: Chapultepec Park, Mexico City, Mexico
Distance From The Mexico City International Airport: 16 km

3. Templo Mayor

A view of Temple Mayor showcasing the stone-carved stairs surrounded by buildings.

Photo: Mike Peel / Wikimedia Commons

Several prominent historic sites have been unearthed and put on display in recent years in Mexico City. In Tenochtitlan (an Aztec city), the Templo Mayor was among the prominent temples. The first remnants of it were found around 1978, and it was a finely sculpted round disc. The weight of the round disc is around eight and a half tons and is more than three metres in diameter. On further excavation, many more structures, such as the summit platform of an earlier pyramid with well-preserved temple walls, were found.

Location: 8 Seminario Street, Downtown, Cuauhtemoc, Mexico
Distance From The Mexico City International Airport: 8 km

4. The Palace Of Fine Arts

A distant outside view of the stunning Palace of Fine Arts located in Mexico City.

Photo: Xavier Quetzalcoatl Contreras Castillo / Wikimedia Commons

Palacio de Bellas Artes or The Palace of Fine Arts, is known to be an architectural gem and is among the must-visit Mexico tourist places. This marble building’s construction was influenced by Art Deco and Art Nouveau. Many visitors visit this place to witness the impressive murals made by famous artists such as Diego Rivera and Jose Clemente. The Palace of Fine Arts was opened to the public in 1934. It is said that the building was so heavy that it sank more than four metres even after multiple efforts to lighten it by removing a few parts of its dome.

Location: Near the Central Avenue, Mexico City, Mexico
Distance From The Mexico City International Airport: 11 km

5. Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral

An outer view of the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, which has impressive structure.

Photo: Sam Beebe/Ecotrust / Wikimedia Commons

Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral is one of the oldest churches in the Northern Hemisphere. Having this on your Mexico tourist places list is a must if you are into architecture and history. It was built as a part of the old Aztec Temple precinct. Construction of this grey-coloured sandstone and gigantic basalt structure began around 1525. The cathedral’s interior showcases a mingling of various styles, with particular highlights being the carved Altar of the Kings. The cathedral has two massive twisted columns, and the facade showcases the Boroque architectural style.

Location: Zocalo’s north side, Mexico City, Mexico
Distance From The Mexico City International Airport: 8 km

6. The National Palace

An inside view of the National Palace - one of the best places to visit in Mexico city.

Photo: Diego Rivera / Wikimedia Commons

The National Palace is built on the top of an Aztec palace. However, over the years, the palace has been enlarged and keeps being mentioned in the Mexico tourist places list. The Palace has many notable features, such as the freedom bell rung on September 15th, 1810, at the start of the War of Independence. On each anniversary of that event, the bell is rung. Many beautiful rooms are in the palace, which are laid around its 14 courtyards. It also houses the impressive murals made by the well-known artist Diego Rivera.

Location: Main Square of Mexico City, Mexico
Distance From The Mexico City International Airport: 8 km

7. Chapultepec Park

An amazing view of Chapultepec Park, one of the best places to visit in Mexico city.

Photo: EneasMx / Wikimedia Commons

Chapultepec Park is the largest park in the city and is spread over an area of four kilometres. It is said that in 1200 CE, the Aztecs settled in the city, and there is a legend that they laid out the park in the early 15th century. The rock formation on which the park is centred is called Chapultepec Hill, which became a summer residence of the Aztec rulers. Amenities such as public restrooms, etc., are available. The park is known to have some famous monuments and is pet-friendly. You can visit this place to enjoy a picnic with your loved ones and stroll through the place.

Location: Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico City, Mexico
Distance From The Mexico City International Airport: 17 km

8. Paseo De La Reforma

A distant view of Paseo de La Reformasurro, one of the best places to visit in Mexico city.

Photo: México en Fotos, A.C. / Wikimedia Commons

Paseo de La Reforma is an avenue that you will find on many lists of must-visit places for Mexico trips. It is known for its stretch from the famous Chapultepec Park to the streets of Avenida Benito Juarez. This impressive boulevard widens to sixty metres and has a green strip in its centre. In its middle, there are monuments dedicated to numerous national heroes. It is now known for being an entertainment and shopping hotspot. This avenue was laid out during the reign of Emperor Maximilian and is currently home to several important attractions.

Location: Near Chapultepec Park, Mexico City, Mexico
Distance From The Mexico City International Airport: 18 km

9. National History Museum

An aerial view of the National History Museum, one of the places to visit in Mexico city.

Photo: ProtoplasmaKid / Wikimedia Commons

Among various places to see in Mexico City, the National History Museum is the most iconic. It is housed in the Chapultepec Castle, which was built around the eighteenth century CE. The museum opened its door to the public in 1944 and is home to an impressive collection of pre-Columbian material. It has a vast range of exhibits illustrating the history of Mexico since the Spanish conquest. The apartments that Maximilian and his wife occupied contain European furniture and are decorated in neoclassical style.

Location: Chapultepec Castle, Mexico City, Mexico
Distance From The Mexico City International Airport: 17 km

10. Frida Kahlo Museum

A side view of the Frida Kahlo Museum - one of the best places to visit in Mexico city.

Photo: Anagoria / Wikimedia Commons

The Frida Kahlo Museum, also known by the name Blue Museum, is located in one of the oldest neighbourhoods of Mexico City. The museum has some personal items related to Frida Kahlo and her husband, Diego Rivera, as it used to be her house (birthplace). This art museum was built in 1957 and has a variety of artworks from Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and some of the other artists. The items that you can see in the museum are the couple’s Mexican folk art, photographs, pre-Hispanic antiques, personal items, and more.

Location: Coyoacan, Mexico City, Mexico
Distance From The Mexico City International Airport: 15 km

The list highlights some of the places to visit in Mexico City, offering a blend of history, art, and culture. You can start your exploration journey from the ancient ruins of Templo Mayor to the vibrant streets of Coyoacan. Whether exploring Chapultepec Park or admiring iconic murals, Mexico City has something for everyone. Plan a trip with TripXL and immerse yourself in the charm of this unforgettable capital city.

Cover Photo: John Cafazza / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only

Frequently Asked Questions

There are around 173 museums in Mexico City. The city is known to have the largest number of museums in the entire world.
Some of the most touristic places to visit in Mexico are Chichen Itza, Palacio de Bellas Artes, Cancun, and Tulum.
Some of the best tourist places in Mexico City for food are Condimento, Pujol, Restaurante Nicos, and La Docena.
Some of the famous museums to visit in Mexico City are the Frida Kahlo Museum, the University Museum of Contemporary Art, and the National Art Museum.
Among tourists from all over the world, Mexico City is known for its historical monuments, museums, hospitality, and culture.

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