Are you searching for the Best Places to Visit in Mexico City? Are you thinking of a trip to North America and wondering what to explore in Mexico City? We’ve got you covered. Mexico City (Ciudad de Mexico), the country’s capital, is located at an elevation of more than 2,200m in the Anahuac Valley. Majestic mountain ranges surround it. Its stunning location is dominated by two majestic, snow-covered volcanoes, Popocatepetl & Iztaccihuatl, that tower over it at more than 5,000m.
Although the city retains many traces of its past, pre-Columbian architecture and art are only fragmented and reproduced in museums since the Spanish Conquistadors constructed their new town on the ruins of the Aztec metropolis at Tenochtitlan. Many of the magnificent Baroque churches, palaces, and other structures built in this period of colonial rule are still intact.
Mexico City is prominent in both population and area. However, the most popular tourist attractions and things to do in Mexico City are located in the historic center (Centro Historico de la Ciudad), a 15-kilometer UNESCO World Heritage Site that contains more than 1,400 buildings from the 16th through the 19th centuries. This is the best place to visit in Mexico for travelers as it includes many examples of Aztec origins and Spanish colonization.
Please find out more activities in Mexico City with our list.
Templo Mayor
Templo Mayor is one of the best places to visit in Mexico City.Tenochtitlan’s Aztec temple, the Templo Mayor, was known as the Templo Mayor. Over the years, the temple expanded until it became the center of religious life. Here were offered sacrifices to God’s rain and war. In 1521, the Spanish conquistadors destroyed it.
They then quickly built the Cathedral over it, but not quite. It consists of a large, stone-built pyramid. The temple was lost until its discovery in 1978. While walking through the dig site, visitors can still see remnants of several other temples located beneath the original temple.
Zócalo: The Birthplace of the Constitution
Mexico City’s heartbeat is Zocalo, the Plaza de la Constitucion (Constitution Square), where Mexico’s first constitution was published in 1813. It measures approximately 240m in each direction and is one of the largest squares in the world. It was constructed almost immediately following the conquest of Tenochtitlan, an Aztec city.
The square was used as a market and bullfighting arena in the colonial era. Today, it is used for parades, festivals, and demonstrations.
Three of the most popular tourist attractions in the city – the National Palace and the Metropolitan Cathedral – make Zocalo the ideal place to start exploring this historic city.
Hot Tipp: Just a short walk from Zocalo, you will find three floors of murals created by the famous artist Diego Rivera at the Secretariat de Educacion Publica. You are welcome to enter at no cost.
Basilica de Guadalupe
The Basilica de Guadalupe was created when the Virgin Mary appeared in 1531 and asked a poor peasant for proof that a temple should go up in her honor. The skeptical bishop asked for evidence that the man had seen the Virgin.
He placed roses underneath his cloak at her request. When he opened the veil, the roses contained an image of the Virgin. Pedro Ramirez Vasquez, who also designed the National Museum of Anthropology, built a “New” Basilica de Guadalupe between 1974 and 1976.
There is ample space for up to 50,000 worshippers in the plaza at the basilica’s entrance. This number includes those who attend the Virgin of Guadalupe’s feast day on December 12.
The National Museum of Anthropology
The National Museum of Anthropology is one of the most significant worldwide. It is located in Chapultepec. You can easily miss it due to its substantial monolithic entrance.
Built this strikingly modern example of contemporary architecture in 1964. It is well-known for its impressive displays of ancient Indian art treasures.
Its vast collection is as impressive as the building itself. It includes archaeological finds from extinct Indian cultures and details about the lives of Mexican Indian inhabitants today.
Another highlight is the National Library of Anthropology, founded by Lucas Alaman and developed by Emperor Maximilian in 1831. It boasts more than 300,000.
Address: Av Paseo de la Reforma y Calzada Gandhi S/N, Chapultepec Polanco, 11560 Ciudad de Mexico, CDMX, Mexico
Chapultepec Park
Chapultepec Park is one of the best places to visit in Mexico City. Bosque de Chapultepec, Mexico City’s central park, covers an area of over four kilometers. It is also the largest. It was once a stronghold for the Toltecs. In AD 1200, the Aztecs established a settlement here and, according to legends, created a park in the early 15th Century.
The hill was used as a summer residence by the Aztec rulers. Water from the springs was then transported to the temple precinct at the capital via an aqueduct. These remains can still be seen in Avenida Chapultepec. The hill’s slopes are where made portraits of Aztec rulers are.
The park is now well-known for its lakes and sports facilities, botanic gardens, and museums. You’ll find the National History Museum, the National Museum of Anthropology, and many other fun events, such as concerts and theatrical performances.
The Museum of Modern Art (Museo de Arte Moderno) is also worth a visit. It was opened in 1964. It is notable for its retrospective view of Mexican art before and during colonial times and its collection of photographs and sculptures by Mexican artists of the 19th and 20th Centuries.
You will also find the Chapultepec Zoological Park, which has a remarkable variety of animals from all over the globe.
Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral
The massive Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitan de la Asuncion de Maria) dominates Zocalo square. It is the largest and oldest church in the Western Hemisphere. This massive grey sandstone and basalt structure were built on top of an ancient Aztec temple precinct. Construction began in 1525. It has been extended for over 250 years.
Despite the presence of two neoclassical towers and other features, the façade creates a Baroque impression due to its large twisted columns. The bell towers, added in 1793, and the statues dedicated to Faith, Hope, and Charity, located on the clock tower are notable features. They date back to 1813.
The interiors of the cathedral show a mix of styles. Highlights include the exquisitely carved Altar of the Kings (Altar de Los Reyes), which dates back to 1739. It also features a stunning devotional painting of the Assumption (Asuncion de Maria), to which the cathedral is devoted.
A chapel with the remains of Mexican Emperor Agustin de Iturbide is also of interest, as well as the crypt housing the tombs of many city archbishops, including Juan de Zumarraga, who was the great teacher to the Indians and the first incumbent of this see.
The National Palace
The president’s official residence is on the east side, in the Zocalo. It is constructed of reddish tezontle stones and has a facade that measures 200 meters.
It was built on top of an Aztec Palace and served as the Spanish rulers’ seat during colonial times. It has been extensively altered and expanded over the years. It is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city and includes notable features such as the Freedom Bell rung each year on the anniversary of the War of Independence.
Many rooms are located around the palace’s 14 courtyards. Some rooms are accessible to the public. The most prominent is the Grand Courtyard, which has fine frescoes that depict the country’s rich past. The grand staircase is adorned with The History of Mexico mural created by Diego Rivera.
English-language guided tours take you to a museum, large halls, and the parliamentary chamber where the Reform Constitution of 1857 was drafted (it as well as the Constitution of 1917)
The State Archives contains essential documents, and the Biblioteca Miquel Lerdo De Tejada is one of the largest libraries in the country.
National History Museum
National History Museum is one of the best places to visit in Mexico City. The National History Museum (Museo Nacional de Historia) is another of Mexico City’s top-rated attractions. The museum is located in the Chapultepec Castle (18th century) (Castillo de Chapultepec), which was once home to Aztec buildings. It opened in 1944.
Highlights include documents, maps, plans from the Conquest period, arms and armor, and plans and documents. Ceramics, jewelry, clothing, and coins are all included. There are also relics and souvenirs about the struggle for independence, the revolution wars, portraits of prominent figures in Mexican history, and various state carriages, including those owned by Emperor Maximilian and Benito Juarez.
The apartments occupied in Maximilian’s and Charlotte’s homes, decorated in a neoclassical style with European furniture, are also worth a look. Beautiful views can be seen from the castle.
Museo Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo was the wife of Diego Rivera, a well-known Mexican artist. But she was also a prominent artist. She was born in Casa Azul (Blue House) and died there. Rivera made the house a museum in her memory in 1968.
Rivera created the museum to exhibit their art and other folk artists, preSpanish artifacts, and other memorabilia. It is the most popular tourist attraction in Mexico City and the most visited in Coyocan.
Explore the Polanco Neighborhood
Explore the Polanco Neighborhood is one of the best places to visit in Mexico City. Polanco is Mexico’s original “in-vogue” destination. This expensive, glamorous neighborhood is all about luxury, fine dining, and stunning hotels. There are many shops and restaurants in the area and an area of Chapultepec Park.
Polanco is a top choice if you want a high-end destination in Latin America. The main street of the neighborhood is the Avenida Presidential Masaryk. It is often compared to Mexico City’s 5th Avenue. You can see why, as you will see art gallery after art gallery, fine dining after exquisite dining, shopping malls, and stunning hotels.
You can start at the Antara Fashion hall, where you will find all the brands, from Hugo Boss to Carolina Herrera. The Siqueiros Public Art Room is also available for you to visit.
Muralist David Siqueiros holds workshops, talks, conferences, and exhibitions here. Chapultepec Park is also an excellent spot for an afternoon picnic. You can also make a reservation at the famous Pujol restaurant in the evening before you head to the Telcel Theatre to see a Spanish-language Broadway performance.
Conclusion
All destinations are awesome! According to my opinion, National History Museum is the best to start. I hope you have enjoyed our list of Best Places to Visit in Mexico City.
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