Today I’m going to be talking about the best museums in Mexico City which is a TASK partly because there are so many. People will tell you that CDMX is the city with the most museums after Paris. Although I can’t find anything to verify this statistic, there are undeniably loads; sources list between 150 and 200.
With that many to choose from, you need to do your research because you obviously can’t see them all. I debated organizing this guide by area but decided to arrange it by type: history, culture, art, Diego murals, science, and food & drink.
However, let’s start with the…
Top 10 museums in Mexico City
Although I wanted to create the most thorough possible guide, I’m aware that unless you’re living here like me, you probably don’t need to know about 50 museums!
So I put together the top 10, ideal for those visiting CDMX for a couple of days and wanting to get their culture fix.
1. Palace of Fine Arts (Centro)
You can’t talk about art museums in Mexico City without Palacio de Bellas Artes. It’s easily the most iconic building in Mexico (almost an emblem for the city) with some fantastic works of art inside.
Despite several floors of exhibits, the highlight is the Diego murals on the top floor. Man Controller of the Universe is a recreation of Man at the Crossroads, commissioned by John D Rockefeller Jr for the MoMA in New York. However, when Rivera painted Russian communist leader, Lenin, it was destroyed by Rockefeller (a capitalist), ending their working relationship.
Diego recreated it, examining themes of the times: capitalism vs communism, good vs evil, and a vision for a peaceful future.
Also inside the Palace of Fine Arts is a concert hall hosting the Ballet Folklórico, a spectacular cultural performance. It’s ideal for English speakers because no words = no language barrier!
Tickets for the ballet start from 369 pesos.
Entry price: You can go into the downstairs hall for free or buy a 75 peso ticket to see the exhibitions on the top 2 levels.
English signage? Per room but not per exhibit.
Other museums nearby: MUNAL, Postal Palace, Franz Mayer.
Read next: my guide to Centro Historico and everything to do there
2. Museo de Arte Popular (Centro)
This is easily one of my favorite museums in Mexico City: it’s fun, colorful, and cultural with a focus on Mexican folk art including alebrijes AKA weird and wonderful mythical creatures.
From the second you enter, you’ll see enormous alebrijes hanging in the entrance hall and a Volkswagen Beetle all decorated in beads, a traditional style made by Huichol people. This colorful display is a great intro to what’s to come!
Near Centro, it’s an easy one to work into your sightseeing plans. Expect to spend around 1 hour here.
Entry: 60 pesos or free on Sundays.
English signage? Yes.
3. Anthropology Museum (Chapultepec Section I)
If you have time for just one place on this list, I urge you to visit the Anthropology Museum (Museo Nacional de Antropología).
This is one of my favorite museums in the world (I have been many times) with rooms dedicated to different pre-Hispanic cultures. From the Mayans to the Zapotecs, Mixtecs, and Aztecs, there’s plenty to see and learn. Almost too much for one visit!
Rather than stuffy texts, there are enormous exhibits like the 20-ton Sun Stone (the intricate Aztec Calendar), a recreation of the tomb of Pakal (the 70-year-long ruler of Palenque), and the Jade mask of the Zapotec Bat God found in the Monte Alban ruins of Oaxaca.
It’s an exciting, vibrant place that will fill you with knowledge!
Entry price: 90 pesos, free on Sundays (but super busy).
English signage? Yes.
Other museums nearby: Museo de Arte Moderno, Rufino Tamayo, Chapultepec Castle.
4. Museo de Arte Moderno (Chapultepec Section I)
One of the city’s top spots for art lovers is the Modern Art Museum. The circular building has a characteristic golden ceiling dome in its center, surrounded by galleries.
For me, the clear highlight is the Two Fridas painting by the legendary Frida Kahlo inspired by her divorce with Diego.
Other exhibits change but always entail colorful Mexican modern art (paintings, photos, and sculptures) from the 1920s to the present.
Don’t miss the Sculpture Garden backing onto Chapultepec Park. It’s a peaceful place to wander with hundreds of statues.
Spend around 60-90 minutes here.
Entry price: 70 pesos or free on Sundays.
English signage? There’s an introduction to each room but not for individual works.
Other museums nearby: Anthropology, Rufino Tamayo, Chapultepec Castle.
5. Frida Kahlo Museum (Casa Azul/ Blue House)
The most famous museum in Mexico City is dedicated to the fascinating life of iconic Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo.
Located in Coyoacan, the charming barrio in the south of Mexico City that she called home, the Blue House is known for its brilliant hue… and the endless lines of tourists that snake around the corner!
It’s advised to book tickets in advance on the website and, even then, you’ll be waiting a while. Although it’ll be busy inside, it’s worth it to see her poignant artwork and glimpse inside her home.
It’s a beautiful complex with a gallery that leads to preserved bedrooms belonging to her and Diego; a spacious garden and cafe; and another series of rooms displaying (incredible) items from her wardrobe.
Entry: 320 pesos on the website. Book in advance ideally a week before. Many tourists get caught out hoping they can walk in on the day.
English signage? Yes.
Nearby museums: Leon Trotsky Casa, Popular Cultures.
6. Teotihuacan (Museo del Sitio)
I’m sure you’ve already heard of the world-famous archeological site that is Teotihuacan (pronounced te-ow-te-wakan).
Although the whole site could be classed as an outdoor history museum, there’s also a specific center dedicated to these fantastical ruins, Museo del Sitio. Unless you hire a guide, you won’t learn much about Teotihuacan from wandering the grounds so it’s worthwhile to browse artifacts including skeletons found beneath the ruins.
Find the museum south of the Pirámide del Sol (Pyramid of the Sun). Make sure to bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen when navigating the Teotihuacan ruins because there’s little shade and lots of walking needed.
English signage? Yes
Entry price: the museum is included in the Teotihuacan ruins entry ticket (95 pesos).
How to visit Teotihuacan: The most popular options are exploring the complex by foot (arrive by organized day tour, local bus, or Uber) or from the skies as part of a hot air balloon ride. If you have the budget for the latter, I can confirm it’s incredible.
If you take the balloon ride, it’s best to pick a package that includes time at the pyramids, especially if you want to learn about their history.
7. National History Museum (Chapultepec Section I)
At the top of a steep hill lies one of several museums within Chapultepec Park, located around 15 minutes walking on foot from the Modern Art one.
Chapultepec Castle is an impressive residence built in the 18th century as a summerhouse for the Viceroy of New Spain (Mexico). In modern times, it has appeared in the filming of Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet. The views over the park and city from the terrace are spectacular.
Inside, the National History Museum explains the history of the Castle from the colonial era to the Mexican-American War but, on the whole, is a little dry and not presented in the most captivating or interactive way (at least in my opinion). However, the impressive castle complex is still well worth visiting.
English signage? No.
Entry: 90 pesos for the whole complex, or free on Sundays (but expect it to be very crowded). Food and drink aren’t allowed so you’ll have to finish your water or tip it away.
Important note – section I of Chapultepec and the four museums mentioned above are all closed on Mondays.
Other museums nearby: Museo de Arte Moderno, Rufino Tamayo, Anthropology.
8. Soumaya (Polanco)
One of the most famous and distinctive art museums in Mexico City is Soumaya, the private collection of Carlos Slim. It’s known as a not-for-profit cultural institution although, let’s face it, as the richest man in Mexico (and the richest person in the world from 2010-13 according to Forbes), he hardly needs more money!
Inside the shiny silver building that cost $800 million to build, there are over 66,000 items on display.
Undoubtedly it’s an impressive collection with works from Salvador Dali, Van Gogh, Picasso, Matisse, and Monet but, for me, it misses the essence of Mexico since most of the art is so Euro-centric. Still, if historical and world-famous art is your bag, it’s bound to impress.
Entry: free.
English signage? Yes.
Nearby museums: Jumex.
Soumaya is one of the few CDMX museums open Mondays; it has its weekly closure day on Tuesdays.
English? Yes.
9. Templo Mayor (Centro)
This isn’t your typical museum: it’s the open-air ruins of Tenochtitlan, the holy place believed to be where the Aztecs witnessed an eagle upon a cactus eating a snake, now the emblem for Mexico visible on the flag.
Once the grand capital of the Mexica people (better known as the Aztecs), it comprised various temples and shrines. Excavations have revealed more than 7,000 items from knives and masks to animal skulls, gold, and coral. Tragically, it was largely destroyed in the 1500s by Spanish conquistadors and many of the stones were used to build the nearby Metropolitan Cathedral.
Entry price: It’s free to wander the open-air ruins or you can pay 90 pesos to visit the indoor section. The ticket also includes access to a boardwalk that explores more of the ruins, ending at an exhibition on Coyolxauhqui, the Aztec moon goddess.
I’d say the ticket is worth it: although it’s not the biggest or best museum ever, you won’t learn much about the ancient capital at the free section.
English signage? The main section has English boards but not the Coyolxauhqui exhibit.
Nearby museums: Former College of San Ildefonso, National Palace, Museum of Women, World Cultures.
10. MUNAL National Art Museum (Centro)
The impressive staircase and ceiling mural alone might be worth visiting MUNAL! This stunning neoclassical venue in Centro has two floors of Mexican art spanning the 16th century to the 1950s.
I visited to see the famous Monet Water Lillies which were in town temporarily. Still, there’s always something worth seeing at MUNAL: I loved the Mexican modern landscape exhibit showing colorful volcanos and images from Mexican folklore by artist, Jose Maria Velasco.
The gift shop sells affordable prints of the art on display. I got a poster, bookmark, and two coasters for 200 pesos.
Entry price: 85 pesos and 5 for camera permit.
English signage? The odd sign but not really. Luckily, the art does the talking.
Other museums nearby: MUNAL, Postal Palace, Franz Mayer.
History museums in CDMX
Whether you’re interested in prehispanic history or the Mexican Revolution, you’ll find it here. There are several museums dedicated to famous individuals from history, for example Leon Trotsky.
Franz Mayer (Centro)
In Centro by Alameda Park, this gorgeous orange mansion has a courtyard, fountain, and cafe. A peaceful oasis in busy Centro!
Originally a grain warehouse and then a hospital and monastery, the building had centuries of history before it became Latin America’s largest collection of visual arts.
Set up by German philanthropist, Franz Mayer, it’s a wealth of cultural heritage with art, furniture, statues, silver, ceramics, and textiles from Mexico, Europe, and Asia. The library alone holds more than 22,000 books!
Most of the exhibits at Franz Mayer are from the 16th-19th centuries but you’ll find modern, thought-provoking art in the corridors.
Price: 70 pesos or free on Tuesdays.
English signage? No.
Nearby museums: MUNAL, Belles Artes, Postal Palace.
Postal Museum (Centro)
This decadent ‘postal palace’ in Centro is inside one of the city’s grandest buildings. Although it functions as a post office to this day, it’s more of a tourist attraction given the splendor of the building and ornate details.
The Palacio Postal (also known as Correo Mayor) was built between 1902 and 1907 sparing no precious materials: marble covers the floors and gold covers… well, everything else! It was dreamed up by ex-President Porfirio Díaz who had a penchant for the architectural styles of Europe.
Relics in the Post Museum of Mexico City include the country’s first stamp ever printed and ‘Timoteo’, the cute post office mascot pictured above. There are a few information boards where you can learn about the history of the building, plus how ‘runners’ acted as messengers to Aztec gods pre-dating modern postal systems.
Entry: free.
English signage? No.
Other museums nearby: MUNAL, Belles Artes, Franz Mayer.
Museum of Natural History (Chapultepec Section II)
In Section II of Chapultepec Park, the main natural history museum displays fossils, meteorites, and dinosaur skeletons in a practical, interactive way. It’s a good place to bring kids because it’s not a stuffy place with endless texts.
The grounds of the Natural History Museum are spacious (as can be expected within the largest city park in the country) and peaceful.
Entry price: 45 pesos.
English signage? No.
Nearby museums: Dolores Cárcamo (Fuente de Tlaloc), Papalote Museo del Niño.
Monument to the Revolution (Reforma)
The Monumento a la Revolución is a distinctive building off Reforma near Centro. Located on Plaza de la República (Republic Square), it was built to celebrate the Mexican Revolution that saw 1-2 million people perish in the battle to overthrow the longstanding rule of Porfirio Díaz.
In reality, the history of the revolution is much more complex than that, which is why you should visit the informative Revolution Museum below the arch. There’s also an art gallery inside, plus a viewing platform with cafe/bar, accessed by a glass lift in the middle.
At 220 feet, it’s the world’s biggest triumphant arch, even beating North Korea’s nationalist monument! It also serves as a mausoleum for four Mexican presidents buried beneath.
A nice option for visiting is hiring an EcoBici bicycle and cycling down Reforma on a Sunday when it’s closed to cars. For the best view of the monument, visit Terraza Cha Cha Cha, a bar with food, drinks, and rooftop views.
Entry price: 150 pesos; free on Sundays.
English signage? Yes.
Former College of San Ildefonso (Centro)
This is a peaceful place that’s never as busy as some of the top attractions in Centro.
The Former College of San Ildefonso is a former 18th-century school for Jesuit priests, now a visitors attraction full of art. The highlight is the incredible stained glass and murals on the stairs.
The only downside is that, during my visit in 2024, lots of the rooms were closed.
However, I got to see the main event: a Diego mural, La Creation (1922). It’s a religious scene rather than one alluding to Mexican society and social themes, making it an unusual piece by his normal standards.
Entry fee: 50 pesos.
English signage? No.
Nearby museums: Templo Mayor, National Palace, World Cultures.
Leon Trotsky Museum (Coyoacan)
It was in this beautiful casa with sunny grounds that Leon Trotsky lived and died. If you’re interested in 20th-century history, it’s one of the best museums in Mexico City.
Not far from Casa Azul in Coyoacan, the location is no coincidence: Trotsky moved near his friends Frida and Diego when he fled the Soviet Union as an enemy of the state. Stalin was intent on ending him and, after several assassination attempts, succeeded by sending in Spanish Communist in disguise, Ramón Mercader.
Despite the macabre history, the Leon Trotsky Museum is a fascinating place to visit with bedrooms preserved as he left them, a courtyard with outdoor seating, and a small place where you can get up to speed with the facts and figures.
Entry fee: 70 pesos.
English signage? Yes. Although generally the informative provided could be more informative.
Nearby Museums: Frida Kahlo (Casa Azul), Popular Cultures.
Cultural museums in CDMX
The Anthropology Museum that I listed above is the main cultural institution in Mexico City, but there are plenty of other places to immerse yourself in the rich culture and heritage of Mexico. A few of them are…
Museum of Popular Cultures (Coyoacan)
Combining design and anthropology, this bright and colorful museum in Coyoacan examines how Mexican identity is influenced via clothing, music, and art.
It’s a small center with one open-plan room of ceramics, musical instruments, sombreros, photography, and modern art. Even the grounds are impressive with large murals and vibrant art pieces.
It’s a colorful, captivating place that requires under an hour to visit.
Entry: 19.50 pesos. So cheap!
English signage? No.
Nearby museums: Frida Kahlo House (Casa Azul), Casa Leon Trotsky.
National Museum of World Cultures (Centro)
This residence and grounds of the National Museum of World Cultures are an oasis of calm in bustling Centro. Dedicated to world cultures, there are rooms covering Ancient Egypt, China, Korea, and more.
I caught an exhibition on the Haenyeo women divers from South Korea who I’d been lucky enough to see during my trip in 2019. Their profession is protected by UNESCO and well worth learning about!
English signage? No.
Entry: free.
Nearby museums: Former College of San Ildefonso, National Palace, Templo Mayor, Museum of Women.
Museum of Women (Centro)
The Women’s Museum is a small place in Centro that’s worth an hour of your time. It covers a range of topics and eras from suffrage to female pre-Hispanic gods.
Given the cheap entry fee, I was impressed with the quality of the interactive, arty videos that play with informative commentaries at the press of a button.
Upstairs, there are some comfy sofas where you can lie down and take in the information around you.
English signage? The signs are only in Spanish but the videos with commentaries are available in English and Spanish.
Entry: 20 pesos.
Nearby museums: Former College of San Ildefonso, National Palace, Templo Mayor.
Art museums in Mexico City
I’ll be putting together a separate guide to the top art galleries in Mexico City (it’s going to be a big one!) but, for the time being, have these places on your radar.
From prehispanic to contemporary art, there’s so much on offer in Mexico City. Some are huge institutions showcasing the world’s most famous artists, while others are small, community-led galleries.
Museo Jumex (Polanco)
Right beside Museo Soumaya is a second impressive private collection of art owned by another Mexican billionaire, Eugenio López Alonso, heir to the Jumex juice fortune. Unlike Soumaya, it focuses more on contemporary art than the classics.
Open since 2013 and containing 2,800 works by artists including Damien Hirst and Andy Warhol, Jumex is one of Latin America’s biggest contemporary art museums.
English signage? Yes.
Entry fee: free. Since it’s next door to Soumaya, I’d advise doing both at once (if you’re visiting Weds-Sun when they’re both open).
Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo (San Angel)
For an opportunity to learn more about the lives of Frida and Diego (who lived here from 1934 to 1940) and see their art and studios, take a trip to this small museum in San Angel. There are three houses on site: one for Diego, the blue one for Frida, and a third belonging to their friend and artist, Juan O’Gorman.
Another historic place to visit across the road is San Angel Inn, where ex-president, Pancho Villa, and revolutionary, Emiliano Zapata, planned to split control of the country after the Revolution. It’s now a hotel and restaurant you can visit for a fancy, alfresco lunch.
Entry fee: free Sundays.
English signage?
San Angel neighborhood is located in the south of Mexico City near Coyoacan so you could combine the two. Another idea is visiting on a Saturday to enjoy the wonderful San Angel Sabado Market. Be sure to have breakfast at Na Tlali, one of my favorite restaurants in CDMX!
Museo Rufino Tamayo (Chapultepec)
Less than a 5-minute walk from the Modern Art Museum (mentioned in my top 10 list above) on the outskirts of Chapultepec Park is a second contemporary art gallery.
Founded in the 1980s by Mexican artist, Rufino Tamayo, the collection holds works of his own alongside other notable Mexican artists. The exhibit halls are huge with high ceilings and an outdoorsy feel with park views.
For me, it’s the antidote to museums like Soumaya that focus on old, European art. Tamayo tackles the centering of Euro-centric art with large, confronting exhibits like the smashed-up piano by Montañez Ortiz that takes up half a room.
It’s an impressive place that warrants 1-2 hours of your time.
English signage? Yes.
Entry fee: 85 pesos or free on Sundays.
Other museums nearby: Museo de Arte Moderno, Anthropology, Chapultepec Castle.
Uni Museum of Contemporary Art (UNAM)
MUAC is one of many places worth visiting in the vast university city of UNAM. You could spend a whole day exploring this complex! If you only have time for a few places, this is one of my favorite contemporary art museums in Mexico City.
The huge building made from concrete and glass is everything a modern art gallery should be, with high ceilings and lots of natural light. Despite its vast size, there’s not an overwhelming amount of inside: an hour should serve you well.
During my recent visit, I was fascinated by the room of prehispanic monuments including the artwork by Gala Porras-Kim dedicated to Mayan items stolen by Western powers. Another highlight is the Children’s Games room curated by Francis Alÿs where giant screens show guests how kids play in different cultures.
However, exhibits change often so I can’t promise what you’ll see during your visit.
Entry price: 40 pesos.
English signage? Yes.
Getting there: if you take an Uber to UNAM, ensure you enter MUAC as the university complex is huge.
Diego art museums in CDMX
As I know many visitors ask want to see Diego Rivera murals in Mexico City, I decided to create a separate section for this topic.
In addition to the Palace of the Arts mentioned in my top 10 list above, the following places have Diego murals on display.
Museo Mural Diego Rivera (Centro)
The main attraction at this museum (as the name suggests) is the Diego Rivera mural, Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Central, measuring an impressive 15.67 meters.
The mural should be viewed left to right as a synopsis of Mexico City’s history. The ‘dream’ element refers to how everyone dreams of the past, present, and future.
On one side of the painting is photos of Diego creating the impressive mural and on the other is an exhibit to the 1975 earthquake that damaged much of the city including the building housing the mural.
English signage? An initial explanation about the mural; everything else is in Spanish only.
Entry price: 40 pesos or free on Sundays.
Nearby museums: Arte de Popular.
National Palace (Centro)
Palacio Nacional is a historic building in downtown Mexico City home to several Diego murals and the glamorous Supreme Court of Justice. It’s also the official residence of the president.
An important note is that you can’t just walk in: you can only visit as part of an official tour (free). The English one starts at 10.30am daily, lasting 1 hour. You’ll want to arrive before 10am to get in line. My friend and I still didn’t manage to get in but we reserved a slot for the following day.
The effort required to visit is worth it! This is one of the best Mexico City museums for anyone interested in Diego’s work. Aside from perhaps the Secretariat of Education, it’s the biggest collection of his work. The guide is essential in understanding the numerous historic and social themes.
Entry: free.
English signage? there are English and Spanish signs and tours.
Note – no videos are allowed.
Nearby museums: Former College of San Ildefonso, Templo Mayor, World Cultures.
Secretariat of Education (Centro)
Although not technically an art museum, I’m going to class it as one because I learned so much about Mexican culture by viewing Diego’s murals here.
The Secretaría de Educación Pública (Secretariat of Education) is a leafy complex with two floors with Diego murals in the corridors.
The collection rivals that of the National Palace so, if you can’t get a spot on the 10am tour there, walk 10 minutes here instead. The only requirement for visiting is that you need an official ID. You exchange this for a pass to be worn around your neck and swap it back when you leave.
Entry fee: free.
Opening times: 8am-4pm, Monday-Friday (closed weekends).
Anahuacalli Diego Rivera Museum (Coyoacan)
This open plan complex in the south of the city was constructed by Rivera to house his collection of 2,000 figurines showing native people from prehispanic cultures.
The Anahuacalli Museum is impressive from afar: a giant block of volcanic stone. Inside, you can see the figurines, his studio, and pieces of his work. On Sundays from April to December, there are free concerts at 1pm.
Buses travel between here and the Frida Kahlo House on weekends or you can ride the train from Tasqueña to Xotepingo station, or simply take Uber.
Entry fee: 100 pesos.
English signage? Yes.
Science & technology museums in Mexico City
These are great places to learn about the world around us, for both kids and adults…
Papalote Museo del Niño (Chapultepec Section II)
The children’s museum is a space for fun, interactive learning. Expect exhibits about how the brain works (complete with a humungous skull) and the endangered axolotls who live in Xochimilco’s waterways.
Not having kids, I haven’t been to the Papalote Children’s Museums but there are thousands of positive reviews saying that children as young as two found it fun and enjoyable.
Entry fee: from 55 pesos; packages available for families.
English signage? No, but many of the staff speak English and are helpful.
Nearby museums: Dolores Cárcamo (Fuente de Tlaloc), Natural History.
Universum (UNAM)
The UNAM campus hosts a plethora of attractions. Between the university buildings lie cultural hubs like the Museo de Contemporary Art (mentioned above) and Universum, a science and tech museum with a robot exhibit and selection of space rocks.
There’s a planetarium you can visit for an extra 15 pesos and even a butterfly garden!
Closed Mon & Tues.
Food & drink museums in Mexico City
As the country with the world’s best food (source: me), it’s no surprise that the cuisine has made its way into the museums. Here are places to learn about prehispanic foods and drinks enjoyed for centuries, and try them for yourself!
Museo del Chocolate (Juarez)
This small center in the Juarez neighborhood of Mexico City is a cute place for chocolate lovers to spend half an hour. While I have been to more impressive chocolate museums in Mexico (one in Valladolid comes to mind), it’s the best place in Mexico City to learn about the history of chocolate.
MUCHO Mundo Chocolate Museum has life-size recreations of the chocolate production process, information about how it was used by the Aztecs and Mayans, packaging relating to chocolate products from around the world, and an interactive ‘aroma room’ where you can guess the smells.
Perhaps the best bit is the chocolate cafe onsite where you can try gourmet chocolates from 10 pesos, or sip hot chocolate and other flavored drinks like cacao horchata. Desserts for sale include chocolate tamales.
Entry fee: 80 pesos.
English signage? Yes.
Tequila & Mezcal (Centro)
Beside Plaza de Garibaldi, the Museo del Tequila y Mezcal is dedicated to the most famous Mexican beverages. Learn about these agave-based drinks, get to try them, and enjoy views of the capital from the rooftop bar.
If you don’t have time to visit the town of Tequila in Jalisco state or a mezcal plantation in Oaxaca, it’s a quick and easy way to experience these drinks during your Mexico trip.
Entry fee: 50 pesos.
Museo del Pulque (Centro)
This museum next to Hidalgo metro stop is dedicated to pulque, a prehispanic drink favored by the Aztecs and made from the fermented sap of the maguey plant.
It’s small and not the most informative, but if you’re at a loose end in Centro, it’s a fun stop with a pulqueria downstairs to try the unique beverage in flavors such as tamarind, peanut, mango, and strawberry.
If you enjoy it, read about where to try pulque in my Mexico City bars guide.
Entry fee: 30 pesos including one shot of pulque, but you can purchase more.
English signage? No.
Other museums in Mexico City
Here are a few unusual options that don’t fit any other category…
Memory & Tolerance Museum (Centro)
One of the more unusual cultural centers is dedicated to human rights with the hope of not repeating atrocities. At the Memory & Tolerance Museum, there’s also a simplified and non-upsetting area for kids to learn about diversity.
Entry fee: 125 pesos including an audio guide.
English signage? No.
Nearby museums: Museo de Arte Popular, Belles Artes.
Object Museum (Roma Norte)
This small museum on one of the city’s coolest streets, Colima, is a cool place to visit if you’re in the neighborhood.
The Museum del Objectos (MODO) was initially a private collection of objects belonging to the owner including retro marketing materials, but now it’s home to ever-changing exhibitions.
I was happy to find a temporary one partnered with the Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb, Croatia (a favorite of mine) when I first arrived in CDMX. This exhibit is now over but there’s always something going on.
Entry fee: 60 pesos.
English signage? The odd thing but most is in Spanish.
Dolores Cárcamo Museum & Tlaloc Fountain (Chapultepec Section II)
This is a quirky museum in Section II of Chapultepec Park. The murals inside are impressive but the highlight is the quirky sunken artwork by Diego Rivera outside (free to visit).
Although unlike his regular work, the enormous fountain (Fuente de Tlacoc) is just as striking. Part of a project to improve the infrastructure of the city via the Carcamo water tank, Diego created this depiction of the Rain God, Tláloc, just 5 years before he died.
The god spans a 100m pool, also known as the Water Garden.
Entry price: it’s 35 pesos to enter the small museum explaining the history, but free to view the Tlaloc Fountain outside.
Nearby museums: Natural History, Papalote Museo del Niño.
Small art galleries in CDMX
For more art, check out the following studios…
- Salon of Mexican Fine Art (Roma Norte)
- Casa Basalta (Roma Norte)
- Casa Lamm (Roma Norte)
- Casa Estudio Luis Barragán (San Miguel de Chapultepec)
- Casa Gilardi (San Miguel de Chapultepec)
- Kurimanzutto (San Miguel de Chapultepec).
Thanks for reading!
Mexico City food and drink guides:
- Roma Norte restaurants, Mexico City
- Where to eat in Condesa
- Where to go for cocktails in CDMX
- Speakeasy bars in CDMX
- Vegetarian restaurants in Mexico City
- Breakfast and brunch in Mexico City
- The best coffee shops in Condesa
- Best places for dessert in CDMX
- La Esquina del Chilaquil (torta de chilaquiles)
Other Mexico City guides:
