19 Best Museums in Mexico City for Thousands of Years of Anthropology and History
A visit to Mexico City isn’t complete without visiting a museum or three—there are literally hundreds, an unparalleled breadth that covers many focuses and concentrations. There are the grand museums, popular and heavily trafficked, but also smaller, off-the-beaten-path collections well worth an afternoon. Whatever your interest, be it history, culture, art, or architecture, Mexico City has a museum for you. Here are some of our favorites.
Read our complete Mexico City travel guide here, which includes:
- The Best Things to Do in Mexico City
- The Best Hotels in Mexico City
- The Best Restaurants in Mexico City
How we choose the best museums in Mexico City
Every review on this list has been written by a Condé Nast Traveler journalist who knows the destination and has visited that activity. When choosing things to do, our editors consider landmarks and experiences that offer an insider’s view of a destination, keeping authenticity, location, service, and sustainability credentials top of mind.
GettyactivityTemplo Mayor Museum (Museo del Templo Mayor)
If you omit the pyramids outside of the metropolitan zone, there is no greater archaeologically significant site in Mexico City than Templo Mayor, the fantastical fortress of the Aztec Empire. In the 16th century, the Aztec city was physically and spiritually crushed by the Spanish conquistadors. There are two sections: the outside pathways that pass through the ruins, which are in active excavation with archeologists and students working below, and the interior museum, which contains other stonework, baskets, totems, skulls, and friezes, spread out over eight large rooms. Inside, you can also see the construction and remarkable detailing of the temple—all those steps and slants. The entrance can be a bit confusing: It's accessed from the northeast corner of the Zocalo.
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Casa de Moneda de MéxicoactivityNational Numismatic Museum (Museo Numismático Nacional)
If you had to look up what numismatic means, no shade, we did too. Numismatic refers to anything related to the study, collection, and production of currency, including coins, paper money, medals, and tokens. At this underrated downtown museum, find ancient ovens, metalworking tools, and hulking printing wheels—the collection is distinctive and just plain neat. You can easily spend more than an hour browsing the years of different coin designs and medals in the rooms that flank the main hall. Plus, the building itself is captivating, with volcanic rock walls with a dark patina from all the metallurgy. The main chamber is like a moody, steampunk fever dream—it looks like something out of a movie set. Pro tip: Bring a passport if you are a foreigner, as you need to show ID at the front.
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Museo Vivo del MuralismoactivityMuseo Vivo del Muralismo
Enter this former government office building in the historic center between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. (closed on Tuesdays and official holidays) to see a stunning collection of midcentury murals. There are more than 200 distinct pieces that capture Mexico’s expansive and influential muralist tradition of the modern era; these artists’ monumental public works were tied to post-revolutionary ideals of education, social justice, and national identity. Pieces by David Alfaro Siqueiros, José Clemente Orozco, Diego Rivera, Fermín Revueltas, and more, span wall after wall in this three-story, open-air building, which was restored specifically for this project. It feels a tad wild that the murals are exposed to the open air, but all have been cleaned and restored to their original glory.
activityMetro Museum (Museo del Metro)
The Mexico City metro has been operating since 1969, with miles of underground tunnels and passageways that are home to the largest public art gallery in the world. As the metro has expanded and evolved over the course of fifty years, it now includes 195 stations on 12 distinct lines. The art collection has grown, too, featuring over 300 artists from 50 different nationalities. Certain stations have notable works, like the Garibaldi/Lagunilla Station, which is a tribute to Mexican boxing. The station has been transformed into a miniature boxing-themed museum, celebrating the sport’s rich history and its iconic figures.
GettyactivityMUAC (Museo Universitario Arte Contemporaneo)
The MUAC is a 14,000 square-foot contemporary art museum on the grounds of Mexico City's largest public university. The building itself, designed by architect Teodoro Gonzalez de Leon, attracts architecture and design aficionados. The art within—a collection of contemporary Mexican artwork from the 1950s onwards, ranging from paintings and drawings to video and sound installations—draws contemporary art fans the world over. The university grounds (which sit on an eco-reserve) are also a popular place for families to hang during weekends.
GettyactivityMuseo de Arte Popular
The Folk Art Museum (Museo de Arte Popular), located in a white Art Deco building in the historic center of Mexico City, focuses on the diversity of folk art and handicrafts in Mexico, showcasing pieces that range from pottery to textiles and everything in between. It's a great place to learn more about the indigenous peoples of Mexico through their creative works. There are usually two or three non-permanent exhibitions running concurrently. They all focus on handicrafts, some delve deeper into a particular craft or material and others focus on how a theme is represented throughout Mexico. The museum is well known for organizing an annual night parade of large carved figures called alebrijes.
Papalote Museo del NiñoactivityPapalote Museo del Niño
This huge museum at the edge of Chapultepec Park is packed with interactive activities and even an IMAX cinema. Imagine everything you loved to do as a kid, and your child (OK, you) can do it here: make huge bubbles, sit for story time, shop in a child-sized supermarket. The interactive exhibits are great for entertaining short attention spans, and the hands-on staff are helpful in guiding you toward your next activity. Every parent who comes here imagines their kids will get bored after two hours—chances are you'll stay three to four, at least.
GettyactivityMuseo Rufino Tamayo
The Tamayo Museum (Museo Tamayo) was founded by Ruffino Tamayo in 1981, when the Mexican artist donated his own works, in addition to a massive collection of international contemporary art, with the goal of showcasing 20th-century art for the public. The building, designed by Mexican architects Teodoro González de León and Abraham Zabludovsky, is made of reinforced concrete and white marble. You would assume such heavy materials would feel like an intrusion in the middle of Chapultepec Park, where the museum is located, but the low-slung design and natural tones allow the building to hide in and among the trees. Inside, glass walls and light wood floors make the gallery spaces feel contemporary, open, and spacious.
Courtesy Palacio de Bellas ArtesactivityPalacio de Bellas Artes
The Palace of Fine Arts (Palacio de Bellas Artes) is one of the most iconic and grand buildings in the historic center of Mexico City. The architecture alone is worth a visit: the opulent, eye-catching facade has Art Nouveau and Neoclassical influences and the multiple domes are covered in an intricate lattice of iron and Marroti crystal. The interior spaces are overwhelmingly vast: The top floor of the cultural center houses some seriously impressive murals painted by Mexico's most well-known muralists—Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and Roberto Montenegro. Elsewhere, there's the National Theater, the National Museum of Architecture, and other museum spaces dedicated to popular and fine-art exhibits.
GettyactivityMuseo Nacional de Antropología
This massive building in Chapultepec Park is the most well-known museum in Mexico City (second only to the Museo Frida Kahlo). Though it was designed in 1964 by late Mexican architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez, the mammoth concrete building still looks as avant-garde today as it did then. (How exactly does that giant concrete slab float above a pond?) The architecture is perhaps as impressive as the exhibits; some people come just to see the building. The museum is home to the world's largest collection of ancient Mexican artifacts, spread across 23 rooms. Some of the most iconic Mesoamerican artifacts discovered to date can be found here. If you want to understand Mexico's history, then a visit here is a must.
GettyactivityMuseo Frida Kahlo
Also known as Casa Azul for its shocking cobalt blue exterior, this museum is the former home where Frida Khalo was born and raised. She lived (and eventually died) in the home, which she shared with her fellow artist/husband, Diego Rivera. While the collection of their own artwork is small, what's perhaps more impressive is the couple’s collection of folk art, pre-Hispanic artifacts, photographs, memorabilia, personal items, and more. There are only a few Khalo and Rivera paintings in addition to other contemporary artists of their era. But no matter, seeing the house itself and how she lived is why you're here. The home is carefully preserved and maintained; it's easy to imagine the spaces as they were during Kahlo's time. The small cafe is set in the home's beautiful gardens; it's a nice place to sit and reflect on a quiet day at the museum.
Courtesy Franz Mayer MuseumactivityThe Franz Mayer Museum
German-born financier Franz Mayer amassed an extensive collection of Mexican silver, ceramics, textiles, and furniture in his adopted country. This private collection is now on permanent display at his namesake museum, in Mexico City's historic center. The beautiful everyday objects also include maps, globes, rugs, and books from around the world. After a complimentary guided tour, stop for a simple bite at the on-site café, set in a central courtyard that allows you to take in the building's architectural details—it was once an 18th-century monastery and hospital.
Courtesy KurimanzuttoactivityKurimanzutto
Art dealers Mónica Manzutto and José Kuri opened Kurimanzutto nearly 20 years ago to showcase both Mexican and international modern artists. The tiny, modern art gallery, on a residential street near Chapultepec Park, showcases celebrates both Mexican and international modern artists. Exhibitions show in one large, warehouse-style room; they change regularly and vary greatly in topic, though most focus on a single artist. The gallery has represented such artists as Gabriel Orozco, Damián Ortega, Gabriel Kuri, Abraham Cruzvillegas, and Dr. Lakra, who are internationally known (Orozoco, for example, just showed at Art Basel Hong Kong) yet whose work is deeply connected to the history and culture of Mexico.
AlamyactivityLuis Barragán House and Studio
This museum, the former home and studio of Pritzker-Prize-winning architect Luis Barragán, is frequented by architecture and design lovers. From the street, you'd never guess the personality that lies inside: The stark-gray façade humbly blends in with neighboring homes, but walk to the interior of the estate and you'll find striking walls in a kaleidoscope of bright colors, fountains, and pools. Visits to the museum are by reservation only and always accompanied by a guide. The house, located in the Hidalgo District of Mexico City, has been kept just as it was when Luis Barragán lived there, until his death in 1988. Visitors come to see his expertise in design, architecture, and color play. The tour lasts 45 minutes to an hour, and with all that color and interesting design, it's hard to get bored.
AlamyactivityMuseo del Objecto
Exhibitions at this quiet, boutique museum—set in a small former home in the bohemian neighborhood of Roma Norte—are spread across three floors. The museum doesn't have a permanent collection, but rather, exceptionally curated exhibits that rotate every three to four months. Themes range dramatically, covering such topics as "the drinks of Mexico" and "Mexican football," but always offer an interactive look at a particular subject. By examining everyday items (often related to design and communication) in an abstract way, the museum's curators hope to spark a larger conversation about society.
Etban FreemanactivityMucho Museo de Chocolate
This museum, set in a house built at the turn of the 20th century, is entirely dedicated to chocolate, as cacao is native to Mexico and was first domesticated in Mesoamerica. The majority of the exhibitions provide historical insight, but some "sensory exhibits" are interactive (i.e. mouth-watering tastes of chocolate). The museum also hosts chocolate-making workshops and other courses. Though MUCHO is one of the city's lesser-known museums, it is rising in popularity.
GettyactivityNational Palace (Palacio Nacional)
Diego Rivera's famous mural "The History of Mexico," showcases the history of the nation, from the Aztec era through the conquest to the Revolution and the development of industry. It's grandiose and captivating, a unique opportunity to learn about Mexico's past through art. Not to mention it's free: The mural is housed in a distinguished building east of the Zócalo that operates as a government office. Among the office workers milling about, you'll see a mix of local, national, and international tourists who come to be awe-stricken by Rivera’s masterpiece.
GettyactivityMuseo Jumex
Museo Jumex houses one of Latin America's largest private contemporary art collections, which includes works by Andy Warhol, Martin Kippenberger, Cy Twombly, and Damien Hirst. Mediums range from paintings and drawings to light and video installations. The building is as distinctive as the art: British architect David Chipperfield designed the 15,000 square-foot white-concrete cube with a sawtooth top. (Plus the Soumaya Museum is just across the square, so you can feed two birds with one scone.)
Courtesy Old and Ancient Toy MuseumactivityOld and Ancient Toy Museum (Museo del Juguete Antiguo México)
The Museo del Juguete Antiguo México is a quirky museum in Colonia Doctores that arose from architect Roberto Shimizu Kinoshita's passion for toys. The museum, as the name implies, houses an extensive collection of toys. Thousands upon thousands from the 19th century to the 1980s, with a particular emphasis on those that were popular in Mexico. As you wander more than four floors, you will likely find more than a few objects that make you feel nostalgic for your childhood.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
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