Mexico City is very rich culturally, so you will find a lot of great museums here. Here are some that are absolutely worth visiting, even if you have to extend your stay in CDMX. Those are just the 5 must-see Museums, but Mexico City has a lot more to offer.
The Antropology Museum
It is on the top of the list on every blog post that I read about museums in Mexico. At first, I was skeptical. How great can a Museum be? I will tell you. It can be really freakin’ amazing! This is the place where you will travel in time to discover the history of Humans in the Americas. With a focus on Mexican tribes it has the most amazing collection of art, architecture, tools, and clothes.
If you thought that the Aztec and Mayan ruins were impressive, you need to come to this museum. Everything that was found (and not stolen) around the ruins, including sculptures, inscriptions, jewelry, is here. Each room is dedicated to one tribe and the region they inhabited. The most impressive to me was a reconstruction of a wall from one of Teotihuacan pyramids. It’s lush red color with stairs painted blue and green ornaments transport you to the times of the Aztecs and help you imagine how the cities really looked like. Ah and you know the Mayan calendar (that is not a calendar, but a sacrifice stone by the way)? It’s here as well.
Address: Map
Palacio de Bellas Artes
This is the most known building of Mexico City, right after the Cathedral. A central place for meetings for the locals, it hosts the most beautiful murals in the country. The architecture itself is beautiful, the art collections are even better. There is a concert hall as well if you are in the mood for some classic music.
On Sundays the Museums are free and this one, in particular, gets the biggest queue, so come by early.
Address: Map
Soumaya Museum
Named after the founders’ late wife, this private museum holds 66 000 pieces ranging from mesoamerican art, through religious paintings to Dali and Picasso paintings. It was founded by Carlos Slim and is still acquiring new pieces. It has the largest collection of Rodin sculptures (indeed it occupies the entire last floor) outside of France. You will also find works of Leonardo da Vinci, Matisse, Monet, Miro as well as many Mexican artists including Diego Rivera and Rufino Tamayo.
Address: Map
Dolores Olmedo Museum
If you are interested in Frida Kahlos or Diego Riveras work, this place holds one of the largest collections. It is situated in Xochimilco, in the south of CDMX, so if you are heading there anyway for a boat ride (it’s a popular tourist attraction) don’t forget to stop by. Since it’s situated outside of the city center, it’s less crowded than other museums. Its huge garden filled with peacocks is a breeze of fresh air, the art is stunning and the collection is substantial, so you can easily spend half a day there.
Address: Map
Mexico City Museum
This is a small, yet very interesting museum, It covers the history of the city specifically, before, during, and after colonization. Guided tours are organized every day and are available in English. It’s the first Museum to go to when you arrive in the city.
Address: Map
