Things to do in  Central Mexico

Known as the City of the Gods, Teotihuacán was the metropolis of a mysterious Mesoamerican civilization that believed that the gods were created here. This ancient Mesoamerican city reached its zenith around AD 100. Once the largest city in central Mexico but abandoned centuries before the arrival of the Aztecs, the pre-Columbian archaeological site of Teotihuacán boasts towering pyramids and stone temples with detailed statues and intricate murals.

Housed in Frida Kahlo’s Mexico City birthplace and home, the vibrant, blue-walled Frida Kahlo Museum focuses on the life of the artist, rather than her output. With collections that include the medical equipment she used in day-to-day life, the bed that she began to paint in, and selections from her wardrobe, the museum helps visitors to get a sense of the woman behind the bold and iconic art.

A signature landmark of Los Cabos, the Arch of Cabo San Lucas (El Arco) is a limestone arch carved by water and wind. The natural attraction is found at the southern tip of Cabo San Lucas—which itself is at the southern end of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula in the Sea of Cortez. From a distance, the rock formation looks like a dragon; up close, the arch frames sky, sea, and sand.

You'll be reaching for your camera at every turn in Xochimilco to capture its brightly painted flat-bottomed boats called trajineras, traditional chinampas (floating gardens), and a network of flower-perfumed canals. The Mexico City borough is a reminder of the region’s past, when a sophisticated network of canals connected the city for trade and transport purposes.

Coyoacán, one of Mexico City’s oldest districts, is alive with color and culture. Centered around twin plazas perfect for people watching—Plaza Hidalgo and Jardín Centenario—Coyoacán is characterized by museums, quaint cobblestone streets, and roadside churro vendors.

More than just one church, the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe is an expansive site on the edges of Mexico City, containing shrines, museums, and chapels. From the sweeping green copper roof of the modern basilica to the small, unique Capilla del Pocito (Chapel of the Well), the complex sprang up around the spot where the Virgen de Guadalupe is said to have appeared multiple times to a devout peasant.

As Mexico City’s major cultural center, the Palacio de Bellas Artes hosts art exhibitions and a range of live events, including music, dance, theater, and opera. The building is a mix of art nouveau, art deco, and baroque architectural styles referred to as Porfiriano, after Mexican President Porfirio Diaz who commissioned the project.

Fortified walls are set with vibrant stained-glass windows, while the internal gardens are laid out in precise, geometric patterns at this imposing Mexico City castle. Today, the structure is filled with exhibits, artifacts, and artwork that offer insight into Mexico’s history, and new beauty waits around every corner.

Mexico City’s Plaza de la Constitución, better known as the Zócalo, is the cultural and historic heart of the city. This large open-air square in the Centro Historico is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the city's top attractions, including Metropolitan Cathedral, National Palace, and Great Temple archaeological site and museum.

Home to the largest collection of ancient Mexican artifacts on the planet, the National Museum of Anthropology (Museo Nacional de Antropología) is the most visited museum in Mexico City. Comprising more than 600,000 artifacts, highlights of the museum’s collection include the colossal Aztec Piedra del Sol (Stone of the Sun) and a 16th-century Xochipilli statue that depicts the Aztec god of art in a state of ecstasy.

Nicknamed the “cathedral of lucha libre,” Arena Mexico is the place to go for garish costumes, acrobatic maneuvers, and over-the-top characters. The large indoor arena is centered around a raised square ring, where the rudos (bad guys) and técnicos (good guys) battle it out for audience approval. Outside the arena, you’ll find vendors selling recreations of famous luchador masks so you can show support for your favorites.

The city of Puebla, 90 miles from Mexico City, is home to baroque and Spanish colonial–style buildings, including the historic Puebla Cathedral (Catedral de Puebla). Wander through its 14 chapels, admire the 16th century paintings, and marvel at the tallest twin bell tower in Mexico; it’s said angels lifted the three-ton bell in place.

Built on Aztec temple ruins, no building better exemplifies the history of Mexico City than the Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana). The vast stone edifice blends architectural styles and building innovations across four centuries. Highlights include the gilded Altar of Forgiveness and the painted canvases lining the sacristy.

Built on the site of the ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlán, the Centro Historico is both the historical heart and the modern epicenter of Mexico City, dating back to 1325. The 6-square mile (9.7-square kilometers) is centered on the grand Zócalo—Plaza de la Constitución— and is preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, full of historic monuments, museums, parks, and hotels.

What remains of the Aztecs’ Great Temple (Templo Mayor) sits right in the middle of Mexico City, but many tourists miss it. In 1978, a massive, 8-ton (7,000-kilogram) stone depicting Coyolxauhqui (the Aztec goddess of the moon) was unearthed, marking the location of the temple, a gathering place sacred for the Aztecs during the 1300s and 1400s.