Central Mexico attractions

In the bohemian neighborhood of Coyoacán, this market is a feast for the senses. Stalls are piled high with fragrant street food and artisan crafts that represent the best of Mexico City’s cultural scene. Feast on loaded tostadas (huge deep-fried tortillas) or shop for colorful souvenirs such as hand-woven textiles and Frida Kahlo prints.

Mexico City's House of Tiles (Casa de los Azulejos) is an 18th-century city palace built in the Baroque style. Today, it houses a branch of Sanborn's department store, but most people visit the beautifully decorated cafe in its interior courtyard.

Leafy streets, bustling bars, and international cuisine—not to mention some of the city’s top museums and art galleries—make the Roma neighborhood an essential Mexico City stop. One of the top places to explore both street art and street food, Roma is a must for cool and curious travelers in the Mexican capital.

Situated in a jagged David Chipperfield–designed building, the Jumex Museum (Museo Jumex) is both architecturally and artistically noteworthy. Comprising numerous exhibition galleries, a library, and terrace, this museum houses the private contemporary collection of Eugenio López Alonso—one of the largest of its kind in Latin America—including works by Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Andy Warhol, and more.

One of just three of its kind in Mexico, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Mexico City is a family-friendly attraction located in a conveniently central neighborhood. Over nine exhibition rooms in a building designed to look like a medieval castle, marvel over the vast selection of oddities and intrigues—such as shrunken heads—before exploring the swivel tunnel and more.

As Mexico City’s first gourmet food market, classic Mexican dishes—think tacos and tamales—are given a modern twist at Mercado Roma. In the sophisticated Roma neighborhood, the market features communal tables where you can feast on everything from artisanal Mexican cheese to Spanish tapas and high-end ice creams. It’s the ultimate place to sample stylish street food in CDMX.

Situated in the expansive Chapultepec Park, Papalote Children’s Museum is a place where playing and learning overlap. As you make your way through six zones of interactive exhibits and a vast outdoor garden, you can explore the human body, watch as Mexican history comes alive, power up a robot, and much more.

In the heart of downtown Mexico City, the Barrio Chino is the Mexican capital's Chinatown. It's spread out over two blocks and features all sorts of Chinese shops and restaurants, along with Chinese-inspired architectural features such as paifangs (traditional gateways).

A famed site of Mexican counterculture, the art deco Chopo University Museum (Museo Universitario del Chopo) is now dedicated to preserving the memory of underground cultures and movements. Known for its German–designed, iron-and-glass facade, 154-foot-high (47-meter-high) towers, and pine wood roof, El Chopo—as it’s known locally—is a must for fans of off-the-beaten-path attractions and experiences.

This bohemian and LGBTQ+-friendly enclave is one of Mexico City’s top places to party. But singing karaoke and dancing until the early hours aren’t the only activities in this colorful barrio. It’s also home to Little Korea, full of restaurants and shops, fashionable boutiques, and some of CDMX’s best dining opportunities.

Santa María la Ribera is a so-called barrio mágico (magic neighborhood) home to verdant parks, mansion houses, multiple museums, and the impressive and elaborate Kiosko Morisco bandstand. A more off-the-beaten-path alternative to the city’s other hotspots, Santa María is an ideal place to escape the crowds in the Mexican capital.

Glimpse into Mexico’s complex past in historically rich La Antigua, thought to be one of the first Spanish towns in Mexico. Highlights include some of the country’s oldest surviving colonial buildings, such as the 16th-century home of Hernán Cortés and what’s thought to be the oldest church in the Americas, Ermita del Rosario.

Located in a restored turn-of-the-century mansion in the Juárez neighborhood, the Mexico City Wax Museum is a family-friendly highlight of the area and one of just a few official wax museums in the country. Explore the diverse collection of more than 230 figures, and take photos with your favorite national and international celebrities, politicians, artists, and others.

Take a safari, stop by the bird show, feed giraffes, and watch out for lions, before boarding a pirate ship at the Bioparque Estrella, one of Mexico’s largest theme parks and wildlife experiences. This day-trip destination in the State of Mexico also offers adventure in the form of pedal boats, swinging bridges, and mini ziplines.

Known colloquially as the MUAC, Mexico City’s University Museum of Contemporary Art (Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo) brings together one of the largest public collections of contemporary work from Mexican artists in an architecturally noteworthy building. Over 14,000-square-feet (1,300-square-meters), explore permanent and temporary exhibits, grab lunch at the on-site café, and explore the surrounding UNAM campus it calls home.

Hailed as the crescendo of Luis Barragán’s career, Casa Gilardi showcases the skill of one of Mexico’s most acclaimed architects. In typical Barragán style, the modernist property celebrates light, color, and clean lines; its design reflects its urban location and the taste of the advertising executive that commissioned Barragán to create his final project.

Fun and learning combine at KidZania Santa Fe, one of just four immersive "edutainment" centers in Mexico. With options for kids ages 1 to 16, your little ones can roleplay over 80 different professions—including vet, archaeologist, and beautician—in a secure child-sized city while learning about independence, teamwork, and responsibility.

One of just four KidZania’s in the country, KidZania Cuicuilco effortlessly combines fun and education through a range of immersive, hands-on exhibits and activities that will delight children ages four to 16. In this miniature city, kids make their own entertainment—or "edutainment"—as they play at being race car drivers, firefighters, reporters and more.

La Feria Chapultepec is one of Mexico City’s most popular amusement parks and a top spot for families with kids. Attractions range from roller coasters and amusement rides to animal exhibits and carnival games. Originally opened in 1964, the park has since been renovated, but much of its original charm remains.

The 17th-century La Profesa—a striking example of turn-of-the-century baroque architecture—served as the backdrop for several key moments in Mexican history. Nowadays, visitors to La Profesa can admire a reliquary allegedly containing splinters from Jesus’ cross, before exploring La Pinacoteca de la Profesa, the church’s impressive colonial-era art gallery.

Lively dance performances, roaming street vendors, and proximity to some of the city’s top attractions—such as salsa clubs, an 18th-century cathedral, and an imposing fortress—characterize the pedestrianized Veracruz Zócalo. Use the zócalo as a jumping-off point for further exploration of the city or relax in the café-filled arcades which line the square.

Escape the chaos of Mexico City at Ixtapan Water Park, a family-friendly attraction replete with waterslides, lazy rivers, wave pools, and Jacuzzis. As well as thrilling rides, Ixtapan Water Park has an award-winning day spa and several thermal baths, making it the ideal choice for kids and adults alike.

Spanning more than 80,730 square feet (7,500 square meters), the Museo de Historia Natural in Mexico City is housed within a series of colorful dome structures, which showcase more than 2,500 specimens. It’s a must-visit museum for anthropology buffs and a fun and educational experience for kids, too.