Museums And Hot Air Balloons: 20 Incredible Things To Do In Mexico City
Welcome To Mexico City
Mexico City is no doubt a unique and bustling playground for curious souls. The sprawling metropolis hides treasures, both ancient and modern, throughout its vibrant corners and neighborhoods. Here are twenty unforgettable experiences that highlight the city's blend of cultural richness and unexpected thrills.
1. National Museum Of Anthropology
Founded in 1964, this world-class museum houses the most significant collection of pre-Hispanic art on the planet. Over 600,000 artifacts fill its 23 exhibition halls, including the famous Aztec Sun Stone. Locals recommend visiting early on weekdays to avoid the crowds.
2. Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Ride
The ancient pyramids reveal their true majesty when seen from above at sunrise. These flights typically last about an hour, floating silently over the Avenue of the Dead. Balloon pilots have been operating here since the 1990s, offering lovely views of the Pyramid of the Sun.
3. Frida Kahlo Museum
Vivid cobalt walls define La Casa Azul, where revolutionary artist Frida Kahlo was born in 1907 and later died in 1954. Personal belongings, including her medical corsets turned into art, fill the rooms of this intimate museum. The garden, having pre-Hispanic sculptures, was Frida's sanctuary.
4. Xochimilco Canals
These ancient waterways were originally part of a vast lake system built by the Aztecs through remarkable engineering. Colorful trajineras (flat-bottomed boats) sail through channels. The canals earned UNESCO World Heritage status in 1987 for preserving agricultural techniques dating back to pre-Hispanic times.
Roberto Carlos Román Don on Unsplash
5. Museo Jumex
Contemporary art finds its home in the sawtooth-roofed building designed by British architect Chipperfield. The private collection contains works by Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons. Founded by the heir to a juice fortune in 2013, this museum stands in stark architectural contrast to Museo Soumaya.
6. Mercado Jamaica
Since 1957, this historic market has been Mexico City's floral heart. The scent of marigolds pervades visitors year-round, but especially during the lead-up to Day of the Dead celebrations. Local wedding planners arrive at 4 AM to secure the freshest blooms, transported from Xochimilco's chinampas.
Carlos Adampol Galindo from DF, México on Wikimedia
7. Palacio De Bellas Artes
The marble exterior weighs so much that the palace has sunk nearly four meters since its completion in 1934. Inside, the Tiffany glass curtain depicts the volcanoes of the Valley of Mexico. Diego Rivera's "Man at the Crossroads" shifted here after being destroyed at Rockefeller Center.
8. Chapultepec Castle
Aztec rulers once maintained summer residences on this hill before Spanish viceroys claimed it. The current castle witnessed the tragic demises of the young Mexican cadets (Niños Héroes). These are the ones who jumped to their deaths rather than surrender during the 1847 American invasion.
9. Coyoacán Markets
Gabriel García Márquez and Octavio Paz used to gather in the cafés of this bohemian neighborhood. Two distinct markets operate here: the crafts-focused Bazar Artesanal and the food-centric Mercado de Coyoacán. Legendary churros from the 1935 stand draw weekend lines stretching around the block.
10. Lucha Libre Wrestling
Dating back to the 1930s, masked wrestlers perform gravity-defying acrobatics three nights weekly at Arena Mexico. Técnicos battle rudos in theatrical matches that draw multi-generational families. El Santo, a famous luchador of all time, starred in films without ever revealing his face in public.
Carlos Adampol Galindo from DF, México on Wikimedia
11. Museo Dolores Olmedo
Peacocks and pre-Hispanic dogs roam the lush gardens of this 16th-century hacienda featuring the world's largest private collection of Diego Rivera works. Twenty-five Rivera paintings and thirteen rare Kahlo pieces hang in rooms filled with colonial furniture and pre-Columbian artifacts. It gives a personal museum experience.
Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata on Wikimedia
12. Museo Tamayo Arte Contemporáneo
Architect Teodoro González de León designed this brutalist concrete structure specifically to display international contemporary art in Chapultepec Park. The museum has more than 600 works from the personal collection of painter Rufino Tamayo. He donated the same to Mexico in 1981.
Museo Tamayo Arte Contemporáneo on Wikimedia
13. Museo De Arte Popular
Did you know this was a fire station before being converted into a museum in 2006? Intricate alebrijes—fantastical wooden creatures—hang from ceilings alongside handcrafted Day of the Dead figurines from every region. The museum also hosts the annual "Night of the Alebrijes" parade.
14. Museo Nacional De Historia
The imperial carriage of Carlota of Habsburg is preserved in this hilltop castle. Massive murals by Jorge González Camarena depict historical moments with dramatic flair. Mexican schoolchildren have visited this museum on field trips since 1944, making it an integral part of national identity formation.
15. Templo Mayor Museum
The Temple Mayor Museum was accidentally discovered by electrical workers in 1978. It displays offerings found buried within the sacred precinct. Apparently, the Coyolxauhqui Stone, depicting a dismembered goddess, ranks among Mexico's most significant archaeological treasures and occupies its own room.
Nan Palmero from San Antonio, TX, USA on Wikimedia
16. Mexico City Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Flight
Dawn reveals the megalopolis awakening as passengers drift silently above Chapultepec Park. Pilots narrate the history of landmarks like the Angel of Independence while moving through morning thermals. These urban flights began operating in 2018 after special permissions were granted by aviation authorities.
Hot Air Balloons Fill Morning Sky Above Mexico City by Storyful News & Weather
17. Pedregal Volcanic Fields Hot Air Balloon Tour
Black volcanic rock formations bring to life otherworldly scenarios beneath these flights. The balloons have reinforced baskets to handle potential rough landings on the jagged terrain. Even acclaimed architect Luis Barragán incorporated these same volcanic elements into his modernist designs, visible from above.
18. Valle De Bravo Hot Air Balloon Adventure
Balloons sometimes float down low enough to brush the lake's surface before they lift back up, giving passengers a glimpse of the colonial-style buildings. After they land, you get to check out the nearby Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary. Here, bright orange butterflies are spotted during the winter.
19. Museo Soumaya
Museo Soumaya is a private, non-profit art museum founded by billionaire Carlos Slim. It is named after his late wife, Soumaya Domit. The place has two main locations: the striking modern building in Plaza Carso, Nuevo Polanco, and the original site in Plaza Loreto.
20. Iztaccihuatl Volcano Hot Air Balloon Adventure
Mexico's third-highest peak sets the stage for these high-altitude balloon rides, where oxygen is needed above 13,000 feet. The volcano’s silhouette, tied to Aztec legends of a sleeping woman, appears striking during early morning flights. To keep passengers comfortable, the balloons use heaters built for extreme mountain cold.
