Top 6 Museums in Mexico City

Mexico continues to grapple with its indigenous versus post-colonial identity. Nowhere is that history more on display than in the heart of Mexico City at Templo Mayor. This must-visit archeological site and museum filled with thousands of incredible artifacts is where Spanish colonists destroyed the Great Temple of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlán. Excavations began in 1978 after workers digging into the ground discovered a large stone disc and are still ongoing.

I’ve adored Frida Kahlo and her art for over 20 years now. If you’re also interested in Frida or Mexican art and culture, you can’t miss her colorful home and studio full of her possessions and artwork. Tickets to the Frida Kahlo Museum are usually sold out, so book your ticket online far in advance!

The National Museum of Anthropology is one of Mexico’s best museums and home to the largest collection of Mexican artifacts. It has 23 exhibit halls, each dedicated to a different region or indigenous group. You could easily spend a day here. There is so much to see that many people even recommend visiting the museum more than once to take it in properly. But if you’re short on time, don’t miss the Mexica, Oaxaca, and Maya rooms!

The Palace of Fine Arts is an iconic Mexico City building and cultural center filled with murals by Diego Rivera, David Siqueiros, Rufino Tamayo, and José Clemente Orozco. The palace is also home to Mexico’s National Theater, a work of art in itself, but you have to go for a performance to see it! The theater has an incredible mosaic curtain depicting the snow-capped volcanoes of Iztaccihuatl and Popocatepetl. It was composed around 1910 using nearly a million pieces of stained Favrile glass.

The Former College of San Ildefonso is an oasis in bustling Mexico City. Few tourists know about or prioritize it with so much to see and do, making it feel like a hidden gem worlds away. During peak tourist season, I had the place all to myself, which made it one of my favorite Mexico City experiences. The museum is a former 16th-century Jesuit college filled with extraordinary murals by Rivera, Siqueiros, and Orozco. It also hosts incredible temporary art exhibitions not to be missed.

Mexico City’s Museum of Popular Art features folk art and artisanal crafts from all over Mexico. It’s one of my favorite museums and also great for kids, who’ll love the colorful piñatas and objects on display. If you like what you see, the museum has a fantastic gift shop for quality handicrafts.