Things to do & places to visit in Central Mexico and Gulf Coast, Mexico

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Central Mexico and Gulf Coast #2 destination in Mexico 2023. The average rating score is 4.56 based on 245.9k traveler reviews, of 422 attractions. Timezone: America/Mexico_City, current date and time: Sunday, May 05, 2024, 2:53.

Top things to do (31)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Museo Nacional de Antropologia (20.1k reviews) from $9.00
- Worth having a plan in advance
Sunday: Natural History Museums • History Museums

Considered one of the world's most comprehensive natural history museums, this famous institution houses four square kilometers of exhibits in 23 exhibition halls. See more..
5.0 Zona Arqueologica Teotihuacan (8.889 reviews) from $9.99
- Must do when visiting Mexico City
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent 2-3 hours Ancient Ruins • Points of Interest & Landmarks

The Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon dominate the ruins of what was once the sixth largest city in the world. See more..
5.0 Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel (3.267 reviews)
- Spectacular church adjoining a lively plaza--visit at different times of the day for different colors!
Architectural Buildings • Churches & Cathedrals

Built in 1683, this pastel pink church is the city's most recognizable landmark. See more..
5.0 Capilla del Rosario, Templo de Santo Domingo (2.273 reviews)
- A must see! Catholic or not!
Sunday: 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Churches & Cathedrals

This extremely ornate 17th-century chapel is part of the Santo Domingo Church. See more..
5.0 Murales de Diego Rivera en la Secretaría de Educacion Publica (1.787 reviews)
- Wonderful murals!
Points of Interest & Landmarks

Great morning at the Murals at the SEP! We went on a Monday morning and doors opened at 10am (entrance is on Republica de Argentina 28) - quick walk from Temple Mayor. They only checked/wrote information from one person's id (driver's license) and let us both in. They gave us a an lanyard to wear which we returned upon exit. The murales and the courtyard are wonderful. We spent about 45 mins there but could have spent more time! There are a few placards (in Spanish) but reccomend to read up on the murals on the SEP website or get a guide. See more..
4.5 Palacio de Bellas Artes (10.9k reviews)
- Architectural Masterpiece that is a must visit
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Art Museums

This historic white marble building serves as both the city's top performance hall and an art museum. See more..
4.5 Chapultepec Castle (10.8k reviews)
- Worth the View
Sunday: Castles

Learn about Mexico's fascinating history at Chapultepec Castle, a grand 18th-century palace atop a hill in Mexico City. The palace houses the National Museum of History, which showcases impressive murals and stunning stained glass galleries. You can also take a leisurely stroll through the castle's manicured gardens and enjoy the panoramic views of downtown. Make sure to set aside enough time to relax and enjoy the sprawling Chapultepec Park nearby, too. Take a guided tour to learn about the building's rich history, and consider visiting on a tour that also includes the nearby National Museum of Anthropology. Get there early for fewer crowds. – Tripadvisor See more..
4.5 Museo Frida Kahlo (9.809 reviews) from $28.00
- Highly recommend. Book early!
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums • Points of Interest & Landmarks

The birthplace and lifelong home of Frida Kahlo is now a popular museum dedicated to her work and life. Nicknamed the Casa Azul for its bright blue exterior, the museum will take you through the beautifully decorated rooms and the quaint family garden, as you learn about the incredible influence of Frida Kahlo and her husband Diego Rivera. Catch a great glimpse into the life of Mexico's most famous artist through the impressive display of documents, clothes, and artwork. Get there early or pre-book your tickets online to avoid the lines. You can also explore the museum as part of a tour of Mexico City that often includes other sights like Xochimilco and Coyoacan. – Tripadvisor See more..
4.5 Coyoacan (7.894 reviews)
- Mexican charm
Spent 1-2 hours Neighborhoods

Five centuries’ worth of architecture and Mexican culture are embedded in this district’s plazas and narrow cobbled streets. Start your tour of Coyoacan at the lively Jardin Centenario park which is surrounded by inviting cafes and townhouses. Then, set off to visit the Frida Kahlo Museum that is dedicated to the life and works of the Mexican artist herself. On the way there, pop by the artisans market to hunt for handmade keepsakes and visit the Coyoacan Market for fresh tostadas and gorditas. For a full experience, take a guided tour around Coyoacan, which includes a visit to the floating gardens of neighboring Xochimilco. – Tripadvisor See more..
4.5 Basilica de Santa Maria de Guadalupe (7.880 reviews)
- Spanish Liturgical Splendor
Sunday: 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Historic Sites • Churches & Cathedrals

This famous church, located on the site where an Indian claimed to have seen the Virgin of Guadalupe in 1531, contains an image of her that is the most famous religious icon in all of Mexico. See more..
4.5 Paseo de la Reforma (6.409 reviews)
- Perfect Street For Walking and Sightseeing!
Points of Interest & Landmarks

Mexico City's main street runs through an upscale residential neighborhood as well as the city's historic district. See more..
4.5 Zocalo (5.600 reviews)
- Place to be for shopping and people watching
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Historic Walking Areas

Zocalo, or Plaza de la Constitucion, is one of Mexico City's most popular spots that dates back to the Aztec era. It's a large and historic public plaza that never sleeps, always buzzing with traditional Aztec dancers and performers, cultural events, and even political demonstrations. The square is surrounded by beautiful architecture and landmarks, such as Palacio Bellas Artes and the Templo Mayor, making it a great starting point to explore the city. Be sure to join a city walking tour to learn more about the history and culture of Zocalo. Visit in the morning or late afternoon for fewer crowds. – Tripadvisor See more..
4.5 Catedral Metropolitana de la Ciudad de México (4.989 reviews)
- It looks majestic
Sunday: 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Historic Sites • Ancient Ruins • Architectural Buildings • Religious Sites

One of the largest churches in Latin America, this famous cathedral dominates the Zócalo. See more..
4.5 Museo del Templo Mayor (4.396 reviews)
- The Must-Visit Museum of CDMX
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Ancient Ruins • History Museums

The ruins of the temple the Aztecs believed to be center of the universe. See more..
4.5 Museo Soumaya (3.995 reviews)
- Like the Tardis (it is bigger on the inside)
Sunday: 10:30 AM - 6:30 PM Speciality Museums

This museum explores the role of art and culture in human life and includes art by such luminaries as the French sculptor Rodin. See more..
4.5 Historic Center (Centro Historico) (3.609 reviews)
- The Historical District of CDMX
Historic Sites • Neighborhoods • Historic Walking Areas

The designated location of many of Mexico's older colonial structures. See more..
4.5 Africam Safari (3.541 reviews)
- 10 stars
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Zoos

This place must be a reference worldwide for wildlife conservation. The facilities are breathless. The animals in perfect shape. The staff is amazing. We hired the Giraffes experience for my handicapped sister and it was one of the best moments we ever had. Our guide (sorry for forgetting his name) was patient, full of knowledge and cared about us the most. It can be a bit pricey to get one of those experiences, but I strongly recommend them. Tip: there is a point where you can hire a boat to go to a dam... do not doubt on doing it, besides being a beautiful ride, you will be helping the locals who depend on that tourist activity. See more..
4.5 National Palace (3.340 reviews)
- Where to go to reserve free passes to guided tours.
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings • Government Buildings

This historic building was once occupied by Hernán Cortés, the Spanish explorer who conquered the Aztecs, and includes a famous panoramic mural of Mexican history by Diego Rivera. See more..
4.5 La Pena de Bernal (2.715 reviews)
- What is a monolith anyway?
Spent More than 3 hours Geologic Formations

Mexican guides and Spanish wikipedia claims this is the 3rd tallest monolith in the world, after the Rock of Gibraltar and Pao de Azucar in Rio de Janeiro. French wikipedia claims it is the 3rd after Mount Augustus and Uluru in Australia. English wikipedia says that monoliths are very hard to define and what is height anyway? The height of the whole rock or the height of the rock above the surface of the ground. Anyway, this is a big rock, not far from the very touristy city of Bernal. A rickshaw driver can take you to the rock from town for 40 pesos, or you can walk uphill in 10 minutes. If you want to hike the rock to the highest available spot, get there before 4pm otherwise they won't let you up. If you want to scale the rock, you have to be a rock climber with the proper equipment. See more..
4.5 Zócalo (2.472 reviews)
- the Centre of old Puebla
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Neighborhoods • Points of Interest & Landmarks • Parks

An old fountain rests at the center of this bucolic plaza, located in Puebla's historic district. See more..
4.5 Bosque de Chapultepec (2.427 reviews)
- So much to see and do
Spent 2-3 hours National Parks • Parks • Forests

This 1,600-acre bucolic park has enough activities to fill days at a time and is particularly popular among families with children. See more..
4.5 Palacio Postal (2.210 reviews)
- The most beautiful post office you’ll ever see.
Architectural Buildings

I visited the post office today and was floored by it’s beauty. I was on a free walking tour with Estacion Mexico and my guide explained that that the building materials were imported from Italy. You can see evidence of this on the bronze placard on the Newell post of the staircases by the elevators. It was a wonderful short visit. Half of the first floor is a museum and half is a working post office. See more..
4.5 Fabrica La Aurora (2.161 reviews)
- Aurora and SMdA great place to buy art
Spent 2-3 hours Art Galleries • Architectural Buildings • Antique Shops

Are we really going to compare art in Asheville and SMdA? The River District is mostly newbies and most not at the level of SMdA artists. Asheville downtown galleries are very expensive and almost at SF Bay Area prices. I have shopped both SMdA and Asheville have pieces from each in my homes. Yes, BOTH are expensive for most people, for sure. But jeez, SMdA kills it when it comes to discovering new and different art that we can afford. I will take a couple hour flight any day to buy art in SMdA rather than drive a few hours up to Asheville. We shop every gallery we can in the USA and just purchased a large piece of art from a gallery in Nashville, so we're trying but we mostly find art in SMdA. We just came back from art buying trip to CDMX/Guadalajara and found a sculpture at Sergio Bustamante but didnt see anything else we liked. One thing about SMdA is that you dont need to walk far from one district to another looking for art. Something to be said about that! See more..
4.5 Acuario de Veracruz (2.036 reviews)
- Veracruz
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 7:30 PM Spent 2-3 hours Aquariums

This impressive new aquarium is home to over 3,000 species of both local and international marine life. See more..
4.5 Monumento al Pípila (1.994 reviews)
- Must See
Monuments & Statues

This monument, which sits above the city atop a large hill, is dedicated to Pipila, an Indian miner who was killed after taking up arms against the Mexican government in an Indian revolt. See more..
4.5 Puebla Cathedra (1.952 reviews)
- The best site of the city
Sunday: 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM Churches & Cathedrals

This huge baroque-style cathedral dominates the town's main square and is one of Puebla's most recognizable landmarks. See more..
4.5 Mina El Eden (1.639 reviews)
- Neat and interesting
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Mines

This closed mine, extremely prosperous in colonial times, offers tours of the old mining facilities and an underground nightclub. See more..
4.5 Memory and Tolerance Museum (1.596 reviews)
- Worth the visit and thought provoking
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Children's Museums • History Museums

The Memory and Tolerance Museum delinates -in a didactic manner- the historical memory of the multiple genocides and crimes against humanity. The visit warns the viewer of the danger of difference, discrimination and violence in order to engender responsability, respect and consciousness in each and every person. Contemporary subjects are also presented in order to lead us to reflect on the role we wish to play in our every day lives. Tolerance, diversity, dialogue and empathy force us to see the commitment we all have to humanity. The visitor is invited to be generators of change through social action. See more..
4.5 Monumento y Museo de la Revolucion (1.348 reviews)
- Panoramic view of the city.
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Speciality Museums • Monuments & Statues

For a very reasonable fee of 90 pesos, one can visit the bowels of the revolution museum and get the elevator ride to the observation deck. The museum is informative, but the real treat is the observation deck. You can even order food from Adelita’s cafe, and they will bring it up to you. I dined on guacamole and chips while I just gazed out at the bustling city on Revolution Day, November 20. See more..
4.5 Jardin de la Union (1.308 reviews)
- The Heart of Guanajuato
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Points of Interest & Landmarks

This popular plaza is the center of social activity in the city. See more..