Going to Mexico City for the first time as an adult meant that just about everything I was going to…read moreexperience was going to be new. Going to Castillo de Chapultepec was definitely one of those things. Visiting this historic place was not even on my radar, if not for the wife's insistence that visiting this place was a "non-negotiable" -- I probably would've skipped it. I'm so glad I didn't as I would say after my visit to the Anthropology museum, also located in Chapultepec, this was my second most favorite spot I visited on my wonderful trip to Mexico City. The castle is located at a top of a pretty decent hill in Chapultepec, so be prepared to walk a bit to get to the castle. The fee to get into the museum is pretty low, it's about 210 pesos/$12 USD for foreign visitors and about half of that cost for locals.On Sundays locals get in for free. They have a pretty strict bag policy as backpacks aren't allowed, though they do provide lockers at the entrance for 10 pesos for rent. Now let's talk about the castle inside. It's amazing. It's so full of art pieces from so many famous Mexican artists. It has many famous Mexican historic murals. It is also full of many Mexican historic decorative art pieces from the 19th century. What I think I liked the most is the vast amount of beautifully crafted stained glass throughout the castle. It's breathtaking. The pure history of this castle is just out of this world. The hill the castle was built on was sacred to the Aztecs. This was the residence for Emperor Maximilian. Many presidents of Mexico called this castle home. It has served as a military academy and was the site to one of the most famous battles in Mexican history, Ninos Heroes. For a short time it was even an observatory. Those are just some of the many fascinating facts you learn while visiting this incredible historic place. There is so much history, art, architecture and culture packed into Castillo de Chapultepec that it's almost impossible to take it all in during one visit. I went because my wife insisted. I left wondering why I had never put this place on my radar in the first place. No trip to Mexico City would be complete without a visit to Castillo de Chapultepec.

Worth putting on your itinerary for CDMX. Love the architecture of this beautiful castle. The…read moreentrance de for foreigner is $210 pesos (~$10 USD). You can pay at the kiosk and not have to wait in line. To get to the castle, you will have to walk to the top of the hill. CDMX has a much higher elevation than where we're from so you feel altitude sickness particularly when walking up the steps. Recommend to bring some shades as it does get hot when the sun is out. Amazing views, overlooking the city. You can take your time exploring the inside of the castle and the garden area. It wasn't too crowded when we were here or didn't feel like it since it's pretty big.

I am not sure how much this is a destination site but if you are anywhere near it is certainly…read moreworth a visit. Ever since visiting the Museo Nacional de Antropología I have become to realize that Mexico is one big archaeological treasure and how much I don't know about its history. Coming here to see the ruins was interesting. However, what really stood out for me was the Colegio de Santa Cruz de Tlatelolco. Built in the 1,500's it was constructed out of the stones used to build the temples that are now obviously only visible in part that make up the site. Personally, I don't believe one can look back and say this was either good or bad despite the conversation taking place in the rest of the world in 2023. Rather, it seems to symbolize a piece of the puzzle that has created the Mexico of today. It is a place I have come to love the more and more I learn about it.

So much history here! If you get a chance to come here, do it! I would have liked a brochure!…read more This archaeological site sits in the Square of the Three Cultures. The cultures are Aztec, Spanish Colonial, and the independent "mestizo" nation. There is an area with a circular temple to worship the wind god. It is about 700+ years old and was built by the Aztecs. Of course, it is in ruins. The Spanish built the nearby Church using stones from the temple. I read that this site also appeared to have been a mass grave with 49 bodies found. Our tour guide gave lots of info about this place in English. Be sure you have plenty of time to see this archaeological area as well as the Plaza de las Tres Culturas and the Cultural Center. There is also a Church called Templo de Santiago, which would be worth visiting! I think you can walk on pathways out in the ruins if you are coming from the Church.

I've spent so much time here over the years, and my office is right across the street! I also live…read morefairly closeby six months out of the year, so you could say that this is my neighborhood. The first time that I was really introduced to this place was when Brittany Spears had a co cert here many years ago. They have wonderful shows and events here all year round. What my girlfriend and I enjoy most are the almost nightly dance get togethers in one of the side pod sections. It's just great and a lot of fun for a foreigner who didn't grow up in Mexico. Today's event was a commemoration and the military band honoring a high ranking leader. Starting tomorrow I will return to the office here, because after my first ten days back here, vacation time is over. Kinda sorta!

The place itself is mostly not a museum but more of a place where you can see the city. The views…read morefrom up there were spectacular, worth the price of admission, even though I thought this place was overpriced . The staff was kinda rude and seemed bothered if you dared asked any questions. They were not that nice most of them but not all of them . The place where Pancho Villa is buried is not accesible which is kinda weird considering they push this place as the place where you can see where he's buried . Worth coming to , overpriced , staff is mostly rude . Check it out .

From 1934-2018, Los Pinos was the official residence and office of the President of Mexico. It…read morebegan with President Lázaro Cárdenas - a left-wing economic nationalist - who didn't want to use the Castle of Chapultepec as his residence and office. After him, thirteen of the next fourteen Presidents used Los Pinos as their residence/office, building a new building or moving into one built for a former president. In 2018, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador chose to move the presidential residence and offices to the National Palace and open Los Pinos to the public. I visited with my Spanish class last week when I was in Mexico City. We walked around the area and entered two of the Los Pinos homes. One (Museo Casa Presidencial Lázaro Cárdenas) serves as a museum dedicated to President Lázaro Cárdenas, who remains a very popular president. I enjoyed walking around the museum and learning about him. We also walked into Complejo Cultural de Los Pinos, a former presidential home that is now being used as an art gallery and events space. On the grounds there is also a little cafe (Passmar), bathrooms, other small museums, and some shops. What I enjoyed most was just the gorgeous grounds. It was incredibly green, and I took a leisurely walk through the property, taking in the statues of Mexican Presidents and other dignitaries. I'm not sure if many foreign tourists visit Los Pinos (it didn't seem very busy), since it's in the far corner of Section 1 of Chapultepec, but it's very accessible from the Constituyentes metro station and close to other attractions in the park or in nearby neighborhoods (Casa Estudio Luis Barragán and other Barragán properties, Museo del Cárcamo de Dolores, and more). Worth a stop if you're nearby, are interested in Mexican presidential/political history, or are looking for a pretty place to stretch your legs!

Quick background: This was the official residence of the Mexican president, and likely will be the…read moreofficial residence of the next Mexican president (to be elected in 2024). But the current far-left leader, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, decided he wanted to maintain his own residence and turn this palace into a cultural center, open free to the public. (He also decommissioned the presidential plane back to Boeing, reduced the size of his own protection detail and opted to continue to use his Volkswagen Jetta as his main mode of transportation, but that's his prerogative). Located in the famous Bosque de Chapultepec, this attraction is worth a stop. If nothing else, it won't cost you anything except about an hour of your time. While the rooms are now empty, some pretty cool artwork remains, though I'm unsure whether this is artwork left behind from the Pena Nieto administration or whether that left with him. Either way, the place is very nice, but certainly not overly impressive considering this is where presidents lived.

This 44 floor office building has an observation deck on the top which cost 220 Pesos which gives…read moreyou a 360 view of the city. You take an elevator to the 37th floor then take another one up to the top or if you dont want to wait you can take the stairs. BUT if you want the same or similar views for free you can just go to the restaurant which i belive is on the 39th or 40th floor. So instead of buying tickets to go to the observation deck you can just say you're going to the restaurant. Of course the prices are a little elevated but just think that you'd be spending 220 pesos per person just to go to the observation deck. So just get a drink and maybe a dessert or something. The view is really nice and you can just relax and enjoy. We had a tres leches cake which swimming in sauce, very spongy and wet and also had a layer of whipped cream, delicious! We also got the mango ice cream, it was quite a large scoop and came on top of some sort of cookie or granola crumble. It was creamy and had a nice mango flavor, most of all refreshing. But most of all you're there for the view. We went there on our last day before leaving for the airport so we were in sort of a rush. So we asked for our check multiple times but they are used to people taking their time and just enjoying the view. So we just got up and paid at the register before we left.

This is certainly a great way to see the city from above. You get 360 degree views from either…read morebehind glass or a fence a floor above. Think the Empire State Building, Space Needle, etc. If you are being a tourist and want nice views for sunset or during the date, go for it. Of course they offer up charges for a photo and a simulator thing. There is a small snack bar at the top if you need refreshments once you get up there.

Area in close walking distance to the Frida Kahlo Museum, and the renowned churro place…read more We left the hotel early, got dropped off with one hour before our ticket admitting us in so we walked to a Panera that Doc spotted on the ride there. We entered a church, had lunch in the area and did some shopping. Doc bought a bracelet I liked from a vendor and a T-shirt from a man across the street from the museum for me. I bought some bracelets and pouches from a man on the street. He could speak English and said his family was Aztec. He made the bracelets and his grandmother made the pouches. Many locals with their dogs and tourists were enjoying the nice warm weather. We saw people being blessed with special smoke or sage. Many shops and eateries on nice streets. There was one two story restaurant that looked very pretty and romantic with couples eating on the outdoor balcony.

Fun, lively area! Came on a Sunday and there were tons of people outs and about…read more Pros: -many restaurants to choose from -vendors galore where you can buy souvenirs -there are a few free Wi-Fi spots in this area -we saw performers dancing near the church Cons: -none

As I'm watching the World Cup from my cozy confines back in Sacramento-I see the FIFA Fanfest in…read moreMexico City happening at the Zocalo with over 50k fans packed in the Zocalo watching on big screens their beloved home team Mexico open the World Cup 2026. During my visit to Mexico City earlier this year,I really enjoyed visiting the Zocalo.Its kind of Mexico City's version of Times Square in that it's used as a central location for many events that happen in the city-While also housing the Capital Building where the Mexican President works at on a daily basis. It also houses one of the most historic cathedrals in all of Mexico City.This church is a true must visit for anyone who spends any time in Mexico City. There are also many restaurants and bars surrounding the Zocalo-though be warned,it's pretty much a tourist trap and you will be price gouged at most of those restaurants in the Zocalo area. I remember during my trip we visited the Zocalo almost every day and the trippy part was how much it changed day to day.That trait also reminded me of Time Square-You go to bed with it looking one way and wake up and it's something else-that happens a lot at the Zocalo. Two really good memories standout about the Zocalo during my visit,The first was I got to witness firsthand the ceremony of the military taking the huge Mexican Flag down that is located in the center of the Zocalo-It's like a whole ceremony that is used to take it down each evening and felt very lucky to have been there at the right time to witness it.The ceremony starts at 6pm local time each evening-it's pretty awesome.Its free to attend and I highly recommend it. The second memory I had was I was at the Zocalo the morning that Shakira was giving her free concert at the Zocalo in Mexico City-so I got to witness for a few days watching them setup for the concert and it was a massive project-the concert later that evening set an attendance record for the Zocalo as an estimated 400k people were in attendance for the free concert. That's the kid of things that randomly happen at the Zocalo-it's a very special place and a must-visit for anyone visiting the beautiful Mexico City.

The square itself is amazing, and the history is even more so. And while the square is a great…read moreplace to walk around and there is always something happing, it's great to go to the walking street and check out all the shops. But the people watching is the best. There are many souvenir shops around and it's worth going into the churches. One could easily spend a couple of hours here, more if you find a bar and have a nice, cool drink.

This monument was built in 1887. The statue is dedicated to the last Mexica ruler of Tenochtitlan,…read moreCuauhtémoc. You can find it at the intersection of Avenida de los Insurgentes and Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City. You can safely walk across to get to the median and view this statue up close. This monument was built, moved and then moved back to almost its original spot. The first stone was laid in 1878 and the last renovation was finished in 2004. This monument has been through quite a bit! The statue of Cuauhtémoc was created by 19th-century sculptor Miguel Norena. Cuauhtémoc was the last Aztec emperor. Hernan Cortés unsuccessfully tortured him to force him to reveal the hiding place of the treasure of Moctezuma. It was a failed attempt. In the pedestal, there is a bas relief showing the Spaniards' torture of the emperor, which was having the soles of his bare feet slowly broiled over red-hot coals. Ouch! This monument also pays tribute to Cuitláhuac, Cacama, Coanacoch and Tetlepanquetzal. The sculpture at the top of the pedestal is of Cuauhtémoc wearing ceremonial clothing including the plumed headdress and carrying a spear. There are lights shining on this monument at night. They emit a pink-ish hue to the statue, so it's difficult to get a true color at night. I wished people would not deface these structures, but I guess not everyone appreciates or values them. If you get a chance to walk around Mexico City, there are MANY monuments to see!! They are pretty cool to view!

05/18/2018 Roaming around this city means finding different…read morespots to sight see. Walking quite a few blocks to see this monument was an adventure. Wondering if we went the right way. Making a few stops at retail stores on the way. Just as the sun started to set behind the buildings, we dodge traffic crossing the street getting to the island of this monument. After making comments about the graffiti around this monument, the lights powered on. Makes for a better view walking around to take pictures. I'm sure it makes for a view while driving around town.

The Ángel de la Independencia is one of the most iconic landmarks of Mexico City, representing…read moreMexico's independence from Spain. It's a tall column with a gold statue of the Greek goddess Nike on top. It's located in the middle of a roundabout of Paseo de la Reforma, one of the city's most popular streets. There are steps at the base and you'll often find people just sitting there hanging out.

An icon of the city and a truly must see-I mean really would you leave NYC without seeing the…read moreStatue of Liberty or leave Paris with visiting the Eiffel Tower?Well you can't leave Mexico City without visiting this beautiful statue. It's located pretty close to Chapultepec Park,in fact you can see the statue from the main entrance to the park-it's a short walk to this statue. When you get to the park they direct traffic so that pedestrians can walk up to the statue and sit on the steps below it,be sure to follow traffic laws though as it's a crazy busy intersection and would hate for anyone to get hit by a car trying to get to the statue. That's all-if u find yourself in Mexico City-get yourself to this statue-it's a beauty.

This museum is really not impressive The only thing was the…read morestaircase that they only allow you to take the picture on your way. Cost about $5 US not expensive but for me not worth it. Every description is in Spanish. The materials of the museum weren't good. I didn't learn much after the museum visit If you want to take the photo of the grand staircase for your social media then the $5 will worth it.

It's fun to learn about postal service every country has one. This building is historical and…read moreinteresting that is worth seeing. They have a lot of old equipment and stamps plus some other things to see.