11 Best Museums in Mexico City

Museo del Templo Mayor (Museum of the Great Temple) lies in the center of Mexico City and houses more than 7,000 Aztec artifacts. Many of the artifacts were unearthed during the excavation of the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan, which lies in ruins beside the museum. The Templo Mayor was a sacred place for the Aztec people and was discovered by accident in 1978. The archeological site is considered one of the most important discoveries in Latin America.

The museum has 8 exhibition halls, each narrating the archeological site's fascinating history. A highlight includes the massive stone wheel of the moon goddess Coyolxauhqui. It's free to see the ruins, but there's a small entrance fee for the museum.

Museo Frida Kahlo is dedicated to the art of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and is set in a house that's painted in cobalt blue, hence the house's nickname. Inside, you can see an expansive collection of works by the titular artist in addition to some works by her husband, Diego Rivera.

Mexican folk art is the primary focus of the pieces, but they come in quite a few different forms. You'll find paintings and photographs along with some personal items and memorabilia from Kahlo's life. This museum is located in the Colonia del Carmen area of Coyoacan.

Museo Jumex is a contemporary art museum that not only shows off impressive works but strives to inspire experimentation with art innovation. When you visit, not only can you see impressive art, but you can feel free to discuss it with others as well.

The collection here is particularly impressive, as it features a wide variety of artists from all over the world. Some of the most iconic pieces are from artists like Andy Warhol, Gabriel Orozco, Jeff Koons, Tacita Dean, and Martin Creed, among others. You'll find it all on the west side of town around Polanco.

Museo Nacional de Antropologia displays numerous significant anthropological and archaeological artifacts from pre-Columbian México. While there are 600,000 pieces in total, some of the most notable are the Stone of the Sun and the Aztec Xochipilli statue.

Although much of the collection here is Aztec in origin, you'll find quite a few treasures from the Olmecs and Mayans as well, including some recovered from Chichen Itza. You can also see a model of the city of Tenochtitlan, the ancient city that stood where México City is today. The museum is located on the north side of Bosque de Chapultepec about a mile west of the historic center.

Museo Universitario de Arte Contemporáneo showcases works by the leading contemporary artists in México from a wide variety of artistic movements. All the pieces here are sourced from Mexican artists and date back no further than 1952, so they capture more modern expressions and sentiments.

When you visit, you'll see a wide variety of mediums on display, including paintings, sculptures, photos, graphic arts, and videos. The museum strives to document the recent artistic history of México, so you can learn all about local movements. You'll find it within the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México in the south side of University City, a few miles south of downtown.

The Museo Casa de León Trotsky highlights political asylum efforts and the life and work of famed revolutionary Leon Trotsky, letting you learn all about his exile and later years. This museum is in the very house where Trotsky lived and was subsequently assassinated.

The museum has a relatively dark tone in general, as you can visit the actual study where Trotsky was murdered by a Soviet agent. The room is kept in the condition it was in at the time, including the books and papers being in the same positions. You'll find it on the south side of Gral Anaya near Av. Río Churubusco.

The Soumaya Museum houses a vast collection of artwork, with some pieces dating back centuries to the time of the historic greats. The museum is divided into 6 different levels with something special on each.

The first level of the museum is home to decorative arts and focused on gold and silver-like coins. Level 2 features temporary exhibitions, while level 3 is home to works by European and Novohispanic Old Masters. The rest of the levels cover various artistic movements through time. You'll find it all in southern Amp Granada with a bus stop right outside named after the museum.

The Museo Nacional de Arte showcases the history of Mexican art from the mid-16th century to the mid-20th century, just before works are considered contemporary. Within the museum, you'll find the works divided into 3 periods: the colonial period, the independence century, and the post-revolution era.

When you visit this museum, you'll find that the works are mostly paintings and sculptures. The museum itself is easy enough to find, as it's located in the city's historic center with a massive equestrian statue of Charles IV of Spain outside.

The Museo del Palacio de Bellas Artes is an art museum showcasing a wide range of media and located within a massive palace that sports an art deco design interior. Among the exhibits, you'll find a rotating array of media from Mexican and international artists both classic and contemporary.

While the temporary exhibits tend to be popular, be sure to check out the permanent murals, which are just as impressive. You'll find it all in an ornate building with an art nouveau/neoclassical exterior on the west side of Mexico City's historic center.

The Museo de Arte Popular showcases Mexican folk art in a variety of mediums, including furniture, textiles, glass, pottery, alebrijes, and pinatas. The alebrijes are especially popular with visitors, as they depict mythical and fantastical creatures in bright colors to the delight of kids and adults alike.

One of the most notable aspects of this museum is that it sponsors the Night of the Alebrijes parade where the alebrijes are constructed on a large scale then paraded through town. You'll find this museum in a former firehouse just a few steps to the northeast from the Juárez subway station.