Best Things to Explore in Mexico City Historic Center

Mexico City Historic Center – 2022

Centro Historico, or “Centro,” is the historic center and beating heart of Mexico City. Here you can see the birth of the nation. However, Centro Historico is not just a touristic place; still, residents continue to come to celebrate, protest, have fun, shop, and stroll.

Stand at the Zocalo – Main square in Mexico City Historic Center

The Zocalo is the largest plaza in America and one of the largest in the world. Here you’ll also find different museums, shops, jewelries, and restaurants with terraces to get a great view of the whole plaza.

Visit the Metropolitan Cathedral

See the breathtaking Metropolitan Cathedral, one of the city’s most iconic structures, where you can admire the Altar of Forgiveness, the Altar of the Kings, the Lord of the Poison, and 14 chapels more.

Find Airbnb’s and Home Rentals in Mexico City Historic Center

Ruins in the heart of Mexico City Historic Center

Visit the Templo Mayor (“main temple”), which was the centerpiece of Tenochtitlán, the ancient Aztec capital was built in 1325 in the marshes of Lake Texcoco. This is where the Aztecs saw the symbolic eagle eating a snake coiled in a cactus, which later became the Mexican symbol that you can find in the Mexican Flag.

The President’s office is in the Historic Center

The Palacio Nacional holds the office of Mexico’s President, Treasury, and the National Archives, which also houses Diego Rivera’s murals that narrate Mexico’s history since the Aztec civilization through the Spanish conquest.

See a real palace at the heart of Mexico City Historic Center.

Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts), considered the cultural center of Mexico City, holds an impressive collection of works by famous Mexican artists. The palace’s exterior showcases art nouveau and art deco-style architecture, while the inside features marble floors and vaulted glass windows. Travelers from around the world say that the palace is sure to be one of the most beautiful sights you’ll see in Mexico City and an amazing experience if you get the chance to see a performance in its world-class theater.

Torre Latinoamericana, a 44-story skyscraper built in 1965, used to be the tallest building in Latin America but is still a national landmark and a symbol of the city. The tower has survived multiple earthquakes, including both the 8.1-magnitude earthquake of 1985 and the 7.1-magnitude earthquake of September 2017, making it a rare feat of engineering. Make sure you visit the museum on the 38th floor, a lounge bar on the 41st floor, and an observation deck on the 44th floor, where the view of the city is impressive.

Have fun at Plaza Garibaldi

Plaza Garibaldi is one of the city’s most emblematic and busiest tourist squares because of its festive atmosphere dedicated to Mexican music, especially the mariachi. The square is surrounded by restaurants and traditional centers for unforgettable evenings and by the Museo de Tequila y Mezcal, which includes the history of the Tequila and Mezcal, a bar, and Tequila tasting.

Take a break in one of the oldest parks in Mexico City Historic Center

Alameda Central, Mexico’s oldest municipal park, has been around since 1529 when it served as an Aztec marketplace. Today, the park serves as a pedestrian-friendly hangout and is home to a Diego Rivera mural and an impressive amount of green space.

Have breakfast, lunch or dinner inside of a beautiful building

Casa de Los Azulejos (House of Tiles) is a building covered in blue, white, and yellow tiles, which houses one of José Clemente Orozco’s murals, a glass-ceiling atrium, and a fountain. Today, the previous home of an aristocratic family is owned by a chain restaurant where you can sit down, get something to drink, and admire the scenery around you.

Visit one of the many unique museums in Mexico City

Museo de la Memoria y Tolerancia (Museum of Memory and Tolerance) opened in 2010 and features exhibits from the Holocaust, to racism, to LGBT rights.

Admire the Postal Palace

Palacio Postal a beautiful working postal office next to Palacio de Bellas Artes with eclectic architecture based on Elizabethan and Venetian Gothic styles.