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Attractions in Mexico City

• Museo Nacional de Antropologia (Anthropological Museum)

  Chapultepec Park, Reforma and Gandhi, Mexico City, Mexico

  Renowned the world over, this museum houses some the most fascinating collections of Mexico’s past there is and is regarded as one of the top ten museums on the planet. After just five minutes in the place you will see why. Burgled in 1985, many of the most prized possessions have been recovered. Among the most popular exhibits are the giant stone heads from the jungles of Tabasco, an Aztec calendar stone and the model of Tenochtitlan which you should see before visiting the actual site. Open between 9.00am and 7.00pm from Tuesday to Saturday and from 10.00am until 6.00pm on Sundays and holidays.

• Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts)

  Avenue Hidalgo 1, Co. Centro, Mexico City, Mexico

  Home to the country’s finest art collection, the building itself is equally impressive. Built at the beginning of the nineteenth century by Italian architect, Adamo Boari, it consists entirely of white marble and houses some amazing murals by Riviera, Orozco and Tamayo. As well as this you can see the glass Tiffany curtain which unveils performances of the Ballet Folklorico. A fascinating attraction which should not be missed.

• Torre Latinoamericano (Latin American Tower)

  Corner of Madero & Lazaro, Cardenas, Mexico City, Mexico

  Open daily from 10.00am until midnight this Latin American answer to the Empire State Building is where you need to go to get the best views of the city and surrounding area. Forty-three stories high with an observation deck on the top floor, try to get there on a clear day as the smog in Mexico City is pretty atrocious. Admission is minimal too for those of you who are worried about your budget.

• Basilica de la Virgen de Guadalupe (Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe)

  Plaza Hidalgo 1, Colonia Villa Guadalupe, Mexico City, Mexico

  This is the holiest of all Mexican shrines and honours the national’s patron saint, the Virgin of Guadalupe. Legend tells us that she appeared to a local, Juan Diego, in 1531 and asked for a church to be built there. The original church was built in 1709 but being built on swampy ground it began to sink and a new basilica was built in 1976 by one Pedro Ramirez Vasquez, the same architect who was responsible for the Anthropological Museum. The old building still remains too.

• Pyramids of Teotihuacan & Temple of Quetzalcoatl

  , Mexico City, Mexico

  Undoubtedly one of the highlights on a trip to Mexico City, this particular set of attractions date from between 500BC and 700AD. Also known as the City of the Gods, the complex is divided by a two-kilometre strip which is known as the Street of the Dead. Flanked by palaces, pyramids and temples, this is unlike anything you will have ever seen before. Part of a city which in its prime was the world’s sixth largest, only ten per cent of Teotihuacanos has yet been excavated, a statistic you will find hard to believe when you are there. Don’t forget the camera for this one.

• The Zocalo (Plaza de la Constitucion) & the Catedral Metropolitana

  , Mexico City, Mexico

  The Zocalo is the plaza surrounded by the historic centre of downtown Mexico City and is the second largest of its kind, second only to the Red Square in Moscow. When you get the metro to Zocalo don’t miss the exhibition which displays what the plaza looked like during Aztec times right through to the last century. The area is only open to pedestrian traffic so you can stroll around without any hassle. While there you should also visit the Cathedral, the second largest in Latin America and the oldest edifice on the North American continent. This is open between 10.00am and 8.00pm and houses some amazing works of art and the largest organ in the world.

• Museo de Templo Mayor

  Seminaro 8, Zocalo, Mexico City, Mexico

  Also located very near the Zocalo is the site of the Aztec Templo Mayor. Discovered by workmen in the late 1970s only the lower and internal parts now survive today but are extremely impressive nonetheless. The museum itself which was built on the site, houses all the artefacts found by the workers and displays include giant sculptures of ancient Aztec animals and icons of worship as well as the walls of several temples. Open between 9.00am and 6.00pm from Tuesday to Sunday and from 2.00pm until 6.00pm on Monday this is yet another site where you can step back in time without even leaving the modern city that far behind.

• Floating Gardens of Xochimlico

  , Mexico City, Mexico

  Located about fifteen miles south of the city centre these gardens are the last remaining piece of Lake Texcoco, the lake which once surrounded the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan. While they’re probably not quite as impressive today as they were back then, they are still well worth a visit but if you’re hoping to get a seat on the boat forget it, particularly at weekends.

• Spectator Sports

  Azteca Stadium, Plaza Mexico & Fronton Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico

  The most popular sports in the city are soccer, jai alai which is the fastest ball game in the world with Basque origins and bullfighting. For soccer check out the Azteca Stadium which seats 100,000 and was the venue for the 1970 and 1986 World Cup competitions. For jai alai head to Fronton Mexico nightly, with the exception of Mondays and Fridays, at 6.00pm. Finally if you want to see some bullfighting visit Plaza Mexico, the world’s largest arena. The season runs from November to March but there are performances all year round on Sundays at 4.00pm and booking in advance is recommended.

• Toluca

  , Mexico City, Mexico

  If you’ve had enough of city life for a while Toluca is the perfect getaway. About an hour by bus from Mexico City this is the highest city in the country and is best known for its Friday market. Before you even get there, however, you will pass some breathtaking scenery along the way so keep your eyes open on the journey. Once you reach the market be prepared to haggle like you never have before. Local traders come from all around to play their home made wares so for those of you hoping to experience a little of the local customs and traditions, look no further. Buses leave regularly for Toluca from the city centre terminal.