Calle Madero, Mexico City: what to see from the Zócalo to Bellas Artes
Mexico City’s most famous pedestrian street, block by block: what to see, where to get a view over the city and how to walk it from Hotel Catedral.
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Hotel Catedral
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Calle Madero is Mexico City’s busiest pedestrian street: it links the Zócalo with Eje Central, facing the Torre Latinoamericana and steps from Bellas Artes. From Hotel Catedral (Guatemala 16) it is about a 5-minute walk, and strolling the whole street takes one to two hours.
What to see, from the Zócalo toward Bellas Artes
| Stop | What’s there |
|---|---|
| La Profesa church | A Baroque church on the corner of Isabel la Católica. |
| Museo del Estanquillo | Carlos Monsiváis’s collection of cartoons, photography and popular culture, on the same corner. |
| Palacio de Iturbide | An 18th-century Baroque palace, now the Palacio de Cultura Citibanamex, with rotating exhibitions. |
| San Francisco church | What remains of the great Franciscan convent, with its Baroque façade. |
| Casa de los Azulejos (House of Tiles) | An 18th-century façade covered in Talavera tiles; inside is a Sanborns and a José Clemente Orozco mural on the staircase. |
| Torre Latinoamericana | A 1956 skyscraper that withstood the 1957 and 1985 earthquakes; its observation deck has one of the best views of the city. |
Cross Eje Central and you reach the Palacio de Bellas Artes, with the Alameda Central behind it.
Tips for the walk
- Go in the morning for fewer crowds, or at sunset to catch golden light from the Torre Latinoamericana deck.
- Many exhibitions at Palacio de Iturbide and Museo del Estanquillo are free; check hours before you go.
- The street gets very busy, so keep your wallet and phone in front pockets.
- Have dinner in the center and walk back to the hotel through the Zócalo.
A half-day route
Start at the Metropolitan Cathedral, cross the Zócalo, walk Madero to Bellas Artes and come back along 5 de Mayo. To sleep steps from all of it, see our Historic Center hotel and book direct for the best rate.
