Museums in Mexico City's Historic Center: Templo Mayor, Murals and More on Foot
Templo Mayor, Rivera and Orozco murals, Bellas Artes and lesser-known museums, all less than 15 minutes on foot from Hotel Catedral.
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Hotel Catedral
MuseumsHistoric centerGuides
The Historic Center packs some of Mexico's most important museums into a few blocks. From Hotel Catedral (Guatemala 16) you can walk to every museum on this list, most in under 10 minutes. The first one is inside the hotel: the Ehécatl-Quetzalcoatl temple, a pre-Hispanic structure preserved in the lobby.
The must-sees
| Museum | What to see | From the hotel |
|---|---|---|
| Templo Mayor Museum | The ruins of Tenochtitlan's main temple and the Coyolxauhqui stone. | 3 min walk |
| Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso | José Clemente Orozco murals and temporary shows in an 18th-century Jesuit college. | 3 min walk |
| SEP murals | Over 200 Diego Rivera panels in the courtyards of the Ministry of Education (República de Argentina 28). Free with ID. | 4 min walk |
| Palacio Nacional | Diego Rivera's mural of Mexican history on the main staircase. Access depends on the official schedule; bring ID. | 5 min walk |
| National Art Museum (MUNAL) | Mexican art from the 16th to the 20th century in a palace on Tacuba street. | 10 min walk |
| Palacio de Bellas Artes | Murals by Rivera, Orozco, Siqueiros and Tamayo, and the Tiffany glass curtain. | 15 min walk |
For a second visit
- Museo de la Caricatura (Donceles 99), next to the hotel, in a colonial building.
- National Museum of World Cultures (Moneda 13), in the old colonial mint.
- House of the First Printing Press in the Americas, a block from the Templo Mayor.
- Mexico City Museum (Pino Suárez 30), in the palace of the Counts of Santiago de Calimaya.
- Museo del Estanquillo, on Madero street: see our Calle Madero guide.
Hours and tips
- Most close on Mondays. The Templo Mayor Museum opens Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Check each museum's website before you go.
- Sundays are free for Mexican citizens and residents at INAH museums such as the Templo Mayor, so they are also busier.
- Start early at the Templo Mayor to beat the sun and the lines, and save the afternoon for the murals.
- Follow our pre-Hispanic walking route to link the hotel's temple with the Templo Mayor, and our Metropolitan Cathedral guide for the visit next door.
Where to stay
To walk to the museums, stay in the middle of it all: see our hotel near the Templo Mayor and book direct for the best rate and free cancellation up to 48 hours before arrival.
