Lucha Libre in Mexico City: Arena México and Arena Coliseo from the Historic Center
Show nights, tickets, seats and getting to and from Arena Coliseo (a 10-minute walk) and Arena México, with Hotel Catedral as your base.
Hotel Catedral
Watching lucha libre live is one of the best things to do in Mexico City, and the Historic Center is the easiest base for it. Shows by CMLL (Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, the oldest wrestling promotion in the world) run in two arenas: Arena Coliseo, about a 10-minute walk from Hotel Catedral, and Arena México, in the Doctores neighborhood, 15 minutes away by car.
The two arenas
| Arena Coliseo | Arena México | |
|---|---|---|
| Address | República de Perú 77, Historic Center | Dr. Lavista 197, Doctores |
| From the hotel | About 800 m, a 10-minute walk | About 3 km, 15 minutes by taxi or ride app |
| Feel | Historic, intimate arena from 1943 | The "Cathedral of lucha libre": bigger, louder, more show |
| Usual nights | Saturday night | Tuesday, Friday (the main show) and Sunday afternoon |
Typical start times are Tuesday 7:30 pm, Friday 8:30 pm, Saturday 7:30 pm at Arena Coliseo and Sunday 5:00 pm (family show). They change on special dates, so always check the schedule ("cartelera") on cmll.com before you go.
Tickets and seats
- Box office or Ticketmaster. Buy at each arena's box office on the day or on Ticketmaster Mexico. For Friday at Arena México, buy ahead.
- Where to sit. Ringside rows put you under the high-flying moves; upper sections are cheaper and show the whole ring. At Arena Coliseo almost every seat has a good view.
- Organized tours. Tours bundle a ticket, transport and a drink. They are easy, but cost much more than going on your own from the center.
- What to bring. Cash for food, beer and masks sold outside; professional cameras are not allowed.
Getting there and back
- To Arena Coliseo: walk north along República de Brasil or República de Chile. At night, take a taxi or ride app back after the show: it is a 5-minute ride.
- To Arena México: a taxi or ride app is easiest (15 minutes, longer at rush hour). By Metro, take Line 2 to Pino Suárez and Line 1 to Balderas or Cuauhtémoc, then walk a few blocks. After the show, ride back: Doctores is not a neighborhood for walking at night.
A full night from the center
Have an early dinner at Restaurante Catedral, go to the show, and finish with a drink at the Terrace Bar overlooking the Cathedral. For the rest of your trip, see what to do in Mexico City and our 3, 4 and 5-day itinerary.
Hotel Catedral is at Guatemala 16, right behind the Metropolitan Cathedral. Book direct for the best rate and free cancellation up to 48 hours before arrival.
