Bosque de Chapultepec★★★
Park: Di–So 5:00–20:00 Uhr
Park kostenlos, Museen 75–85 MXN
The Chapultepec Park is one of the largest urban parks in the world at 686 hectares — twice the size of Central Park in New York. For the Aztecs, the hill (chapultepēc = "Hill of the Grasshoppers" in Nahuatl) was sacred.
Highlights in the Park
- Museo Nacional de Antropología: THE museum of Mexico and one of the best in the world. The collection covers the entire pre-Columbian history of Mexico: the famous Sun Stone (Piedra del Sol), Maya jade, Olmec colossal heads, Aztec sculptures. Plan at least 3–4 hours. Admission: 85 MXN. Tue–Sun 9–19 hrs.
- Castillo de Chapultepec: The only real castle in North America (1785). Residence of Emperor Maximilian I (the unfortunate Habsburg) and his wife Charlotte. Now a museum with murals by Orozco and Siqueiros. Fantastic view over the city. 75 MXN, Tue–Sun 9–17 hrs.
- Museo de Arte Moderno: Frida Kahlo's famous painting "The Two Fridas" hangs here. Great collection of Mexican modern art.
- Zoológico de Chapultepec: Free zoo with pandas, wolves, and axolotls (the Mexican national animal).
💡 Tipp
The Anthropological Museum deserves an entire morning. Arrive at opening time at 9 AM and start in the Aztec Hall (Sala Mexica) — where the Sun Stone, Mexico's most famous artwork, is located.
