Whether you’re a local or a foreigner, we’re pretty sure that these 20 spots will convince you of the inexhaustible nature of the nation’s capital, so take a look at the secret places you’ve already visited in the CDMX and write down the ones you haven’t on your to-do list!
1. Church of Buen Tono
Dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe, it was built at the beginning of the 20th century by Miguel Ángel de Quevedo. Of eclectic Frenchified style, it dominates the Plaza de San Juan and is one of the most distinguished buildings south of the Historic Center.
2. Santiago Garden
Located on the corner of Ricardo Flores Magón and Paseo de la Reforma, this oasis in the middle of Unidad Habitacional Tlatelololco offers moments of peace and greenery. In addition, it was built by the famous architect Mario Pani to resemble the Jardín de San Marcos in Aguascalientes.
3. Justo Sierra Historic Synagogue
It is a replica of a synagogue in Shavel, Lithuania, built behind a neo-colonial facade on behalf of the Jewish communities of Poland and Russia in 1937. An amazing building where today there are guided tours to learn more about its history.
4. Verde rooftop of INFONAVIT’s central building
With more than 1,500 square meters and a gold-grade environmental certification, this spectacular terrace shelters hundreds of plant species of the Valley of Mexico, several of which are in danger of extinction.
5. Palace of Autonomy
This superb building behind the Templo Mayor was a convent and normal school before being remodeled in an eclectic style reminiscent of several European palaces. It was here that UNAM’s autonomy was decreed in 1929 (hence the name), and today it houses a museum and a foreign language teaching center.
6. Archaeological Zone of Mixcoac
did you think that the Templo Mayor or Cuicuilco were the only pre-Hispanic ruins in the CDMX? If so, you must visit this archaeological site, located practically under the second floor of the Periferico and meters away from a large shopping mall. It dates back to pre-Hispanic times and has several platforms and the foundations of a temple dedicated to the god Mixcoatl.
7. Abelardo L. Rodríguez Market
This shopping center in the Historic Center is well known for its wide variety of products. What few know is that it was here that Manuel Tolsá’s famous statue of El Caballito was cast, and that inside are vibrant murals painted by American artists Marion and Grace Greenwood, who depicted scenes of Mexico’s commercial life.
8. Tezozomoc Park
It is located in Azcapotzalco and has 17 hectares of green areas, dotted with sports courts, walkways, playgrounds and small squares. Be sure to visit the artificial lake located in the center of the park, which has the shape of the Texcoco lake in the times of the Great Tenochtitlan.
9. Café Equis
This former bulk coffee shop stands out among the buildings on Roldán Street, in La Merced, for its colorful interior and its stained glass windows that display the beans behind traditional signs that have been frozen in time.
10. Lira Park
Another unknown green space in the middle of the metropolis, which gives its name to the street where it is located. Its land was part of a 17th century church and convent, although it later became part of the estate of a wealthy family who commissioned the Italian Javier Cavallari to design a beautiful arch for it. To see its lawns, fountains and even a skate park, you will have to cross this construction.
11. Chapultepec Korean Pavilion
Located on Paseo de la Reforma, a few hundred meters from the National Auditorium, it was built in 1968 and is a replica of the pavilion where the act of independence of South Korea was signed. Colorful and very photogenic, it is surrounded by quiet meadows connected to the Chapultepec Forest.
12. Former Military College of Popotla
This elegant and spacious palatial building was originally built to house a school for teachers, however it was turned over to the Secretary of National Defense who converted it into the headquarters of the Military College. Today it has a museum on the history of the cavalry in Mexico.
13. Porta Coeli Church
Its narrow façade makes it difficult to identify among the modern buildings and the bustle of passersby and merchants in the Historic Center. However, when you enter you will discover that its walls and apse have been covered with colorful and huge murals with Byzantine-style tiles, as the temple belongs to the Greco-Melkite Church of Eastern origin.
14. Miguel Lerdo de Tejada Library
From the outside, its elaborate baroque façade will make you think that it is just another church in downtown, but when you enter you will be surprised to discover that it houses a very rich collection of books on social sciences and humanities. Its colorful murals, painted by the Russian-Mexican painter Vlady, a contemporary of Rivera, are impressive.
15. Rivas Mercado House
It is an amazing mansion built by one of the most notable architects of the 19th century in Mexico, which has features of neoclassical and art nouveau styles. It was opened to the public in 2017 and can be visited only with a guided tour by prior reservation; it is located in the Guerrero neighborhood.
16. La Faena
Among the many bars and cantinas in the Historic Center, this one stands out for its peculiar aesthetics inspired by the fiesta brava. You’ll notice it in the floor and wall tiles resembling those of the old Andalusian taverns, as well as in the bullfighting paintings and bullfighter costumes displayed in the showcases.
17. Lagoon of the Aztec Kings
Xochimilco is not the only territory in the city with pre-Hispanic canals, chinampas and trajineras, as can be seen in this wetland within the Tláhuac municipality. It is a natural stopover point for several species of migratory birds and its shore is home to several local farmers’ markets.
18. Japanese Mexican Association
Located in Las Águilas, this cultural center has an authentic Japanese garden inside that you can contemplate while tasting delicacies from the Land of the Rising Sun. In addition, there are also Japanese language classes and a manga museum.
19. Diego Rivera Mural Museum
To see three of the most important icons of Mexican art and popular culture, just visit this mural, built around the enormous mural Sueño de una tarde dominical (Dream of a Sunday Afternoon) in the Alameda. The characters we refer to are Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo and José Guadalupe Posada’s Catrina.
20. Chapel of the Capuchinas of Tlalpan
Although its name may sound viceregal, this religious space was designed and financed by Luis Barragán, Mexican architectural rockstar. Located in the center of Tlalpan, its high ceilings and monochromatic walls allow for a play of light that makes it unnecessary to decorate the interior of this chapel. A little known modernist treasure.