The Best Museums Mexico Has to Offer
Mexico is a wonderful country full of history, culture and color. This translates into a whole host of fantastic museums covering almost every topic and period that you can think of. When you plan your visit to Mexico, we recommend finding out what museums and attractions are nearby.
We’ve put together a list of the top museums that any culture lover, history buff or creative soul will love to go to. Keep an eye out for the chocolate museum and time museum for some alternatives to classic art and history. You never know, it might even inspire you to choose a different location to visit!
Frida Kahlo Museum
This museum is a homage to the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, world-renowned for her self portraits among other stunning pieces of artwork. It is one of the most visited museums in Mexico City. As a result, there can be a long queue but it is definitely worth a visit if you want to explore the life and art of this acclaimed artist.
Located in the Coyoacán district of Mexico City, you will see the impressive bright blue walls signalling you’ve arrived at the former home of Frida Kahlo which has been turned into a dedication of her life and work.
Museo Nacional de Antropología, Mexico City
The Museo Nacional de Antropologia (National Museum of Anthropology), located in Mexico City is the top tourist attraction in Mexico with a wonderfully curated collection. The museum covers both Mesoamerican and prehispanic history, so if you want to explore the history of the Aztecs or the Mayans then this is the attraction for you.
There is so much to explore inside the museum that you could spend days in there and still not visit every exhibit. Some of the top exhibits inside here include the tomb of a Mayan ruler, pottery and jewellery from the Aztec empire and so much more.
Museo Nacional de Historia, Mexico City
Your next stop in your list of cultural attractions in Mexico City, and overall one of the best museums in Mexico is the Museo Nacional de Historia. This museum provides an insight into the history of Mexico from the Conquest of Mexico in the 16th century through to the Mexican Revolution.
One of the lovely things about this attraction is that the building itself was once a royal home styled in the neo-gothic period, situated in the historic area of Castillo de Chapultepec. This means you can enjoy walking around the gardens, admiring the architecture and even the fantastic views, before you’ve even entered the museum.
Museo del Palacio de Bellas Artes
Once more we present a museum to you that is housed inside a building which is an attraction in itself. The Museo del Palacio de Bellas Artes, located in the Centro Histórico is a stunningly beautiful building in Mexico City. The building itself dates back to the early 1900s, a glorious example of Art Nouveau.
When we move inside the museum, it houses some wonderful art and design work which has made the museum famous around the world. They also host concerts throughout the year so check the dates when you book your holiday, as it is a fantastic event for any culture lovers out there.
Museo Universitario de Arte Contemporáneo (MUAC)
The Museo Universitario de Arte Contemporáneo showcases contemporary art in all its glory, so if you’re an art lover then this should be the top of your list when visiting Mexico City. You will find the largest single collection of modern art in the whole of Mexico, making it one of the biggest collections across the Americas.
Often referred to as the MUAC, the museum does a fantastic job of providing a platform for lesser-known, emerging artists who focus on contemporary artwork. This means every time you visit, you have the chance to discover new, exciting and innovative works.
Museo de Arte Popular
This museum is one of our favorites and easily makes it onto the list of best museums in Mexico. The Museo de Arte Popular is dedicated to the Mexican people and popular artwork. As a nice gesture, they sponsor the Alebrije Parade so if you’re staying in Mexico City when this happens, you will see huge representations of monsters from Mexican folklore.
When you step into this museum you will be bombarded with colorful, honest pottery and crafts from a range of periods and cultures. Explore traditional instruments and crafts from the indigenous people of Mexico, religious pieces of art and even modern pieces that we can all relate to.
Museo del Tiempo Tlalpan A.C.
This next museum is the Museo del Tiempo Tlalpan, located in the southern part of Mexico City in an area with other interesting attractions that makes for a perfect day out. Where this museum stands out is thanks to its alternative topic and charming design. This is the museum of time and it offers an intriguing insight into the history of time.
Step away from the traditional history and art museums and look at how time has developed over the centuries, with a range of devices from ancient history through to antique timepieces and more modern clocks.
Museo de las Momias de Guanajuato, Guanajuato
Now it’s time to step away from Mexico City and there is no better place to start than the Museo de las Momias in Guanajuato. This wonderful colonial city is home to a rich history and culture and this museum definitely highlights some of the more interesting aspects of that history.
As the name suggests, this museum houses a collection of mummies that are incredibly well-preserved. Found in the Panteón Santa Paula, the soil conditions have preserved these unique symbols of Mexican history and as a result of their popularity, they have become a symbol of the city itself.
Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca, Oaxaca
The Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca is located in the very center of historic downtown Oaxaca, surrounded by incredible history and culture. Right next door to the Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán, this museum offers some fantastic views to sit and admire, as well as a wonderful botanical garden.
Within the museum, they have managed to put together an impressive collection of items that guide you through the cultural history of Oaxaca and in particular its indigenous history. If you want to understand the place you’re visiting and find out what inspired the city around you, then this is the perfect attraction to visit during your stay.
Museo Internacional del Barroco, Puebla
The city of Puebla is an interesting mix of baroque architecture with modern life and the Museo Internacional del Barroco is the very embodiment of this ideal. The building itself is an architectural masterpiece, designed by Toyo Ito and this award-winning attraction hosts the International Baroque Museum.
If you have a passion for this particular period of art or art history in general, then you shouldn’t miss this museum. It offers an insight into what makes Puebla such a fascinating and warm city.
Museo del Templo Mayor
You cannot get more central than the Museo del Templo Mayor, located as it is in the Zocalo which is the main square in Mexico City. This museum contains the remains of the main Aztec temple from their city of Tenochtitlan. Mexico City was built on the remains of this wonderful Aztec capital.
It may be difficult for some to explore the history of these monuments and find out how the conquistadors from Spain destroyed the Aztec temples before building the zocalo over these ruins. Fortunately, this museum has been created to protect and ensure the remaining ruins are saved for future generations to understand the history of such a wonderful country.
Museo Soumaya
There are so many art galleries and museums to choose from in Mexico City but this should always be on your shortlist. It houses one of the most extensive collections of art in the city, founded by the billionaire Carlos Slim. The Museo Soumaya gets its name from his late wife and since opening, its collection has grown to include some inspirational pieces.
When you go into the museum, you will be able to explore art and pieces of work that date back to the early Mayan period, as well as indigenous sculptures and more recent creations. For the art lovers out there, you will be able to spot creations by some of the worlds most famous artists including Salvador Dali.
Museo del Chocolate
One of the most interesting museums to explore, particularly if you love chocolate! The Museo del Chocolate charts the rise of chocolate from its origins in Latin America to modern-day chocolate bars and drinks. Find out all about how the Aztec and Mayan cultures grew cocoa and used it as currency.
From here you can explore how it was taken back to Europe by the Spanish and had a monumental rise to one of the most popular treats around the world. Yes, it doesn’t include some famous artwork or ancient architecture but it really is a fascinating way to spend a few hours.
