10 Things to Do Off the Beaten Track in Mexico City
Interesting Places in Mexico City Only Locals Know
Mexico City is one of the biggest cities in the world, but if you want to experience it like a local, you’ll need to find its hidden secrets. You’ll find quite a few, large and small, if you know where to look, and each will have you feeling more like a local than a tourist.
Whether you’re interested in museums, art installations, or impressive architectural design, you’ll find it all and more within this massive city. Wherever you go, these hidden gems offer an opportunity to learn about the local culture in a more intimate setting. Check out 10 things to do off the beaten track in Mexico City.
1. Kiosco Morisco
See Moorish architecture
Good for: History, Budget, Unusual
Kiosco Morisco is an architectural marvel in the form of a kiosk structure that sports intricate patterns and a glass cupola dome with moveable panels. While the kiosk looks positively Moorish, the architectural style is more accurately called neo-Mudejar, which is a combination of Moorish and 19th-century Spanish-style architecture.
When you visit this kiosk, you’ll find several columns around stunning arches on the exterior and around the interior ring. The kiosk itself is mostly an orange-red color with bits of blue as well. See it for yourself in the Santa Maria la Ribera neighborhood northwest of downtown.
Location: Santa María la Ribera, Cuauhtémoc, 06400 Mexico City, Mexico
Open: 24/7
Kiosco Morisco
2. Pequeño Seul
Sample international culture in Koreatown
Good for: Families, Shoppers, Food, Nightlife, Unusual
Pequeño Seul, or Little Seoul, is Mexico City’s Koreatown where you can embrace Korean food and culture among a variety of shops, bars, and restaurants. The neighborhood is home to more than 9,000 Koreans, and many of them own authentic shops and restaurants designed to recreate the experience of visiting Korea itself.
Keep in mind that when you visit this neighborhood, you’ll find authentic Korean fare. That means restaurants offering traditional Korean food rather than the version often present in the American continents. Check out the authenticity for yourself in the Juarez area west of downtown.
Location: Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Pequeño Seul
3. Museo de El Carmen
Check out a former convent
Good for: History
Museo de El Carmen is a fascinating anthropology and history museum housed with the Colegio de San Angelo Martir, a former convent with impressive architectural achievements. The attention to detail found in the building itself is quite impressive and can make you feel as if you’ve stepped back in time.
Inside, you’ll find a massive collection of religious art and paintings, including works by 18th-century artist Miguel Cabrera. You can see it all for yourself in San Angel, which is located south of downtown.
Location: y 6, Av. Revolución 4, San Ángel, Álvaro Obregón, 01000 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Open: Tuesday–Sunday from 10 am 5 pm (closed on Mondays)
Phone: +52 55 5616 1504
Museo de El Carmen
4. Planetario Luis Enrique Erro
Sit under the stars in Mexico’s first public planetarium
Good for: Families, History, Unusual
Planetario Luis Enrique Erro is one of the oldest planetariums in the country and features upgraded digital technology to create an experience you may not have expected. The audio, acoustics, and lighting are state-of-the-art, and the digital projection systems are designed to work specifically with its stellar dome.
When you visit this planetarium, you’ll find that most of the exhibits are designed to be seen in 3 dimensions, with models and lighting tricks to make everything more immersive. You can experience it all for yourself in the San Bartolo Atepehuacan area north of downtown.
Location: Av. Wilfrido Massieu, Nueva Industrial Vallejo, Gustavo A. Madero, 07700 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Planetario Luis Enrique Erro
5. Desierto de los Leones
Head outdoors for recreation and nature
Good for: Families, History, Adventure, Unusual
Desierto de los Leones lets you get away from the hustle and bustle of the city with numerous environmental and recreational activities, like hiking and biking. This park is popular with outdoor adventurers due to its numerous trails and opportunities for trekking on foot, on a bike, or on horseback.
The park is home to a wide range of flora and fauna that you can explore with extensive greenery and towering trees. You’ll also find a historic convent within the park dating back to the 17th century. The park is located a few miles southwest of downtown.
Location: Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Desierto de los Leones
6. Cineteca Nacional de Mexico
Take in an art house movie
Good for: Couples, Families, Nightlife, Unusual
Cineteca Nacional de Mexico is an art house movie theater where you’ll find plenty of fascinating films being shown in a building with breathtaking architecture. For the most part, the films shown here are more alternative and include indie dramas and fascinating documentaries, among others.
The building itself is quite impressive, sporting angular designs and seemingly perforated additions that let plenty of light shine through. You can see all of this for yourself in the Coyoacan neighborhood south of downtown.
Location: Av. México Coyoacán 389, Xoco, Benito Juárez, 03330 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Phone: +52 55 4155 1200
Cineteca Nacional de Mexico
7. Museo del Juguete Antiguo
Browse a collection of vintage novelties
Good for: Families, History, Unusual
Museo del Juguete Antiguo is a toy museum that shows off a wide variety of toys, most from the early 20th century, with more than 20,000 on display. This collection was curated by Roberto Shimizu Kinoshita, and it features popular Mexican toys as well as some that are a bit more exotic.
When you visit, you’ll find that this museum isn’t set up as you’d expect with cases and shelves. Instead, the toys on display are arranged in a whimsical fashion, adding a bit of fun to the exhibits. The museum is located in the Doctores area just south of downtown.
Location: Calle Dr Olvera 15, Doctores, Cuauhtémoc, 06720 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Open: Monday–Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm, Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm
Phone: +52 55 5588 2100
Museo del Juguete Antiguo
8. Biblioteca Vasconcelos
Experience a library that offers an adventure
Good for: History, Budget, Unusual
Biblioteca Vasconcelos is a megalibrary with a massive selection of books arranged among platforms on top of platforms that go up to the ceiling. When you visit, you’ll find yourself embarking on a geometric adventure as you climb stairs to reach the highest selection of books.
The design is completely open, with transparent walls and platforms that seemingly hang from the ceiling. Plus, the floors seem to be slightly mismatched when comparing both sides of the central aisle, which adds even more character to it all. You can reach the library in the Buenavista area north of downtown.
Location: Eje 1 Nte. S/N, Buenavista, Cuauhtémoc, 06350 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Phone: +52 55 9157 2800
Biblioteca Vasconcelos
9. Arena Mexico
Attend a wrestling match
Good for: Couples, Families, Unusual
Arena Mexico is a fun arena that’s primarily used for wrestling or lucha libre matches, but you’ll also find some boxing matches held here as well. The arena itself can fit up to 16,500 people for a match, so your experience can vary quite a bit depending on where you book your seat.
Be sure to check the local calendar when you visit to see what’s on. Typically, you’ll find wrestling events held here each week on Tuesdays and Fridays. You’ll find the arena in Doctores just southwest of downtown. Read more
Location: Dr. Lavista 189, Doctores, Cuauhtémoc, 06720 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Phone: +52 55 5588 0266
Arena Mexico
10. Island of the Dolls
Explore a creepy yet fascinating destination
Good for: History, Unusual
The Island of the Dolls is an island by Lake Huetzalin where you’ll find thousands of dolls hanging from trees along with a museum. The sight of these dolls set up throughout the trees is as striking as it is unnerving, yet they tend to foster a curiosity that keeps people coming to visit.
On the island, you’ll find a small museum that details its history and its old owners. Plenty of rituals occur around these dolls with some locals, and the museum can teach you all about them. This island is located several miles south of downtown in the massive Parque Ecologico de Xochimilco.
Location: Parque Ecológico de Xochimilco, 16043 Mexico City, CDMX, Mexico
Island of the Dolls
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