Self-guided walking tour of Chapultepec in Mexico City - Mexico City Purple Travel Guide
Chapultepec Park is a huge park with lots of history and one of the best museums of Mexico City. We provide you a detailed itinerary with the best things to see and we show lots of photos so you know what you can expect.
With a size of 1,695 acres (686 hectares), Chapultepec Park (Bosque de Chapultepec = grasshopper hill forest) is Mexico City’s largest park.
Once a retreat reserved for the Aztec ruling and religious elite, one of the last battles between the Spanish and Cuauhtémoc’s army occurred at Chapultepec Hill in 1521.
Chapultepec Park is visited daily by approx. 250,000 people or 15 million people annually. It is divided into 4 sections.
We will spend much of the day seeing a small part of the first section, which happens to be the oldest section of the park. If you like, you can visit Fuente de Tlaloc in the second section, but this is a long walk.
If you visit with children, then you may want to consider Chapultepec Zoo (near the Auditorio metro station), which lies in the north-western side of the first section.
1 = Auditorio Metro Station |
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A good way to start your day is to take the Metro to the Auditorio station (#1 on the map) and then walk along Paseo de la Reforma to the Museo Nacional de Antropología (#2 on the map).
You have explored the beauty of Paseo de la Reforma on Day 1 of your tour in Cuauhtémoc. Paseo de la Reforma near Auditorio, on the border of Chapultepec and Polanco, is different but also gorgeous.
Here at Backpack and Snorkel Travel Guides, we typically promote self-guided walking tours.
But we realize that not everybody likes to walk by themselves in a foreign city. So, just in case that you rather go with ab guide: NO PROBLEM! Please see the free GuruWalk and paid Viator tours below.
free GuruWalk tours
paid Viator tours
Museo Nacional de Antropología
Museo Nacional de Antropología (National Museum of Anthropology) is the largest and most visited museum in all of Mexico for a Good reason: It is fantastic!
It exhibits significant archaeological and anthropological artifacts of pre-Columbian civilizations in all of Mexico, starting with the Olmec Civilization (1500 BC to 400 BC). Probably the most popular exhibit is the Stone of the Sun.
Built in 1964, the museum halls are located around a rectangular courtyard with an artificial pond. Part of the courtyard is covered by a large roof that is held on only one side with a column which is also the source of a waterfall.
On the outside of the museum halls are several gardens, many of which house outdoor exhibits.
The museum covers an area of 19.7 acres (79700 square meters). Because the museum is so large, so plan to spend at least 3h, but be advised that you may need 4h or longer.
Probably the most popular part of the museum are the exhibits from Teotihuacan and most visitors start there. Be advised that the Museo Nacional de Antropología has many times more exhibits from Teotihuacan than the museums in Teotihuacan. So, regardless if you go to Teotihuacan or not, do not miss the exhibits here.
Bosque de Chapultepec
With a size of 1,695 acres (686 hectares), Chapultepec Park (Bosque de Chapultepec = grasshopper hill forest) is Mexico City’s largest park and primary green lung.
It used to be a retreat which was reserved for the Aztec ruling and religious elite. One of the last battles between the Spanish and Cuauhtémoc’s army was fought at Chapultepec Hill in 1521.
Chapultepec Park is visited daily by approx. 250,000 people or 15 million people annually. It is divided into 4 sections.
If you visit with children, then Chapultepec Zoo, which lies in the north-western side of the first section, may be on the top of your list.
When you come from the Museo Nacional de Antropología, cross Paseo de la Reforma and follow Avenida Grutas into the park. Right after the bookstore, coffee shop and street vendors, you Will notice a long fence to your right. Look through it and you Will see Lago de Chapultepec where you can rent boats and spend a lazy afternoon paddling or, if you are hungry, follow the walking path for about 750 ft (250 m) until you see rows of small fast-food stands. Unless you come on a very busy day, servers from the different food stands may approach you and try to lure you to dine with them.
Beware: At the food stand that we dined, they tried to overcharge us by saying their prices had changed and were not yet updated on the menu. We stood firm and they eventually redid the bill to reflect the correct amount. Be advised that they only take cash.
The park is nice to walk, paddle, or just sit down and relax.
There are two attractions in the park that you may want to visit:
Castillo de Chapultepec
Chapultepec castle (Castillo de Chapultepec) is located on top of Chapultepec Hill, a Hill that was sacred to the Aztecs.
It was built from approx. 1785 to 1864 as a summer residence for the highest colonial administrator of New Spain. Because the building looked like a fortress, rumors came up during construction that it was supposed to become a stronghold to rebel against the Spanish Crown and the owner died suddenly in 1786.
The Spanish crown tried to sell the building that was still under construction for a fifth of the money spent, but nobody agreed to buy it.
It took until 1806 until the municipal government of Mexico City acquired the building. The Mexican War of Independence halted any activity, and the building was abandoned until it became a Military Academy in 1833.
During the Mexican–American War, the castle was conquered by US forces in 1847 and the Niños Héroes ("Boy Heroes") died defending the castle.
In 1864, the castle became the residence of the emperor of the short-lived Second Mexican Empire. That led to a flurry of construction activity to make the castle more suitable of a royal residence.
Since the castle was at the outskirts of Mexico City, construction of a road was ordered that connects Castillo de Chapultepec with the city center. The name of that road was Paseo de la Emperatriz, which was later changed to: Paseo de la Reforma.
When the Second Mexican Empire fell in 1867, the castle was abandoned again and later used as an Astronomical, Meteorological and Magnetic Observatory, Military Academy, presidential residence, official guest house for foreign dignitaries until, in 1939, a presidential decree established Chapultepec Castle as the National Museum of History. The museum that you see today opened in 1944.
Chapultepec Castle was a filming location of the 1996 movie William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, starring Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio.
At the time of writing, the museum is open Tue-Sun from 9am – 5pm and admission is 90 Pesos per adult. The cashiers only take cash, but you can buy tickets with your credit card at the vending machines.
After you have your ticket, exit the building to the left and walk up the hill. At the first entrance gate you will find lockers. If you have any water or other liquids with you, then lock them there as you will be denied entry at the second gate.
Once you are through the second gate, you can enjoy the architecture of the castle and you can enjoy the museum. Do not forget to also visit the beautiful garden behind the castle and marvel at the wonderful views over Mexico City.
Monumento a los Niños Héroes
The Monument to the Boy Heroes is officially called: Altar a la Patria (Altar to the Homeland), but Monumento a los Niños Héroes is most often used.
The monument is dedicated to six mostly teenage Mexican military cadets who were killed defending the castle against the US military at the Battle of Chapultepec during the Mexican–American War in 1847.
Constructed out of Carrara marble (from Carrara, Italy), the monument sits at the original end of Paseo de la Reforma.
Each of the six columns contains an urn which holds the remains of one of the cadets.
Under the statue in the center of the monument lie the remains of Lt. Col. Xicoténcatl who, being severely wounded and refusing to let the Americans capture the Mexican flag, wrapped himself into the flag and died beside his men in the same battle.
This concludes your second full day in Mexico City.
Self-guided walking tours of Mexico City
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