11 of the best free activities in Mexico City

12.12.2024 - 18:53 / lonelyplanet.com / Diego Rivera

Dec 12, 2024 • 7 min read

Cosmopolitan Mexico City can seem somewhat pricey compared to the rest of the nation, but when you factor in all the free activities on offer, it's very possible have a great time on a tight budget.

From first-rate museums and inspiring public art to invigorating hikes and live music, many of the cultural capital's premier attractions won't set you back a single peso. You won't pay much to get around, either – at a mere five pesos a ride, the Metro is a steal.

These are the best ways to explore Mexico City without reaching for your wallet.

Dazzling frescos painted by the three leading figures of the Mexican mural movement cover the stairwells of the art deco Palace of Fine Arts, including Diego Rivera’s compelling Man, Controller of the Universe and José Clemente Orozco’s vibrant Catharsis. Take advantage of free admission on Sundays.

If the palace's theater happens to be open, duck in for a peek at the glorious stained-glass curtain that was assembled with nearly a million pieces of glass by New York's Tiffany & Co.

Chapultepec Park's 1700 acres of wooded grounds are made for peso-pinching. Here you can gaze at Diego Rivera's larger-than-life mosaic sculpture of the rain god Tlalóc, stroll through a botanical garden with rare orchids and marvel at the Voladores de Papantla (Papantla Flyers) as they enact a high-flying rainmaking ritual in front of the world-class Anthropology Museum. Or simply pack a torta (sandwich) and plop down in a grassy picnic area below the imposing Chapultepec Castle.

Not only does Mexico's presidential residence occupy one of the city's most storied buildings (it was built atop a royal Aztec palace), it also houses more Diego Rivera murals – dramatic renderings that visually narrate the nation's most transformative class struggles, from the brutal Spanish conquest up to the 20th-century post-revolutionary period, when the artist's masterpiece was completed. You'll need your passport to access the building.

The National Palace is also home to the Museo Nacional de las Culturas, a free museum that exhibits the art, dress and handicrafts of the world's cultures.

Planning tip: The Palacio Nacional is a working government building and will sometimes close to the public if there are private functions – check before your visit to be sure it's open when you want to visit.

Riding a bike in the chaotic capital can feel like an adventure sport at times but on Sundays, the broad, tree-lined Avenida Paseo de la Reforma is closed to traffic from 8am to 2pm, making it a relatively carefree ride between Chapultepec Park and the city's Historic Center.

“Bicigratis” kiosks near the Angel of Independence, Chapultepec Park's Anthropology Museum, and several booths dotting the