Mexico City: Centro Historico Walk

Photo: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)

Welcome to the Centro Historico, where Mexico City has been the center of power for seven centuries. This walk starts in the Zocalo, at the heart of what was once Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital built on an island in a lake, and follows the colonial and modern city that grew right on top of it. Over 12 stops you will see Aztec ruins, a sinking cathedral, Diego Rivera's murals, a mansion wrapped in tiles, an earthquake-tested tower and the marble Palacio de Bellas Artes, ending in the Alameda Central.

The route is about 2 kilometers on foot and takes around two and a half hours with stops, longer if you go inside the museums. The city sits about 2,240 meters above sea level, so walk at an easy pace, drink plenty of water and wear sun protection. The center is busy and lively by day; keep your phone and wallet secure in crowds, and check opening days before you go, since several museums close on Mondays. Begin at the giant flagpole in the middle of the Zocalo.

12 stops on this tour:

Zocalo - The Square on Top of an Empire

Metropolitan Cathedral - Built to Last, Sinking Anyway

Templo Mayor - The Aztec World Underfoot

National Palace - Rivera Paints a Nation

Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico - A Ceiling of Glass

Calle Madero - The Silversmiths' Street

Palacio de Iturbide - A Dowry in Stone

Casa de los Azulejos - The House of Tiles

Torre Latinoamericana - The Tower That Held

Palacio Postal - A Post Office Fit for a King

Palacio de Bellas Artes - Marble, Murals and Glass

Alameda Central - The Oldest Park in the Americas

Plan your visit

Route: 12 stops · about 1.8 miles · walking, one way
Time: about 2.5 hours at an easy pace, with stops
Start: Zocalo (directions)
Cost: free tour
Audio: narrated - tap ▶ Listen at the top of any stop

Stops on this tour

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