Some people choose their vacation destination based on the weather, the culture, the landscape, or the food. When I travel, one quality that makes a city oh-so-attractive on a swipe left sliding scale, is an abundance of museums. Particularly art museums.
My love affair with art museums is very much public and yet it’s a relationship full of intimacy. Everyone who knows me well knows how much they mean to me, but I only ever go to them alone. Going to an art museum is like a form of meditation for me, and when I decided to spend a month in Mexico City, I was delighted to learn that I likely wouldn’t be able to get to all of the museums on the scene during my trip.
If you’re an art lover or simply love the way art makes you feel, here’s a list of the best art museums to visit in Mexico City.
Museo Soumaya
As if the exterior of the museum isn’t jaw-dropping enough, this shimmering silver statue-esque structure is home to six floors of masterpieces, connected by a spiral ramp. This was by far my favorite museum I visited in CDMX and I went back more than once to really take my time here. The collections weave through history, from Renaissance period to post-Impressionism. They also have a lovely collection of Mexican art and the top floor of the cylindrical museum is full of Rodin sculptures and similar works.
I love 20th century art and especially Impressionists, and I found their collection to be breathtaking. In fact, I’m pretty sure I cried. Be sure to visit this glorious art mecca of a museum and send some vibrational thanks to the richest man in Mexico and owner of this museum, Carlos Slim, because guess what? You don’t have to pay a dime. It’s all free, baby.
Museo Jumex
Directly across from Museo Soumaya, you’ll find Museo Jumex, its contemporary art rival. I typically don’t love contemporary art, but this museum truly impressed me. Besides being in an artistic building itself, the spaces were beautiful and the exhibits were immersive. The kind where you get to circle a piece – look at it from here, from there, move closer, move further away, squint at it, and walk away with a feeling, idea, or your own interpretation.
Palacio Nacional de Arte (MUNAL)
Located in the historic center of Mexico City, the Palacio Nacional de Arte was a large treasure trove of Mexican art, mostly paintings and sculptures, from the mid 1500s through the 1900s. Once again, the historic building itself is a sight for sore eyes with grand hallways and photogenic staircases that make you feel like you’re in an old film. I really loved this museum and wanted to go back a second time. It’s not free, but the entry price is only 85 pesos.
Palacio de Bellas Artes
This is one of the most important gems in CDMX and will likely pop up first when you look through images of the city. The beautiful Palacio de Bellas Artes is a cultural center (check out the ballet folklórico) and an art museum. Home to several of Diego Rivera’s famous works as well as works by Jose Clemente Orozco, the murals are the main appeal, but they also have a sizable art exhibit. When I was visiting, there was a Surrealism exhibit with Dalí works amongst others, but this rotates every few months. The entry fee is 85 pesos.
La Casa Azul
La Casa Azul (the blue house) is Frida Kahlo’s home in the Coyoacan neighborhood of Mexico City. Although small, this is one of those sites you can’t miss in Mexico City. There are several rooms of Frida and Diego’s paintings and intimate photographs of Frida and her family (she looks like a total babe in the photos honestly). The real appeal of this house museum are the rooms that have been preserved, giving you a glimpse into what life in this colorful homestead looked like. Make sure you book online ahead of time because there are strict no walk up rules and time slot requirements for your ticket. It’s 250 pesos during weekdays and 270 on the weekends.
Museo de Arte Moderno
Located in the beautiful Chapultepec Park, this circular museum is home to a small permanent collection and a rotating exhibit. To be perfectly honest I expected it to have more pieces, but I’d still list it as worth visiting because it’s home to some interesting Mexican paintings from the 20th century, including the famous painting “Las Dos Fridas,” which made me feel both intrigued and a little queasy. A ticket costs 70 pesos.
