Chapultepec Castle and Anthropology Museum Tour Mexico City

The National Museum of Anthropology

The National Museum of Anthropology opened in 1964 and is one of the most important museums in Latin America. Its great courtyard, shaded by a huge concrete umbrella and fountain, is surrounded by halls that present the pre-Hispanic cultures of Mexico, from the Olmec and Teotihuacan to the Maya and the Aztecs. Many visitors search for Anthropology Museum tickets in Mexico City and then find the collection is too big to see without a plan.

Your bilingual guide selects the key rooms and explains what makes them special, from the colossal Olmec heads to the Maya halls. The guided visit lasts about 100 minutes, which is enough to understand the highlights. The museum is usually closed on Mondays, so check the dates in the booking panel.

The Aztec Sun Stone and the Mexica hall

The Mexica hall is the centrepiece of the museum. It holds the Sun Stone, a huge carved basalt disc often called the Aztec calendar, which weighs about 24 tonnes and was rediscovered in 1790 beneath the Zócalo. Nearby are sculptures from the Templo Mayor, the great temple of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan.

Your guide explains the symbols on the stone and the story of the Aztec empire. This hall answers many of the questions that lead people to search for what to see at the Anthropology Museum. Take your time here, because it is the most crowded part of the museum, and listen for the guide's suggestions on where to stand for photographs.

Chapultepec Castle and Emperor Maximilian

Chapultepec Castle stands on a hill that was sacred to the Aztecs, and its name is often translated as grasshopper hill. It was built in the late 18th century, later served as a military academy, and became the residence of Emperor Maximilian I and Empress Carlota in the 1860s. It housed Mexican presidents until 1939 and is now the National Museum of History.

Inside you walk through rooms with European-style decoration, marble stairways and halls full of light, and out on to terraces with wide views over the city. Your guide tells the story of the emperor, the castle and Mexican history. For security reasons, on rainy days the castle may close without prior notice, in which case a refund is given.

Chapultepec Park and how the tour flows

Chapultepec Park is one of the largest urban parks in Latin America, with lakes, woodland and several museums. The tour walks through a section of the park between the museum and the castle, which takes around 25 minutes on foot, so wear comfortable shoes. A short coffee break is possible, and food and drinks are extra.

The tour lasts about five hours and ends at Chapultepec Castle. Because it starts at the museum, you can arrive by metro, taxi or ride-hailing car. Departures are at 8:50 AM and 12:00, so choose the one that suits your morning. Bring water and sun protection.