Mano Santa Mezcal

Mexico

　　Often compared to having a drink at home because of the cheap, quality mezcal (or because you live in a designer-school laboratory), this small bar quickly overflows with droves of the young and fashionable on weekends. 　　There's tacos, tortas and other Mexican bar food to line your stomach. ...

Museo de Arte Popular

Mexico

　　A major showcase for folk art, this is a colorful museum that even kids love. Crafts are thematically displayed from all over Mexico, including carnival masks from Chiapas, alebrijes (fanciful animal figures) from Oaxaca and a whole section dedicated to Day of the Dead. An illustrated wall map provides an...

Museo de la Tortura

Mexico

　　Displaying European torture instruments from the 14th to 19th centuries, including a metal-spiked interrogation chair and the menacing skull splitter, this museum has surefire appeal for the morbidly curious. Explanatory English text is a little short. Although kids get free entry, they might find the displays distressing. 　　No photography allowed....

Museo Memoria y Tolerancia

Mexico

　　A mazelike, unique museum of 55 halls dedicated to preserving the memory of genocide victims. The multimedia exhibit chronicles crimes committed against humanity in Cambodia, Guatemala, Sudan, Rwanda and former Yugoslavia, as well as those perpetrated during the Holocaust. Recent temporary exhibitions have focused on migration, misogyny, LGBT+ identity, and...

El Vilsito

Mexico

　　Auto-mechanic shop by day, taco diner by night. No worries, though: the experts slicing down those excellent al pastor (spit-cooked pork) tacos aren't the same ones rotating tyres. If you like gringas (wheat tortillas, pork and cheese), these old pros have been in the biz for 30 years. Just don't...

Los Cocuyos

Mexico

　　Suadero (beef) tacos abound in the capital, but this always-open stand reigns supreme. Follow your nose to the bubbling vat of meats and go for the artery-choking campechano (mixed beef and sausage taco). For the more adventurous eater, there are ojo (eye) or their speciality lengua (tongue) tacos; for vegetarians,...

Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso

Mexico

　　Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco and David Siqueiros painted murals here in the 1920s. Most of the work on the main patio is by Orozco; look for the portrait of Hernán Cortés and his lover La Malinche underneath the staircase. The amphitheater, off the lobby, holds Rivera’s first mural, La...

Los Danzantes

Mexico

　　Excellent Mexican fusion food in a spectacular architect-designed patio makes Los Danzantes one of Oaxaca’s special dining spots. The hierba santa (Mexican pepperleaf) rolled around two cheeses are a great starter, and the goat's-cheese flan with figs, chocolate and honey is a perfect dessert. In between, try a fish fillet...

Museo del Tequila y el Mezcal

Mexico

　　This museum on Plaza Garibaldi has exhibits explaining the origins and production process of Mexico’s two most popular distilled agave drinks. The tour ends with a two-shot tasting on a rooftop bar (free admission) overlooking the plaza. An on-site store sells some decent, albeit overpriced, tequilas and mezcals. ...

Teotihuacán

Mexico

　　This fabulous archaeological zone lies in a mountain-ringed offshoot of the Valle de México. Site of the huge Pirámides del Sol y de la Luna (Pyramids of the Sun and Moon), Teotihuacán was Mexico's biggest ancient city and the capital of what was probably the country's largest pre-Hispanic empire. 　　The pyramidsThe...

Palacio Municipal

Tapachula Region

　　Tapachula's squat town hall sits at the northern end of the plaza. ...

Monumento a Benito Juárez

Tapachula Region

　　A monument paying homage to the liberal ex-president sits beside the Cathedral. ...

Parque Bicentenario

Tapachula Region

　　Tapachula's secondary plaza is a quiet, though not espically attractive, spot that has fountains lining the main walkways and some shady spots for watching the world go by. ...

Parque Hidalgo

Tapachula Region

　　Tapachula’s heart is the large, very lively Parque Hidalgo, with vistas of the towering 4100m cone of Volcán Tacaná to the north on clear days. Anybody and everybody, it seems, from locals to visitors to Central American and African asylum seekers, seem to gather here. ...

Cathedral

Tapachula Region

　　Tapachula's stately cathedral overlooks the western edge of the plaza. ...

Museo de Tapachula

Tapachula Region

　　Opened in August, 2019, it's worth coming here, even if it's just to tour the lovely building, a former palace. The museum's intentions are good: to promote the history of the city, including the influence of the migrants who ventured here (there's a fascinating section on the Japanese and Chinese)....

Museo Historico Regional de Ensenada

Northern Baja

　　Built in 1886 and once the Aduana Marítima de Ensenada, the city's oldest public building now houses this historical and cultural museum. It has a relatively small but comprehensive collection of artifacts, and discusses (mainly in Spanish) the area’s history. Most interesting are the old prison cells where paintings by...

Museo de Historia de Ensenada

Northern Baja

　　This small yet interesting museum traces northern Baja history from the indigenous Mexicans to the mission period. Replicas of cave art along the stairways and a real Albertasaurus skull make it reasonably fun for kids. Information is provided in English and Spanish. ...

El Mirador

Northern Baja

　　Atop the Colinas de Chapultepec, El Mirador offers panoramic views of the city and Bahía de Todos Santos. Climb or drive (note: there’s no off-street parking) to this highest point in town, up Avenida Alemán from the western end of Calle 2a in central Ensenada. ...

Riviera del Pacífico

Northern Baja

　　Opened in the 1930s as Hotel Playa Ensenada, the extravagant Riviera del Pacífico, a Spanish-style former casino, is rumored to have been a haunt of Al Capone, though employees say that's a tall tale. It now houses the Museo de Historia de Ensenada and Bar Andaluz; while the Casa de...

Museo de Arte Prehispánico Carlos Pellicer

South of Mexico City

　　Behind the Dominican church, this archaeology museum has a small but interesting collection of pieces from around the country covering the Maya to Olmec, donated by Tabascan poet Carlos Pellicer Cámara. The objects on display, a mix of human and animal figures, are lively and vibrant though lacking informative descriptions....

Ex-Convento Domínico de la Natividad

South of Mexico City

　　This monastery, situated east of the zócalo, and the attached church were built by Dominican priests between 1560 and 1588. The plateresque church facade has Dominican seals interspersed with indigenous symbols, floral designs and various figures, including the sun, moon and stars, animals, angels and the Virgin Mary. Upstairs, various...

Pirámide de Tepozteco

South of Mexico City

　　Tepoztlán's main sight is this 10m-high pyramid perched atop a sheer cliff at the end of a very steep paved path that begins at the end of Avenida del Tepozteco. Built in honor of Tepoztécatl, the Aztec god of harvest, fertility and pulque, the pyramid is more impressive for its...

Pescadores Brewery

Riviera Maya

　　About 5km south of Puerto Morelos you can wet your whistle at this roadside Mexican craft-beer brewery, where they run daily tours at noon and 3pm. Pescadores produces various brews, including a hoppy IPA and a popular habanero ale. After the tour, drink some suds while munching on brisket and...

Crococun Zoo

Riviera Maya

　　About 23km south of the Cancún airport, this former crocodile farm now calls itself a conservationist zoo that protects some of the area's endangered species and rescue animals. The price of admission includes a guided tour in which visitors are allowed to interact with some of the animals, such as...

Jardín Botánico Dr Alfredo Barrera Marín

Riviera Maya

　　One of the largest botanical gardens in Mexico, this 65-hectare reserve has about 2km of trails and sections dedicated to epiphytes (orchids and bromeliads), palms, ferns, succulents (cacti and their relatives) and plants used in traditional Maya medicine. The garden also holds a large animal population, including the only coastal...

Playa Zipolite

Oaxaca Coast

　　Zipolite's beach is huge, running for a good 1.5km and dispatching massive waves. It's famous for its nudity; you'll see people randomly swimming, sunbathing or happily walking across the wet sand minus their clothes at any time of day, although it is more common in a couple of coves at...

Museo José María Velasco

West of Mexico City

　　This museum is dedicated to landscape painter José María Velasco (1840–1912), who helped to create a sense of Mexican identity through the country's landscapes. He captures the grandeur of the land with vivid clarity. One such painting of the Valley Of Mexico is in the Museum of the Vatican, in...

Museo Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez

West of Mexico City

　　Dedicated to Mexican painter Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez (1824-1904), the Museo Felipe Santiago Gutiérrez is divided into eight rooms in an 18th Century building. Gutiérrez travelled throughout Mexico, South America, England and Italy. His greatest claim to infamy is as the first Mexican artist to show a painting of a nude...

Centro Cultural Mexiquense

West of Mexico City

　　This large cultural center, 4.5km west of the city center, houses three good museums (which all keep the same hours). It’s no must-see, but still a worthwhile free diversion for visitors interested in local arts and crafts, local archaeology and modern art. 　　From downtown you can take a taxi (M$40),...

Museo de Culturas Populares

West of Mexico City

　　This museum has a wonderfully varied collection of Mexico’s traditional arts and crafts, with some astounding ‘trees of life’ from Metepec, whimsical Day of the Dead figures and a fine display of charro (cowboy) gear. There are also mosaics, traditional rugs, a loft and a gift shop. ...

Museo de Antropología e História

West of Mexico City

　　This standout museum presents exhibits on the state’s history from prehistoric times to the 20th century, with a good collection of pre-Hispanic artifacts. It also traces pre-Hispanic cultural influences up to the modern day in tools, clothing, textiles and religion. Most labeling is in Spanish only. ...

Museo de Arte Moderno del Estado de México

West of Mexico City

　　The Museo de Arte Moderno traces the development of Mexican art from the late-19th-century Academia de San Carlos to the Nueva Plástica and includes paintings by Tamayo, Orozco and many others. There’s an impressive spherical mural of people fighting against slavery, which makes up part of the building itself, as...

Museo Luis Nishizawa

West of Mexico City

　　This musuem exhibits the work of modern Mexican-Japanese muralist and landscape artist Luis Nishizawa (1918–2014). Nishizawa was born in the state of Mexico and trained in both Mexican and Japanese artistic styles, which is reflected in murals constructed from ceramics. He is known for his mixed-media sculptures and intensely colorful...

Cosmovitral Jardín Botánico

West of Mexico City

　　At the northeast end of Plaza Garibay, the stunning and unique Cosmovitral Jardín Botánico was built in 1909 as a market. The building now houses 3500 sq meters of lovely gardens, lit through 48 stained-glass panels designed by the Tolucan artist Leopoldo Flores with the help of 60 artisans. The...

Jardín de San Francisco (Jardín Guerrero)

San Luis Potosí State

　　Dominated by the bulk of the Templo de San Francisco and convent, and with a lovely fountain gracing its interior, this square is one of the city's most fetching. ...

Catedral

San Luis Potosí State

　　This impressive three-nave baroque cathedral was built between 1660 and 1730. Originally it had just one tower; the northern tower was added in the 20th century. The marble apostles on the facade are replicas of statues in Rome's St Peter's Basilica. On the hour, the electronic bells, a more recent...

Templo del Carmen

San Luis Potosí State

　　The Churrigueresque Templo del Carmen (1749−64) is San Luis's most spectacular structure. On the vividly carved stone facade, hovering angels show the touch of indigenous artisans. The Camarín de la Virgen, with a splendid golden altar, is to the left of the main altar inside. The entrance and roof of...

Centro de las Artes Centenario

San Luis Potosí State

　　Up until 1999, this striking building was a prison believed to have briefly held Francisco Madero. Ten years later, it was transformed – without losing its fundamental design – into an arts and cultural center. Some of the former cells have been maintained; others have been converted into offices. It's...

Museo del Ferrocarril

San Luis Potosí State

　　Once an important stop on two of Mexico's main train lines, San Luis Potosí has cleverly brought the past to life in this museum housed inside its glorious former train station, which dates from 1936. Don't miss the two murals by Fernando Leal (completed in 1943) that grace the station...

Museo Regional Potosino

San Luis Potosí State

　　This fetching museum was originally part of a Franciscan monastery founded in 1590. The ground floor – part of which is housed in the small Capilla de San Antonio de Padua – has an interesting, and well-displayed (Spanish only) collection of items from pre-Hispanic Mexico, especially the indigenous people of...

Museo Nacional de la Máscara

San Luis Potosí State

　　This superb museum displays a fascinating collection of ceremonial masks from across Mexico and around the world, and does a good job at explaining the evolution of pre-Columbian masks in Mexico. There are good descriptions in English of the Mexican masks though explanations of the non-Mexican masks could definitely be...

Museo Federico Silva

San Luis Potosí State

　　This excellent museum devoted to the work of Mexican artist Federico Silva (b 1923) should not be missed. The 17th-century building was once a hospital and later a school, but has been exquisitely transformed into a museum of sculpture, ingeniously integrating the building's previous neoclassical finish with the haunting monolithic...

Clock Tower

Costa Maya & Southern Caribbean Coast

　　An art-deco monument built in in 1943 to honor Mexico's independence and Reform movement heroes. ...

Palacio de Gobierno

Costa Maya & Southern Caribbean Coast

　　Set just off the waterfront, construction on this government building began in the 1930s and the present-day three-story structure was finished in 1945. ...