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National Museum of Anthropology

Spend an afternoon out of the sun and peruse ethnographic exhibits in the world's largest collection of ancient Mexican art.

National Museum of Anthropology: Our most recommended tours and activities

Mexico City: Chapultepec Castle and Anthropology Museum Tour

1. Mexico City: Chapultepec Castle and Anthropology Museum Tour

Explore the life of the Mexican Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg on a tour of Chapultepec Castle, located on top of Mexico City's Chapultepec Hill, a site once sacred to the Aztecs. Venture inside the stunning monument, and discover rooms of classical European ornamentations. Stroll the halls full of light and discover stairways made of marble. Admire the sculptures and busts of historical figures, such as Emperor Cuauhtémoc and the Spanish Conquistador Hernán Cortés, along the way. Then depart Chapultepec Castle (also known as the "National Museum of History") and break for lunch, before going to the National Museum of Anthropology. Experience one of the most important anthropology museums in Latin America and explore rooms that detail the pre-Hispanic culture of the Maya, Toltec, and other ethnic peoples through the ages. Learn more from your bilingual guide, and benefit from the chance to chat about Mexican history.

Mexico City: Anthropology Museum Skip-the-Line Ticket

2. Mexico City: Anthropology Museum Skip-the-Line Ticket

Skip the line with this entrance ticket to Mexico City's National Museum of Anthropology and visit one of the most important buildings in Latin America, with rooms that contain the pre-Hispanic artifacts and history of the Mexicas, Mayas, Toltecs, and more cultures from the country throughout time. Enjoy a visit to the Anthropology Museum, the most emblematic place safeguarding the legacy, history, and culture of Mexico's many Indigenous peoples. Explore the museum, which stands as a symbol of identity, and as a resource for generations that want to learn more about their cultural roots. Wonder at its innovative design, the art, and the symbolism that has given the building a well-known personality around the world. See a great collection of pre-Hispanic objects that were found in different parts of the country, which were made by the various cultures that developed in the vast territory that is now known as Mexico.

Mexico City: Anthropology Museum Guided Visit

3. Mexico City: Anthropology Museum Guided Visit

Enter the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City almost a half century after it was established, and discover why it remains the flagship enclosure safeguarding the legacy of the Mexican indigenous people. Standing as a symbol of identity and a mentor to generations seeking to dig into their cultural roots, the museum is the most popular in Mexico, attracting some 2 million visitors per year. Get insights into the various exhibits and their significance from your guide. Look at objects excavated from archaeological sites, covering vast territories in what is now modern-day Mexico. Learn about the various cultures that created them. Visit rooms where small objects, such as spear points are on display. These were used by early hunters on the continent more than 10,000 years ago. See simple clay pieces used in daily life and as symbolic articles in religious ceremonies. Admire impressive objects such as the Stone of the Sun (Aztec calendar stone). Your guide will explain the meaning of these valuable contributions to Mexico, as well as the ways historians have been challenged to re-think the development of the Mesoamerican people including Mayan, Aztec and Zapotec cultures. Enjoy some free time to explore the museum on your own after the guided tour. 

Mexico City: Hop-on Hop-off City Tour by Turibus

4. Mexico City: Hop-on Hop-off City Tour by Turibus

Hop on a double-decker bus and enjoy panoramic views of Mexico City with this ticket. Get access to 4 different city routes including Historic, Coyoacan, Basilica, and Polanco. Travel freely, hopping on and off at any stop as many times as you want. Explore one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. See a variety of museums scattered throughout the city like the Templo Mayor Museum, Museum of Anthropology and History, Rufino Tamayo Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, Soumaya Museum, Frida Khalo Museum, and more. Discover trendy neighborhoods like the Historic Center, Polanco, Xochimilco, or Coyoacán where you can experience the food, customs, and traditions of Mexico. Visit upscale shopping malls, bars, restaurants, monuments, and parks. See festivals and entertainment shows, depending on the season. Basilica CircuitDiscover the spiritual side of Mexico City. Marvel at everything around you and tour the halls of one of the most cherished worship centers in all of Mexico and Latin America. You can also celebrate its folklore and music, singing actual hymns to the beat of Mariachis Polanco CircuitTake a look at the city’s most sought-after district. Come see one of Mexico City’s most exclusive neighborhoods. Go shopping at the most prestigious establishments and add some unique flavor by tasting its exquisite cuisine. Historic Center CircuitEnjoy the heart of Mexico City. Be amazed the whole way on a tour that offers sightseeing of the best of Mexico City, from its architecture, monuments, and museums to its unique flavors. Coyoacan (South) CircuitJoin the excursion that every tourist needs. Fill yourself with culture in Mexico City’s most artistic neighborhoods. Connect with their hipster lifestyle and tour incredible sites full of magic, flavor, and fun.

National Museum of Anthropology: Highlights Tour

5. National Museum of Anthropology: Highlights Tour

By the hand of an expert, explore the biggest anthropological collection of Mexico! Get familiar with famous ancient civilizations like the Aztecs and the Mayans in order to comprehend today's Mexican Culture. The tour will start with a brief introduction about the history and architecture of the Museum and it's importance. After that you will start your journey through Mesoamerican's ancient worldview exploring the Olmec's, Mayan's and Teotihuacan's rooms. And finally, you'll get the chance to discover the Aztec culture to understand it's begging and ending that allowed the construction of what today is Mexico.

Mexico City: Anthropology Museum Tour with Art Historian

6. Mexico City: Anthropology Museum Tour with Art Historian

Begin with a coffee at the museum cafeteria, listening to an introduction to the Mesoamerican Cosmogony and the "Mother culture," the Olmecs. Later, as you begin to walk, find out why the museum was built with its specific design, depicting the Mesoamerican (pre-hispanic) architecture and culture. Enjoy a walking tour of the leading galleries as you discover the incredible collections covering the three primary Mesoamerican cultures - the Teotihuacan, Mexican, and Mayan. Gain an overview of these historic cultures’ stories, beliefs, and mentality to make the visit more understandable and friendly.  Learn about the main aspects of these three essential cultures while visiting their art and main remains. Along the tour, the guide will show images and examples to complete the explanations more accurate, precise, and enjoyable.

Best Private Tour Anthropology Museum and Chapultepec Castle

7. Best Private Tour Anthropology Museum and Chapultepec Castle

Total duration: 3 hours 30 minutes. The Meeting Point will be at La Puerta de los Leones next to the side of the Estela de Luz Tower on Reforma Avenue. Chapultepec Castle, 1 hour 30 minutes divided into Explanations and Free time for you to explore and take photos. Brief walk through Bosque de Chapultepec and its beautiful lake, 20 minutes The National Museum of Anthropology, in its impressive Azteca Room 1 hour 30 minutes divided into Explanations and Free time for you to explore and take photos. End of the Tour.

Mexico City: Castle and Anthropology Museum Private Tour

8. Mexico City: Castle and Anthropology Museum Private Tour

Visit the Castle of Chapultepec. Witness its outstanding collection of historical artifacts, before enjoying a trip to the National Museum of Anthropology. Begin your day with pickup at the hotel in Mexico City. Hit the road with your private guide and head for the castle of Chapultepec. Built at the turn of the 19th century and set in the middle of a forest, the Castle is an architectural gem. Enjoy an interior which houses many fascinating examples of Mexican heritage. Next, set off for the National Museum of Anthropology. The museum's design itself is rightly regarded as part of Mexico's architectural and cultural identity. Once inside, discover exhibits on the archaeological legacy of the peoples of Mesoamerica, hear fascinating accounts for the Mexico's ethnic diversity, and admire its massive ceilings up to 6 meters tall.

Mexico City: Teotihuacán & Prehispanic Mexico Tour

9. Mexico City: Teotihuacán & Prehispanic Mexico Tour

Uncover the past on a guided tour of the Museum of Anthropology. Hop aboard the public transportation system to ride to downtown Mexico City. Explore the sights like the Palacio Postal and Madero Street on a walking tour. Take a journey to the past with a guided tour of the Templo Mayor museum. Be greeted by your guide at the Museum of Anthropology. Follow your guide through the largest collection of Mesoamerican pre-Hispanic art in the world. Walk through the most relevant rooms and get the most relevant facts. Board a metrobus with your guide and ride to Alameda park, which is the oldest urban park in the Americas. Take a stroll to see the city's most emblematic buildings like the Art Deco and Neoclassical Palace of Fine Arts, the ornate Palacio Postal, the Baroque Iturbide Palace. Admire the 18th-century Baroque palace Casa de los Azulejos and take in the vibe while walking down the busy the Madero pedestrian street. After touring part of the historic center, arrive at the Templo Mayor museum and begin your guided tour.  Step back in time on a trip through pre-Hispanic and colonial Mexico. Visit the most important sites at Templo Mayor. See ancient ruins and listen as your guide reveals the secrets of the main temple of the Aztecs. End your tour at the Templo Mayor. Extend your tour by selecting the 2-day option to also enjoy a guided tour of Teotihuacan.

Mexico City: Private City Tour and Anthropology Museum Visit

10. Mexico City: Private City Tour and Anthropology Museum Visit

Explore the rich culture and history of the Historic Center with a guided tour of its best attractions and monuments, then admire Mexico's pre-Columbian heritage with a visit to the National Museum of Anthropology. Your tour begins at the National Museum of Anthropology, located in the Bosque de Chapultepec, a large urban park. Explore the museum's Sala Mexica to see artifacts from the pre-Hispanic Mayan civilizations, learn about the mythology, ways of life and customs of the different regions and cultures of Mexico. See a massive basalt Aztec calendar, a reconstruction of a Mayan tomb, and a replica of Moctezuma's feathered headdress. We will visit El Zócalo, also known as the Plaza de la Constitución, it was named in honor of the Constitution of Cádiz enacted in 1812, we will see panoramically the National Palace, the seat of the Federal Executive Power of Mexico. Located to the east of the Plaza de la Constitución in the Historic Center of Mexico City, Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the heavens of Mexico City is the seat of the Primate Archdiocese of Mexico and is located in the north side of the Plaza de la Constitución in the Historic Center of Mexico City, we will walk along Francisco I. Madero street is one of the main access roads to the Historic Center of Mexico City. The street begins from the Lázaro Cárdenas Central Axis, as a continuation of Juárez Avenue and runs from West to East, ending in the Plaza de la Constitución or Zócalo. This ceremonial center of ancient Tenochtitlan remains the heart of modern Mexico City. Admire the art nouveau style outside the Palacio de Bellas Artes, then head to the Palacio Nacional, a centuries-old building that was built on the grounds of what was once Moctezuma's residence. After walking and admiring the Historic Scepter we will go to our second stop National Museum of Anthropology is one of the most important museums in Mexico and America. It is designed to house and exhibit the archaeological legacy of the peoples of Mesoamerica, as well as to account for the current ethnic diversity of the country. The collection of the National Museum of Anthropology is made up of numerous archaeological and ethnographic pieces from all over Mexico. Some of the most emblematic pieces in the collection include the Stone of the Sun —which is the very heart of the museum—, the colossal heads of the Olmec culture, the monumental Teotihuacan sculptures dedicated to the gods of water, the tomb of Pakal, the funerary offerings from Monte Albán, the stelae from Xochicalco, as well as a Toltec Atlantean brought from Tollan-Xicocotitlan and the Tlaloc Monolith that guards the entrance to the museum.

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What people are saying about National Museum of Anthropology

Overall rating

4.3 / 5

based on 270 reviews

Thought when we pre-bought our tickets we wouldn't have to queue.!

We were misinformed and had to queue for over an hour to get into palace. Would not recommend going mid morning as far too many people trying to move around inside, crammed corridors and not able to see rooms properly.

We had purchased Skip the Line tickets. It was easy We showed our code and were on our way. There was no line at the time but I’m sure that could vary. World Class museum

A great way to see the main places of interest without the hassle or having to use several means of public transport in a huge city like Mexico City.

5 of us- first time visitors to Mexico City. Excellent introductory tour. Ramon was a terrific guide-extremely knowledgeable and personable!

Great tour guide. I would recommend a guide to help navigate all the exhibits at the Anthropology Museum.