Aztec to Art Deco: Self-Guided Mexico City Walking Tour

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1 to 2 hours (approximately)
Offered in: English and 1 more

This self-guided walking tour of Mexico City’s Centro Histórico uncovers a capital built on a vanished lake, where Mexica temples lie buried beneath colonial palaces and Art Deco towers. Few cities bury their past so thoroughly.

Begin in a bakery housed in the last remnant of a Franciscan convent. Pass the Torre Latinoamericana, a skyscraper that rode out a 1957 earthquake unscathed, then duck into Casa de los Azulejos, a mansion clad in Talavera tiles with an early Orozco mural inside. Reach the Zócalo, once the ceremonial heart of the Mexica city. Hear how the Inquisition operated from Plaza de Santo Domingo, see Diego Rivera’s murals at the SEP, and finish at the Templo Mayor, found by electrical workers in 1978. Tacos de canasta and hot chocolate make good stops along the way.

Perfect for history lovers, architecture fans and first-time visitors. Install the VoiceMap app and enter the ticket code from your confirmation email to download the tour and start walking.

What's Included

Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
App for Android and iOS
Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start
Smartphone and headphones
Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour
Food and drink
Transportation
An in-person guide

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

This tour starts at Pasteleria Ideal, 16 de Septiembre. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.

End point
Templo Mayor Museum

The tour ends at Templo Mayor.

Itinerary

Duration: 1 to 2 hours (approximately)
  • Museo Nacional de Artes (Pass by)

    You'll pass by the MUNAL on Plaza Tolsá as your guide explains how President Porfirio Díaz commissioned this grand building for the centennial of Mexican independence. Entry to the museum is not included in this tour.

    Admission ticket free
  • Palacio de Mineria (Pass by)

    Standing in Plaza Tolsá, you'll see this neoclassical palace, designed by Manuel Tolsá and built as a royal school of mines. Entry is not included in this tour.

    Admission ticket free
  • (Pass by)

    You'll pass by the ornate Post Office as your guide describes how Porfirio Díaz mailed the first postcard on its opening day in 1907. Entry is not included in this tour.

    Admission ticket free
  • Palacio de Bellas Artes (Pass by)

    You'll see Mexico City's Fine Arts Palace as you walk along Eje Central, and hear why it took 30 years to finish. Entry to the galleries and theatre is not included in this tour.

    Admission ticket free
  • Torre Latinoamericana (Pass by)

    You'll pass beneath the tower that once ranked as Latin America's tallest building and has come through every major earthquake since 1957. Entry to the observation deck is not included in this tour.

    Admission ticket free
  • Casa de los Azulejos (Pass by)

    You'll catch a glimpse of this 18th-century mansion, covered in blue Talavera tiles, as your guide tells its story from noble family home to jockey club. Entry is not included in this tour.

    Admission ticket free
  • (Pass by)

    You'll pass by the Baroque palace where Agustín de Iturbide lived before accepting the crown of the First Mexican Empire. Entry is not included in this tour.

    Admission ticket free
  • Museo Del Estanquillo (Pass by)

    You'll walk past the Esmeralda Building, home to writer Carlos Monsiváis's quirky collection of Mexican memorabilia. Entry is not included in this tour.

    Admission ticket free
  • Zocalo (Pass by)

    You'll walk across one of the largest public squares in the world, once the centre of the Mexica city and later the Viceroyal capital. Entry to the square is free.

    Admission ticket free
  • Plaza de Santo Domingo (Pass by)

    You'll pass through this colonial plaza, once home to the Inquisition and today known for its public letter-writers' history. Entry to the plaza is free.

    Admission ticket free
  • Museo Vivo del Muralismo (Pass by)

    You'll walk past the Public Education Department, a former Dominican convent famous for its Diego Rivera murals. Entry to the building and murals is not included in this tour.

    Admission ticket free
  • Templo Mayor Museum (Pass by)

    You'll end beside the excavated main temple of the Mexica city of Tenochtitlan, discovered in 1978. Entry to the archaeological site and museum is not included in this tour.

    Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • The total tour time includes walking the route and passing by the attractions
Supplied by VoiceMap Audio Tours

Tags

Private and Luxury
Private Sightseeing Tours
Audio Guides
Cultural Tours
Historical Tours
Walking Tours
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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