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

Duration1h - 2h

Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before

Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away

TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted

LanguagesEnglish

Private tourOnly your group will participate

Overview

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

What to expect

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

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

The tour ends at Templo Mayor.

Additional information

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

Cancellation policy

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

From

$9.99 per person

Check availability & book

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts
Instant confirmation
You'll choose your date and travelers and pay on viator.com. Prices vary by date, group size and option.

Operated by VoiceMap Audio Tours · Booked through Viator

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