8 Things To Do in Chapultepec Park, Mexico City
Chapultepec Park is considered the lungs of Mexico City and at over 1,600 acres it’s almost double the size of Central Park in New York. Meaning there is plenty for you to explore here when you are in Mexico City.
I recommend setting a full day aside to enjoy the highlights of the park, but if you find yourself with more time I reckon it could take a few days to see all that Chapultepec Park has to offer.
How To Get There
The park is located in the centre of Mexico City, boarding quite a few different neighbourhoods, with the main entrance just off Paseo de la Reforma. It’s possible to walk from many accommodations in the city, or alternatively take a taxi or use the metro stop Chapultepec Metro Station.
We were staying in the Roma neighbourhood of CDMX and it was within walking distance (about 45 mins) however we opted for an uber to save our legs to walk around this giant park instead. The uber cost us 60 pesos (£2.68) next to nothing and as the whole city has free wifi it was simple to get an uber back too!
Sections of Chapultepec Park
This is the most visited area of the park as it’s home to some of the main attractions, such as Castillo de Chapultepec, Anthropologie Museum, Zoo and El Lago de Chapultepec.
Home to a large amusement park, a few museums, Mexico’s national cemetery and several impressive fountains.
This area isn’t as frequently visited as it is a vast forest area with wildlife and not home to any attractions.
Opening Times
It’s worth noting Section 1 of the park is closed on Mondays, but open every other day between 5 am and 8 pm.
Things to do in Chapultepec Park
1. Castillo de Chapultpec
Located at the top of Chapultepec Hill and is the former home of royalty Emperor Maximilian I and Empress Carlota.
This was the highlight of the park for me, with breathtaking views of the park and the city skyline it’s totally worth it. It costs 85 pesos (£3.80) for entry but this also includes the admission fee to the National History Museum.
The museum lies inside the castle, with stunning interiors and plenty of history to take in. If you’re not able to translate much Spanish you may struggle to read your way around the museum signs, but it’s sure a good way to practice.
Another thing worth noting when we first got there at about 11:30 the queue looked super daunting but don’t be put off by this, it goes super quickly.
2. Get a boat on the lake
El Lago de Chapultepec is a man-made lake just a bit further in the park than the castle and the perfect place to bring your picnic basket.
There are plenty of boats (rowing and pedal) to rent if you want to discover the lake that way. From what I saw it gets pretty busy at the weekends and later on in the afternoon, so if you want to avoid boat dodgems I would recommend going in the morning.
3. See the giant pandas at the Zoologico de Chapultepec
Not do they have Giant Pandas at the zoo in Chapultepec, but there is also no entry fee. You read that right, there is no entrance fee!
With plenty of other animals to see, including jaguars, giraffes and penguins just to mention a few. It’s certainly worth a stop off whilst you are in the park.
4. Discover the past at the Museo Nacional de Antropologia
The Museo Nacional de Antropologia is the largest and most visited museum in CDMX and for good reason. I highly recommend checking it out, the exhibition halls are cleverly laid out to make you feel immersed in the history even if you’re not a history buff yourself.
The entry fee is 85 (£3.80) pesos for an adult, but with 23 exhibition rooms, you definitely get your money’s worth. You can also opt to do a tour around the museum if you want to get more out of your visit.
5. Try the food from the street vendors
Just follow the path from the lake to find rows full of street vendors selling Mexican street food. Got a craving for tacos, well this is the place to be.
From my understanding, there are even more options on the weekend, but we went on a Tuesday and there was still plenty to choose from. My personal recommendation would be to try the Marquesitas, absolutely delicious!
6. Explore the park by bike
As I mentioned earlier this park is absolutely massive, so navigating your way around the whole thing on foot may make your legs fall off.
So why not rent some bikes? Around the city you can rent a bike through the app Eco-bici, just keep in mind you will need a form of ID (driving license/passport for foreigners).
Alternatively, there is a bicycle rental shop on the main street to the park called Poray, they also offer guided bike tours.
7. Swing for free at one of the hammock parks
Dotted around the park are shaded areas of hammocks you can relax in. You can either bring your own to attach to the hooks or try and find yourselves an empty hammock to swing away in.
8. Jardín Botánico del Bosque de Chapultepec
Home to more than 300 varieties of plants, the botanical gardens are spread over 5.3 hectares. Allowing you to check out flora from Mexico and further afield.
Chapultepec park is a gorgeous spot in the city and has countless activities and museums, I strongly recommend adding it to your Mexico City to-do list.
If you have been before let me know your favourite spots in Chapultepec park in the comments below!
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