13 Best Instagram Spots in Mexico City
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If you’re looking for the best Instagram spots in Mexico City, then you’re in the right place.
Ciudad de Mexico or Mexico City is chockfull of historic landmarks, trendy neighborhoods, and verdant green spaces.
Goes without saying that there are hundreds of places in Mexico City where you can get adorable pictures for your Gram.
In this Mexico City Instagram Guide, I take you on a tour of the best places to click beautiful pictures in CDMX.
Some of these Instagram spots are popular tourist spots whereas others are true Mexico City hidden gems. Many are located in the historic center while some may need a day trip to get to.
13 Best Mexico City Instagram Spots
Frida Kahlo Museum
The Frida Kahlo Museum or “Blue House” in the Coyoacan neighborhood of Mexico City is one of the most popular places to visit in Mexico. Once home to the famous Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo, the Blue House is now a museum dedicated to her life and work.
The house’s cobalt-blue walls with green casement windows and red trimmings provide the best photo-ops in Mexico City. Inside the house, you’ll find a lush green garden that adds an extra pop of color to the abundance of blue around you.
The museum is open 10:00 am – 6:00 pm, Tuesday – Sunday. Be sure to book your Frida Kahlo Museum tickets at least a week in advance because they sell out pretty fast.
The easiest way to get to Frida Kahlo Museum from Mexico City Center is by taking Metro Line 2 and getting off at General Anaya Station.
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Casa de los Azulejos
The House of Tiles or “Casa de los Azulejos” is an 18th-century mansion located in the heart of downtown Mexico City, only a 2-minute walk from the Zocalo.
The façade of Casa de los Azulejos is adorned with beautiful blue and white Talavera tiles sourced from Puebla, making it one of the most popular photo spots in Mexico City.
Inside the historic mansion, you’ll find a Sanborns café and restaurant and several attractive murals including one by the famous Jose Clemente Orozco.
Zocalo at Historic Center
The Zocalo is the largest and the most happening public square in Mexico City.
Located right in the middle of the Historic Center, the Zocalo is flanked by some of Mexico City’s most stunning landmarks including the Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Palace, and the Gran Hotel of Mexico City.
If you’re looking for some great pictures in Mexico City complete with famous buildings as the backdrop, then the Zocalo is the best place to click them. You can get great photos throughout the day at the Zocalo but mornings are especially nice and peaceful.
During the annual Day of the Dead celebrations, the Zocalo also plays host to a colorful parade and the largest ofrenda making the place even more Instagram-worthy.
Floating Gardens of Xochimilco
The Floating Gardens of Xochimilco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are a collection of manmade islands used to grow crops and flowering plants.
Locally known as chinampas, these islands were constructed by the Aztecs in the 14th century to overcome a shortage of arable land in the Valley of Mexico. They continue to feed the population of Mexico City even today.
Apart from being one of the top places to visit, Xochimilco’s Floating Gardens are also a cool Mexico City photo spot.
Every day, Xochimilco is filled with colorful gondola boats called trajineras that take you on a fun ride of the canals. You can buy food from passing boats, shop for souvenirs, and listen to Mariachi music on the trajineras.
Xochimilco’s Floating Gardens are the best place to people-watch and immerse yourself in Mexican culture while getting some cool photos for your Gram. The best way to get to the Floating Gardens is by taking Tren Ligero or the Light Rail from Tasquena in Mexico City to Xochimilco.
Chapultepec Park
One of the largest urban parks in North America, Chapultepec Park or Bosque de Chapultepec is literally the green lung of Mexico City. The park is a haven for both nature and culture lovers because it is full of natural attractions as well as historical sites.
Photographers find delight in clicking pictures at the lakes, museums, and shaded trails inside Chapultepec Park. The trails look especially pretty during the spring season in April-May when they are laden with purple jacaranda blooms.
Chapultepec Lake is one of the most Instagrammable places inside the park because of its unique backdrop of the Mexico City skyline. Feel free to just click around the shores or rent a paddleboat and enjoy a ride on the lake while getting pictures from many different angles.
The easiest way to get to Chapultepec Park is by metro or bus. You can also hire a taxi or an Uber to take you to the park entrance.
Chapultepec Castle
Located within Chapultepec Park, the Chapultepec Castle is yet another popular Instagram spot in Mexico City. Once a royal palace that housed the monarchs of New Spain, the castle is full of opulent staterooms, well-manicured gardens, and a majestic balcony overlooking Chapultepec Park.
The castle is home to not just one but multiple spots where you can click the best pictures in Mexico City. Here are the three best photo spots in Chapultepec Castle.
- With a chequered floor, stone balustrades, and a gorgeous view of Mexico City, the Chapultepec Castle terrace is the best place to click Instagram-worthy pictures.
- The stained glass windows of Chapultepec Castle are extraordinarily beautiful.
- Chapultepec Castle is also home to the National History Museum which has a stairway filled with massive murals that make the perfect photo-op.
- The gardens of Chapultepec Castle are beautiful and well-manicured. Be sure to check out the elevated garden with a two-story guard tower that is a great background for your pictures.
Secretariat of Public Education
The Secretariat of Public Education in Mexico City is a beautiful complex of official buildings dating to the colonial era. The walls of the Public Education Secretariat are filled with enormous Diego Rivera murals depicting Mexican life and culture, from ancient times to modern.
The old, colonial courtyards draped with jacaranda blooms in spring with a backdrop of Rivera murals are the perfect Instagram spots in Mexico City.
The best part is that the Secretariat of Public Education is free to visit. You only have to present your ID for verification at the entrance and then explore the place on your own.
Palacio Bellas Artes
Palacio Bellas Artes or the Palace of Fine Arts is one of the most famous Mexico City landmarks.
Featuring a stunning Art Nouveau exterior complete with a golden yellow dome, the Palace of Fine Arts is one of the most photographed places in Mexico City. The interior, adorned with Rivera and Siqueiros murals is equally interesting.
Even though Palacio Bellas Artes serves as a wonderful photo-op during the day, it looks the prettiest in the evening when the building is all lit up and glows like a crown jewel.
The best place to get a picture of Palacio Bellas Artes is from the Sears Café right across the street. You can also get some decent shots from the observation deck at Torre Latinoamericana.
Moon Pyramid at Teotihuacan
The Moon Pyramid at the Archeological Site of Teotihuacan is an unusual but unique choice on this list of Instagrammable places in Mexico City. You’ll soon find out why.
The Moon Pyramid is located on the northern end of the Avenue of Dead in Teotihuacan. With a massive Cerro Gordo Mountain looming right behind it, the Moon Pyramid looks like a smaller version of the mountain behind it.
This setting looks quite like that of the Matryoshka dolls making the Moon Pyramid a wonderful place to click beautiful pictures in Mexico City. If you decide to take a hot air balloon ride over the pyramids, then you can get some great shots from above.
Travelers often visit Teotihuacan as a day trip from Mexico City. The cheapest way to get to Teotihuacan is by bus. If you’re looking for a more insightful trip, consider signing up for a guided tour.
Palacio Postal
Dating to the early 20th century, Palacio Postal, or the Postal Palace is a colonial-era building that still functions as the city’s main post office. The exterior of the building is a wonderful mix of Baroque, Gothic, and Neoclassical architectural styles. But it is the interior that really steals the show.
A magnificent marble and bronze staircase adorns the main hall of the building. Be sure to look up to see the beautiful glass dome and gilded carvings. Do not miss the Postal Museum on the first floor which showcases the city’s postal history.
Roma & Condesa
Roma and Condesa are two of Mexico City’s trendiest neighborhoods.
Located right next to each other, Roma and Condesa are dotted with beautiful colonial mansions, chic boutiques, artsy cafes, famous eateries, and streets full of gorgeous murals. In other words, there’s no dearth of good photo ops here.
Whether you want to shop for artsy souvenirs, binge on good food, or click some cool pictures in Mexico City, Roma and Condesa are the perfect places to be.
Mexico City National Palace
If you have marveled at the architecture of the National Palace of Mexico City from the outside, wait till you enter the building and have a look at the palace walls inside. The walls of Mexico City National Palace are covered with spectacular murals by none other than the mural master himself, Diego Rivera.
Be sure to check out Diego Rivera’s most famous creation, the “History of Mexico” mural that covers the entire stairwell. Depicting the ancient, colonial, and modern history of Mexico, this mural is one of the most photographed art pieces in the world today.
To explore the murals and courtyards, you need to reserve a space on an official, guided tour of the National Palace. Guided tours are free but not the easiest to get into because there’s always a long queue.
Don’t worry if you cannot get on one. We have another exciting mural place (that’s also a great photo op) in the Mexico City center that you can enter for free and explore on your own.
El Angel & Paseo de la Reforma
The last place on this Mexico City Instagram Spots bucket list is the most famous street in town, Paseo de la Reforma which is also home to the iconic Mexican landmark, the Angel.
The Angel, a tall Corinthian column topped by a statue of Nike holding a wreath, is officially known as Mexico’s Monument of Independence.
It was built in 1910 to celebrate 100 years of the Mexican Independence War. Today, it is a popular gathering place and selfie spot for locals and tourists.
Tips for taking the best pictures in Mexico City
- Mexico City is full of interesting neighborhoods and historical landmarks. The neighborhoods of Centro Historico, Roma, Condesa, Polanco, and Coyoacan are the most Instagram-friendly.
- The city is full of colorful street art including massive murals by some of the best Mexican muralists such as Diego Rivera and Jose Clemente Orozco. Be sure to capture Mexico City’s exciting street art in your pictures.
- Head to the southern Mexico City borough of Xochimilco to get the best shots amidst floating gardens, colorful trajineras, and lots of dance and music.
- If you’re looking for panoramic views of the city, the Observation Deck at Torre Latinoamericana and the terrace at Chapultepec Castle are two great spots. Alternatively, you can ride a hot air balloon in Mexico City to get some great shots of the ancient city of Teotihuacan.
- Every spring, from late March to early May, the streets of Mexico City are filled with purple jacaranda blooms. Spring is a great time to click beautiful Mexico City pictures with a pop of color in the background.
- The Day of the Dead Parade which usually happens in October – November every year is a great time for photographers.
- If you have time for a day trip from Mexico City, head to the colorful, colonial towns of San Miguel de Allende and Puebla for great photo opportunities.
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