Chapultepec Park area is a must-see in Mexico City with kids of any age. The park is a huge green space, and also a cultural hub, housing many of Mexico City’s museums. Chief amongst those museums is the Anthropology Museum.
The Anthropology Museum delves into the ancient cultures of Mexico over the years, including the Maya, the Aztecs and more. It is one of the best museums we have been to, in it’s scope and curation. Combine a visit at the Anthropology Museum and a relaxing visit to Chapultepec Park, for a perfect day with kids in Mexico City.
Riding the Metro in Mexico City (with a baby, for the first time)
Our second full day in the city, we were sick of driving (and knew that parking was a problem) and so decided to venture out on the metro. This was Little N’s very first time on the subway and he was a little overwhelmed by all the people, but was definitely a good sport about it.
On the way to the metro (a few blocks away), we were hit by hunger and ended up eating at the only non-fast food spot around- Los Bisquets*.
We had our stroller, which M carried down the stairs, and I carried Baby Boy. He was a bit bewildered and overwhelmed going down against a rush of people coming up, and seemed a bit disoriented at this new experience.
He kept looking to all directions as we made our way to the platform. Once there he was a bit more relaxed, but looked slightly frightened as a train whisked by.
The train ride itself was more manageable as the kiddo flirted with the other passengers, and the old ladies just ate him up!
For one of the rides we tried leaving him in the stroller on the actual train, but as it filled up and people cowered over him he got scared and we went back to having me carry him in my arms. All in all it was a success!
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The Anthropology Museum in Mexico City
Once we got to metro Auditorio, we walked down Reforma Blvd, to the Anthropology Museum.
The museum is massive, so we decided to devote our time to the exhibits about Teotihuacan (which we would visit later in the week), the Aztecs, and the Maya.
Little N was again a great sport, and kept us moving along at a nice pace. He was very interested but would fuss if I kept him in one spot for too long, which M was quite happy about since it meant I couldn’t dawdle. 😉
Chapultepec Park and Zoo in Mexico City
By the time we were heading out to the museum, it was time for lunch. Other than snack stands, the closest place to get food was the zoo in Chapultepec Park.
So we headed into the madness of the park, and D and Little N ended up waiting for M to get a pizza from inside the zoo. M went in on his own to get the pizza because we didn’t want to have to deal with putting our stroller and all our stuff in the paqueteria (coat check) and having to rent an umbrella stroller or carry baby boy.
Meanwhile Little N and I sat around in the shade and observed the commotion. As M emerged with a free pizza, because it took over 30 minutes; thank you Dominos.
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Walking Down Paseo Reforma
It was too late in the day to visit the Chapultepec Castle, and we were too tired to enter another museum. (The nearby Tamayo Museum would have been our choice).
Re-energized we decided to continue making our way down Reforma, and into the Zona Rosa, a trendy area of Mexico City. Reforma is a wide main street in Mexico City, with a walking trail in the middle.
We enjoyed the recycled water bottle statues along the pedestrian pathway. And just as we were about to head back to the metro, we happened upon a Coffee Bean cafe.
In Guadalajara we feel a little deprived of some major chains, and so we decided the find warranted a stop.
Tips for Visiting Chapultepec Park and the Anthropology Museum
- There is a serious lack of food options around the park area. If you, like us, are not a fan of snacks and food carts, I would consider packing a lunch with you.
- Speaking of food, there is a cafeteria in the Anthropology Museum. If you are a history buff, plan to spend all day there. There is tons to see!
- If you want to go to the zoo, come with your own umbrella stroller. That is the only type of stroller allowed.
- I could also see spending a full day at Chapultepec Park. Between the green areas for picnic-ing, the zoo, boat rentals on the lake, Chapultepec Castle, etc, there’s lots to do with kids!
- More museums in the area include: Papalote Children’s Museum, Tamayo Museum, Natural History Museum, and the Modern Art Museum.
*Funny enough, last time we were in D.F. (Distrito Federal, i.e. Mexico City), the same exact thing happened!
Have you been to Mexico City with kids? What have been your favorite kid-friendly attractions in Mexico City?
