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Family outings

Family outings in Mexico City

Mexico City is generous with children: a Chapultepec forest twice the size of Central Park, a whole museum designed for them, free museums, festivities that last for weeks and pyramids an hour's drive away. Here are our addresses, all checked on official websites.

Verified on 30 October 2026

Parks, playgrounds and fresh air

The Chapultepec forest is the city's lung and the playground of Polanco and Condesa families; to the west, La Mexicana has redrawn Santa Fe weekends, and to the south, the Xochimilco canals offer the most Mexican outing of all.

Good to know

  • The Chapultepec forest gathers over three sections the castle and its national History museum, the national Anthropology museum, the zoo, boating lakes, the Papalote Museo del Niño and playgrounds; entry to the park is free and the first section closes on Mondays. Source
  • La Mexicana park, in Santa Fe, is open every day from 5am to 9pm, free, with playgrounds, a skatepark, a lake, running tracks and restaurants; car parks are paid and it is busiest at weekends between noon and 3pm. Source
  • The Xochimilco canals, World Heritage listed together with the historic centre, are explored by trajinera, the colourful boats hired by the hour with mariachis and quesadilla sellers pulling alongside: children's favourite birthday outing. Source
  • In the neighbourhoods, local parks make family life: Parque México and Parque España in Condesa, Parque Lincoln in Polanco, Viveros de Coyoacán for running among the squirrels; playgrounds are often fenced and supervised.

Addresses

  • Bosque de Chapultepec et Castillo de Chapultepec

    Park

    Paseo de la Reforma, Chapultepec, Miguel Hidalgo

    The city's great park: hilltop castle-museum, lakes, zoo, museums and playgrounds; arrive early on Sundays, it is every Mexico City family's outing.

    Website Source

  • Parque La Mexicana

    Park

    Av. Luis Barragán 505, Santa Fe, Cuajimalpa

    Santa Fe's modern park: age-graded playgrounds, skatepark, lake, tracks and restaurants; free, open every day from 5am to 9pm.

    Website Source

  • Canaux de Xochimilco

    Park

    Embarcaderos de Xochimilco (Nuevo Nativitas, Cuemanco), au sud de la ville

    Trajinera ride on the canals of the former lake, UNESCO listed; allow an hour's drive from Polanco and leave in the morning, before the crowds and summer storms.

    Website Source

  • Granja Las Américas

    Park

    Av. Carlos Lazo s/n, Tlalpan (à côté de Six Flags)

    Educational farm and activity park for ages 2 to 10 in the south of the city: animals to feed, zip lines, workshops; the classic nursery-school outing.

    Website Source

  • Six Flags México

    Park

    Carretera Picacho-Ajusco km 1.5, Tlalpan

    The capital's theme park, on the Ajusco heights: rides for all ages, annual pass quickly pays off; opening days and hours vary with the season.

    Website Source

Go further

Children's museums and great museums

Mexico City is one of the world's richest cities in museums, and several are made for children: the Papalote, Universum, the MIDE. The big national museums have a resident rate, the Soumayas are free and the Noche de Museos opens doors in the evening once a month.

Good to know

  • The Papalote Museo del Niño, in Chapultepec, is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6:30pm: five zones to touch, play and learn (the body, the city, the home, living Mexico, the ideas lab), for toddlers as well as 10-year-olds. Source
  • INAH museums (Anthropology, Chapultepec Castle, Teotihuacán) apply a reduced rate to residents of Mexico on presentation of the residence card; the Soumaya museums are free every day and Universum does not charge under-2s. Source
  • The Noche de Museos, on the last Wednesday of each month, opens many of the city's museums in the evening, often with workshops and concerts; the Frida Kahlo museum takes part from 6pm to 9pm. Source

Addresses

  • Papalote Museo del Niño

    Museum

    Av. Constituyentes 268, 2a sección de Chapultepec

    The children's museum: everything can be touched, from construction to the ideas lab; Tuesday to Sunday, online booking advised at weekends and holidays.

    Website Source

  • Museo Nacional de Antropología

    Museum

    Paseo de la Reforma y Calzada Gandhi, Chapultepec Polanco

    The Aztec Sun Stone, the Olmec heads and the monumental patio umbrella: the country's great museum, a stone's throw from the lycée; plan one or two rooms per visit with children.

    Website Source

  • Castillo de Chapultepec, Museo Nacional de Historia

    Museum

    Bosque de Chapultepec, 1a sección

    The only royal castle in the Americas, with views over Reforma, carriages and Emperor Maximilian's rooms; the climb is on foot or by little train.

    Website Source

  • Universum, Museo de las Ciencias de la UNAM

    Museum

    Circuito Cultural de Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán

    The university's science museum, with an early-years space, planetarium and hands-on exhibits; open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm, free for under-2s.

    Website Source

  • MIDE, Museo Interactivo de Economía

    Museum

    Tacuba 17, Centro Histórico

    An interactive museum on the economy and money in a former convent in the centre, games and simulators that appeal from age 8; reduced rate on weekday afternoons.

    Website Source

  • Museo Frida Kahlo, La Casa Azul

    Museum

    Londres 247, Col. Del Carmen, Coyoacán

    Frida's blue house in Coyoacán, garden and kitchen included; tickets to book online in advance, open Tuesday to Sunday.

    Website Source

  • Museo Soumaya, Plaza Carso

    Museum

    Blvd. Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra 303, Granada (Nuevo Polanco)

    The silver building of Nuevo Polanco and its six floors of Rodin, Dalí and European masters; free every day from 10:30am to 6:30pm, spiral ramp perfect for pushchairs.

    Website Source

  • Museo Nacional de Arte (MUNAL)

    Museum

    Tacuba 8, Centro Histórico

    Mexican painting from the 16th to the 20th century in a historic-centre palace, opposite the MIDE; family workshops at weekends.

    Website Source

Libraries and the French médiathèque

To read in French, the IFAL médiathèque, in the Casa de Francia, is the rallying point: more than 20,000 items for children, teenagers and adults, a games library and the Culturethèque digital library. The big public libraries, free of charge, are also worth the trip.

Good to know

  • The IFAL médiathèque offers more than 20,000 printed and audiovisual items for children, teenagers and adults (picture books, comics, novels, CDs, DVDs, French-learning methods), a games library of around a hundred titles, and access to Culturethèque; on-site consultation is free and home lending requires a very affordable membership. Source
  • Médiathèque hours: Tuesday and Thursday 11am to 5pm, Friday 11am to 4pm, Saturday noon to 4pm; closed Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. The catalogue can be searched online. Source
  • The Biblioteca Vasconcelos, in Buenavista, offers free access to its services and a collection of 580,000 books in a spectacular glass and steel building, with a botanical garden and children's section; the Biblioteca de México, in the Ciudadela, also houses a children's room. Source

Addresses

  • Médiathèque de l'IFAL, Casa de Francia

    Library

    Havre 15, Col. Juárez, Cuauhtémoc

    The heart of French reading in Mexico City: picture books, comics and children's novels, games library, Culturethèque, a stone's throw from Reforma; lending on membership.

    Website Source

  • Culturethèque, la bibliothèque numérique de l'Institut français

    Library

    Close to 400,000 French-language items online (books, comics, press, videos), available 24/7 with IFAL médiathèque membership; ideal for children who read a lot.

    Website Source

  • Biblioteca Vasconcelos

    Library

    Eje 1 Norte Mosqueta s/n, Buenavista, Cuauhtémoc

    The glass and steel 'mega-library' north of the centre: free access, children's room, botanical garden and cultural activities; an outing in itself with children.

    Website Source

  • Biblioteca de México, La Ciudadela

    Library

    Plaza de la Ciudadela 4, Centro Histórico

    In the 18th-century Ciudadela, covered patios, personal libraries of great writers and a children's room; next to the Ciudadela crafts market.

    Website Source

Activities, clubs and French outside school

Between the IFAL, the Alliance française, the Club France and the big cultural centres, children find ways to speak French on Saturdays, swim, climb or discover the arts. The French parish of Mexico City completes the picture for families who wish.

Good to know

  • The Alliance française of Mexico City offers French classes for children from age 5 (Nenes), then 6 to 7 (Peques) and 8 to 10 (Niños), on weekdays or Saturdays, in its four centres in Polanco, Del Valle, San Ángel and Interlomas, plus teen courses. Source
  • The IFAL, in the Casa de Francia, runs workshops, a film programme at the Cinéma IFAL and big annual events (Night of Ideas, Poetry Night, Comics Festival); its médiathèque has a games library for family play. Source
  • The Club France, a private club that has nurtured sport and Franco-Mexican friendship for more than 150 years, offers members swimming, tennis, badminton, padel and a climbing wall, plus a library and cultural events, in colonia Florida in the south of the city. Source
  • The consulate lists a French parish in Mexico City among the French associations, for Mass and catechism in French; the lycée parents' groups also organise scouting, sport and school fairs. Source

Addresses

  • Alianza Francesa de México, centre Polanco

    Activity

    Sócrates 156, Los Morales Polanco, Miguel Hidalgo

    French classes for children from age 5 and teenagers, workshops, exhibitions and film club; three other centres in Del Valle, San Ángel and Interlomas.

    Website Source

  • IFAL, Casa de Francia : ateliers et Cinéma IFAL

    Activity

    Havre 15, Col. Juárez (ateliers) et Río Nazas 43, Col. Cuauhtémoc (cinéma)

    The Institut français d'Amérique latine: workshops, original-version cinema, festivals and a médiathèque with games library.

    Website Source

  • Club France

    Activity

    Calle Francia 75, Col. Florida, Álvaro Obregón

    Private sports and cultural club of the Franco-Mexican community: pool, tennis, padel, climbing, library; family membership.

    Website Source

  • Centro Nacional de las Artes (Cenart)

    Activity

    Av. Río Churubusco 79, Country Club Churubusco, Coyoacán

    The big arts campus in the south of the city: shows, exhibitions, workshops and the Feria de las Calacas of the Alas y Raíces programme in the run-up to Día de Muertos; General Anaya metro.

    Website Source

  • Cineteca Nacional

    Activity

    Av. México Coyoacán 389, Xoco, Benito Juárez (et Cineteca Chapultepec, Santa Fe)

    The national film archive, with an 'Infancias' programme for children, an open-air forum and French films in the original version; second venue in Santa Fe.

    Website Source

  • Casa del Lago UNAM

    Activity

    Bosque de Chapultepec, 1a sección

    The university's cultural centre on the Chapultepec lake: workshops, concerts and family activities at weekends, to combine with a walk in the park.

    Website Source

  • KidZania Santa Fe

    Activity

    Centro Santa Fe, Av. Vasco de Quiroga 3800, Santa Fe

    The miniature city where 4 to 12-year-olds play at jobs, born in Mexico City; two parks in the capital, Santa Fe and Cuicuilco, ideal on rainy days.

    Website Source

Through the seasons and festivities

The Mexican year runs to the rhythm of its festivities: the September Grito, Día de Muertos altars, December posadas, the Three Kings' rosca, March jacarandas and Holy Week. The climate comes down to a dry season from October to May and afternoon storms from June to September.

Good to know

  • In late October and early November, Día de Muertos, inscribed by UNESCO as intangible heritage of humanity, fills the city with altars, marigolds and parades; the French schools break until 2 November, and children dress up as catrinas. Source
  • On the evening of 15 September, the Independence Grito rings out on the Zócalo and in every neighbourhood, and the 16th is a public holiday; December strings together the posadas (processions, piñatas and songs) until Christmas, then children await the Three Kings on 6 January with the rosca, the end of the school holidays. Source
  • In November, the Feria Internacional del Libro Infantil y Juvenil (FILIJ) gathers children's publishers, reading workshops, theatre, circus and puppets; in late October, the Feria de las Calacas of Alas y Raíces, the Secretaría de Cultura's children's programme, sets up at the Cenart and Chapultepec. Source
  • Spring and summer: jacarandas turn the city mauve in March, Holy Week empties Mexico City of its residents (make the most of it), then afternoon rains arrive in June; it is the season of museums, Friday-night lucha libre at the Arena México and the Ballet folklórico at Bellas Artes. Source

Addresses

  • Día de Muertos

    Zócalo, Reforma, Coyoacán, Mixquic et tous les quartiers

    Monumental altars on the Zócalo, big parade on Reforma, candlelit cemetery of Mixquic: the most photogenic festival of the year, very gentle with children.

    Website Source

  • FILIJ, Feria Internacional del Libro Infantil y Juvenil

    Activity

    Parque Bicentenario, Azcapotzalco (en novembre)

    The children's book fair, every November: publishers' stands, reading workshops, theatre, clown, dance and puppet shows, free.

    Website Source

  • Alas y Raíces, programme culturel pour les enfants

    Activity

    The Secretaría de Cultura programme dedicated to children and teenagers: Feria de las Calacas before Día de Muertos, free workshops and shows all year round.

    Website Source

  • Arena México, lucha libre du CMLL

    Activity

    Dr. Lavista 189, Col. Doctores

    The temple of lucha libre: the 'Viernes Espectaculares' and special Día de Muertos nights delight children from age 6; the CMLL even has a Club Pekes for little fans.

    Website Source

  • Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández

    Activity

    Palacio de Bellas Artes, Centro Histórico

    Dances from every region of Mexico in dazzling costumes, in the Art Deco hall of Bellas Artes; the December show 'Navidades en México' is made for families.

    Website Source

Go further

Trips under two hours away

The Teotihuacán pyramids, the magical village of Tepoztlán, Puebla and Cholula, the Africam safari: in under two hours by car or bus, the capital offers weekends your children will talk about for a long time.

Good to know

  • Teotihuacán, the city of the gods, is open every day from 8am to 5pm (last entry 4:30pm); residents of Mexico pay half price on presentation of their residence card. Leave early, shade is scarce and the altitude is felt on the pyramids. Source
  • Tepoztlán, a Pueblo Mágico 17 km from Cuernavaca, combines the climb to the Tepozteco, a colourful market and a UNESCO-listed former convent; its carnival, with the Brinco del Chinelo, is a family celebration. Source
  • At Africam Safari, near Puebla, you drive through the enclosures of giraffes, rhinos and lions; under-3s enter free and the child ticket covers ages 3 to 11. Take the toll motorway and fill up in daytime. Source

Addresses

  • Zone archéologique de Teotihuacán

    San Juan Teotihuacán, État de Mexico (environ 50 km au nord-est)

    The Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon and the Avenue of the Dead, an hour's drive away; open every day from 8am to 5pm, half price for residents.

    Website Source

  • Tepoztlán

    Tepoztlán, Morelos (environ 80 km au sud)

    Pueblo Mágico at the foot of cliffs, climb to the Tepozteco temple (for good walkers from age 6), artisan ice creams and market; a weekend classic for Mexico City families.

    Website Source

  • Cholula

    San Pedro Cholula, Puebla (environ 120 km à l'est)

    The great pyramid topped by a church, tunnels to explore with children and the view of Popocatépetl; twenty minutes from Puebla.

    Website Source

  • Puebla

    Puebla de Zaragoza (environ 130 km à l'est)

    Colonial historic centre, talavera, mole and street food, and the cable car: two motorway hours away, the ideal city for a two-day weekend.

    Website Source

  • Africam Safari

    Valsequillo, Puebla (environ 150 km à l'est)

    Safari by car or park bus among African animals, then a walking zone and shows; free for under-3s, annual pass available.

    Website Source

  • Cuernavaca

    Cuernavaca, Morelos (environ 85 km au sud)

    The 'city of eternal spring', an hour and a half down the motorway: pools, gardens and a mild climate all year; many Mexico City families go down for the weekend.

    Website Source

Go further

A place has closed, something has changed? Tell us: the mums of Mexico City will thank you.

Sources for this page

The public pages these landmarks come from. The official website always prevails.

  1. 1 Museo Nacional de Historia, Castillo de Chapultepec (INAH)
  2. 2 Papalote Museo del Niño
  3. 3 IFAL, la médiathèque de la Casa de Francia
  4. 4 Alianza Francesa de México, cours pour enfants
  5. 5 UNESCO, la fête indigène dédiée aux morts
  6. 6 Secretaría de Cultura, FILIJ
  7. 7 INAH, zone archéologique de Teotihuacán
  8. 8 Secretaría de Turismo, Tepoztlán

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