29 Best Things to Do in Mexico City with Kids

Looking for some cool and fun things to do in Mexico City with kids? I can help!

I spent over a month there when I lived in Mexico with my family for a year, and we barely managed to scratch the surface because there are so many fun things to do in Mexico City with kids.

The list in this article is based on my research on things to do in Mexico City with my family. And I couldn’t just keep it to myself once we did all the things!

Visiting Mexico City is a great experience for families with children of all ages. From historical and educational sights to playful activities and unique dining experiences, there is something for everyone during family travel to Mexico City.

So let’s jump into my favorite things to do in Mexico City with kids!

Things To Do With Kids In Mexico City

These fun things to do in Mexico City for kids are actually fun for everyone in the family. They’re our absolute top picks from our stay there. When we visited, both adults and kids alike had a good time.

1. Lucha Libre Family Night

☑️ Address: Arena Mexico, Dr. Lavista 189, Doctores, 06720 CDMX, Mexico
☑️ Hours: 5 pm on Sundays
☑️ Cost: 150 – 420 pesos; varies by seat location

Although there are Lucha Libre matches several nights a week, sometimes several times a day, I don’t recommend going to just any of them. The crowds at some matches can get pretty rowdy.

Each Sunday, though, there is a special match designated, “family night.” It’s called Domingo Familiar de Lucha Libre. This is what we attended, and what I highly recommend.

👉 Tickets for Lucha Libre shows at Arena Mexico are available here.

Family night has all the same glitz and action as a regular Lucha Libre match. However, there are a lot more kids in the audience and the adults are a bit more reserved. This doesn’t mean you’re missing out though.

Pro Tip: Don’t buy tickets in the first three rows. Kids under 18 aren’t allowed to sit there for safety reasons.

We still saw audience members, both kids and adults, get emotionally drawn into the matches. Many of them even yelled at the Luchadores when they didn’t like what was happening in the ring.

2. Ride the Cable Bus

☑️ Address: Constitucion 1917 Metro Stop; Indios Verdes Metro Stop; or Santa Clara Mexibus Station
☑️ Hours: 8 am – 11 pm daily
☑️ Cost: 7 pesos per person

Did you know there are sky gondolas in Mexico City? It’s true! They’re part of the public transit system in more mountainous parts of the city that are inaccessible by buses or subway.

Oddly enough, these Cablebus lines aren’t on most lists of cool places to visit in Mexico City with kids. But they should be! We actually rode two of the three lines.

In fact, we only skipped the third because we didn’t know it existed until we were driving out of town at the end of our time in Mexico City with family.

Pro Tip: The NW Santa Clara line is harder to access because it doesn’t start at a Metro (subway) station.

The southern cable bus route departs from the Constitucion 1917 subway station and showcases the colorful neighborhoods that paint their homes rainbow colors.

The northern route leaves from the Indios Verdes subway station and showcases homes that paint intricate murals on their rooftops. Both have very different scenery and are a lot of fun!

7. Museum of Natural History

☑️ Address: Av. de los Compositores, Bosque de Chapultepec II Secc, Miguel Hidalgo, 11100 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
☑️ Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Tuesday to Sunday
☑️ Cost: 35 pesos for adults 12+
15 pesos for kids 4-12
Free for Kids 3 and under

What kid doesn’t like dinosaur bones? Or what adult for that matter? The Natural History Museum was recently remodeled. It is absolutely one of the better museums in Mexico City for kids and one of the best places in mexico for families.

There is a really cool permanent display on evolution as well as a huge mural by Diego Rivera. The museum also offers rotates several temporary exhibits each year. So you can go back on a few different trips and see a variety of new things.

8. Acuario Inbursa

☑️ Address: Blvd. Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra 386, Amp Granada, Miguel Hidalgo, 11500 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
☑️ Hours: 10 am – 6 pm daily
☑️ Cost: 250 pesos

Covering four floors, Acuario Inbursa is huge! It also has some truly unique experiences, unlike any we’ve seen in other aquariums worldwide.

The penguin encounter allows you to put on some loaner parkas and spend time close to the penguins who live at the aquarium.

There are two aquariums in different buildings, practically adjacent to each other. The second aquarium, which is interactive, is located in Telcel Plaza Carso Shopping Center next to InSpark.

Pro Tip: Entry tickets to the main aquarium also get you free admission at the second one on the same day as well.

It’s two-for-one as far as things to do in Mexico City for families. The interactive aquarium also has an axolotl exhibit, in case you don’t make it to Papalote on your CDMX visit.

Families could spend an entire day exploring both aquariums and having lunch at the shopping center’s food court in between.

9. Museo Interactivo de Economia “MIDE”

☑️ Address: Calle de Tacuba 17, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06000 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
☑️ Hours: 11 am – 6 pm, Tuesday to Sunday
☑️ Cost: 95 pesos; 85 pesos for students & people with disabilities

You wouldn’t think this is one of the more kid-friendly places in Mexico City based on the name. However, it’s geared far more toward kids than adults because it’s play-based learning.

All of the displays in the economic museum are interactive. They teach kids how the world works, and cover everything from banking and credit card use to sustainable development.

There are even “playrooms” that have various temporary exhibits on display throughout the year. These can cover topics from world currency to comparative economics, all in gamified forms that enhance kids’ understanding.

10. MUCHO Museo de Chocolate

☑️ Address: C. Milan 45, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc, 06600 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
☑️ Hours: 11 am – 5 pm daily
☑️ Cost: 75 pesos
50 pesos for kids 5-12
Free entry for kids 4 and under

The MUCHO Chocolate Museum teaches visitors about the evolution of chocolate-making as well as cacao cultivation. The Mayans made chocolate one way, as we learned in Cozumel.

However, other cultural groups throughout Mexico used different methods. Who doesn’t want to learn about chocolate when visiting Mexico City with kids?

Fun Fact: The museum also offers guided tours and a gift shop. It mostly sells a variety of chocolate products.

The real winner is their private chocolate classes and group workshops. In these, you can learn all about making chocolate, and even try doing it yourself.

Before you head to Mexico City, with kids or without, just contact the museum to arrange one.

11. National Museum of Anthropology

☑️ Address: Av. Paseo de la Reforma s/n, Polanco, Bosque de Chapultepec I Secc, Miguel Hidalgo, 11560 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
☑️ Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Tuesday to Saturday
☑️ Cost: 80 pesos for adults 12+
Kids under 12 are free

This museum is home to the largest collection of Mexican cultural artifacts in the world. It can take an entire day, at least, to go through if you stop and read the signs for each piece in the museum.

We didn’t do that because our kid would probably die of boredom. But there are enough cool things in there to keep a kid’s interest on a stroll through it.

Pro Tip: The artificial waterfall at the front of the central courtyard is fun. Security won’t allow you too close, so don’t let kids run underneath it.

We spent a couple of hours wandering through so families should plan at least half a day here. Little Man enjoyed seeing the mammoth bones as well as some of the bigger pieces of stone carving.

12. Museo de Arte Popular

☑️ Address: Revillagigedo 11, Colonia Centro, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06050 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
☑️ Hours: 10 am – 6 pm Tuesday to Sunday
☑️ Cost: 60 pesos for adults 18+
Kids under 18 are free
Free admission on Sundays for everyone

From Alibrijes and toys to kites and modern works, the museum of popular art offers much more than just abstract pieces no one understands.

The museum has four permanent exhibits showcasing popular art in the fantasy world, everyday life, the sacred realm, and the essence of Mexican art. There are also several temporary exhibits on display that rotate throughout each year.

One of the most unexpected things for our family was the number of kid-friendly activities the museum offers each day.

There are a variety of kid-oriented crafts activities. These are great for getting kiddos involved in art instead of just looking at it.

Mexico City Family Tours

Whether you want to see Mexico City with an expert or want to see some nearby attractions, there are several pretty amazing tours of and near Mexico City with kids.

We love these tours because the experts will show and tell you things you’ll never find or learn on your own.

13. Private Tour of Mexico City

👉 This tour is a perfect introduction to Mexico City with kids.

If you’ve never seen CDMX before, you’ll want to see all the most famous architectural spots and museums. It can be a bit exhausting and overwhelming to do this in a short time with kids in tow.

That’s why I highly recommend this tour. It shows you all the best places for families in Mexico City at your own speed.

Plus, it even includes a tour of the National Anthropology Museum. Since it’s private, you don’t have to worry about wrangling your kids around strangers.

👉 If you’d rather take a cheap and quick tour of the architectural highlights in Mexico City with kids, this Turibus night tour is very highly rated.

14. Street Tour

If you’ve already seen the essentials and want to branch out, take a street tour of a Mexico City neighborhood. You can either tour Mexico’s street art by bike or explore the popular Reforma neighborhood by Segway.

👉 This bike tour includes lunch and helmets for all participants as well as a variety of bike sizes.

While you can do both tours during your vacation, there’s enough other things to do in Mexico City with kids that I’d recommend you only choose one during a shorter stay.

👉 This segway tour is only available to kids 12 and up but it explores a really fun area of Mexico City!

We’ve done Segway tours with Little Man elsewhere since he was eight. Typically the age restriction for Segways is due to safety so the child is tall and heavy enough to operate the vehicle.

If you have a tall kid 8-11 years old, consider messaging the tour operator before booking with your child’s age and height.

15. Teotihuacan & Hot Air Balloons

The Teotihuacan pyramids are less than an hour’s drive from Mexico City. It makes them the perfect day trip if you’re ready to get out of the city to explore.

👉 This tour was hands-down one of our favorite things to do in Mexico City with kids.

I’d recommend it for a family in Mexico City with kids at least age six. Any younger and they won’t be able to see over the basket edge.

In addition to round-trip transport from your hotel in Mexico City and the hot air balloon ride, you also get a few extras that other tours don’t offer.

The tour operator takes you on to stroll through the Teotihuacan pyramids. In addition, you also get to make a stop at the Basilica of Guadalupe.

This enormous church on the north side of town is absolutely beautiful and right on the way back to CDMX from Teotihuacan.

16. Puebla Day Trip

Located about an hour east of Mexico City, Puebla has a ton of really fun things to do. We spent a couple of weeks there and had some really great adventures. If you don’t have that sort of time to explore, consider taking a day trip instead.

👉 This private tour takes you to all the essential spots and offers flexible timing, which is perfect for families.

You’ll visit the church of Santa Maria Tonantzintla, the Chapel of the Rosary, the Great Pyramid of Cholula, and a few others.

Plus, round-trip transport and all entrance fees are included. It’s a great way to spend a stress-free day while vacationing in Mexico City with kids.

Note: If you have a few days before or after your time in Mexico City, consider a short trip to Grutas Tolantongo Hot Springs.

Outdoor Activities in Mexico City with Kids

There are so many museums and historical sites to enjoy in Mexico City with kids that it may seem like you’re spending far too much time indoors.

We did both of these activities during our first week in CDMX. I highly recommend them especially to families visiting Mexico City for the first time.

17. Bike the Paseo de Reforma

This Sunday morning tradition takes place weekly from 8 am to 2 pm. The city shuts down parts of Avenida Paseo de Reforma so that its citizens and visitors can enjoy the city without a vehicle.

We got Little Man his own kid-size bike and only rode for an hour. If I did this again, I would get a tandem bike and go for two hours.

This would allow him to sit and rest on the bike when he got tired and we could see more of the city while I continued to pedal.

Pro Tip: Reserve your bikes in advance at Poray. They have a limited supply of kid bikes, bikes with infant seats, and tandem bicycles.

You can walk, ride a bike, ride a scooter, rollerblade, rollerskate, etc. Any mode of non-electronic transportation is permitted.

There are even safety volunteers along the route to deal with anything from bike issues and injuries to giving directions and negotiating traffic at cross streets that are still open to cars.

18. Xochimilco

We were lucky to have some friends in Mexico City with kids at the same time as us. So we all rented a boat together at Xochimilco. It was so fun to float down the canals, eat some local snacks, and listen to live mariachi music.

Little Man lay down at the front of the flat-bottom boat looking for axolotls since this is their native habitat. He didn’t see any but we still had a lovely time.

👉 If you don’t mind going in a group, this tour is an excellent way to see both the canals and the Frida Kahlo house on the way back.

We did both of those activities on the same day, as the museum is on the way back to Centro Historico from Xochimilco.

👉 If you prefer private tours, then I recommend booking this tour.

This can be a quieter experience as the boats on Xochimilco do hold up to 20 people. So a group tour may be overwhelming to families with younger children. On a private tour, you will have the boat entirely to yourselves.

Free Things To Do With Kids In Mexico City

Despite generally having lower prices than the US for many things, including its world-class museums, Mexico City can still get a bit expensive.

It’s definitely possible to “do” Mexico City with kids on a budget. These are some of our favorite free things to do in CDMX.

19. Chapultepec Park

☑️ Address: Bosque de Chapultepec I Secc, 11580 Mexico City, CDMX, Mexico
☑️ Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Tuesday to Sunday

Located in the Miguel Hidalgo borough, Chapultepec Park is larger than Central Park in New York City! It even has a castle! Chapultepec Castle is open for public tours.

It is home to several museums on this list, including the National Anthropology Museum, Papalote Children’s Museum, and the Museum of Natural History.

However, it also has some really great free attractions, including the Chapultepec Zoo. Like Lincoln Park in Chicago, this Mexico City zoo is completely free.

We also really enjoyed playing at the Hormiga Park playground, which has kid-friendly zip lines! There’s so much to do in Chapultepec Park that you can easily spend an entire day here while visiting Mexico City with kids.

20. Lincoln Park

☑️ Address: Av. Emilio Castelar 163, Polanco, Polanco III Secc, Miguel Hidalgo, 11560 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
☑️ Hours: 24 hours

Parque Lincoln has one of the best playgrounds in Mexico City. There are a number of large play structures on which kids can climb and enjoy.

My favorite part is the swings because they’re all covered! I’ve never seen shaded swings before. And we’ve played in a *lot* of playgrounds.

It’s like the people who designed the Lincoln Park playground know what parents need!

In addition to the playground, there is a bird aviary that costs 7 pesos/person to enter. And in the pond, there are remote control boats you can either watch people operate or splurge to rent one.

21. The Mexico City Sign

☑️ Address: Av. Paseo de la Reforma 10, Guerrero, Cuauhtémoc, 06300 Ciudad de México, Mexico
☑️ Hours: 24 hours

There are several different signs throughout Mexico City. Some have rainbow letters and others say CDMX (Cuidad de Mexico). We liked this sign because it’s the colors of Mexico’s flag.

Plus, it’s across from Poray bicycle shop to swing by for a quick photo op after you bike Avenida Paseo Reforma on a Sunday morning. This is also a great time to go because other people are there doing the same thing.

Pro Tip: Offer to take turns swapping photographer roles so that your entire group/family can actually be in the photo!

22. Metropolitan Cathedral

☑️ Address: P.za de la Constitución S/N, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06000 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
☑️ Hours: 8 am – 8 pm daily

Located in Centro Histórico, this massive and beautiful church is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Mexico City. And it’s free to enter! If you want to see the choir or sacristy areas, though, they ask for a donation to do so.

The Cathedral is the oldest and biggest on the American continent. The church was built in 1573 by the Spanish architect, Claudio de Arciniega.

Pro Tip: This place is always busy. Try to go on a weekday morning if you want the crowds to be smaller.

Don’t let the slightly run-down exterior fool you. Whether you stay for a while to wander through slowly, or just pop in for a quick visit because your kids are whining that they’re bored, it’s still worth a visit.

23. Palacio des Bellas Artes

☑️ Address: Av. Juárez S/N, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06050 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
☑️ Hours: 11 am – 5 pm Tuesday to Sunday

The Palace of Fine Arts is also located in Centro Historico. It’s an easy walk from the cathedral so you have time to see both in one day pretty easily.

Pro Tip: If you just want to see it from the outside, go to the top floor of the Sears store across the street. There is a wall of glass windows facing the palace so you can see it clearly from a birds-eye view.

Entrance is 75 pesos entry for adults 13+. However, it’s one of the best things to do in Mexico City on Sundays because it’s FREE for everyone.

24. Diego Rivera Mural

☑️ Address: Balderas S/N, Colonia Centro, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06000 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
☑️ Hours: 11 am – 5 pm Tuesday to Sunday

Yes, there is a museum in Mexico City dedicated entirely to a single mural. This makes it perfect to check out when visiting Mexico City with kids. After all, most kids have the attention span of a gnat in art museums.

Museo Mural Diego Rivera is more fun with kids if you don’t just stare at it. I sat on a bench with Little Man and his two friends, and asked them “what is the weirdest thing in this painting?”

It took them a good 15 minutes to really explore the painting before coming back with their opinion and justification.

Pro Tip: Engage kids in art by asking them about what’s weird or different. Scavenger hunt-type activities work really well in museums.

We took the same approach at Museo Soumaya, a few days later. They loved this game! It works well in museums that would otherwise bore them.

Edible Experiences to Have in Mexico City with Kids

We are huge fans of themed food experiences. Often, we seek them out in whatever city we’re visiting. There are a lot of amazing foodie things to do in Mexico City with Kids. These are just our favorites.

25. Trooper Gourmet

☑️ Address: Calle Antillas 502, Portales Nte, Benito Juárez, 03300 Ciudad de México, CDMX
☑️ Hours: 2 pm – 10 pm Monday to Saturday
2 pm – 8:30 pm Sundays

Our family is all total Star Wars nerds. So a restaurant that is entirely about Star Wars was right up our alley. Since we were in Mexico City with kids on May 4th, we had to celebrate Star Wars Day in style!

Fun Fact: We even went to the Tikal ruins in Guatemala to see where Star Wars IV was filmed.

From floor-to-ceiling Star Wars collectible decor to all the food and serving dishes having themed names and pictures, this restaurant is a geek’s paradise.

Little Man loved that the drinks were served in glassware with Grogu on them. David and I loved that the burgers are really tasty!

The only thing I didn’t love was the fries. They were undercooked and had an odd, sweet seasoning on them. Go for the atmosphere and the burgers. Skip the side dishes.

Get there early, too. There are only eight tables in the entire restaurant. They fill quickly.

26. Catfecito

☑️ Address: Av. Baja California 266, Colonia Condesa, Cuauhtémoc, 06100 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
☑️ Hours: 12 pm – 8 pm Tuesday to Sunday

If you visit just one of the kid friendly restaurants Mexico City has to offer, this may be your best bet. This coffee shop also serves booze, burgers, and desserts. All of it is cat-themed.

The beer is a microbrew called Meow, and the burgers have little cat faces burned into the buns. Plus, all the desserts are shaped like either cat faces or cat paws.

While you’re enjoying your cat-themed sustenance, you can also play with the resident cats. If you fall in love with one, they’re all adoptable from a local cat rescue.

27. Comicx

☑️ Address: Forum Buenavista Mall, Top Floor
☑️ Hours: 1 pm to 11 pm daily

This superhero-themed restaurant has a kids’ area with a play structure and free arcade games! I’ll admit we went for the ambiance but returned for being one of the most kid-friendly restaurants we’ve ever been to.

The burgers were just okay but the pastor tacos were very tasty! Ask your server for suggestions before ordering to ensure you pick something yummy.

Get there early because they get very busy, with a line out the door, most evenings at dinner time.

28. Joe Gelato

☑️ Address: C. Versalles 78, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc, 06600 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
☑️ Hours: 12 pm to 7 pm Tuesday to Sunday.

This ice cream shop sells more than the traditional flavors of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. It also carries unique, custom flavors I haven’t seen anywhere else!

Pro Tip: Even if you know what you want, try a couple of the exotic flavors just because. When else will you get to try red wine sorbet or tamarind with mezcal gelato?

The shop has minimal seating, so get there soon after they open in order to secure a seat. They get pretty crowded in the late afternoons and on weekends.

29. Cereal Station

☑️ Address: Cuernavaca Calle, Colonia Condesa, Cuauhtémoc, 06140 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
☑️ Hours: 10 am – 7 pm daily

Estación Cereal is a build-your-own cereal shop in the Condesa neighborhood. You can mix up to three kinds of cereal as well as add unlimited toppings.

In addition to customized cereal combinations, you can choose your milk type and color.

Fun Fact: The shop itself is decorated floor-to-ceiling with cereal boxes, including some vintage brands that haven’t been sold for years.

It markets itself as a dessert shop. However, we went for lunch with some friends and made our kids the happiest munchkins on earth.

Is It Safe To Travel To Mexico City With Kids?

Mostly yes. It’s safe to bring kids to Mexico City. Like any large city around the world, there are safe and unsafe neighborhoods.

For the most part, the activities mentioned on this list aren’t in bad areas of the city. There are some parts of CDMX to avoid.

Note: The Doctores neighborhood where Arena Mexico is located gets a bit unsafe after dark. You’ll be fine going for Lucha Libre Family Night but don’t stick around after the matches end.

That said, there are a ton of fun things to do for Mexico City kids. It’s just as safe as, say Phoenix or Bali, to visit.

After our time there, we still feel like we missed some things and need to return for another long stay in order to continue exploring.

Travel Gear Essentials for Visiting Mexico City With Kids

✔️ Baby/Toddler Carrier. While some parts of the city are stroller-friendly, others are not.

Between uneven sidewalks in some neighborhoods and extremely busy tourist walkways, like much of Centro Historico, we don’t recommend using a stroller everywhere you go.

This is especially true if you plan to take public transit. Babywearing is the way to go!

✔️ Stable Footwear. Sidewalks in Mexico City are not always even. It is not ideal to wear flip-flops when sightseeing there.

Ensure every member of your family has either closed-toe hiking sandals or well-fitting sneakers before heading out sightseeing.

Is Mexico City A Good Family Vacation?

Mexico City is a very family-friendly place to vacation! From historical sights and museums to cool restaurants and unique theme parks, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

In addition, Mexico City is fairly easy to get around. Rideshare services, like Uber and Didi, are plentiful.

Plus the public transit system is easy to use. Just allow yourselves a little extra time to get places because the traffic can get pretty brutal, especially on weekend afternoons.

Where To Stay In Mexico City with Kids

There are neighborhoods and hotels for every budget in Mexico City. One of the best travel tips we got was “stay where you want to play.”

If you’re concerned about safety, these are the safest neighborhoods in the city for tourists to stay in.

If you just want a solid recommendation for hotels, never fear! These are our top recommendations for hotels in Mexico City that are definitely great neighborhoods for visiting families.

💰💰💰 Luxury Hotel: St. Regis Mexico City

 The St. Regis is one of the most luxurious and highly rated hotels in Mexico City. It’s located in the Reforma neighborhood, which is easily accessible to pretty much everywhere in CDMX.

💰💰 Mid-Range Hotel: Historico Central Hotel

This mid-range hotel is right in the middle of everything. Booking here also includes a free walking tour of Centro Historico!

💰 Budget Hotel: Holiday Inn & Suites

This budget-friendly hotel in the Benito Juarez neighborhood is centrally located and has a lot of family-friendly amenities.

Things to Do in Mexico City with Kids: FAQs

Do you still have questions about things to do in Mexico City with kids? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions!

Conclusion: Best Things To Do In Mexico City With Kids

Family travel to Mexico City is a wonderful experience. It’s actually one of my favorite cities in North America!

We spent over a month on our family trip to Mexico City and feel like we still barely scratched the surface.

When planning your family itinerary for Mexico City, create a balance of things adults enjoy and things your kid(s) will enjoy as well.

As much as you may want to see every single art museum in CDMX, it’s probably not going to happen with littles in tow. At least not happily.

Pro Tip: Plan a daily activity in which kids can get their energy out.

The real challenge we had visiting Mexico City with kids was deciding what to take off our list when we realized we couldn’t see and do everything we wanted.

But don’t worry, you can always go back for more adventures in Mexico’s vibrant capital city!