Best Parks in Mexico City

Mexico City is a place that both surprised & delighted me as a traveler.  It’s an excellent city for outdoor enthusiasts, with its wide sidewalks & plentiful bike lanes.  I had assumed that Mexico City’s heavy traffic would make walking a challenge ~ but strangely, this wasn’t the case at all, particularly in smaller neighborhoods like Roma & Condesa.  Combine that with the large amount of parks & gorgeous sculptures found all over the city, & the truth is: you have a wonderful city for walking & exploring.  In this post, we’ll discover the best parks in Mexico City, concentrated in the most popular areas for travelers.

Chapultepec Park is not only the largest park in Mexico City ~ but it’s one of the largest parks in the Western Hemisphere, which puts it firmly at the top of my list for the “Best Parks in Mexico City.”

Map of Best Parks in Mexico City

Best Parks in Mexico City

1. Chapultepec Park, or Bosque de Chapultepec

Bosque de Chapultepec is the “Central Park” of Mexico City, & one of its most central & important landmarks.  Because it’s so huge, it borders the Polanco, Zona Rosa, AND Condesa neighborhoods!  Within the park, you’ll find several of the city’s top attractions, including: Chapultepec Castle, the Botanical Gardens, & the legendary Museum of Anthropology.  On weekends, you’ll see families galore here, strolling by food vendors, taking in a museum, or catching a glimpse of the high-wire act, the Flying Wallendas.  You can also rent a paddle boat on Lago de Chapultepec, visit the zoo, run or bike through the park. 

If you only have time to visit one park in Mexico City: make it Chapultepec, because it’s like visiting 10 parks in one! 

Great Hotels by Chapultepec Park: The most coveted views in the city are those overlooking Chapultepec Park.  Two hotels located directly next to the park are the Grand Fiesta Americana Chapultepec & the JW Marriott Mexico City.

Altar a la Patria is one of the most beautiful sculptures in Chapultepec Park. Looming just behind it is Chapultepec Castle…

If you climb the small hill behind the Altar a la Patria, you’ll find Chapultepec Castle ~ which has a museum, restaurant, & some of the best VIEWS over Mexico City.

2. Alameda Central (by the Zocalo)

If you’re visiting noteworthy Mexico City landmarks like the Zocalo or the gorgeous Palacio de Bellas Artes: chances are you’ll stumble into Alameda Central simply by chance.  Located right next to the Palacio, this park is popular with both locals & tourists, & provides an oasis of willow trees right in the heart of Mexico City’s Historical Center.  It’s a great place to stroll, or simply sit on a bench & people-watch, as you’re surrounded by action & important monuments here.

Alameda Central is the oldest park in Mexico City, dating back to 1592. Its layout is reminiscent of parks in Paris, with a design that can best be appreciated from above.

Best Parks in Mexico City

3. Plaza Rio de Janeiro (in Roma Norte)

I stumbled upon Plaza Rio de Janeiro by accident, while walking from Zona Rosa over to the Zocalo.  It’s located in the charming Roma Norte neighborhood, & is notable for it’s central statue, which is a replica of Michelangelo’s famous “David.”  This is a very peaceful park, & I saw many people walking their dogs here ~ but it’s also great because it’s surrounded by cafes, restaurants, & wine bars….making it a great place to grab a post-park cocktail! 

This is the smallest “park” on the list, but it’s a great spot if you want to grab happy hour & a delicious drink…

4. Jardin de la Bombilla (near Frida Kahlo’s House)

If you’re visiting Frida Kahlo’s house or the Diego Rivera & Frida Kahlo Museum, then Jardin de la Bombilla is a great park to visit.  It has nice walking paths & shaded benches, & a not-to-be-missed monument in memory of Alvaro Obregon, the much-revered hero of the Mexican Revolution.

Jardin de la Bombilla is located in the San Angel neighborhood, & is very close the Museo de Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo.

5. Parque Ecologico de Xochimilco

Besides Chapultepec, this is the most talked-about park in Mexico City ~ & it’s also the southern-most park on this list; you’ll need to Uber, taxi, or take the metro to reach it.  There are two parts to this park: one is the actual Ecological Park, that was built over 32-acres of water canals, & is a protected World Heritage site.  The other is more kitschy & colorful, & it’s called the Xochimilco Floating Gardens.  Here, you can hop on a brightly-colored boat with other tourists & locals, & drink beer while listening to mariachi music.

Both places are worth the 45-minute trip south of the city: it just depends whether you’re looking for peaceful or not…

Parque Ecologico de Xochimilco is right next door to the Floating Gardens, but a world away in terms of tranquility…

Hop on a boat at the touristy but fun Xochimilco Floating Gardens…with dozens of other people! Look out for the creepy cool “Island of the Dolls”…

Best Parks in Mexico City

I hope you’ve enjoyed scouting some of the “Best Parks in Mexico City!”  I found many of them by using my “Top 10 Guide to Mexico City” ~ not only was it a great resource, but it’s lightweight & easy to pack.  It’s particularly helpful if you’re a first-time visitor to Mexico City.  Ask me any questions in the comments below!

xoxo Noelia

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