Best Parks in Mexico City

Mexico City surprised & delighted me as a traveler.  It’s an excellent city for walkers, with wide sidewalks & a fun, bustling feel.  I had assumed that heavy traffic would make walking a challenge.  But this wasn’t the case at all!  Especially 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.  Here, we’ll discover the best parks in Mexico City, found in the most popular areas for travelers…

Chapultepec Park is the largest park in Mexico City.

Map of Mexico City

Best Parks in Mexico City

1. Chapultepec Park (Bosque de Chapultepec)

Chapultepec Park is the “Central Park” of Mexico City, & one of its most important landmarks.  Because it’s so huge, it borders Polanco, Zona Rosa, AND Condesa!  Within the park, you’ll find several of the city’s top attractions: Chapultepec Castle, Botanical Gardens, & the legendary Museum of Anthropology.  On weekends, you’ll find families here, strolling by food carts, going to museums, or catching a glimpse of famous 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 best views in the city overlook Chapultepec Park.  Two hotels by the park are: Grand Fiesta Americana Chapultepec & the JW Marriott Mexico City.

Altar a la Patria is one of the most beautiful sculptures in Chapultepec Park. 

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

2. Alameda Central (by the Zocalo)

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

Alameda Central is the oldest park in Mexico City, dating back to 1592. 

Best Parks in Mexico City for Travelers

3. Plaza Rio de Janeiro (in Roma Norte)

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

This is the smallest “park” on the list, but great if you want to grab happy hour after…

Plaza Rio de Janeiro, in Roma Norte.

4. Jardin de la Bombilla (by 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 by the Frida Kahlo Museum.

5. Xochimilco Floating Gardens

Besides Chapultepec, this is the most talked-about park in Mexico City.  And it’s also the southern-most park listed; 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, 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 next door to the Floating Gardens, but a world away in terms of tranquility…

Hop on a boat at the Xochimilco Floating Gardens! Look out for the creepy cool “Island of the Dolls”…

Best Parks in Mexico City for Travelers

I found many of these parks by using my “Top 10 Guide to Mexico City” ~ it’s a great resource, 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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