12 Amazing Spots in Mexico City You Won't Find in a Guidebook

An old water tank with a mural inside

The mural “Water, origin of life” of Diego Rivera was thought to be submerged in the water that arrived at the Cárcamo de Dolores. This hydraulic work was built in the 50s to receive the water of the Lerma River and distribute it to Mexico City.

A creepy island full of old dolls

Una publicación compartida de Cindy Escobar Galindo (@cindyescobargalindo) el 27 de Sep de 2016 a la(s) 10:31 PDT

The island of the dolls in Xochimilco is surrounded by many legends. The “official” story tells that a girl died there and that every night she bothered the only man who inhabited the island. To reassure the girl’s spirit, this man began leaving dolls that eventually became old, dirty and ugly. The truth is that some of them give chills just to see them.

A museum dedicated to chocolate

Una publicación compartida de Nasheli Goycochea (@goycoper) el 9 de Jun de 2016 a la(s) 9:08 PDT

Its name is MUCHO and it’s located in Juárez neighborhood. In addition to learning about the history and cultural roots of this delicious product, at this museum you can do tastings and attend workshops to learn how to make different kinds of chocolates.

A theater whose curtain is made with crystals from Tiffany’s in New York

It is the curtain of the main hall of the Palace of Fine Arts, an artistic jewel that weighs more than twenty-two tons. It reproduces a view of the Valley of Mexico with the volcanoes Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl, and the different vegetation of the Valley of Mexico.

A colorful Moorish kiosk

Located in Santa María la Ribera neighborhood, this beautiful kiosk was created to be Mexico’s pavilion at the Universal Exhibition of 1884, held in New Orleans, United States. That was the first year in which the country took part in an international exhibition.

A Korean karaoke

Una publicación compartida de Samuel (@dicesamuel) el 12 de Mar de 2017 a la(s) 12:47 PST

An ideal place for those who love to sing with all their energy. London Karaoke is located on Londres street #167 in the Juárez neighborhood. As the Korean and Japanese karaokes usually are, it has private rooms to avoid any embarrassments (yours or from others).

A bar inside a fridge

The entrance of Jules Basement is through the door of a fridge located in Julio Verne street #93 in Polanco neighborhood. Its idea of being “secret” is to honor those hidden places of the prohibition era in the United States, which gave rise to the term “speakeasy”.

A park with natural waterfalls

Los Dinamos is a protected natural area located in the city. In its almost 2,500 hectares you can go hiking, cycling, climbing, rappelling, camping and even horseback riding.

A building that looks like a washing machine

Una publicación compartida de Ana Escobar (@anielauu) el 16 de Sep de 2016 a la(s) 7:27 PDT

Although is colloquially known as “la lavadora” (the washing machine), this smart building located in Santa Fe is called “Calakmul”, since its architectural elements were thought to allude that great Mayan city in Campeche.

A neighborhood that every year brings back to life the historic “Battle of Puebla”

Una publicación compartida de maskbalam (@maskbalam) el 5 de May de 2016 a la(s) 7:31 PDT

The battle that gave rise to the great celebration of May 5th (Cinco de Mayo), celebrated more in the United States (we can’t understand why) than in Mexico, revives every year in the Peñón de los Baños neighborhood, located to the east of Mexico City. During that day, hundreds of people gather in the streets to represent that glorious battle in which the troops commanded by General Zaragoza defeated the feared French army of Napoleon III.

An outdoor ice rink

 

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A post shared by Mexico sorprendente 🇲🇽❤ (@mexicosorprendente) on Dec 5, 2016 at 12:06pm PST

It’s true that in winter Mexico City’s temperature goes down, but no one would’ve ever imagined to see an outdoor ice rink in the Zócalo (main square). Well, for some years now, the government of Mexican capital city installs every winter a huge ice rink for the enjoyment of its inhabitants. In some of the nearby streets, there are even snow machines to wrap up the “winter experience”.