Mexico City Museum of Modern Art (Museo de Arte Moderno)

The basics

Located in Chapultepec Park, the Museum of Modern Art opened in 1964 and is part of the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes, a Mexican institution that coordinates artistic and cultural activities. Its exhibits feature both national and international contemporary artists, as well as a permanent collection—located in room C of the main building—that includes works by Remedios Varo, Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Juan Soriano, and many others. Highlights of the museum, which is often compared to New York City’s Museum of Modern Art in terms of significance, include Kahlo’s famous self-portrait Las Dos Fridas and Rivera’s open-air murals.

Known locally as MAM, the Museum of Modern Art is most often visited independently by travelers exploring Chapultepec Park, although guided visits of the exhibits can be arranged in advance. Some art themed tours of the capital may also include a stop at the MAM, while convenient private excursions can be customized to include one.

Things to know before you go

• All visitors enter for free on Sundays; otherwise, there’s a small admission fee.

• The Museum of Modern Art is wheelchair and stroller accessible.

• There are a couple of different entrances to the museum.

• There’s an on-site library, gift shop, book store, café, and coat check at the MAM.

• Book in advance if you want a guided tour of the museum, and book a skip-the-line ticket to avoid waiting in entry lines (especially in peak season).

• Don’t miss the surrounding gardens, home to a number of sculptures and installations.

How to get there

Easy to access by public and private transportation, the Museum of Modern Art is located in Chapultepec Park. Those arriving by car can park along Paseo de la Reforma for a small fee, while the closest metro stations are Chapultepec and Sevilla (both Line 1), as well as Auditorio (Line 7). Each one is a roughly 20- to 30-minute walk away.

When to get there

The MAM is open Tuesday through Sunday and is always closed on Mondays, like most Mexico City museums. You can expect to find the museum open between the mid-morning and the late afternoon, with larger than usual crowds on weekends. Sundays particularly are busy, as the museum offers free entry for all.

Art in Mexico City

Although the Museum of Modern Art includes a wealth of well-known Mexican artists, you can enjoy more contemporary pieces at the Museo Jumex, Soumaya, and MUAC too. For Frida-specific pieces, the Blue House Museum is a must, while Diego’s style can be admired in the Anahuacalli Museum—typically, tours and tickets to one include complimentary entrance to the other.