Historic hilltop castle, National Museum of History, city views
Av. Heroico Colegio Militar 172, Bosque de Chapultepec I Secc, Miguel Hidalgo, 11580 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico Get directions
"A historic hilltop castle within the larger park that functions as a museum with panoramic city views and modest admission fees." - Lauren Dana Ellman Lauren Dana Ellman Lauren Dana Ellman is a New York-based writer and editor who specializes in travel, lifestyle, food, and shopping content. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"This imposing 18th-century construction is located at the top of the Chapultepec Hill in Bosque de Chapultepec, a large forest smack dab in the middle of Mexico City. Chapultepec Castle was initially built as a lavish residence for Spanish royalty but now functions as the National Museum of History. Arrive here early to avoid the crowds and wander through the many grand rooms at your leisure. There’s a small train that transports visitors from the bottom of the hill all the way up to the castle, but the hike is nice and doesn’t take more than 15 minutes. Don’t forget your camera, as this place has an amazing view of Paseo de la Reforma, CDMX’s most iconic avenue, and the Chapultepec forest." - MATADOR_NETWORK
"Fun fact: Mexico was, for a short time, under the rule of Maximilian I, a puppet emperor put in place by Napoleon III. The empire didn't last long, but his 18th-century castle on a hill overlooking Chapultepec Park remains. Today it's the National Museum of History, adorned in historical murals by José Clemente Orozco, Juan O'Gorman, and David Alfaro Siqueiros, and displaying costumes and historical ephemera from the 16th-century on. The most exciting rooms, though, are the ones that show exactly how the Emperor and his wife lived in the castle; meanwhile, the views of the park below are stunning."
"Home to the 'Retablo de la Independencia', a massive fresco by O'Gorman."
"Perched in Chapultepec Park, Chapultepec Castle is my go-to for history and views: once a viceroy’s manor and later the residence of Emperor Maximilian I, it now houses the Museo Nacional de Historia where you can tour magnificently decorated period rooms, manicured gardens, terraces with panoramas, and a twelve-hall narrative of Mexico’s past. " - Matthew Kepnes