Hotels near Museo Nacional de Antropologia

The Museo Nacional de Antropologia is the largest and most visited museum in Mexico, spreading across 45,000 square metres inside Chapultepec Park. Its 23 exhibition halls trace Mesoamerican civilisation from the earliest Olmec settlements through the Maya, Zapotec, Mixtec, and Aztec empires. The centrepiece is the Aztec Sun Stone (Piedra del Sol), a 24-tonne basalt calendar disc carved in the late 15th century. The ground floor covers archaeology; the upper floor documents the living indigenous cultures of modern Mexico.

Architect Pedro Ramirez Vazquez designed the building around a central courtyard shaded by a single aluminium column that doubles as a fountain - a structure so distinctive it has become an architectural icon. Admission is 85 MXN (about 4.50 EUR). Open Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00 to 19:00. Allow at least three hours; serious enthusiasts often spend a full day. Free on Sundays for Mexican nationals.

> Pro Tip: Head straight to the Mexica (Aztec) hall first, then work backwards chronologically. Most visitors do the opposite, so you will dodge the biggest crowds in the most popular room.