When you tell people you’re off to Mexico City to explore family-friendly activities, the reaction you’ll most likely get is, “Seriously?” But this mega metropolis has come a long way from its once notorious reputation. Over the past 15 years the city has quietly been revitalized, with much effort put into infrastructure, security and top-notch tourist sites. Fine you say, but what’s in it for children? Plenty, as it turns out. Here are five fun things to do in Mexico City with kids that your family will love!
This story is brought to you in partnership with Arrivedo.
Mide Museum
The world’s first museum dedicated to finance and economics is a must-see for families. Here, kids will learn through play how daily life is linked to the economy. Racking up a slew of international awards, the MIDE Museum bridges the gap between environmental sustainability and profit-making. Kids investigate the impact of their carbon footprint on the world, while having fun. Don’t leave without designing your own money or participating in a stimulating stock trading session.
Learning about the economy is fun at Mide Museum (Photo credit: Mide Museum)
Kidzania
Kidzania gives kids aged 2 to 16 years a taste of what it's like to be a grown-up through a make-believe city environment. Upon entry children are given a Kidso check they must deposit in the “bank”. Then it’s off to work. Choosing between a spectacular number of career choices, kids get training in their desired field, earning more Kidso money. Children can spend their hard-earned dough on craft sessions, buying trinkets, or at a cafe when work is over. The best part? Parents aren’t allowed to interfere. If Junior blows his paycheck and comes to you looking for a handout, you’re not allowed to spot him. He’ll have to take on more work or perhaps take a “university course” to stimulate his income. After all, there's no such thing as a free almuerzo (lunch)!
Kids can even see what it's like to try a case in a pretend court at Zidzania in Mexico City (Photo credit: Jody Robbins)
Farm Tio Pepe
You’ll find sheep, pigs, and a host of other animals at the popular Farm Tio Pepe. Open every day of the year, this educational acreage introduces youngsters to all aspects of farming. Stroll through the vegetable garden, where kids can pick their own provisions. Then head to the outdoor kitchen where a traditional clay oven awaits mini-chefs who can prepare their own bread and pizza. Children also learn how to care for and pet newborn chicks, rabbits and goats. Or, they can assist with milking a cow during the summer. Horse rides are included in the entry fee so mosey over there before the line-ups get too long. All visits are guided, so let them know you’re coming in advance. English-speaking guides are available.
Children learn all about animals and farm life at Farm Tio Pepe (Photo credit: Granja Tio Pepe)
Papalote Museum for Kids
The interactive Papalote Museum for Kids is a bright, clean and modern children's museum. With Lego areas, craft stations, and science and technology zones, there’s something for everyone. Kids learn to make smart choices in a simulated shopping environment. Or they can choose quieter areas for magnet and sand play. A biodiversity room teems with taxidermy and drawers of dirt for digging to find worms and other creepy crawlies. Be sure to venture outside to check out the well-equipped play area featuring a sand pit and bubble zone. Note that admission includes the Planetarium and the IMAX theatre, so budget plenty of time.
Learn through doing at the Papalote Museum for Kids (Photo credit: Papalote Museum for Kids)
Chapultepec Park
This massive green space spreads over 1,695 acres, making it the largest city park in the world. In fact, it's double the size of Central Park in New York City. Set smack-dab in the middle of the city, Chapultepec Park was renovated some years ago and is chock-a-block full of al fresco adventures. This urban oasis includes the Chapultepec Zoo, lakes with paddle boats, and a small amusement park. It’s also home to the Museum of Anthropology, one of the finest museums in the world of its kind. Visiting Chapultepec Park with kids aged 12 or older? Sign up for a Segway tour for an experience they'll always remember.
Family activities abound at Chapultepec Park (Photo credit: kmiragaya, Depositphotos.com)
Where to Stay and Additional Places to Play in Mexico City
Looking for a hotel in Mexico City for your family vacation? Look no further than Arrivedo. This website provides a listing of hotels that offer useful travel guides written by locals. With Arrivedo, there's no need to do a lot of research finding fun things to do near your accommodations. Their hotels are ranked by users, too, making it easy to choose where to stay. Take a look at the array of hotels in Mexico City available to book through Arrivedo.
Arrivedo makes finding local activities near hotels easy to do! (Photo credit: Arrivedo)
Hotel El Patio 77 boasts a 9 out of 10 ranking on Arrivedo and offers all sorts of guides, such as Best Spots for Handicraft Shopping in Mexico City and Local Restaurants in San Rafael Neighborhood.
Meanwhile, Hotel Amigo Zocalo suggests these Fun Family Activities with Kids in Mexico City and Hotel Plaza Solis provides these recommendations for Family Travel in Mexico City.
Beyond Mexico City, Arrivedo provides neighborhood guides for hundreds of hotels around the world. Take a peek at all Arrivedo has to offer!
Explore More of Mexico
Looking for a different kind of Mexican vacation? Read our tips for visiting San Miguel de Allende in the Mexican Highlands. Or, take a peek at what there is to do beyond the resorts in Los Cabos, Mexico.
There's so much to explore in Mexico City with kids! (Photo credit: margo_soulxray, Depositphotos.com)
Which of these fun things to do in Mexico City with kids would your family enjoy most? Let us know in the comments below!
A Note from Travel Mamas: The Saucy Travel Mama's trip was sponsored by Mexico City. All opinions are our own, as always. Travel Mamas will receive monetary compensation from Arrivedo related to this blog post.
About Jody Robbins, The Saucy Travel Mama
Are all of these appropriate for kids that do not speak spanish?
Yes, I think so. Everyone at Kidzania seemed to speak English.
Art Club CDMX is an English-language art club that offers art workshops for different age groups at weekends 🙂
Thanks for the tip, Joanna!
I still haven’t taken my kids to Mexico. One of these days, hopefully.
There’s so much for families in Mexico – I hope you can take the kids sometime!
Mexico City is definitely on my bucket list for years. I would love to take the kids here someday. This is a great guide!
So bucket list worthy!
Mexico is such a beautiful place with so many options! I can’t wait to bring my family!
Yay! Enjoy Mexico City with your family!
Kidzania and Farm Tio Pepe look like the best places to go for families with young children. If my kids were still young, I am sure they would enjoy it there. Mexico City is an exciting vacation destination. I wish we could visit soon.
I hope you can make a Mexico City vacation happen!
Totally loving all of these options for kids within Mexico City. My kids would love exploring and imagining at the wide range of of interactive museums.
I bet they would….and their mom, too! 🙂
These are great suggestions! Lots of fun things to do for kids in Mexico City!
It’s such a vast and colorful city!
I’ve been to Mexico City before and visited Kidzania. I thought Kidzania was so cool and think that is definitely a great place for kids to visit!
I love places like Kidzania that allow kids to use their imaginations and learn through play!
I have never been to Mexico City before. I think it would be fun absorb their culture and way of life.
And there’s so much to see and do in Mexico City!
Mexico City sounds like a super fun place to visit. I would love to go there someday!
I hope you can visit Mexico City someday soon!
Mexico City is a great place to visit for a family vacation. This list of activities are so fun.
SO MUCH for families to do together in this mega city!
Hey, there, thanks for sharing this awesome article with us. Mexico city has really not been on my hit list. But it looks like a beautiful place. I am working on planning a trip to Mexico for next year & trying to figure out the best place to. You know, there have so many beautiful places and it’s difficult to choose one!
It’s true, there’s so much to choose from. We have lots of articles on Mexican resorts, too. Once you know if you want a city vs nature break you’ll be able to narrow down. Best of luck!
These are all great recommendations! I’d also recommend Aquaria Inbursa and Parque Lincoln in Polanco and the playground at Parque Espana.
I might be visitng Mexico City in a week, I have a toddler, and I dont know what should I take with me, a stroller or just my ergobaby??? I know its a crouded city, what do you recomend?
Hi, I’m. Mexican, and think this is a great article. Me and my husband used to take our kids, now teens, to these places several times a year (and once a week to Chapultepec Park, where they used to go to their scouting group’s meetings). The only place we didn’t go to was the Tío Pepe Farm, but they went on school trips. I would add Universum Museo de las Ciencias (science museum) which is cheaper than Papalote, and where kids can spend hours rather than minutes playing with bubbles. It’s usually far less crowded, too, but the area specifically for kids is smaller. We prefered that one when our kids were babies and up to the preeschool years, then switched to Papalote during elementary school (escuela primaria) and then went back to Universum when they reached middle school. Also, I noticed two small mistakes: “Midi” museum is spelled Mide (Museo de Economía), and the pictures from Chapultepec Park seem to be from the Parque España or Parque México, because of the benches.
Great comments. Much appreciated.
Hi Chela – Gracias for your input! I have made the changes to the post!
It is in point of fact a great and useful piece of info.
I’m satisfied that you just shared this helpful information with us.
Please stay us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
I really want to visit Mexico City. I’ve heard great things about the food and cultural scene, and being in the world’s biggest city is going to be an experience in and of itself, I think!
It truly is. We’d love to hear about your experiences if you ever do make it down. Thanks so much for commenting!
It truly is. We’d love to hear about your experiences if you ever do make it down.
It is! Best attraction I’ve been to in a long time!
Kidzania seems to be not only entertaining but educational – an early introduction to economics.
I think you do! I was a real eye opener for me. The food was fantastic, and I felt like I was in Europe, yet it was so close to the US. It’s perfect for families who want to expose their kids to a wide range of cultural activities without having to fly for an entire day. Please, it’s easy on the pocketbook…
Jody – All of these attractions sound so interactive—like kids can really LEARN BY DOING! Who knew that Mexico City had so much to offer kids? Now I am thinking I may need to take my family someday!