Chapultepec Castle

Castillo de Chapultepec

The only royal residence in North America, once home to Emperor Maximilian and now the National History Museum, with a hilltop terrace overlooking Paseo de la Reforma and the city.

Chapultepec Castle stands atop a 60-meter hill known as “Grasshopper Hill” in the middle of Chapultepec Forest. Construction began in 1785 as a summer residence for the Spanish viceroys. During the Mexican-American War in 1847, six military cadets died defending it, and the “Boy Heroes” monument stands at the foot of the hill. From 1864 to 1867 it was the imperial palace of Archduke Maximilian of Austria and Empress Carlota, who built Paseo de la Reforma as a grand avenue leading to the castle. It then served as the official residence of successive presidents, and in 1944 it was converted into the National History Museum.

The visit has two parts. The museum galleries trace Mexican history from the Conquest through independence to the Revolution, with artifacts such as Hernán Cortés’s armor, the independence flag, and a model of a railway car from the revolutionary era. There are also large murals by Orozco, Siqueiros, and O’Gorman; Orozco’s “Retrospection of Independence” is a must-see. The palace section (Alcázar) preserves the living quarters of Maximilian and later of President Porfirio Díaz: European-style bedrooms, dining rooms, carriages, a stained-glass arcade, and a rooftop garden. The terrace faces east directly down Paseo de la Reforma to the Angel of Independence, making it the classic view over the city.

Admission is about 100 pesos (free on Sundays for residents). Walking up from the foot of the hill takes about 15 minutes, and a small train is also available. Chapultepec Forest covers 686 hectares and is the largest urban park in Latin America. Within it are the National Museum of Anthropology, the Museum of Modern Art, the Tamayo Museum, a free zoo, and lakes for boating. Since 2024 the park has been redeveloped into the “Chapultepec Cultural Corridor,” and it is worth setting aside a full day.

Getting there: take Line 1 of the Metro to Chapultepec station, exit into the park’s main gate, and walk 15 minutes to the foot of the hill.

Note: the castle is closed on Mondays. The uphill path is fairly steep. Large bags and tripods are not allowed inside the castle. Sundays bring huge crowds to the park, so weekday mornings are the quietest time to visit.

Chapultepec Castle

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