Your Guide to Street Art in Mexico City: Maps and Tours
Exploring the street art in Mexico City is a unique way to experience the city’s culture.
Every mural tells a story, reflecting the city’s diverse artistic spirit. It’s creative, bold, and always evolving.
The Mexico City street art scene is full of life, color, and symbolism. You can see influences from Mexico’s history, modern day events, and pop culture.
For a deeper dive, you should consider taking a street art tour in Mexico City which I’ve included below. They will guide you to some of the best spots and explain the meaning behind the pieces.
Use this guide to discover the city’s vibrant street art scene by neighborhood (links to maps included). Plus, I’ve included a bonus at the end that highlights at different type of art in the streets of Mexico City that you won’t want to miss.
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Where to Find Street Art in Mexico City
You can find street art in Mexico City just about everywhere. I’ve detailed some neighborhoods with links to maps a little later.
But here are also a few typical places to find Mexico City street art.
- Metro Stations – Metro station buildings are decorated with some of my favorite street art in the city. Just be aware of your surroundings if you pull out your phone to take photos.
- Mercados – The local markets in Mexico City are also decorated with street art, often honoring the farmers and merchants who provide fresh produce to the city’s 24+ million residents.
- Overpasses – Keep your eye out while walking on overpasses or other major highways as these can be a great place for street art as well.
Street Art Tours Mexico City
If you’re interested in the story behind the artist and their creation, I recommend you book a street art tour in Mexico City. They will take you to the best spots and tell you about the piece and the artist.
When you book this bicycle street art tour you can choose your preferred route. One option takes you on a street art tour in the north of the city through the neighborhoods of Buenavista, Guerrero and Tlatelolco. The other option travels south of the city from Centro to Obrera and Doctores.
If you prefer to walk, this Mexico City street art tour takes you through the Roma neighborhood guided by an organization that supports artists in the area.
Mexico City Street Art by Neighborhood
One of my favorite things about walking around various neighborhoods is finding all the cool street art in Mexico City.
Some neighborhoods are known for pockets of urban art which I’ve highlighted below. But in general, you can find street art in virtually any area.
Sometimes the exterior of a business is painted with an incredible mural and other times you’ll find a random building decorated by an artist.
Let’s go on a virtual Mexico City street art tour so that you know where to find the best pieces for your visit.
Buenavista – La Cueva del Arte
During my last visit to CDMX, I discovered a secret pocket of Mexico City street art in the neighborhood of Buenavista.
My friend and I took the Metrobus up here (just north of centro) to check out Biblioteca Vasconcelos, a Mexico City landmark and one of the coolest libraries I’ve ever seen.
As we crossed the street from the station to the library, I noticed some large pieces of street art featuring a double sided eagle on the corner of a building (map).
It wraps around the sides and continues on the other side of the street, so it’s definitely worth making the time to check it out if you want to discover new street art in Mexico City.
Tip: If you venture up this way, check out Kiosco Morisco (map) and the Indigenous Culture of Mexico Museum.
Doctores Neighborhood
Located just south of Centro, the Doctores neighborhood is another place to find street art in Mexico City. Specifically the triangular area from the General Hospital to Mercado Hidalgo to The Toy Museum (see next).
If you want to learn more about the meaning and artists behind the pieces in the Doctores neighborhood, you should book this guided tour which also visits the Toy Museum and the workshop of a graphic artist.
Tip: I recommend visiting Doctores during the day and be aware of your surroundings. While I didn’t have any issues traveling solo, I was told this is a less safe neighborhood.
If you want to visit on your own, I recommend wandering around from the Hospital General metro stations towards the museums (MUJAM) to see the pieces of art, many of which have been created with the support of the museum.
Antique Toy Museum
After you’ve explored the street art in Doctores, go inside Museo del Juguete Antiguo México, one of the most unique museums in Mexico City.
The building is filled with a mind-boggling amount of antique toys organized by theme. And upstairs on the upper floors and rooftop you’ll find some unique street art.
The pieces on the rooftop are either older or worn by the elements, but still cool. And there are some really cool pieces inside such as a mural of lucha libre wrestlers. There is also some street art in the adjoining parking lot.
Iztapalapa Rooftop Street Art in Mexico City
📍 Map Location
⭐ Book an Iztapalapa Cable Car Tour to See the Street Art
I discovered some of the coolest street art in Mexico City while soaring above the neighborhood of Iztapalapa by cable car.
Hundreds of murals have been painted on the roofs and sides of buildings as part of an initiative by Iztapalapa to make the area more beautiful. Themes include indigenous people, the environment, and the empowerment of women.
There’s also a cable car in the north, but if Mexico City street art is what you’re looking for, Cable Car 2 in Iztapalapa is the one you want. Keep in mind, this is not considered the safest area of Mexico City. But I took the Metro to the cable car and had no issues.
If you’re unsure about navigating on your own, you should book this Iztapalapa cable car tour which takes out all the guesswork. It also includes a guided tour of a cultural center and a local market in the neighborhood.
Downtown Mexico City Street Art
Centro Mexico City is full of high rise buildings, some of the best museums, and restaurants. But its edges are also just gritty enough that you’ll find some cool street art while walking around.
Specifically on Calle Regina, a pedestrian street in downtown Mexico City for street art. While my friends and I were walking here, we found several mural pieces along the way and on side streets.
When you reach a small park on the same street, you’ll see a cartoon mural painted on the length of the wall. The subject resembles Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Park, one of the most famous murals by Diego Rivera.
But the characters are all from La Familia Burrón, a popular Mexican comic created in 1948 by Gabriel Vargas. The comic depicted the life of a lower-class family in Mexico City during its more than 60 years of publication (one of the longest in the world).
Inside you’ll find a small playground with various pieces of street art. When I visited, I found the mural here to be very vibrant and almost 3-D
Looking for more things to do? Read my guide to visiting Chapultepec Park, a must do in Mexico City.
Juarez Market
You’ll find urban art decorating the outside of many of the markets in Mexico City, but Juarez Market stands out among street art lovers.
Entire walls of the exterior of the mercado and adjacent metro station are dedicated to a single piece of street art, some of which are incredibly detailed and interesting. And you’ll find more murals along Avenida Chapultepec in which the market is located.
I first noticed this Mexico City street art while staring out the window of the Metrobus and knew I wanted to go back to check it out.
Street Art in Roma and La Condesa
The neighborhoods of Roma and La Condesa are known for cute cafes and some of my favorite parks in the city, but they are also home to some of my favorite pieces of street art in Mexico City.
They are also two of my favorite places to stay in the city. And that’s mostly because of the abundance of tree lined streets, and the aforementioned parks.
I wouldn’t say there’s one particular area to find street art here but keep your eyes out as you’re walking around. Or you can book this Roma Street Art Tour led by an organization that support artists in the area.
Plus you’ll want to read the next section for a different type of art on the streets of Mexico City that I discovered in this area. Again, I’ve included links to maps so you can find your way.
Bonus: A Different Type of Street Art in Mexico City
While exploring CDMX, keep your eye out for other types of art on the streets.
When I was walking through the shaded center of Avenida Álvaro Obregón, I encountered a pensive buddha statue sitting on a raised platform, just chilling.
And in the Roma Norte neighborhood, you can see an interesting piece of art from the street that was curated by artist Chavis Mármol.
His creation, titled “Tesla Crushed by an Olmec Head” was created with the intention to reflect on Mexico’s ancient roots and the impact of the modern world on its identity.
It’s located at Community 71, a boutique hotel in Mexico City that is dedicated to fostering community through art. The exact location of the Olmec head on a Tesla is here.
Final Thoughts on Mexico City Street Art
When I explore Mexico City, street art is one of my favorite things to find. I love coming across new pieces and taking the time to discover all of its small details.
The street art in Mexico City is often vibrant, with lots of significance beyond the art you’re seeing. So take your time to explore this aspect of the city.