The Best Kids Museum in Mexico City
The Papalote Museo del Niño is the quintessential kids attraction you will find in Mexico City. The museum, located in Chapultepec Park, offers hands-on activities and play areas, all for various age groups. I am not usually big on “kids museums,” but I warmed up to Papalote and am glad we had the opportunity to visit! In the days following our visit, my 5-year-old would ask, “When can we go back to the kids’ museum?”
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Quick Tips
Time Your Visit
What To Pack
- Standard diaper bag essentials
- Umbrella stroller
- Ergobaby or soft baby carrier, if needed
- Snacks and/or lunch, if desired
Costs
| base cost | |
|---|---|
| Admission: ~$10-$13 USD/person*, including children (half-off if you visit Tuesday-Thursday!) | |
| Transportation (~$5-$10/USD Uber ride, or $2.50 USD/day to park in Chapultepec) | |
| Add-Ons | |
| Meals & snacks | |
| This was one of the more expensive activities we did on our trip | |
Getting There
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Top Tips to Make the Most of Your Visit
Know Before You Go
Go “Shopping”
One of our kindergartener’s favorite activities was to go grocery shopping in the museum’s “market,” complete with little carts, payment cards, and lots of realistic-looking items you’d typically find at the grocery. The children are encouraged to purchase ~10 items for dinner. After pulling items off the shelves and placing them in their carts, the children line up and “self-checkout” their items. This activity requires you to line up, since only a limited number of children and their families can be in the shopping area. Between waiting in line and the actual activity, you could easily spend ~30 minutes on this activity, so plan accordingly.
Beware of Height Requirements
Our kid was slightly disappointed when we realized she was not yet tall enough to climb on the large play structure. Still, she had plenty other things to do! We didn’t make the cut this time! If I were nursing I would’ve definitely taken advantage of the lactation room at the museum!
Take Breaks
The museum felt like sensory overload when we first entered and made our way through the exhibits. Plus there were tons of kids and families all gathered indoors because it was raining and the outdoor play areas were all wet. These factors made it imperative for us to take a quiet break so as not to overload ourselves! Try to find a quiet corner where you and your family can have a snack with some peace and quiet. The museum has a nursing room, so I recommend taking full advantage of it! Had it not been raining, the outdoor play structures and nature areas would’ve been great places to take a break. The museum also has an outdoor food court where you can grab a meal (we got sushi) or a snack if you didn’t bring your own. The options are quite limited (think McDonald’s, Subway, and Domino’s), so come prepared!
Final Thoughts
Kids museums don’t usually make it to the top of my bucket list, especially in destinations we visit because our family’s itinerary is often jam-packed as it is. Plus, on the Venn diagram of kid- and adult-oriented activities, I gravitate towards the latter end of that spectrum because I’d prefer not to spend several hours of my vacation around crowds of strangers and their children… But since we factored in a bit of unstructured time during our first trip to Mexico City, I made an exception 😀 And in the end, Papalote Museo del Niño was well worth the visit if you have some extra time during your trip to Mexico City. It was lovely to see local families enjoying themselves, and we did, as well!Share in the comments below.
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