The famous Palacio De Bellas Artes might be the most popular tourist attraction in Mexico City. Its striking Art Nouveau exterior and yellow and orange tiled roof make it fascinating to see from the outside, and the inside is just as exciting with huge murals by Diego Rivera and others, as well as a museum and theater.
Palacio de Bellas Artes can be seen from many different angles, depending on where you’re viewing it from. First, there are the street-level outside views.
When you come up from the Bellas Artes subway stop, you’ll see the top of the colorful dome peeking from behind the trees.
Then the Palacio comes into view with Torre Latinoamerica behind it.
Walk around the building to get selfies and glorious views from every angle.
Inside Palacio de Bellas Artes
Make sure to go inside for murals, an art museum, and some magnificent architecture from the interior perspective. Walk through the fancy lobby and look up at the interior view of the dome.
If you’ve ever seen aerial photos of the Palacio de Bellas Artes like the one at the top of this post and wondered, “How the heck did they get that shot?,” here’s the secret. Walk across the street to the Sears department store. Head up to the cafe on the 7th floor. They have an outdoor balcony where you can enjoy an iced coffee and take numerous photos of the palacio from above.
This is the best place to zoom in for closeups of the top of the dome and the tiles themselves.
Finally, for a real bird’s-eye view of the palace (and the rest of Mexico City), walk over to Torre Latinoamerica and buy a ticket to the Mirador observation deck on the 44th floor. From way up there, you can see the Palacio and all of the people walking around it. You can also take cool selfies up here if you can work out the shadows and light.
