Paseo de la Reforma

Emperor Maximilian had the Paseo de la Reforma constructed in the 1860s to connect his residence at the Castillo de Chapultepec with the Palacio Nacional. At the turn of the 20th century, President Porfirio Díaz expanded the project, and added side lanes to the broad center avenues. The paseo, then lined with grand mansions, was meant to resemble the Champs Elysées of Paris.

Today it is still a grand thoroughfare through the city. Taxis, buses and other vehicles streak along between traffic lights, making the curves at the magnificent traffic circles that add class to the increasingly commercial feel of the road. There's plenty of modern glass-and-steel offices, hotels and banks here, as well as the Mexican Stock Exchange and the U.S. Embassy. To the south of the paseo is the increasingly seedy but still trendy nightlife and shopping area called Zona Rosa.

The major traffic circles are:

—The Monumento a Cristóbal Colón (Christopher Columbus);

—The Monumento a Cuauhtémoc (the Aztec emperor);

—The Monumento a la Independencia (nicknamed "El Angel." Inaugurated on Sept. 10, 1910, the monument houses the remains of Mexican heroes Miguel Hidalgo, José María Morelos, Ignacio Allende and others in its base. Open daily 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Free.);

—The Diana Cazadora (Diana the Huntress) fountain;

—A tall palm tree;

—"El Caballito" by sculptor “Sebastián."

Location:
Paseo de la Reforma
Mexico City, Mexico

Other Activity

Getting There
Metro stations along the Paseo de la Reforma include: Hidalgo, Chapultepec and Auditorio. You can also catch one of the buses that troll up and down the paseo ($0.33/4.50 pesos per ride).

Travel Tips: On Sundays, the Paseo de la Reforma is closed to traffic, and bicyclists take over. Several kiosks along the paseo lend bicycles for free; check with a traffic cop for the nearest kiosk.

Price Description: free

Relative price: Budget

Open Hours from:24 hours

Travel Skills: None

Currencies accepted
Mexican peso