You could spend a full day in this renowned temple to Mexico’s pre-Hispanic past without any trouble. The National Museum of Anthropology is as good as ever—the cantilevered roof, a large umbrella-like structure that shelters the central plaza, is breathtaking upon entry, and exploring the various cultures and thousands of relics will charm even those usually uninterested in history. Don’t skip the second floor, which focuses on the ethnography of Mexico’s many Indigenous communities.

In the center of Mexico City lies the Zócalo, officially the Plaza de la Constitución, a massive public plaza that is surrounded by relics of three “cultures” of Mexico’s past: that of the pre-Hispanic Aztecs, the Spanish colonizers, and the modern Mexican republic. The pre-Hispanic part of that equation is the Templo Mayor. The site is well-excavated, and the attached museum allows you to walk through parts of what was once a glorious world capital.

The Museo de Arte Popular shows traditional crafts of various peoples who call the country home, and it also displays more contemporary work—much of which has become iconic in its own right, such as the colorful small wooden animals called alebrijes that are available at every souvenir shop around town. The highlight, though, is the room dedicated to Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead), which includes enchanting tributes, often with tongue-and-cheek imagery and creative skeleton displays.

Luis Barragán was the first Mexican architect to win the prestigious Pritzker Prize, and a visit to one of his projects scattered around the capital will quickly convince you of his merit. For first-timers, though, a must-visit is Casa Gilardi, situated in the stylish San Miguel Chapultepec neighborhood just a block from Chapultepec Park (Bosque de Chapultepec), is still privately owned by the original family for whom Barragán designed the space. Reservations are required.

The building itself is a landmark in Mexico City, with its sunset-colored dome and prime location in the Centro Histórico. But get inside for an opera performance, an art exhibition, or something else, and you’ll feel why it’s a beating heart of the city’s art scene. Plan to stick around to explore the interior, covered in statues and murals created by the leading figures of Mexican modernism. There’s always a good reason to visit the Palace of Fine Arts—or just take a few pictures.

Any excuse to visit sprawling University City is a good one, as it’s home to the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and is full of awe-inspiring public art. But MUAC reigns as one of the best museums in Mexico City over and above its surroundings. The institution plays host to an exciting, international collection of contemporary art. It makes a point of highlighting traditions of student protest, and it hosts regular workshops and sessions in multiple languages.

Rufino Tamayo is one of the most well-known Mexican painters, and he helped to define mid-century art in the country and the world. After his death, his wife Olga and he bequeathed their extensive collection of contemporary art to the Mexican state. The Tamayo Museum that they founded still hosts some of Tamayo’s own paintings, but they also arguably have the most inventive rotating exhibitions of contemporary art in the country, with shows that run the gamut of medium, tone, and time period.

The Jumex Museum sits next to the better-known Soumaya Museum, and both of these top-rated Mexico City museum attractions are free for all visitors. The Jumex is, however, host to revolving exhibitions from some of the biggest names in contemporary art, in contrast to Soumaya’s focus on an eclectic personal collection. If you only choose one on your trip to the Polanco neighborhood, choose the Jumex.

The National Museum of Art (MUNAL) is housed in a magisterial building in the Historic Center of Mexico City. For art before 1950, this is the place to be—see collections that highlight early landscape and portrait paintings from the Spanish colonial era all the way up to the modernist movement that took Mexico by storm in the mid-20th century. The museum is a great place to cap off your visit to the city, as it displays a wide range of art that traces the painting history of the country.