There is the revolving restaurant at the top of the Mexico City World Trade Center, but that is a rather pricey option. The food is good, but really not worth the price. You are paying for the view.
A much less expensive choice is to go to the Monument to the Revolution.
In 2010, the Centennial of the Mexican Revolution, an elevator was built which takes visitors up to the dome of the monument.
The view is great. You are not so high that you are unable to make out the details of the cityscape.
The large building in the foreground was the "frontón" where jai alai was played. That building now appears to be closed.
Looking due east toward Juárez Avenue and on the historic center
To the south a line of high-rises marks the Paseo de la Reforma, the city's most famous boulevard.
Another place for viewing the city is from the observation deck on the 44th floor of the Latin American Tower. This skyscraper, which was completed in 1956, was at the time the tallest building in Latin America.
Looking to the east, pedestrianized Madero Street runs to the Zócalo (main plaza). Amazingly, from the open observation deck, I could hear the organ grinders playing on the street far below.
Zooming in on the main plaza with the Cathedral and National Palace...
Avenue Lázaro Cárdenas heads due north from the tower.
Looking down at the Palace of Fine Arts...
Heading west, Juárez Avenue passes the Alameda Park.
Zooming in on the main plaza with the Cathedral and National Palace...
Avenue Lázaro Cárdenas heads due north from the tower.
Looking down at the Palace of Fine Arts...
Heading west, Juárez Avenue passes the Alameda Park.
All good views, although I never did make it to the WTC restaurant. There's a couple other views of note that I enjoyed. From the top of the Obregon monument just off the souther end of Insurgentes. Then there's the Metropolitan church - you can go up on the roof for a few pesos. I once went up to the top of Torre Mayor, but I heard they closed down the spectators gallery quite a while back.
ReplyDeleteLove the photos!
Thanks, Gary.
DeleteI have been to the bell towers of the Cathedral, but I did not know that you can go to the top of the Obregón Monument. Yes, they closed the top of the Torre Mayor to the public. My friend Alejandro told me that the U.S. Embassy rented office space in the tower, and did not want the building open to the public.
My dream is to go to the Latin American Tower on one of those rare days when you can see the volcanoes.
Saludos,
Bill
You get a pretty good view from the volcanos too, of course! But that is an altogether more arduous trek than getting to the top of a skyscraper!
DeleteOf course you are not allowed to get any closer to Popo than the Paso de Cortes because of volcanic activity.
DeleteI was there some forty years ago... had a good view looking down into the Valley of Puebla, but the Valley of Mexico was all clouded over.
Speaking of volcanoes, are you close enough to see any of the current action at Popocatepetl?
ReplyDeleteHi Meredith,
DeleteI haven't even had a glimpse of the volcanoes on this trip. The air has been too smoggy. I did read that Popo had an eruption just a few days before I came down here.
¡Saludos!
Nice post! My favorite vantage point is from the coffee shop terrace atop the Sears store across from Bellas Artes.
ReplyDeleteAt one time, I was able to visit an observation deck atop Torre Mayor, but I think it is no longer open to the public.
Yes, I've been the Sears terrace, and it is the very best place for a photo of Bellas Artes.
DeleteI never made it to the observation deck of the Torre Mayor. From what I was told, it was closed when the U.S. Embassy took offices in the building.
Saludos,
Bill