National Palace Mexico City: Diego Rivera Murals, Hours and How to Get In

The National Palace (Palacio Nacional) is the seat of Mexico's federal executive and fills the entire east side of the Zócalo in Mexico City's Historic Center. You can visit for free, but only on a guided tour with advance registration, and the highlight is Diego Rivera's murals of Mexican history. From Hotel Catedral (Guatemala 16) it is about a 5-minute walk.

Quick facts

What is the National Palace? A short history

The National Palace is Mexico's oldest government building: construction began in 1522 on part of the "New Houses" of Moctezuma II, the Mexica ruler. Hernán Cortés built his first residence here, and the Spanish Crown then made it the seat of the viceroys of New Spain for about 300 years.

Key dates:

• 1692: a major fire during a riot destroyed much of the building.
• 1821: after Independence, the palace housed the powers of the new nation.
• 1926: the facade was renovated and the third floor you see from the Zócalo was added.
• 1987: it became part of the Historic Center listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Every 15 September at night, Mexico's president gives the Grito de Independencia from the central balcony to a packed Zócalo. To be there, see our hotel for Independence Day at the Zócalo.

Diego Rivera's murals

Diego Rivera's murals are the main reason to go inside. There are two sets:

1. The main staircase (1929-1935). Rivera painted the fresco Epic of the Mexican People, a triptych that runs from pre-Hispanic Mexico through the Conquest, Independence, the Reform, the Revolution and the social struggles of the 20th century. It is one vast wall of figures: take a few minutes to find Quetzalcoatl, Hidalgo, Juárez and Zapata.
2. The first-floor corridors. A series of panels on Mesoamerican cultures (the great city of Tenochtitlan and the Zapotec, Tarascan, Totonac and Huastec cultures, among others) and the Spanish landing at Veracruz, which Rivera worked on until 1951. The cycle was never finished.

If you want more Rivera afterwards, the murals at the Ministry of Public Education (SEP) are 4 minutes from the hotel. We cover them in our Historic Center museums guide.

How to get into the National Palace

You can only enter the National Palace on a free guided tour with advance registration; it is not a walk-in museum. Here is what Mexico's Finance Ministry (SHCP) and Mexico City publish:

• Registration: at the Art Museum of the Ministry of Finance (Museo de Arte de la SHCP), Moneda 4, or by emailing visitas_guiadas@hacienda.gob.mx.
• Visitor entrance: on Moneda street, on the north side of the palace, not the main door on the Zócalo.
• ID: visitors 18 and older must show official photo ID; bring your passport.
• Bag check: backpacks, large bags, drinks, caps, hats and sunglasses must be left at the cloakroom.
• Languages: official material lists tours in Spanish and some time slots in English.
• Accessibility: there is a lift to the upper floor for visitors with disabilities, including the mural area.

Hours: the Finance Ministry's official material lists visits Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 16:00. However, since the change of government in late 2024 the press has reported fewer tours, and the palace itself warns that tours may be suspended without notice for official events, press conferences or demonstrations in the Zócalo. Email the guided-tours address a few days ahead and confirm your tour time.

What else is inside

Besides the murals, the official tour has included:

• The Central Patio, the great arcaded courtyard of honor.
• The Recinto Parlamentario, the hall where Mexico's Congress met in the 19th century.
• The Benito Juárez Memorial, in the rooms where the president lived and died.
• The Patios Marianos, with a bronze statue of Juárez.
• The "Women in History" hall, opened in March 2025 as part of the guided tours.

Not every area is always open: several rooms, libraries and the garden have closed at different times. Ask what your tour includes when you register.

Tips for your visit

• Register early. Groups are small and places run out; get to Moneda 4 in the morning.
• Travel light. No backpack and no drinks means a faster entry.
• Check the Zócalo calendar. Concerts, parades and civic events close entrances; see our guide to events in the Zócalo.
• Have a plan B. If there are no tours that day, the Cathedral, the Templo Mayor and the SEP murals are minutes away.

What to see nearby

• The Zócalo: the main square, right in front of the palace.
• Metropolitan Cathedral: on the west side of the Zócalo; see our Cathedral guide.
• Templo Mayor: at the northeast corner of the Zócalo, by Moneda street. We link it to the hotel's own temple on our pre-Hispanic walking route.
• Temple of Ehécatl-Quetzalcoatl: a pre-Hispanic structure preserved in the lobby of Hotel Catedral's Torre Pirámide. See it here.

FAQ

How much does it cost to enter the National Palace?

Entry is free. Visits are guided and require advance registration at Moneda 4 or by email to visitas_guiadas@hacienda.gob.mx.

Can I visit the National Palace without a reservation?

No. You need to register first, in person at Moneda 4 (official material says registration opens at 10:00) or by email. Places are limited, so arrive early and bring your passport.

Where are Diego Rivera's murals in the National Palace?

On the main staircase off the Central Patio (Epic of the Mexican People, 1929-1935) and along the first-floor corridors, with panels on Mesoamerican cultures.

What days is the National Palace open?

Official material says Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 16:00, but tours have been reduced and can be suspended without notice. Confirm by email before you go.

Where to stay

Hotel Catedral is at Guatemala 16, right behind the Metropolitan Cathedral: 2 minutes from the Zócalo and 5 from the National Palace, so you can register early at Moneda 4 and pop back to the hotel between visits. End the day at the Terrace Bar with its view of the Cathedral. See our hotel near the Zócalo and book direct for the best rate and free cancellation up to 48 hours before arrival.