The Monument to the Revolution began as something else entirely: in 1910 Porfirio Díaz laid the first stone of a Legislative Palace that was never finished. Decades later, architect Carlos Obregón Santacilia turned its steel frame into this monumental arch, completed in 1938. Today you can ride up to the dome, tour a museum in the basement and see the mausoleum of the Revolution’s leaders up close. It’s 2.9 km from Hotel Emma Boutique.
Practical information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Distance from the hotel | 2.9 km |
| Getting there | Metrobús Line 1 to Plaza de la República, or about a 35-minute walk |
| Hours | Museum: Tuesday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm; Saturday and Sunday 9 am to 7 pm. Viewpoint: check current hours before you go |
| Cost | Museum and viewpoint are paid; the museum is free on Sundays. The plaza is open to all |
| Suggested time | 1.5 to 2 hours |
What to see and do
- The viewpoint: a glass panoramic elevator rises about 52 m through the structure to the dome, with 360-degree views toward the historic center and Paseo de la Reforma. You walk down brass spiral stairs to the terrace, which has telescopes.
- The National Museum of the Revolution in the basement, open since 1986: eight rooms arranged by theme and chronology, with interactive stations and period film footage.
- The mausoleum in the pillars, holding the remains of Francisco I. Madero, Venustiano Carranza, Pancho Villa, Plutarco Elías Calles and Lázaro Cárdenas.
- The stone sculptures at the corners, by Oliverio Martínez.
- Plaza de la República, wide and open, with ground-level water jets where kids play.
Getting there from Hotel Emma Boutique
By Metrobús: walk about 10 minutes to Glorieta de Insurgentes and take Line 1 toward Indios Verdes. Get off three stops later at Plaza de la República (after Hamburgo and Reforma); the monument is a few minutes’ walk from there.
On foot: about 2.9 km, roughly 35 minutes. Head north through Colonia Juárez, cross Paseo de la Reforma and continue through Colonia Tabacalera to the plaza.
By taxi or ride-hailing app: 10 to 20 minutes, depending on traffic.
Tips for your visit
- The museum is closed on Mondays. If you want to go up to the viewpoint, confirm its hours that day: they change with events and seasons.
- The museum is free on Sundays, which is also the liveliest day on the plaza.
- Go up in the late afternoon to see the city in warm light, then stay to watch the monument light up.
- The plaza hosts concerts, fairs and protests; during big events, Metrobús may close stations along Insurgentes.
- Combine it with the Alameda Central, the Palacio de Bellas Artes or the Museo de Arte Popular, a 15- to 20-minute walk east.
Nearby
Frequently asked questions
What are the Monument to the Revolution’s opening hours?
The plaza is always open. The National Museum of the Revolution opens Tuesday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm and on weekends from 9 am to 7 pm. The viewpoint keeps its own hours: check them before you go.
How much does the viewpoint cost?
The viewpoint is paid, with tickets sold at the box office. The museum also charges admission, except on Sundays, when it’s free.
How do I get to the Monument to the Revolution from Roma Norte?
Take Metrobús Line 1 from Glorieta de Insurgentes toward Indios Verdes and get off at Plaza de la República. You can also walk it in about 35 minutes.
Where to stay near the Monument to the Revolution?
In Roma Norte, Hotel Emma Boutique is 2.9 km away and a 10-minute walk from Glorieta de Insurgentes, where the Metrobús to Plaza de la República stops.