Palacio de Bellas Artes

The Palacio de Bellas Artes is Mexico City's premier cultural venue, a white marble landmark that combines Art Nouveau exteriors with Art Déco interiors. Built during the Porfiriato and finally inaugurated in 1934 after the Revolution, it's home to world-class opera, ballet, symphonic concerts, and the Museo Nacional de Arquitectura. The theater's Tiffany & Co. glass curtain—depicting the Valley of Mexico's volcanoes in nearly a million pieces of iridescent glass—is a showstopper in its own right.

Free guided tours run Tuesday through Friday at 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. (Fridays at 1:00 p.m. only, with a bonus backstage tour of the dressing rooms—arrive by noon to secure one of the roughly 60 spots). Museum admission is 95 pesos; Sundays are free for Mexican nationals. The venue also holds major murals by Rivera, Orozco, Siqueiros, and Tamayo across its upper floors. Underground parking is available beneath the Alameda Central, with entry on Avenida Juárez.