Carlos Slim's personal art collection housed in a silver, amorphous building that looks like a piece of modern sculpture itself — free to enter, which is either democratic generosity or a billionaire's vanity project depending on your politics, but the collection inside renders the debate secondary. The Rodin sculpture collection is the largest outside Paris. European old masters (Cranach, El Greco, Murillo) share space with Mexican modernists and a numismatic collection spanning centuries. The building's exterior, covered in sixteen thousand hexagonal aluminum tiles, catches the Polanco light differently at every hour. The top-floor gallery, with its curved walls and natural light, is one of the finest exhibition spaces in the city.
Location
Polanco, Mexico City
Map
Insider Intel
Start at the top floor and work down — the Rodin collection on the upper levels is the strongest section. The European painting collection is eclectic but includes genuine masterworks. The Mexican art sections contextualize the European holdings. The building itself is worth circling from the outside — the way the aluminum tiles reflect the sky changes the building's apparent color throughout the day. Allow 2-3 hours for the full collection.
Weekday morning for the quietest experience. The museum is free, which means weekends and school holidays bring large crowds. The top-floor gallery is best in natural light — visit before midday. The Plaza Carso surrounding area has restaurants for a post-museum lunch.
Free entry — no tickets required, just walk in. Located in Plaza Carso in Polanco, slightly north of the main Masaryk strip. The building is impossible to miss — the silver exterior is visible from blocks away. The collection is Carlos Slim's personal accumulation and is enormous — focused viewing is more rewarding than trying to see everything. No photography with flash. The Museo Jumex, a contemporary art museum, is directly adjacent and makes a natural second stop. Metro Polanco or San Joaquin, then a 10-minute walk. Uber is the simplest transport from Roma/Condesa.