Free Museum Days in Mexico City: INAH Sundays and Who Qualifies
Federal museums such as the Anthropology Museum and Chapultepec Castle cost nothing on Sundays if you live in Mexico. Tourists pay full price every day.
Museums and archaeological sites run by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) are free every Sunday for Mexican nationals and for foreign residents of Mexico, under Article 288 of the Federal Duties Law (Ley Federal de Derechos). Tourists pay every day: MXN 210 at top sites such as the Anthropology Museum, as of November 2026.
Who gets into INAH museums free on Sundays?
Mexican citizens and foreigners who hold Mexican residency get in free on Sundays. The exemption is written into the federal law that sets INAH’s entry fees, and an INAH notice from August 2025 repeats that Sunday access is free for Mexicans and for foreigners who live in Mexico.
Tourists on a visitor entry do not qualify, even on Sundays. Holders of a temporary or permanent resident card do. Bring the physical card (tarjeta de residente) along with a photo ID, because ticket staff check proof of residency. If your card is close to expiry, our guide to renewing a resident card explains when to start the process.
Who gets in free on any day?
The same law waives the fee all week for several groups:
- People over 60, and retirees and pensioners.
- Children under 13.
- People with disabilities.
- Active teachers and students with a current credential.
- Researchers with an INAH permit, accredited tour guides, and members of Indigenous communities in municipalities next to a site, with ID.
INAH’s notice describes these weekday exemptions as applying to Mexicans and foreign residents. Older adults usually show the INAPAM card issued by the National Institute for Older Adults. The exemptions do not apply to special after-hours visits.
How much do INAH museums cost on other days?
Fees depend on the site’s category in Article 288. The law gives an amount that is rounded to the nearest five pesos at the ticket desk, and it gives Mexicans and foreign residents a discount on weekdays too. Figures below are as of November 2026, calculated from the law’s 2026 amounts.
| Category | Examples in or near Mexico City | General fee | Mexicans and foreign residents (Monday to Saturday) |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | National Museum of Anthropology, National History Museum at Chapultepec Castle, Templo Mayor, Galería de Historia, Museo Nacional de las Intervenciones, Teotihuacán | MXN 210 | MXN 105 (50% off) |
| II | Tlatelolco archaeological site | MXN 155 | MXN 85 (45% off) |
| III | Museo Nacional de las Culturas del Mundo, Tenayuca and Santa Cecilia Acatitlán pyramids | MXN 145 | MXN 80 (45% off) |
| IV | Chichén Itzá, Uxmal and Dzibilchaltún (Yucatán) | MXN 105 | No discount set in the law |
The rate on Sundays for residents is zero in every category. Visits outside normal opening hours carry a separate fee of MXN 731.84 in the law, with no Sunday or resident exemption. Many INAH museums close on Mondays, so check the museum’s own page before you go.
What about other museums in Mexico City?
INAH runs only part of the city’s museums. The National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (INBAL) manages venues such as the Palacio de Bellas Artes and the Museo de Arte Moderno, the city government runs its own museums, and the National Autonomous University (UNAM) and private foundations run others. Each sets its own prices and free days.
Many of these also waive entry on Sundays, but the conditions differ: some are free for everyone, some only for Mexicans and residents, and temporary exhibitions often cost extra. Check the museum’s website or social media the week you plan to go. Special shows at popular venues can sell out, and free days draw long lines.
How do you plan a free Sunday?
- Pick one large museum or two small ones. The Anthropology Museum alone takes most of a day.
- Arrive at opening time. Sunday crowds peak late morning and early afternoon, especially at Chapultepec.
- Bring your resident card and a photo ID. Large bags may have to go to the cloakroom.
- Use public transport. The Chapultepec museums and the Templo Mayor are near Metro stations, and parking is limited. Our guide to the Metro and the integrated mobility card explains fares.
- Check holiday closures. On official rest days INAH museums keep their normal weekly schedule, but hours can change; our list of Mexico’s public holidays shows the dates.
Does the Sunday rule apply to Teotihuacán and other sites outside the city?
Yes. The exemption covers every museum, monument and archaeological zone that INAH manages, including Teotihuacán in the State of Mexico, a common day trip from the capital. Sunday is the busiest day there, and the site is open-air, so start early, bring water and sun protection, and expect queues at the entrance. New arrivals should also keep the city’s altitude in mind; our page on altitude sickness in Mexico City covers how long adjustment takes.
Bottom line
If you hold a resident card, plan your INAH visits for Sundays and carry the card every time. For visiting friends and family without residency, budget MXN 210 per person for the major Chapultepec and Centro museums, and check INBAL and city museums separately, since their free days follow different rules.
FAQ
Is the National Museum of Anthropology free on Sundays?
Yes, for Mexican nationals and foreign residents of Mexico. Tourists pay the general fee of MXN 210 as of November 2026, and the museum is generally closed on Mondays.
Can a tourist visa holder get in free on Sundays?
No. The law limits the Sunday exemption to Mexicans and foreigners who live in Mexico. Tourists only enter free if they fit another group, such as children under 13 or people over 60.
What ID proves I am a foreign resident?
Your INM resident card, temporary or permanent, is the document that shows residency. Carry it with your passport or another photo ID, because a photocopy may not be accepted.
Are INAH prices the same all year?
The amounts are set in the Federal Duties Law and are usually updated once a year. The figures here are those in force as of November 2026; check INAH’s notices in January for the new year’s fees.