Street · Mexico City
Madero StreetAvenida Francisco I. Madero
Use it as the walk between Bellas Artes and the Zócalo: 15 minutes straight, or an hour with stops at the Casa de los Azulejos, the churches and the Torre Latinoamericana lookout. Go in daylight; the shops are mostly chains, the buildings are the reason to come.
Map to the start
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Length
750 m0.5 mi
approximate
Walk end to end
11 min
without stops
Traffic
Car-free
Best time
10:00–13:00 on a weekday; Sunday afternoons are the busiest10:00 AM–1:00 PM on a weekday; Sunday afternoons are the busiest
At a glance
- Area
- Centro Histórico
- Length
- 750 m0.5 mi
- Start
- West end at Eje Central, by the Torre Latinoamericana
- End
- East end at the Zócalo
- Traffic
- Car-free
- Currency
- MXN
Decide
What the street is for, and when to be there
At a glance
Mexico City's busiest pedestrian street, running from the Torre Latinoamericana to the Zócalo past colonial churches, palaces and the tiled Casa de los Azulejos.
Getting there
Metro Bellas Artes (lines 2 and 8) is 3 minutes from the west end; Metro Allende (line 2) is 2 blocks north of the middle; Metro Zócalo/Tenochtitlan (line 2) is at the east end. The Metro fare is MXN 5 (check).
Traffic and walking hours
Car-free. Pedestrian-only since 2010. Delivery vehicles use it early in the morning; police and service vehicles may pass.
Hours change for events and holidays: check locally.
Morning, afternoon, night
Best time: 10:00–13:00 on a weekday; Sunday afternoons are the busiest
05:00–11:005:00 AM–11:00 AM local time
Shops open about 10:00–11:00; the street is calm before then and good for looking at the facades.
Best time: 10:00–13:00 on a weekday; Sunday afternoons are the busiest
See & do
The stops in walking order, then where to shop and what to eat
Walk this street
↓ about 2 min · 140 m460 ft
↓ about 2 min · 180 m0.1 mi
↓ about 3 min · 220 m0.1 mi
↓ about 4 min · 320 m0.2 mi
Minutes are walking time at an easy 5 km/h3 mph with a margin for crowds; add time for shops. The GPX opens in Organic Maps, OsmAnd or Google My Maps.
Where to shop and what it costs
- Sanborns in the Casa de los AzulejosRestaurant and store chain in the tiled 18th-century palace; books, magazines, candy, giftsMX$50–500 (≈ US$3–30) / itemPrice check →
- Jewelry and optical shopsMany small jewelers and eyewear shops, a tradition from the street's silversmith pastMX$200–5,000 (≈ US$11–300) / itemPrice check →
- Chain fashion and shoe storesMexican and international clothing chains along the whole streetMX$300–1,500 (≈ US$17–85) / itemPrice check →
Typical buys
- Coffee in a caféMX$40–80 (≈ US$3–5) / cupPrice check →
- Churros (fresh from the fryer)MX$30–70 (≈ US$2–4) / orderPrice check →
- Tacos from a nearby standMX$20–40 (≈ US$2–3) / tacoPrice check →
- Torre Latinoamericana lookout ticketCheck the current priceMX$150–250 (≈ US$9–14) / adultPrice check →
- Mexican candy (dulces típicos)MX$30–200 (≈ US$2–11) / bagPrice check →
Ranges, not quotes: prices move with season and exchange rates; the equivalent in your currency is approximate. Checked Sep 2026.
Eat on or near it
Sights on the street
- Casa de los AzulejosThe blue-and-white tiled facade near the west end; walk into the Sanborns courtyard.
- Torre Latinoamericana1950s skyscraper at the west end with a paid lookout deck.
- Palacio de IturbideBaroque palace, now a cultural center with free exhibitions (check).
- Zócalo and the Metropolitan CathedralAt the east end of the street.
- Palacio de Bellas ArtesAcross Eje Central from the west end.
Practical
Getting a ride there, what goes wrong, and access
Show the driver
Show the driver
Por favor, déjeme en la calle Madero, esquina con Eje Central, junto a la Torre Latinoamericana.
Please drop me on Madero Street at the corner of Eje Central, next to the Torre Latinoamericana.
Cars cannot enter Madero; Eje Central at the tower is the easiest drop-off.
Safety, traffic and scams
Pickpockets in the weekend crowds and around street performers medium
Phone snatching after dark on the emptier side streets medium
Scams and traps
- Street performers or costumed characters who pose for a photo and then ask for money: agree a tip before taking the picture, or skip it.
- Unofficial guides offering tours of the churches or the Zócalo: prices are often inflated, and the churches are free to enter.
Accessibility
- Flat, wide and car-free, so manageable in a wheelchair, but the paving is uneven and crowds are heavy on weekends.
- The Torre Latinoamericana lookout is reached by elevator (check access).
- Old churches along the street usually have steps at the entrance.
Photo tips
- From the Torre Latinoamericana lookout you can shoot straight down the length of Madero toward the Zócalo.
- The tiled facade of the Casa de los Azulejos photographs best in morning light.
A line of history
Under Spanish rule this was the street of the silversmiths (Plateros) and the road to the San Francisco convent. It took the name of Francisco I. Madero, the president whose uprising began the Mexican Revolution, in 1914.
Combine with
- Alameda Central and Bellas ArtesCross Eje Central from the west end for the park and the palace.
- Calle de TacubaTwo blocks north, with old cafés and the Palacio de Minería.
Questions people ask
How long does the walk take?
About 15 minutes end to end without stops; allow an hour with the churches, the tiled house and the tower lookout.
Is Madero safe?
In the daytime and early evening it is crowded and patrolled. Watch for pickpockets and avoid empty side streets late at night.
Deep dive
Sources; hours, rules and prices change, so check before you go
Sources
- officialMexico City tourism office
- secondaryWikivoyage: Mexico City/Centro