Quick Guide: Reforma Walk Details
Starting point: Estela de Luz at the entrance to Chapultepec Park
Ending point: Monumento a la Madre/Jardín del Arte Sullivan
Distance: About 1.5 miles
Time: 1 to 2 hours, depending on photo stops
Best time to visit: Sunday mornings and early afternoons, when the street is closed to cars for biking and walking
The best way to experience Avenida Paseo de la Reforma is on foot or riding a bike. While it’s a great walk any day of the week, Sundays are the best time to visit.
That’s when when the city closes Reforma to motorized vehicles, and the pedestrians cyclists, roller bladers, and dog walkers take over.
Whether you are looking for local street vendors selling homemade items, unique public art installations, or historic Mexican monuments, this self-guided walking tour covers everything you need to see from west to east.
1: Estela de Luz (The Starting Point)
Begin at the Estela de Luz monument just outside the entrance to the Bosque de Chapultepec. You can’t miss it: It’s over 340 feet tall, looks as thin as a pencil, and it commemorates the bicentennial of Mexico’s independence from Spain.
2: Reforma’s south side
You can walk on either side of Reforma, but we recommend the south side for this stretch.
3: Fuente de la Diana Cazadora
Head northeast, taking in the many statues that line the sidewalk and the gorgeous, wide, cement city benches.
When you reach the intersection of Sevilla and Reforma, you’ll find the Fuente de la Diana Cazadora (Fountain of Diana the Huntress). Here, you can switch to the north side of Reforma or stick with the south side.
4: Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz memorial
There are statues on both sides of Reforma for the entire stretch of this walk. But there’s a particularly notable example on the north side of Reforma: The Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz memorial celebrates the famous Spanish nun and writer.
5: Alas de Mexico
Further along on the south side of Reforma, you will run into the Alas de Mexico, a statue of two golden wings that’s ideal for a photo op: Just stand between the two wings and smile like an angel.
6: El Ángel de la Independencia
Proceed northeast to the intersection of Florencia and Reforma and the iconic Ángel de la Independencia (Angel of Independence) monument.
Tip: Just past the Angel of Independence on the north side of Reforma, you’ll find Amici at the Sheraton Hotel and Cityzen at the Sofitel.
Amici has an impressive Sunday brunch buffet, and Cityzen has breakfast, snacks, and cocktails with an unmatched view of Reforma and Mexico City. Reservations recommended at both.
7: Glorieta del Ahuehuete
Continue northeast on the south side of Reforma. You will pass the Glorieta del Ahuehuete, the only major intersection on this part of Reforma without a monument. It’s at the intersection of Rio Rhin and Calle de Niza.
8: Leonora Carrington Sculpture
Proceed northeast on the south side of Reforma. Keep an eye out for the quirky, surrealist Cocodrilo de Leonora Carrington, a particularly notable sculpture.
9: Avenida Insurgentes Intersection & Monumento Metrópoli
As you continue to the northeast, you will run into the massive intersection of Avenida Insurgentes Sur and Reforma. Cross Reforma to the north side just before this intersectionm where you’ll find the white, tree-like Monumento Metrópoli.
Reforma is notable for its many benches, some unique one-offs you won’t see anywhere else. There’s such a bench here: It has a fun playing card motif that’s almost as much a work of art as the Monumento Metrópoli.
10: Monument to Cuauhtémoc
Cross Avenida Insurgentes Sur to see the Monument to Cuauhtémoc.
11: Monumento a la Madre
From here, check out Monumento a la Madre (Monument to the Mother), just to the northwest on Calz. Manuel Villalongin.
12: Jardin del Arte Sullivan
The Jardin del Arte Sullivan, adjacent to the Monumento a la Madre, is a park where, on Sundays, you’ll find artists offer their work for sale in an open-air market.
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