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Free things to do in Monterrey

6 places in Monterrey with free entry or no charge, based on guide listings and map data.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

Free things to do in Monterrey

  1. SeeOuter Monterrey

    Antigua Estacion Del Golfo

    Old Railway Station, Casa de la Cultura

    Century old train station houses a railroad museum (naturally) as well as a library and offices of the Cultural Ministry. An old wooden caboose is the coolest exhibit, and visitors can enter the caboose and see how train crews would have lived while riding the rails. The railroad exhibit contains numerous exhibits including tools, signals, uniforms, and equipment used to maintain the railway.

    Mon-Sat 10:00 - 20:00, closed SunFree

  2. SeeCentro

    Antiguo Palacio Federal

    Palacio Correos, LABNL

    Monterrey's old federal building was designed by architect Augusto Petriccioli and built between 1928 and 1929. Its distinctive art deco style is one of the few examples of the period remaining in the city. The building was extensively renovated and re-opened as LABNL, a novel workshop for progressive civic projects. The building is known for its frieze on the front facade and for an observation tower that visitors can enter (free of charge).

    Wed-Fri 14:00-21:00, Sat 11:00-19:00, closed Mon-TueFree

  3. DoWestern suburbs

    Cumbres of Monterrey National Park

    Parque Nacional Cumbres de Monterrey is the northernmost of Mexico national parks and one of the largest, with more than 1,770 hectares (680 square miles) of rugged mountain terrain. It has become a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The park includes several of Monterrey's landmark mountains, along with sheer cliffs, rushing rivers, hidden caves, and even some lions, tigers, and bears. Okay, maybe not tigers, but they definitely have mountain lions and bears, and they do have coyotes, bobcats, and jaguars, along with snakes, birds, and lots of other things. The park can be accessed from various points in Monterrey, Santa Catarina, Guadalupe, and San Pedro Garza Garcia.

    free

  4. SeeWestern suburbs

    Museo de los Antiguos Mexicanos

    Monterrey's first museum dedicated to pre-Hispanic Indigenous cultures of Mesoamerica is based on the personal collection of Mauricio Fernandez and exhibits from the now defunct Planetario Alfa. Fernandez spent decades visiting archaeological sites and studying once great civilizaations. It's a fairly large museum and very modern with well-designed displays, good lighting, and even some labels in English (though the Spanish-speaking visitor will get the most out of a visit). Major cultures each have their own gallery (salon). Most of the relics are artistic ceramic sculptures, as that material survives centuries underground in inclement conditions. A visit will probably not take much more than an hour (unless you're intently curious about Mexican archaeology). Many of the exhibits are temporary seasonal displays, so if you come back in a year or so, you may get an entirely different perspective than your first impression. Occasional live classical music.

    Tue-Sun 10:00 - 19:00, closed MonFree

  5. DoWestern suburbs

    Rufino Tamayo Park

    Parque Rufino Tamayo

    Rolling hills with hiking/biking trails, exercise stations, and shady patches. Popular place for early morning joggers and afternoon dog walkers. Parking available on Av. Eugenio Garza but it has a complicated payment system requiring obscure apps.

    Daily 06:00 - 22:00Free

  6. SeeOuter Monterrey

    Skyspace

    Espiritu de Luz Skyspace

    Contemporary artist James Turrell has created a series of "light sculptures" called "Skyspaces" in various cities. In Monterrey, Turrell's light sculpture is on the grounds of Tecnologico de Monterrey. Come at sunset and sit quietly as the sun sets, spilling rays of golden and red light across the concrete and stone surfaces. Occasionally musical accompaniment is provided. Attendance at the sunset events is free, but requires registration via the web site which assigns a timed entry. Visitors are requested to maintain silence and refrain from eating, drinking, smoking or doing anything to disturb their fellow peace-loving observers.

    Daily at sunsetFree

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Monterrey (CC BY-SA 4.0).