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UNAM

The National Autonomous University of Mexico, or UNAM, is one of the best universities in Latin America and the biggest university in terms of enrolment. It was established in 1910 as a public institution for higher education and research.

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UNAM is not only one of Mexico's most prestigious institutions of higher learning—it's also home to some of the country's most iconic architecture and artwork.

You'll find traces of UNAM everywhere you go on this sprawling campus in Coyoacán. You can see it in the university's modernist buildings, which were designed by renowned architects like Mario Pani and Enrique del Moral. You can feel it in the spacious plazas, where students gather to study or relax after a long day of classes. And you can hear it in the concert halls and museums, which host performances by local artists year-round.

UNAM was founded in 1910 by President Porfirio Díaz as a way to educate promising young men from all over Mexico. The school quickly became known for its high standards and rigorous curriculum, attracting students from across Latin America who wanted an education that would prepare them for careers at home or abroad. Today, UNAM is still considered one of the top universities in Mexico—and around the world!

Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in Mexico City

Chapultepec Castle

Chapultepec Castle is an immense stone edifice that sits atop a hill in the heart of Mexico City built by the Spanish in 1725 as a large manor house for their viceroy and commander-in-chief of the colony, New Spain.

Museo Nacional de Historia

Shows Mexico's history from Cortes to the 1910 Revolution

Museo Frida Kahlo

The family house of famous Mexican artist Frida Kahlo

Coyoacán is an area of Mexico City that feels like you've been whisked away to a peaceful village. With plenty of leafy parks and cobbled streets, it's easy to forget that you're actually in the middle of a huge metropolis.

Museo Dolores Olmedo

The Dolores Olmedo Patiño Museum is home to one of the most extensive collections of Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Angelina Beloff artworks in the world.

Museo Nacional de Antropologia

The National Museum of Anthropology is the largest and most visited museum in Mexico, which was opened on September 21, 1964, by then-President Adolfo López Mateos, who dedicated it to the people of Mexico.

Related Tours

The Art of Frida Kahlo, Xochimilco & Coyoacan: Private Tour

Explore some of the most picturesque corners and famed sights of Mexico City: the bohemian neighbourhood of Coyoacán, the former home of Frida Kahlo bursting with old-world charm, the Xochimilco canals, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, and the Frida Kahlo Museum.

On your private full-day tour, you will:

Discover Xochimilco, often described as the "Mexican Venice" and famous for its networks of canals popular among both foreign and Mexican tourists alike;
Enjoy a "Trajinera"(boat) ride through the Floating Gardens in a brightly-coloured gondola;
Walk through the campus of the UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico) and admire the work of artists like Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros displayed on the walls of the buildings;
Walk through cobblestone street and visit the most emblematic places of Coyoacán, a quiet and picturesque area of Mexico City and a former Aztec village;
Visit "La Casa Azul", the house where Frida Kahlo lived and where she painted some of her most famous pieces, which is now the Frida Kahlo Museum dedicated to her life and work;
See the Coyoacán Market, an iconic landmark in this neighbourhood where you can find anything, from vegetables to baskets and get to know the daily life of the locals.

You will start your tour by exploring the Xochimilco area, its famous river channels and chinampas (floating gardens), which were used by ancient civilizations as a system of agriculture and commerce since pre-Hispanic times. You'll learn about the history of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, first established as a pre-Columbian city on the shores of Lake Xochimilco just south of Mexico City.

Immerse yourself in the old streets and corners of the emblematic Coyoacán, known as the cultural heart of Mexico City, and explore its markets, architecture, traditions, flavours and culture.

Coyoacan is one of the most popular places in Mexico City with stunning colonial architecture, vibrant colours and intricate designs that make you feel as if you've stepped back in time. You'll find everything from brightly painted houses to quirky churches (like the Santuario de Santa Maria) and even an old convent where nuns still live today.

In the same neighbourhood, you'll visit the Frida Kahlo Museum, known as "The Blue House", where this world-renowned Latin American artist lived and died, filled with personal objects from Frida’s life and artworks inspired by her life experiences that will give you a better understanding of this great Mexican artist.

At the end of your tour, you'll have learned so much about Mexican culture and history—and chances are, you'll have made some new friends along the way!