Museo Soumaya

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Museo Soumaya

Museum

The Museo Soumaya is a private, non-profit art museum in Mexico City with two venues that house a large and varied collection spanning 30 centuries. Travelers come for its extensive Rodin casts, European old masters, and the striking Plaza Carso building by Fernando Romero.

Museo Soumaya Map data © OpenStreetMap contributorsMexico CityNational Museum of AnthropologyNational PalaceFrida Kahlo MuseumChapultepecPalacio de Bellas ArtesBasilica of Our Lady of GuadalupeChapultepec CastleLuis Barragán House and StudioAngel of IndependenceMonumento a la RevoluciónPlaza de las Tres CulturasLos PinosMuseo Soumaya

Museo Soumaya essentials

Address: Plaza Carso, Nuevo Polanco, Mexico City

Museo Soumaya is a privately funded museum network founded by Carlos Slim and named for his late wife, Soumaya Domit; it operates two sites in Mexico City, the original Plaza Loreto location and the larger Plaza Carso venue. The collection totals over 66,000 works and is notable for its breadth - ranging from Pre-Hispanic and colonial Mexican pieces to 15th- to 20th-century European painting and sculpture. The museum holds one of the largest private collections of Auguste Rodin casts outside France and an extensive collection of European masters as well as a major assembly of coins and medals from Mexico’s colonial and post-independence eras. Admission is free and the museum aims to make high-quality art accessible to a broad public, which has driven very high visitor numbers since the Plaza Carso building opened in 2011.

  • Rodin collection: The museum houses one of the world’s largest private collections of Rodin casts, shown together to illustrate the sculptor’s range and process.
  • European old masters: Paintings and religious works by artists from the Renaissance to the Baroque - including pieces attributed to the circle of Leonardo and painters such as Murillo and Tintoretto - are grouped in the old masters galleries.
  • Pre-Hispanic and colonial coins: A large numismatic collection presents coins, medals and banknotes spanning colonial times through the post-revolutionary era.
  • Plaza Carso architecture: The hexagonal-tiled, sculptural Plaza Carso building by Fernando Romero is an attraction in itself, with dramatic interiors and a top floor arranged around natural light.
  • Temporary exhibitions and special rooms: Rotating shows plus themed levels (decorative arts, impressionism to avant-garde, and the Rodin-era floor) mean there is always something new to discover.
Things to Do
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Museo Soumaya#

Mexico City has a temperate highland climate with a pronounced wet season in summer; the driest and most comfortable months are in the late fall, winter and early spring.

Winter (best)
November - February · 5°C - 23°C (41°F - 73°F)
These months are generally dry and mild, making it easy to move between museums and neighborhoods without regular heavy rain. Cultural venues are fully open and indoor visits are comfortable.
Spring (shoulder season)
March - May · 8°C - 27°C (46°F - 81°F)
Warm, mostly dry conditions prevail and daylight is longer, a pleasant time for museum-hopping before the summer rains begin. Temporary exhibitions are often scheduled for this period.
Rainy season (crowds and afternoon storms)
June - September · 11°C - 25°C (52°F - 77°F)
Frequent afternoon showers and thunderstorms are typical, so plan indoor visits for midday and be prepared for wet weather when traveling between sites.

Weather & Climate near Museo Soumaya#

Climate

Museo Soumaya's climate is classified as Subtropical Highland (Dry Winter) - Subtropical Highland (Dry Winter) climate with mild summers (peaking in May) and cool winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 5°C to 27°C. Moderate rainfall (824 mm/year) with a pronounced dry season.

Air Quality: AQI 77 Moderate
Best Time to Visit
MarchFebruaryNovember
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
32°
Warmest Month
-3°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Excellent 5° - 22° 13° 8 mm mostly sunny 61% 2.0 m/s 1.6 very high 11.0h
February Ideal 6° - 23° 15° 9 mm mostly sunny 55% 2.3 m/s 2.0 extreme 11.4h
March Ideal 8° - 26° 17° 11 mm mostly sunny 50% 2.5 m/s 2.5 extreme 11.9h
April Excellent 9° - 27° 18° 25 mm some cloud 48% 2.4 m/s 2.7 extreme 12.5h
May Excellent 11° - 27° 19° 61 mm some cloud 55% 2.3 m/s 2.5 extreme 12.9h
June Very Good 12° - 25° 18° 147 mm partly cloudy 69% 2.2 m/s 2.4 extreme 13.2h
July Good 11° - 23° 17° 175 mm overcast 77% 2.2 m/s 2.3 extreme 13.1h
August Good 11° - 23° 17° 163 mm partly cloudy 79% 2.1 m/s 2.3 extreme 12.7h
September Good 11° - 23° 17° 139 mm overcast 82% 2.1 m/s 2.0 extreme 12.1h
October Excellent 9° - 23° 16° 68 mm partly cloudy 78% 2.1 m/s 1.9 very high 11.6h
November Ideal 7° - 23° 15° 9 mm mostly sunny 71% 2.0 m/s 1.7 very high 11.1h
December Excellent 5° - 22° 14° 9 mm mostly sunny 64% 1.9 m/s 1.5 high 10.9h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Museo Soumaya#

The museum’s main site is in Nuevo Polanco in the northern part of Mexico City; the original Plaza Loreto venue is in San Ángel in the south. The nearest major airport is Mexico City International Airport (Benito Juárez).

From central parts of Mexico City and surrounding neighborhoods the museum is most easily reached by taxi, rideshare or local bus services to Nuevo Polanco, followed by a short walk; from the airport or farther suburbs take a taxi, rideshare or prearranged transfer and check local transit options for the last stretch.

Tips for Visiting Museo Soumaya#

  • Admission is free, but check opening days and temporary exhibition schedules locally before you go.
  • Expect the Plaza Carso site to be busy on weekends and holidays given its popularity and central location.
  • Security screening is common at large Mexico City museums, so allow extra time for entry.
  • Combine a visit with nearby cultural sites in the Polanco/Chapultepec area such as the National Museum of Anthropology or Chapultepec Park.