The Most Beautiful Libraries In Mexico City

Mexico City has a wide selection of spectacular bookstores for all of your book buying needs, but what about your book borrowing ones? Luckily, the Mexican capital boasts a wide selection of libraries from which you can take your pick. Whether you’re looking to ogle over centuries old texts or soak up modernist architecture, Mexico City has a library for everyone; here are the seven most impressive.

1. Biblioteca Vasconcelos

Library

Biblioteca Vasconcelos

Why not start off with the city’s most well-known and architecturally remarkable library? Designed by Alberto Kalach, this library is famed for its suspended bookshelves that hold around 106,000 titles and has been pleasing visitors since it opened in 2006. Other key features include the huge whale skeleton that hangs in the central passageway and the labyrinthine garden. Biblioteca Vasconcelos may not have an English language section, but it’s easily one of the best libraries in the city.

Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Eje 1 Norte Mosqueta S/N, Cuauhtémoc, Buenavista, Ciudad de México, México +52 55 9157 2800

Biblioteca Vasconcelos | © LWYang/Flickr

2. Biblioteca Central

Building, Library, University

UNAM’s Biblioteca Central is housed in an iconic building covered with eye catching, instantly recognizable Juan O’Gorman mosaics that recount the history of Mexico. As it’s a university library situated quite appropriately in UNAM’s Ciudad Universitaria, you can find a number of general interest and specialist texts that cover all of the main disciplines, including finance, music and literature. First opened in 1956, it now has over 600,000 documents, archives and books.

3. Biblioteca de México

Library

Located just behind the Ciudadela in Mexico City, the Biblioteca de México is the main public library in the city and was first inaugurated in 1946. With over 250,000 volumes, this vast edifice also plays host to five individual, personal libraries named after famed Mexican writers including Carlos Monsiváis and Antonio Castro Leal. Aside from the ‘standard’ book collection, the Biblioteca de México also houses a braille library for the visually impaired and hosts expositions and functions.

5. Biblioteca Nacional de México, UNAM

Library

Biblioteca Nacional de México, UNAM

Often side-lined in favor of the aforementioned Biblioteca Central, this second UNAM library, Biblioteca Nacional de México, is a gem. In addition to housing more than 1,250,000 books and documents (including some of the oldest and rarest in the world), it also boasts the original copy of Juan Rulfo’s Pedro Páramo and manuscripts from Benito Juárez and Doctor Atl. Originally founded in 1867, the architecture is almost as astounding as the literary collections housed there.

Biblioteca Nacional de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Coyoacán, Cd. Universitaria, Ciudad de México, México +52 55 5622 6820

http://instagram.com/p/BBBCS9XnyUv/?tagged=bibliotecanacionaldemexico&hl=en

6. Biblioteca Miguel Lerdo de Tejada

Library

Stunning from the outside and boasting a broad selection of titles (and murals) on the inside, including an impressive collection of 18th century newspapers and over 2,000 examples from the 19th century, the Biblioteca Miguel Lerdo de Tejada is housed in a true masterpiece of baroque architecture. Aside from being a must-visit for architecture and newspaper buffs, there’s also an added historical appeal to this library — it has the 1824 Constitución de la República in its collection.

7. Aeromoto

Aeromoto

We round off our guide to Mexico City’s most impressive libraries with this tiny but worthy entry: Aeromoto. Situated in the Zona Rosa of the city, it specializes in contemporary art titles, meaning you can borrow not buy — and save some money on the hefty price tag that these types of books often come with! Only members can take the books away from Aeromoto to peruse at home, but anyone can wander in and browse the titles at leisure.

Aeromoto, Calle Venecia 23, Cuauhtémoc, Juárez, Ciudad de México, México +52 55 5207 6620

http://instagram.com/p/BIv3n1zAuXW/?taken-at=670221233&hl=en

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.