Aside from visiting the Pyramids at Teotihuacan and the National Museum of Anthropology, one of the most visited and beloved attractions in Mexico City is the Museo Frida Kahlo (or the “Frida Kahlo Museum” in English).
Visiting The Frida Kahlo Museum
Location and Getting There:
The Frida Kahlo Museum is located about 20 to 30 minutes [by car] due south of well known “Angel of Independence” in the heart of the city. The museum lies in the popular artsy neighborhood of Coyoacan – walking distance from the central square. I recommend taking an Uber for cost, convenience, and safety when in Mexico City.
If ride-share is not your thing, no problem. The Frida Kahlo Museum is so popular that it has its very own bus line – the “Fridabus” – that runs between the Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera museums (in the historic central area) several times throughout the day.
Museum Hours And The Line To Get In:
The museum is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm and you can get your tickets on-line here.
A word of warning: This museum is extremely popular and often has very long lines with waiting times exceeding two hours (see the picture below). Because of this, I recommend visiting this museum as part of a tour, as guided tours are given entrance priority (potentially saving you hours of your day).
The line to get inside the museum was 1.5 hours long on the day I was there, but you can skip the line if you are on a tour
About The Frida Kahlo Museum [And Her Fans]:
Also known as the “Blue House”, this museum was actually the birthplace of Frida, the place she grew up at, the place where she lived with her husband (Diego Rivera), and the place where she ultimately died.
More than just a museum, the Blue House is an international place of pilgrimage for many art students and fans of art history. I was a little caught off guard by the many diverse fans from all over the world, especially the legions of aspiring female artists for whom this appeared to be an overwhelming spiritual visit.
I spied several fans genuinely welling up with tears and emotions as the connection of the art to the woman and what Frida represented to many was so clear. I also noticed more than a few “fan-girls” had penciled-in their make-up to resemble Frida, uni-brows and all. Several mentioned that they had been waiting their whole life to visit here and that this was a dream come true. I had no idea of the cult and depth of Frida’s fan-base. Witnessing all of it first-hand was actually very cool as it gave me a much richer appreciation of the woman and her art.
When visiting the museum, you’ll walk through a self-guided tour of the courtyard, the gardens, and several buildings housing special exhibits. The main building has a one-way entrance where you’ll wind through the house, snaking through various artworks and photography, quotes, living spaces, and work areas.
Courtyard of the Blue House
Kitchen Area
Workbench
Dia de los muertos display
The Artwork Of Frida Kahlo
Frida’s artwork is both amazing and amazingly complex.
Drawn heavily from a major accident she had when she was a child, much of her artwork reveals themes of brokenness, dependence, pain, and lament – but also themes of independence, revolution, perseverance, feminism, and a generally triumphant lust for life.
Fashion
Like her art, Frida’s fashion sense was influenced by her early childhood accident as well. In fact, much of Frida’s trademark fashion was dictated by the medical harnesses she had to wear in daily life to support her frame. Frida chose not to hide this so much as to courageously incorporate this into her own unique style.
Photography
Musings
The museum is peppered with interesting musings and quotes throughout the exhibits.
The Artwork of Diego Rivera
Amongst its other treasures, the Frida Kahlo Museum also holds a sizable and worthy collection of some of Diego Rivera’s masterpieces.
Final Thoughts on Visiting The Frida Kahlo Museum
Visiting the Frida Museum is a wonderful experience for visitors of Mexico City – even if you are not a fan of the legendary Frida Kahlo [yet]. Walking the Blue House museum will take you about 2 hours minimum. Just make sure to arrive early [pre-opening] or visit as part of a tour – otherwise you may find yourself waiting 2 hours in line just to get in.
When in Coyoacan be sure to visit the town square and try the many food and coffee spots nearby. Did somebody say chocolate stuffed churros? Coyoacan and the Frida Kahlo Museum are quintessential attractions not to be missed.
Cheers!
