How to Buy Frida Kahlo Museum Tickets- The Adventuring Millennial

When I started planning my trip to Mexico City, the first thing on my list was the Frida Kahlo house. (Ok, the house and tacos, of course!)

But, as I was trying to figure out how to visit the Frida Kahlo house, I had trouble finding great information online. I read a ton of blogs and most of them mentioned 2-hour lines to get into the museum (uhh… no thank you!) I found information about tours, but many of these had pretty bad reviews.

Well don’t worry, I was able to figure it out and had an amazing time visiting the Frida Kahlo museum. So, I decided to create a complete guide to Casa Azul (the Blue House- another name you might hear for the Frida Kahlo house). In this post, I will dive into how to Buy Frida Kahlo Museum tickets and everything else you need to know about this museum. Basically, this guide covers everything I wish I knew before visiting the Frida Kahlo museum in CDMX.

Alright, ready to get started? Let’s go!

Everything You Need to Know Before Planning Your Visit to the Frida Kahlo Museum

History

Frida Kahlo was a 20th-century Mexican painter known for her self-portraits. Her unique style was inspired by folk art, pop culture, and social issues. Frida dealt with numerous health issues during her life. She contracted polio at a young age, which made her right leg shorter than her left. As a teenager, Frida was involved in a severe bus accident. She experienced pain and complications from this accident for the rest of her life.

In 1928, Frida met the famous Mexican muralist Diego Rivera and the two were married in 1929. Frida’s work was featured in numerous exhibitions during her life, but she was generally unknown until after her death. Her work was rediscovered in the 1970s and by the 1990s, she had become a prominent social and political icon.

Casa Azul, or the Blue House, is the building where the Frida Kahlo Museum is located. Frida was born in this house in 1907 and spent her childhood here. She later moved back to the Blue House to live here with her husband Diego Rivera. In 1954, Frida Kahlo died in Casa Azul. In 1958, Diego Rivera donated the house and its contents as the Frida Kahlo Museum.

The Basics

The Frida Kahlo Museum is located in the Casa Azul in Mexico City. Frida Kahlo lived in this house for a significant portion of her life. In this museum, you can see many of Frida’s paintings and her personal belongings, including her wheelchair and paints.

Location

Address: Londres 247, Del Carmen, 04100 Ciudad de México, Mexico

The Frida Kahlo Museum is located in the Coyoacán neighborhood of Mexico City.

How to Get Here

I quickly learned that travel in Mexico City is cheap (but I’m also coming from NYC where everything is over-the-top expensive). The Frida Kahlo Museum is in the Coyoacán neighborhood, which is about 7 miles south of the Historic Center of the city. Unless you are staying in Coyoacán, you aren’t going to walk to this museum. So, you really have two options: take an Uber or Metro.

Uber: Although I generally prefer Lyft, Uber is the only option in Mexico City as of September 2019. I read a number of blogs about taking Uber in CDMX and, after being there myself, I can say that this is a perfectly safe option. If you are worried about taking a taxi, this is a completely different option. Uber is safe (and cheap) and was my preferred way of getting around Mexico City. This trip will likely cost somewhere between $5-$8.

Metro: If you really want to save money, consider taking the Metro to the Frida Kahlo museum. A one-way ticket only costs 25 cents! You can purchase tickets at the station from ticket windows. You will want to take Metro Line 3 to the Coyoacán station. From this station, you will need to walk about 15-20 minutes to the museum.

How to Buy Frida Kahlo Museum Tickets

You can buy Frida Kahlo Museum tickets online.

In-Person: *Update* the Frida Kahlo Museum no longer offers in -person ticket sales.

Online: Visitors must try to buy tickets online in advance. I say “try” because I had some trouble using the website. I had to try two different credit cards before one worked. Also, I spoke to other tourists in CDMX who had the same issue. If you want to try, here is the link to purchase the tickets. After purchasing your tickets, print them out or save them on your phone. When you arrive at the museum, you will need to join a line for ticket holders (which took a bit longer than I expected). You need to enter at the time slot on your ticket, so try not to arrive late.

Cost

Tickets to the Frida Kahlo house cost 230 pesos (about $12 USD) for foreign visitors.
Tickets cost 100 pesos (about $5 USD) for Mexican citizens.
Free admission for children under 6 years old.
Young children and seniors can purchase a ticket for 20 pesos (about $1 USD).
Students and teachers can purchase a discounted pass for 45 pesos (about $2 USD) but you must present up-to-date identification to prove you are eligible for this ticket.

Hours

The Frida Kahlo Museum is open:

Tuesday and Thursday-Sunday: 10:00 am – 5:45 pm
Wednesday: 11:00 am – 5:45 pm

The Museum is closed:

Mondays
January 1
May 1
December 25

Special Hours:

September 15, December 24, and December 31: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

What to Expect

When you arrive at the Frida Kahlo Museum, you will likely have to wait in a line regardless of when you arrive or if you purchased tickets online. Make sure you join the correct line, as there is one line for people who already have tickets. As you wait in line, people might come up to you and sell trinkets, souvenirs, etc. Don’t feel like you have to purchase anything. A polite “no, gracias” is all you need to say.

Once it is your time to enter the museum, you will pass through security, where you will have your bag checked. Head’s up, if you have a backpack or package over 35 cm you will need to leave it in the cloakroom.

Once inside the museum, you can take a self-guided tour of the house. Although you have to enter the museum at the time on your ticket, you can stay as long as you want. The museum includes the large courtyard and many rooms inside the house. Don’t feel rushed and allow yourself plenty of time to explore the space. I would give yourself at least 1.5-2 hours to adequately experience the museum.

One major thing to note, you will need a photography pass to take pictures inside the museum. The pass costs 30 pesos (about $1.50 USD) and can be purchased on site after you enter the museum. I was worried that this line would take a while, but it took less than 2 minutes to buy my pass. Also, you can probably get by with 1 photography pass for your group. You will get a sticker to wear showing that you purchased the pass. So just make sure that whoever in your group is taking a picture is also wearing the pass.

Inside the museum, you will also find a gift shop, a cafe, and restrooms.

FAQs

Ok, now that we’ve covered the major points, let’s look at some FAQs. These were the main questions I had before visiting the Frida Kahlo Museum.

Do I Need a Photography Pass?

Yes! If you plan to take any pictures, make sure you have a photography pass. And trust me, you are going to want to take pictures. This pass can be purchased at the museum for about $1.50 USD.

Do I Need a Tour?

Personally, I don’t think so. I researched a few tours before taking my trip but most of these had bad reviews. I am not the world’s biggest Frida Kahlo fan, but I am somewhat familiar with her story and her work. So, I wasn’t being introduced to her for the first time when I visited the museum. There were also enough signs around the museum that guided me. I enjoyed exploring the museum at my own pace without a tour.

How Long Will it Take?

If you don’t take a tour, you can explore at your own pace. Give yourself about 1.5-2 hours to fully explore the museum. But, keep in mind that this doesn’t include any time you will spend in line. If you don’t purchase your tickets online in advance, give yourself extra time to wait in line. Or, plan to be at the museum at least 30 minutes before it opens.

Is it Worth the Cost?

Absolutely! At $12 USD this is one of the most expensive museums in Mexico City (for example, the impressive Museo Nacional de Antropología only costs about $4 USD. Even if you are not a huge Frida Kahlo fan, it is incredible to see her home, some of her most notable paintings, and many of her personal belongings. Plus, the courtyard is beautiful and is a great space for taking pictures.

Are all of the Signs in English?

Many of the signs around the museum feature English translations. However, you can also rent an English audio guide (for around $5 USD) once you are in the museum.

Can’t Miss at the Frida Kahlo Museum

As you explore the Frida Kahlo Museum, there are a few things you can’t miss.

Viva la Vida– Many believe this was Frida’s last painting. Near the bottom of the painting are the words “Viva la Vida” or “Long Live Life.” You can see this painting with the collection of her other works in the first rooms of the museum.
Frida’s Wheelchair– Upstairs in the museum, you will see Frida’s wheelchair, some of her paints, and a mirror she used for her self-portraits. This was incredibly moving to see.
Frida’s Dresses– If this exhibition is still on, don’t miss the chance to see Frida’s dresses. You can find these in a separate exhibition space off the back of the courtyard. Frida’s style was very iconic and it is amazing to see a few of her dresses while visiting her house.

Things to do Near the Frida Kahlo Museum

If you want to maximize your time in the Coyoacán neighborhood, check out these sites close to the Frida Kahlo museum:

Mercado de Coyoacán– This colorful market is close to the Frida Kahlo Museum. Here you will find plenty of food stalls plus vendors selling clothing and trinkets. Just keep an eye on your wallet (pickpocketers sometimes visit this market, too). But overall, this market will give you a nice taste for classic Mexico City markets, especially if you need to kill some time before visiting the museum.
Museo Casa De Leon Trotsky– If you want to learn more about Leon Trotsky, spend some time in this museum. Trotsky was on exile in Mexico City (and even spent time with Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera). He lived in this house, which is now a museum offering information about his life and political revolution.
Cafe El Jarocho– This coffee shop opened in 1953 and now there are multiple locations around CDMX. This felt like a local spot and I enjoyed grabbing a cup of coffee and sitting outside like many others, who I can only assume were regulars.

So, are you ready to buy Frida Kahlo museum tickets? I hope you enjoyed my guide on how to buy Frida Kahlo Museum tickets + everything else you need to know before visiting Casa Azul. Have a great time exploring this fascinating museum!

If you are looking for more, check out this post:

16 Can’t Miss Experiences in Mexico City

How to Spend 3 Days in Mexico City