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Ángel de la Independencia

#5of 10 places to visit in Mexico CityMexico City, Mexico City Region (Valley of Mexico), Mexico

Also known as Monumento a la Independencia · Angel of Independence · El Ángel · Winged Victory

Quick answer

Opening hours: 10:00–16:30. Entry is free. Allow 30 min.

Updated 18 September 2026 · Compiled by Traveliac, AI-assisted · 4 min read

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Photo: Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Opening hours: 10:00–16:30; Exterior: open access around the clock. Mirador (by reservation only, as reported): Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-16:30.
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 30 min
Best months: Feb – May, Oct – Nov
Address: Paseo de la Reforma and Río Tiber, Colonia Juárez, Cuauhtémoc, 06600 Mexico City, Mexico

About Ángel de la Independencia

Ángel de la Independencia in Mexico City is free to view at any hour as of 2026 and stands on a roundabout on Paseo de la Reforma. The gilded bronze statue of Winged Victory, about 6.7 metres tall, tops a stone column that brings the monument to roughly 36 metres. Architect Antonio Rivas Mercado designed it for the 1910 centenary of Mexican independence, and Italian sculptor Enrique Alciati carved its allegorical figures. Ángel de la Independencia serves as the city's meeting point for celebrations, marches and football victories, and a mausoleum in the base holds the remains of heroes of the independence movement including Miguel Hidalgo, Ignacio Allende and José María Morelos.

Ángel de la Independencia timings

Ángel de la Independencia opens at 10:00 and closes at 16:30. It keeps the same hours on Saturday and Sunday.

Opening hours: 10:00–16:30; Mon–Sun 10:00–16:30; Exterior: open access around the clock. Mirador (by reservation only, as reported): Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-16:30.
Closed on: Open every day

Mon–Sun	10:00–16:30

Good to know: The mirador closes during marches, football celebrations and civic events on Paseo de la Reforma. The Sunday bike-and-pedestrian closure of Reforma runs on weekend mornings.

Opening hours compiled from mexicocity.cdmx.gob.mx and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

Ángel de la Independencia ticket price

Entry fees for Ángel de la Independencia
Ticket	Price
Standard ticket	Free
Concession (student / senior)	Free
Children	Free

Viewing the monument from the roundabout is free at any hour as of 2026. The mirador (viewing platform) is also reported as free, but access is not open to walk-in visitors: sources describe a written request or waiting list through the Cuauhtémoc borough's heritage office, groups of up to six, a minimum age of 12 and a 15-minute visit. These arrangements are unconfirmed for 2026, so verify with the borough before planning to climb.

Prices compiled from mexicocity.cdmx.gob.mx and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

Best time to visit Ángel de la Independencia

Quiet
Moderate
Busy

06:00 - 09:00
Early MorningBest time to go
Joggers and a handful of photographers; the plaza is quiet and light on the statue is clear.
Quiet
09:00 - 13:00
Sightseeing Peak
Tour buses stop for photographs and the plaza fills with street vendors; Sundays bring cyclists onto Reforma.
Busy
13:00 - 17:00
Afternoon Steady
Steady foot traffic and heavy road noise; marches and rallies often start in this window.
Moderate
17:00 - 22:00
Evening
The monument is lit and groups gather; football wins and civic events can push crowds to peak levels.
Busy

History of Ángel de la Independencia

Ángel de la Independencia was inaugurated by President Porfirio Díaz on 16 September 1910, weeks before the Revolution began, as the centrepiece of Paseo de la Reforma. The column and figure formed part of a wider Porfirian programme of French-style boulevards and monuments that reshaped the city west of the old centre.

Ángel de la Independencia lost its statue during the earthquake of 28 July 1957, when the bronze figure fell from the column and shattered; it was rebuilt and re-erected within about a year. A major conservation project in 2006 restored the gilding, stone and sculptures.

Ángel de la Independencia's mausoleum inside the base was set up in 1925 to receive the remains of independence figures, previously kept in the Metropolitan Cathedral. The statue holds a laurel wreath in the right hand and a broken chain in the left, which stand for victory and freedom.

Rules & etiquette at Ángel de la Independencia

Ángel de la Independencia sits in the middle of a busy traffic circle, so visitors cross only at signalled crossings and the walkways around the base. Vendors and photographers work the plaza around the monument, and a mild pickpocket risk exists during crowded events; watch phones and bags.

Ángel de la Independencia access to the mirador is by request and controlled by borough officials, so climbing without arrangement is not possible. Expect security barriers, closures and large crowds during football wins, marches and civic parades, and avoid the area during those events if you prefer quiet. Sundays close the avenue to cars from morning until early afternoon for a cyclist-friendly circuit, which is a good time to walk the boulevard.

Tips for visiting Ángel de la Independencia

1
Ángel de la Independencia is best treated as a photo stop and a short walk rather than a half-day attraction; 30 minutes is enough for the monument, the plaza and the steps around the base. Arrive early for clear light and to avoid traffic noise.
2
Ask your hotel or the borough's heritage office about the mirador well ahead of time, since the waiting list and the group limit make walk-in visits unrealistic. Follow Paseo de la Reforma west on foot for about 40 minutes to reach Chapultepec Park and the National Museum of Anthropology, or take the Metrobús along Reforma. Avoid restaurants on Reforma with staff outside handing out menus; the Zona Rosa and Roma neighborhoods a short ride away have better value.

How to reach Ángel de la Independencia

Paseo de la Reforma and Río Tiber, Colonia Juárez, Cuauhtémoc, 06600 Mexico City, MexicoDirections in Google Maps

From Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX)
10 km · 30-50 min
MXN 200-300 by standard ride-hail; surge pricing can push it higher
From Insurgentes Metro station
1 km · 12-15 min
MXN 5 per Metro trip (2026)
From Zócalo
5 km · 20-35 min
MXN 5 by Metro or about MXN 70-120 by ride-hail

Nearest airport

From Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX)

approximately 10 km, 30-50 minutes by ride-hail or taxi.

Nearest station

From Insurgentes Metro station (Line 1) and Metrobús stops along Reforma

roughly 1 km on foot.

Ángel de la Independencia FAQs

Is the Ángel de la Independencia free to visit?

Yes. Viewing the monument from the plaza is free at any hour as of 2026, and the mirador is also reported as free, but it requires advance permission.

Can tourists climb the Ángel de la Independencia?

Not on a walk-in basis. Sources describe a request or waiting list through the Cuauhtémoc borough's heritage office, groups of up to six, a minimum age of 12 and 200 steps, so verify current access.

When was the Ángel de la Independencia built?

It was inaugurated on 16 September 1910 for the centenary of Mexican independence, designed by architect Antonio Rivas Mercado.

Who is buried under the Ángel de la Independencia?

A mausoleum in the base holds remains of independence heroes including Miguel Hidalgo, Ignacio Allende and José María Morelos, moved there in 1925 from the Metropolitan Cathedral.

Compiled with AI assistance from official sources and public records, and published only after the checks in How we write these guides. Nobody from Traveliac has visited this place. Last updated 18 September 2026. How we rank and check places