Family things to do in Monterrey run the gamut from classic amusement parks to meeting iconic children's characters to history museums and riverwalk experiences. This isn't one of Mexico's famous beach resort towns but is a place full of old-world charm and tonnes of kid-friendly activities. You'll find everything from hands-on museum exhibits to pulse-pounding roller coaster rides next to fantastic classic carnival eats and games. You can visit quaint villages and walk through museums that explore the entire history of the region.

This cosmopolitan city offers a holiday experience that's sure to help you and your family build memories to last a lifetime. Check out some of the most prominent family fun attractions in Monterrey.

  • 1

    Sesame Street Park (Parque Plaza Sesamo)

    Meet famous characters, play, ride, and splash

    Sesame Street Park (Parque Plaza Sesamo)
    • Adventure
    • Families

    Sesame Street Park, or Parque Plaza Sesamo, offers kids the chance to interact with Sesame Street characters, ride rides, and play games. It has many thrill rides, spin rides, games, food, and even a complete water park where kids can rocket down waterslides, splash in fountains, and laugh all day. It operates year-round and hosts celebrity events, regularly hosting sports figures, political candidates, and other famous people. Birthday parties are also held for the famous characters that inhabit the park.

    From the Count to Ernie and Bert, Zoe, Abby, and Grover, all your favourites are here. It's just 25 minutes east of city centre Monterrey.

    Location: C. Agrícola 3700-1, Agrícola, 64590 Monterrey, N.L., Mexico

    Open: Saturday–Sunday from noon to 6 pm (closed Monday–Friday)

    Map
  • 2

    Horno3 (Museo del Acero Horno 3)

    See a hands-on museum in an old blast furnace

    Horno3 (Museo del Acero Horno 3)
    • Adventure
    • Families
    • History

    Horno3 (Museu del Acero Horno 3) is a science museum with tonnes of hands-on interactive exhibits located in a former blast furnace and examines the history of the steel industry. You can learn all about how ore and raw materials are turned into one of the strongest building materials we have. This entire facility is a spectacle, from the smoking rocks at the front door to the open-air lift offering panoramic views of the cityscape. On Sundays, you can even take an adventure park approach with rappelling and ziplining.

    This is the height of fun, excitement, and education. It's also right in the heart of central city centre.

    Location: Av. Fundidora Parque, Fundidora, 64010 Monterrey, N.L., Mexico

    Open: Tuesday–Sunday from noon to 7 pm (c1osed on Mondays)

    Phone: +52 81 3158 6555

    Map
  • 3

    KidZania Monterrey

    Let kids play grown-ups and explore careers

    KidZania Monterrey
    • Adventure
    • Families
    • History

    KidZania Monterrey is a place where kids get to play house on a gigantic scale, learning about money and how it's earned while discovering their future careers. This experience starts with the kids getting a check to cash at the bank. They can spend their money on anything from lunch to a spa treatment or shopping. When the money is gone, they can work to earn more. Kids can practice surgery as a doctor or carry packages as a postal carrier. They can even run a restaurant or spa.

    They'll get to explore a world of careers and play at being grown-up all day. It's just 20 minutes south of city centre.

    Location: Av Lázaro Cárdenas 900-Interior A, Valle Oriente, 66269 Monterrey, N.L., Mexico

    Open: Friday–Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm (closed Monday–Thursday)

    Phone: +52 81 8133 4900

    Map
  • 4

    Mexican History Museum

    See over 1,200 artefacts in a 4,000 square-foot space

    Mexican History Museum
    • Adventure
    • Families
    • History

    The Mexican History Museum offers a look at more than 1,200 artefacts spread over nearly 4,000 square feet of space, exploring Mexican history from prehistoric times to today. This massive museum is counted among the most important institutions in the country. It offers documents, exhibitions, artefacts, and ephemera covering thousands of years of history, including everything from pottery to a full-sized locomotive. The museum also offers multimedia exhibits, speakers, and interactive, hands-on learning that kids love.

    The building itself is an architectural wonder and a local landmark. You can take a guided tour or go on a self-guided exploration with search modules that tell you all about the artefacts within. It's 10 minutes south of city centre Monterrey.

    Location: Dr José Ma. Coss 445, Centro, 64000 Monterrey, N.L., Mexico

    Open: Sunday and Tuesday from 10 am to 8 pm, Wednesday–Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm (closed on Mondays)

    Phone: +52 81 2033 9898

    Map
  • 5

    Santa Lucia Riverwalk (Paseo Santa Lucía)

    Walk along an artificial waterfront

    Santa Lucia Riverwalk (Paseo Santa Lucía)
    • Adventure
    • Families

    Santa Lucia Riverwalk (Paseo Santa Lucía) is a world-class artificial landmark offering miles of human-made river and scenic walkways in the heart of Monterrey. The nearly 1.5-mile walk is a promenade offering incredible landscaping and gorgeous nighttime views of the illuminated river with rolling green space shaded by trees, 24 walking bridges, and 13 fountains as you walk. At the western end, you can enjoy incredible local cuisine at one of the restaurants, and the entire area has free Wi-Fi so you can upload pictures to Instagram as you take them.

    The Riverwalk is steps away from other nearby attractions, including shops, museums, and parks. It's ideal for the family to spend a lazy day out.

    Location: Avenida Fundidora y, Adolfo Prieto s/n, Obrera, 64010 Monterrey, N.L., Mexico

    Open: Daily from 10 am to 9.30 pm

    Phone: +52 81 8126 8500

    Map
  • 6

    Bosque Mágico Coca Cola

    Spend the day at a classic amusement park

    Bosque Mágico Coca Cola
    • Adventure
    • Families

    Bosque Mágico Coca Cola is a classic amusement and theme park with thrill rides, roller coasters, carnival games, and classic eats where you can laugh and play all day. For families with younger kids, you can head for the dedicated kids' area with rides like the Kite Flyer, Magic Cups, Viking Speedboats, Gas Station, AlpineChairs, and Baja Buggy. Family-friendly attractions include Go-Kart Rides and a Carnival area. For those with older kids, you'll enjoy thrill rides and pulse-pounding attractions like roller coasters, including the Zombie Ride corkscrew coaster, the King, and the Kamikaze coaster.

    You'll have plenty of options for treats and food, and you can win prizes in classic toss-style games. It's just 21 minutes southeast of city centre.

    Location: Av Eloy Cavazos s/n, La Pastora, 67140 Guadalupe, N.L., Mexico

    Open: Saturday–Sunday from noon to 7 pm (closed Monday–Friday)

    Phone: +52 81 1870 8000

    Map
  • 7

    Planetarium Alfa (Planetario Alfa)

    See the stars from right here on Earth

    Planetarium Alfa (Planetario Alfa)
    • Adventure
    • Families
    • History

    Planetarium Alfa, or Planetario Alfa, offers a chance to walk through the stars, explore alien worlds, and learn all about our relationship to the rest of the cosmos. This full-sized planetarium is even striking from the outside with its towering cylindrical appearance surrounded by flocks of birds, including peacocks wandering around. Then, when you walk inside, you'll be enmeshed in interactive science exhibits that allow kids as young as 3 years old to get hands-on with space, astronomy, and aeronautics. The planetarium also includes an IMAX theatre that showcases fun and interesting documentaries.

    Kids love to learn while they're having fun, and this place makes it happen. It's 20 minutes south of the city.

    Location: Av. Roberto Garza Sada 1000, Carrizalejo, 66254 San Pedro Garza García, N.L., Mexico

    Phone: +52 81 8303 0001

    Map

    photo by Planetario Alfa (CC BY-SA 4.0) modified

  • 8

    Loroventura

    See over 100 species of brightly coloured parrot

    Loroventura
    • Adventure
    • Families

    Loroventura is an aviary where you and your kids can get lost among more than 100 species of parrots, both native and exotic, while you tackle outdoor adventure courses. Here you can stroll through dozens of bird pavilions filled with brightly coloured birds from all over the world as well as see exotic reptiles, and you walk along the shores of a natural lake. Entertaining live shows teach you all about these creatures, and on-site restaurants and snack shacks ensure you're always full.

    You can take a tour, explore on your own, or book the spot for a party. It's all just 13 minutes east of city centre Monterrey.

    Location: Av Fundidora S/N, Obrera, 64010 Monterrey, N.L., Mexico

    Open: Monday–Friday from 11.30 am to 8 pm, Saturday–Sunday from 10.30 am to 8 pm

    Phone: +52 81 2315 2008

    Map
  • 9

    Pueblo Serena

    Spend time in Monterrey's historic town square

    • Adventure
    • Families
    • Food
    • History
    • Shoppers

    Pueblo Serena is the historic town square of Monterrey built by an urban planning committee to provide a public space for all manner of uses, from festivals to relaxation. This is where you can enjoy local culture and colour and become entranced by the traditional building style and materials. The unique red stone quarried locally and combined with river rock provides dramatic looks to the architecturally varied buildings. It uses the natural terrain to provide a welcoming and relaxing space surrounded by shops, restaurants, and services.

    Here, you can relax in the shade of trees and spend the day looking around, shopping, and dining. It's in the heart of Monterrey city centre.

    Location: Carr Nacional 500, Valle Alto, 64989 Monterrey, N.L., Mexico

    Open: Daily from 9.30 am to 10 pm

    Phone: +52 81 9688 6750

    Map
  • 10

    Sweets Museum (Museo del Dulce)

    Learn the history of sweets making

    • Adventure
    • Families
    • History
    • Unusual

    The Sweets Museum, or Museo del Dulce, is a unique and quirky museum where costumed guides walk you through the entire history of sweets making. You'll learn about the original Michoacán nuns who made local sweet treats and confections through the modern mass-production methods. You'll get a film presentation and a live demonstration of traditional sweets making where you can sample all you like at no extra charge. In the end, you'll visit an old fashioned sweets shop where you can buy all the varieties you want to take home with you as a souvenir of your travels.

    This museum allows you to walk in the footsteps of candy-making pioneers. It's 10 minutes south of town.

    Location: C. Diego de Montemayor #444, Centro, 64000 Monterrey, N.L., Mexico

    Map