Chapultepec Castle is the only royal castle in the Americas, a hilltop fortress overlooking Mexico City that now houses the National Museum of History and offers some of the best panoramic views in the capital.
Built in 1785 as a viceroy’s summer residence, the castle later served as the residence of Emperor Maximilian I and Empress Carlota during the Second Mexican Empire, and afterward as the official residence of Mexican presidents until 1939, when it was converted into a museum documenting Mexican history from the conquest through the revolution.
It’s roughly a 15 to 20 minute uphill walk from the Chapultepec Park entrance to the castle, so budget extra time; the museum is closed Mondays.
