Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City (must see)

Modeled after the Champs-Élysées in Paris, the Paseo de la Reforma is the main road in Mexico City that runs through the Historic district as well as Embassies and upscale residential buildings. The Paseo de la Reforma was formerly the Paseo de la Emperatriz or the road of the Empress. It was commissioned by Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico to link his residence at the Chapultepec Castle to the National Palace that flanks the Zocalo. During the reformist reign of President Benito Juarez, the avenue became the Paseo de la Reforma. It was designed in 1860 by Ferdinand Von Rosenzweig.

The Paseo de la Reforma is 15 kilometers long and 60 meters wide. The road has 6 to 8 lanes and a green strip at the center with a unique design. There is a monument at most of the large roundabouts located at the intersections. Busts of famous personalities who shaped the history of Mexico flank the avenue.

Today, major office blocks, museums, monuments, hotels and cinemas are located on the Paseo de la Reforma. The avenue is also the location of the embassies of the United States, the European Union, and the Mexican Stock Exchange.

Tip:
On Sundays, the avenue closes down to cars so that multitudes of people can ride bikes, walk, jog, rollerblade or stroll down the street from the park all the way up to the historic center.
You can pay for bike rental or get one for free (first come, first served) if you bring your ID/passport and arrive early.