Parque Fundidora (or Fundidora Park like some foreigners know it) is Monterrey’s largest urban park and a must-visit while in Monterrey. The former steel factory was transformed into a large park visited by people of all ages every day of the year.

You can easily spend a whole day touring its facilities. There is always something going on, whether a concert, cultural activities, sports, you name it.

Let’s see what there is to do and if it’s worth the hype.

 

Ride a Bike

A person riding a bike with her legs open.

There is a bike track that covers the whole park. You can bring your bike or you can rent one on-site.

Their rental service is named Todos en Bici and is located on the side along Avenida Madero. They charge 35 pesos per hour (a little less than 2 dollars). You will need a photo id to rent a bike.

They’re open Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. You can check their Facebook site for more info.

Riding a bike is an excellent way to tour the park facilities. You will see a lot of green spaces, fountains, plazas, buildings, and people. Plus, you will burn some calories.

 

Sweat It Out

Picture of a person't legs with a skateboard facing the sun.

There is another track for joggers. You can see many people jogging or walking in the morning or evening. It’s a great way to get a good workout while you’re on vacation.

Many people go skating as well. You have to bring your skates though. As far as I know, they don’t rent skates, only bikes.

There are also several workout stations throughout the park. You can work out for free. No gym membership is needed. Isn’t that great?

 

Ride a Boat

There is a lake where you can rent a paddleboat. You can see lots of couples having a date or families just having fun.

There are many ducks in the area. I always enjoy watching them while they swim or play in the water. It feels as if you are in the woods. Just sit on a bench and relax.

You can find a skating track around the lake. It’s a nice way to tour the area and do some exercise.

 

Go Ice Skating

Inside the park facilities, there is a skating rink where you can practice your skills.

Admission is 10 pesos and access to the skating rink is 120 per session (price includes skates rental). There are 3 sessions Monday through Friday starting at 3 p.m. Each session is 1 hour and 15 minutes long. On Saturdays and Sundays, there is 1 extra session starting at 1 p.m.

You can check here for more information.

 

Play Something

Soccer ball in black and white.

You can bring your ball or Frisbee and play with your kids or friends. There are many green spaces throughout the park where you can play.

There are also several playgrounds throughout the park for your kids to run, climb, slide, etc. They’ll have a blast.

You will find Loroventura inside the park. It’s an aviary where in addition to watching birds, you can also ride a boat, watch some dinosaurs, or do zip lining.

 

Have a Cultural Experience

Painting showing an accident that occurred at Fundidora factory several years ago.

There are several art centers in the park. Among these we could mention:

  • Escuela Adolfo Prieto. It’s an art school with subjects like dancing, music, theater, plastic arts, cinema, photography, etc. Don’t be fooled though. There are workshops and book clubs for the general public as well.
  • Centro de las Artes.  This building hosts a theater, a photo library, a movie theater, and 2 art galleries.
  • Niños Conarte. Its main objective is to include people with disabilities, promote reading and artistic education. This is an excellent option if you’re visiting with kids.
  • Muscera. This is a wax museum. You can even learn how to make a wax figure.
  • Horno 3. One of Parque Fundidora’s main attractions. You can take a look at their galleries and get an idea of what it was like when the steel factory was in operation. You can also get to the top of the ex chimney and get a fantastic view of the park.

There are also temporary exhibits and social/cultural events you can attend all year long. The venues that host them include:

  • Centro de Exposiciones Nave Lewis
  • Nave Generadores
  • Nave Mitsubishi
  • Pabellon Sopladores

 

Admire Your Surroundings

Sculpture with different shapes in yellow, red and gray.

Throughout the park, you will find several sculptures of different kinds and sizes. You will have the perfect opportunity to look at some cool pieces of art and take a lot of pictures.

There are also many fountains where you will be able to cool off a little. You can’t get in, but just feeling the breeze helps cool down a bit. Remember Monterrey can be really hot during the summer.

Take a slow walk, look at the trees and people playing and having fun. Or just sit down on a bench under a tree and enjoy a good book.

 

Catch a Movie

Inside the Centro de las Artes, you will find the Cineteca. Forget about commercial blockbusters. You will only find indie films. They have specific seasons where they show French, German or Japanese films. It varies throughout the year, so make sure to check what’s showing.

You can buy popcorn, chips, coffee, coke, or a few other things in their cafeteria. Prices are not as expensive as commercial movie theaters.

Just a word of advice: unlike other movie theaters, the time marked on your ticket is the actual time the movie starts. If your ticket reads 6 p.m., the movie starts at 6 p.m. Don’t think it will start 15 or 20 minutes after the time marked on your ticket. There are no movie previews or commercials before the movie starts.

 

Grab a Bite

Throughout the park, you will find several concession stands, vending machines, and restaurants. If you just want a snack, you can get some nachos, chips, cookies, or a coke. However, if you’re really hungry, you can try out one of the several restaurants in the park.

If you’re on a date, I recommend El Lingote. It’s a very nice restaurant on top of Horno 3. You will get a nice view of the park and the Cerro de la Silla in the background. It’s more on the expensive side, but it’s totally worth it.

However, if you’re visiting with family or are on a tight budget, you can have a picnic. Outside food and drinks are allowed except alcohol. This is a family-friendly place.

By all means, if you bring your food/drinks, please don’t litter.

 

Do a Photo Shoot

Picture of Parque Fundidora showing a chimney, a cauldron and the Cerro de la Silla in the background at night.

It may sound like a cliché, but take a lot of pictures! You won’t have time to put your camera/phone down. There are sculptures, fountains, plazas, lakes, and remains of the ex-steel factory all over the place. You will find plenty of excellent photo opportunities!

Because of its versatile, cool facilities, Parque Fundidora is a favorite destination for photoshoots of all kinds: weddings, quinceañeras, class photos, etc.

Keep in mind if you’re planning on having a professional photo/video shoot, you will need a special permit from management. This includes the use of drones.

Attend a Special Event

Parque Fundidora hosts several events of all kinds: music festivals, food festivals, marathons, light displays, to name a few.

Illuminated castle in bluish white tones.

Some of these events include:

  • Tecate Pal Norte. Music festival featuring music from northern Mexico.
  • Machaca Fest. Music, art, and norteño traditional festival. It mainly focuses on Spanish rock.
  • Tecate Live Out. International music festival similar to Austin, Texas music festivals.
  • Oktoberfest. Just like any other beer festival in the world.
  • Festival del Gordo. Food festivals with lots of food trucks and delicious food.
  • Luztopia.  Light display decorating castles, animals, and many other cools things. You can see this during the Christmas season.
  • La Feria Monterrey. Carnival with rides, monster trucks, food, a beer garden and lots of fun for the whole family.

Check Parque Fundidora’s website or the local newspapers for more info.

 

Important Information/Tips

  • Parque Fundidora is open 365 days a year from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Admission to the park is free. However, some activities like museums are extra.
  • Bring cash. It’s not always possible to pay by card.
  • There are several access points to the park and parking is plentiful. Parking is 20 pesos per hour, 100 pesos maximum.
  • Other transportation options include Uber, metro (Parque Fundidora or Y Griega stations) and Turibus.
  • No sound equipment or musical instruments allowed.
  • No pets allowed except for service animals.

Conclusion

Are you still thinking about whether you should go? If you are, honestly I don’t know what else I can do to convince you. As you can see, there are plenty of activities for everyone. Whether you just want to take a stroll, visit a museum or relax, then this is the place to go.

Parque Fundidora is Monterrey’s lung. It’s amazing how they transformed a factory into a very cool park like this. Is it worth the hype? I would say it is.

As always, feel free to comment or leave any questions below. See you soon!

Book your trip now!

Book your flight

The first thing you have to do is find cheap flights. But where do you find those? There are many search engines, but the one I highly recommend is Skyscanner. Here you can compare fares from all over the world and pick the one that suits you best.

Book your accommodation

The next thing you have to do is secure your lodging. Whether you prefer a hostel, a guesthouse, a B&B, or a hotel, you can find them all on Booking. You can find lodging of all kinds ranging from cheap to expensive and somewhere in between. Many people have scored good deals using it.

Another popular option is Hostelworld. This website focuses on hostels as opposed to hotels.

Book a tour

In some places, you might want to hire a tour. Not all places are equally accessible to visit by oneself. It helps enormously when you visit with a local guide who can show you around and answer any questions you might have…all in your native language. My to-go place is Viator as they offer tours of all kinds and have a presence all over the world.

Rent a car

Public transportation is usually cheaper than renting a car, but it’s sometimes more complicated and time-consuming. That’s a reality. In some cases, it’s more convenient to rent a car. My recommendation is Rentalcars.com. Here you can compare rates and choose the one that fits you best.

Book your bus tickets

You can save money by booking bus tickets online. My favorite site to do this is Busbud.

Get travel insurance

Never travel without a travel insurance policy, especially these days! Travel insurance can save your life. My recommendations are World Nomads and Insured Nomads. Both companies cover COVID-19 related incidents, which is crucial these days.

More resources

Just click on the “Plan your trip” tab at the top of this page, and you will find more resources like getting Mexican insurance for your foreign car, buying travel accessories, and learning Spanish. And, of course, don’t forget to check back often to read more tips on Mexico travel.

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38 Replies to “Parque Fundidora – Monterrey’s Largest Urban Park”

  1. I am preparing for my trip in Mexico next summer and I find your blog very helpful for that. I’ve never heard about Parque Fundidora before, but it seems like a great place to visit. Especially since we are going to visit Monterrey on our visit in July 2020.

    Definitely a place I do not want to miss out. Thank you for this man.

    1. Hi, Strahinja,

      So glad to hear my blogs are helpful. That motivates me to continue doing my best.

      Yes, Parque Fundidora has so many things to do. It’s a must if you go to Monterrey. You can eaisily spend a whole day there.

      Let me know if you need any more info or tips. Thanks for commenting.

  2. Wow! I am amazed at how much there is to do at Parque Fundidora in Monterrey. Really seems like there is something for everyone. I was very surprised to hear that there is an ice skating rink in the park. I had no idea that this activity was even possible in Mexico. This appeals to me as I have played a lot of ice hockey, and have ice skated and rollerbladed for most of my life. The next time I am in Monterrey, I will definitely check out this awesome sounding park. I will also tell friends and family about it if and when they visit that area. Thanks for sharing, Tom

    1. Hi, Tom,

      Yes, there are lots of things to do at Parque Fundidora. You won’t get bored. I always go when I visit Monterrey.

      It doesn’t snow (well, rarely) in Monterrey, but we’ve got a couple of skating rinks. It’s a popular activity among kids and teens. I’ve tried it myself, but honestly it’s not my cup of tea lol.

      Thank you for commenting and sharing. Let me know if I can be of further assistance.

  3. Wow, I like this post! It seems like a very interesting place to visit. I want to travel all over the world and this is one of the places I would put in my bucket list to visit. Are there any other places that you recommend to visit?

    1. Hi, Scott,

      Thanks for dropping by.

      Yeah, Parque Fundidora is a great place to visit. You will never get bored.

      I share your idea. I would love to travel all over the world, but I’m focusing on Mexico at the moment.

      Answering your question, there are many places I could recommend. What are you into? If you gave me some pointers, I could give you some recommendations. Let me know.

  4. Monterrey seems like a really cool place! I’d never thought of visiting there but you’ve convinced me to add it to the list. There’s plenty of neat things to do at this park, but as a Midwestern I’d be real curious to check out the ice skating rink! I once saw a skating rink at a mall in Brazil so I’m all for seeing those in different places. Thank you so much for sharing this information!

    1. Hey, Dereck,

      Yeah, Monterrey is not like the first option when you think of visiting Mexico, but it certainly has a lot of things to do.

      Parque Fundidora is a must when visiting the city. You can never go wrong with it.

      I hope you visit soon and experience the skating rink yourself. 😀

      Thanks for commenting.

  5. Ooooh this place looks incredible and fun – I am impressed with your amount of knowledge on the area this is super helpful to visitors.
    I have not been to this area Monterrey before but it is a place I think I would one day like to see. Adding this urban park to my list of places to spend a day for sure.
    Your tips at the end of opening times and to bring cash is great as well, gives the visitors a heads up to things we don’t usually think about any more these days.
    Great post!

    1. Hi, Molly,

      It’s a great place to visit either solo, with friends or family. There are so many activities for everyone. It’s a must when visiting Monterrey.

      Thanks for your comments. They’re much appreciated. I will continue doing my best to provide you with useful tips and information to plan your Mexico vacation. Hope you visit soon.

  6. Mexico sounds just so awesome. Now I know why my relatives go there once a year. Once when I was younger I use to think of Mexico as a big vast arid desert with loads of cactuses and poisonous snakes. Thats what these old spaghetti western films have told me how it looked. The truth is far from it. Another great article. Thanks.

    1. Hi, Adrian,

      Lol you made me laugh! I don’t blame you. Many people think like that but change their mind once they visit for the first time. The truth is Mexico is very versatile and we have a little bit of everything for everyone.

      When visiting Monterrey, Parque Fundidora is a must.

      Thanks for commenting.

  7. I love this post! I love to travel and Parque Fundidora offers everything I need.

    I’m glad that you mentioned some cultural experience like Escuela Adolfo Prieto, Centro de las Artes and Niños Conarte I like how the main objective is to include people with disabilities, promote reading and artistic education.

    The recommended restaurant El Lingote sounds great, I would like to go there one day with my husband to enjoy the view of the fantastic park.

    Thank you for sharing this post along with the pictures, it was a pleasure to read it and Parque Fundidora is definitely on my bucket list!

    1. Hi, Anh-Thu,

      Thank you for your comments. They’re much appreciated.

      I’m glad you found this useful. That’s precisely one of my objectives.

      Parque Fundidora is such a cool place with a little bit of everything. You’ve got art, sports, music, fun for the whole family. You can visit solo, with friends or family. There is always something going on. You will never get bored.

      Hope you visit soon. Let me know if I can be of further assistance.

  8. Hi, Enrique,

    I love your post! Very interesting and motivating to plan a visit. It seems that the people that created this park and are working on it are really smart as they have foreseen literally everybody who could ever visit this place, from children to adults.

    With so many activities and interesting things to do, no one will get ever bored. I especially like that they have workout area as me personally, I don’t want to miss my workouts even when on vacation.

    Thank you for the directions to the places to have a snack or eat properly. The view from the restaurant must be breathtaking and really worth a try.

    Reading your post, I really felt like being actually there. Thank you for this amazing opportunity to step into Fundidora park at least virtually for the moment.

    Ionut

    1. Hi, Ionut,

      Glad you found this useful. I will continue doing my best to provide you with interesting content.

      Parque Fundidora has it all. In your case, you can work out for free at one of the several workout stations, jog or rent a bike. Many people go to the park to do some exercise. I used to do it myself.

      There are so many things to do besides sports. You will never be bored. The best thing is it’s open all year round!

      Thanks for commenting.

  9. Hi Enrique,

    Thanks for the thorough article on Parque Fundidora. I absolutely love Mexico, but have only been on the Baja peninsula so far. If I do make it to mainland Mexico one day, I will definitely Monterrey’s Largest Urban Park. I love that there is so much to do there and so much history. The museums sound like a really cool experience.

    1. Hi, Jessica,

      Hope you visit someday. Mexico is widely knows for its beaches, but there are many other destinations as well.

      Let me know if you ever need any tips or info for your trip.

      Thanks for commenting.

  10. Parque Fundidora is surely a delight! Wow! From a factory to an urban park. They should make a movie about this, and I would love to watch it. And they should show it in the movie theater at the park.

    And so many fun activities! Why can’t Singapore create something like this? So many parks here but not much activities. Well, except for nice walks or cycling. That’s about it.

    Parque Fundidora has so much more. I’m not quite physical activity guy (especially now that I am older). The boat ride sounds lovely. So does the aviary, fountains, sculptures and lakes. And I love to soak in culture and visit museums. So these activities are definitely for me. And the festivals sound like the best time to visit this park.

    Thank you so much for this. I will definitely not give this a miss.

    1. Hi, Timotheus,

      Yes, the transformation the ex-factory underwent is amazing. It was converted into Monterrey’s largest urban park and one of the largest in Mexico as well. There are so many things to do that a single day won’t be enough to tour it all.

      The good thing is it’s open all year round and there is always something going on.

      Hope you visit someday.

  11. This sounds like an amazing place. Can’t believe it used to be a former steel factory. Definitely wouldn’t get bored there. Mexico is a place I want to visit and I will keep this park in mind. Thanks for the detailed post!

    1. Hi, Justin,

      Who would have thought it, right? You can still see some remains from the former factory. It gives the park an air of nostalgia.

      I love going whenever visiting Monterrey.

      Hope you visit someday. Thanks for commenting.

  12. Hi there! I really enjoy travel posts like these for when I travel I can go ahead and reference places I need to go and see. I think it’s great how you incorporate a little culture of Mexico and your passion shines through your post. Hopefully, I can make my way there soon 🙂

    1. Hi, Viviana,

      So glad you found this useful. That’s one of the main objectives of this site.

      I will continue doing my best to continue providing you all with useful information and tips to plan your next trip to Mexico.

      Hope you visit soon. Thanks for commenting.

  13. I would so love to visit Mexico and I would definitely check out Parque Fundidora. I absolutely love visiting parks especially interactive ones. That is really a whole bunch of activities that people can do in one park and I would enjoy a day or even 2 there.

    1. Hi, Geri,

      Yeah, there is so much to do that one day might not be enough. I love visiting whenever I’m in Monterrey.

      Hope you visit someday. Thanks for commenting.

  14. Hey,

    This is a great post. My brother and his wife are planning to go to Mexico soon and I plan to send them this article!

    Personally, I have never been to a park that has been transformed from a steel factory! How cool is that? Talk about recycling!

    I also like how it seems that you have been there yourself. I find many posts on the web about people recommending a place that you should go, while they haven’t been to the place themselves.

    I can tell you have been to this place and it is nice to hear your personal stories about it. It seems that you generally enjoy this place and want people to go instead of trying to make money off of them by sending them to this park.

    Thanks again for the great post. I can’t wait to send it to my brother and his wife.

    Cheers,

    Max

    1. Hey, Max,

      Yes, I think the use they gave to the former steel factory is very cool and well-thought. Recycling is more important than ever.

      I’ve been to this park several times when in Monterrey. I don’t like to recommend places I’ve never visited.

      Like you said, I have several anecdotes to remember and that’s what makes some places more special than others.

      I hope your relatives find this useful. Let me know if you need any more tips or info. Thanks for commenting and sharing.

  15. I love parks like this, so it would be definitely be a place I could add on my list! It makes me think of a park we have here in Rimouski, we can rent various equipment gears and enjoy the fresh air. The difference is that there isn’t as many restaurants and things to do. It’s more like the “green space” of the city.

    Is the park you mentionned here easy to find?

    Thanks for sharing, it’s definitely on my list!

    Audrey

    1. Hi, Audrey,

      Yes, Parque Fundidora is a great place. I never miss an opportunity to visit when in Monterrey.

      Answering your question, yes, it’s very easy to find and accessible by car or public transportation.

      Hope you visit someday.

  16. Hi Enrique,

    Great post! I love that there’s so much to do in Parque Fundidora. Mexico is still on my list of places to go, so I will definitely keep this in mind. How long would you recommend staying in Parque Fundidora in order to have the full experiece?

    Cheers!

    1. Hey, Kevin,

      Well, Parque Fundidora is huge and there are tons of activities to do. You can easily spend a whole day touring its facilities. Depending on what you want to do and how much time you have to spare, I would say 1-2 days is okay.

      Thanks for commenting.

  17. I’ve never been to Mexico – being British I think the hot temperatures would probably be way over the top for me – but I get the impression that it doesn’t get as much attention as it deserves, since it is right next to the United States. Although the images are too small, this is a good article which helps sell the country a fair bit to a foreigner – I rate it 8/10.

    1. Hi, Simon,

      There are certainly some places with very hot temperatures, but there are many others that aren’t as hot. I agree with you. I feel it doesn’t get as much attention as it deserves, but that’s slowly changing.
      Thanks for dropping by. I hope you visit someday.

  18. Excellent information!
    I am very interested in how much there is to do at Parque Fundidora in Monterrey. Sounds great for the whole family.
    It really looks like a beautiful place to visit.
    I love new adventures. The idea of boating, biking, photo shooting, and exploring the art centers sounds like a perfect vacation.
    We only speak the English language. Would we still be able to communicate with the people there?
    That is always a fear of mine.
    Thanks for sharing!

    Best wishes,
    Devara

    1. Hi, Devara,

      Glad you found this interesting.

      Yes, there is always something going on. You can have fun with family, friends or solo.

      Answering your question, many people in Monterrey speak English to a certaing degree. However, I strongly recommend visitors learn some Spanish. The good thing with technology is we can look something up on our smartphone in seconds!

      Let me know if you have any other questions.

      Enrique

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