There’s something magical about a journey by train. Sometimes the magic is inside – on a train you can meet people, while eating and sleeping with the sound of steel wheel swishing on steel rail beneath you. Sometimes the magic is outside, in the landscape the train traverses – an adventure, an experience, an insight into the heart of a nation.

Where will the magic take you? Be inspired to see the world by train with these incredible trips from our new title, Amazing Train Journeys.

Take the scenic route between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi © Matt Munro / Lonely Planet

The Reunification Express, Vietnam

Start – Ho Chi Minh City; end – Hanoi; departs daily; distance – 1072 miles (1726km); duration – two days

Some railways rattle through historic cities; others swoosh beside spectacular coastline. A few have an epic history, one or two are remarkable for the colourful characters on board. The Reunification Express line, also known as the North–South Railway, fulfils all these criteria. One of Southeast Asia’s best-loved railways, its fortunes have waxed and waned with those of the country it traverses. Travelling over a thousand miles from Hanoi in the north to Ho Chi Minh City in the south, there is no more atmospheric way to haul into Vietnam’s twin metropolises. And there’s no better way of exploring all the glories in between.

More info: 12go.asia/en or baolau.com

Ride the rails on an epic pan-US route © Amtrak

The California Zephyr, USA

Start – Chicago; end – San Francisco; departs daily; distance – 2438 miles (3924km); duration – 52hrs 40mins

For soaking up the scenic grandeur of the North American continent, nothing compares with Amtrak’s California Zephyr train. This classic three-day journey travels nearly 2500 miles (4000km) across prairies, deserts, the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada on its way from Chicago to San Francisco. Scenery is magnificent throughout – especially when seen through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the lounge car – but if you can only do one section, opt for the riveting 185-mile (298km) stretch between Denver and Glenwood Springs, where the train travels through an often roadless wilderness of deep, narrow gorges near the Colorado River’s headwaters.

More info: amtrak.com

Baikal–Amur Mainline, Russia

Start –Tayshet; end – Sovetskaya Gavan; departs daily; distance – 2687 miles (4324km); duration – four days or more

Here’s a question that would confound even ardent railway anoraks. Which line runs through over 2500 miles (4320km) of Siberian wilderness, connects remote settlements where temperatures sink to -60°C (-76°F) in winter and was envisaged as the greatest construction project in the history of the Soviet Union? The Trans-Siberian? Nope, it’s the Baikal–Amur Mainline, better known as the BAM – the rogue sibling of the infinitely more famous railway to the south. Built the better part of a century after the Trans-Sib, the BAM is colder, remoter and traverses scenery that is every bit as spectacular, but its rails are travelled by barely any tourists.

More info: eng.rzd.ru

Add a stint of train travel to your South American adventure © SteveAllenPhoto / Getty Images

Perurail’s Lake Titicaca Railway, Peru

Start – Puno; end – Cuzco; departs three times a week; distance – 241 miles (388km); duration – 10hrs

Traversing the Altiplano, from the shores of Lake Titicaca to the beating heart of the Inca capital, the railway from Puno to Cuzco cuts a ponderous but picturesque path through the snow-dusted peaks and voluptuous valleys of the Andes. Between drinks in the bar and enjoying entertainment and fine food in the restaurant, passengers aboard Perurail’s Lake Titicaca train can ogle the vista from an open-air observatory car, as they rumble across the epic Peruvian plains, passing hardy bowler-hatted llama farmers and travelling through remote towns and villages.

More info: perurail.com

Andimeshk to Dorud, Iran

Start – Andimeshk; end – Dorud; departs daily; distance – 129 miles (209km); duration – 5-7 hours

One of the world’s least known, but most spectacular railway journeys winds like a Silk Road caravan through the mountainous heart of ancient Persia. This dazzling engineering marvel, blasted through Iran’s unforgettable Zagros Mountains, clings to the side of remote river valleys, tunnels under immense, crumbling peaks, bridges gaping chasms and passes gently cascading waterfalls, and comes framed against a stark and unforgiving landscape. As it climbs over 3280ft (1000m) from the flat Khuzestan plain to the high plateau of fabled Lorestan, the awe-inspiring scenery is only matched by the legendary hospitality of your fellow travellers.

More info: rai.ir

Make the ascent to Tibet from the comfort of a train © Philip Yuan / Shutterstock

The Bĕijīng to Lhasa Express, China

Start – Bĕijīng; end – Lhasa; departs daily; distance – 2330 miles (3750km); duration – 40 hours

Linking the futuristic architecture and imperial wonders of Bĕijīng with the dreamlike monasteries and palaces of Lhasa, the Z21 train transports its passengers from the neon lights of urban China to a once-remote land of magenta-robed monks, where the air is heady with the aroma of incense and yak-butter candles. As it chugs westward the train climbs nearly 16,400ft (5000m) on its journey to the roof of the world: the Tibetan plateau, where it glides past grazing yaks, fluttering prayer flags, snow-capped mountains and boundless blue skies. On board, passengers slurp noodles and play cards with their bunkmates.

More info: thelandofsnows.com

London to Fort William on the Caledonian Sleeper, UK

Start: London (Euston); end – Fort William; departs daily; distance – 509 miles (819km); duration – 13hrs 30 mins

Segueing from the sooty suburbs and crowded concrete-lined cul-de-sacs of central London to the crisp air and soaring vistas of the Scottish Highlands via one overnight train journey epitomises the romance of rail travel. It’s just a pity that the whole experience – from buffet-car banter and single malt nightcaps, to being lulled into la-la land by the rhythm of the rails and waking to bedside views of towering granite peaks – feels like it’s over in a flash.

More info: sleeper.scot

See Norway’s natural highlights on the Bergensbanen © Pete Seaward / Lonely Planet

The Bergensbanen, Norway

Start – Oslo; end – Bergen; departs four times a day; distance – 308 miles (496km); duration – 6hrs 30 mins

This astonishing train is one of the wonders of 19th-century railway building, and yet outside Norway hardly anyone knows about it. In just over six hours and 300 miles (490km) of travel, it covers the spectrum of Norway’s natural splendour: climbing canyons, crossing rivers, burrowing through mountainsides and traversing barren icescapes. All aboard for the Bergensbanen: a main line into Norwegian nature.

More info: nsb.no

The TranzAlpine, New Zealand

Start – Christchurch; end – Greymouth; departs daily; distance – 139 miles (223km); duration – 4hrs 30 mins

In less than five hours, the journey renowned as one the world’s finest and most scenic one-day train rides spans very distinct microclimates in the South Island of New Zealand. Commence the TranzAlpine experience in Christchurch, before speeding along the Canterbury Plains and then climbing quickly through the snow-capped mountains of the Southern Alps. After traversing some of the country’s more remote alpine scenery, descend through a thrilling tunnel to emerge among the lakes, streams and rainforests of the South Island’s West Coast. From there, more superb coastal and alpine scenery is on tap for independent travellers.

More info: greatjourneysofnz.co.nz

Watch the world unfold around you on the Tazara Railway © guenterguni / Getty Images

Tazara Railway, Tanzania and Zambia

Start – Dar es Salaam; end – Kapiri Mposhi; departs twice a week; distance – 1160 miles (1860km); duration – 46 hours

On a continent where taking things slowly is compulsory, it won’t come as much of a surprise that the 46-hour journey along the 1160-mile (1860km) route from Tanzania’s port city to New Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia often ends up taking far longer. Then again, few trains in the world offer the chance – and we should point out that it’s a chance rather than a guarantee – of spotting big game from your seat, but the Tazara (Tanzania and Zambia Railway Authority) does exactly that. For many, the highlight is neither the scenery nor the wildlife, though; it is the chance to spend two days watching everyday life out of the window, and enjoying the clamour and chaos when the train pulls to a halt, scheduled or unscheduled.

More info: tazarasite.com

Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter.

Say goodbye to indecision. If you’re stuck between travel daydreams of markets or mountainscapes, spine-tingling safaris or the siren song of the sea, don’t fear. Fitting two types of trips into one might seem arduous to organise, but with the right timing, transport and planning, it’s easily achievable.

The choice of destination is key: you need somewhere that packs diverse experiences into a region that can be explored in a typical vacation period. Finding places that offer double the fun can make for an even more challenging and rewarding journey to boot. Here are some suggestions on how to have the best of both worlds in one trip.

‘Souq’ up the atmosphere of Marrakesh’s famous Djemaa El Fna square © Pavilha / Getty Images

Morocco: exploring the souqs of Marrakesh to windswept surf haven Essaouira

Essaouira is your antidote to Marrakesh. And thankfully, superb transport links ensure a comfortable three-hour drive between the two, most of which tracks the sweeping sandy coastline of Morocco. You only need a few days in the country’s most colourful city, delving into the myriad souqs and tasting the mint tea and tagines in the carnival atmosphere of Djemaa El Fna. Then pack away your trinkets and treasures and hit the road to Essaouira.

Catch some sensational surf off the coast of Essaouira, Morocco © Kasto 80 / Getty Images

You’ll trade the rhythmic music and souq traders cries for that of the seagulls’ calls, the wind against your shutters and the waves crashing against the old city walls. Here, all you have to do is breathe in the salty air and allow yourself to get caught up in the town’s laid-back charm. Where Marrakesh is steeped in tradition, Essaouira draws bohemian types and has a fantastic art scene. Grab a board and learn to surf along one of the most liberating shorelines in the world, or familiarise yourself with the Old Town’s French-come-Berber fusion cuisine in crepes, soups and fresh local fish.

Make it happen: base yourself in Marrakesh and join a one or two-day overnight surf and Old Town tour.

Run Montenegro’s wild Tara River if you dare © Utamaria / Getty Images

Montenegro: rafting amid the mountains of the north to seafood and Med climes in Kotor

In Montenegro, rafting is synonymous with the turquoise Tara River. Arrive at Durmitor National Park and glimpse the winding river through the mountains and you’ll see why. The Black Lake by Žabljak is both dramatic and serene, as are the forests of Biogradska Gora National Park near Kolašin. Exploring both the towns and national parks over a few days is all you need before taking to the water. Most rafting takes place in Durmitor, and you’ll get the most dramatic view of the Tara Canyon’s imposing 1300m high walls from your raft.

Fall in love with Kotor’s dreamy Old Town © Didier Marti / Getty Images

Then, make your way down the country over a few hours; the best way to experience the changing scenery is to hire a car, but it can also be done by bus. Along the way you’ll notice how the patterns of snow, A-framed farmhouses and green hills will disappear as terracotta-tiled stone buildings and shimmering deep-blue water come into view. Spend a couple of nights in Kotor’s Old Town. Climb the 1300-plus steps to the top of the fortifications, meet the town’s feline population and sample grilled squid, seafood risotto and other Mediterranean culinary delights. You’ll easily be able to fit in exploring the charming villages dotted along the Bay of Kotor, Perast, Prčanj and the outskirts of Dobrota.

Make it happen: make sure to book your rafting tour in the right season; it can be dangerous during April and May. Go with a trusted company for a one-day excursion tour from Žabljak.

Time your visit to Kenya to witness the awesome spectacle of the Great Migration © Rixipix / Getty Images

Kenya: safaris around Nairobi to lodges in the Aberdare Mountain Range

Whether it’s golden grassland safaris or serene mountain lodges in Kenya, one thing’s for certain: the reason you’re going is to spot magnificent wildlife. Where to start? Around Nairobi you’re spoiled for choice, from learning old traditions to witnessing the famous migration in the Maasai Mara to a sea of pastel-pink flamingos lining waterholes in Lake Nakuru National Park. Find wild cats and more in Samburu National Reserve, spot the rare black rhino at Nairobi National Park or seek out the home of the world’s largest population of Grevy’s zebra at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. There are also fantastic conservation centres, such as the Giraffe Centre and the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

Explore the lush greenery of the Aberdare Mountain Range © Westend61 / Getty Images

Given the profile of the sprawling savannas, Kenya’s mountains are often overlooked. But this is the place for those who want more than just a safari. With altitudes ranging from 7000 to 14,000 feet above sea level, in Aberdare National Park you can find black rhinos, bush pigs and rare black leopards. All this among windswept moors, thick rainforests and hills dotted with waterfalls. The illustrious Ark lodge and hotel sits by a waterhole in the mountains frequented by a range of wildlife; watch it from the four viewing platforms and a lounge overlooking a waterfall.

Make it happen: find tours and activities based in Nairobi here, including the Nairobi National Park, Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Centre tour or check out budget-friendly private and group camping tours in the Maasai Mara reserve.

The Mission was San Francisco’s first neighbourhood (although the spectacular basilica is a recent addition) © DanHenson1 / Getty Images

USA: Hispanic history in San Francisco to wine tasting in the Napa and Sonoma Valley

The Golden State’s landscape changes minute-by-minute in Northern California alone. Spend a few days to a week in San Francisco. Once you’ve finished the highlights, from The Marina and Fisherman’s Wharf to the Golden Gate Bridge, step into San Fran’s first ever neighbourhood, The Mission, for a taste of Mexico. Visit Mission Dolores, founded in 1776, San Francisco’s oldest building and the oldest intact Mission in California. Don’t miss The Murals, street art by female artists and activists of Hispanic origin; San Francisco has one of the highest concentrations of street art of any neighbourhood in the world. Discover a range of Latin American ancient collections at the de Young Museum, and an extensive array of pre-historic and contemporary art at the Mexican Museum. And finally, arrive with an empty stomach to finish your time in the district devouring tacos, tortillas and salsa at some of its local restaurants.

Chill out – and drink up – in California’s Sonoma County © Adam Hester / Getty Images

Then take a tour or drive into the Napa or Sonoma Valley, just an hour away from California’s foggy city. Here you can sit back, sup and relax, or wind through fruit-filled and tree-shaded vineyards and orchards, farms and wineries. These are some of the earliest vineyards and wineries, including Roche Winery, originally established by Franciscan friars and Tres Sabores, which offers no-frills tasting and a gorgeous setting. And the Oxbow Public Market is worth a visit to sample a variety of wines along with other picnic-perfect nibbles.

Make it happen: in San Fran you can join a tour of The Mission District. Wine tasting tours take you from the city into the Napa and Sonoma Valley by car or via the antique Napa Valley Wine Train.

The Mindil Beach Sunset Market is a great place to take the pulse of Darwin © David Wall Photo / Getty Images

Australia: the tropics of Darwin to the desert heat of Uluru

Exploring Australia’s vastness is no mean feat to tackle over a typical vacation period. If you’re looking to get off the beaten path but also discover things intrinsic to Australia’s cultural identity, look no further than Darwin’s tropical delights and the Red Centre’s highlight, Uluru. Darwin is nearer and in many ways more akin to Southeast Asia, a city of art, markets, steamy humidity and fresh, multicultural food. In the city you can get lost in indigenous history at the Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. Then chill out at Mindil Beach Sunset Market, the perfect place to sample a Malaysian laksa and tropical juices and catch live music along the white-sand beaches. In Nitmilk National Park you can swim and hike through gorge country.

Take a stroll around the unmistakable icon at the heart of Australia © Simonbradfield / Getty Images

It’s a fair journey down the Northern Territory, via a six-hour flight or by making the 22-hour drive over a few days. Arriving in the Red Centre at the famous rock, you can join walking tracks around Uluru, and ranger-led walks explain the area’s plants, wildlife, geology and cultural significance. There are fine examples of rock art on the one-hour Mala Walk, or for something longer, try the 10.5km Base Walk, which circumnavigates the rock and passes caves, paintings and sandstone folds.

Make it happen: explore the city of Darwin before hopping on a tour to Uluru, such as this five-day camping tour.

Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter.

Check out adventure tours for every traveller from our trusted partners.

Food travel is a trend that’s only getting hotter, as everyone from gourmands to social-media junkies pack their bags, armed with a list of must-try dining in dreamy destinations. The world is not just your oyster, in 2019 it’s a smorgasbord of delicious discovery.

Dining with a difference at Mil, Cusco © Gustavo Vivanco

Mil, Cusco, Peru

Fancy some high-altitude dining with views of Inca ruins in a venue run by one of the World’s 50 Best chefs? This ode to Andean ancestral cuisine opened in February 2018 and is worth the trek to 3568m above sea level for the astounding scenery and eight-course menu of ‘moments’, made using ingredients native to the region. Virgilio Martínez (of the acclaimed Central restaurant in Lima) revives ancient ingredients and techniques with modern magic.

To get here, take the flight from Lima to Cuzco (approximately 1hr), then it’s a 90-min drive.

Noma needs no introduction © Jason Loucas

Noma, Copenhagen, Denmark

The reincarnation of René Redzepi’s Copenhagen restaurant launched with much hype and expectation in February 2018. Feted as one of the world’s best (certainly the most influential in creating New-Nordic cuisine) restaurants, ‘Noma 2.0’ has a highly creative, exclusively seasonal menu: Seafood (February to early summer); Vegetable (early summer to early autumn); Game and Forest (early autumn to January).

Follow Noma on social media (@nomacph) for alerts on the next release of seasonal reservations then quickly book online at noma.dk.

Mihara Tofuten, Bangkok, Thailand

The new Japanese-influenced tofu restaurant from chef Gaggan Anand (four-time winner of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants for his eponymous Gaggan) is an adventurous, ambitious taste trip. Trading since late-March 2018, Mihara Tofuten brings authentic tofu, omakase-style, to Bangkok. A dessert of soya ice cream with white and dark chocolate, matcha and pistachio-flavoured chilled tofu bites will convert sceptics.

For reservations, email resv@miharatofutenbangkok.com. The 16-course set menu starts from THB3900 (US$122). Wine/sake pairings are also available on request.

Laura, Mornington Peninsula, Australia

Conceived as a ‘love letter’ to the beautiful Mornington Peninsula, southeast of Melbourne, this sophisticated merging of food, wine and art on Point Leo Estate enjoys phenomenal sunsets from all angles. Named after a 7m-high cast-iron statue by Spanish sculptor Jaume Plensa, Laura offers views across sparkling Western Port Bay and its sculpture park, one of Australia’s largest privately owned collections.

The Mornington Peninsula is best reached by car. Laura is an hour’s drive on the Peninsula Link from Melbourne.

Eat in an igloo in steamy Singapore © Image courtesy of The Summerhouse

‘Dine in the Dome’, The Summerhouse, Singapore

The Summerhouse has enchanted diners with its outdoor edible garden since 2017, and now you can luxuriate in a stylish, air-conditioned igloo while eating under the stars on steamy Singapore nights. Each of the three domes has a theme – choose Bohemian, Scandinavian or Lounge – and seats up to eight guests. Wafting lemongrass and wild strawberry add to the rustic romance.

Located in Seletar Aerospace Park, The Summerhouse’s ‘Dine in the Dome’ experience can be booked from S$300 (US$225) per couple at thesummerhouse.sg/garden-domes.

Find salty seasonings galore at Salt, South Africa © Image courtesy of Salt at Paul Cluver

Salt at Paul Cluver, Grabouw, South Africa

When it comes to food pairing, this restaurant is next level. At Salt, there are six different types of salt placed on every table and each course is paired not only to a specific wine but a specific salt too. Located in the lush Elgin Valley near Cape Town, the restaurant is housed in the Paul Cluver winery – itself known for producing fine chardonnays, rieslings and pinot noirs. Challenge your senses with chefs (and salt aficionados) Craig Cormack and Beau du Toit at the helm.

Salt is in Grabouw, 65km southeast of Cape Town, and is open for breakfast and lunch, serving a two- (R275; US$22) or three-course (R340; US$28) menu.

The Fishmarket, Edinburgh, Scotland

Years in the planning, this new restaurant is a co-creation by Rick Stein’s former head chef, Roy Brett, and Gary Welch from Welch Fishmongers. Open since spring 2018, the premises were built from scratch on the grounds of a former fish market on Newhaven Pier, where merchants and fish sellers would ply their trade in the 19th century. The Fishmarket’s interior design pays homage to its Victorian heritage and makes an idyllic setting in which to enjoy lobster, oysters and champagne, or a more traditional fish-and-chips supper.

Visit The Fishmarket in spring/summer for fish and chips on the deck with uninterrupted views of the Firth of Forth.

Jordan Food Week, Amman, Jordan

Celebrating the history and diversity of Jordan’s food culture, this new festival held in Ras Al Ain, Amman, features 200 producers, including chefs and farmers, showcasing their wares on balmy summer evenings over a week in July. Stroll the stalls, sample home-cooked Jordanian meals from the country’s various cities, watch chef demonstrations, take a cooking class and purchase local artisanal produce, all in something of a carnival atmosphere.

Admission to Jordan Food Week costs 2JOD (US$2.80), with special discounts on Amman’s Careem taxi app. www.jordanfoodweek.com

Moss Restaurant, Iceland © Image courtesy of Moss

Moss, Blue Lagoon, Iceland

Already popular with visitors seeking outdoor thermal bathing bliss, Iceland’s Blue Lagoon now offers a hotspot for foodies, Moss Restaurant, within its new luxury Retreat hotel. Since April 2018, diners have been able to enjoy traditional Icelandic dishes (splurge on the seven-course tasting menu at the 10-seat Chef’s Table), views of volcanic landscapes and wine from a unique, multi-hued lava cellar, frozen since 1226.

The Blue Lagoon is handily located between Reykjavík and Keflavík International Airport. There are hourly bus transfers between both.

The Civilisations Supperclub, London

This supper club series, launched in March 2018, is held in various extraordinary venues around London. Expect thematic food, music and stories focused on history and culture, along the lines of ‘An Arabian Feast: 1001 Flavours, Sounds & Stories from Syria’, which was held in Leighton House’s Grand Studio; and ‘13th-century Syrian Feast’, inspired by dinners that were held on the riverbanks of ancient Barada and the Euphrates, which took place at the London Canal Museum.

The supper club is an initiative by Sakbeh, a food catering and events company.

Discover our selection of the best places to go in 2019. Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter.

The barrier that separates past and present feels thinner in Mexico City than elsewhere in the world. The dynamic culture of the city, and by extension the country, is constantly evolving while simultaneously reaching back into its tumultuous history.

The art, architecture and cuisine are all inextricably linked to the country’s indigenous roots, colonial influence and modern movement. At the center of this is pop-culture icon and prolific artist, Frida Kahlo, whose work portrays her most intimate self as a symbol of this uniquely Mexican identity.

A Dia de Muertos altar in Frida Kahlo’s home honors the iconic artist © Seastock / Getty Images

Discovering the many places in CDMX that formed Frida Kahlo takes the traveler on a journey into the heart of Mexico’s wonderful contradictions and intensely vivid art world and how her legacy continues today.

A past that won’t be denied

The political and cultural center of Mexico City resides in the Zócalo or Plaza de la Constitución. Start your journey there. This colossal city square, surrounded by the National Palace, various government buildings and punctuated by the Catedral Metropolitana was also once the ceremonial center of the Mexica city of Tenochtitlán. Kahlo would have walked through this plaza almost daily on her way to school.

Hernán Cortés tried his best to pick apart the Aztec temples and create New Spain from the bricks, but Templo Mayor, which sits adjacent to the cathedral, would not lie in rest. In the early 1970s, electric workers unearthed a stone disk over 10 feet in diameter carved with the image of Mexica goddess Coyolxauhqui. The discovery of the relief prompted interest in ongoing excavations, and from 1978 to 1982 specialists excavated all of Templo Mayor and recovered over 7,000 Mexica artifacts. Visitors can tour the Templo Mayor site, stand next to various iterations of the temple and see first hand the largesse of a culture that once was and the attempts of another to destroy it.

Stand at Templo Mayor and look back towards the Cathedral to get an idea of how the new Spanish City was created from the ruins of Tenochtitlan © John Coletti / Getty Images

The Catedral Metropolitana is also not to be missed. The largest cathedral in the Americas, the building was started in 1573 and remained a work in progress during the entire colonial period. The sheer number of architectural styles is impressive, not to mention imagining generations of builders dedicating their lives to creating the most innovative tribute to Catholicism of its day.

With some 82 percent of the population in Mexico claiming Catholicism as a religion, the Templo Mayor and Catedral Metropolitana set the stage for a culture both steeped in indigenous history and practices while remaining dedicated to its colonial influence.

Education through art

Frida Kahlo started secondary school in 1922, not far from the Zócalo. The Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso was once home to the National Preparatory School and is just a short walk north of Templo Mayor. Kahlo was one of only 35 girls at a school of 2,000. It is here that Diego Rivera, whom Kahlo would later marry, painted his first mural and launched what was to become Mexico’s world-renown muralist movement.

Murals line the halls of Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso, where Kahlo attended secondary school in Mexico City © Christian Kober / Getty Images

Frida Kahlo watched Rivera compose this first mural dubbed The Creation in a lecture hall of her school. It had been commissioned along with many others by the Mexican government shortly after the Revolution. The aim was to educate the masses, who mostly couldn’t read Spanish, with a visual record of history and politics. The Palacio Nacional (National Palace) and Palacio Bellas Artes, in which Kahlo’s body was laid in state after her death, has fantastic examples from Rivera as well as Jose Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueiros, the other top muralists of the time.

On the way to school in 1925, Kahlo was involved in a horrific trolley accident that left her in a body cast. Forced to lie prostrate for a year, the young Kahlo hung a mirror above her bed and started painting.

Stirrings of an icon

Once Kahlo was able to walk again and had been painting for some time, she brought her paintings to Rivera to ask his opinion of her art. In 1928, he was working on a mural at the Secretaría de Educación Pública which is just a block north of San Ildefonso. Kahlo was 21 when she marched into the master’s workplace to demand a critique of her paintings.

The encounter sparked a romantic relationship and the two were married a year later in Coyoacán. Rivera was 43 and Kahlo 22. Her parents referred to the union as a “marriage between an elephant and a dove.”

Frida Kahlo’s home is now a museum where visitors can see the intimate spaces the artist created for herself © Gerard Uferas / Getty Images

Coyoacan: The home of a movement

Frida Kahlo spent most of her life living in the Mexico City neighborhood of Coyoacan. Casa Azul, where she was born, grew up and eventually died, is now a museum dedicated to her life and work, Museo Frida Kahlo. A sprawling hacienda painted electric blue, Casa Azul houses everything from Kahlo’s amazing wardrobe to her father’s photography.

Kahlo’s father, Guillermo Kahlo, immigrated from Germany in 1891. Kahlo’s mother, the deeply religious Matilde Calderon y González, was from Oaxaca. Kahlo’s choice of dress was a highly curated part of her creative expression and not typical for women of her station. The Tehuana (traditional dress from the Tehuantepec region in southern Oaxaca) she wore worked to hide her broken body, but also connected her to the indigenous people of Oaxaca, where her mother came from. It was a matriarchal society and thus their traditional dress is considered a symbol of female power and independence.

Kahlo and Rivera moved to this home in San Angel designed by their friend, architect Juan O’Gorman. Rivera lived and worked in the white building while Kahlo lived and worked in the blue © Pawel Toczynski / Getty Images

After getting married, Kahlo and Rivera moved for a brief time to the US. On their return in 1931, the two settled nearby in San Angel at what is now the Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo. Designed by their friend, architect and painter Juan O’Gorman, the site boasts three buildings. The first was Diego’s home and studio, which was connected by a rooftop bridge to Frida’s room and studio. A third small structure housed O’Gorman’s home.

Across the street from the museum is the San Angel Inn. Now home to an elegant restaurant that serves classic Mexican cuisine, it was the place where Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata agreed to divide control of the country in 1914. It is well worth a stop for mole and a margarita.

Kahlo eventually moved from the home she shared with Rivera back to Casa Azul after their tumultuous relationship grew out of control. The two divorced, but later remarried. They lived in Casa Azul for the remainder of Kahlo’s life.

Find art from all over Mexico at the Bazaar Sábado in San Angel © Education Images / Getty Images

Go to Coyoacan on a Saturday so you can explore some of the best boutiques in the city. Here you will see modern examples of how designers are using traditional styles to create bold and challenging new fashions just as Kahlo did with her style choices all those years ago. Also make a stop at the Bazaar Sábado. Located in Plaza San Jacinto and the adjacent Plaza Tenanitla. Find textiles from Oaxaca along with other regions of Mexico mixed with stunning carvings, incredible jewelry and other wares from artists and artisans throughout the country at this weekly market.

Part of the national fabric

Frida Kahlo’s art combined indigenous symbols with Catholic icons and explored self and country in a way that sought to define a Mexican identity. Her self-portraits mimic those popular in the colonial era, but subvert the form by including surreal elements and making herself less attractive. She was influenced both by classically trained artists and Mexican folk artists, creating a piece of Mexicanidad (romantic nationalism movement) that persists to this day.

The Museo Soumaya is a relatively new addition to the Mexico City art scene designed by Mexican architect Fernando Romero © Fitopardo / Getty Images

Fast forward 64 years since Kahlo’s death and her hometown is booming with art, design and cuisine that, like Kahlo, pay homage to Mexico’s confusing and complicated history while keeping a firm eye on shaping the future.

Check out the art galleries in Roma and then head to Polanco for Museo Soumaya, a modernist building designed by Mexican architect Fernando Romero that literally glistens in the high-altitude sun. Inside, the sleek minimalist galleries highlight the stunning art collection of Mexican businessman and avid collector Carlos Slim. The museum is free because Slim believes that all Mexican people should have access to art. The collection is broad, including works from pre-columbian artisans, European masters and modern creators.

Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter.