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The Best Areas to Stay in Mexico City – Top Districts & Hotels

Where to Stay in Mexico City – What You Need to Know

Mexico City is the third-largest city in the world, right after New York and Tokyo. It’s a place of cultural attractions with ain interesting mixture of colonial and art deco architecture, world-famous cuisine and lively nightlife. In this post, we will talk about the best areas to stay in Mexico City.

Best areas to stay in Mexico City
Best areas to stay in Mexico City

This Latin American giant was founded by the Aztecs, who built it over the lakes of the Valley of Mexico.

Moving through the vast territory of Mexico City is easier than in other Latin American capitals such as Bogota or Lima, due to the different transportation options available. The metro, which has 195 stations, is the best option to avoid the usual heavy traffic of the city during peak hours, but it is also possible to travel by car, bicycle, bus or on foot through its streets and avenues.

As for the best areas to stay in Mexico City (CDMX), if the purpose of your visit cultural, then Centro Histórico (Old Town) is the best option for you (See accommodation in Centro Histórico). If you are looking for a good time, Polanco, with its great variety of shops, bars and nightclubs, is a great choice (See accommodation in Polanco).

This is a list of the best locations to stay in Mexico City. As we did with our Bogota and Lima accommodation guides, additionally to the neighborhood information, we’ve also included a small safety section for you to take into account when choosing the best area to stay in CDMX.

Best areas to Stay in Mexico City

1. Recommended Area: Reforma

Its perfect location makes Reforma is the best area to stay in Mexico City.

Reforma is home to one of the most important avenues in the world: Paseo de la Reforma. This avenue is full of all types of accommodation options, including hotels that are, for the most part, luxurious.

If you’re aiming to take a look at the Mexican nightlife, the Zona Rosa with its many LGBT-oriented establishments is ideal for you. In the Zona Rosa the party starts early, at 8:00 pm you’ll be able to see the bars and nightclubs packed with people dancing to the latest pop music, electronic and Latin hits.

The shops and restaurants in the neighborhood make it easy to have a great experience during your visit to Mexico City, without having to move that much.

Is it a safe area area to stay in Mexico City?: As with most central areas in any city, common sense is recommended. However, Reforma is a safe area to stay in Mexico City at any time.

Best area to stay in Mexico City - Reforma & Zona Rosa
Best area to stay in Mexico City – Reforma & Zona Rosa
Mexico City - Reforma - Click here to see all hotels on a map
Mexico City – Reforma – Click here to see all hotels on a map

What makes this the best area to stay in Mexico City

  • Cultural attractions
  • LGTB area
  • Paseo de la Reforma
  • Connected by metro
  • Close to Chapultepec forest

Hand-picked hotels in this area

  • Our Top Pick

    The PF Suites is close to the areas of cultural, historical and financial interest of Mexico City, in the central Zona Rosa, and offers comfortable accommodation and friendly service.

  • Budget Option

    Monoambientes Cuauhtemoc offers accommodation in Mexico City. It is 400 meters from the Torre Mayor. Free WiFi is available in all areas.

  • Midrange Option

    Hotel PF enjoys a magnificent location close to places of historical and cultural interest, such as Chapultepec Castle, and offers free Wi-Fi, among other services.

  • Luxury Option

    Barceló Mexico Reforma is located in Mexico City. It has a heated pool, spa center, fitness center, a la carte restaurant and private parking.


2. Condesa & Roma Norte

Condesa and Roma Norte are two of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the Mexican capital and, therefore, are also among the best locations to stay in town.

These neighboring areas are a hipster’s paradise. Their walls are filled with street art and you can find vintage shops, avant-garde restaurants and venues devoted to poetry.

The European atmosphere of Condesa and Roma Norte is more obvious when you walk through Plaza de Cibeles, an exact replica of the one in Madrid that was given to Mexico as a symbol of brotherhood between the Mexican and Spanish cultures.

Roma Norte also includes the Medellín Market, a space recognizable from any distance, thanks to its colorful façade, where South Americans go to get ingredients from their native lands.

Is it a safe area to stay in Mexico City? Condesa and Roma Norte are both safe areas to stay in Mexico City.

Best neighborhoods to stay in Mexico City - Condesa & Roma Norte
Best neighborhoods to stay in Mexico City- Condesa & Roma Norte
Mexico City - Condesa & Roma Norte - Click here to see all hotels on a map
Mexico City – Condesa & Roma Norte – Click here to see all hotels on a map

What makes this the best area to stay in Mexico City


  • Alternative shops
  • Plaza Cibeles
  • European flair
  • Medellín Market
  • Easy to walk around

Hand-picked hotels in this area

  • Our Top Pick

    Casa de la Condesa is close to the most important places of interest in Mexico City, surrounded by beautiful shops and lively nightlife. It offers spacious accommodations, personalized services and dining options.

  • Budget Option

    Entre Barrios Hospederia is located between 2 of the most modern areas of Mexico City, Roma and Condesa, and offers free WiFi.

  • Midrange Option

    Izta 54 is located in Mexico City, 1.7 km from Zona Rosa, it offers a terrace and views of the garden.

  • Luxury Option

    Casa Malí by Dominion Boutique Hotelis located in Mexico City, 1.6 km from Castillo de Chapultepec, it offers free WiFi and air conditioning. The property is 1.6 km from the Torre Mayor skyscraper.


3. Centro Histórico (Old Town)

Centro Histórico or Old Town is the best area to stay in Mexico City if you want to immerse yourself in the history of this unique, Latin American country.

This area of ​​Mexico City is so big that you could take a week to explore it and, still, find something new to see every day, without having visit other parts of the city.

Centro Histórico displays buildings as representative of Mexican architecture such as the Zócalo, the central square of Mexico City and the second largest in the world, with a capacity of over 100 thousand people.

The Alameda Central is another landmark that you’ll be able to see in Centro Histórico. It is considered to be the first urban park in America.

Next to La Alameda, you’ll find one of the most important museums in Mexico City: The Fine Arts Palace.

Another landmark of the old town is Plaza Garibaldi, where mariachis and musicians join in the afternoons to serenade everyone who walks through this popular area of ​​Mexico City.

Is it a safe area to stay in Mexico City? Although there is no problem during the day, at night Centro Histórico is not the safest area to stay in Mexico City.

Where to stay in Mexico City - Centro Histórico
Where to stay in Mexico City – Centro Histórico
Best areas to stay in Mexico City - Centro Histórico
Best areas to stay in Mexico City – Centro Histórico
Mexico City - Centro Histórico - Click here to see all hotels on a map
Mexico City – Centro Histórico – Click here to see all hotels on a map

What makes this the best area to stay in Mexico City

  • Historical buildings
  • Center of the city
  • Cultural attractions
  • Metro stations
  • Shops and entertainment

Hotels by area:

Hand-picked hotels in this area

  • Our Top Pick

    Best Western Majestic is located in the historic center of Mexico City, near several dining options, and offers incredible views of the Zócalo, the main square of the city. The rooms feature ironing facilities, a safe, cable TV and a private bathroom with a shower or a bathtub, a hairdryer and free toiletries.

  • Budget Option

    Hostal Amigo Suites is located in downtown Mexico City, just a 3-minute walk from the city’s Metropolitan Cathedral, it offers free Wi-Fi and a rooftop terrace with sun loungers and a bar.

  • Midrange Option

    City Centro Ciudad de Mexico is located in Mexico City, 600 meters from El Zócalo Square, it features free WiFi access and a fitness center. The hotel offers a free full breakfast.

  • Luxury Option

    NH Mexico City Centro Historico is located in the heart of Mexico City, within walking distance of the Metropolitan Cathedral. The property is well connected to the most famous sights and offers modern soundproofed rooms with free Wi-Fi.


4. Polanco

Polanco is the most exclusive district of Mexico City, known for its top-quality cuisine and big fashion houses stores that fill its streets with style, particularly around Presidente Masaryk avenue.

In Polanco you can find the Soumaya Museum, with one of the largest collections of contemporary art in Latin America. In addition, a few steps away from Soumaya, you’ll get to the Inbursa Aquarium, with over 350 aquatic species.

Polanco is also home to Chapultepec Forest, the second largest urban park in Latin America, where you can ride a bike, skate or walk while enjoying its beautiful views.

Accommodation in Polanco tends to be exclusive and also expensive. However, it is one of the best areas to stay in Mexico City, since there is always something to do.

Is it a safe area to stay in Mexico City? Polanco is the safest place to stay in Mexico City.

Safest area to stay in Mexico City - Polanco
Safest area to stay in Mexico City – Polanco
Mexico City - Polanco - Click here to see all hotels on a map
Mexico City – Polanco – Click here to see all hotels on a map

What makes this the best area to stay in Mexico City

  • Exclusive shops
  • Soumaya Museum
  • Chapultepec forest
  • Great restaurants and nightclubs
  • Inbursa Aquarium

Hand-picked hotels in this area

  • Our Top Pick

    Residence L´Heritage Aristóteles 140 by BlueBay offers rooms with cable TV, free Wi-Fi and free private parking. Located a 5-minute walk from Polanco Metro Station, this property also has a gym.

  • Luxury Option

    JW Marriott Hotel Mexico City is 8 km from the center of Mexico City and a 10-minute walk from the Auditorium Metro Station. It offers an outdoor pool, free Wi-Fi and a health center with exclusive spa services, such as a gym and a hot tub.


5. Coyoacán

Coyoacán is one of the most charming places in Mexico City, thanks to its narrow colonial-style streets, with cobbled floors and lots of color.

Coyoacán is the birthplace of the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, and where the famous “Casa Azul” is located, a house where she spent the last years of her life with her husband, the painter Diego Rivera. Nowadays, the house is a museum where some of Frida’s paintings, photographs and items related to her particular lifestyle are exhibited.

The cultural life in Coyoacán is vibrant; this district has movie theaters, galleries, parks and entertainment areas for all types of audiences.

Coyoacán also has markets and craft stores where, without a doubt, you will be able to find something to give away, even for the pickiest of your friends.

Due to its distance from other areas of CDMX, accommodation in Coyoacán is usually cheaper than in other neighborhoods of the city.

Still, Coyoacán is one of the best areas to stay in Mexico City if you are looking for a peaceful time.

Is it a safe area to stay in Mexico City? Coyoacán is a safe and quiet area to stay in Mexico City.

Coyoacán - Where to stay in Mexico City
Coyoacán – Where to stay in Mexico City
Recommended area to stay in Mexico City - Coyoacán
Recommended area to stay in Mexico City – Coyoacán
Mexico City - Coyoacán - Click here to see all hotels on a map
Mexico City – Coyoacán – Click here to see all hotels on a map

What makes this the best area to stay in Mexico City

  • Frida Kahlo Museum
  • Colonial-style architecture
  • Cultural attractions
  • Cheap and charming accommodation

Hand-picked hotels in this area

  • Our Top Pick

    Chalet del Carmen is located in Mexico City. This charming property offers free Wi-Fi in all areas and has a nice garden and a shared kitchen.

  • Budget Option

    Hostal La Encantada is located in one of the most traditional and typical neighborhoods of Mexico City, in Coyoacán. It offers free Wi-Fi.


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