The Best Areas to Stay in Mexico City
The Best Areas to Stay in Mexico City

Best Areas to Stay in Mexico City

Where to stay in Mexico City – A guide to the Mexican capital

Mexico City (or CDMX) is the capital of Mexico, as well as its main economic and cultural epicenter, with lots of entertainment options to choose from.

This huge city of 1,485 km² is one of the cities with the most traffic in the world, but it has different transport options such as taxis, buses and a light rail, as well as a metro system that runs the length and breadth of its territory, making moving from one area to another an easier task.

Mexico City is a popular destination thanks to its typical cuisine that includes tacos, burritos, enchiladas, chilaquiles and other delicacies famous for having a very spicy touch.

Before traveling to Mexico City, it is important to consider what is the best time to visit and make the most out of your stay.

The dry season (which usually extends from October to April) has temperatures that reach a maximum of 25ºC and will allow you to enjoy green landscapes that contrast with the mixture of colonial architecture, Art Deco and Art Nouveau that embellish the main streets of Mexico City.

Mexico City is full of cultural attractions to discover, including museums such as the Palace of Fine Arts, the Soumaya and Tamayo (devoted to contemporary art), as well as the Casa Azul (Blue House) and the Dolores Olmedo, where collections of important Mexican artists are exhibited, including Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera’s paintings.

In addition, CDMX has open spaces as iconic as the Bosque de Chapultepec (Chapultepec Forest), one of the largest urban parks worldwide.

When it comes to nightlife and shopping, Mexico City does not fall short, offering alternatives for all types of visitors.

When deciding where to stay in Mexico City, it is important to consider the reason for travel. If you want to shop at the most exclusive boutiques in the Mexican capital, Polanco is the best area for you (See Polanco accommodation). On the other hand, Centro Histórico (Old Town) is also a good accommodation choice if you want to know in depth the history of CDMX (See accommodation in Centro Histórico).

This is a guide with the best areas to stay in Mexico City.

The Best Areas to Stay in Mexico City

1. Our Favorite Area: Polanco

Polanco is the most exclusive neighborhood in Mexico City, so Mexicans refer to this district as the posh area of the capital.

When walking through this area, it is common to see shops belonging to large fashion houses, exclusive restaurants and five-star hotels.

Polanco is also home to Bosque de Chapultepec, an enormous urban park where the inhabitants of Mexico City and visitors can ride bicycle or roller skate, and that also has the National Museum of Anthropology and the Tamayo Museum of Contemporary Art inside its territory.

The nightlife in Polanco is among the liveliest of CDMX, with bars and clubs that present the latest musical, gastronomic and cocktail trends.

Polanco is the best place to stay in Mexico City for the most demanding travelers who want to stay close to the fun and, at the same time, witness the most elegant side of CDMX.

Polanco is connected by line 7 of the metro (the orange one), including its very own station.

Best areas to stay in Mexico City - Polanco
Best areas to stay in Mexico City – Polanco
Accommodation in Mexico City - Polanco - Click on the map to see all available accommodation in this area
Accommodation in Mexico City – Polanco – Click on the map to see all available accommodation in this area

Why is this a recommended area to stay in CDMX:

  • Exclusive area
  • Pedestrian-friendly
  • Great nightlife
  • Luxury hotels
  • Bosque de Chapultepec
  • Museums and cultural options

2. Centro Histórico (Old Town)

Centro Histórico is the Old Town of Mexico City and it conserves most of the city’s cultural heritage, making it a mandatory stop when visiting the Mexican capital.

Each corner of Centro Histórico is representative of Mexican culture, including the Zócalo, which is the main square of CDMX that regularly hosts outdoor events for the entire family.

This area of Mexico City is ideal for wandering between architectural monuments that include the Palace of Fine Arts, the Alameda Central Square and the lively Plaza Garibaldi (Garibaldi Square), where it is not at all strange to run into a mariachi recital.

On the other hand, when it comes to food, Centro Histórico offers you the true Mexican flavor at affordable prices, in addition to markets like San Juan, where you can get all kinds of fresh and exotic ingredients for your recipes.

Centro Histórico is one of the best areas to stay in Mexico City since every day you will have something to do or see if you book one of the many accommodation options in this district. Its large number of shops makes it the favorite place for those seeking for souvenirs.

However, it is advisable to be careful during the night, as the area is not the safest in Mexico City.

Centro Histórico connects with the rest of Mexico City by lines 1 (Salto del Agua Station), 2 (Zócalo Station), 3 (Juarez Station) and 8 (Bellas Artes and Garibaldi Stations) of the metro.

Accommodation in México DF - Centro Histórico
Accommodation in México DF – Centro Histórico
Alameda Central - Mexico City
Alameda Central – Mexico City
Best areas to stay in Mexico City - Centro Histórico - Click on the map to see all available accommodation in this area
Best areas to stay in Mexico City – Centro Histórico – Click on the map to see all available accommodation in this area

Why is this a recommended area to stay in Mexico City:

  • Packed with cultural attractions
  • Plaza Garibaldi
  • Plenty of accommodation options
  • Palacio de Bellas Artes
  • Charming streets
  • Zócalo

3. Condesa

Condesa is the favorite area for fans of the alternative cultural scene in Mexico City, with shops, bars and cafes ideal for hipsters and bohemians.

This is a neighborhood adorned by street art, buildings and monuments that can be compared to those of some european countries, such as, for example, its own replica of Plaza de Cibeles.

Condesa also has among its main attractions green, open spaces such as Parque México and Parque España, for visitors looking to spend some time outdoors without having to leave this attractive neighborhood of Mexico City.

Both Condesa and its neighbor district Roma Norte have metro stations such as Sevilla (line 1) to move to other areas of CDMX.

Condesa is one of the best areas to stay in Mexico City if you want to know the emerging artistic movement of the Mexican capital.

Stay in Condesa - Mexico City
Stay in Condesa – Mexico City
Where to stay in Mexico City - Condesa - Click on the map to see all available accommodation in this area
Where to stay in Mexico City – Condesa – Click on the map to see all available accommodation in this area

Why is this a recommended area to stay in Mexico DF:

  • Alternative area
  • Plaza de Cibeles
  • Parque México & Parque España

4. Reforma

Reforma is probably the best located area in Mexico City and houses one of the most famous avenues of the Mexican capital: Paseo de la Reforma, with sculptures like La Diana Cazadora and the Ángel de la Reforma that are architectural icons.

In this part of the city you will never run out of options, as it has a large selection of restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and shops for all types of visitors. In addition, you also have many types of hotels and accommodation to choose from in this area, according to your needs and budget.

Reforma is the most “gay-friendly” area of Mexico City, where you’ll find the famous “Zona Rosa” and its many LGBT-themed places, so the price of accommodation in this district tends to rise during June, due to Gay Pride month.

Moving from Reforma to any other area of CDMX is an easy task, thanks to its metro connections (with several stations on line 1) and buses. In the same way, it is a pedestrian-friendly and safe neighborhood.

Reforma is one of the best areas to stay in Mexico City if you want to be right at the center of events or if you travel for professional reasons and are looking for the best area to stay in Mexico City for business.

Staying near Paseo de la Reforma - Mexico City
Staying near Paseo de la Reforma – Mexico City
Best areas to stay in Mexico City - Reforma - Click on the map to see all available accommodation in this area
Best areas to stay in Mexico City – Reforma – Click on the map to see all available accommodation in this area

Why is this a recommended area to stay in Mexico City:

  • Great metro connections
  • Zona rosa
  • Business-type hotels

5. Coyoacán

Coyoacán is the most picturesque neighborhood of Mexico City and, despite being a little far from the most popular areas, has many entertainment options and cultural attractions that you have to know.

This district of CDMX houses the iconic Casa Azul (Blue House) that was the home of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, where a large part of their paintings are exhibited, as well as objects representative of their lifestyle.

Furthermore, the streets of Coyoacán, with their colonial style, present charming hotels and cozy pensions ideal for visitors seeking quiet places to stay in Mexico City.

Coyoacán connects with the rest of the city through lines 2, 3 and 12 of the metro and is one of the best areas to stay in Mexico City thanks to its vibrant cultural life.

This neighborhood is also the place to look for typical handmade gifts to give to your loved ones.

Coyoacán - Best areas to stay in Mexico City
Coyoacán – Best areas to stay in Mexico City
Mexico City - Coyoacán - Click on the map to see all available accommodation in this area
Mexico City – Coyoacán – Click on the map to see all available accommodation in this area

Why is this a recommended area to stay in CDMX:

  • Charming hotels
  • Frida Kahlo Museum
  • A lot of cultural attractions

6. Near the Azteca Stadium

The surroundings of the Azteca Stadium are ideal for those who visit Mexico City to attend a concert or important sporting event.

This stadium, which has capacity for almost 100 thousand people, has been the venue for concerts by great music figures such as Michael Jackson, Elton John, U2 and Paul McCartney, which makes it a legendary place in CDMX.

This area of Mexico City is out of the reach of the metro, but has a light rail that connects it with other important attractions.

The surroundings of the Estadio Azteca are among the best areas to stay in Mexico City if you travel to a specific event, ensuring that you can arrive on time and without any inconveniences to the game or concert.

Stay near the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City
Stay near the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City
Stay near the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City - Click on the map to see all available accommodation in this area
Stay near the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City – Click on the map to see all available accommodation in this area

Why is this a recommended area to stay in Mexico City:

  • Best area for sporting events
  • Concerts
  • Cheap accommodation

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|ES| Dónde alojarse en Ciudad de México