Mexico City is HUGE, and it can be quite tricky to work out where’s best to stay, especially for first-timers. We were in the same boat before our trip. But, after spending 12 days across 3 different areas of the city, we got a pretty good sense for where’s best to stay.
That’s why we’ve put together this summary of the best areas to stay in Mexico City for first-timers.
If you’re visiting CDMX, we’d recommend also giving our Ultimate Mexico City Guide a read before you go too! We detail all the best things to do, where to eat, how to get around, and plenty more!
Where do I start?
We’re glad you asked! There are 5 main areas which are popular for tourists to stay in during their time in Mexico City:
All of these areas have different pros, and if you’re spending more than 3 days in CDMX you might want to consider staying in a couple of different areas.
With most of them, you’ll be able to find a good walking tour to help you get acquainted with the streets around you. For the BEST & FREE walking tours in CDMX, we always, always recommend Estación México. We did 4 (yes, 4!) of their free CDMX walking tours and each one was a HIT! While they are free, we’d recommend leaving a tip to your guide at the end if they do a great job.
Check out our Ultimate Mexico City Guide for more information on these epic walking tours!
Tip: If you’re planning on visiting for ‘Dia de los Muertos’ BOOK EARLY. We didnt and had a VERY reduced choice of accommodation options!
For transparency, we stayed in Roma Norte (2 nights), Centro Histórico (4 nights) & Juárez (6 nights for the Day of the Dead festivities). We loved each area for different reasons, so let’s breakdown what those were and where we’d recommend:
☕️ Roma Norte
Roma Norte is probably the most popular area for first-time visitors. It has a European feel, with tree-lined avenues, gothic/colonial buildings, an amazing cafe culture, great boutique shops & galleries, plenty of street art, and a fab food & nightlife scene. Basically, it has it all.
We spent our first 2 nights in Mexico City here and enjoyed it so much!
What’s nearby?
- Mercado Roma
- Plenty of bars & cafes (check out Alvaro Obregón Avenue)
- Art galleries & boutique shops
- Trendy restaurants
Here’s some options for where you could stay:
- ($) Kasa Kaktus – where we stayed! It’s a small, cosy, plant-filled hostel with private rooms. It’s only a short walk to the centre of Roma Norte, and it also has self check-in so you don’t have to worry if your flight gets in late. It’s not an overly social hostel, so it’s better for couples.
- ($) Colmena Tonala – another budget option, but it’s not a hostel.
- ($$) Hotel Stanza – a more modern hotel. Plus, it’s located in the heart of Roma Norte, so you’re close to everything.
- ($$$$) Brick Hotel – a luxury (but expensive) option with a boutique atmosphere. Located in a gorgeous historic building.
🌳 Condesa
Condesa is a leafy, upscale neighbourhood with a super relaxed vibe. It feels like a breath of fresh air amongst a busy city and has some really beautiful parks like Parque México.
The cafe scene here is fab as well! If you love dogs, you’ll definitely love it here – it feels like everyone in the area has a furry friend, so the parks are full of them 🦮
What’s nearby?
- Parque México
- Parque España
- Beautiful Art Deco architecture
- More great cafes & nightlife
- Amsterdam Avenue (walkable loop)
You might struggle to find some budget options here, as it’s a little more up-market. Nearby Juárez or Roma Norte might suit you better. But if you are set on staying in Condesa, here’s some great options:
- ($) Casa Nuevo Leon – this is one of the nicest ‘budget’ options we could find in Condesa, and it has a great central location.
- ($$) Casa Decu – this super lux hotel is found right in the centre of Condesa, but has some great deals on booking.com which pull it down into the $$ bracket!
- ($$$) Andaz Condesa is a stunning hotel close to Parque México and even has a rooftop pool!
🏛️ Centro Histórico
The historic heart of the city, Centro Histórico is a fantastic choice for first-time visitors. You’re right next to popular attractions such as the Zócalo, Cathedral, Palacio de Bellas Artes and Templo Mayor. If you’re into shopping, you’ll love it here too!
What’s nearby?
- Zócalo (main square)
- Palacio de Bellas Artes
- Templo Mayor ruins
- Metropolitan Cathedral
You don’t necessarily need to stay in this area to see these sites considering the fantastic public transport, but it’s a great base of operations for exploring on foot. Check out some of these accommodation options:
- ($) Hostel Joven Mundo – this is where we stayed. Dorms & private rooms are on offer, as well as rooftop bar access, shared kitchens and free breakfast in the mornings – win win win! The rooftop bar also has the best views of the cathedral – read more about Terraza Cathedral here.
- ($$) Hotel Marlowe Centro Histórico is next to lots of great stores and is only a short walk to the Zócalo and public transport links.
- ($$$$) Gran Hotel is the ultimate luxury 5 star hotel in Centro Histórico. The Art Nouveau architecture is simply stunning!!
One of our favourite activities in Mexico City was visiting Teotihuacán, the ancient city that pre-dates the Aztecs. We’d strongly recommend a visit while you’re in CDMX, so make sure to check out our article on the Ultimate Guide to Visiting Teotihuacán.
🌇 Juárez / Zona Rosa
Juárez and Zona Rosa have a host of history combined with a fab nightlife. The area is super LGBTQ+ friendly and has some great restaurants too.
It’s also close to the Paseo de la Reforma, the main thoroughfare through the city, and location for the Day of the Dead parade, and the Angel of Independence, an icon of the city.
We also found that Juárez seemed to be one of the cheaper places to stay in Mexico City – bonus!
What’s nearby?
- Paseo de la Reforma
- Monumento a la Revolución
- Angel of Independence
- Korean & LGBTQ+ nightlife
- Art galleries & antique shops
Check out some of these accommodation options:
- ($) Hostel Juarez is a stunning hostel best for budget travellers and is right in the centre of Juárez.
- ($) Hotel Casa Gonzalez – this gorgeous hotel with green gardens and a lovely outside patio. It comes with fresh, well lit rooms – perfect for a couple on a budget.
- ($) Exe Cities Reforma – yet another reasonably priced hotel in Juárez, close to Reforma Avenue.
- ($-$$) Suites Hotel 212 offers apart-hotel rooms with kitchens and large spaces. We stayed here during the Day of the Dead festivities and it was perfect for us, since we could easily walk to the parade and a range of great restaurants. The kitchen was also so, so handy for making our own meals when we didn’t want to eat out.
🖼️ Coyoacán
Coyoacán is pretty district in the south of Mexico City which is covered in cobblestone streets, surrounded by colonial-era architecture, vibrant plazas, and of course the famous Frida Kahlo Museum.
Personally we wouldn’t stay in this area as going back-and-forth to the centre of the city might become a bit tedious, but it is LOVELY for a day trip!
What’s nearby?
- Frida Kahlo Museum (Casa Azul)
- Coyoacán Market
- Leon Trotsky Museum
- Plaza Hidalgo & Jardín Centenario
- Traditional cantinas & cafes
If you do decide to stay here, then check out some of these lovely accommodation options:
- ($) Habitaciones Coyoacan – this really reasonable priced guesthouse offers rooms with kitchenettes.
- ($$) Agata Hotel Boutique & Spa offers luxurious rooms, spa facilities, a sun terrace & free breakfast!
- ($$$) H21 Hospedaje Boutique – this gorgeous boutique hotel is walking distance to all the major sites in Coyocán, and has the vibe of a calm oasis within a bustling neighbourhood.
Help! I’m on a budget!
Most capitals have higher prices of accommodation compared to the rest of the country, and Mexico City is no different. Hotels might seem a tad expensive, but don’t panic! There are lots of hostels or cheaper guesthouses available to suit all budgets.
Tip: If budget is a concern, then we’d always recommend booking early. We typically book around 1-2 months before visiting a capital city, if not more sometimes. Things won’t have sold-out by then and you’ll have plenty more options to choose from!
Why not have a search yourself on booking.com or hostelworld; and filter for prices.
Booking.com ⬇️
Hostelworld ⬇️
While we think it’s always best to be within walking distance of attractions, activities & restaurants, our number one tip for Mexico City is this: staying anywhere within a 5-10 min walk of a Metro/Metrobús station will be just fine 🚃 🚌
Don’t forget to pick up a metrocard once you arrive – it makes life so much simpler for getting around the city! We went into detail on how to do this and the benefits in our Ultimate Mexico City Transport Guide article – check it out if you’ve not already.
Make sure you check out our other Mexico articles to help you plan your trip, and most importantly… ENJOY!
What else to do in Mexico City
Whilst you’re here, why not check out what else to do during your trip to Mexico City:
- 🥾 Estación México Walking Tour
- 🛕 Teotihuacán Ancient Ruins
- 👺 Lucha Libre – The Quintessential Mexican Experience
- 🛶 Float Down the Xochimilco Canals
- 🏬 Explore the Historic Centre / Zocalo (Main Square)
- 🥐 Indulge at the Cafes / Brunch Spots in Roma Norte
- 🖼️ Visit The Frida Kahlo Museum / Coyoacán
- 🏛️ Uncover History at the National Museum of Anthropology
- 💀 Day Of The Dead Festivities (Oct / Nov only)
- 💳 Get A Metrocard (not really an ‘attraction’, but important!)
- 🌮 Enjoy Delicious Tacos at Orinocos
- ⛪️ Take an Overnight / Day Trip to Puebla
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