Where to Stay in Mexico City: Local Guide
A trip to Mexico’s capital city will be nothing short of amazing. Mexico City, or CDMX—as it’s now known, is filled to the brim with incredible art, culture, a rich history, and food you will surely crave after you leave.
Mexico City is quite large, and the different areas are pretty spread out. Each unique area offers something special, and there are over a dozen different neighborhoods. How will you know which is the best neighborhood to stay in Mexico City?
I’ve lived in Mexico City for a few years (before moving to Playa del Carmen) I moved many times and can say that I lived in pretty much every central and semi-central part of the city. I also revisited the city numerous times after I moved away, so as a result, I was able to stay in a number of different hotels.
Read on to find where to stay in Mexico City, learn some fun facts, and start planning your activities for your once in a lifetime trip to the beautiful capital. Whether you’re looking for a Mexico City Airbnb, a 5-star hotel, or a quaint boutique hotel, I got you covered.
Where to Stay in Mexico City – Quick Summary
(For more detailed descriptions keeps scrolling)
★ Where to Stay in Mexico City for First Time Visit – Roma & Zona Rosa
★ Budget Area to Stay in Mexico City – Zocalo / Centro Historico
★ For the Luxury Travelers – Polanco
★ Best Place to Stay in Mexico City with Family – Reforma
★ Where to Stay in Mexico City for Nightlife – La Condesa
★ Coolest Area to Stay in Mexico City – Coyoacan
★ Other Areas of Mexico City Worth Mentioning
★ Where NOT to Stay in Mexico City
Best Hotels to Stay in Mexico City:
Best Luxury Hotels in Mexico City
Hotel Marquis • Sheraton Maria Isabel • Orchid House Polanco • Grand Hotel CDMX
Guesthouses in CDMX
Casa Coyoacán • Art Residence San Angel • Casa Corp
Design Hotels in CDMX
Pug Seal Tennyson • Quetzalcoatl`s Nest
Best Budget Accommodation in Mexico City
Capsule Hostel • Hostal La Encantada • Casa Pepe
Important Things to Note:
Consider Traffic Jam
Mexico City is one of the most populated cities in the world (along with Tokyo). Luckily, there is a fair amount of public transport, taxis, and Ubers to get around the city swiftly.
But, it can take forever to get around. I would compare Mexico City to Los Angeles in terms of traffic – if you get stuck, you’re stuck. I still remember that time when I was stuck in a taxi and managed to watch a full movie on my phone until I reached my destination – and it was only 6 miles away!
That said, avoid planning your journeys to the other part of the city during rush hour, unless you’re going by Metro.
Coming from the airport you can easily take Uber, but in case your internet doesn’t work (wifi doesn’t always work at the airport) or you feel more comfortable pre-booking a shuttle, this is a reliable option.
Don’t Rent a Car in the City
While I highly recommend renting a car in Cancun and Yucatan Peninsula, I would advise against in Mexico City. The traffic is horrible, there’s nowhere to park and driving in Mexico City requires extra skills.
It’s not for faint-hearted. Most driving rules can suddenly disappear and you would have to be turn left on a roundabout because locals are too lazy to go around.
If you’re comfortable with the crowds of public transportation, you can jump on a hop-on-hop-off bus