Prior to the outbreak of the pandemic Mexico City tourist figures were steadily rising and this is becoming a seriously attractive place to short term and long term travelers. I was fortunate when I got here that I knew a few people who could steer me in the right direction with regards to where to stay, but if you don’t have such a person then working out the best neighborhood to stay in can be a little challenging.
This is why today we are going to take a look into which zones tourists should stay in during their time in Mexico City, in order to get the very best experience.
Condesa
This is probably the most popular place for visitors to stay in and Condesa really does have something of a European feel about it. Think tree lined streets, organic cafes and tea shops, yoga studios and a hipster paradise, that is the best way to explain Condesa. This is a safe area and a very comfortable place for you to spend your time in the city.
Roma Norte/Roma Sur
Between the two Roma Norte is a little more high end than its southern part, but the two places are both really nice areas to stay in, and a little bit lower cost than you will find in Condesa. The streets of the Romas are much more residential than Condesa, which has many more commercial buildings. Both zones are full of markets and street vendors and can offer you a really great and central place to stay in CDMX.
Narvarte
Narvarte is probably one of the city’s coolest neighborhoods and it offers the perfect bridge between tourist life and the trappings of a city, whilst still feeling very Mexican indeed. Condesa is a very established zone now and Narvarte seems to be very much heading that way, albeit with a little bit of extra edge and cool. For novel cafes and large parks, this is the perfect neighborhood for you to enjoy your stay and it is very well connected to the rest of the city.
Downtown
Zoccalo is the area which is known as downtown, Centro or Historic Center of Mexico City, and if you are looking to really explore the history of the city then this is the place to do it. Typically speaking Zocalo is where most of the big hotels are and it is were all the big events in government take place. Here you will find a huge shopping district, as well as Chinatown and the gorgeous Palacio de Bellas Artes, the stunning theater which sits in the hear of the city.
Escandon
It was my buddy Javier Burillo who put me own to Escandon, a very small but super cool area in the city, which is ideal for those who want the Condesa life but don’t want to pay for it. Escandon is not cheap but it is much lower cost than Condesa and very close to the area.
These are certainly the best places to stay in the city.