SherryStay Destination Guide
Mexico City
One of the great food cities, at 2,240 metres and walkable by neighbourhood.
About Mexico City
Mexico City is far larger than any visit can cover, which is why the good advice is always to pick a few neighbourhoods and let the rest go. It sits at 2,240 metres, high enough that the first day feels heavier than it should and the light stays remarkably clear. The centre is stacked history: an Aztec capital under a Spanish one under a modern megacity, the Zócalo and the excavated Templo Mayor sitting side by side. But most visitors sleep west of there, in Roma Norte and Condesa, two flat, leafy, early-twentieth-century districts of Art Deco façades and jacaranda tunnels that hold one of the densest restaurant scenes in Latin America, from taco counters to tasting menus. Polanco keeps the luxury hotels and the big museums, with the Soumaya and the Jumex both free to enter. Further out, Coyoacán feels like a village that the city grew around, and the canals of Xochimilco and the pyramids of Teotihuacán are each an easy morning away. Come for the food, and stay because the city keeps producing another neighbourhood you meant to see.
Sleep in Roma Norte or Condesa and treat the rest of the city as day trips. Both are flat, leafy and walkable, and almost every restaurant worth the flight is inside them or a short ride away.
Best For
Where to Stay
Roma Norte
Art Deco streets, galleries, the densest restaurant scene in the city
Condesa
Parque México, tree tunnels, calmer, good for a longer stay
Polanco
Luxury hotels and the big museums, Soumaya and Jumex both free
Centro Histórico
The Zócalo and the historic core, spectacular by day, quieter after dark
Coyoacán
Cobbled village feel, Frida Kahlo house, markets, further out
Money-Saving Tips
- 1The peso is the only currency worth carrying. Paying in dollars anywhere gives you a worse rate than the ATM.
- 2Museums are the cheap part of this city, and several of the best are free. Eating is where the budget actually goes.
- 3A taxi hailed on the street is not the same product as a ride booked in an app. Book it.
Getting Around
- 1The airport sits inside the city, so the transfer is short, but it crosses traffic that can double the time. Leave early for a flight home.
- 2The metro is cheap and fast and covers everything the visitor wants, but it is genuinely crowded at rush hour — a single trip is $5 MXN, transfers included.
- 3Metrobús Line 4 links both airport terminals with the centre for $30 MXN, paid with the Integrated Mobility card ($15 MXN). Every other Metrobús line is $6 MXN.
- 4Between Roma, Condesa and Polanco walking usually beats driving. For Coyoacán or the pyramids, do not walk.
Most Common Mistake
Underestimating the altitude. At 2,240 metres the first day feels heavier than it should, so drink more water than usual, walk slowly and go easy on the alcohol before you have adjusted.
4–6 nights
- • Teotihuacán pyramids (1h)
- • Puebla (2h)
- • Xochimilco canals (1h)
Mexico City at a glance
- Mexico City is in Mexico.
- Sherry suggests 4–6 nights in Mexico City.
- Mexico City's airport sits inside the city, so the transfer is short, but it crosses traffic that can double it. Leave early for a flight home.
- The Mexico City metro is cheap, fast and covers everything a visitor wants, though it is genuinely crowded at rush hour.
Common questions
- Where should you stay in Mexico City?
- Roma Norte or Condesa. Both are flat, leafy and walkable, and almost every restaurant worth the flight is inside them or a short ride away.
- Does the altitude affect a trip to Mexico City?
- Yes. Mexico City sits at 2,240 m above sea level, so the first day feels heavier than it should. Drink more water than usual, walk slowly, and go easy on alcohol before you have adjusted.
- What currency should you carry in Mexico City?
- Pesos. Paying in dollars anywhere gives you a worse rate than the ATM.
- Should you hail a taxi on the street in Mexico City?
- Book through an app instead. A taxi hailed on the street is not the same product as a ride booked in an app.
- When is the best time to visit Mexico City?
- November through April. July, August and September are the months to avoid.
Where to stay in Mexico City
Looking for hotels in Mexico City? It helps to decide on an area first — our guide to where to stay in Mexico City sets out which neighbourhoods suit which kind of trip.
Around Zocalo the options include Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico Zocalo View, Casa9Zocalo, Mexiqui Zocalo and Hotel Amigo Zocalo.
Around Casa the options include Casa Herrmann Suites, Fun & Suites by Casa Pepe and Casa de la Luz Hotel Boutique.
Around Collection the options include NH Collection Mexico City Centro Histórico, Hotel MX zocalo CDMX, Trademark Collection by Wyndham, Hotel MX mas centro CDMX, Trademark Collection by Wyndham and Umbral, a Curio Collection by Hilton.
Elsewhere in the city you will also find Sophisticated Penthouse Jacuzzi &terrace, Best Western Majestic, Design Hotel Mumedi, Hotel Zócalo Central, Circulo Mexicano, Mexico, a Member of Design Hotels, Hotel Roble, De Los Reyes Hostal, Hampton Inn & Suites Mexico City - Centro Historico, Hotel Canada Central, Downtown Mexico, a Member of Design Hotels, Hotel Juarez and Hotel Catedral.