Hotels in Mexico City

Mexico City: Altitude, Archaeology, and 21 Million Residents

Mexico City sits at 2,240 metres above sea level in the Valley of Mexico, built over the drained lakebed of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan, founded in 1325. The Historic Centre — a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 — holds the Templo Mayor ruins alongside the 18th-century Metropolitan Cathedral. South of the centre, Coyoacán preserves cobblestone streets and the Museo Frida Kahlo, while Polanco offers high-end hotels and the Museo Nacional de Antropología, home to the 24-tonne Aztec Sun Stone.

Where to Stay

Most visitors base themselves in Roma Norte, Condesa, or Polanco for walkable access to parks, restaurants, and the Paseo de la Reforma boulevard. Centro Histórico hotels place guests within two blocks of the Zócalo, one of the largest public squares in the world at 57,600 m². Budget and mid-range options concentrate in Roma and Condesa; five-star properties cluster in Polanco near Chapultepec Park.

Practical Tips

• Altitude: At 2,240 m, first-day fatigue is common — allow 24 hours to acclimatise before heavy activity.
• Airport: Aicm (Terminal 1 & 2) sits 13 km east of the Zócalo; the Línea 5 metro runs to the centre in roughly 40 minutes for under MXN 6.
• Getting around: The metro covers 12 lines and 195 stations; taxis booked via app (Uber, inDrive) are safer than street hails.
• Climate: Dry season runs November through April; afternoon thunderstorms are common May through October.