The classic tourist hotspots and some residential areas you’ve probably never heard of!

If you have gotten to know this city a bit better or have a longer stay, you may be looking for somewhere that is a little more off-the-beaten path. Read my top 10 favorite neighborhoods to help diversify your experience in Mexico City's coolest spots.
All of these spots are reachable within the metro, city buses, or the city trains, which means there is nothing stopping you!
First things first, a map with the different neighborhoods so you can orient yourself a bit better.
CENTRO HISTORICO

I mean, every first CDMX visit has to start here! From being the literal heart of Mexico with the government palace, the cathedral, and the huge Zocalo, this place feels pretty epic. The first time I visited Mexico City and saw the huge Mexican flag waving proudly, it moved me to tears because this place really does represent such an incredible country.
Not to mention, the Centro Historico isn’t just the heart of Mexico in the modern day, it was also the heart of the Aztec empire, Tenochtitlan, and the archaeological ruins of Templo Mayor lay just adjacent to the cathedral today. Sadly, the cathedral was actually built with rocks out of the old ruins because those darn colonizers really wanted to send a message.
Walking down the main commercial strip from the Zocalo out to Palacio de Bellas Artes, you will find a bunch of chain restaurants and stores before being let out at Torre Latinoamerica. This is Mexico’s main tourist skyscraper, and a visit to the top will set you back about 200 pesos to get 360 views of the city. Be warned, the smog does lower the visibility drastically, but its still a very worthwhile way to spend a couple hours!
And finally, you will want to enjoy the Alameda, the huge park down below. If you head there in March or April, you’ll get the added gift of hundreds of beautiful purple flowers from the jacaranda trees. Here you will also find the iconic Palacio de Bellas Artes, which hosts grand performing arts events and also houses beautiful murals. Additionally, the Diego Rivera mural museum is on the other end of the Alameda and boasts a stunning, 50 foot mural which you can stare at for hours….
And before you leave this zone, you can’t miss taking a stroll through the small but mighty Chinatown or Barrio Chino. Although today it is only about two street blocks full of red lanterns, this area has great historical significance as a large Chinese population has been living in the center since the 1600s and providing highly skilled labor since the Spanish arrived.
I haven’t checked out the museums riddled throughout the centro as that isn’t so much my jam, but there are so many great ones around as well!
If you don’t want to go figuring out this zone on your own, I’m sure a free walking tour would be a great way to spend your morning and get a little more context on this fascinating area.
TABACALERA

Head just west of the Parque Alameda and you’ll come across an eclectic mix of tall financial buildings with some casual bars and city streets. This is Tabacalera, just a hop away from the Centro but a totally different vibe. Here you will find the iconic Monumento de la Revolucion, a large dome and a plaza that fills up with people for sunset to enjoy with their families.
I totally recommend staying and eating in this neighborhood for slightly more affordable prices and WAY less people than the centro. Hostel Suites DF is right here and it’s my favorite hostel in the city!
SANTA MARIA LA RIBERA / BUENAVISTA
This calm, tree-filled neighborhood is only 20-30 minutes walk northwest from the centro historico yet it couldn’t be more opposite! The colorful streets are what I imagine Roma felt like 30 years ago, with plenty of parks, coffee shops, and bakeries, \ without all the overwhelming presence of foreigners.
If you only get to two spots in this neighborhood, one should be the Moorish Kiosk at the center of the main garden. This was put up for the World Fair in the 1900s and remains beautiful and pristine to the day. Your second spot is just around the corner, Biblioteca Vasconcelos, the huge library that looks like it is out of a sci-fi movie! As with all libraries, entry is free, and you can find books about literally anything inside as you roam up and down all the different floors and take in the amazing architecture. I felt like I got the place to myself on a late Sunday morning.
JUAREZ

This neighborhood is quickly becoming my favorite part of my favorite city. Nestled between the centro and the trendy neighborhoods of Zona Rosa and Roma Norte, Juarez is higher-end yet still manages to have some grungy spots. There is good tree cover on the colorful streets and it could be another great place to go on an afternoon bike ride.
Mostly, Juarez is a great place to base yourself because there are cheap hostels and you’re walking distance to the Angel de Independencia, a bunch of cool bars in Zona Rosa, delicious and cheap street food, and the Centro Historico is just a metro stop away!
ZONA ROSA
This hip spot is known for its cheap bars, a gay scene, dance clubs, and tasty international food. We even watched the Super Bowl here with plenty of cerveza to go around!
While there are plenty of bars offering cheap drink and food specials, they do nab you sometimes with hidden costs so make sure you are getting a good deal.
ROMA / CONDENSA
The two adjacent colonias of Roma and Condensa are among the most expensive in Mexico, and strolling through a couple of calm street blocks you'll soon see why. Walkable, shady, and filled with international restaurants and cafes, plenty of foreigners have caught onto this place and it is rapidly gentrifying. Be sure to visit Parque Mexico for the afternoon and rent a EcoBici to bike around the streets.
Staying in Roma or Condensa is a sure way to have a more laidback visit to the city, but do expect to pay a bit more. Hostel Home in Roma Norte would be my top recommendation for a quality hostel here.
A day in Roma and Condensa pairs nicely with a visit to Bosque de Chapultepec, the massive park in the middle of the city that has everything from museums, artificial lakes, a botanical garden, street food, and so much more.
TLATELOLCO
Tlatelolco is a tragic, yet important part of Mexican history. All in a few square blocks, you can visit the archaeological site of Tlatelolco which dates back to the Mexicas, and see the Plaza de Tres Culturas, a somber remembrance of the hundreds of students fatally massacred in the 1960s while political organizing. This neighborhood is overlooked by almost everywhere else in the city center, but it had such an important history to the country and a beautiful garden which was decorated for Dia de Muertos when we visited.
This is a great place to spend a half day without the normal tourist crowds of Mexico City but I wouldn't come here after dark or stay the night around here.
COYOACAN

Frida Kahlo's Casa Azul is the main draw to this neighborhood, but there is plenty more to see beyond the famous artist's small former home. Coyoacan is also another wealthier southern neighborhood in Mexico City with plenty of eateries, coffee shops, a lovely church and square.
I have never spent the night in this neighborhood, but you will find plenty of hip hostels on booking.com. If you are coming just for the day, a visit to Coyoacan can pair well with the following neighborhoods also on the southern edge of the city.
XOCHIMILCO

Ready for mariachi, micheladas, and Mexico's version of Venice canals? Xochimilco is known for its colorful trajineras, long wooden boats and rowers that take you through miles of canals. The cost per boat is about 500 per hour, and the experience is best if shared in a big group. Either book with your hostel or show up with a lot of friends, because at the docks, they won't let you join up with a group of strangers so they can make more money.
Along the way, you can enjoy mariachi groups floating by playing music and stop by greenhouses that are selling plants and have the friendly little axolotl species on display for an extra charge. Plan to spend at least a half day down here, as it also takes about 1.5 hours each way to get to get here from the centro on public transit.
CU / UNAM

Last but not least, the University City known as "CU" is quite a popping place, as most university towns are! Located in the southern end of the city, the Universidad Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM) campus is huge and full of the brightest talent that Mexico has to offer. The library shown here is one of the most impressive buildings I have ever seen, and you can chill on the lawn and take in the view. Afterwards, stroll a bit through the university neighborhood for cheap food and drinks in a youthful ambiance.
So those are my top 10 in CDMX. I've visited Mexico City countless times over the last several years and love to find a new neighborhood every time! Comment below if you have a favorite part of the city :)
For more on Mexico City, be sure to check out my hostel guide and favorite day trips in this remarkable region!