Simply put, Mexico City is awesome. Some media outlets would have you believe that it’s a dangerous place and you will surely be kidnapped if you merely step foot in the city. However, that’s just not true. Over the last few years, Mexico City has really cleaned up its act and cracked down on the drug wars. My husband and I have been there twice now and the worst thing that happened was some guy grabbed my butt on the metro. So I started travelling in the women’s only car. Problem solved!
Mexico City has become a cultural hub and it’s a great place to start your backpacking trip through Mexico. From concerts to museums to beautiful parks and a delectable culinary scene, there are plenty of things to do in Mexico City. Speaking of museums, did you know it has the most museums in the world? Visiting The Anthropology Museum is the #1 thing to do on TripAdvisor.
Although it’s perfectly safe to visit Mexico City, there are still some neighborhoods you should stay away from. It’s always best to stay in places with lots of tourists. The best areas to stay in Mexico City are the Zocalo (historic center), Zona Rosa, and La Condesa. All but one of these hostels are located in one of those places.
If nightlife is important to you, you should choose a place in Zona Roma or La Condesa. The Zocalo is great for convenient access to some of the most popular attractions but it completely shuts down at night. Like any big city, you tend to find some less than stellar characters in the city center after dark. All the hostels reviewed here are in very safe parts of this incredible city.
Quick answer: The best hostels in Mexico City
- Overall Best Hostel in Mexico City – Hostel Home
- Best Hostel for Solo Travelers in Mexico City – Suites DF Hostel
- Best Cheap Hostel in Mexico City – Massiosare El Hostel
- Best Hostel for Couples in Mexico City – Metro Hostal Boutique
- Best Party Hostel in Mexico City – Hostel Amigo Suites Downtown
- Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Mexico City – Gael Condesa
- Best Hostel in Mexico City Near the Airport – Punto DF
What to look for to find the best hostels in Mexico City
- Location – Mexico City is huge! Not to worry, the public transportation is great. There are plenty of metro lines to get you anywhere you want to go. Just be wary of taking it during rush hour. There is also an expansive bus system. If neither of those is yourthing, Uber is readily available and it’s quite cheap. As I mentioned above, the best neighborhoods for gringos are Zona Rosa and La Condesa. That’s where you’ll find the best bars and restaurants.
- Price – By backpacking standards, Mexico City is cheap. You can stretch your budget pretty far by eating tacos from taco stands (omg, so good) for about $1-2 and beers aren’t much more expensive. You can also find hostel beds for as low as $8 per night. If you’re sticking with the budget hostels, you backpacking Mexico City adventure will be very affordable!
- Amenities – Most of the hostels have at least a continental breakfast included. Many of them have kitchens free for guests to use. Some of the reviews of some of these hostels complain of a lack of water pressure and hot water. Good wifi is also hard to find in Mexico City hostels. You have to understand that Mexico City wasn’t a popular travel destination until recently. Most of the hostels are old or located in older buildings. Perhaps now that more people are travelling there, they’ll start to improve them.
The 14 Best Hostels in Mexico City
Looking for the right hostel and actually finding one are two very different things. To make it easier for you, we’ve listed our absolute favorite hostels in Mexico City down below.
And as a side note: If you want to find even more epic hostels, have a look at HOSTELWORLD. You can also filter all of your personal travel needs and find the perfect place for you.
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Best Overall Hostel in Mexico City – Hostel Home
- $$
- Free breakfast
- Towels for rent
With a great location, staff, and overall welcoming and friendly vibe, it’s no wonder Hostel Home is the best hostel in Mexico City. I mean, what more could you want from a hostel? It has a great atmosphere for socializing and making new friends and you’re still able to get a good night’s sleep thanks to the noise rules the hostel has in place. Hostel Home is in an old house so you truly feel like you’re staying in someone’s home. It’s also located in Zona Roma, one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Mexico City, so there are plenty of awesome bars and restaurants around the corner. This hostel simply can’t be beaten!
Best Hostels for Solo Travellers in Mexico City – Suites DF Hostel
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Awesome terrace
This super social hostel is the best hostel for solo travellers in Mexico City. Although the wifi isn’t that good, it’s very centrally located near Av. Reforma and the Monumento a la Revolucion. They have a ton of activities such as a Lucha Libre tour every Tuesday and Friday. Breakfast, towels, and a locker are all included. When you’re travelling solo and trying to socialize, you don’t want to be glued to your phone anyway!
Best Cheap Hostel in Mexico City – Massiosare El Hostel
- $
- Free breakfast
- Big lockers
Massiosarse El Hostel has so many perks. The dorm beds start at a very cheap price and there’s not one, but two kitchens! One of the kitchens is vegetarian only. Even better! Cooking definitely helps you save some dough. This is why Massiosarse is the best cheap hostel in Mexico City. Be aware that it’s located on the 4th floor with no elevator. However, there is an awesome rooftop with amazing views.
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View on Osprey View on REIBest Hostel for Couples in Mexico City – Metro Hostal Boutique
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Free towels
Located in Zona Rosa, this new boutique hostel is the best hostel for couples in Mexico City. With a nice rooftop terrace, beautiful decor, and free towels, it feels more like a hotel than a hostel. The staff is awesome and they can organize tours for you from the front desk. The wifi doesn’t reach the rooms so you’ll just have to go out in the brightly lit common areas to do your interneting!
Best Party Hostel in Mexico City – Hostel Amigo Suites Downtown
- $$
- Free breakfast and dinner
- Awesome bar
If you’re looking to have a good time, this is the best party hostel in Mexico City. With an amazing rooftop bar and terrace and the best bartender in town, Hostel Amigo Suites Downtown certainly won’t disappoint. They have rooms of all types from dorm beds to suites with kitchenettes. It’s conveniently located near the Zocalo – the historic center which is where you’ll find a lot of Mexico City’s hotspots. Staying here will help you save even more money thanks to the free breakfast and dinner. A solid choice in the Mexican capital.
Best Digital Nomad Hostel in Mexico City – Gael Condesa
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Fast wifi
Gael Condesa is the best hostel for digital nomads in Mexico City. Located in La Condesa, lots of creative types come to work here thanks to the fast wifi and big table in the common area. The dorm beds have curtains creating more privacy for a better night’s sleep and the outdoor terrace is a great place to chat with other guest. There is also a desk in every room. Guests can use the small kitchen, further helping you save some cash. Some of the private rooms even have a balcony! You’ll be getting work done in style.
Best Hostel Near the Airport in Mexico City – Punto DF
- $$
- Free breakfast
- Free towels
Located less than 700 meters from the International Airport, this is the best hostel near the airport in Mexico City. Not only that, it’s also an Artistic Residency hosting travelers from all over the world. All four of their common areas were decorated by their first resident artists. The surrounding neighborhood has restaurants with food from all over the world. They’ll even lend you a towel and a padlock for your stay. For a long layover or the traveller needing to catch an early flight out, this hostel can’t be beaten!
More of the Best Hostels in Mexico City
Still not quite satisfied with the options? Don’t worry, we’ve got even more epic hostels in Mexico city for you!
Hostel Mundo Joven Catedral
- $$
- Free breakfast
- Rooftop terrace and bar
Hostel Mundo Joven translates to “young world” which is why this is one of the coolest hostels in Mexico City. The rooftop terrace offers incredible views of the Cathedral and Zocalo. They have free breakfast as well as a restaurant downstairs ensuring you don’t have to go far for a good meal. Although the staff doesn’t get rave reviews, it’s a great place to stay if you only have a short amount of time and want easy access to all the historic sites.
Mexiqui Zocalo
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Rooftop bar/terrace
Mexiqui Hostel has the highest rated rooftop bar and terrace that hosts a DJ on Sundays. Not only that, it’s in a really cool renovated building from the 1950s. The location is great – in Zocalo right across from the Templo Mayor. They have a delicious restaurant downstairs. The price is totally worth the view and location.
Hostel Zocalo
- $$
- Free towels
- Outdoor terrace
Hostel Zocalo is in a great location nearby all the attractions in the city center. However, it may be a little hard to find. The front door is always locked which helps with security but if you’re returning late at night, you may have to ring the bell and wait for someone to let you in. The outdoor terrace has a nice view as it’s up on the 6th floor of the building. The internet room is great for people travelling without a computer.
Capsule Hostel Mexico City
- $$
- Free locker
- Accepts credit cards
Although there isn’t a great area for socializing at Capsule Hostel Mexico City, the dorm beds are very private thanks to the solid wall between them. They offer a simple breakfast and the wifi has been reported as decent, a step up from many hostels in Mexico City. The location is very central and they have a pizza restaurant on site.
Mexico City Hostel
- $
- Free breakfast
- Free towels
This is the cheapest hostel near the Zocalo (historic center of Mexico City). They have free breakfast and towels. One of the downsides is that there are many floors in the hostel and the bathrooms are only on one, so if you’re not staying on that floor, you’ll have to go up and down stairs. However, the building itself is really cool and the murals on the walls are beautiful.
Hostel St Llorenc Inn
- $
- Free breakfast
- Free towels
Hostel St Llorenc has a great staff that will go out of their way to make sure you have a good stay. Conveniently located between Chapultepec Park and the Zocalo, seeing all the sites is quite easy. Although the hostel has an odd setup, they do have several freebies, helping you stick to your budget.
Hostel Amigo
- $
- Free breakfast
- Free towels
Hostel Amigo is one of the oldest backpacker hostels in Mexico City. There’s a nice bar and sitting areas where you can socialize with other guests. They can also arrange tours to different locations around the city. It’s also a gay-friendly location. There are mixed reviews on the cleanliness and staff but overall the location and price are quite good.
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What to Pack for your Mexico City Hostel
Pants, socks, underwear, soap?! Take it from us, packing for a hostel stay is not always quite as straight forward as it seems. Working out what to bring and what to leave at home is an art we have perfected over many years.
Check out our definitive Hostel Packing list for our top packing tips!
Why you should travel to Mexico City
So, what’s the best hostel in Mexcio City? Hostel Home has it all. Located in a great neighborhood with a fun atmosphere and social vibe, your stay is sure to be nothing short of amazing here!
And remember, if you are having a tough time deciding which hostel to book, our highest recommendation is Hostel Home.
FAQ about Hostels in Mexico City
Here are some questions backpackers ask about hostels in Mexico City.
Travel Safety Tips for Mexico City
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Want to know how safe to travel in Mexico? Read out insider’s safety guide here if you need any convincing.
More Epic Hostels in Mexico and North America
Hopefully by now you’ve found the perfect hostel for your upcoming trip to Mexico City.
Planning an epic trip all across Mexico or even North America itself?
Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered!
For more cool hostel guides around North America, check out:
- Best hostels in Cancun
- Best hostels in Oaxaca
- Best hostels in Mexico
- Best hostels in Sayulita
- Best designed hostels in the world
Over to you
By now I hope our epic guide to the best hostels in Mexico City has helped you choose the perfect hostel for your adventure!
If you think we’ve missed anything or have any further thoughts, hit us up in the comments!
And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!
