Brightly coloured cities and celebrations; punchy flavours; vast murals and big art; ancient civilisations; vast deserts where it's cactus only up to the horizon; steaming-jungle-fringed perfect beach resorts with bright oceans - thinking of Mexico makes you think big and bold.

Diverse and cosmopolitan in places, and pristine and ancient in others, this is an incredible country, and unsurprisingly one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. Visiting Mexico is about getting out there in amongst it in the sunshine, whether ‘it’ be the outdoor market places of a big city, a dense jungle, under the ocean, up a desert mountain peak, or just on the beach. With so much variety on offer it can be a daunting task to pick the best places to stay in Mexico, but we've done the hard work for you! Here's our pick of the best places to visit and why....

Some of our Mexican Collections:

• The 25 Best Hotels on the Riviera Maya
• 30 Top Hotels on the Yucatán Peninsula
• The 15 Best Beach Hotels on Mexico’s Pacific Coast
• Mexico's Best Resorts

Many of the best places to stay in Mexico are clustered along the spectacular coastline of the Yucatán Peninsula, the Riviera Maya and the Baja California Peninsula. Mexico City, one of the world’s largest cities by population, offers the perfect city break with its sizzling skillet of strong colours and flavours. Taxco, the mountain town known for its silver, is nearby.

On the Pacific Coast you’ll find Oaxaca, Jalisco with its capital Guadalajara, and that famous party town, Acapulco - in the town's heyday this was where JFK took Jackie on their honeymoon. In the north is La Paz and the Sea of Cortez, where you can swim with whales and dolphins, much loved by kayakers, leading to the Baja Peninsula, boasting some of Mexico’s most wild and dramatic sea and landscapes.

If you’re interested in ancient Mexican cultures visit Puebla, known for traditional food, colourful pottery, and colonial architecture, located near the pre-Hispanic archaeological sites of Tlaxcla and Cholula. Cholula is the largest man-made monument ever constructed.

Then there's the Yucatán Peninsula. Its coastline is a colourful display of bright azure waters, lush green jungle, white sands and silvery Mayan ruins. Its colonial cites are graceful, its resorts lively and its landscape - dotted with small villages and run through with national parks and biospheres - is largely unsullied by overdevelopment. This is where you’ll find some of the world’s best diving and snorkelling, both at sea and in the strange cenotes or sinkholes which lie underneath the jungle.

Quintana Roo is the flashy end of the Yucatán Peninsula, with spectacular Caribbean coastline and some incredible Mayan Ruins. Home to famous beach holiday destinations Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel and Tulum, Quintana Roo’s jungle interior has some wonderful Maya-Mexicano communities, as well as the spectacular ancient sights at Coba. Yucatán is the northern part of the peninsula, it’s where you’ll find Mérida, the region’s jungle-set colonial cultural capital. Nearby is Chichén Itzá, the Yucatán’s largest and most famous Mayan ruin, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Use our guide to the best places to stay in Mexico and start to plan your trip of a lifetime!

The Best Places to Stay in Mexico

Mexico City

• Downtown is just two blocks from the central plaza and situated within the UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s a 17 room property converted from a 17th century colonial palace and the rooms are all suites, beautifully designed with impressively high ceilings. There’s a rooftop bar and pool too.
• The Hippodrome's intimate Mexican restaurant serving traditional and contemporary fare makes this a popular hotel for foodies. In the bohemian district, Condesa, it's luxuriously designed and has all the mod cons you need.
• La Valise is an achingly hip, three room boutique property in the trendy Roma Norte district. The three suites are glass-fronted with contemporary art, dark wood floors and roll-top baths among other treats. Plus there’s an in-house chef who will serve up some Mexican favourites.
• Being part of a chain of fun and funky hotels makes the W hotel one of the best places to stay in Mexico City for families. The colours are bright and bold, the staff are young and friendly and there are excellent views of the city.

To Experience the Yucatán Peninsula

• If you like the idea of a small property right on the beach, then Encantada Tulum is for you. There are just eight rooms on a pristine stretch of white sand. The large terraces have incredible sea views, and inside the deco is simple and chic, with plenty of wood.
• Or you could try the glorious combination of mustard ruins and chic contemporary design that is the Hacienda Uayamon, a tranquil, 12 room colonial escape. Rooms have high ceilings, black and white tiled floors, four poster beds and wonderful old ceiling fans. There's also a superb spa and an atmospheric restaurant.
• Yucatán’s Hacienda San José is a stylish jungle escape with a world class spa. Accommodation is in a collection of 11 rooms and four very private villas. The villas have private jacuzzi pools and hanging double beds.
• Tides Riviera Maya in Play del Carmen is a well secluded collection of 41 beautiful private villas surrounded by tropical forests - the only vegetation between you and a perfect white beach. As well as the beautiful beach, this resort has private pools with beach views and an incredible spa which draws heavily on Mayan traditions. The restaurant is a fusion of Mediterranean and Mexican.
• Nomade Tulum is a 38 room hotel in a stunning, beachfront spot. The accommodation is in a range of rustic tents, villas and suites, and there’s a retreat vibe to the place, and a great vegetarian restaurant.
• Just outside Mérida, the Hacienda Xcanatun is a beautifully renovated, 18 room hacienda with traditional decor and some lovely antiques. The hacienda has two freshwater pools, a fabulous spa and a renowned gourmet restaurant. You’re also very well located for exploring Mayan ruins such as Chichén Itzá.

Mexico's Best Beach Breaks

• The Hotel Secreto on the Isla Mujeres, just off the coast of Cancún is a luxurious, 12 room boutique hotel in an extremely private spot overlooking its own private beach. The rooms have floor to ceiling windows overlooking the infinity pool and the beach, and original art works. We are told that the bar serves dangerously good Margaritas.
• If you like the idea of a small property right on the beach, then Encantada Tulum is a for you. There are just eight rooms and you’re set directly against a pristine stretch of white sand. The large terraces have incredible sea views, and inside the deco is simple and chic with plenty of wood.
• The Papaya Playa Project is a collection of 73 sustainable boho-chic rooms and cabanas on a secluded stretch of white sandy beach. The decor is hip and Mayan, while the beach club is hip and Mexican.
• Playa del Carmen’s Viceroy Riviera Maya is a a stunning collection of 41 rooms and villas surrounded by tropical forest and white sand. The restaurant specialises in exceptional seafood and there’s a fantastic Mayan spa. Great if you want to relax on the beach or try every watersport under the sun.
• The Nizuc Resort & Spa has a beachfront spot on the Punta Nizuc, which is just out of Cancún proper, and offers panoramic views of the Caribbean. This is a big hotel - with 274 rooms and suites - with chic, contemporary decor, a luxurious spa and a choice of six restaurants.

If you fancy the beach you may also want to check out our lists of the 15 Best Beach Hotels on Mexico's Pacific Coast and the 25 Best Hotels on the Riveira Maya

For Foodies

• Casa Oaxaca is a seven room hotel converted from a charming colonial building, in the centre of old Oaxaca. Rooms are arranged around a central courtyard and there's a roof terrace, pool and private gardens. This is a great option for foodies, as the chef, and manager, is happy to offer Mexican cooking workshops.
• Flor de Mayo is a well located 24 room hotel with a floral theme. It's a relaxing place, with a lovely pool, spa and gym, a delightful sun terrace and a gourmet restaurant.
• La Purificadora started life as a water factory and is now a stylish 26 room design hotel. The old facades and big, cavernous spaces are wonderfully combined with modern design, and there's a great rooftop pool with city views, an excellent spa and a lively restaurant popular with the locals.

For Traditional Mexico

• Casa na Bolom in San Cristobal de las Casas is a charming museum to the Lacandon people, plus a 16 room boutique hotel. Each uniquely decorated room is a treasure trove of indigenous art, artefacts and handicrafts, and all proceeds of the hotel go to the Lacandon people.
• The Parador Santa Maria in Chiapas is an historic building in an incredibly lush setting. There are just eight traditional rooms with dark, solid furniture, exposed stonework and cool, tiled floors. There’s also a museum and a pool, and you’re close to the archaeological site of Chinkultic.
• El Sueno Hotel & Spa is a relic of colonial Mexico, but a very beautiful one: a centuries old townhouse converted into a chic, 11 room, family-run hotel packed with bold colour and character - think cast iron beds and contemporary art.
• La Casa de la Marquesa has been converted from an 18th century building in the beautiful, colonial heart of Querétaro. There are 13 elegant, opulent rooms furnished with antiques.

Prefer a self-catering Apartment or Private Villa?

• If you’d prefer to stay in an apartment or private villa we recommend you visit our online partner, booking.com.

Travel Information

• Most visitors flying to Mexico City arrive via the Benito Juarez International Airport, which is in the eastern part of the city. Cancún Airport is convenient for the Yucatán Peninsula, Mérida Airport also receives international flights, as does Cozumel Airport, La Paz International Airport and Acapulco Airport, among others, though many airports call themselves international but just serve domestic and US destinations.
• If you want to hire a car we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
• Mexico is a vast country with very varied weather across it. If you’re travelling across multiple destinations then the best time to visit, based on the weather, is probably between December and April when it’s cooler and dryer. If you’re coming to the Caribbean coasts you definitely need to be aware of the hurricane season, which roughly runs from June to November.

Still not sure which to book?

• Click through on any of the destination links above,
• or contact one of our friendly Gurus for advice.