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3-star hotel Check-in 15:00 · Check-out 13:00

Hotel Principal

Stay at Hotel Principal in Mexico City's Centro Histórico. Enjoy modest rooms, free Wi-Fi, LGBTQ+ friendly atmosphere, and easy access to Zócalo plaza and top attractions.

Calle de Bolívar 29, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06000 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico View on map
8.6/10
Very Good Based on 2972 recent guest reviews
What recent guests emphasize

Balanced value in a prime location

Guests appreciate the hotel's convenient central location and friendly service, while noting the modest room size and some noise issues typical of the bustling city center.

Guests often praise

  • Excellent location within walking distance of major attractions like the Zócalo and museums.
  • Friendly and accommodating staff providing good customer service.
  • Clean and comfortable rooms, with daily housekeeping and available breakfast options.
  • Good value for the price, especially for travelers seeking a budget-friendly option in downtown Mexico City.

Worth knowing

  • Rooms are generally small, with some lacking windows or natural light in the cheapest categories.
  • Street noise can be loud at night, especially in rooms facing the street or on higher floors.
  • No air conditioning in rooms, requiring windows to stay open, which may contribute to noise and comfort issues.
  • Some guests mention smaller beds and bathrooms consistent with the building’s older structure.

Best for

  • Travelers prioritizing a central, walkable location near cultural landmarks and restaurants.
  • Visitors looking for a budget-friendly, straightforward hotel with basic amenities.
  • LGBTQ+ friendly guests seeking an inclusive environment in the historic city center.
  • Explorers wanting easy access to public transit and major tourist sites without luxury price tags.
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About this property

Welcome to Hotel Principal

Hotel Principal offers modest, down-to-earth accommodations with free Wi-Fi and a relaxed on-site restaurant. Located in the heart of Mexico City's Centro Histórico, this property is well suited for visitors looking to explore the vibrant city center around Zócalo plaza, known for its iconic buildings, street food, and upscale dining options.

The rooms are generally small but clean and comfortable, with some featuring windows that overlook the lively street below. Several guests have noted that while the hotel is centrally located and provides good value, noise levels can be noticeable at night, especially in rooms facing the street. The property operates a straightforward check-in at 15:00 and check-out at 13:00, accommodating guests with a practical schedule.

Nearby dining options include the highly rated Taquería Parrilla Leonesa Centro, just steps away, alongside other local shops and eateries. Major attractions such as Palacio de Bellas Artes, Constitution Plaza, and the Templo Mayor Museum are easily accessible on foot, making the hotel a convenient base for cultural exploration.

With an overall guest rating of 4.3 from nearly 3,000 reviews, the hotel tends to attract travelers seeking a central location and a no-frills stay in Mexico City. While some visitors have pointed out limited space and street noise, many appreciate the attentive staff and the ease of access to the city’s main tourist sites.

Summary compiled by GoHotelly editors from verified guest reviews, partner descriptions and editorial notes.
Verified guest reviews

What recent guests are actually saying

Reviews from travelers who stayed here in the last 12 months, grouped to help you spot the pattern quickly.

OD
Oui Duran Apr 13, 2026
8.0

Delicious breakfast every morning. Great service. Terrific location and we can walk to everything-- food, shopping, attractions. Drawbacks: The room has only small windows and cannot see any city views. It could be loud at night if you get a room on the 4th floor.

HH
Holly Hennessy Apr 12, 2026
10

Had stayed in a luxury hotel for the first couple days in Mexico City, but needed something closer to the airport prior to leaving. Pleasantly surprised after reading some negative reviews. Staff was gracious and accommodating. Yes, the beautiful large windows facing the street allow noise, but it was the same in the other hotel.

DC
Delfino Chavez Mar 22, 2026
10

Small but very comfortable. Only issue I've had is the light that comes in from hallway. But I've stayed several times and will continue to come. Very close to all the tourists spot in downtown CDMX.

MC
Matt Chard Mar 02, 2026
10

The hotel was great for the price. It's located in a safe spot in Centro historico and is a short walk to most of the museums in the area. We were able to take the train from the airport to our hotel with minimal effort and walking. However, I'd recommend uber if you have large luggage. The hotel was very clean, nice looking, and they came to give new towels everyday. Warning: the cheapest price rooms are ones without windows and they feel really dark. We upgraded to a room with windows and it was wonderful.

RP
Rasmus Puls Mar 02, 2026
10

Very good location for sure! Hotel is great as well, everything worked, all questions we had answered, anything we needed they solved. We had a small room, but also did not pay a lot, just good value for money indeed. Recommend, I would come back.

RMD
Ryan M. Dreier Mar 01, 2026
8.0

The room was adequate and clean. Not a lot of elbow room though. Staff was friendly and very accommodating, very close to el Zócalo and Calle Madero.

MH
Matt H Feb 23, 2026
10

A fantastic hotel in a great location for exploring Mexico City. The rooms are spacious and clean and the service is really friendly with the rooms being thoroughly cleaned each afternoon. There is free WiFi available and breakfast is available for a small fee each day. Breakfast is a good selection of traditional cooked food, accompanied by classic pancakes and syrup. The central location does mean it is quite loud at night but the noise is not an issue and it calms down reasonably.

EO
Esteban Ocampo Feb 19, 2026
10

Very nice service, however, the rooms and bathrooms are a little small. The beds are a little stiff. But the view is beautiful. The hotel building is really old so I can see why the rooms are small. Other than that, lots of shopping, restaurants, and other things to do within walking distance. The breakfast is amazing and you can order pretty much anything you want(as long as it's on the menu). The only complaint I have is that there is no A/C and you have to keep your windows open. That being said, the traffic around the building is really loud and if you're not used to that, it will be kind of hard to sleep at night.

UD
udoy datta Feb 12, 2026
10

This was the best hotel we stayed at during our trip to Mexico! The building has a retro architecture look with a high ceiling. The interior is very efficient. The breakfast was great! Andres served our breakfast and he is the nicest person we had the pleasure of talking with in Mexico. He gave us his suggestion on how to plan our stay at mexico city and what places we should visit in the most efficient ways. I would highly recommend this place to anyone if you are staying in Mexico City. The place is perfect to explore the city as many major attractions are within walking distance.

SR
Sergio Ruiz Feb 08, 2026
10

Great service, the room with window was really great! Juan and Miguel in lobby are great host. The place is safety, really walkable and the service for room it's really good.

Location & neighborhood

Where you'll find Hotel Principal

Mexico City, Mexico

Bustling city center around Zócalo plaza, with iconic buildings, street food & upscale restaurants.

  • Allende 6 min Walk
  • San Juan de Letrán 6 min Walk
  • Bellas Artes 10 min Walk
  • Mexico City International Airport Benito Juárez 25 min Car · 47 min Transit
  • Felipe Ángeles International Airport 1 hr 21 Car · 2 hr 20 Transit
  • Lic. Adolfo López Mateos International Airport 1 hr 9 Car
Things to do nearby

Worth the walk or a quick ride

Curated spots travelers usually pair with a stay in Mexico City. Distances are rough real-world times, not straight-line.

Palacio de Bellas Artes 192,225 reviews

Palacio de Bellas Artes

Av. Juárez S/N, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06050 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

4.8 · Cultural Center
Constitution Plaza 323,390 reviews

Constitution Plaza

Pl. de la Constitución S/N, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06010 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

4.7 · Plaza
Templo Mayor Museum 34,532 reviews

Templo Mayor Museum

Seminario 8, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06060 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

4.8 · Museum
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