9 Best Hotels in Side Trips from Mexico City, Mexico

Although the sometimes intense bustle of pedestrians is right outside, along with a slew of fun bars and restaurants, you'll find quiet rooms and an enchantingly tranquil garden at this welcoming, bright-blue-stucco B&B just a block from Cholula's famous archeological site. Though some rooms are compact, they're all smartly furnished with premium bedding and soft lighting, and the larger loft suites are perfect for families. An outstanding breakfast, which you can enjoy in the clustered garden, is included. 

This 1620 converted monastery just a short uphill stroll from Plaza Borda offers simple but pleasantly decorated rooms with traditional furnishings, but the stars of the show here are the inviting restaurant in the tree-shaded courtyard and the expansive rooftop terrace that's absolutely perfect for stargazing or taking in views of Santa Prisca's spires.

This stately 19th-century home contains one of Cholula's most welcoming accommodations, and it's just a stone's throw from the Great Pyramid and a short walk from numerous restaurants and bars. The courtyard has a Talavera-tile-lined fountain and huge laurels for shade, and there is a rooftop terrace with a pool and spectacular views. The high-ceiling rooms are elegantly uncluttered, and many of the smartly designed bathrooms have deep soaking tubs. 

This small, moderately priced hotel just down the hill from Santa Prisca has spacious, pleasant rooms with tile floors, colorful fabrics and curtains, and in some cases kitchenettes, but the best reasons to stay here are the superb restaurant and the outstanding views from the pool and terraces.

This cheerful hotel on the corner of Plaza Independencia is an excellent option for its location alone. Rooms are cozy, with brightly colored bedspreads and headboards carved by local artisans; some have kitschy hot tubs tucked into a corner. The restaurant ($) is by far the most enchanting on the square and has wonderful views of the town.

This fine hotel, with its sunny, cobblestone courtyard and appealing restaurant, tops the rest. Guest rooms have wood furniture and small balconies for views over the town or of the flourishing, overgrown yard with cackling turkeys. The staff will help you hire guides to the nearby waterfall or Yohualichan. The hotel is less than two blocks from the zócalo.

With a knockout view of town, multiple dining and nightlife options, a pool, Saturday night fireworks, a golf course, a spa, and kids' activities, this modern, upscale resort named for the mountain on which it's perched has the most extensive amenities of any property in town. It's a great choice for families, but the location across the valley from downtown can be a little inconvenient, especially in the evening when the funicular is no longer running. Rooms are comfortably furnished, most with wonderful views, but they're a bit lacking in character.

Centrally located and well established, this cheerful hotel has colorful rooms, a pair of lovely patio gardens, and a busy restaurant. The staff can help organize cave tours and horseback rides to the pyramids and local waterfalls.

If any of the antiques that decorate your room in this beautifully converted colonial mansion strike your fancy, you might consider taking home a souvenir; they're all for sale. The rich colors of folk art pervade the cozy but stylish bar, and a lovely restaurant with live music in the evening serves tasty regional dishes. Cooking classes are also offered.