Gran Hotel Ciudad de México

With its stained-glass ceilings, art nouveau decor and a Louis XV-style chandelier in the foyer, the Gran Hotel Ciudad de México possesses one of Mexico City's most impressive interiors. The Gran Hotel is a favorite among guests for both its central location and gilded design. And though its original structure has towered over the Zocalo since 1899, the hotel's $25 million renovation completed in 2005 brought all the rooms into the 21st-century while maintaining the property's Old World charm. Rooms boast flat-screen LCD TVs, comfortable beds, air conditioning and Wi-Fi access. If your digs lack arresting views overlooking Zocalo square, head to the fifth floor Terraza Restaurant & Bar to enjoy wide-sweeping vistas of the National Palace and Metropolitan Cathedral. And if you're yearning to take in Mexico City's vibrant culture and world-class museums, you're in luck: The Palacio de Bellas Artes and the Museo Nacional de Arte, among other top sites, are within walking distance of the hotel.