This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting our small business.
Taxco is a small town of about 50,000 people, but its steep hills split it into distinct districts that feel very different on the ground. The historic centre is where everything happens, the upper hillside is for views and resort calm, and the northern approach is cheaper and flatter. Here are the main Taxco neighborhoods, with boundaries, what each is known for, who they suit, and typical hotel prices; the Taxco travel guide links the rest of the Taxco guides.
Taxco Neighborhoods: Centro Histórico
The historic centre clusters around Plaza Borda and the Santa Prisca church, spreading along Calle del Arco, Calle San AgustÃn, and the lanes that drop toward the old market. This is where nearly all the silver shops, cafes, and landmark buildings sit, and where the Taxco events and festivals Semana Santa processions pass. It suits first-time visitors and anyone who wants to walk everywhere without a car. Hotels run from about MXN 600 for a simple guesthouse to MXN 2,500 or more for boutique properties in converted colonial houses. The tradeoff is noise on weekends and almost no on-site parking, since many lanes are too narrow for cars. For specific places to book, see the where to stay in Taxco guide.
Taxco Neighborhoods: Barrio de la Montaña (Upper Hillside)
Above the centre, the hillside neighbourhoods climb toward the Cristo Monumental and the top station of the cable car, including the Montetaxco resort area. Streets here are steeper, quieter, and wind past whitewashed houses with the best valley and rooftop views in town. This area suits couples and anyone wanting a resort-style stay with a pool and a view rather than plaza access, and the best time to visit Taxco guide can help you pick the best month for it. Rates are higher, roughly MXN 2,000 to 4,000 a night at the resort, with a few mid-range guesthouses below that. You will depend on taxis or the cable car to get down, which costs around MXN 40 to 60 per ride.
Taxco Neighborhoods: Los Arcos and the Northern Approach
The northern side of town, around the Los Arcos district and the main road that drops down toward the highway, is flatter and more residential. It is the most convenient zone if you are arriving by car, with more properties offering parking than the centre, and it sits a 10 to 15 minute walk from the plaza. It suits budget travellers and families driving in from Mexico City. Expect the cheapest beds in town, around MXN 500 to 1,000 a night for simple mid-range hotels, with a few historic courtyard inns above that. You trade plaza convenience for quieter nights and easier parking. The Taxco travel tips and FAQ guide covers driving and parking in more depth.
Taxco Neighborhoods: La Florida and the Viewpoints
La Florida and the surrounding western and southern slopes are working residential barrios dotted with small shops and taco stands, plus several lookout points over the town. They have almost no tourist infrastructure, so they suit longer-stay visitors, budget travellers happy to mix with locals, and anyone after cheap eats rather than hotel amenities. A few small guesthouses and apartments run MXN 400 to 900 a night. You will walk uphill a lot, and public combis (shared vans) connect the area to the centre for about MXN 8 to 10. For month-by-month weather so you know how hard those climbs will feel, check the Taxco weather by month guide, and for what to actually do once in town, the things to do in Taxco guide.
