Where should first-time visitors base themselves in Mexico City?
For most first-timers, Roma Norte or Condesa is the easiest base: walkable food, leafy streets and sensible access to the Centro, Chapultepec and Coyoacán. Choose Centro Histórico for the densest sights and accept noisier weekends; choose Polanco for upmarket calm and longer trips to the sights; treat Coyoacán as a day trip rather than a base unless the quiet is worth the extra travel.
Answer
In Mexico City, base choice is not a cosmetic detail. A well-chosen area lets you walk to breakfast, return for a break and keep evening movement simple. A poor base may look cheaper, but it can cost you in traffic, taxis and decision fatigue. First-timers usually do better prioritising everyday ease: safe-feeling streets, useful transport, food nearby and realistic access to the things they actually plan to do. Do not choose only by a single museum, a bargain room or a district name you have seen online. Choose for the days you want to have.