To downtown in Mexico City

From Mexico City International Airport (MEX), take an authorized airport taxi or an app ride to the Centro/Zocalo - about 30-50 minutes depending on traffic.

Food & essentials in Mexico City

For a cheap, reliable meal, eat at a busy taqueria or a fonda with a fixed-price 'comida corrida' lunch - high turnover means fresh food.

Is it safe in Mexico City

Central tourist zones (Roma, Condesa, Centro, Coyoacan, Polanco) are walkable and fine with normal city awareness - stay alert and keep valuables low-profile.

How to pay in Mexico City

Mexico runs on pesos (MXN); cards work in restaurants, shops and apps, but carry cash for taquerias, markets and the Metro.

Local phrases in Mexico City

A few polite Spanish phrases go a long way - locals warm up fast when you try.

Connectivity in Mexico City

Buy a Telcel SIM at any OXXO or the airport, or set up a Mexico eSIM before you land - data is cheap and coverage is strong.

Emergencies in Mexico City

Dial 911 for any emergency - police, fire or medical - it is the single nationwide number and operators can route help.

Getting around

How to get around in Mexico City

Q: Get around in Mexico City

Buy one rechargeable Tarjeta de Movilidad Integrada and tap it onto the Metro and Metrobus - it covers nearly the whole city.

Mexico City is huge but the core is very navigable: the Metro and Metrobus get you almost everywhere for a few pesos, and a single rechargeable card taps onto both. For anything off the grid, app-based rides (Uber, DiDi) are cheap, metered and easy. Keep small change, install one transit app and you will move like a local within a day.

CurrencyMXN Emergency911 TimeCST (UTC-6) LanguageSpanish

Buy the Tarjeta de Movilidad Integrada (MI card) at any Metro or Metrobus station booth or machine for about 15 MXN.
Top it up with cash or card at the same machines - load 50-100 MXN to start.
Tap in at the turnstile for Metro (flat 5 MXN) or Metrobus/Cablebus (6 MXN); the same card works on both.
Install Google Maps for routing and the official 'Mi Transporte CDMX' / live Metro apps for line status.
For doors-to-door or late nights, use Uber or DiDi - both are widely used and metered.

Metro fare5 MXN (~$0.30) flat, any distanceMetrobus fare6 MXN (~$0.35) per tripMI card~15 MXN (~$0.85) one-timeApp to installGoogle Maps + Uber/DiDi

Metro and Metrobus run roughly 05:00-midnight (06:00 Sat, 07:00 Sun) - confirm last service for your line.
Avoid rush hour 07:30-09:30 and 18:00-20:00 if you can; central stations get very packed.

Choose your transport before leaving the terminal: authorized taxi booth, Uber/DiDi, or the Metrobus Line 4.
For taxis, buy a fixed-price ticket at the official 'Sitio 300' or 'Porto Taxi' booths inside the terminal - never accept a curbside offer.
For Uber/DiDi, request the ride and walk to the marked rideshare pickup points outside arrivals.
For the cheapest option, ride Metrobus Line 4 (red 'Aeropuerto' buses) from outside Terminal 1 or 2 toward the Centro Historico.
Confirm your hotel address in Spanish on your phone to show the driver.

Authorized taxi~250-350 MXN (~$15-20) to CentroUber / DiDi~150-250 MXN (~$9-15)Metrobus L430 MXN (~$1.75) airport surcharge fareTime to center30-50 min by car, 45-60 min by busLast MetrobusAround midnight - confirm at the stop

Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are far apart and connected by an internal Aerotren (ticketed) - check which terminal you land at.
Ignore anyone approaching you offering a taxi inside the hall; use only the labeled booths.

Pick a stall or fonda that is busy with locals and cooks to order in front of you.
At lunch (14:00-16:00), ask for the 'comida corrida' or 'menu del dia' - soup, main, drink for one set price.
For tacos, order 'al pastor', 'suadero' or 'bistec'; salsa is on the side so you control the heat.
Buy bottled or purified water ('agua purificada') from any OXXO or 7-Eleven - they are on nearly every corner.
Carry small cash; most street stalls do not take cards.

Tacos~15-25 MXN (~$1) eachComida corrida~80-130 MXN (~$5-8)Bottled water~15-20 MXN (~$1) at OXXONearest essentialsOXXO / 7-Eleven everywhere, ~24h

Drink purified or bottled water, not tap - locals do the same.
Ease into chile and street food on day one; carry hand sanitizer for stalls without a sink.

Stick to well-lit, busy streets at night and use Uber/DiDi instead of walking long distances after dark.
Keep your phone and bag in front of you on crowded Metro cars and at markets.
Use only app rides or authorized taxi booths - do not hail random street taxis.
Carry a small amount of cash for the day and leave passports and spare cards at your lodging.

Tourist policeLook for 'Policia Turistica' in Centro/PolancoRidesUber/DiDi metered - share trip in-appEmergency911 (police, fire, medical)

The most common issue is opportunistic pickpocketing in crowds, not violence - guard pockets and bags.
Decline unofficial 'helpers' at ATMs and taxi stands; politely keep walking.

Withdraw pesos from a bank ATM inside a branch or mall (BBVA, Santander, Banorte) rather than freestanding street ATMs.
Decline the ATM's 'conversion' offer and choose to be charged in MXN to get a better rate.
Pay with card where accepted; keep 200-500 MXN in small notes for street food, tips and the Metro.
Tip about 10-15% in restaurants if service is not already included.

CurrencyMexican peso (MXN), ~17 MXN = $1ATM withdrawal fee~30-100 MXN (~$2-6) plus your bank's feeRestaurant tip10-15% (propina)Cash needsStreet food, Metro, markets, small tips

Rates drift - 17 MXN to the dollar is a rough guide; confirm the day's rate.
Always choose to be billed in pesos, not your home currency, to avoid a bad markup.

Hello / Good dayHola / Buenos dias - OH-lah / BWEH-nos DEE-asWhere is the Metro?Donde esta el metro? - DON-deh es-TAH el MEH-troHow much is it?Cuanto cuesta? - KWAN-toh KWES-tahI want to go to...Quiero ir a... - kee-EH-roh eer ahThe bill, pleaseLa cuenta, por favor - lah KWEN-tah por fah-VORThank youGracias - GRAH-syasHelp / EmergencyAyuda / Emergencia - ah-YOO-dah / eh-mer-HEN-syahDo you take card?Aceptan tarjeta? - ah-SEP-tan tar-HEH-tah

Many people in tourist zones speak some English, but starting in Spanish is appreciated.

Easiest before arrival: install a travel eSIM (Airalo, Holafly) and activate on landing.
For a local SIM, buy a Telcel 'Amigo' SIM at an OXXO, 7-Eleven or Telcel shop and bring your passport.
Add a data package ('recarga') at the same store - ask for a plan with data and WhatsApp.
Connect to free wifi at cafes, malls and many Metro stations ('Wifi Gratis / C5') when you need a top-up.

Telcel SIM + data~150-250 MXN (~$9-15) starterTravel eSIM~$5-20 for a few GBBest networkTelcel has the widest coverageFree wifiCafes, malls, many Metro stations

Bring your passport - a local SIM purchase usually requires ID registration.
Treat public wifi as untrusted; avoid banking on it and use mobile data instead.

Call 911 for police, fire or ambulance; it works from any phone, no area code needed.
For non-urgent medical needs, a pharmacy ('farmacia') such as Farmacias del Ahorro or Guadalajara often has a low-cost doctor on site.
For serious issues, go to a private hospital like ABC Medical Center or Hospital Angeles, or ask staff to call an ambulance.
Keep your lodging address and a photo of your passport on your phone to share with responders.
Let trained professionals handle serious situations - call them first rather than improvising.

All emergencies911 (police, fire, medical)Tourist assistance078 (national tourism hotline)PharmacyFarmacias del Ahorro / Guadalajara, many ~24hPrivate hospitalABC Medical Center, Hospital Angeles

Carry your medical/travel insurance details; private hospitals expect payment or a guarantee on arrival.
If you feel unsafe, step into an OXXO, hotel or pharmacy and ask staff to call 911.

Standing in Mexico City right now?

Open the live agent - it will use your exact location and answer follow-ups in real time.

Open the app

Local details drift - confirm live times and fares on the day. Spot something out of date?