How to Get Around Mexico City: Transport Tips for Visitors

From A to B in Mexico City

In March 2023, we spent 10 wonderful days in Mexico City and got a good sense of how to get around the city efficiently.

The sheer volume of traffic can feel overwhelming, and it can easily take an hour or more to travel from one side of the megacity to the other.

What’s the best way to get around Mexico City? Is walking in Mexico City safe? And which taxi and ride apps are the most reliable and affordable?

In this guide to transport in Mexico City, we answer some of the most common questions about getting around.

You’ll find tips for walkable neighbourhoods, advice on how to use the metro in Mexico City, and our experiences with taxis and apps such as Uber in Mexico City.

Our favourites: Where to stay in Mexico City

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• Budget: Hotel Escala Colonia Roma – Small, comfortable double rooms with private bathrooms at reasonable prices.
• Value for money: District Polanco by Lumina – More affordable than it appears, and it looks pretty great!
• Luxury: Ignacia Guest House – A colourful boutique hotel with just nine suites.
• Ultra-luxury: Las Alcobas – Exceptionally luxurious, with a homely atmosphere and outstanding service.

Search for the cheapest and best hotels in Mexico City here (adlink).

A quick overview of transport in Mexico City

With more than 21 million people in the metropolitan area, Mexico City (CDMX) is one of the largest cities in the world.

However, most visitors spend their time in a few key areas: Roma Norte, Condesa, Polanco, Centro Histórico and Coyoacán.

Even if you stay within these tourist-friendly neighbourhoods, traffic can still be challenging.

A journey that should take 20 minutes can easily stretch to an hour during rush hour.

Fortunately, getting around Mexico City is quite straightforward.

The city has a wide range of transport options – from an extensive metro network to reliable and affordable taxi apps such as Uber in Mexico City.

Here’s a map of the city:

We’ve gathered all the best neighbourhoods, experiences and attractions in Mexico City on a map below.

As you can see, most are clustered around a small group of central neighbourhoods.

Walking in Mexico City

You might be wondering if Mexico City is walkable, and yes, many of Mexico City’s popular areas, such as Centro Histórico, Roma Norte and Condesa, are ideal for exploring on foot.

The wide pavements and abundance of parks make walking in Mexico City a pleasant experience, and you’ll often come across cute cafés, interesting shops or colourful street art along the way.

If you steer clear of the large, motorway-like roads, it’s also generally easy and safe to walk between different parts of the city.

That said, it isn’t always the most comfortable way to go far, so to get between neighbourhoods we recommend taking the metro or a taxi.

Public transport in Mexico City: Metro and buses

The metro in Mexico City is both quick and inexpensive – a single journey costs just 5 pesos (less than 0.5 EUR/USD), no matter how far you travel.

We used the metro quite a lot ourselves, and it’s a great alternative to taxis during rush hour, when traffic on the roads can be heavy.

There are also city buses in Mexico City (which we didn’t try ourselves). It probably helps to know at least a little Spanish when using them.

Practical info about Mexico City’s metro:

• Opening hours:
  • Weekdays: 5:00 in the morning to midnight.
  • Saturdays: 6:00 in the morning to midnight.
  • Sundays & holidays: 7:00 in the morning to midnight.
• Tickets: 5 pesos per trip. There are no zones, so the ticket is valid for the entire trip. Tickets can be bought at the stations.
• Metro Card: Planning to use the metro several times? Buy a Tarjeta de Movilidad Integrada (15 pesos) and top it up as needed – it also works for metro buses.
• Rush hour: If possible, avoid travelling between 7:00-9:00 and 17:00-19:00.
• Women’s zones: During rush hour, some carriages have sections reserved for women and children. Look out for the pink signs.

Read more about how to use the metro in Mexico City here.

Taxi, Uber and other transport apps in Mexico City

In Mexico City, transport apps are the easiest and safest way to get around.

We almost exclusively used Uber and Cabify during our stay and had good experiences with both.

There’s also DiDi (which we couldn’t find in the app store) and Beat.

Using these apps requires mobile data, so if you don’t already have free roaming from your phone provider, consider buying a local SIM card or an eSIM. We’ve previously used Airalo eSIM with great success (adlink).

The price of taking an Uber vs Cabify

Cabify was generally cheaper than Uber – sometimes about half the price.

A few times we found that no drivers accepted our Cabify booking, so the app kept “searching” for a long time.

When we tried Uber for the same route, we usually got a driver within minutes.

On other occasions, Uber was actually cheaper than Cabify, so it’s worth having both (or even more) apps installed and checking which one offers the best price before each trip.

Always check that the number plate (and the driver’s name) matches what’s shown in the app before getting in.

Official taxis in Mexico City

Mexico City’s official taxis are pink and white and are known as sitios.

Their number plates usually start with an “A” followed by numbers, and they’re likely tracked by the authorities, which provides some reassurance.

You’ll find them on the street or at official taxi ranks.

Make sure there’s a working metre (and that it’s reset when you get in) or agree on a price beforehand.

We have to admit that we didn’t take any “regular” taxis – it’s simply much easier to know the price in advance when booking through Uber in Mexico City or Cabify (and you avoid haggling altogether).

Tipping

For taxis, Uber and similar services, tipping isn’t expected but is always appreciated.

If the driver helps with large bags, for instance from the airport, it’s polite to tip 5, 10 or 20 pesos depending on the effort.

Safety and transport in Mexico City

Uber and Cabify are the safest and most convenient ways to get around Mexico City. They’re reliable and often quite affordable.

Public transport in Mexico City, such as the metro and buses, is generally fine to use during the day – just keep a close eye on your belongings, as there can be opportunistic pickpockets.

Be cautious with regular taxis, as some may be unofficial. The official pink-and-white taxis are generally safe, but we preferred using Uber in Mexico City and Cabify for ease and peace of mind.

How long does it take to get around Mexico City

Mexico City is enormous, and traffic can be heavy – especially during rush hour.

It’s worth allowing plenty of time for transport in Mexico City, particularly if you have an appointment or need to catch a flight.

If you stay within Roma Norte and Condesa, it’s relatively easy to get around. The two neighbourhoods are close to each other, and you can walk between them in about 15-20 minutes.

There are plenty of cafés and shops along the way, so walking in Mexico City between these areas feels like a pleasant stroll rather than a transport chore.

Examples of walking times:

• Around Roma Norte or Condesa: Most places can be reached within 10-15 minutes.
• From Roma Norte to Condesa: About 15-20 minutes.
• From Condesa to Chapultepec Park: 20-25 minutes.

Metro vs car

The metro is often the fastest way to get around Mexico City, especially for longer distances.

A journey from Condesa to Centro Histórico typically takes 15-20 minutes by metro, while the same trip by car can take anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour when traffic is heavy.

Of course, this depends on being within reasonable walking distance of a metro station at both ends.

Rush hour traffic

If you travel by taxi, Uber or Cabify during rush hour (usually between 7:00-10:00 and 17:00-20:00), the travel time can easily double or even triple.

A trip that normally takes 20-30 minutes can quickly stretch to an hour or more.

Typical travel times by car:

• Roma/Condesa to Centro Histórico: 20-40 minutes.
• Condesa to Polanco: 20-40 minutes (shorter without traffic, but often slower at rush hour).
• Roma to Coyoacán: 30-45 minutes.
• Airport to Roma/Condesa: 30-60 minutes, depending on the time of day.

Transport apps

Google Maps is indispensable for getting around Mexico City.

With mobile data, it gives real-time travel estimates that take traffic into account, offering a much more accurate idea of how long your trip will take.

Flying to Mexico City

We flew with KLM from Copenhagen to Amsterdam and then directly to Mexico City.

If you’re travelling from Europe or other parts of the world outside the USA, you’ll often have one or two stopovers.

Many flights from Europe connect through major hubs such as Amsterdam, Paris or Madrid, though some of the cheapest routes may go via the United States.

It’s worth noting that even for a short stopover in the USA, you’ll need to apply for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) in advance.

Search for the cheapest flights on Momondo here (adlink).

Transport to and from the airport

Mexico City International Airport (Benito Juárez) is centrally located and has two terminals. Here’s how to get from the airport into the city with ease.

Uber or Cabify from the airport

Taking an Uber or Cabify from the airport to your hotel is straightforward and convenient.

The price for a trip to areas such as Roma Norte or Condesa is usually around 300 pesos (approximately 14 EUR / 16 USD), depending on the time of day and demand.

Official airport taxis

Official airport taxis are available just outside the arrivals hall.

Tickets are purchased in advance at the taxi counters before you leave the terminal.

These taxis are typically more expensive than Uber, but both options are safe and reliable.

Where to stay in Mexico City

Where you stay in Mexico City makes a big difference for your visit – especially when it comes to getting around!

To get a clear overview of the neighbourhoods (and the best hotels in every price range), take a look at our complete guide to where to stay in Mexico City.

What to do in Mexico City

In our comprehensive travel guide to Mexico City, we cover all the best experiences and attractions the city has to offer.

You’ll also find answers to questions such as when to visit Mexico City, along with our best tips to make the most of your trip.

Thank you for reading our transport guide to Mexico City

Thank you for reading our guide to getting around Mexico City. We hope you found it useful!

Have you ever been stuck in a traffic jam for hours, or smoothly made your way through the city in an Uber? Either way, we’d love to hear your best tips and experiences in the comments.

If you haven’t visited CDMX yet, don’t hesitate to ask us anything. We’re happy to help!