Getting Around
Mexico City is huge, but the parts you’ll want to see are close together. You can walk all over Roma, Condesa, Juárez, the Centro and Polanco. Between them, take an Uber or the Metro.
Uber and DiDi
Uber and DiDi work everywhere and are cheap: a ride across the central neighborhoods is usually under 100 pesos (~5.50 USD). They’re also the safest option. Don’t hail taxis on the street.
From the airport
Uber and DiDi are not allowed to pick you up inside Benito Juárez airport (AICM). You have two choices:
- Official airport taxi: buy a ticket at the taxi booths inside arrivals and walk out to the cab. About 370–450 pesos (~20–25 USD) to Roma, Condesa or Polanco
- Uber or DiDi: walk to the signed app pick-up zone outside the terminal (in Terminal 1, near Metro Terminal Aérea). Around 100–150 pesos (~5.50–8 USD) to Roma
There is also a Metrobús (Line 4) from both terminals to the Centro and Reforma for 30 pesos, if you’re traveling light. Flying into the new Felipe Ángeles airport (AIFA), far to the north? A train now runs from there to Buenavista station in under an hour, for 110 pesos (~6 USD).
The Metro - Only Off-Peak!
Cheap, fast, and quite an experience. 5 pesos (~0.27 USD) a ride, any distance. Tap your contactless bank card or phone at the turnstile (every line but Line 12), or buy the rechargeable public transportation stored-value card for 15 pesos at the machines in any station. The same card works on the Metrobús, the cable car and Ecobici. The front cars are for women and children only (watch the signs). Avoid rush hours, 7 to 10 AM and 6 to 9 PM, unless you want to be closer to strangers than you’ve ever been. Keep your phone and wallet in your front pockets.
The most useful lines for visitors are Line 1 (pink) along Avenida Chapultepec, the northern edge of Roma, to Chapultepec Park, Line 2 (blue) to the Zócalo and Bellas Artes, and Line 7 (orange) to Polanco.
Metrobús and Ecobici
The Metrobús is a rapid bus with its own lanes and stations, 6 pesos a ride, card or phone only (no cash). Line 7 runs double-decker buses along Reforma, which makes a great cheap sightseeing ride. Line 1 runs the length of Insurgentes.
Ecobici, the city bike share, has stations all over the central neighborhoods; a one-day pass is about 134 pesos (~7 USD). On Sunday mornings Reforma and other big avenues close to cars and fill up with cyclists, runners and skaters. Rent a bike and join them.