Wondering about—or planning a trip to—Mexico City? I’ve got you covered with my Ultimate Mexico City Travel Guide! (Last updated June 12, 2022.)

QUICK LINKS: Why visit CDMX | How safe is it? | COVID info | Best time to visit | How many days in CDMX? | Can I speak English there? | Getting around the city | Will my cell phone work? | Currency exchange info | Tipping guide | Will the food make me sick? | Will the water make me sick? | Neighborhood guide | Neighborhoods to avoid | Where to stay | Most surprising things about CDMX | My Google Map of recs

Why visit Mexico City?

Mexico City, also known as Ciudad de México and abbreviated as CDMX, is a vibrant city that offers amazing food, culture, history and plenty of indoor and outdoor activities that will appeal to everyone! Unlike the country’s more common beach destinations like Cancun and Puerto Vallarta, CDMX really will give you a taste of what Mexico is really about. Colorful buildings, tree-lined streets, plazas and parks will compel you to keep walking from neighborhood to neighborhood. Local markets and taco stands at every corner will expand your mind and teach you there’s so much more to Mexican food than you ever knew. 

I’ll be honest, before I saw friends post about Mexico City, I never considered it to be a place I needed to visit. The media said it’s dangerous, after all. But then I got to thinking: if that was the truth, then why are there so many expats living there? Why would anyone travel there at all? I decided then that I wanted to see the city for myself and form my own opinions. I’m so glad I did; my first trip was 3-weeks long, my second was 2 months, and now, as of March 2022, I live here! 

At a glance

Airport: Mexico City International Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez)
Currency: Peso ($ MXN)
Language: Spanish
Visa: Not needed if you have a valid passport from the United States of America, Canada, Japan, United Kingdom or any of the countries comprising the Schengen Area

Is Mexico City safe?

Ah, the most common question I was asked. In a word, YES, even for solo travelers. CDMX is like any big city. There are good neighborhoods and bad ones (more on this further down), and as long as you have some level of street-smarts, you’re going to be just fine. 

What are your biggest safety tips, especially for solo female travelers?

If you need to look at your phone for directions, step off to the side and memorize what you need to, then put your phone back into your bag/pocket. (The key here is to not look completely lost.) Also, I’ve heard stories of phones being snatched out of hands when people are standing on the street waiting for their Uber, so again, step off to the side and memorize the first or last 3-digits of the license plate so you don’t need to keep your phone in your hand.

The safest CDMX neighborhoods are Roma Norte, Condesa, Polanco, and Coyoacán. There are lots of tourists and expats around those areas, and while I always had a hand on my crossbody bag at all times, I never felt like I was in danger of being pickpocketed. I spent a couple hours solo in Centro around dusk and it was also fine, but it was much more crowded (especially at the Zocalo), so I naturally had some heightened awareness there.

If you’re riding solo in an Uber and the driver asks you if you are traveling alone, I would encourage you to lie and say you’re either meeting your boyfriend or friends just to be cautious. But honestly, in all my time here, most drivers don’t talk to you at all!

My last suggestion for female travelers is to share your location with someone back home (or someone in CDMX if you know anyone) just as an extra layer of precaution. It may sound a bit extra, but I would recommend this for a solo female traveler in any foreign country.

How is COVID in Mexico City?

When I first visited in August 2021, the Delta variant was surging pretty much everywhere, and CDMX was no exception. However, mask-wearing was the norm, even when walking outdoors. Restaurants and stores enforced masks, and you’d have to go through a temperature check and use hand sanitizer before entering any establishment.

As of June 2022, COVID protocols have relaxed a lot as much of the city has now been vaccinated. Masks are still commonplace with many locals and often are still required to enter some indoor environments (like grocery and retail stores), but they are no longer required when you are outdoors or inside restaurants.

Will I need a COVID test to enter Mexico or to re-enter the United States?

You don’t need to take a test to enter into Mexico, and as of June 12, 2022, a negative COVID test is not required to re-enter the United States!

If you suspect you were exposed to COVID or have symptoms and want to find a test while you’re in CDMX, there are many labs throughout the city (Olab, Chopo, Salud Digna, to name a few). The prices are roughly the same across the board—$2400 MXN (~$119 USD) for PCR and $700 MXN (~$35 USD) for Antigen, so just find the lab closest to your hotel or Airbnb. Most PCR test results come back within 24 hours, and Antigen test results take just a few hours. Most labs are walk-in only, but a few will take appointments.

When’s the best time to visit Mexico City?

Honestly, there’s no real “bad” time to visit. Mexico City has good weather all year round—the hottest months being April and May (high-80’s during the day, mid-60’s at night) and the coolest being December and January (low-70s during the day, 40’s at night). Rainy season is June through October, during which you will always have a lovely morning and daily rain for a few hours in the late afternoon or evening. If you want to see the jacaranda trees bloom, go during late March or early April. 

How many days do I need to visit Mexico City?

I stayed for 3 weeks during my first trip (working remotely on weekdays) and I still didn’t have time to see everything CDMX had to offer! But if you are able to take time off, I would recommend at least 5 full days, especially if you want to take any day-trips out of the city.

How much English is spoken in Mexico City?

Not that much. Some restaurants (usually the nicer ones) will have English-speaking servers and possibly even English menus, but don’t count on it. In my experience, grocery stores, pharmacies, most retail stores and Uber drivers only speak Spanish. I would suggest learning the following words and phrases, and for everything else you can always use Google Translate.

What’s the best way to get around Mexico City?

Walk when you can and take Ubers to everything else. 95% of my Ubers ranged from $2-4, and my most expensive rides were to/from the airport, coming in at a whopping $6-7. Every driver will confirm your name and the address you’re going to, which was nice.

You can certainly take public transportation, but since I haven’t used it, I can’t offer any real advice here. All I can suggest is to be smart, watch your bags and pockets, and don’t ride during peak hours. If you are a solo female and you want to take the metro, look for the “solo mujeres y niños” sign for the females and children-only metro cars.

I would avoid taxis, especially since Ubers are so cheap. But if you must take one, only take the ones from official taxi stands and have cash on you. I’ve heard stories where even though there are stickers on the windows that say they accept credit cards, the drivers will insist you pay in cash. I would also ask for a price quote before you accept the ride/get in the car, because some drivers will try to price-gouge you upon arrival. 

The last option is to rent a public bike. The 1-day rate is is 118 pesos (~$6 USD) and requires you to register for an account in advance before going to any of the bike stands.

Will my cell phone work there?

I can only answer for AT&T since that’s the carrier I use, and yes, with an AT&T Unlimited plan, your phone will work in Mexico. You won’t have to do anything but turn Roaming on once you land in CDMX. (If you use another carrier, I would give them a call and see what your options are.) That said, cell phone reception isn’t always the best in Mexico, and I relied on wifi whenever possible. Most restaurants have wifi, so just ask for the password.

What is the currency in Mexico City? Can I use US dollars? 

Currency is in the Mexican peso ($ MXN), and no, you will not be able to use US dollars in CDMX. At the time I’m writing this post, $1 USD = $20.21 MXN, so your dollar will go far! 

Quickly convert pesos to dollars in your head:
Move the decimal over 1 digit to left, then take that number and divide by 2.
Example: $100.00 MXN → 10.00 ÷ 2 = $5 USD

What’s the best way to convert my cash to pesos?

These are 3 ways that I know of:

1. Go to your local bank to convert your cash into pesos before your trip. This will get you the best exchange rate, but you will have to order the cash and pick it up a few days later, so plan ahead. This is the route I most recommend! 

2. Use a bank ATM in Mexico City (like Banorte, HSBC or BBVA). If you do this, be sure to decline the ATM exchange rate! It sounds counter-intuitive, but trust me on this. This will give you a better exchange rate, but you’ll still have to pay any fees that your bank charges for foreign bank transactions. (I must add a word of caution here: my friend used a bank ATM and it ate his ATM card once, but knock on wood, I haven’t had this problem.)

3. Bring the amount you want to convert with you and exchange your cash upon arrival at the airport. Note, this will get you the worst exchange rates of the 3 options. If you go this route and you want the most bang for your buck, go to Terminal 1. (The worst rates will be in Terminal 2, the international terminal.) This is a great Youtube video that goes more in-depth on this.

How much cash will I need? 

It’s hard to answer this without knowing how long you’ll be in Mexico City and what your itinerary is. If you think you’ll be doing a lot of shopping street markets, eating at a lot of street carts, or doing any tours, you’ll want a good amount of cash. Otherwise, most places take credit cards so you won’t need too much.

How much should I tip? 

Restaurants – 10% for most, 15% for the nicer ones
Tour guides – 20% 
Street food vendors – not necessary (but nice to do!)
Ubers/taxis – not necessary unless they help you with your luggage, then $10 MXN per bag

Will I get sick from the street food in Mexico City?

I hope you don’t, but I did. Luckily I was never actually out of commission, though. I was religious with hand sanitizer, so I think my body just wasn’t used to the ingredients in foods I was eating… and maybe I had some communal salsas I shouldn’t have. But, you do not need to be scared of eating the street food in Mexico City! Just stick to the places with long lines and have at least 2 people working there. (One should be cooking, the other should be handling the money.) I would also suggest NOT eating street food for any of your first meals; give your stomach time to adjust to the different ingredients here before diving in.

In general, if a food item is supposed to be hot, then it should be hot, not warm. And if it’s meant to be cold, then it should be cold, not cool. So if a food cart or restaurant has communal salsas out for consumption, use with caution. If you suspect they’ve been sitting out for a long time and you have a sensitive stomach, it might be best to consider leaving them off your tacos (I know, sad face).

If you have a particularly sensitive stomach, you could try taking probiotics starting 1 week before your trip and continue with them throughout your entire stay. I didn’t do this, but maybe it can help your stomach become strong enough to withstand anything it’s not used to.

Another thing to consider is talking to your doctor beforehand and come armed with any medication you might need for Montezuma’s Revenge. (Getting antibiotics in Mexico is actually harder than you think!) I ended up picking up Imodium at a local pharmacy and started eating dairy-free yogurt drinks with probiotics, and while it did help, but it didn’t fully cure me.

Read next: What to Eat in Mexico City: The Best Restaurants, Tacos, Markets, Bars & More

Will I get sick from the water in Mexico City?

If you are careful and only drink/use bottled water, even when brushing your teeth, you’re going to be fine. A law was actually passed in 2015 requiring all restaurants to provide filtered water to their patrons, which means filtered water from the tap or bottled water. Water and ice from street vendors is where it can get dicey, so unless they are selling bottled water, I would move along.

What neighborhoods should I visit in Mexico City?

Roma Norte – You’ll find most tourists and expats stay or live here. It’s hip and trendy, and there are tons of restaurants, cafes and boutiques. If you are looking for fun nightlife, this is the place to go.

La Condesa – Another tourist and expat favorite, this neighborhood is right next to Roma Norte. It’s also hip and trendy, but a bit more quiet. There are many great restaurants and 2 beautiful parks: Parque España and Parque México. 

Centro: The historical city center is vibrant with lots of hustle and bustle. You’ll find the Zocalo here, as well as many taco spots, lots of history and beautiful historical architecture!

Polanco – The “Beverly Hills” of Mexico City, this area is very fashionable and high-end. Go here for some window shopping (or real shopping if you’ve got some cash to burn) and amazing fine dining experiences like Quintonil and Pujol. Some might think to skip this area, but I think it’s worth spending at least a few hours in.

Coyoacán – A 25-minute drive outside of the city center, this quiet and fashionable area is where you’ll find the Frida Kahlo museum, stuffed churros galore and one of my favorite markets: Mercado de Coyoacán. If you make the trek down here, I would suggest also visiting the neighboring area of San Ángel, then continuing further south to Xochimilco for party boat ride along The Floating Gardens.

Narvarte – Quiet, residential, and arguably where the best tacos are!

Juárez – Just north of Roma Norte, this area is a mix of trendy with some grit, and has a mix of tourists and businesspeople. There are several speakeasy’s here, as well as Zona Rosa, Mexico City’s gay community with a vibrant nightlife. Juárez is also the center of the Korean population—which means lots of Korean BBQ restaurants!

What neighborhoods should I avoid in Mexico City?

Doctores and Iztapalapa… and I suppose Tepito, too, but having been there for the Sunday-only Tianguis La Lagunilla (an antique flea market), I think Tepito’s reputation might be exaggerated. If you go to to that area, these are my tips:

• Go during the daytime
• Stay under the tents (tianguis)
• Don’t wear anything expensive or flashy
• Keep your belongings close to you

Where should I stay in Mexico City?

I would recommend staying in Roma Norte or La Condesa. Both are very central and safe neighborhoods with many things to do, see and eat within a small walking radius.

If you stay at an Airbnb and are planning to work remotely, I would message potential hosts for their wifi speed before you book (aim for 40+ mbps if you do a lot of video Zoom calls) and look for reviews that mention noise level, bed comfort and shower pressure. Also, CDMX is similar to Europe in that the 1st floor of a building is actually 1 flight of stairs up, so take that into account when booking an apartment in a building without an elevator!

What surprised you the most about Mexico City?

1. The sidewalks were really uneven/in disrepair in a lot of places. Wear really comfortable close-toed shoes and watch the ground when walking to make sure you don’t trip. 

2. When eating at taco stands, you pay at the end! This really shocked me that they were so trusting that people wouldn’t run off before paying. But as I learned, they do this because they hope you will keep ordering more tacos—and you probably will!

3. CDMX has an altitude of 7,382 ft (Denver, Colorado for comparison is 5,280 ft) and I got out of breath easily when walking around and climbing a lot of stairs in the first few days upon landing. (If you have any symptoms of elevation sickness, stay hydrated and try to avoid alcohol.) The sun also feels hotter—because it is!—and sunblock is going to be important.

4. The city is SO green! There are parks everywhere (Bosque de Chapultepec is twice the size of Central Park in NYC) and almost every street is lined with trees and plants. As a plant mama, I was truly in paradise! 

5. There are public bathrooms all around the city, but have some spare change handy because it will cost you $5 MXN to use one. Also, for the ladies out there, it would be a good idea to pack a small amount of toilet paper or tissues in your bag because a few bathrooms I went to in Centro were completely out of toilet paper! I learned this the hard way.

Do you have a Google Map or list of your favorite Mexico City places?

So glad you asked; I SURE DO, and I’m always adding to it! It can look overwhelming, but it’s most useful when looking for a restaurant or something to do when you’re in a particular neighborhood.

Read next: What to Do in Mexico City: The Best Activities, Day Trips, Photo Spots and Shopping