Practical Tips

Don’t rent a car

Renting a car here is a really bad idea for a visitor. The traffic is heavy, parking is hard to find, and between the potholes, the street carts and the way people drive, it’s very stressful. Uber is everywhere and cheap (50 to 90 pesos, ~3–5 USD, for a short ride), and it will even take you out to the Teotihuacan pyramids. For a day trip, almost any Uber driver will drive you around all day and wait for you if you offer 1000–2000 pesos (~55–110 USD).

Money

• Cards are accepted almost everywhere, even in many small places. Bring cash (pesos, not dollars) for markets, street food, tips and small shops
• Get cash from ATMs inside banks or shopping malls, not on the street
• Prices include the 16% sales tax (IVA)

Tipping

• Restaurants: 10–15%. The tip is not included, and a restaurant may not add it without asking you, so check the bill. When paying by card, the waiter will ask how much to add
• Small tips of 10–20 pesos for the gas station attendant, the bagger at the supermarket checkout, and the valet

Water and food

Don’t drink tap water; bottled water is everywhere, and most hotels and rentals provide purified water. If your stomach is sensitive, ask for drinks without ice (“sin hielo”). For street food, choose the busiest stands.

Altitude and weather

Mexico City is at 2,240 meters (7,350 feet). Take it easy the first day or two, drink lots of water, and know that alcohol hits harder up here. The sun is strong, so wear sunscreen even when it’s cool.

• Dry season (November–May): sunny days. Mornings and evenings in December and January are cold, and houses have no heating, so bring a sweater
• Spring (March–May): the warmest months, and the purple jacarandas in bloom. March and April are gorgeous
• Rainy season (June–October): sunny mornings, then a heavy downpour most afternoons. Carry an umbrella and plan museums for the afternoon

Museums

Most museums are closed on Mondays. Free Sunday entry is for Mexicans and residents only.

Safety

Mexico City is much safer than its reputation, and the neighborhoods in this guide are fine to walk around by day. Use the same sense you would in any big city:

• Take Uber or DiDi, especially at night; never hail a street taxi
• Keep your phone out of reach on the Metro and in crowded markets, and don’t walk around with it in your hand on the street
• At night, stick to busy streets in Roma, Condesa, Juárez and Polanco. Avoid Tepito, Doctores and the quieter parts of the Centro after dark

Earthquakes: if you hear the seismic alarm on the street loudspeakers and your phone, walk calmly out of the building to an open space, away from glass and cables. You’ll usually have up to a minute. Mexico City holds a citywide drill every 19 September, the anniversary of the 1985 and 2017 earthquakes.

Emergencies

Dial 911 (not every operator speaks English). Pharmacies are on every corner, many open 24 hours, and some have a doctor next door for a cheap consultation. Note that pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) is illegal in Mexico.