Mexico City

Mexico City sits at 2,250 meters above sea level. Most visitors feel the altitude on day one. Drink extra water, skip the five tequila shots on your arrival night, and pace yourself. The metro area holds over 21 million people, making CDMX one of the largest cities on the planet. And yet its distinct neighborhoods keep it from feeling unmanageable. Each colonia has its own personality.

The city runs on its own clock. Dinner doesn't really start until 9 or 10 PM. Traffic on Reforma can add 45 minutes to what looks like a 15-minute drive on Google Maps. The earthquake alarm system is real and it goes off during annual drills: if you hear it, don't panic. Follow locals out of buildings calmly and move away from structures.

Locals are called chilangos. The city formerly known as D.F. (Distrito Federal) officially became CDMX in 2016. You'll still hear both names, especially from older residents. Chilangos talk fast and use slang heavily. English is more common in Roma Norte and Polanco. Not so much on the Metro or in traditional markets. Basic Spanish goes an enormous distance here. People genuinely light up when a visitor tries.

Here's the thing about gentrification: it's real and it's controversial. Roma, Condesa, and Polanco have seen rents climb roughly 9% year-over-year as of early 2026, driven partly by the large influx of remote workers earning in dollars. Locals are aware of this. Travel with some humility about that dynamic.

Always greet with buenos días (before ~11 AM), buenas tardes (until dusk), or buenas noches (after dark) before any transaction or request, even if you only speak that one phrase. Locals notice when visitors skip straight to demanding service.. Greet acquaintances with a single cheek kiss (mejilla).

Strangers and new professionals get a handshake. If you're unsure, follow the other person's lead.. Tip 10-15% at restaurants, in cash when possible.

Leave it on the table or hand it directly to your server. Tipping on card terminals is less common and staff may not see it the same way.. Mexican time is real.

Social dinners and casual meetups run 15-30 minutes late as a baseline. Business appointments are different — arrive on time for those.. Bargaining is accepted at artisan markets like Mercado de la Ciudadela and street tianguis.

At stores and regular restaurants, prices are fixed. Trying to negotiate at a sit-down restaurant is considered rude.. On public transport, priority seats (near the doors) are reserved for elderly, pregnant, and disabled riders.

Give them up immediately if someone who needs it boards.. Use usted (formal) with strangers, older people, and professionals. Switch to tú once someone signals familiarity.

Jumping straight to tú with someone you've just met can read as rude.. If a chilango gives you directions they're uncertain about, they may point you in any direction rather than say 'I don't know' — it's politeness, not malice. Always corroborate with your phone..

Dinner happens late. If you show up hungry at 7 PM, many top restaurants haven't hit their stride yet. 9 PM is normal.

10 PM is perfectly fine.

The US State Department gives Mexico City a Level 2 rating ("Exercise Increased Caution"). For context, that's the same as France. The real day-to-day concern is petty theft: phone snatching by moto-ladrones (motorbike thieves) is the most common incident affecting tourists. Never walk holding your phone out while navigating. Step into a shop doorway to check your maps, then keep moving.

Safe neighborhoods for visitors: Roma Norte, Condesa, Polanco, Coyoacán, San Ángel, and the main tourist zone of Centro Histórico during daylight. Centro gets noticeably less comfortable after dark as you move away from the Zócalo. Iztapalapa has no tourist attractions and no reason to visit.

Do not hail street taxis. Use Uber or DiDi for every ride. The airport arrival hall has people actively approaching passengers with ride offers. All of them are unofficial. Walk past them and book via the app. Match the license plate before you get in the car.

Don't drink tap water. Eat from busy street stalls with high turnover. Avoid stalls where the same person handles raw meat and tortillas, or where food sits in direct sun.

Pickpocketing is most common on the Metro during rush hour. Keep bags in front of you, phones in pockets. The Zócalo-area restaurants have a reputation for overpriced tourist traps, especially those overlooking the cathedral. Eating one block away from any major landmark usually gets you a better meal at half the price.

The Metro costs 6 MXN per ride (about 30 cents) on a rechargeable card. Buy the card at any station for 15 MXN upfront and load it with however much you want. It works on Metro, MetroBús, and Ecobici. The system has 12 lines and 163 stations and is one of the largest in the Americas. But: it gets crushingly crowded from 7-9 AM and 6-9 PM. Women-only carriages are painted pink and sit at the front of each train. Large luggage is technically prohibited during peak hours. After midnight, the Metro stops running. Switch to Uber.

Uber and DiDi are the workhorses. An average ride within central neighborhoods (Roma, Condesa, Polanco, Centro) runs about $4-5 USD. Always book in-app, match the license plate before you open the door, pay by card in-app. If a driver texts asking you to cancel and pay cash another way, just cancel and rebook. Sit in the back seat, especially solo at night.

Never hail a street taxi in CDMX. The history of pirate taxi crime is real. Use Uber, DiDi, or a sitio (authorized taxi stand). This rule is almost unique to Mexico City among major Mexican cities.

The MetroBús runs on dedicated bus lanes along Insurgentes and other major corridors for 6 MXN. Good option when it lines up with your route. Every Sunday, Paseo de la Reforma shuts to traffic for the Ciclovía. Rent an Ecobici and experience one of the best urban cycling events in Latin America for free.

Don't rent a car. Traffic in CDMX is genuinely brutal, parking is expensive, and the Metro plus Uber handle everything better. Airport note: Mexico City has two airports. Most international flights land at Benito Juárez (MEX). Budget carriers increasingly use Felipe Ángeles (NLU), which is 45km north and a 90-120 minute trip to the center. Check your ticket carefully before you book ground transport.