Mexico City
Discover Mexico City
Mexico City (Spanish: México, Ciudad de México or CDMX) is the capital of the Mexican Republic, seat of the federal powers, and the most populous city in the country. The city center is built on the ruins of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan, and later came to be the capital of New Spain, which included much of North America. The city has grown fast in the 20th century, and is today North America's largest city (and the world's largest Spanish-speaking city) with 9.2 million inhabitants in the city proper, and 22 million in the urban area (in 2020).
Taste of Mexico City...
You can find almost any kind of food in this city. There are regional specialties from all over Mexico as well as international cuisine, including Japanese, Chinese, French, Polish, Italian, Argentinean, Belgian, Irish, you name it. The main restaurant areas are in Polanco, Condesa, Centro, Zona Rosa, along Avenida Insurgentes from Viaducto to Copilco and more recently Santa Fe. There are several Mexican chain family restaurants that can be assumed to be safe and similar no matter where you are, including Vips, Toks, La Casa de Toño and the more traditional Sanborns, all reminiscent of Denny's in the United States. They are uniformly good (if never excellent) and relatively approachable to those who have trepidation around Mexican cuisine. El Globo, a French-style bakery, has locations throughout the city selling both French and traditional Mexican pastries, like orejas (little ears), éclairs, empanadas, and rosca during New Year's. It can't be beat for a quick snack or bagful of pastries to eat later. If you're on a budget, you can also try one of the myriad comida corrida (set menu) restaurants, frequented by many office workers. Some of these offer very good food, are usually safe, and should range between M$70-110 (March 2022). Perhaps the most ubiquitous type of food almost anywhere in Mexico city are fast food outlets, located on the ground floor of a street-facing building, or puestos, street stands located on a sidewalk or almost anywhere there is room.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Mexico City into what it is today.
The origins of Mexico City date back to 1325, when the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlan was founded and later destroyed in 1521 by Spanish conqueror Hernan Cortes. The city served as the capital of the Vice-royalty of New Spain until the outbreak of the Independence War in 1810. The city became the capital of the Mexican Empire in 1821 and of the Mexican Republic in 1823 after the abdication of Agustin de Iturbide. During the Mexico-US war in 1847, the city was invaded by the American army. In 1864 the French invaded Mexico and the emperor Ferdinand Maximilian of Habsburg ruled the country from the Castillo de Chapultepec and ordered to build Avenue of the Empress (today's Paseo de la Reforma promenade). Porfirio Díaz assumed power in 1876 and left an outstanding mark in the city with many European styled buildings such as the Palacio de Bellas Artes and the Palacio Postal. Diaz was overthrown in 1910 with the Mexican Revolution and this marked a radical change in the city's architecture. The 20th century saw the uncontrolled growth of the city beyond the Centro Historico with the influx of millions of migrants from the rest of the country. In 1968, the city was host to the Olympic Games, which saw the construction of the Azteca Stadium, the Palacio de los Deportes, the Olympic Stadium and other sports facilities. In 1985 the city suffered an 8.1 Magnitude earthquake. Between 10,000 and 40,000 people were killed....
Climate
Mexico City has a monsoon-influenced temperate oceanic climate with five seasons, Spring, Summer, Monsoon, Autumn, and Winter. Spring months are mild and sunny, while the summer months warm and humid. The monsoon season lasts from June to September. Generally it consists of sunny mornings followed by cloudy afternoons with light to heavy rains. Dawn in the autumn and winter get really cold, but with an amazingly clear sky. Temperatures range from 0°C in late October, November, December and January mornings, to 32°C in March, April and May during mid-day highs. Mornings and nights may be cold, bring a good jacket in winter to stay warm. Many prospective travelers will be aware of Mexico City's somewhat dated notoriety for having terrible air pollution. The city sits in a valley surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, which results in poor air circulation and a tendency for air pollutants to stagnate over the city.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsMost travellers arrive to Mexico City by air, to Benito Juárez International Airport, located in the eastern part of the city. This is the most convenient airport to most parts of the Mexico City area. From the airport, downtown hotels can be as close as 15 minutes by taxi if traffic is light (which it rarely is). A bus terminal inside the airport makes for easy connections to nearby cities. With brand new facilities for commercial flights, including modern luggage scanners which don't require passengers to remove laptops or liquids, this airport opened to the public in Spring 2022. The airport has long been the Mexican Air Force's busiest facility. It has historically been known as Santa Lucia Military Base (and still operates as an active military base), but is now part of the region's transportation solution to alleviate congestion at MEX....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Mexico City is a huge place, but driving is definitely not a way to see it even if tourist attractions are scattered throughout the city. There are several public transport options. If you get lost and are far away from your hotel, hop into a pesero (mini bus) or bus that takes you to a Metro station (look for the sign with the stylized metro "M" in the front window). Using the wall maps, you can get back to a more familiar place (such as Zocalo or Bellas Artes). If it's after midnight, taking a taxi is your best bet. The Sistema de Transporte Colectivo, known as the Metro, is one of the largest and most patronized subway systems in the world, with 12 lines that measure more than 190 km (120 mi) and carry 4.4 million people every day. The metro is relatively quick and efficient, especially as an alternative to taxis during rush hours when the streets are essentially parking lots. Operating hours are from 05:00 to 00:00 on weekdays (starts at 06:00 on Saturday and 07:00 on Sunday).
Where to Stay
The city has more than 3,000 hotels in all price ranges. Details about individual properties are in the various District articles. The country code is +52 and the area code is 55. Mexico City (55), Guadalajara (33) and Monterrey (81) have 2 digit area codes and 8-digit numbers, the rest of the country has 7-digit numbers and 3-digit area codes. There are three consumer mobile network operators in Mexico: Mobile phone service is also available from MVNOs that operate on Telcel, Movistar, and AT&T's physical network infrastructure. MVNO plans can be less expensive than those offered by the MNOs or have shorter (i.e. daily) terms which may be well suited to some travelers. Mexican MVNOs include Unefon on the AT&T network, Freedompop on the Telcel network, and Virgin Mobile, Flash Mobile, Weex, Cierto, and Maz Tiempo on the Movistar network. Most international travelers who choose to use the international roaming service offered by their carriers will roam on the Telcel network.
Money & Budget
These ATMs have low withdrawal fees and are widespread throughout the city: If there is none of them near you, check these ATMs with low fees: Users of Bank of America, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, Westpac and Scotiabank may withdraw money with no fees at any HSBC, Scotiabank, BanBajío, Inbursa, Banregio or Mifel ATM. Mexico City is famous among Mexicans for its huge malls. American-style shopping malls appeared in Mexico City by the late 1960s and are now are spread all over the metropolitan area. You will find malls listed in the district articles. Although street vendors can be found almost anywhere in Mexico City, the following are more "formal" flea markets selling handcrafts, furniture and antiques.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Despite its reputation, travel in Mexico City is generally safe and most people find it surprisingly non-threatening. Areas around the historic center and other places where tourists usually go are generally well-lit and patrolled in the early evening. Much of your travel within the city will be done via public transportation or walking. Most people in Mexico City are quite hospitable and some will speak English, and people who work for hotels and other hospitality-oriented businesses will always help. This will help in avoiding confusion, becoming lost or stranded. Also, you can ask a local for advice to get somewhere, though you might need basic Spanish to do this. In the Polanco, Sante Fe and Lomas districts, some police officers and many business people and younger children speak English, as it is very common to learn it in school. The least safe places where tourists often go are around the north part of the Centro Historico, such as around Garibaldi Square.