We Planned You Pack

I have a confession: mass transit intimidates me. I grew up in a place with no subway, no useful bus routes, and no walkability to speak of, so I drove everywhere. However, renting a car in Mexico City would be a disaster. So I’ve forced myself to learn the Metro, the Metrobús, and ride-share apps instead. The surprising part? It was much easier than I expected. If mass transit intimidates you too, here’s what worked for us.

What You’ll Probably Use Most: Uber and DiDi

If you only remember one thing from this article, let it be this: download Uber and DiDi before your trip. We used ride-share apps almost every day. They were inexpensive, easy to use, and took the uncertainty out of getting around a big city with heavy traffic. Rides between central neighborhoods generally cost 40–140 pesos ($3–7), while airport rides run 250–400 pesos ($13–20) depending on traffic and demand.

As a bonus, your route is tracked, your fare is shown before you book, and you don’t have to negotiate prices or explain directions in Spanish.

Ride-share becomes less appealing at certain times:

• Weekday rush hours (7–10 a.m. and 5–8 p.m.) — traffic can be so congested that Uber takes longer than mass transit.
• Sunday mornings (8 a.m.–2 p.m.) — large sections of Paseo de la Reforma close to cars, forcing traffic onto unfamiliar side streets. Apps struggle to predict travel time in this situation.

In those cases, consider the Metro or Metrobús — though keep in mind, during rush hour they’ll likely be crowded too.

Ride-share apps are often the easiest transportation for travelers with limited mobility. If you’re traveling with a folding wheelchair or walker, contact the driver after booking to confirm if it will fit in the vehicle.

The Metro: Fast, Cheap, and Easier Than You Think

The Metro is one of the best bargains in Mexico City. At just 5 pesos ($0.29) per ride, it’s often the fastest way to reach the Historic Center.

Normally I freeze up at the sight of a subway map, but you don’t need one — Google Maps plans the route for you, including line, transfer, and walking time estimates. The Metro was also designed to be usable by anyone, including people who don’t read Spanish: every station has its own color, name, and symbol, which makes it far less intimidating once you know to follow them.

Purchase a reloadable Tarjeta MI at any station. The card itself costs 15 pesos.  I suggest loading it with 100 pesos (roughly US$5).  That’s enough for about 20 Metro rides—more than most visitors will need. 

Some stations accept credit cards to load the card, but bring at least 100 pesos in cash to be safe. The physical card works across Mexico City’s main transit systems and avoids surprises if a turnstile doesn’t cooperate with a foreign card.

Google Maps still works underground—just differently. Before boarding, look at your route, note the line color, direction, and number of stops.  Even without a signal between stations, you’ll know exactly where to get off.

If you prefer paper maps, however, they’re surprisingly difficult to find online. Metro stations display system maps, but printed copies aren’t available at every station. Your hotel front desk or a tourist information module is often your best source.

A quick safety note: Like any busy subway system, the Metro is a place to be aware of your belongings. Pickpockets tend to target crowded trains and transfer stations, so wear your bag in front, zip it closed, and keep your phone tucked away when you’re not using it — the same precautions you’d take on the Metro in Paris, the Tube in London, or the subway in New York.

Metrobús: One of Mexico City’s Best-Kept Secrets

Think of the Metrobús as a subway on the surface: most routes run in dedicated lanes down the center of major avenues, you wait at a station in the median, you pay before boarding, and the buses bypass most surrounding traffic. If you’re traveling along Paseo de la Reforma or Avenida Insurgentes, it’s frequently the quickest option. It uses the same MI card as the Metro and costs 6 pesos per ride.  Boarding is simple.  Tap your MI card at the station entrance, wait on the platform and board when the bus arrives.  There’s no need to tap again once you’re on board. 

• Keep backpacks in front; it’s more comfortable for everyone and helps protect against pickpockets in crowded conditions.
• Watch the overhead display and listen for announcements — every station is called out, and route maps are posted inside the buses.
• Allow extra time in heavy rain. Buses slow down for safety during storms and tend to be more crowded, so trips take longer than usual.

Walking: One of the Best Parts of Visiting Mexico City

Some of our favorite memories happened on foot.

Condesa, Roma Norte, Polanco, Coyoacán, and the Historic Center are wonderful neighborhoods for wandering. Beautiful architecture, leafy parks, neighborhood cafés, and unexpected discoveries seem to appear around every corner.

Calle Madero, the pedestrian street connecting the Zócalo and Bellas Artes, is one of our favorite walks in the city.

Be aware that Google Maps may tell you a destination is only a 15-minute walk. What it doesn’t account for is the bakery, market, beautiful park, or historic church that convinces you to stop along the way.

That’s one of the things I love most about traveling independently. You’re not following a tour guide waving a little flag while everyone hurries to keep up. You can meander.

But watch out for the bike lanes.  Many of Mexico City’s protected bike lanes are heavily used by commuters, and cyclists often travel much faster than visitors expect. Treat them like car lanes and look both ways before crossing.

Traditional Taxis: Mostly a Backup Plan at the Airport

Use them only if you arrive at the airport without a working phone or data connection. In that case, the authorized prepaid taxi kiosks inside the terminal are a safe and reliable option.

Otherwise, we’d simply use a ride-share app.

The One Mistake to Avoid: Renting a Car

For most visitors renting a car creates more stress than convenience. 

Traffic is among the worst in the world. Parking can be difficult and expensive. Even when you find a parking garage, attendants often stack vehicles tightly and may need to move several cars before retrieving yours.

Between Uber, the Metro, the Metrobús and walking, we never once wished we’d rented a car.  Save the driving for another destination.

I still remember how nervous I was before that first trip, sure that a city this size would leave me stranded without a car. It didn’t. Between walking, ride-share apps, the Metro, and the Metrobús, we got everywhere we needed to go. If mass transit intimidates you the way it once intimidated me, Mexico City is a surprisingly good place to get over it.

Continue Planning Your Trip

12 Reasons Mexico City Should Be at the Top of Your Travel List – Still deciding whether to visit? Here’s why Mexico City became one of our favorite cities.

Mexico City Itinerary & Planning Guide – Flexible 5-, 7-, and 10-day itineraries, neighborhood guides, transportation tips, and reservation advice.

In the comments please tell me what transportation questions you still have, and I’ll do my best to answer them.