Mexico City Starter Pack

Fly into Mexico City International Airport (MEX), one of the busiest airports in Latin America

New Felipe Ángeles Airport (NLU): Budget carriers use this airport, 45+ km from the city center

Metro from MEX: Terminal 1 connects to Metro Línea 5. Cheapest option (~$0.30 USD)

Metrobús from MEX: Line 4 runs from Terminal 1 to downtown. Fast and affordable.

Uber/Didi: Available from both terminals. ~$10-20 USD to central neighborhoods.

Official airport taxi: Yellow taxis with fixed rates. Buy ticket inside terminal before exiting.

Tip: Avoid rush hour (7-10am, 5-9pm). Traffic can turn a 30-minute trip into 2 hours.

FMM Tourist Card: Given on arrival, valid for up to 180 days. Keep this safe - you need it to leave!

Visa runs: Less common from Mexico City. Some fly to Guatemala or drive to Belize.

Temporary Resident Visa: For stays over 180 days. Apply at a Mexican consulate in your home country.

Permanent Resident: After 4 years on temporary, or if you qualify by income/investment.

INM office: Multiple locations in CDMX. The main office is in Polanco. Arrive early!

RFC (tax ID): Required for work or business in Mexico. Get it at SAT offices.

Digital nomads: Mexico City is one of the world's top digital nomad destinations.

Spring-like year-round: High altitude (7,350 ft) means mild temperatures. Rarely above 80°F or below 45°F.

Dry season (Nov-April): Sunny days, cool nights. Best time to visit.

Rainy season (May-October): Daily afternoon showers, usually brief. Mornings are often clear.

Coldest months: December-February. Pack layers for chilly mornings and evenings.

Air quality: Can be poor, especially in winter. Check reports if you have respiratory issues.

Altitude: At 7,350 feet, you may feel altitude effects. Stay hydrated, take it easy first few days.

Tip: Always carry a light jacket or sweater - temperatures drop significantly at night.

Emergency Services (Police, Fire, Ambulance)

Locatel (city information and emergencies)

Tourist Police (CDMX)

Hospital ABC (private, English-speaking)

Hospital Español

US Embassy

Save these numbers to your phone before you need them!

Metro: Extensive network covering the city. Fast, cheap (~$0.30 USD), can be crowded at rush hour.

Metrobús: BRT system with dedicated lanes. Faster than regular buses, especially in traffic.

Uber/Didi/Cabify: Widely used and affordable. Often safer than street taxis.

Street taxis: Pink and white. Use caution - prefer app-based rides or "sitio" taxis.

Ecobici: Bike-share system. Great for neighborhoods like Roma, Condesa, and Centro.

Walking: Many neighborhoods are very walkable. Watch out for uneven sidewalks.

Driving: Hoy No Circula restricts driving certain days based on license plates. Check before renting.

Tip: Download Moovit or Google Maps for transit directions. Metro + walking is often fastest.

Telcel: Largest network, best coverage throughout Mexico. Buy SIM at any OXXO or Telcel store.

AT&T Mexico: Good urban coverage, competitive data plans.

Movistar: Budget option, decent coverage in the city.

SIM registration required: Residents need CURP, tourists need passport to buy a SIM card.

Home internet: Telmex, Izzi, TotalPlay. Fiber widely available in central neighborhoods.

Coworking: Hundreds of options! WeWork, Selina, Impact Hub, and many local spaces.

Cafes: Coffee culture is huge. Most cafes have WiFi and welcome remote workers.

Tip: Mexico City has one of the best digital nomad infrastructures in the world.

Opening a bank account: Most require residency. Kapital (Intercam) may open for tourists.

Major banks: BBVA, Santander, Banorte, Citibanamex. Branches everywhere.

Wise (TransferWise): Popular with expats for receiving USD/EUR and converting to MXN.

ATMs: Abundant. Use bank ATMs during business hours for safety.

ATM fees: Foreign cards charged 30-100 MXN per withdrawal.

Cards widely accepted: Credit and debit cards work at most businesses in central areas.

Cash still useful: Street vendors, markets, and some taquerias are cash-only.

Tip: Mercado Libre and Amazon Mexico deliver almost anything - useful for settling in.

Roma Norte: Trendy, walkable, great restaurants. Very popular with expats and digital nomads.

Condesa: Leafy streets, parks, art deco architecture. Slightly pricier than Roma.

Juárez: Between Roma and Centro. Emerging area, more affordable, great food scene.

Coyoacán: Bohemian village feel in the city. Frida Kahlo's neighborhood. Farther south.

Polanco: Upscale, embassy area, luxury shopping. Higher prices, international feel.

Centro Histórico: Heart of the city, historic buildings. Busy, can be noisy.

Santa María la Ribera: Up-and-coming, more local, affordable. Near good museums.

Rental tip: Furnished apartments are common. Expect 1-2 months deposit. Start ~$700/month in Roma.

Tacos: The city is taco heaven. Al pastor, suadero, carnitas, barbacoa - try them all!

Mercados: Mercado Roma (upscale food hall), Mercado de San Juan (gourmet), Mercado Medellín (local)

Street food: Tamales, tlacoyos, quesadillas, elotes. Follow the crowds for the best vendors.

Fine dining: Mexico City has world-class restaurants. Pujol, Quintonil, Contramar are famous.

Coffee: Thriving specialty coffee scene. Try Almanegra, Buna, Café Avellaneda.

Cantinas: Traditional Mexican bars. Try La Ópera, Salón Corona, or La Coyoacana.

Groceries: Superama, Chedraui, Walmart. La Comer for nicer options.

Tip: Tuesday = tacos de carnitas, Thursday = pozole, Sunday = barbacoa. Know the traditions!

Bosque de Chapultepec: Massive urban park with museums, castle, lakes, and running paths.

Parque México (Condesa): Beautiful park, perfect for morning runs or afternoon relaxation.

Parque España (Condesa): Another lovely neighborhood park with great people-watching.

Desierto de los Leones: Mountain forest park west of the city. Great for hiking.

Xochimilco: Famous floating gardens. Rent a trajinera boat for a classic CDMX experience.

Teotihuacán: Ancient pyramids just outside the city. Hot air balloon rides at sunrise!

Weekend escapes: Valle de Bravo, Tepoztlán, Malinalco are popular day or weekend trips.

Museums: 150+ museums! Start with Museo Nacional de Antropología, Frida Kahlo, and Bellas Artes.

Historic Centro: Zócalo, Palacio Nacional (Diego Rivera murals), Templo Mayor ruins.

Coyoacán: Frida Kahlo museum, colonial architecture, bohemian markets.

Lucha libre: Mexican wrestling at Arena México. Quintessential CDMX experience!

Art galleries: Roma and San Rafael have amazing contemporary art scenes.

Mezcal bars: Try Bósforo, Limantour, or Licorería Limantour for craft cocktails.

Day trips: Teotihuacán pyramids, Taxco silver town, Puebla for mole.

Events: The city hosts major cultural events, concerts, and festivals year-round.

Running: Chapultepec, Parque México, and Reforma (car-free Sundays) are popular routes.

Gyms: SmartFit, Sports World, Bodytech, and many boutique gyms throughout the city.

CrossFit: Dozens of boxes across the city.

Yoga: Studios everywhere, especially in Roma and Condesa.

Fútbol: Watch a Liga MX game at Estadio Azteca or the new Estadio AKRON.

Climbing: Indoor gyms like Rocódromo and Mammut are popular.

Cycling: Sunday Ciclotón closes major avenues to cars. Join thousands of cyclists!

Altitude training: The high altitude makes cardio challenging but great for fitness.

Earthquakes: CDMX has seismic activity. Know building exit routes. The Sept 19 alert test is loud!

Traffic: Legendary. Plan around rush hour or use Metro. Fridays are worst.

Altitude: You may feel breathless or tired. Hydrate and go easy for the first few days.

Safety: Use app-based transport at night. Avoid flashy jewelry. Most areas are safe.

Water: Tap water is not potable. Garrafones (water jugs) are delivered to apartments.

Spanish: Essential here. Less English spoken than beach towns. Start learning!

Currency: Mexican Peso (MXN). Cards widely accepted but cash useful for markets/tacos.

Size: CDMX is massive (21+ million metro area). Explore neighborhood by neighborhood.