Is Mexico City safe?
The short answer is yes. Quite safe. And certainly to the contrary of some of the warnings coming from the US government and media these days,
If you’re a first-time visitor, I recommend sticking to these neighborhoods: Polanco, Roma, and Condesa. When you set up shop in these places, you’ll notice many other travelers floating around as well. In fact, I’d venture a guess and say that there’s a 99.9% chance you’ll be fine. Without much of a doubt, they are safer than most American neighborhoods - in my humble opinion, of course. There are also plenty of other neighborhoods that are just as safe outside of these main areas for travelers.
Be Smart
If you use common sense and you don't do anything dumb, there's a very low probability anything bad will happen to you. Mexico City is a big city, no different than any other city in the world, and things can happen. We’re talking about some petty theft, or maybe scams. I will give you three super quick tips when visiting Mexico City.
Three Quick Rules for Safety
Don't take a taxi; always use Uber.
Don't drink tap water.
Don't be an idiot.
Why You Should Listen to Me
I’m Shawn; I have visited over 30 countries, been to countless cities and off-the-radar small towns, and most importantly, have been to Mexico City ten times. In fact, I just got back from my most recent month-long stint in Mexico City.
I love the city, like the ins and outs, and exploring new areas, and, in general, I'm pretty adventurous. I will go places I probably shouldn't go, but it’s all for “research” to share with you. And, just in case you didn’t know, I’m American, black, tall-ish (6 foot 1), and stick out everywhere in Mexico City. And I’d like to tell you a little about some of my learnings over the years coming here.
Rule Number One: Don't take a taxi; always use Uber.
Never, ever take a pink taxi. Why? There’s a decent chance you could get scammed, especially if you don’t have a strong grasp of the Spanish language. I’m not saying that it’ll happen anywhere close to every time you hop into one, but it’s just best to play it on the safe side if you're not familiar with your surroundings.
Uber is everywhere in CDMX. It's affordable, safe, and effective, and it can pick you up at the airport and take you where you need to go. Many rides are less than $5, depending on where you're going.
Public transit is relatively safe and efficient in CDMX. There are other apps too. DiDi, Cabify and you can also rent e-bikes in many places.
Just take Uber. It’ll make your life easier like it would in other cities. I promise.
What Happens After You Land at Benito Juárez International Airport?
No matter how many cities I have visited, one of the most critical logistics is getting from the airport to my destination, usually a hotel or Airbnb.
So the plane has landed. Now what?
You’ll walk through a few hallways in a slightly-dated, but relatively efficient Mexico City Airport. You hit up customs—great news for Americans: As of 2023, you can go through Automated Passport Control. Hug the wall to the left-hand side of customs. You should see some machines at the very end of the immigration hall (and there will be customs agents to help you, just in case).
Slide in your passport. They’ll take a picture, and give you a slip of paper stating that you’re now allowed to stay in Mexico for 180 days. Now on occasion, you still may need to talk to an agent for some reason. Treat them respectfully and you’ll be just fine.
Then, you’ll be in the luggage hall. Pick up your luggage.
Pay attention to this next part.
Once you have your luggage, you will enter the main hallway. Head on a swivel time. If you pre-arranged a ride, they will be right outside these doors. If you didn’t, it’s time to call your Uber.
When you leave these doors, walk to the left, find an unoccupied spot to connect to the free WiFi if you don’t already have phone service, and get your Uber. DO NOT talk to anyone if you don’t know them (this is Travel 101 in any city in the world though… there’s a decent chance someone will be trying to scam you by offering you an overpriced ride into the city).
Call your Uber. Your Uber will pick you up at Door 4, 5, 6, or 7 - select any. If you walk to the left just after exiting the luggage hall, just keep heading that way until you find your door. (You will start at Door 8, so just keep walking further down the building before heading outside).
As your Uber gets close, be sure to wait outside for it and look for the correct license plate and make/model of the car. They can’t stop for a long time, so they will have to make a loop and return to get you if you're not there.
And now you’re on the way. Just a heads up, Mexico City traffic can be shit.
General Safety Tips and Other Miscellany
Knowing Spanish
One thing you should be aware of is the level of English proficiency in Mexico City can sometimes vary. Remember, you’re in their country, a city of 20 million+ people whose primary language is Spanish. So don’t expect folks to use or speak English to you.
Knowing some basic Spanish phrases, like what you may have learned in high school, can be helpful. It wouldn’t hurt to brush up before hopping on the plane! Generally, folks will appreciate the effort, even if your Spanish is super elementary or riddled with errors. The important thing is to be friendly. If you are friendly, people will try to accommodate and help you with whatever you need, even if communicating effectively takes some trial and error.
Looking Like a Target
In Mexico City, displaying wealth through fancy brand names, expensive jewelry, or flashy items just screams, “Liberate me of my items, please”. In other words, ladies: leave the Louis Vuitton purse and diamond ring at home. Gents: no need for the Rolex. The city has significant income disparities, and showing off may attract criminals seeking valuable belongings or cash. Try not to look like a clueless tourist - it’ll greatly reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim of street crime or opportunistic theft.
Rule Number 2: Don’t Drink Tap Water
Don’t drink tap water. “But Shawn, it’s just water - what’s the big deal?” you say. To cut to the chase, it’s not potable, a.k.a. it’ll make you sick. Brush your teeth with it. Wash your hands with it. Shower with it. Just don't drink it.
Drink bottled water or grab a “garrafon” instead (a returnable 20-liter jug of water). Stock up at your local 7/11 (yes, it’s all over Mexico City) or Oxxo (the local equivalent of 7/11).
Now, if you’re in an Airbnb, some have filtered water on tap next to the sink. It’s not everywhere, so check with your host before using it. But, just know it’s an option out there.
Emergency Information
In case of an emergency in Mexico City, stay calm and take action. If you need medical attention, call an ambulance by dialing 911. If you're facing a life-threatening situation or need police assistance, call the emergency number 911 as well. If you’re coming from the US, easy to remember, no?
Monetezuma’s Revenge
No matter how fancy of restaurants you eat, and what precautions you take, you can still end up with Montezuma’s revenge. Montezuma's Revenge, also known as traveler's diarrhea, is a common gastrointestinal issue experienced by travelers visiting Mexico and other foreign countries. It's typically caused by consuming contaminated food or water, leading to symptoms such as diarrhea, stomach cramps, and nausea.
I’ve had it many times. (TMI? Sorry.) It sucks, but you’ll just have to deal with it if it strikes. Bring your stomach medicine with you. Or utilize…
…Pharmacy on Demand
I’d say it’s much easier to get medicine in Mexico than it is in the United States. The selection is wonderful. If you’re having severe stomach problems (or other illnesses for that matter), fire up your Uber Eats app or Rappi (another delivery app like Uber Eats, but much more common in Latin America). You can have medicine, electrolytes, etc., delivered straight to your door. Many of the brand names are the same, but from time to time you may need to Google a medicine’s name.
Hospital
I have (thankfully) not had to visit a hospital in Mexico City due to an injury or illness (knock on wood). They can vary substantially in quality. Some are more pristine than hospitals you have seen in the US. Just be prepared to have money to pay them upfront - sometimes travel insurance isn’t as helpful as you may think when in the moment.
In summary, you can rest assured that Mexico is super safe for travelers and of course, a wonderful place to visit, explore, and indulge. Ignore the fearmongers that you might find in the mainstream media, telling you that Mexico is dangerous. Just go with the flow, be smart (and pay attention to this article) and enjoy everything CDMX has to offer!
One more important piece of information to have in your back pocket…
The US Embassy
While I certainly hope you’ll never need it, there is a big US embassy in Mexico City in case you lose your passport, need assistance, or have any other issues that require consular services.
The address for the US embassy in Mexico City is:
Embassy of the United States of America
Paseo de la Reforma 305
Colonia Cuauhtémoc
06500 Mexico City
Phone: +52 55 5080 2000
Website: https://mx.usembassy.gov/