Travel tips · Mexico City · Mexico
Mexico City travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Gobierno CDMX, CC0
_(cropped).jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
Mexico City is a huge, warm and proud capital where Aztec, colonial and modern layers sit side by side. Social life revolves around long lunches, family Sundays in parks and plazas, and a calendar of religious and national celebrations; chilangos, as locals are known, are generally courteous and formal at first meeting.
Key facts
- Language
- Spanish
- Currency
- MXN
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 127 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Don't drink tap water; use bottled or purified water, which restaurants also…
- Emergency
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
Things to know
- Greet people with 'buenos días' or 'buenas tardes' before asking anything, in shops and on the street.
- Say 'provecho' to people eating as you pass their table or leave a restaurant.
- Women and children can use the women-only carriages at the front of Metro trains; men should not board them.
- Dress modestly in churches and at the Basilica, and keep quiet during services.
- Social timing is relaxed, but arrive on time for tours, restaurant bookings and museum time slots.
- Book Palacio de Bellas Artes ahead: Book performances of the Ballet Folklórico de México in the main theatre in advance through the official box office.
- Book Museo Frida Kahlo (Casa Azul) ahead: Tickets are sold online for timed slots and often sell out days ahead; book as soon as your dates are fixed.
- Book Lucha libre at Arena México ahead: Buy tickets at the arena box office or through official sellers; a guided outing is an easy option for first-timers.
- The Zócalo, the cathedral, the Basilica, Chapultepec Park, Museo Soumaya, Biblioteca Vasconcelos and Ciudad Universitaria are free.
Tipping
Tip 10–15% in restaurants, often by telling the server the amount to add when paying by card; tip a few pesos to supermarket baggers and petrol-station attendants, and to musicians you request songs from.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Buenos días | Good morning |
| Provecho | Enjoy your meal |
| La cuenta, por favor | The bill, please |
| ¿Cuánto es? | How much is it? |
| ¿Qué onda? | What's up? (informal) |
| Chilango | A person from Mexico City |
| Ahorita | Right now, or later on, depending on context |
What to wear
City dress is neat-casual, and locals rarely wear shorts. Bring layers: mornings and evenings are cool at altitude even when afternoons are warm, plus a light rain jacket from June to September.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type A and B sockets, 127 V, 60 Hz
- Drinking water
- Don't drink tap water; use bottled or purified water, which restaurants also use for ice.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Phone and internet
- Free Wi-Fi is common in cafés and many public spaces; local SIM cards and eSIMs are easy to buy, and many North American plans include Mexico roaming.
- Time zone
- America/Mexico City
The main visitor areas such as Roma, Condesa, Polanco, Coyoacán and the Centro by day are generally comfortable, but pickpocketing is common on the Metro and in crowded markets. Use app-based rides or authorised taxi ranks rather than hailing taxis on the street. The city has an earthquake early-warning system: if the sirens sound, follow locals to open space.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Mexico's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Mexico City?
Tip 10–15% in restaurants, often by telling the server the amount to add when paying by card; tip a few pesos to supermarket baggers and petrol-station attendants, and to musicians you request songs from.
+Can you drink the tap water in Mexico City?
Don't drink tap water; use bottled or purified water, which restaurants also use for ice.
+What plugs are used in Mexico City?
Type A and B sockets, 127 V, 60 Hz
+What language is spoken in Mexico City?
Spanish.