image creditAll the tips and info you need before your trip
Overview
Mexico City is massive but navigable once you think in neighborhoods. Roma/Condesa is the walkable, creative heart; Centro Histórico is colonial history + museums; Polanco is polished and upscale; Coyoacán is bohemian and village-like.
Uber + metro are your lifelines. Traffic is brutal 5–8 PM, so cluster your days by area. The metro is fast, clean, and 5 pesos/ride.
Mexico City, aka CDMX (Ciudad de Mexico), sits at 2,250m elevation—expect mild headaches for 24–72 hrs. Hydrate aggressively, rest day one, and it passes. Don't drink tap water. Altitude means intense sun even on cloudy days; sunscreen is non-negotiable.
Best Areas to Stay
FIRST TIME: Roma Norte/Condesa—walkable, excellent food + nightlife, safe. Roma is grittier; Condesa is leafier. Best all-around base.
CLASSIC + CALMER: Coyoacán—colonial charm, Frida Kahlo museum, village feel.
LUXURY: Polanco—Four Seasons, Pujol, designer shopping on Av. Masaryk.
BUDGET: Centro Histórico—cheap hotels, steps from the Zócalo. Chaotic but exciting.
Money & Tipping
TIPPING: 10–15% at restaurants (essential). Tip in pesos. Round up at taquerias.
CASH MATTERS for street food, markets, metro. Cards work at hotels + restaurants. Withdraw pesos at bank ATMs (Banamex, BBVA)—avoid kiosk ATMs. Keep 500–1,000 pesos cash on hand.
Mexico City is massive but navigable once you think in neighborhoods. Roma/Condesa is the walkable, creative heart; Centro Histórico is colonial history + museums; Polanco is polished and upscale; Coyoacán is bohemian and village-like.
Uber + metro are your lifelines. Traffic is brutal 5–8 PM, so cluster your days by area. The metro is fast, clean, and 5 pesos/ride.
Mexico City, aka CDMX (Ciudad de Mexico), sits at 2,250m elevation—expect mild headaches for 24–72 hrs. Hydrate aggressively, rest day one, and it passes. Don't drink tap water. Altitude means intense sun even on cloudy days; sunscreen is non-negotiable.
FIRST TIME: Roma Norte/Condesa—walkable, excellent food + nightlife, safe. Roma is grittier; Condesa is leafier. Best all-around base.
CLASSIC + CALMER: Coyoacán—colonial charm, Frida Kahlo museum, village feel.
LUXURY: Polanco—Four Seasons, Pujol, designer shopping on Av. Masaryk.
BUDGET: Centro Histórico—cheap hotels, steps from the Zócalo. Chaotic but exciting.
TIPPING: 10–15% at restaurants (essential). Tip in pesos. Round up at taquerias.
CASH MATTERS for street food, markets, metro. Cards work at hotels + restaurants. Withdraw pesos at bank ATMs (Banamex, BBVA)—avoid kiosk ATMs. Keep 500–1,000 pesos cash on hand.