How to get around Mexico City

Mexico City is one of the most culturally rich cities in the world. It is also one of the largest and most densely populated areas, stretching about 50 km wide and home to more than 20 million people.

To know How Getting around the Mexican capital will help you make the most of your time in North America’s largest city.

Here are some tips to make it as efficient as possible.

The subway is cheap, popular and an efficient way to get around

The subway in Mexico City is one of the cheapest and most popular ways to get around. With 12 lines and 195 stations, an estimated 5.5 million people travel on it every weekday – and during peak hours (7am to 9.30am and 5pm to 7.30pm) it can certainly feel like it.

Mexico City’s subway stations are more than just a way to get from point A to point B, they also sometimes offer things to see and do.

There are murals and art galleries with exhibitions at Hidalgo and Bellas Artes stations. There is a cinema in Zapata and Pino Suárez has an ancient Aztec temple as part of the train station.

Tips for traveling by metro: Due to crowds, passengers are prohibited from bringing large travel backpacks or suitcases. The first three carriages of the metro are reserved exclusively for women and children.

You don’t need a car, especially during rush hour

Ask anyone who lives in Mexico City about getting around and they’ll quickly complain about the traffic jams.

Car rental is not recommended. The city is one of the busiest in the world, with drivers stuck in traffic jams for an average of 132 hours in 2022 alone.

The last thing you want to do on your trip is waste time in a bottleneck. Therefore, avoid traveling by car or taxi in the morning, afternoon and early evening.

Take a taxi at night

Sometimes you may want the convenience of a taxi, especially at night. Have one of the distinctive white and pink official taxis available or use a ride-hailing app like Uber, Cabify or DiDi to get around.

Thanks to dedicated lanes, the bus is quick and affordable

Mexico City has a well-developed bus network. Thousands of buses and peseros run daily, depending on the route, from around 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Electric trolleybuses (Trolebus) usually last until 11:30 p.m. Only a few routes run all night, especially those along Paseo de la Reforma.

Here are the different bus types.

Pesero

Peseros (also called Microbuses or station wagons) are gray-green minibuses operated by private companies. They follow fixed routes, often starting or ending at subway stations and stopping at virtually every street corner.

Route information is displayed on maps mounted on the windshield. Between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. there is a 20% surcharge.

Privately operated green and yellow buses charge similar prices for the same distances. A useful resource for route planning given the bewildering number of Peseros is the ViaDF website.

Metrobus

The Metrobus is a wheelchair-accessible long-distance bus that stops at subway-like stations in the middle of the street, three to four blocks apart.

Access is via a prepaid smart card issued from machines for M$10 (US$0.50) at the entrance to the platforms. The trip costs M$6 (US$0.30).

The rechargeable cards, which can also be used for the metro, are placed on a sensor device for access. During rush hour, the Metrobús is popular with pickpockets.

The front part of the bus is for women and children only and marked with pink seating. Most Metrobus routes operate from 5 a.m. to midnight.

Top tip for the Metrobus: Línea 7 is a red double-decker that travels from Plaza Garibaldi along the Paseo de la Reforma and passes important landmarks such as the Monumento a la Revolución, the Zona Rosa and Reforma, El Ángel, the Bosque de Chapultepec, the Castillo de Chapultepec, the Museo Tamayo and the Museo de Antropología, completing a stop after the Auditorio Nacional.

Trolebus

Municipally operated Trolebuses (trolleybuses) and full-size cream and orange buses (marked “RTP”) are picked up at bus stops only. Fares are M$2 (US$0.10) (M$4 or US$0.20 for the express train), regardless of the distance traveled, and only pre-loaded tickets (such as those on the Metro and the Metrobús used) accepted, no cash.

Trolleybuses follow a series of keys ejes (priority streets) throughout the rest of the city. They usually run until 11:30 p.m. Route maps can be found on the trolleybus website.

Try cycling on a Sunday

Bicycles can be a viable means of getting around the city and are often preferable to crowded, reckless buses.

Although careless drivers and potholes can make cycling in Mexico City an extreme sport, it is manageable if you stay alert and stay off major roads. The city administration has encouraged the use of bicycles and created more cycle-only paths. It’s definitely starting.

Every Sunday (except the last Sunday of the month), the “Muévete en Bici” program transforms a number of important streets, such as: B. the Paseo de la Reforma, into a 57 km car-free route where thousands of cyclists, dog walkers and rollerbladers can roam.

Since it’s closed to all motorized traffic from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., it’s a great way to explore the city’s top attractions.

Use the Ecobici public bike rental system to pick up a bike at one of 503 stations in 71 neighborhoods.

You must register online or on the Ecobici app by linking your Integrated Mobility Card and then purchase a one-, three- or seven-day plan for M$118 (US$5.80); M$234 (US$11.45); M$391 (US$20) for unlimited 45-minute rides.

Use the app’s map to find the nearest bike dock.

Float over the city in the cable car

In 2012, the new Cablebús system opened with two lines. The first leads from Indios Verdes to the northern districts of Cuautepec and Tlalpexco.

It has halved the transportation time for residents to the city center and attracted tourists to these outlying areas.

The second line connects the southeastern Constitución de 1917 and Santa Marta zones. With a length of more than 10 km, it is the longest public cable car line in Latin America. For M$7 (US$0.35), you can glide in a gondola 100 feet above busy streets while enjoying incredible views of valleys and volcanoes.

Accessible transportation in Mexico City

Getting around Mexico City can be quite a challenge for anyone, let alone the more than 500,000 residents living with a disability. The subway, for example, has notoriously limited facilities.

By far the most accessible public transport system is the Metrobús, which has priority boarding areas, elevators and ramps at almost all stations.

Many of the buses are level with the platforms for easy boarding and have priority seating and spaces for wheelchairs.

Another accessible route through the city is Turibús, the bus tour service that offers fun and hassle-free rides through Centro Histórico, Polanco, and Chapultepec Park.

All buses have fold-down ramps and at least two reserved spaces for wheelchair users. The weekly bike ride on Sunday is also a very comprehensive and accessible experience for everyone.

Transport passes

Given Mexico City’s ongoing traffic problems, making the public transportation system more attractive has become a key priority for authorities.

Launched in 2019, the prepaid Tarjeta de Movilidad Integrada (Integrated Mobility Card) allows travelers to travel on trains, buses, cable cars and bicycles with a single card.

Buy the card from a ticket office or machine in a subway or Metrobús station for M$15 (US$0.75) and top it up on the go.