Once in this new city you’re going to need to understand how to use the transport network!
¡Aproveche!
How to get around the city?
Mexico City has a very-well developed and at the same time quite cheap public transportTION network. Below you can find which ones are my personal favorites andwhat tips do I have when travelling via every single one of them.
Taxis
Different taxis categories are operating under several distinct sets of rules.
- “Taxis de sitios” sitios” are the ones waiting on taxi stations, located at specificaround town. You may pay a bit more, compared to a taxi you might flag one the street, but these ones are the safest. We recommend avoiding taxis in the street, as some of them have a fake license (except “taxis de sitios”). They might steal you or ask you more money, just because they see you are a tourist. Otherwise, when taking a cab off the street, make sure the driver’s ID is visible and that the taximeter is working properly.
- “Pink taxis”, formerly women driver taxi for women, now most of them are driven bymen, there are still women though. As said previously, some might drive without having a proper license and that can cost you extra money or even your safety,so be careful.
- Uber. You probably already used Uber in your home country, here the network is really important, and the service is quite cheap, safe and comfortable. In most cases though the drivers do not speak any English and it takes them quite some time till they reach you, so if you are in a rush we would recommend you other modes of transportation.
- Radio station taxis. You have to call and ask for a taxi, this service is fast and safe.Here are some useful phone numbers: 5514 8124, 55 2603 3268, 55 5590 3325, 55 5698-5192, 5519 7690, 5271 2560, 5560 1122, 5566 0077. You can also check how much it will cost you thanks to Taxi Fare Finder.
Metro
The Metro and Metrobús in Mexico are for sure one of the cheapest in the world (5 pesos). 12 metro lines spread around the city, operating from 5am till midnight during the week, while on saturdays from 6am-00.00 and on sundays and holidays, 7am – midnight..
Keep an eye on your personal belongings when using the subway. Pickpockets are veryattentive to foreigners, especially when the trains are crowded. Be careful, and carry valuable items inside your clothing.
Metrobus
5 metrobús lines are complementing the metro network. As the lines are operating under different time schedules, check the hours first here. These buses often travel much faster than surrounding traffic, especially in Avenida Insurgentes.
Generally, they are cleaner,faster and safer than any other form of transportation, but they can get as crowded as the metro during peak hours.
Metrobus map here.
Tickets:
For both Metro and Metrobús, you have the choice to buy a single ticket (“boleto”) or to buy a smartcard (15 pesos) at the ticket office (“taquilla”) and tone up the balance on it. You should avoid having 15 tickets in your wallet and you simply have to show your card in front of the sensor when entering the metro or metrobus station. Otherwise, all you have to do is to insert your ticket into the slot at the turnstile and pass through. After that, follow the sign showing you line’s destination to get to the platform (“andenes”).
The transfer points (“correspondencias”) are well indicated and easy to navigate through. Be aware that during rush hours the metro and metrobús are pretty crowded (weekdays: morning 8-10am and evening 4-8pm). You might also find areas, which are especially for women and children (e.g the first car in metrobús is a “pink zone” for women-only) to avoid being disturbed.
Bus
In the major touristic places in the city there are bus stops. Depending on the bus and the route you take, the prices vary between 5 and 15 pesos. Try to have the exact amount or at least a few coins when boarding.
Colectivos (Collective bus)
Colectivos are sort of minibuses, green and grey, which operate in the major squares. They pick up and drop off passengers along the routes (bus stop is not necessary to go out). Very often, the destination is a metro or metrobús station. You pay according to the length of the route, so try to have change.
When asking the driver to stop, he may put his hand out of the window and hold up one or more fingers. This means the number of passengers he is willing to take on, as it’s difficult to see when you stand outside the car.
Touristic bus
This is a very popular and easy way to see the city. We would recommend Turibus as it is the main agency in Mexico. On weekdays, tickets are around 100 pesos for adults and cheaper for children and seniors. On weekends, be prepared to pay between 15 and 20 pesos more. These double-deck buses do not run on major holidays or protests.
Once in the bus you will get a wristband, a ticket and it is very important not to lose either of these because they are required to re-board later on. You can ask for an audio guide in Spanish, English, French, German, Italian or Japanese.
Bike
Called “EcoBici”, this bicycle sharing system gathers 444 stations spread around the DF with more than 6,000 red and white bicycles.
Users of this system are required to purchase a RFID card, that costs 400 pesos for 1 full year access.
As a tourist you can pay roughly 300 pesos for the weekly card, and up to 90 pesos for a day.
Otherwise, the first 45 minutes of use are free; extra charges are applied beyond this time limit. In that case you can pay at the EcoBici payment kiosk located in most rental stations.
There are many options to get around Mexico. I would highly recommend Metrobus and Uber as main ways of transportation. Metrobus is really fast and quite cheap and Uber is one of the safest modes of transportation!
Taxis de sitios and EcoBicis are pretty good though and at the same time they are super easy to find.
Enjoy Mexico!
