After just two visits, Mexico City quickly became one of my favorite cities. I’m pretty sure this is a city I’ll return to many times in the future. Aside from my fellow frequent travelers, I usually get weird questions and comments about it, as most people wonder, “Is Mexico City safe?” I’m here to tell you that I felt 100% safe at all times during both of my solo trips to Mexico City. Before you go, I have a few tips for traveling to Mexico City, whether you are a solo female traveler, visiting as a family, or with friends.

Check out these fun things to do in Mexico City!

Now…I am not a nervous person in general, and I lived alone in Chicago for the better part of my adult life. So, I may be more comfortable in urban environments than others. The truth is, if you don’t feel safe at home, you won’t feel safe in Mexico City. But if you’re on the fence, I say go for it! If you stay in one of the best neighborhoods in Mexico City, you’ll likely feel very comfortable.

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Speaking Spanish in Mexico City

If you’ve been to some of the resort areas of Mexico, you may not have needed to know any Spanish, but that’s not the case in the cities. In both Guadalajara and Mexico City, English is not widely spoken outside of the travel industry. It definitely helps if you know a little bit of Spanish. I am by no means proficient or even High School Level 1, but I speak enough to get by, and it definitely helped me. The phrase I used most often in Mexico is “Hablo un poquito Espanol” with an emphasis on “poquito,” so they know I speak only a little bit of Spanish. Your hotel staff will usually speak English, but many taxi and Uber drivers do not. Restaurant staff were about 50/50, depending on where I was. Google Translate App is also a lifesaver!

Cash in Mexico City

I like to use my credit cards to earn points as often as possible, but you always want to have a little bit of cash when you are walking around. Whether you are eating street food or buying souvenirs at the night market, you will need cash. On my last trip, I withdrew 1000 pesos, which is roughly $50 USD. That was the perfect amount for five days in Mexico City.

Eating Out in Mexico City

I learned this the hard way on my first trip to Mexico City. They like to eat late. Most restaurants in Mexico City don’t even open for lunch until 12:00 or later, and dinner is also very late. If you eat dinner around 7:00 as I do, then you will likely have the restaurant to yourself. However, if you’re out sightseeing early in the morning, make sure you have a hearty breakfast or you will be pretty hungry by the time they start serving lunch.

Tipping in Mexico City

Tipping, or “propina” at a restaurant is customary in Mexico City. Between 10 and 15% is typical, although check your bill first to see if a tip has already been added. Like most countries besides the US, the server will bring the credit card machine to your table to run your card. They will ask you how much to add for the tip. This is another good reason to know a bit of Spanish. If you instruct them to add “quince” make sure you clarify if you want to tip 15 pesos or 15 %.

Use the Hotel Safe

When I am out and about in any city, I keep almost everything in the safe in my hotel room. This includes my passport, a backup credit card, and my debit card unless I need to get cash out. I also keep any electronics and prescription drugs in the safe as well. If I’m in a place where I have withdrawn a lot of cash for the trip, I will also keep some cash in the safe.

(This is another lesson I learned the hard way, after dropping my passport in a chocolate shop in Brussels. Thankfully, I got it back right away before I even realized I’d lost it!)

This means when I am out and about, I don’t have a lot of anything on me at any one time. I carry a small purse, with some cash in a pocket. A backup ID (driver’s license or my passport card,) and one credit card. This is just good travel sense anywhere you go. If anything were to happen, such as getting robbed or even just losing my purse, I still have cash, cards, and ID back at the hotel.

Mexico City Airport

When you arrive at Mexico City airport, head to the taxi stands to schedule an authorized taxi service. I have always done this, and have never had any issues. They have a map of the zones, you can tell them your hotel, and you pay with a credit card. This is especially good if you just landed and have no local currency on you. You can use Uber for the rest of your trip, but I find this to be the easiest way to get from the airport to your accommodation in Mexico City.

Planning a tour of Mexico? Check out these fun Guadalajara day trips!

For such a large city, I was surprised at the small terminal I was in when leaving Mexico City. Once I passed through security, I had my choice of Subway or a burger place for lunch. So much for getting one last authentic Mexican meal before flying home. I would definitely recommend eating before you go to the airport, or eating outside of security.

What to Pack for Mexico City

The weather is actually really nice in Mexico City, especially for a city at such a high elevation. I have visited in September and January. September is at the beginning of the rainy season, and we only had occasional afternoon storms, but nothing that put a damper on my trip. January is supposedly one of the coldest months, but the temperatures were in the 60s and 70s, dropping into the 40s or 50s at night. The locals were bundled up, but I was pretty comfortable in jeans, ballet flats and a sweater or jacket at night. Spring is supposed to be the best time to visit Mexico City, but the weather is pretty moderate year-round.

Staying Connected in Mexico City

On my first trip, I did not have an international data plan, and it was frustrating. Flagging down taxis and not being able to communicate with them left me in a pinch a few times, especially since I was staying in a guest house off the beaten path. Now, I have Google Fi, so I am automatically covered with voice, text, and data no matter where I am in the world.

If you are not going to have a data plan in Mexico City, then I recommend downloading the Spanish catalog within Google Translate. This will allow you to use the app even if you aren’t connected. It will take up some space on your phone, but you can delete it when you get home.

Getting Around Mexico City

There is a public transportation system in Mexico City that includes buses and the subway, but Uber is so affordable that I didn’t see the point of learning the Mexico City metro system. My most expensive Uber ride in Mexico City was about $8 to get to the airport. For getting around town, expect to spend $3-$6 for each Uber. Since I prefer walking as much as possible, this was the best choice for me.

If this is your first time in Mexico City, a Hop-On-Hop-Off bus will give you a good sense of the different neighborhoods and is a nice way to see the city. Although, I don’t recommend using Turibus. There are several companies that offer this tour.

Find out where to stay in Mexico City!

How to Avoid Getting Sick in Mexico City

Rule number one of Mexico travel is not to drink the water. Rather than buy a bunch of plastic bottles of water, I travel with a Lifestraw water bottle that filters out everything nasty. Now, some people are fastidious about avoiding tap water, even going so far as to brush their teeth with filtered water. People will tell you not to eat fruit, lettuce or ice because it could be contaminated. If you have a sensitive stomach, this is sound advice.

I try to be as unfussy as possible when I travel, so I do roll the dice a bit. (I’m not opposed to losing a few pounds through a stomach bug either) I had ice in pretty much every drink and in my aguas frescas at the market, and I did not get sick. Maybe I have a strong stomach. I’m not suggesting you go gulp tap water when visiting Mexico City, but it’s possible to survive without being overly cautious.

Watch Where You Walk

Mexico City is located in a highly active earthquake zone, and its streets and sidewalks are quite old. This is not a good place to be walking and scrolling through your phone at the same time. There are huge potholes and craters on the sidewalks, so my best tip for traveling to Mexico City is to pay attention to where you are walking!

The most important tips for traveling to Mexico City are to have fun and be safe! Are you ready to book a trip to Mexico City? I know I’m ready to go back!