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Getting Around Mexico City — Metro, Uber, Walking & More

CDMX's transport is better than you think. A metro ride costs a few pesos and covers most of the city, Uber is cheap and reliable, and the best neighborhoods are walkable. Mode-by-mode breakdown below.

Your Options

6 transport modes compared

🚇

Metro

5 MXN per ride (under $0.50 USD — verify current fare)
★★★★☆Getting across the city cheaply and fast

The CDMX metro is one of the world's cheapest and carries 4.5 million riders daily. 12 lines, 195 stations, and each station has a unique icon (designed because many passengers were illiterate when the system opened in 1969). Clean, efficient, and mostly safe.

Absurdly cheap (a few pesos per ride)
Fast — avoids traffic completely
Covers most tourist areas
Unique station icons and some have museums
Extremely crowded during rush hour (7-9am, 5-8pm)
Can feel overwhelming for first-timers
Some stations are far from actual attractions
Not great for late-night travel (closes at midnight)
Key Lines for Tourists
Line 1 (Pink)
Chapultepec → Insurgentes (Roma) → Salto del Agua → Pino Suárez (Centro)Main tourist corridor
Line 2 (Blue)
Tasqueña → Zócalo → Bellas Artes → Autobuses del Norte (for Teotihuacán)Centro Histórico + bus stations
Line 3 (Olive)
Viveros/Coyoacán → Hospital General → Ciudad DeportivaGetting to Coyoacán
Line 7 (Orange)
Polanco → Auditorio (Anthropology Museum) → TacubaGetting to Polanco
Tips
→Buy a rechargeable card at any station — avoid buying single tickets each time.
→Women and children have designated cars during peak hours (first 2 cars, look for signs).
→Keep valuables in front pockets or crossbody bags during rush hour.
→Key tourist stations: Zócalo (Line 2), Chapultepec (Line 1), Bellas Artes (Lines 2/8), Coyoacán (Line 3).
→Download the Metro CDMX app for a map and real-time status updates.
🚗

Uber / Didi

$30-150 MXN per ride ($2-8 USD)
★★★★★Door-to-door convenience, especially at night

Uber is the go-to for tourists and locals alike. Cheap by international standards, reliable, and eliminates the risks of street taxis. Didi (Chinese rival) also works well and is sometimes cheaper. Both accept credit cards — no cash needed.

Very affordable (a 20-min ride is ~$3-5 USD)
Eliminates taxi scam risk
Available 24/7
Tracked rides for safety
Surge pricing during rain and rush hour
Traffic can make rides slow during peak times
Some drivers cancel rides to tourist areas
Tips
→Always verify: driver name, car model, and license plate before getting in.
→Share your trip with someone — use Uber's 'Share My Trip' feature.
→Uber pickup at the airport requires going to designated Uber zones — follow airport signs.
→During rain, prices surge 2-4x. Wait 15 minutes for the shower to pass.
→Tip in the app — drivers appreciate 10-15%.
→Have both Uber and Didi installed. Compare prices — Didi is often 10-20% cheaper.
🚌

Metrobús

6 MXN per ride ($0.35 USD)
★★★★☆Getting along major avenues (Insurgentes, Reforma)

Bus Rapid Transit with dedicated lanes — faster than regular traffic. Line 1 runs the length of Avenida Insurgentes (the longest avenue in the world), connecting Polanco to Roma to Coyoacán. Requires a rechargeable card (not the same as the metro card).

Dedicated lanes — faster than traffic
Line 1 (Insurgentes) is incredibly useful for tourists
Slightly more comfortable than metro
Runs until midnight
Need a separate card from the metro
Can be confusing for first-timers
Crowded during rush hour
Fewer lines than the metro
Tips
→Buy a Metrobús card at any station (20 MXN for the card + load credit).
→Line 1 (Insurgentes) is the most useful: Polanco → Roma/Condesa → Coyoacán direction.
→Line 4 serves the airport — a cheap alternative to Uber for arrivals.
→Enter through the front doors. Tap your card on the reader.
🚶

Walking

Free
★★★★☆Roma, Condesa, Centro Histórico, Coyoacán centers

The best neighborhoods are highly walkable. Roma-Condesa is flat, tree-lined, and compact. Centro Histórico is pedestrian-friendly (Madero is car-free). Coyoacán's central area is perfect for walking. Polanco's main strips are pleasant. Just watch for uneven sidewalks.

Best way to discover street food, murals, and hidden spots
Tourist neighborhoods are safe for walking
Flat terrain in Roma/Condesa
Lots of pedestrian-only streets
Sidewalks can be uneven — watch your step
Not practical between distant neighborhoods
Altitude can make you breathless on Day 1
Sun is strong — bring sunscreen
Tips
→Roma to Condesa: 15-min walk. Roma to Centro: 30-min walk via Av. Juárez.
→Google Maps walking directions are accurate and reliable in CDMX.
→Download offline maps — cell service can drop in some areas.
→Walk Avenida Amsterdam (Condesa) and Álvaro Obregón (Roma) for the best experience.
🚲

Ecobici (Bike Share)

109 MXN/week ($6 USD)
★★★☆☆Roma-Condesa-Polanco circuit on dedicated bike lanes

A city-wide bike-share system with 6,800+ bikes and 480 stations. Great for getting between Roma, Condesa, and Polanco — there are dedicated bike lanes on Reforma and other major roads. Download the Ecobici app to register.

Cheap for multi-day use
Stations everywhere in tourist areas
Dedicated bike lanes on key roads
Fun way to explore on a nice day
Traffic can be aggressive — not for nervous cyclists
Some bike lanes are not well-maintained
Bikes are heavy (not racing bikes)
Registration requires a Mexican phone number (workaround: ask your hotel)
Tips
→Stick to dedicated bike lanes — don't ride in general traffic.
→Sunday mornings: Paseo de la Reforma is closed to cars (7am-2pm) — perfect for cycling.
→Wear a helmet (not provided) if you plan to ride in traffic.
→The Reforma bike lane from Chapultepec to Centro is the best route.
✈️

Airport Transfer

$250-500 MXN ($14-28 USD)
★★★★☆Getting to/from AICM (Mexico City International Airport)

The airport (AICM) is 13 km east of the center. Options from best to worst: Uber (cheapest door-to-door), authorized airport taxi (safe but pricier), Metrobús Line 4 (cheapest but slow), regular taxi (avoid).

Tips
→Uber: Follow signs to 'Rideshare / Uber' pickup zones outside terminals. ~$150-300 MXN to Roma/Condesa.
→Authorized taxis: Buy a prepaid ticket at the taxi booth inside the terminal BEFORE exiting. ~$300-500 MXN.
→Metrobús Line 4: Cheapest option (6 MXN) but slow and crowded with luggage. Only for light packers.
→NEVER take a random taxi outside the airport. Use only Uber or the official airport taxi booths.
→Felipe Ángeles Airport (AIFA): The new airport is 45 km away. Only use if your airline flies there. Uber/taxi is ~$500-800 MXN.
At a Glance

Route comparison

Roma → Centro Histórico

🚇15 min / ~5 MXN
🚗12 min / $3-5
🚶30 min
Best: Metro or walk

Condesa → Polanco

🚇20 min (transfer)
🚗10 min / $3-4
🚶25 min via park
Best: Uber or walk through Chapultepec

Roma → Coyoacán

🚇20 min / ~5 MXN
🚗25 min / $4-7
🚶Not practical
Best: Metro (Line 3)

Centro → Xochimilco

🚇50 min + Tren Ligero
🚗40 min / $7-12
🚶Not practical
Best: Uber (or metro if budget)

Airport → Roma

🚇40 min (with transfer)
🚗25 min / $8-15
🚶Not practical
Best: Uber
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Teotihuacán

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Next step

Transport sorted. What's the plan?

3-Day Itinerary→Safety Guide→Where to Stay→