Mexico City is a popular destination with incredible culture, history, and food. Here are my top tips to help you plan a smooth and enjoyable trip to the largest city in North America:
1. Be Prepared for the Altitude
Mexico City sits at 7,349 ft (2,240 m), which is lower than Cusco but can still cause fatigue. Take it easy on your first day and stay hydrated. The altitude also makes the air extremely dry, so bring moisturizer and lip balm for comfort — my skin and lips were cracking without them!
2. Book Popular Attractions in Advance
The Frida Kahlo Museum often sells out weeks ahead, so buy tickets online early. Many famous restaurants fill up quickly too. We couldn’t get reservations for popular fine dining options like Pujol or Quintonil even a month before our trip.
3. Bring Cash
Many places are cash-only, especially markets and street food stalls. We withdrew cash at the airport ATM and ended up using most of it.
4. Avoid Drinking the Tap Water
Tap water isn’t safe to drink in Mexico City, so stick to bottled or filtered water. We bought large jugs of water from convenience stores and used them for both drinking and brushing our teeth.
5. Use Uber/DiDi to Get Around
We used Uber to get around everywhere, and it was safe, cheap, and reliable. We considered trying the Metro, but even the station entrances were very crowded, so we decided to skip it.
Looking for things to do in Mexico City? Check out my top 5 favorites!
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