When I booked my first-ever trip to Mexico City in April 2018, it was a last-minute, not-very-well-planned, thing. I didn’t know much about it or what was there, but I assumed I’d at least get some good food and the opportunity to practice my Spanish a bit. And at the time, Southwest Airlines flew there as one of their few international destinations. It cost me 15,000 points + $100 round-trip, so I really couldn’t complain!
Though less than a year later, in March 2019, Southwest ceased its service to Ciudad de Mexico (CDMX) meaning if you want to plan your own trip to the Mexican capital, you’ll have to look at another airline.
During my trip, I spent five days as a solo female traveler in Mexico City. And I felt very safe the entire time, by the way. In the days after I returned home, I wasn’t able to stop recommending it to my friends and family. In fact, I went back to Mexico City in 2022 for three weeks with my now-husband, because I loved it so much!
Here are a few things everyone should know about visiting Mexico City.
1. It’s quite affordable to Americans
About six months before visiting Mexico City for the first time, I went to Cambodia — and I never thought I’d go anywhere that I could get a full meal for a lower price. But the exchange rate from $USD to $MEX (pesos) is about $1 USD = $20 MEX. At first, it was startling to see that a bus ticket from the airport to the city was $30… until I realized that was $30 MEX, or less than $2 USD.
A ride on the subway was $10 MEX, sweet bread from a street vendor was $4.50 MEX, and entry to the famous Anthropology Museum was $95 MEX. When I travel, I usually make a decent-sized withdrawal of local currency from the ATM immediately upon arrival. This was the first place where I ever had money left over… almost half of what I’d taken out!
2. Mexico City is big in every way
Here’s a fun little comparison.
New York City, USA
Population (2016): 8.5 million
Metro population: 19.8 milion
Area: 305 mi²
Mexico City, Mexico
Population (2016): 8.9 million
Metro population: 21.2 million
Area: 573 mi²
I had no idea CDMX was bigger, population-wise, than New York City. It’s the most populous city in the Western Hemisphere. Also, it’s almost twice as big as NYC geographically! As my flight prepared for landing and I looked out the window, I was struck by how dense, yet sprawling, the city seemed to be. And after five days, I’m pretty sure I only saw a very, very small piece.
Even though my phone tells me I walked 36 miles, which I now know is nothing, given the size. So bring your walking shoes and get ready for some cardio.
3. Knowing basic Spanish will really help you
At the time of my first visit to Mexico City, I was preparing to move to Spain (for the first time). And while I had been a Spanish major in college, I hadn’t used it regularly in three years. So my Spanish was pretty rusty.
However, I tried my best when ordering food, asking for directions, and reading placards at museums. I got the impression that many of the people I interacted with — like Uber drivers and street vendors — are not comfortable speaking English. They spoke to me only in Spanish, even when it became apparent I was not a native speaker.
Of course, anyone in the tourism industry will have a good level of English, but it’s not as widespread as in other places I have visited. You’ll have an easier time if you know some basics en español.
Okay, now who’s ready for un viaje to Mexico City? What else do you want to know? Leave me a comment!
-Cathy
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Originally Published on April 22, 2018.
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