£457+ Cheap flights to Benito Juarez

Getting around Mexico City

Don’t worry about getting around Mexico City, one of the biggest cities in the world. The public transport system is efficient and cheap. The metro runs from early morning until midnight and is clean and easy to use. The bus system is also extensive, but you might find it easier to use if you speak Spanish. Minibuses can be a better option than buses, since they are smaller, faster and more comfortable. They can drop you off anywhere along their route. With so many people in the city, public transport can be very crowded during rush hour. Be aware of your surroundings during rush hour and at night; crime levels are high on the subway and buses. Central Square’s cobble-stoned streets can be a lovely area to walk around. If you want to take a taxi, be safe and call ahead for one, instead of hailing a cab. Many hotels and restaurants can help you get a cab. If you’re planning on driving in the city, know that it can be a tricky place to manoeuvre and prices are high. Additionally, cars are prohibited from driving in the city one day a week. Find out which days you are restricted by checking the last number of your licence plate against a list at the tourist office. When smog levels are high, as they are in December and January, numbers can come up more than once per week.

Getting downtown from the airport

The main airport for those taking flights to Mexico City is Mexico City International Airport (Benito Juarez) (MEX). There is a Metro service from the airport to downtown Mexico City. Taxis are regulated and passengers can pay in advance at the taxi counter in Arrivals. There are also suburban bus services. Some hotels offer a pick-up service, however it is worth checking their charge as it’s generally cheaper to take a taxi.

What is good to know if travelling to Mexico City?

• The city lies on the ruins of Tenochtitlan, the ancient Aztec capital. There are ghosts of the past at every turn: the Mexican National Palace is built on the site of Montezuma’s Palace, while the Metropolitan Cathedral is built on the Temple of the Aztecs.
• The city has two Unesco World Heritage sites. The Historic Centre has the Metropolitan Cathedral and National Palace, and the Palace of Fine Arts is home to many of the city’s cultural events. Xochimilco Ecological Park is the other World Heritage site. It is made up of canals, lagoons and floating gardens and is often called the Venice of Mexico. A trip on a trajinera, a square-shaped, brightly painted boat, which carries up to 12 passengers, is a treat. It is possible to hire a floating mariachi band to serenade you too.
• The Basilica de Guadalupe is in the north of the city and very popular. Only St Peter’s Basilica in Rome gets more visitors each year.
• The Coyoacan and San Angel areas have great craft markets, while Santa Fe and Polanco offer a more upmarket shopping experience.
• One of the best places to admire the city is from Bellini, the revolving restaurant on the 45th floor of the World Trade Centre.
• Teotihuacan is Mexico’s most popular archaeological site. Tourists can climb up the Pyramid of the Sun, the world’s third-largest pyramid, and its companion, the Pyramid of the Moon.
• The world’s largest bullring is here too – the Plaza de Toros.
• Chapultepec Park is an enormous green park – more than 800 hectares (2,000 acres) – in the centre of the city. It is home to the National Museum of Anthropology, the Museum of Modern Art, the National History Museum and Museum Rufino Tamayo.
• The city’s oldest park is Alameda Park. It dates from 1541.

Mexico City airport overview

Named after Mexico’s former president, Benito Juarez International Airport, also called Mexico City International Airport is situated in the densely populated capital, Mexico City. It is the country’s busiest airport, serving approximately 24 million passengers per year, and once renovations are complete, it will be able to handle up to 32 million passengers per year.

In spite of developments, though, Mexico City International is far from being adequate for the huge number of travellers who use it each year. This is due to the fact that it is completely surrounded by buildings, making expansion of the airfield impossible. Long queues and delays are common occurrences, which is why many travellers use Toluca Airport as an alternative.

Fortunately, however, Mexico City International offers much in the way of amenities, including a wide selection of dining and retail establishments, as well as business and conference facilities, most of which are located in Terminal 2. Terminal 1, by contrast, is old and outdated and lacks sufficient signage and lighting.