Country guide

Mexico

Tacos al pastor carved off the trompo at one in the morning, standing up.

7Guides published3Cities coveredNov–AprBest season

Where we have beenCounted from the guides themselves — nothing here is typed by hand.

01Mexico City3 of the guides here are about Mexico City.3 guides 02Oaxaca2 of the guides here are about Oaxaca.2 guides 03Tulum1 of the guides here are about Tulum.1 guide

Every guide

All 7, newest first.

Everything we have written about Mexico. The list fills itself as we publish.

Newest first, straight from the Mexico tag.

Know before you go

The practical bits, answered.

Six things to know, then the questions people write in and ask.

VisaMost Western nationalities enter without a visa. Length of stay is set by the officer on arrival.

CurrencyMexican pesoCash for street food and markets, cards fine in restaurants.

Best seasonNov–AprNovember to April is dry. The rains come in summer, usually as a heavy late-afternoon hour.

AltitudeMexico City sits at 2,240m. Take the first day gently and drink more water than feels necessary.

Getting aroundThe metro is cheap and extensive. Use ride apps rather than hailing in the street.

Tipping10 to 15 percent in restaurants. Not expected at street stands.

Is Mexico City safe for travellers?+

The central neighbourhoods — Roma, Condesa, Polanco, Centro — are fine with normal city caution. Use ride apps rather than street taxis, and do not display valuables.

When is the best time to visit Mexico City?+

November to April is the dry season and the most comfortable. The summer rains are heavy but usually confined to an hour in the late afternoon.

How many days do you need in Mexico City?+

Four at minimum, a week ideally. It is one of the largest cities in the world and the food alone justifies the longer stay.

Is the street food safe in Mexico City?+

Yes, at busy stands with high turnover that cook to order in front of you. That is most of them. The altitude will bother you before the food does.

Do you need Spanish in Mexico?+

It helps a great deal outside Roma, Condesa and Polanco. Menus at street stands are rarely translated, and a little effort is received warmly.

Where should you eat in Mexico City?+

Roma and Condesa for restaurants, Centro for the old cantinas and markets, and whichever street corner has a queue at midnight. The city rewards walking a single neighbourhood properly over racing between them.

The rule is the same as everywhere: one dish, done all day, sold fast. A taqueria with twenty things on the board is a taqueria that is good at none of them.

Mexico

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