Mexico City is an amazing destination packed with culture, history and great food and vibes. But when I told people that James and I were going, the most common reaction was: “but is Mexico City safe?”
This guide covers what to expect, safety tips, and our own experience of visiting.
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Is Mexico City Safe for Tourists?
Generally yes, Mexico City (also called CDMX) is safe for tourists. Millions of visitors enjoy the city every year without any issues, especially in tourist-friendly areas.
But like in any big city, it’s important to stay alert, keep across any developing news stories and use common sense.
What does the UK government recommend about trips to Mexico City?
There is no travel advice from the UK government that advises against travel to Mexico City. But there is some general advice for Mexico as a whole, which includes:
- Research your destination thoroughly
- Travel during daylight hours as much as possible
- Keep an eye on local media
- Share your travel plans with someone at home
- Be alert to petty crime
Petty crime
As in most major cities, petty crime happens in CDMX. The UK government offers up the following tips
- Use ATMs inside shops or malls
- Don’t withdraw large amounts of cash
- Avoid flashy jewellery or clothing
- Don’t carry all your cash/cards at once
- Watch your luggage, even in hotel lobbies or on transport
- Only use licensed taxis or Uber
- Stay alert on public transport
- Don’t leave drinks unattended in bars/restaurants
The government page also sets out advice for what to do to stay safe more generally, for things like earthquakes and demonstrations.
What are the safest neighbourhoods in Mexico City?
To ensure a hassle-free trip, choose one of the areas that are most popular with tourists.
When visiting recently, a local referred to this as ‘the chicken’ and showed me this map!! I’m not quite sure how ‘official’ this is, but I did think it was an interesting way of showcasing the tourist-friendly areas!
These areas often have uniformed police patrolling, which helps to act as a deterrent for crimes. Plus it can be reassuring to know that if you need help from a police officer, you’ll find one nearby.
Centro Historico
The city’s cultural core, where grand colonial buildings meet buzzing street life. Landmarks like the Zócalo and Palacio de Bellas Artes sit alongside markets, museums and food stalls. It’s lively and well-patrolled, though it’s best to stay aware of your surroundings after dark.
Roma Norte
A creative, community-driven area where art galleries, cafes, and traditional taquerías share space with elegant art deco buildings. It’s stylish yet rooted in local culture, with a mix of long-time residents and newcomers. In recent years, gentrification has made it a favourite among visitors, particularly from the US, adding buzz but also changing its character.
Condesa
A leafy, elegant neighbourhood known for its art nouveau architecture, open-air cafes, and tranquil parks. It has a relaxed, residential feel that blends local life with a cosmopolitan edge. Like nearby Roma, it’s seen growing gentrification in recent years, drawing expats and tourists while still maintaining much of its charm.
Polanco
An upscale neighbourhood known for its luxury shops and fine dining. It’s also home to some of the best museums, green spaces and offers a polished, cosmopolitan feel. Whilst it may feel more commercial than cultural, it is considered one of the safest areas to stay in the city.
That said, even in these neighbourhoods, tourist scams and petty crimes like pickpocketing can still occur. Therefore, it’s always important to stay alert to your surroundings and to act sensibly.
How Safe is CDMX for Solo Travellers?
Mexico City is an amazing place to be a solo traveller, but some extra precautions can help you feel safe if you’re on your own:
Pre-arrange airport transfers
This will help you avoid scams or overcharging on arrival, and helps take away some of the stress that can come with arriving in a new place.
Stay in a hostel or B&B
Sharing a room and attending organised events is an easy way to meet other travellers – and then you can band together for sightseeing, if that’s something you want to do. Also, make the most of your local hosts who can steer you in the right direction for staying safe!
Book on group tours
If you haven’t met a group to visit attractions with, book onto a group tour with a well known operator like GetYourGuide or a local company with a good reputation. For both, always check the reviews.
Use a ride sharing app
Ride sharing apps like Uber are affordable for getting around Mexico City, and crucially they’re also trackable, so you can share your location with a friend or family member.
Be savvy when walking
Stick to busier areas and avoid being out alone late at night. Whilst you might save a few quid by walking, taxis are affordable and may be the better option for getting home after dark. The CDMX website has some guidance on how to ride in taxis safely.
Reassure family and friends
A stressful part of travelling alone can be constant check-ins from friends and family – they mean well but they can make you feel like you should be more worried, not less. Share your travel details and maybe even your phone’s location so they feel confident they know where you are and how to reach you.
My Top Tips for Staying Safe in Mexico City
Following my and James’ trip to CDMX, we’ve got some tips on staying safe:
Plan your route
Knowing where you’re going helps you look more confident, and avoids having to stop and check your phone, which can distract you.
Dress like a local
I do not – I repeat – I do not mean Mexican fancy dress. I simply mean not making it so obvious that you’re a tourist. So avoiding the overly touristy graphic t-shirts and huge backpacks, and also avoiding being too dressed up for a day activity.
The truth is, most Mexicans will be able to spot you’re a tourist no matter what but take a look at what the locals are wearing and follow suit as best as you can!
Leave valuables at home
Only carry the cash you need when you’re out and about, and avoid wearing flashy jewellery or accessories. A hidden money belt is great for keeping important things safe.
Another tip I learned from making programmes in Mexico – albeit from visiting a less safe area than Mexico City – is to carry a secondary purse on me with some old cards and a bit of cash in. Say the worst of the worst happens and you get asked to hand something over, you have something less valuable to give or to show that you don’t have much money on you.
Know your local contacts
Do you have a number for your hotel or B&B should you need help from a local? If not, have you noted down that the emergency number in Mexico is 911? Also, it helps to know the number and address of your country’s embassy in Mexico City. They may be able to help in emergency situations.
Make sure to write these somewhere as well as in your phone, just in case your phone gets lost or stolen.
Watch out for scams
There are some common scams to be aware of, that are by no means specific to Mexico City but they’re worth bearing in mind.
'Free' gifts
If someone offers you something on the street, like a bracelet or a flower, it probably isn’t actually free and they may demand payment.
Distraction techniques
One person will take your attention, perhaps by bumping into or chatting to you, while another swipes your belongings.
An example of this that I’ve heard about in CDMX is someone pointing out that a bird has pooed on you and helping you out with tissues. Whilst they’re doing this, they’ll take your belongings.
Covering up your phone or wallet
Someone shows you a leaflet or sign, which covers up the phone or wallet you’ve left on the table as they take it away.
Fake police officers
Sometimes criminals can pose as police officers and try to fine or arrest you for no reason. Ask them for their ID, and never hand over money or your ID – keep it in your hand if they ask to see it. If they are trying to charge you a fine, request a copy of the fine to pay later. Don’t pay anything up front.
Stay alert to pickpockets
Don’t keep things in your pockets, and use a zipped bag that you can see – ideally something like a cross body bag.
Be assertive
If you’re in a situation where you don’t feel safe, be assertive and get away as quickly as you can.
Listen to your gut
If you get a bad feeling, whether that’s about a person or a place, get yourself out of there. You might be overreacting, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Be open-hearted
However, remember that most people out there are well meaning. It can be tough to balance out staying alert and trusting your fellow humans, but going into every situation full of suspicion will probably impact your trip in another negative way!
Get travel insurance
Travel insurance is essential for any trip. You can also get add-ons for extra peace of mind, like mobile phone cover.
My Experience In Mexico City
I visited Mexico City in summer 2025 and had an absolutely amazing time!
I was travelling with my other half James and we stayed in three areas: Centro Historico, Roma Norte and Condesa.
We had no problem getting an Uber from the airport into the city and our first evening staying in Centro Historico, we decided to head out for some food. Now, it wasn’t that we felt unsafe, but it it did feel quite eerie in the dark in these areas as it’s so quiet compared to the daytime! We did pass some police and experienced nothing untoward as we walked about 10 minutes to a restaurant, but also I would have just called an Uber if I was travelling on my own.
As for Roma Norte and Condesa, we felt super safe in these neighbourhoods and particularly loved Condesa’s leafy walkways where people were jogging even when the sun had gone down.
Since we were travelling off peak, perhaps the tourist scammers weren’t as prevalent, but we didn’t experience any of this at all.
The one area we were warned to stay alert in was when we were travelling to Xochimilco to experience the boats. However, this was more to do with where you are dropped off as some taxi drivers will ask if you have tickets and drive you to a particular vendor to buy them. However, we didn’t experience this at all but we did drop the pin at a specific place and kept the map open on our phone to make sure our driver took us straight there. He did!
The only other thing we warned about by locals was to not dirnk in the street as that’s illegal in Mexico City, and if spotted by the police they can jail you for up to 36 hours! But that’s all down to basic rule keeping.
Overall, we didn’t experience anything negative, though I would like to think that we are somewhat savvy what with living in London and travelling a lot. We stuck to the well known areas, used Ubers, and made sure to keep our belongings close and to not leave any valuables out wherever we went.
My main message is to remind you that bad things can happen anywhere, and whilst you should definitely be vigilant when visiting Mexico City, it’s certainly a place I wouldn’t think twice about returning to! I loved it!
