Mexico City Mexico Tourism & Travel Information Hotels Tours Airport Transfers

Mexico City					Mexico

Mexico City Travel Information

About Mexico City

Mexico City (referred to as Distrito Federal or DF in Spanish) is the capital of Mexico and the economic, political and cultural center of the country. It is one of the biggest cities in the world due to its huge population growth in recent years and has a variety of colonial and modern buildings (see Mexico City map).

Mexico City´s best hotels, shops, museums, restaurants and viewpoints are located in the Paseo de la Reforma, the Zona Rosa, Insurgentes, Polanco and Chapultepec. Embassies and headquarters for National and Multinational companies are concentrated in the Zona de Santa Fe and along Avenida Insurgentes.

Mexico City offers an array of pre-Columbian and colonial culture in the Zona Centro, Colonia Condesa and Coyoacan and also handicrafts markets, bars and restaurants where you can enjoy traditional food, drink and music.

Mexico City has a subway which services the whole city. A streetcar and “Turibus” service also provides transport around the tourist areas.

Mexico City Hotels

Mexico City Hotels are numerous and can generally be found in the tourist areas of Centro, Chapultepec and Paseo de la Reforma, and in the financial districts of Insurgentes, the World Trade Center, Polanco and Sante Fe.

The first class Mexico City Hotels belong to the big international hotel chains and provide excellent service as well as all modern comforts. They are managed under the European system (accommodation without breakfast) but their facilities include bars and restaurants.

Mexico City Hotels have an IVA surcharge of 15% plus an extra 2% charge on the price of the accommodation (see prices).

Mexico City Tours

Mexico City Tours focus on visiting museums, pre-Columbian, colonial and modern buildings, observing native flora in the various parks, enjoying the local cuisine and sharing in its local traditions.

The Center offers places of interest including El Zocalo, the Alameda Central and the Zona Rosa. El Zocalo square is the heart of Mexico City, the place where its history was shaped, with pre-Columbian archaeological and colonial sites, high quality restaurants with Mexican and international cuisine, museums and temples such as the Catedral Metropolitana.

The Alameda Central is the oldest and busiest avenue in Mexico City. The Zona Rosa includes Paseo de la Reforma where you can find historical monuments like Ángel de la Independencia and a variety of cafes and restaurants with open-air dining, art galleries and antique dealers, a popular area for the gay community of Mexico City.

Colonia Condesa and Coyoacan have many antique shops, handicraft markets, restaurants and bars, some with live music. Close to this area you can find Mexico Park, which is considered one of the most beautiful parks in the city.

The Zona Insurgentes-Del Valle contains the prestigious shops, embassies, banks and nightlife centers. The imposing World Trade Center is also located in this district. To the south, you can find Plaza Mexico, the biggest bullring in the world.

Chapultepec has a large forest, lakes, a zoo, museums, excellent restaurants and the two official residences of the President of Mexico, the Castillo de Chapultepec (converted into a museum) and the current residence, known as Dos Pinos.

Santa Fe is one of the most avant-garde and expensive areas in the metropolis. Here you will find the majority of the National and Mulitinational company headquarters.

Tlalpan is located at the foot of the Ajusco volcano, in the ecological park of Mexico City where you can undertake various outdoor activities including walking, horseback riding, mountain-bike riding, etc You can also dine in its attractive cafes and restaurants.

Mexico City Car Rental

Mexico City´s main airport is the Benito Juarez International Airport, located approximately 40 minutes from the center of the city (see Mexico City map). From there you can take a transfer or authorized taxi to get to the hotels.

Mexico City Car Rental can be arranged through the main international car rental companies, which have offices in the airport, in the lobbies of the big hotels, and in the center of the city. It is recommendable to drive very carefully because of the huge amount of traffic congestion.

Radio-taxis should be taken for security reasons, in specific locations of the city, or requested by telephone although this may be more expensive.

The Metro is an efficient and economical means of getting around the city.

The buses and microbuses in Mexico City have fixed stops. The bus stations for long distance travel are situated in the four cardinal points of the city and have connections with every part of the country.

The “Centros de Transferencia Modal”, commonly known as “paraderos”, are places where the various forms of land transport converge, providing an easier way for passengers to board other forms of transport.

The tourist transport is another option available for tourists to help them get to know Mexico City. The streetcar and “Turibus” service, with bilingual guides, are excellent ways to travel around and enjoy the attractions of the city. To get around the main streets of the Centro Historico, the tourist can rent a bicycle with a cabin for two extra passengers.

Mexico City Tourist Information

Mexico City tourist information can be obtained at the Benito Juaraz International Airport, in the office of Fonart or the Secretaria de Turismo (SECTUR).

The majority of museums and parks are closed on Mondays.

The water in Mexico City is drinkable but it is recommendable to drink bottled water. It is generally advisable to eat the food from the street stalls in moderation if at all, because of the level of seasoning and fat used.

The levels of pollution in Mexico City can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat and also fatigue. It is not advisable to stay outdoors for long periods, especially during the dry season (from the end of November to June).

The credit cards Visa, American Express, Mastercard and Diners Club are accepted in almost all hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, airlines and large stores.

Tourists can change their local currencies to Mexican Pesos in the “Casas de Bolsas” which are generally open from 9am to 5pm and Saturdays from 10am to 2pm.

Mexico City has a value-added tax called IVA included in products and services, for residents or foreigners. It is currently 15% on the sales value of goods and services, and an extra 2% is added to the price of accommodation in hotels.

Mexico City, like any other huge city, is not completely safe. The traveler is recommended to use Radio-taxis, take care of their belongings, avoid poorly lit or remote areas away from the general public and avoid shopping in expensive jewellery shops.