Is Mexico City safe for solo female travelers?

Mexico City has diverse areas, with some being quite safe while others can be less so. As a solo female traveller, it's key to stay aware of your surroundings, especially at night. Stick to well-lit, populated areas and use registered taxis or Uber for transportation. Also, avoid displaying expensive items like jewelry or high-end electronics in public, which can attract unwanted attention. Traveling by day and participating in organized tours can greatly increase safety. Local authorities are making efforts to improve safety but practicing personal caution is a must.

Safety rating

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How safe is Mexico City?

Safety at night:

Safety at night:Unsafe

Mexico City, while fascinating and rich in culture, unfortunately has a reputation for petty crime and instances of violence, particularly after dark. It might not be ideal for a solo female traveler to walk alone at night. It's advisable to stick to well-lit and populated areas, use registered taxis or rideshare apps, and always alert someone of your whereabouts. However, many areas are policed and you'll find that most locals are extremely hospitable.
Public transportation:

Public transportation:Unsafe

Public transportation such as metro, buses or taxis in Mexico City can be quite challenging for a solo female traveler. While it is not completely unsafe, there have been reports of pickpocketing, particularly in crowded areas. Additionally, services like Uber are generally safer and more reliable than traditional taxis. It's recommended to stay in well-populated areas and be aware of your belongings at all times.
Street harassment:

Street harassment:High

As a solo female traveler in Mexico City, one may experience some form of harassment in the form of catcalls, lewd gestures, or unwanted attention. It's important to stay vigilant, particularly in crowded areas, during late hours, and on public transportation. While many locals are friendly and helpful, these incidents do occur occasionally. Aligning your travel habits with local customs and dressing modestly can help reduce the chances of attracting unwanted attention.
Petty crimes:

Petty crimes:High

While Mexico City has numerous attractions and is a vibrant cultural hub, petty crimes such as pickpocketing, bag snatching, and cell phone theft are quite prevalent, particularly in crowded tourist areas and on public transportation. It's important to stay vigilant, keep your belongings secure, and avoid displaying high-value items in public.
Tap water:

Tap water:Unsafe

Mexico City's tap water is not generally recommended for drinking. The city's supply is technically treated to be safe, but infrastructure like pipes may not be up to par. Therefore the water can become contaminated en route, resulting in tourists and even some locals experiencing digestive issues when they drink it directly. It is advised to use bottled or purified water for consumption, brushing teeth, and washing fruits and vegetables.

Is Mexico City safe to travel?

4.4 /5

Based on 47 experiences

Family travel experience

Mexico City is a beautiful city. Me and my mom went originally to see the basilica and other religious sites, I got to meet my online friend of 4 years who spoke Spanish and was extremely helpful with getting around. It even inspired me to start learning Spanish myself! It was an experience I learned from and gained a new perspective on life. I don’t regret it at all, but honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever go back. The Food: I was very unimpressed by the food, which was highly disappointing considering everyone boasting about how amazing the food was! Most of it was bland, which sounds crazy talking about Mexican food. We tried eating everywhere, from busy vendors on the side of the road, to fancy restaurants, to small hole-the-wall eateries: it was all very underwhelming and extremely lackluster. The mangos were bomb though, even though they were out of season. The Safety: I didn’t feel particularly safe or unsafe. It was my first time experiencing being a minority in a foreign country. There were constant stares, whispers, and overall attention. It felt uncomfortable and got tiring very quickly. People even asked to take pictures with us at the basilica! Which was so surprising considering Mexico City is very large and very diverse. There were some moments where I did feel absolutely unsafe, like walking down wrong streets, and outside of the basilica where someone had just died of an overdose. The Atmosphere: The atmosphere was one of my favorite things about Mexico City, it was awesome to see people always walking their dogs or just out and about. I feel like there’s not much of that in American cities, everyone is always in a rush where as here it didn’t seem like that was the case. The people were friendly from what I could tell with my limited Spanish. Do be aware of scamming

Posted: April 25, 2024Experienced: December, 2023
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AJ

AJ

United States

Solo travel experience

I decided to ring in 2024 with an impromptu trip to Mexico City, that included 22 hour layovers in Guatemala on the way in and out. So basically I got 3 trips in one! I stayed at El Barrio Central which is conveniently located in the historic center. My hostel mates were awesome, and we actually did a bunch of fun & group activities (Museum of Archaeology, Karaoke, free walking tours of different neighborhoods). The hostel hostel several daily activities for guests to gather and get too know each other. There were a couple days I decided to venture out on my own and I felt completely safe at all times. Mexico City is very inexpensive, especially coming from the U.S. There were plenty of food options. I ate at Cocuyos multiple times during my stay as it was right next door to my hostel and open until 5am. There was also a fantastic torta stand there next block over with the cheapest and fattest tortas I came across while there. I explored mostly on foot, but public transit was convenient. An Uber ride from the airport (40 min) was only about $11 (USD).

Posted: March 11, 2024
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Couple travel experience

• for the most part, I felt very safe. We stayed in the Roma norte area which is the “hipster” area of Mexico City. Very cute neighborhood and very walkable • definitely visit all the cathedrals in the area, the biblioteca with the floating bookshelves, the fortress/castle on the hill… and all of the parks! The greenery is so so beautiful.

Posted: March 6, 2024
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Jay

Jay (40)

United Kingdom

Solo travel experience

I loved the friendly, chaotic vibe of Mexico City, people are busy but incredibly laid-back. There was a real sense of warmth and hospitality from people, I walked around alone at night and never felt in danger or encountered any problems. I very rarely use taxis despite having a knee injury but I found myself using them often here because they are so cheap and it felt like a good opportunity to practice my Spanish with the driver. It took me a little while to get used to the traffic, drivers typically won't stop and wait at lights. It's worth exercising caution. I did feel safer crossing the road in Mexico than in Rome though. If you're planning to travel outside the city, I recommend visiting Tolantongo. There's a collection of incredibly blue pools on the side of a cliff, handcarved by the indigenous Nahua people after they reclaimed their land. There's also a warm blue river and a bat cave! Inside the city, Chapultapec Park is really lovely, it has a castle and a free zoo, the latter is home to the axolotl museum. You can see axolotls in tanks and learn about their physiology and their history since they were discovered in the canals beneath the city. The park is huge and definitely takes more than a day to explore. It's hard to recommend food, there is street food everywhere and so many restaurants and everything I ate was delicious.

Posted: January 24, 2024Experienced: May, 2023
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Solo travel experience

First solo trip! Had a blast. I felt safe and there were so many things to do. Also met amazing ladies at my hostel. Who were very nice, and supportive through my stay. They offered to walk with me at night if I wanted to get something. It was just surreal experience in general.

Posted: December 18, 2023Experienced: February, 2022
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Manon

Manon

France

Solo travel experience

My opinion, it was very safe during the day but I didn't go out alone in the evening, there are a lots of activities to do for free or really not expensive likes parks or museum. Hostel was pretty good, not expensive, good localisation with breakfasts including

Posted: November 8, 2023
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Solo travel experience

Mexico City is a huge international city with a ton to offer. The food is amazing, museums are great, and there are plenty of tours that can be set up by your hostel or hotel. It’s safe in certain areas but I wouldn’t walk around in many places at night. Definitely be aware of your surroundings. It was expensive.

Posted: October 24, 2023
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Solo travel experience

I loved Mexico City and felt very safe there. I spent the first part of my trip in La Condesa, and the second in Polanco. Both places were great, but I loved La Condesa more, which has much more character and amazing restaurants. I even went running there alone in the morning and it was fine.

Posted: October 3, 2023
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Solo travel experience

Mexico City was perfect for me, I walked around all day by myself, only staying in the central square close to my hotel in the evenings, but there are night markets there that are bustling and safe at least until midnight. It can be dangerous if you leave the tourist areas, but other than that, it's safe.

Posted: September 25, 2023
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Solo travel experience

I just returned from a four-day solo trip to Mexico City and it was incredible. I can't say enough about how fantastic it is for solo travelers. I stayed in Roma Norte and felt very safe. The food was epic. The city has everything from history, museums to boutiques and restaurants. I can't wait to go back.

Posted: August 15, 2023
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Is Mexico City safe for women?

Safety rating

2.3 /5

Based on 6 experiences

Crime rates rating

2.1 /5

Based on 6 experiences

If you are in the bubble (condesa, roma, polanco, Juárez) it’s pretty safe. Venturing out to other neighborhoods increases in possibilities of being robbed. The areas with high violence and danger are Ecatepec, Iztapalapa and Neza.

Posted: April 24, 2024
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Touristic places are pretty safe, but I always recommend a local guide to know how safe is a place. As a woman, traveling alone could be a little bit dangerous, but if you travel with a friend you can be more relaxed.

Posted: April 22, 2024
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Is Mexico City safe right now?

Before your visit to Mexico City, it's essential to check travel advisories for Mexico, including your home country's official travel advisory. These advisories can provide up-to-date information on safety, health, and any specific considerations for travelers.
🇨🇦

Canada's Travel AdvisoryExercise a high degree of caution

The Canadian Government advises exercising a high degree of caution in Mexico. This is due to high levels of criminal activity and kidnapping. Check the full travel advisory.
Last updated: April 29, 2024
🇦🇺

Australia's Travel AdvisoryExercise a high degree of caution

The Australian Government advises exercising a high degree of caution in Mexico overall, due to the threat of violent crime. Check the full travel advisory.
Last updated: April 5, 2024

Is Mexico City worth visiting?

Overall rating

4.7 /5

based on 47 experiences

Solo travel experience

I spent a month in Mexico, alone. The capital is a real jungle, so it's good to know where you can move without fear (Roma Norte, Condesa, Polanco, Coyoacán) and which places are better to avoid. I recommend using Uber, not walking alone at night, common sense, marking tourist places on your map and not walking with your phone in your hand. Mexico is a beautiful city with countless museums, exhibitions, amazing food and very friendly people. The Yucatan Peninsula is a Caribbean paradise, with lots of tourists and beautiful places - divine cenotes, great diving spots, historical ruins and wonderful restaurants.

Posted: October 7, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I spent seven days and was able to successfully move here. I highly recommend visiting Teotihuacan (pyramids of the sun and moon, a full day trip), the Museo Nacional de Antropologia (an incredible history museum, with really interesting exhibits of all the different indigenous Mexican groups), Casa Azul (Frida Kahlo's house, incredible), Xochimilco (canals with floating boats). There is a lot to do in Mexico City, the Coyoacán and Condesa districts are really interesting. I don't recommend taking taxis in Mexico (use Uber) or approaching the Tepito district. Be careful with your things if you use the metro.

Posted: October 2, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 4/5
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Meet locals in Mexico City

Meet local women in Mexico City who are open to meet up for a coffee or a drink, show you around, give local advice or practice a language with.
Gaby

Gaby

About Me

Hey, My name is Gaby and I'm interested in culture, cycling, food & cuisine, nightlife and swimming

Speaking

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Xenia

Xenia

About Me

Estoy rondando por México, un país el cual soñaba conocer desde hace tiempo ✨❤️‍🩹 Es hermoso poder estar acá disfrutando de toda la belleza que ofrece su naturaleza sumando a la magia 🙏🏼🤍 Y sigo paseando así que pueden hablarme y compartimos ya sea un viaje o alguna experiencia! Soy fotógrafa y me dedico a todo tipo de fotografía, siempre estoy abierta a conocer más!

Speaking

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Stay with locals in Mexico City

Stay with local women in Mexico City who offer free accommodation as part of cultural exchange. Couch surfing is a great way to meet new people, learn more about new cultures and experience destinations like a local.
Xenia

Xenia

Mexico City

Can host for:

3 days

About me

Estoy rondando por México, un país el cual soñaba conocer desde hace tiempo ✨❤️‍🩹 Es hermoso poder estar acá disfrutando de toda la belleza que ofrece su naturaleza sumando a la magia 🙏🏼🤍 Y sigo paseando así que pueden hablarme y compartimos ya sea un viaje o alguna experiencia! Soy fotógrafa y me dedico a todo tipo de fotografía, siempre estoy abierta a conocer más!

Speaking

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Safety in Mexico