Mexico is a vibrant country offering ancient Mayan ruins, pristine Caribbean beaches, colonial cities, world-class cuisine, and rich cultural traditions. From the bustling streets of Mexico City to the turquoise waters of the Riviera Maya, Mexico blends pre-Hispanic heritage with Spanish colonial architecture and modern cosmopolitan energy.
- Public
- Mexico City has Latin America's most extensive metro (12 lines, $0.50/ride) plus metrobús BRT system. Guadalajara and Monterrey have light rail. Other cities rely on buses and colectivos (shared vans).
- Taxi
- App-based Uber and Didi are the safest and cheapest taxi options in all major cities. Official sitio taxis from taxi stands also safe. Never hail random street taxis in Mexico City — express kidnapping risk.
- Rental
- Best for exploring Baja California, Yucatán peninsula between sites, Oaxacan valleys, and Copper Canyon. Mandatory Mexican liability insurance ($15-30/day) required — your foreign insurance doesn't cover Mexico. Use toll roads (cuota) for safety.
- Walking
- Centro Histórico districts in Mexico City, Oaxaca, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, and Mérida are compact and designed for walking. Coastal resort areas like Playa del Carmen and Puerto Vallarta's town centers are also walkable.
Transport at a glance
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
- Taxi
- Metro Line 5 - $0.50 USD, 50 minutes to center
- Shuttle
- Authorized airport taxi - $13-15 USD fixed rate to center
- Bus
- Uber/Didi - $10-12 USD to center
Local transport
Getting around the city.
Bus
- Urban buses
- Available in all cities, $0.30-0.70 USD. Can be crowded and confusing for tourists.
- Intercity ado
- Premium bus service connecting major destinations. Comfortable, air-conditioned, reliable.
- Tips
- In cities, use Moovit app for routes. Have small change ready.
Alternatives
metro, metrobus, taxi, rideshare, colectivos, bicycle
Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
- Regular
- Sitio taxis
- Official taxi stands, safer and slightly more expensive. $3-5 USD base fare plus $0.50-1 USD per km
- Street taxis
- Can be hailed but less safe in major cities. Use authorized taxis only.
- Airport taxis
- Fixed rates, purchase ticket at authorized booths inside airport
- Tips
- Always use authorized taxis, especially at night. Agree on price before entering or ensure meter is used.
- Apps
- Uber (most cities), Didi (cheaper alternative), Cabify, Beat
- App Names
- Uber (most cities), Didi (cheaper alternative), Cabify, Beat
Intercity travel
Getting between cities and regions.
Bus
- Ado
- Premier first-class service connecting eastern Mexico, Yucatán, Chiapas. Modern buses, WiFi, restrooms. Book online at ado.com.mx
- Primera plus
- First-class serving central and western Mexico including Guadalajara, Guanajuato
- Etn
- Luxury service with extra legroom, snacks, and entertainment. Most expensive but very comfortable
- Cost examples
- Mexico City to Oaxaca - $35-45 USD, 6 hours (ADO)
- Cancún to Playa del Carmen - $6 USD, 1 hour (ADO)
- Mexico City to Guanajuato - $25-35 USD, 4.5 hours (Primera Plus)
- Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta - $30-40 USD, 5 hours (Primera Plus)
- Tips
- Book in advance for holidays and weekends. First-class worth the extra cost for comfort and safety. Terminal TAPO (east), Terminal Norte (north), Terminal Sur (south), Terminal Poniente (west) in CDMX.
Flights
- Carriers
- Volaris (budget), Viva Aerobus (ultra-budget), Aeromexico (full-service), Aeromar (regional)
- Cost examples
- Mexico City to Cancún - $80-150 USD (2.5 hours vs 24 hours bus)
- Mexico City to Oaxaca - $60-100 USD (1 hour vs 6 hours bus)
- Mexico City to Los Cabos - $100-180 USD (2.5 hours)
- Tips
- Book directly with airlines for best prices. Budget airlines charge for everything (bags, seat selection). Compare flight + time saved vs bus costs. Domestic flights can be very affordable with advance booking.
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Airports
Mexico City International Airport (Benito Juárez)
From centre: 13 km to Centro Histórico
Options: Metro Line 5 - $0.50 USD, 50 minutes to center; Authorized airport taxi - $13-15 USD fixed rate to center; Uber/Didi - $10-12 USD to center; Metrobús Line 4 - $0.50 USD, 45 minutes
Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA)
From centre: 45 km north of Mexico City
Options: Airport shuttle bus to CDMX - $7 USD, 90 minutes; Taxi to city center - $35-45 USD; Cheaper option for some domestic flights
Cancún International Airport
From centre: 16 km to Cancún Hotel Zone, 68 km to Playa del Carmen
Options: ADO bus to Cancún downtown - $8 USD, 30 minutes; ADO bus to Playa del Carmen - $13 USD, 60 minutes; Shared shuttle to hotels - $12-20 USD per person; Private transfer - $45-60 USD to Cancún, $80-100 USD to Playa; Rental car pickup available
Guadalajara International Airport (Miguel Hidalgo)
From centre: 17 km south of city center
Options: Airport taxi - $20-25 USD to centro; Uber - $12-18 USD to centro; Airport bus to old bus station - $3 USD
Los Cabos International Airport
From centre: 13 km to San José del Cabo, 48 km to Cabo San Lucas
Options: Shared shuttle to San José - $15 USD, to Cabo San Lucas $20 USD; Private transfer to San José - $35-50 USD, to Cabo $70-90 USD; Rental car pickup available (recommended for exploring)
Monterrey International Airport
From centre: 24 km northeast of city
Options: Taxi/Uber to centro - $15-20 USD, 30 minutes; Airport shuttle - $10 USD per person
Oaxaca International Airport (Xoxocotlán)
From centre: 10 km south of Oaxaca City
Options: Authorized airport taxi - $10-12 USD to centro; Shared shuttle - $6 USD per person
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
Uber
Most reliable rideshare app, available in all major Mexican cities and tourist destinations. Safest alternative to street taxis.
Didi
Chinese rideshare competitor to Uber, often 10-20% cheaper. Available in major cities. Same safety as Uber for official app-based booking.
Moovit
Real-time public transit routing for Mexico City metro, metrobús, and bus routes. Essential for navigating Mexico City public transport.
ADO App (ado.com.mx)
Book intercity bus tickets on Mexico's premier bus network. Reserve seats in advance for holiday periods and popular routes.
inDrive
Price-negotiation rideshare app where you set your fare. Growing rapidly in Mexican cities and smaller towns not covered by Uber.
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Download Uber and Didi before arriving in Mexico — they are safer and often cheaper than taxis, and drivers can't take wrong routes or overcharge
Mexico City metro is excellent and covers most tourist areas — Line 1 (pink) connects airport area to the west; Line 2 serves the Centro
ADO bus is the premier intercity bus service — book online at ado.com.mx for guaranteed seats on routes like CDMX-Oaxaca or Cancún-Playa del Carmen
Colectivos (shared minivans) are cheap and frequent for short intercity hops like Cancún-Playa del Carmen ($2) or Oaxaca-Hierve el Agua ($4)
Use toll roads (autopistas de cuota) when driving — they're expensive but far safer and better maintained than libre (free) routes
Moovit app provides real-time bus and metro routing in Mexico City — invaluable for navigating the complex bus system