Safest Ways To Get From the Mexico City Airport to the City Center

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Wondering what the best Mexico City airport transfer to the city center transportation options are? This guide outlines all the safest ways to get from the Mexico City airport to the city center, your hotel, or Airbnb. 

Getting from the airport to your hotel is a key logistical detail of any trip.

After a long, exhausting day of travel, the last thing you want to do is piece your transportation plan together upon arrival.

Secure and safe transportation is paramount, which is why I will recommend a company with great reviews.

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When planning your trip, consider how you’ll get from the Mexico City airport to the city center.

This can greatly affect your arrival experience. Do you take a random taxi? Plan ahead and reserve a shuttle?

Perhaps you would like to have a luxurious vehicle pick you up instead? Don’t worry because we’ll examine these options.

Are you looking for the most secure method to travel from the airport to your hotel? Click to use this airport transfer service to book affordable airport transfers in Mexico.

A universal fact about Mexico City Airport Transportation is planning ahead will help you avoid being overcharged.

Protecting those who read this from potential scammers and saving you a lot of time and energy negotiating or being taken the LONG way to run the travel price sky high can be mitigated if you plan ahead!

Mexico City is one of the world’s largest cities, and its transportation options may seem complicated due to heavy traffic.

Consider factors like cost, convenience, and travel time when deciding how to get from the Mexico City airport to the city center.

This Mexico City Airport transportation guide will give you an overview of all the different options to help you choose the one that best fits your budget, comfort level, and travel style.

It’s essential to have a plan for how to get from the Mexico City airport to the city center before you arrive.

Where is the Mexico City International Airport?

Mexico City’s Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX) is located about 5 miles from the city’s centro histórico (the city center) and about 8 miles from the popular neighborhoods of Roma and Condesa. 

Choosing the right transportation method from the Mexico City airport to the city center can make your journey smoother and hassle-free.

Though the airport is quite close to these popular areas, the travel time may be anywhere from 25 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic.  

The Mexico City airport is the biggest and busiest in the country and a central travel hub for not only Mexico but all of Latin America.

Because of the high volume of flights to Mexico City International Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez) and departing from Mexico City International Airport, there tend to be some excellent deals on flights from a large selection of airlines to Mexico City.

Check out these direct flights available for less than $100 USD.

It processes over 100,000 travelers daily and is the hub for Aeroméxico, Aeromar, Volaris, and VivaAerobús, which are the largest airlines in Mexico.

Aeromexico is a wonderful airline, as it’s part of the Skymiles program alongside Delta Airlines, meaning if you have miles in your Delta Skymiles account, then you can also book flights with Aeromexico on Delta’s website and use your Delta points.

Traveling soon? Don’t forget to buy travel insurance for Mexico. Insurance gives you peace of mind, knowing you can get the help you need if anything goes wrong. EKTA Insurance is the provider that I recommend.

Taxi Services

Average cost: $250 MXN to $500 MXN, depending on your destination.

If you ask me, official airport taxis are the best option for airport transportation in CDMX because they are abundant and simple to use. 

When you exit the baggage claim area, you will see booths selling tickets for “Taxi Seguro” (or something similar). This is where you purchase a taxi ticket.

Are you looking for the most secure method to travel from the airport to the designated zone of the city you are visiting?

Buying a ticket from one of these booths guarantees a fair price and places you in a legitimate taxi. 

Several authorized taxi companies operate within the airport, each of which is legitimate.

Some offer more luxurious vehicles, and some even offer female drivers and provide services exclusively to women. 

In my experience, you can’t go wrong with any of them, but the prices may vary depending on your choice.

If you’re on a budget, be aware that taxi fares will increase slightly once you leave the airport.

Budget accordingly, and know that the rest of your transportation expenses will be lower. It’s worth paying a little more to use secure transportation in Mexico City after a long day of travel. 

Expect it to cost about 250 to 350 pesos to get from the airport to the Condesa/Reforma area (where many Mexico City hotels are located).

Once you purchase your taxi ticket, an attendant will direct you to a taxi queue where you’ll wait in line with other travelers until a car becomes available.

Be warned. These taxi lines can be long if you’re traveling during rush hour. Expect to wait at least 30 minutes. 

If you have a lot of luggage, keep a few coins handy to tip the attendants who help you load your bags into the taxi.

You don’t need to tip the taxi driver when you reach your destination unless they help you with your luggage. 

Familiarize yourself with transportation options available for getting from the Mexico City airport to the city center.

Uber

When arriving late, a taxi or Uber can be the safest way to travel from the Mexico City airport to the city center.

Average cost: $250 MXN to $500 MXN, depending on your destination.

I’ve heard many conflicting accounts of travelers trying to use Uber from the Mexico City airport. Many have been successful, but there are potential obstacles, too. 

Each transportation method has its pros and cons for getting from the Mexico City airport to the city center, so choose wisely.

Uber isn’t allowed to operate from the Mexico City airport, so getting one may be hard.

Whenever I’ve used Uber from the airport, the drivers have consistently directed me to the “Departures” area for pickup. However, I last used this method in 2019 and 2020, and it appears that circumstances may have evolved since then. 

I polled my Female Travelers in Mexico Facebook Group to see what experiences others have had using Uber, and several people reported having successfully taken it from the airport as recently as this week.

On the other hand, I’ve also heard of travelers having drivers cancel on them or asking them to meet somewhere a couple of blocks from the airport (not ideal if you have a lot of bulky luggage or fly in late at night).

Many travelers opt for taxis as a reliable way to get from the Mexico City airport to the city center.

These inconsistencies in rules and experiences are pretty common in Mexico. It just loves to keep us guessing! In my experience with similar things, you can get Ubers from the airport for a while, but then a crackdown makes it harder. 

A similar thing happened with the 180-day immigration visa in 2021 – for months, travelers reported being granted as little as a few days… But a couple of months later, everything went back to normal, and now everyone seems to get 180 days by default.

I digress. The point is these things are constantly in flux.

For more budget-friendly options, consider taking the metro from the Mexico City airport to the city center.

If you’re the type of traveler who appreciates a concrete plan, I’d avoid Uber and take a taxi. A taxi may cost a couple of dollars more, but as long as you buy your ticket from one of the booths inside the terminal, Mexico City airport taxis are perfectly safe. 

But I know many travelers really prefer Uber. If this is you, go ahead and give it a try. Just know that there could be hangups, and taxis are always there as a backup!

When it comes time to return to the airport at the end of your trip, you shouldn’t have any problem getting Uber to drop you off. 

Mexico City Airport Transfers

Finding the best way to get from the Mexico City airport to the city center can enhance your travel experience.

Average Cost: $600 MXN to $1200 MXN for downtown Mexico City, depending on vehicle size.

Airport shuttles typically cost a little more than a taxi or Uber, but they are really convenient, secure ground transportation and come with great perks.

First, you can book them in advance, so you know a transfer will be waiting for you when you arrive – this saves you the hassle of having to even think about any other options. Plus, you won’t have to stop to get cash because you can pay for your shuttle online in advance.

A private transfer service usually offers nicer vehicles too, which means you’ll have more legroom and will inevitably be more comfortable – a nice perk after a long flight.

And finally, a professional driver will usually wait for you even if your arrival time changes. 

Finding the safest way to get from the Mexico City airport to the city center is crucial for a smooth trip.

Knowing a driver will be there to pick you up when you land offers enormous peace of mind in what can be a hectic experience (navigating immigration in a foreign language).

Click here to reserve your Mexico City airport transfer. You’ll be able to see the reviews for Mexico City Airport transportation services.

Metro/Subway 

Average cost: $5 MXN

Mexico City has an extensive metro network with lines that cover most of the city. This is the cheapest way to get from the airport to downtown Mexico City and other neighborhoods.  

The Terminal Aérea metro station is located just outside of Terminal 1 at the Mexico City airport, making it a convenient way to get to and from the airport.  

You can use Google Maps or Rome2Rio to plan your route to your accommodation, but I’ve outlined how to get to a couple of the most common destinations:

• Condesa: To get to Condesa from the airport, take Line 5 from Terminal Aérea toward Pantitlán. At the Pantitlán station, transfer to Line 9 in the direction of Tacubaya and get off at the Chilpancingo station.
• Centro Histórico: To get to Mexico City’s Zócalo from the airport, take metro Line 5 from the Terminal Aérea station toward Pantitlán. At the Pantitlán station, transfer to Line 1 toward Observatorio. Get off at the Pino Suárez station and walk North along Calle Pino Suárez for about 10 minutes to reach the Zócalo, also known as Plaza de La Constitución.

If you’re considering a rental car, think about the challenges of driving from the Mexico City airport to the city center.

The metro is super economical (it costs 5 pesos), and it’s very efficient given that it enables you to avoid the city’s traffic congestion. However, it can be uncomfortably crowded at peak times. 

This website has additional information on using the Mexico City metro and includes several maps of the metro system. 

I’ve used the metro several times and had some unpleasant experiences (including my friend having his phone and wallet stolen), so I’ve decided I’d rather just take taxis or Uber. They may cost more, but to me, it’s worth it because they’re more comfortable and less stressful.

However, if you are comfortable navigating metro systems, the metro can still be a viable option for budget travelers.

Always be mindful of your surroundings and note how far the metro stations are from your final destination.

If you’re a novice solo female traveler arriving at the Mexico City airport late at night, I would advise against using the metro.

While there are metro cars exclusively for women, stepping off the metro into the shrouds of darkness isn’t advisable. I’d definitely splurge for a taxi in this scenario. 

Local Bus Lines & Metrobus

Airport taxis are a convenient way to get from the Mexico City airport to the city center, especially after a long flight.

Using local buses is an option for adventurous travelers looking to get from the Mexico City airport to the city center.

Private shuttles offer another convenient way to get from the Mexico City airport to the city center.

To get to the city center, Metrobus is an affordable option for those traveling from the Mexico City airport.

Average cost: $5 – $10 MXN

You can take a local bus to the airport in Mexico. I have never done this because it’s the most confusing of the options on this list. But I wanted to list it just in case you want to try it. 

Metrobus is one of the most popular types of buses in Mexico City and it stops at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 of the airport. 

Booking your airport transfer in advance can streamline your journey from the Mexico City airport to the city center.

Remember to assess your options for getting from the Mexico City airport to the city center before your arrival.

To get from the airport to the city center, take Metrobus Line 4 from Terminal 1 toward San Lázaro. At San Lázaro, transfer to the Metro Line 1 toward Observatorio and get off at the Pino Suárez Station. From there, transfer to Metro Line 2 toward Cuatro Caminos and get off at the Zócalo station.

To learn more about how to take a bus to and from the Mexico City airport, use Rome2Rio or Google Maps.

The new bus routes directly connect the Mexico City airport to the city center, simplifying your travel plans.

For direct travel from the Mexico City airport to the city center, check bus schedules for long-haul buses to specific areas.

Long-haul Buses

Average cost: Anywhere from $300 MXN to $1500 MXN, depending on your destination and the level of service you opt for.

Depending on where you’re headed from Mexico City, you may be able to catch a bus there directly from the airport. There are regular departures for cities like Puebla, Querétaro, Cuernavaca, Córdoba, and more. 

Use BusBud.com to book the best bus ticket prices to these cities that are a couple hours outside of Mexico City.

BusBud.com is one of the only bus ticket purchasing websites that accepts non-Mexico bank credit/debit cards.

To get to various destinations, you can also use intercity bus services from the Mexico City airport to the city center.

There are two bus stations attached to the Mexico City airport. One is near Terminal 1, by the ramp that leads to the international area of the airport. The other is in Terminal 2 near Gate D, between entrance 4 and the domestic arrivals exit.

If there aren’t direct buses from the airport to your next destination, you’ll have to find your way to the appropriate Mexico City bus station for the next leg of your journey.

Beyond the airport, there are four bus terminals in Mexico City:

• Terminal de Autobuses Norte: This station has buses departing for areas north of Mexico City, including Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, and San Luis Potosí.
  
• Terminal de Autobuses de Pasajeros Oriente (TAPO): This station is very close to the Mexico City airport and has buses departing for destinations both east and south of Mexico City, including Oaxaca, Puebla, Xalapa, and more. The ADO bus line primarily operates out of this station.
  
• Terminal de Autobuses del Sur (Taxqueña): Buses from this station head to places south of Mexico City, including Puebla, Taxco, and Cuernavaca.
  
• Terminal de Autobuses del Poniente: Buses from Poniente head west of Mexico City to destinations like Manzanillo and Guadalajara. 

Ultimately, I recommend that you use Busbud to plan and reserve intercity buses from the Mexico City airport to the destination of your liking. It’s by far the easiest platform to work with, and I’ve used it dozens of times, not just for myself but even when booking for a group.

Related Reading: The Ultimate Guide to Mexico’s Long-Haul Bus Network

Rental Car

Average cost: $1000 MXN/day (including insurance & fees)

I’m basically just including this option to tell you why I don’t recommend it. 

If you’re considering renting a car for Mexico City, don’t bother. The traffic is horrible, and parking is tough to come by and expensive. It’s very affordable to get around via Uber, Taxi, and metro, so there’s no reason to subject yourself to the hassle of renting a car here. 

Rental cars can be wonderful in other parts of the country, but you simply don’t need a rental car in Mexico City. It’s a difficult grid of streets with much more aggressive drivers than other cities in Mexico, and you’ll stress yourself out and ruin your serenity. Plus renting a car for traveling in and outside of Mexico City is quite inefficient compared to ubers, taxis, and bus travel. Let the locals drive you since they are more familiar with how to maneuver the Mexico City traffic!

If you’re transiting through Mexico City to visit another area, I still don’t recommend a rental car. In most cases, taking a bus to the next city will be easier, safer, and more efficient than renting a car.

If you still feel you need a rental car when you reach your destination, you can always rent one (which may be necessary depending on your plans). 

When it comes to renting cars, use Kayak.com, which is a partner with our website and company.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)