Before my first visit to Mexico City, I was more concerned about security than I needed to be.

After 5 days, I left feeling that most tourists would be more concerned with transportation, restaurant choices, and day trip ideas outside the city than crime.

If you stay in Roma Norte, Condesa, Polanco or Reforma, use Uber and exercise basic caution, you will probably feel safer than in many European cities.

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Quick Answer

Situation	My experience
Uber during the day	No problem
Uber in the evening and at night	No problems
Roma Norte after dark	No problem
Condesa after dark	No problem
Polanco after dark	No problem
Historic centre during the day	No problems
Historic centre late in the evening	Extra caution
Metro and buses	Beware of pickpockets
Mobile phone in hand	Yes, but with caution
Taxi from the street	I would not use
Suburbs	High caution

💡 The biggest safety risk for most tourists will not be moving around the city per se, but the poorly chosen hotel location.

• 👉 Here is my article with tips on the best locations for accommodation

My experience in Mexico City

During our stay, we were in the central areas where most of the tourist attractions are.

We used Uber several times a day and often after dark.

Not once did we get into a situation where I felt we made a mistake or were in an unsafe environment.

On the contrary, I was surprised at how lively Roma Norte or Condesa seemed in the evening. Restaurants, bars and cafes tend to be packed late into the night and many streets feel safer than some parts of European cities.

Of course, this doesn't mean that crime doesn't exist in Mexico City.

We just need to distinguish the reality of the tourist districts from the image of the entire city of more than 20 million.

Which neighbourhoods are the safest for tourists?

If you're coming to Mexico City for the first time, I recommend sticking to these areas.

• Roma Norte - the liveliest and for me the nicest neighborhood with restaurants, bars and cafes
• Condesa - the quietest and very safe neighbourhood with lots of greenery and restaurants
• Reforma - main area of big hotels, busy but safe
• Polanco - the most luxurious and one of the safest neighbourhoods in Latin America
• Historic centre - lots of tourists during the day (and therefore lots of pickpockets), lots of homeless people at night
• area around the Basilica of Santa María de Gudalupe - absolutely no problems during the day
• Coyoacán - a beautiful quiet residential area around the Frida Kahlo museum on the southern edge of the city

Where are the dangerous areas?

The least safe areas are those immediately adjacent to the historic centre to the north-east (especially Morelos, Tepito and Merced behind the market) and then the outlying districts (especially east and north of the CDMX).

Within the center, the areas around the markets are the least safe.

Map of Mexico City: where is safe?

We have created a map of the neighborhoods in the CDMX, which we have marked according to different colors.

Explanation. The map of the areas is based on our experience as tourists and also on the stories of locals who recommended us what Mexico City looks like outside the touristic places.

• 🟩 Green - these are generally safe areas with no problems for tourists
  • just follow the basic safety recommendations
• 🟨 Yellow - generally safe areas but with large crowds (tourists or locals around large bus stations)
  • frequent pickpocketing, we recommend not to keep your phone in your hand for too long and take extra care of your personal belongings
  • but our personal experience was good and even in these areas we moved around at night without major problems (there is just a higher concentration of poorer people and homeless people)
• 🟧 Orange - areas where the working class live. They may not be downright dangerous, but as a tourist you will attract a lot of attention here
  • definitely not recommended at night
  • extra caution is a good thing (don't take out your phone, wallet and use Uber exclusively)
• 🟥 Red - areas that are not safe (robberies on the street, occasional shootings)
  • most crime is not directed against tourists, but you can easily get in trouble accidentally
  • recommended to visit mainly with a local or a guide

Is it safe to use Uber?

For me, unequivocally yes.

We used Uber several times a day throughout our stay and never encountered a problem.

The big advantage is:

• paying through the app (you don't have to take out your wallet or cash at all)
• price is known in advance
• possibility to follow the route
• no haggling
• wide availability of cars day and night

I would recommend Uber as the main and safest mode of transportation for most tourists.

Is the metro safe?

The metro in Mexico City is not unsafe, but you have to take into account that it can be extremely busy at peak times.

The biggest risk is not violent crime, but rather pickpockets and petty theft, as in many other major cities around the world.

If you travel off-peak and exercise basic caution, there is no reason to worry about the metro.

The other thing is that the metro is mainly used by poorer people (because of its extremely low cost) or the homeless.

At first glance, therefore, the metro may seem more dangerous than it is in reality.

• 👉 How to pay the fare and which routes did we use? Find out in the article Metro in CDMX

Is it safe to walk in the evening?

In Roma Norte, Condese, Polanco or at Reforma, yes.

These were the neighborhoods we walked most often after dark and we never had any reason to change our route or look for alternative transportation.

In fact, despite recommendations, we walked around the historic center as well. Once late in the evening and twice very early in the morning (around 4:30-5:00).

There were a lot of homeless people everywhere, but also a lot of police, so we didn't feel extremely unsafe even in the center after dark.

On the other hand, in the less touristy parts of the city, I would have preferred to use Uber after dark.

Is it safe to take out my cell phone or camera?

Yes.

Just like anywhere else, use common sense.

We routinely took photos with our phone and camera in the center, Roma Norte, Condesa or Polanco and never encountered a problem.

Especially Roma Norte, Condesa or Polanco are perfectly safe neighborhoods - the locals probably have the same expensive or significantly more expensive equipment than you do.

I would just avoid unnecessarily displaying expensive equipment in crowded metro or less touristy areas.

Also, be careful in crowds. If you're going to have your phone out, I'd rather not carry a backpack anymore. Your attention will be split between multiple items and this can attract the attention of pickpockets.

Is Mexico City safe for women travelling solo?

Many women travel to Mexico City alone without any problems.

As in other major cities, I recommend using Uber, choosing accommodations in touristy neighborhoods, and avoiding unnecessary nighttime transfers to lesser-known areas.

In Roma Norte, Condesa, Polanco or Reforma it is common to see women travelling alone during the day and evening.

In general, Latin America is no more dangerous for solo women than for solo men.

The most common mistakes made by tourists

1️⃣ Choosing a hotel based on price only
The cheapest hotel on the map often means a worse location, less safe surroundings and more difficult transport.

• 👉 Here are my accommodation tips

2️⃣ Using a taxi from the street
If Uber works, I see no reason to undergo unnecessary complications.

3️⃣ Excessive fear of the city
Many tourists arrive with the idea that Mexico City is extremely dangerous. The reality tends to be considerably more pleasant.

4️⃣ Underestimating the size of the city
The biggest problem for most visitors is not the safety risks, but the long transfers.

So is Mexico City safe?

Yes.

I wouldn't rank Mexico City as one of the safest cities in the world, but neither would I rank it as a destination that the average tourist should fear.

If you live in Roma Norte, Condesa, Polanco or Reforma, use Uber and observe basic caution, you'll probably be more concerned with traffic jams, restaurant choices and the abundance of places of interest than your own safety.

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