CDMX Metro Guide for Tourists

The Mexico City Metro is a marvel of public transportation. With 5 million daily users, it's one of the world's most-used systems. For tourists, it's the smart choice.

Main advantages:

• Flat fare: $5 pesos for any distance (2024-2025)
• Speed: Avoid CDMX traffic. Getting to the Zócalo or Chapultepec is minutes away
• Coverage: 12 lines, 226 stations, covering virtually the entire city
• Extended hours: Operates from 5am until after midnight
• Improved safety: Exclusive cars for women and children during peak hours
• Cultural heritage: Many stations feature unique tiles and artistic installations

Compared to Uber ($200-400 pesos) or taxi ($150-300 pesos), the metro is 60 times cheaper.

Flat fare: The CDMX Metro uses a flat-rate system. You pay $5 pesos regardless of distance. You can travel from Terminal Aérea to the city's edges for the same $5 pesos.

How to buy tickets:

Option 1: Individual ticket

• Cost: $5 pesos
• Valid for 1 trip only
• Ideal if you travel occasionally
• Purchased from automatic machines (accept bills and coins)

Option 2: MI Card (Recommended)

• Initial cost: $15 pesos (card + $10 credit)
• Minimum recharge: $15 pesos
• Faster: simply touch the card on the turnstile
• Doesn't expire: you can use it indefinitely
• Economical: perfect for multiple trips
• Sold at station ticket windows

Option 3: 3-day unlimited pass

• Cost: $180 pesos
• Unlimited access to Metro, Metrobús, and Trolebús for 3 consecutive days
• Excellent for tourists planning intensive transportation use

Hours:

• General hours: 5:00am - 12:00am (midnight)
• Weekends: Starts one hour later on Saturdays and Sundays
• Variations: Some lines close earlier (check specific line)
• New Year's: Christmas Eve and New Year's have special schedules (opens later)

The CDMX Metro has 12 color-coded lines. Each color represents a specific route. Here are the main ones for tourists:

• Line 1 (Pink): Most important for tourists. Goes from Terminal Aérea to Pantitlán. Passes by: Chapultepec, Sevilla, Insurgentes, Downtown, Zócalo
• Line 2 (Blue): Connects to Line 1 at Zócalo. Goes southeast. Passes by: Bellas Artes, Pino Suárez, Coyoacán
• Line 3 (Green): Southeast to northeast. Important for Teotihuacán (connection at Indios Verdes). Passes by: Tacubaya, Hidalgo
• Line 5 (Yellow): Longest line. Goes from Pantitlán to Politécnico. Passes by: La Raza, Petroleum Institute
• Line 6 (Red): Goes from El Rosario to Martín Carrera. Semicircular to the north
• Line 7 (Orange): Goes from Barranca del Muerto to El Rosario. Passes by Coyoacán
• Line 9 (Brown): Low line (historically Line B). Goes from Tacubaya to Pantitlán. Passes by Bellas Artes
• Line A (Dark Red): From Pantitlán to La Paz (east). Peripheral line
• Line B (Purple): From Buenavista to Ciudad Azteca. Peripheral northern line
• Line 8 (Light Blue): From Garibaldi (Downtown) to the south. Passes by Bellas Artes, Zócalo
• Line 11 (Light Green): From Constituyentes to Hospital 20 de Noviembre. West peripheral line
• Line 12 (Gold): Newest line (2012). Goes from Tláhuac to Mixcoac. Excellent for Xochimilco

Key stations you should memorize:

• Bellas Artes (Line 2 and 8): Cultural center, Palace of Fine Arts, Museums, Souvenir shops
• Chapultepec (Line 1): Chapultepec Park, Chapultepec Castle, Museums (Anthropology, Modern Art), Forest
• Insurgentes (Line 1): Heart of Roma-Condesa. Restaurants, bars, nightlife. This is YOUR station if you stay in Roma-Condesa
• Coyoacán (Line 3): Bohemian neighborhood, Main plaza, Frida Kahlo Museum, colonial atmosphere
• Terminal Aérea (Line 1): Airport arrivals. Direct connection to downtown
• Zócalo (Line 2): Mexico's main plaza, Metropolitan Cathedral, National Palace, street markets
• Hidalgo (Line 2 and 3): Downtown, near Bellas Artes, Reforma
• Indios Verdes (Line 3): Connection to Teotihuacán (bus departs from here)
• Sevilla (Line 1): Condesa, restaurants, nightlife (very close to Insurgentes)
• Tacubaya (Line 3 and 9): Transfers, access to Coyoacán

From your apartment in Roma-Condesa, here are the most useful routes:

To the Airport (Terminal Aérea)

• Departure station: Chapultepec or Insurgentes (Line 1)
• Route: Line 1 toward Terminal Aérea (direction Universidad, exit at Terminal Aérea)
• Time: 25 minutes
• Cost: $5 pesos
• Tip: Travel light if possible. It's crowded during peak hours

To the Zócalo (Historic Center)

• Departure station: Chapultepec or Insurgentes (Line 1)
• Route: Line 1 toward Universidad, exit at Pino Suárez. Transfer to Line 2 toward Cuatro Caminos, exit at Zócalo
• Total time: 35-40 minutes
• Cost: $5 pesos (one ticket valid for both lines)

To Chapultepec

• Departure station: Insurgentes (Line 1)
• Route: Line 1 toward Terminal Aérea, exit at Chapultepec (4 stops)
• Time: 8-10 minutes
• Cost: $5 pesos
• What to see: Park, Castle, Anthropology and Natural History Museums

To Coyoacán

• Departure station: Chapultepec or Insurgentes (Line 1)
• Route: Line 1 toward Universidad, exit at Tacubaya. Transfer to Line 3 (or 7) toward the south, exit at Coyoacán
• Total time: 35-45 minutes
• Cost: $5 pesos
• What to see: Colonial plaza, Frida Kahlo Museum, bohemian cafes and bars

To Teotihuacán

• Departure station: Chapultepec or Insurgentes (Line 1)
• Route: Line 1 toward Universidad, exit at Tacubaya. Transfer to Line 3 toward Indios Verdes, exit at Indios Verdes
• From Indios Verdes: Direct bus to Teotihuacán (cost ~$80-100 pesos, 1 hour)
• Total time: 1.5-2 hours
• Tip: Leave early (7-8am) to avoid crowds. Bring water and sunscreen

To Bellas Artes

• Departure station: Chapultepec (Line 1)
• Route: Line 1 toward Pantitlán, exit at Bellas Artes (5-6 stops). Or use Line 2
• Time: 15-20 minutes
• Cost: $5 pesos

The Metrobús is a rapid transit bus system that perfectly complements the Metro. Useful for routes the metro doesn't cover well.

Key facts:

• Fare: $7 pesos (same as metro if not using MI card)
• Useful lines: 7 main lines in CDMX
• Line 1: Most important for tourists. Goes from Constitución to Indios Verdes on Insurgentes Avenue (passes through Roma-Condesa!)
• Advantage over metro: No crowds, more comfortable, air conditioning
• Disadvantage: Slower than metro (depends on CDMX traffic)

Metrobús Line 1 from Roma-Condesa:

• Metrobús Line 1 is perfect if you're in Roma-Condesa and want to go north or south on Insurgentes
• Stop near you: Insurgentes (multiple stops throughout Roma-Condesa)
• Useful destinations: Downtown, Reforma, Polanco, Indios Verdes, Tlalpan
• Cost: $7 pesos

The CDMX Metro is safe for tourists when you take basic precautions. Millions of people use it daily without problems.

Safety measures implemented:

• Exclusive cars: The first 3 cars of each train are exclusive for women and children during peak hours (6-10am, 4-8pm)
• Security personnel: Police and security guards at main stations
• Cameras: Surveillance system in stations and trains
• Emergencies: Panic buttons in the cars

Practical tips:

• Zippered pockets: Use a backpack with a zipper or a bag with front closure
• Backpack in front: If you wear a backpack, put it in front on crowded trains
• Don't show valuables: Don't take out cell phone, watch, or expensive camera in trains
• Travel in central cars: Middle cars (not the ends) tend to have more surveillance
• Peak hour vs. off-peak: During peak hours (7-10am, 5-8pm) there are more people. During off-peak (mid-afternoon) fewer people but less surveillance
• Well-lit stations: Avoid unknown stations at night
• Travel with people: Prefer traveling when more people are around

Situations to avoid:

• Don't travel alone after 10pm (use Uber instead)
• Don't withdraw large amounts of cash at the station
• Don't sleep on the train (risk of theft)
• Avoid arguments with other passengers

Verdict: The CDMX Metro is safe for normal tourists during the day and early evening. It's used by families, children, and elderly people daily.

Two apps are your best friends on the Metro:

SEMOVI App

• What it is: Official CDMX Government application
• Function: Complete information on Metro, Metrobús, Trolebús, and Light Train
• Features: Metro map, real-time lines, schedules, service alerts
• Language: Spanish
• Download: Free on App Store and Google Play
• Advantage: Shows station closures, route changes alerts

Google Maps

• What it is: Google's universal navigator
• Function: Route planning by metro, metrobús, Uber, walking
• Features: Real-time routes, estimated times, alternatives, transport schedules
• Language: Spanish and English
• Advantage: Works perfectly in CDMX. You can see stops, schedules, suggested transfers
• Disadvantage: Requires internet connection

My recommendation:

Download both. Use Google Maps as your primary tool (it's more intuitive and reliable) and SEMOVI as backup for service alerts.

Tip: Download offline maps in Google Maps before traveling. Go to Google Maps → Menu → Download → select CDMX area. That way you'll have maps even without internet.