Mexico City rewards a small set of habits learned in the first 24 hours. Hydrate (altitude). Carry small-bill pesos (cash culture). Use Uber/DiDi/Cabify only — never a libre street taxi. Don't drink the tap. Greet before requesting. The rest follows.
Emergency
911
Unified national since 2016
Altitude
2,240 m
~25% less O₂ vs sea level
Tipping
10-15%
Restaurants · check "incluida"
Roadside
078
Green Angels (highways)
⚠️ Active Disruptions — June 2026 CNTE protests: Teacher-union marches are disrupting Insurgentes Sur and Paseo de la Reforma. Uber/Didi routes through these corridors will add 30-60 min. Check live traffic before every ride and allow extra time on match days.
AICM flight risk: Air traffic controllers (SINACTA) have filed formal strike proceedings at MEX airport. Short-notice cancellations are possible. Book the earliest possible arrival before your match and download your airline's app for real-time alerts.
⚠️ Never hail a "libre" street taxi in CDMX. Express-kidnapping risk is real. Use Uber, DiDi, or Cabify only. From MEX airport, the only safe taxi is the prepaid Sitio 300 / Yellow taxi booked at the booth inside the terminal — never with curbside touts. Uber is legal at MEX since the 2025 federal ruling but pickup zones still evolving; drivers may meet you in T1 Sala E2 / T2 Door 7.
Altitude
2,240m / 7,349 ft
CDMX sits at 2,240 m. Air contains roughly 25% less oxygen than at sea level. Most travelers feel it for 24-72 hours: headache, breathlessness, mild nausea, poor sleep. It clears, but day-1 behavior decides whether yours is mild or memorable.
Day-1 rules: 3+ liters water; no alcohol day 1; no gym, no runs, no sprinting up stairs; sleep 8+ hours. Symptoms warning sign: headache that ibuprofen doesn't touch, persistent vomiting, confusion — these are AMS escalating, see a doctor or descend. Most travelers adapt 24-72 hours; sensitive ones 3-5 days. If you have prior altitude issues, talk to your doctor about Diamox before flying.
Money
Cash & Cards
💵
Cash-heavy economy
More cash-heavy than US/Canada. Markets, taquerías, local taxis = cash (pesos) only. Restaurants, hotels, Uber: cards fine. Carry 200-500 MXN in small bills at all times.
🏧
ATMs
Use bank-affiliated ATMs only — BBVA, Santander, Banorte — inside vestibules. Avoid free-standing yellow machines (skimmers, worse FX). Notify your bank of travel; some US banks block first MX charges as fraud.
💳
Tipping
Restaurants 10-15% (15% for great service). Check for "propina incluida" or "servicio" already on the bill. Bartenders 10 MXN/drink. Taxis/Uber: round up. Hotel bellhops 20-50 MXN/bag. Tip in pesos, not USD.
Transport
Rideshare & Metro
Uber, DiDi, Cabify only. Cabify is the safest-feeling for foreigners; DiDi is cheapest; Uber has the most coverage. From MEX airport: only safe non-rideshare option is the prepaid Sitio 300 / Yellow taxi from inside the terminal (book at the booth, ignore curbside touts). Uber legal at MEX since 2025 — pickup zones still evolving, drivers often meet riders in T1 Sala E2 or T2 Door 7. Metro is genuinely safe outside rush hour — bag-front, no phone-out on Line 2/Line B, and you'll be fine. Buy the rechargeable MI card (15 MXN) at any station.
Water & Health
Don't Drink the Tap
Don't drink CDMX tap water. Bottled or garrafón (the big purified water jugs in every Airbnb). Brushing teeth and showering with tap water are fine. Restaurants serving tourists use purified ice — verify "hielo purificado" if uncertain. Street stalls with high turnover are generally safe; the food is hot and recently cooked. Pack Imodium and Pepto for the inevitable adjustment day.
Etiquette
Spanish & Politeness
👋
Greet first
"Buenos días/tardes/noches" before any request — skipping the greeting reads as rude in CDMX. Address strangers as "Disculpe, señor / señora / joven" (joven = young person, polite).
🙏
Por favor / gracias
Mandatory, not optional. "Con permiso" when squeezing past someone in markets/Metro. Mexican social warmth is real but politeness is non-negotiable.
🔇
Volume control
Don't speak loud English in markets. Don't photograph people without asking. At taquería counters wait your turn. Mexicans rarely confront directly — if wronged, escalate calmly in Spanish to a manager. Raised voices lose face.
👮
Tourist police
CDMX-specific light blue uniforms, English-friendly. They patrol Centro, Reforma, Zócalo, Roma. First stop for any tourist-facing problem before regular police.
Scams
What to Watch For
ATM skimmers — bank vestibules only. "Free shot" bar scams in Zona Rosa — accepted shot suddenly costs 1,500 MXN. Taxi meter "broken" — decline, get out, request Uber. Distraction theft on Metro Line 2 / Line B — bag in front, phone in pocket. "Free shot of mezcal" at street tastings — fine to taste, but don't follow strangers to a back-room cellar for "the rare bottle." Counterfeit pesos — older 500 MXN bills are commonly counterfeited; check the watermark when you receive change at small shops.
Emergency Numbers
Save Now
911 — unified national emergency (police/fire/ambulance), since 2016. 078 — Green Angels (Ángeles Verdes), free roadside assistance for tourists. CAPTA tourist assistance — 55-5658-1111 ⚠️ verify number with hotel on arrival. Red Cross — Cruz Roja Mexicana, 911 routes you appropriately.
Save your embassy number too: US Embassy CDMX +52 55 5080 2000; UK +52 55 1670 3200; Canada +52 55 5724 7900.