Travel to Mexico City

Flying to Mexico City

Aeromexico and British Airways operate direct flights to Mexico City from the UK. Numerous airlines offer direct flights from US cities, include Aeromexico, American Airlines, Delta, Interjet, United and Volaris. Prices are fairly consistent year-round, but tend to rise over Christmas and Easter.

Flight times

From London - 11 hours 20 minutes; New York - 5 hours 15 minutes;Los Angeles - 3 hours 40 minutes; Toronto - 4 hours 45 minutes; Sydney - 19 hours 30 minutes (including stopover).

Travel by road

Mexico's well-maintained toll motorways fan out from Mexico City to connect with all large cities. In contrast the via libres (free roads) are often dangerously rutted and potholed. Cuotas (tolls) vary but rising charges mean the roads are often congestion free.

Traffic drives on the right and the minimum age for driving in Mexico is 18 years. Speed limits are usually 100-110kph (62-68mph) on motorways and 30kph (19mph) or 40kph (25mph) in cities. A valid driving licence from your home country is required and an International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended.

Insurance is not mandatory but is strongly advised; note that Mexican law only recognises Mexican seguros (insurance). It is not advisable to drive at night.

Emergency breakdown services

SECTUR's Angeles Verdes patrols (tel: 078, in Mexico only).

Routes

The 57/57D motorway links Mexico City to the north and Querétaro, San Luis Potosí and Monterrey, with 45D branching west at Querétaro to reach León, Aguascalientes and Zacatecas. Route 150D heads east to Veracruz and Puebla (with branches to Oaxaca and Villahermosa) while 15/15D goes west to Toluca and Guadalajara. To the south, 95D links Mexico City with Cuernavaca and Acapulco, with a branch going to Taxco.

Coaches

Mexico's inexpensive coach travel connects the capital to most cities in Mexico. Standards run from non-stop, luxury, air-conditioned services to rickety, second-class affairs. Check out schedules at the Terminal Terrestre at the airport or contact any of Mexico City's long-distance hubs.

Terminal Central de Autobuses del Norte (north), Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas 4907 (Metro Autobuses del Norte), is served by around 30 different bus companies linking Mexico City to the north of the country, Guadalajara, Colima and Puerto Vallarta.

Terminal de Autobuses del Pasajero de Oriente (east), Calzada Zaragoza 200 (Metro San Lázaro), is better known as TAPO and serves destinations east and southeast of Mexico City, such as Puebla, Veracruz, Oaxaca and the Yucatán Peninsula.

Terminal Central de Autobuses del Sur (south), Avenida Tasqueña 1320 (Metro Tasqueña), offers southward services, including Acapulco and Zihuatenejo.

Terminal Central de Autobuses del Poniente (west), Avenida Sur 122 (Metro Observatorio), handles westbound services, including frequent shuttles to Toluca.

Time to city

From Toluca - 1 hour 30 minutes; Acapulco - 4 to 5 hours; Oaxaca - 6 hours.

Travel by Rail

Services

Other than a suburban train service in and around Mexico City, it's not currently possible to travel around the country by rail, although there are proposals to reintroduce intercity trains.