Is Mexico City Safe? Travel Advisory 2023

Mexico City is a safe destination to visit now. It is a beautiful city with a rich culture, great food, and many historical sites.

Mexico City, however, is the largest city in North America. More than 9 million people live within the 577-square-mile city. Travelers can expect safety challenges common to all large cities and should take precautions.

Suggested: Is Cancun Safe? Travel Advisory 2024

The U.S. State Department advises U.S. citizens traveling to Mexico City to exercise extreme caution because of crime.  

The most prevalent crimes in Mexico City are carjacking, robberies, kidnappings, and homicides. Crime is more prevalent in some parts of the city than others. For example, Centro Historico and Roma are relatively safe. Crime in Mexico City is also lower than in many other parts of Mexico and some U.S. cities.

Tourists can take precautions to avoid becoming crime victims.

• Avoid walking alone at night. Women should always avoid walking alone.
• Avoid showing off their money.
• Try to look less like a tourist. For example, avoid wearing shorts and flip-flops and displaying an expensive camera. 
• Learn some Spanish phrases.
• Avoid wearing flashy jewelry.
• Research neighborhoods and avoid those with high crime, such as Tepito and Iztapalapa.
• Take only authorized or reputable taxis.
• Remain aware of your surroundings.

LATEST UPDATES / NEWS from MEXICO CITY:

January 13 – Security Concerns Must Be Solved For Mexico’s Economy To Expand

To leverage the current nearshoring investment trend, Mexican authorities at the local, state, and federal levels must collaborate with chambers of commerce in the industrial sector to efficiently tackle the country’s persistent and concerning security issues. 

Mexico is ranked 116th overall in the World Justice Project’s 2023 Rule of Law Index, making it one of the worst-performing countries in the world due in part to the persistent risk of cargo truck hijacking on Mexico’s major highways. 

Despite the generally high levels of violence, increasing investment in the northern states of Mexico might indicate a chance to boost the underdeveloped economy in the rest of the nation.

Safe Neighborhoods Recommended for Tourists

Polanco

This upscale neighborhood is known for its high-end shopping, dining, and nightlife. It is considered to be one of the safest areas in Mexico City for tourists.

Reforma

Located in the heart of Mexico City, Reforma is home to many of the city’s top tourist attractions, including the Angel of Independence monument and Chapultepec Park. The area is also well-patrolled by police, making it a safe choice for tourists.

Condesa

This trendy neighborhood is popular with young professionals and tourists alike. It is known for its Art Deco architecture, vibrant nightlife, and numerous parks and green spaces.

Roma

Roma is another trendy neighborhood that is popular with tourists and locals alike. It is known for its street art, vintage shops, and hip restaurants and bars.

Coyoacán

This charming neighborhood is known for its colonial-style architecture, art galleries, and bohemian atmosphere. It is considered to be one of the safest areas in Mexico City for tourists.

Common Scams in Mexico

Like many localities, Mexico City has some common scams that tourists should beware of. 

Taxi Scams

Some typical Mexico City taxi scams are overcharging or holding visitors hostage until they withdraw money from an ATM. Travelers can avoid taxi scams by choosing only reputable taxis, such as Authorised (at transportation hubs), Sitio (at official taxi stands), and Radio (which respond to a traveler’s call).

Fake ATMs

Some ATMs are fake and will steal money when tourists use their cards. Tourists can avoid this scam by withdrawing money only at banks or airport ATMs and expressly avoiding unmarked ATMs.

Scammers

Sometimes, individuals approach tourists and start a conversation hoping to get money. Tourists can avoid this scam by simply walking away.

Natural Disasters

The primary natural disaster that could impact a traveler’s safety is an earthquake. Mexico City is along the “Ring of Fire,” a horseshoe curving around the Pacific Ocean. Minor tremors occur frequently, but the most recent major earthquake was in 2017. 

Tourists can stay safe by knowing what to do in an earthquake. Once they hear an alert, they should drop, cover, and hold on. If indoors, tourists should move to the lower levels and avoid windows. If outdoors, they should find a space away from electrical lines and trees or balconies. 

The city also experiences hurricanes, floods, and landslides, but they are less frequent.

Top Actions Tourists Should Avoid

To stay safe, tourists should avoid certain actions. These are:

• Showing off their valuables.
• Drinking or getting drunk on the street.
• Using the metro during rush hour.
• Frequenting restaurants nearest the tourist attractions. (They tend to overcharge.)
• Sharing personal information with strangers.
• Walking downtown alone at night.
• Fighting back if mugged.

Why Visit Mexico City?

Tourists will find several great reasons to travel to Mexico City. 

History

Mexico City stands on the ruins of an Aztec capital city and provides an excellent opportunity to learn more about this ancient civilization. It is also the oldest inhabited city in the Americas and was the capital of New Spain for 300 years.  

It also features three UNESCO Heritage sites: the Floating Gardens of Xochimilco, Casa Luis Barragán, and the Central University City Campus. The Camino Real de Tierra Adentro also encompasses Mexico City. 

Art

Muralist art is prevalent in Mexico City. Also, artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera lived in Mexico City, and tourists can see glimpses of their lives there.

Food and Fun

Mexico City is an excellent place for foodies. Tourists can find food excursions and cooking classes as well. Mexico City also has a rich nightlife. Indeed, two of the world’s best bars are there.

Hiking Opportunities

Mexico City provides two volcanoes that hikers can scale. It also features the Chapultepec Forest, another excellent place to walk.

Update Archive:

March 27 – Teenager arrested after killing 8 people at a birthday party

According to the federal Public Safety Department, a 14-year-old youngster dubbed “El Chapito” (Little Chapo) was detained for the drug-related homicide of eight individuals near Mexico City.

The teenager allegedly pulled up on a motorcycle and started fire on a family in Chimalhuacan, a low-income Mexico City suburb. Seven other gang members were detained on drug charges.

At the time of the incident, the victims were hosting a party at their home, and five adults and two children were also injured. According to reports, it was a birthday celebration.

February 27 – “Mexico City police fight crime in virtual reality in the futuristic new training center”

Police in Mexico are currently receiving training to combat virtual criminals in virtual reality.

The first VR training facility for police officers in Latin America has opened in Mexico City, where they can hone their reflexes and perform maneuvers.

The center was inaugurated on February 15; according to local authorities, crime there has been down for three years.

Police personnel demonstrated a simulated intervention among civilians inside the three-dimensional reality of the VR headset.

They “can interact with real or virtual avatars, in extremely realistic graphic representations,” Harfuch said that VR enables the recreation of various intervention places and explained how this works: “schools, shopping centres, restaurants, highways, aeroplanes”.

“Only three police forces in the United States and the Israeli police have this virtual reality system,” the local government said in a statement.