How to travel in Mexico: all you need to know

Mexico is a lot bigger than you would imagine, so it’s particularly important for you to plan your transport carefully so you don’t get caught out once you’re there. 

Here's a detailed guide on how to travel in Mexico: discover the best ways to go from the airport to your accommodation, how to explore the main Mexican cities and more.

How to travel in Mexico from the airport

There are more than 50 airports in Mexico, but the main ones are Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City, Cancun International Airport and, although they are smaller, the airports of Guadalajara, Monterrey and Tijuana. 

Bus

When you land at the Mexico City airport, there are two terminals where you will find buses that run 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There are buses that will take you to the following cities: Cuernavaca, Pachuca, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Toluca, Queretaro, Córdoba and San Juan del Rio.

If you want to go into the center of Mexico City, you can catch line 4 of the Metrobus, which has stops at the Buenavista Terminal and San Lazaro subway stations, and other main points in the city. 

Cab

There are cab terminals 24 hours a day at the terminals. It takes about 45 minutes to get to the city center from the airport. It usually costs around 300 pesos.

If you take a cab, make sure the meter is on before starting the journey. If the driver doesn’t have a meter, you have to agree on the price before starting the ride, otherwise you might get ripped off. 

Metro

You can also take the subway to the center from Terminal 1. You will get to the city center in 34 minutes. The trip costs 5 MXN. 

Car

There are many reputable car rental companies in the terminals. If you are going to drive around Mexico City, it is advisable to rent a smaller car as there is a lot of traffic and parking is more difficult. Outside the city it is much easier to drive. 

Getting around Mexico in the city

Uber and cabs are an option in the city, but they can be expensive depending on where you're heading. 

Bus

If you want to get around Mexico City easily, ADO bus is the most popular company in the city and has multiple stops around town. 

Metrobus

Metrobus is an express bus that travels over a 125 km network within Mexico City. The ticket, regardless of the destination, always costs 6 MXN. 

If you want to move around the city by metro or metrobus, there is a rechargeable card that can be purchased and can be used on all transport within the city. 

There are no passenger trains in Mexico: they're all freight trains. 

Cab 

You can easily get a cab in the city, and they are quite affordable. Make sure that you only take official cabs and that the meter is running to avoid scams. If there is no meter, then make sure you agree on the price with the driver setting off. 

How to travel in Mexico between cities

As mentioned above, renting a car is a good answer to how to get around in Mexico. But, if you decide to drive, be aware that the roads might be in bad condition, which can damage the car. On Mexican roads there are usually many police controls so it is advisable to follow the rules if you want to avoid fines. 

There are tolls on the highways in Mexico and they do not accept credit cards. Make sure you have coins in hand before setting off. 

Bus 

ADO, the same company that operates within Mexico City, also has medium and long distance buses that can take you around the country.  The buses are called ADO GL or ADO Platinum.

The buses tend to be comfortable and clean. It is best to book your ticket in advance online to ensure tickets don’t run out. 

Internal flights

As Mexico is such a large country, if your trip is short, it may be quicker to travel with an internal flight instead of traveling overland.

There are several companies that operate internal flights between cities, including VivaAerobus, Aeromexico, Volaris and Interjet. Mexico City is the country's main airport, so you may have to take a connecting flight depending on where you want to go. 

Tips for getting around Mexico

• Make sure you have enough coins and notes to pay for public transport as they don’t take cards.
• Toilet paper is not provided on long distance buses, so make sure you bring your own.
• Make sure you look after your belongings when traveling and don’t hand over your bag to anyone who is not officially working for the bus company.
• Due to road conditions, trips around Mexico can take a lot longer than you think even if distances are short. Make sure you give yourself enough time.