Overall9.6/10Among the 5% easiest cities to reach
Good to know
Good to Know
- Mexico City airport is divided into two main terminals; confirm your terminal before arrival.
- Metrobus Line 4 from the airport connects to San Lázaro Metro/TAPO, linking intercity bus travel seamlessly.
- Authorized airport taxis use a fixed-fare system; always buy your ticket at the official booth first to avoid disputes.
- Uber from the airport requires stepping outside the terminal to a designated pickup zone; free airport WiFi helps.
- Metro is extremely affordable and extensive but gets very crowded 7-10 am and 5-9 pm; women-only cars available.
- The Integrated Mobility Card (MI) covers Metro, Metrobús, Light Rail, Trolleybus, and Cablebús for unified payment.
- Long-distance buses are frequent, comfortable, and affordable; book ADO/ETN online when possible for better rates.
- Day trips to Puebla, Teotihuacán, and Tepoztlán are manageable within a full day; Cuernavaca and Xochimilco fit shorter timeframes.
- Four major intercity bus terminals serve different regions; confirm which terminal serves your destination before traveling.
Rail
Metro Commuter
- Name
- Tren Suburbano Commuter Train
- Operator
- Serves State of Mexico
- Notes
- Limited intercity role; mainly local commuting
Intercity Passenger Rail
- Status
- Limited intercity service; expansion underway
Tren Maya
- Note
- Does not connect Mexico City; serves Yucatán Peninsula only
Upcoming Projects
Mexico City to Querétaro High-Speed Rail
- Status
- Under development; construction began 2025
- Notes
- Long-term project for passenger service
Mexico City to Veracruz Passenger Rail
- Route
- Via Puebla
- Status
- Planned
- Notes
- Mixed freight/passenger service planned
Operational Routes
Tren Suburbano (El Insurgente)
- Route
- Mexico City to Toluca
- Distance
- 58 km
- Operator
- Suburban commuter rail
- Notes
- Primary operating intercity line from Mexico City proper
Felipe ÁNgeles Airport Line
- Route
- Mexico City (Buenavista) to AIFA
- Notes
- Connects to secondary airport
Terminals
TAPO (Terminal De Autobuses De Pasajeros De Oriente)
- Access
- Via Metrobus Line 4 from airport
- Location
- Adjacent to San Lázaro Metro Station
- Destinations
- Eastern, central, and southern Mexico
Major Routes
- Puebla
- Oaxaca
- Veracruz
- Chiapas
Terminal Del Norte
- Location
- North side of city
- Destinations
- Northern Mexico
Terminal Del Sur (Taxqueña)
- Location
- South side, near Taxqueña metro
- Destinations
- Southern Mexico
Major Routes
- Cuernavaca
- Oaxaca
Terminal Poniente (Observatorio)
- Location
- West side
- Destinations
- Western Mexico
Airport Buses
- Location
- Bus terminals in both MEX terminals (24-hour operation)
- Cost Range
- MX$150
budget service; executive class higher
- Note
- Directly from airport; convenient but slightly more expensive than city terminals
Operators
- ADO
- Pullman de Morelos
- Primera Plus
Common Destinations
- Puebla
- Toluca
- Cuernavaca
- Pachuca
- Querétaro
- Tlaxcala
Day Trip Destinations
- Day Trip Note
- Popular options are within 2-2.5 hours by bus. Farther destinations (4+ hours) often better as overnight trips. Weekday travel recommended to avoid crowding.
Nearby Accessible By Bus Metro
Xochimilco
- Distance
- ~20 km south
- Transport
- Metro Line 2 to Taxqueña, then Tren Ligero
- Highlights
- UNESCO site, floating gardens, trajineras (boats)
- Travel Time
- 1 hour by metro/light rail from downtown
Teotihuacán
- Distance
- ~50 km northeast
- Transport
- Guided tour recommended; bus options available
- Highlights
- Pre-Columbian pyramids (Pyramid of Sun/Moon)
- Travel Time
- 1-1.5 hours
Puebla
- Cost
- MX$200
- Distance
- ~135 km
- Transport
- ADO bus from TAPO or airport
- Highlights
- Colonial UNESCO city, churches, Mole cuisine
- Travel Time
- 2-2.5 hours by bus
Cuernavaca
- Distance
- ~80 km
- Transport
- Bus from Tasqueña or airport
- Highlights
- Colonial capital, gardens, museums
- Travel Time
- 1.5-2 hours
Tepoztlán
- Distance
- ~60 km south
- Transport
- Bus from Terminal del Sur (Taxqueña)
- Highlights
- Pueblo Mágico, nature, archaeological site
- Travel Time
- 1-1.5 hours
Toluca
- Distance
- ~65 km west
- Transport
- Tren Suburbano or bus
- Highlights
- Museums, Cosmovitral (stained glass), mountain escapes
- Travel Time
- 1-1.5 hours
Cholula & Pyramid
- Distance
- ~150 km
- Transport
- ADO bus; often combined with Puebla day trip
- Highlights
- Pre-Hispanic pyramid, colonial town
- Travel Time
- 2-2.5 hours
Tolantongo (Hot Springs)
- Distance
- ~240 km
- Transport
- Recommended via tour
- Highlights
- Thermal pools, caves, nature
- Travel Time
- 3+ hours
Airport Ground Transport
Taxis
- Cost
- MX$300
- Type
- Authorized Airport Taxis (Prepaid)
- Availability
- 24/7 from both terminals
- Journey Time
- 20 minutes to city center
- Identification
- Red and gold or pink and white markings
- Notes
- Purchase fixed-fare ticket at 'Transporte Terrestre' or 'Taxi Seguro' booth before boarding. Multiple authorized companies operate. Safe and regulated.
Rideshare
- Cost
- MX$200
- Type
- Uber / Didi
- Availability
- 24/7 with pickup zone outside terminals
- Journey Time
- 20-30 minutes depending on traffic
- Notes
- Pickups occur outside airport terminals (not inside). Requires mobile data/WiFi. Upfront pricing. Typically 50-70% cheaper than authorized taxis.
Public Transport
Metro Line 5 (Light Metro)
- Cost
- MX$5.00
- Details
- Terminal Aérea Station, short walk from Terminal 1
- Frequency
- Regular service
- Journey Time
- 50 minutes to city center
- Operating Hours
- 5:00 to 24:00 weekdays; 6:00-24:00 Saturdays; 7:00-24:00 Sundays
- Notes
- Budget-friendly but crowded during rush hours. Luggage can be challenging. Women-only cars available during peak hours.
Metrobus Line 4 (Express Bus)
- Cost
- MX$30
- Details
- Direct from Terminal 1 (Entrance 7) and Terminal 2 (Entrance 2)
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes, 04:30-00:00 (midnight)
- Journey Time
- 30-45 minutes to city center
- Notes
- Operates via San Lázaro Metro Station. Limited luggage space; crowded during peak hours. Prepaid Metrobus Card required.
Private Transfers
- Cost
- MX$1,200
- Type
- Pre-booked Private Car Services
- Notes
- More expensive but includes meet-and-greet, guaranteed availability, door-to-door service.
Airport
- Name
- Mexico City International Airport (Benito Juárez / MEX)
- Location
- Approximately 6-8 km (4-5 miles) east of downtown, Venustiano Carranza borough
- Terminals
- 2
- Travel Time To Center
- 20-30 minutes normal traffic; can reach 1 hour in peak traffic
Distance To City Center
- Miles
- 5
- Kilometers
- 8
Mexico City is the main intercity bus hub with four major bus terminals
Major Operators
Major Operators
- ADO (largest network, south/southeast focus)
- ETN (first/executive class, luxury coaches)
- Primera Plus (central Mexico)
- Grupo Estrella Blanca (north/west)
Service Classes
Second-class (budget), First-class, Executive, Deluxe available
Ground Transport Within Mexico City
Metro
- Card
- Integrated Mobility Card (MI), cost 15 MXN to purchase
- Fare
- MX$5.00
- Name
- Mexico City Metro (Sistema de Transportes Eléctricos)
- Scale
- 12 lines, 195 stations, 226+ kilometers
- Operating Hours
- 05:00-24:00 weekdays; 06:00-24:00 Saturdays; 07:00-24:00 Sundays
- Notes
- Extensive, affordable, efficient. Women-only cars during peak hours. Luggage restrictions during crowded times.
Metrobus
- Fare
- MX$7.00
- Name
- Metrobús (Bus Rapid Transit)
- Lines
- 7
- Notes
- Above-ground bus system with dedicated lanes and elevated platforms. Women's sections available.
Light Rail
- Fare
- MX$3.00
- Name
- Tren Ligero (Xochimilco Light Rail)
- Route
- Taxqueña Metro to Xochimilco
- Journey Time
- 30-40 minutes
- Notes
- Above-ground, slower than metro. Popular for reaching canals and Xochimilco UNESCO site.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this getting there & away research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Mexico City
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.