Yes, Mexico City can be visited with care. The US State Department asks for increased caution across Mexico, and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) reports protests and robberies by unlicensed taxi drivers in the city.
At Safe to Go, we see travelers misread the national rating when evaluating a trip to Mexico City. The UK FCDO warnings against all but essential travel cover parts of states such as Michoacán, Guerrero and Zacatecas, and Mexico City is not on that list. The live panel above shows today’s national level from each government.
What Government Advisories Say About Mexico City
The US State Department advisory for Mexico asks for increased caution across the country because of terrorism, crime and kidnapping, and its summary does not name Mexico City. The US State Department also strongly advises US citizens to follow the same rules as US government employees, such as no travel between cities after dark and no waving down taxis on the street.
The UK FCDO travel advice for Mexico does not warn against visiting Mexico City, unlike all of Zacatecas and parts of Colima and Sinaloa. The UK FCDO says political demonstrations are common in Mexico City and that protests against gentrification have taken place in central and tourist areas since July 2025. The UK FCDO also warns about unlicensed taxi drivers and about ash from Popocatépetl disrupting flights. The Government of Canada advisory for Mexico asks for a high degree of caution nationally, with regional advisories.
The US State Department notes that conditions in Mexico can vary widely from state to state and even within a state, so the national level on the live panel above says little about one city on its own.
Comparing Mexico City to High-Risk States
Mexico City is not on the UK FCDO list of areas to avoid. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advises against all but essential travel to entire states such as Zacatecas, Colima (except Manzanillo accessed by sea or air), and large sections of Michoacán, Guerrero, and Sinaloa.
Day trips need a check of the state you are heading to. The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Michoacán, except Morelia and Pátzcuaro reached by the named toll roads, and to the parts of Guanajuato south-west of road 45D. In the north, the UK FCDO warnings cover large parts of Tamaulipas and Chihuahua and the cities of Tijuana and Tecate in Baja California.
If you stay in Mexico City, none of those UK FCDO area warnings apply to you. To compare cities, see is Guadalajara safe? and is Cancún safe?.
Street Crime and Protests in Mexico City
The UK FCDO says crime is a risk to foreign nationals in Mexico, particularly in major cities and tourist resort areas, where street crime is a serious issue. Pickpocketing and theft are common, including on public transport, and the UK FCDO says to watch your luggage even in a hotel lobby. Criminals have also targeted people using cash machines or exchange offices, and it is generally safer to use them during daylight hours inside shops or malls.
Political demonstrations are common in Mexico City, and since July 2025 there have been protests against gentrification in central and tourist areas. Demonstrations can be tense, confrontational and potentially violent, and onlookers can be quickly drawn in. It is illegal for foreign nationals to take part in political activities in Mexico, and if you join a demonstration, the authorities may detain and deport you.
Tainted alcohol and drinks containing methanol have caused serious illness, blackouts, and deaths in Mexico. Thieves also spike food and beverages in restaurants and bars to rob or assault patrons. Travelers should never leave drinks unattended and should prepare for common extortion scams where callers falsely claim a relative is detained or kidnapped.
- Avoid wearing visible jewellery, expensive clothing, or luxury watches in public.
- Carry only limited amounts of cash and use indoor ATMs during daylight hours.
- Step away immediately from political crowds or anti-gentrification protests in central districts.
- Hang up immediately on phone calls demanding ransoms for allegedly detained family members.
Getting Around Mexico City by Taxi and Car
Unlicensed taxi drivers have robbed and assaulted passengers, including in Mexico City, the UK FCDO says. Use the better regulated ‘sitio’ taxis from authorised taxi ranks, or ask your hotel to order you a taxi. The US State Department tells its own staff not to wave down taxis on the street and to use regulated taxi stands or apps such as Uber or Cabify.
At the airport, use only authorised pre-paid airport taxi services. Additionally, volcanic ash from Popocatépetl has previously disrupted air travel and caused flight cancellations at Benito Juárez International Airport.
The city operates the ‘Hoy no Circula’ program, banning specific cars from entering parts of Mexico City on particular weekdays based on license plate numbers. Vehicles without registration plates from Mexico City or the State of Mexico face extra limits on entering Mexico City. Travelers driving rental cars have also been targeted by criminals posing as police officers, while genuine officers have occasionally extorted tourists for alleged traffic infractions.
- Do not travel between cities after dark, a rule the US State Department sets for its own staff.
- If stopped by genuine police for an infraction, do not hand over cash or your passport; request a formal written citation payable later.
- Check local ‘Hoy no Circula’ rules before driving any vehicle without regional registration plates.
Emergency Numbers and Earthquake Alerts in Mexico City
The Mexico City Command and Control Centre has information and advice on safety in Mexico City in Spanish. For administrative support, local ordinances, or social services, travelers can dial LOCATEL on 5658 1111, which provides English-speaking customer assistance.
The 911 CDMX app for iOS or Android can warn you 60 seconds before earthquake movement starts in Mexico City. The app works only with local phone numbers and cannot warn you about every type of earthquake.
A criminal investigation cannot occur without a formal complaint submitted in person to the state prosecutor’s office (Agencia del Ministerio Público). Ensure you file this complaint immediately at the nearest branch.
How to Check Whether Mexico City Is Safe Right Now
The live panel above shows today’s level from each government, and the UK FCDO advises monitoring local media and avoiding all demonstrations. Before finalizing reservations, check our central guide on Is Mexico safe? and visit our monitoring hub for latest advisory changes to see if national ratings have shifted. Travelers heading to coastal getaways can also view Is Cabo San Lucas safe? or read Is Puerto Vallarta safe? for beach resort comparisons.
If you plan to drive yourself between cities, or to reach Michoacán or Guerrero by road, plan more carefully, because those trips can fall under the UK FCDO warnings or the US rule against travel between cities after dark. Our verdict would change if any of the three governments advised against travel to Mexico City itself. Tell trusted contacts your travel plans, and download the free travel safety checklist before you pack.