TRANSPORTATION IN CDMX

Transportation is multifaceted. There are airports, expressways, metro (subway), trolleybus, express Metrobús bus with dedicated lanes, bus, collective “pesero” shared vans with fixed routes, shuttles (such as the airport shuttle busses), rank-attached and “gypsy” taxis, Uber, etc.

The main airport is MEX, Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juarez / Aeropuerto International de la Ciudad de México (AICM). Most international flights and many domestic flights arrive and depart here. It is well connected to the city center by Metrobús, shared vans, taxis, intercity bus, metro.

For more information, see MEX - Mexico City International Airport / AICM master thread

TLC / Aeropuerto Internacional Licenciado Adolfo López Mateos is West of CDMX and much farther, near Toluca; is served mostly by low cost carrier Interjet. Connections to the city are bus and Taxi. However, “in 2019” there will be a shuttlebus connecting TLC to the Interurban Train Mexico City–Toluca, the commuter rail line that will connect the cities of Toluca and Mexico City (connecting to CDMX public transport at Observatorio station, and connection to public transport.

An excellent intercity bus system serves CDMX and the major cities throughout the nation. Some intercity buses leave AICM - see Bus travel in Mexico, the definitive thread.

NOTE: Rush hour / hora pico (7am-10am and 6pm-9pm, and when it rains) can be brutal for both metro and traffic congestion - there are times walking down PaseoRefirma might be faster than being driven. And major motor routes out of town are a disaster Friday afternoons and return Sunday afternoons, particularly to Cuernavaca and Valle de Bravo.


TAXI and APP CABS

Taxi dangers have abated somewhat since the 2010s, but NEVER use unlicensed taxis (some cruise the streets, others near the airport). There are still reports of “Express kidnapping” and other dangers, particularly at night. One early sign of such an event is being picked up and having the driver pick up a “friend” a block of two from where you were picked up, and proceeding toward less trafficked streets.

Street taxis: If you know the City and speak reasonable Spanish, the Taxi displays white plates beginning in a Capital letter and five numbers and the driver has a visible laminated, holographic photo taxi license card on display. Assure the meter is turned on when the Trip starts, or if unmetered you agree on the price before you get in. I’d probably use a sitio Taxi if I had valuables / a laptop etc. with me. No tips expected.

“Sitio” taxis: Taxi ranks (sitios) are often near major hotels, some attractions or neighborhood centers. If you’re visiting a home, restaurant, etc. ask them to call you a sitio (or radio) taxi they’re familiar with. No tips expected, rounding up to the nearest ten pesos is fine.

App Cabs: After years of being opposed, Uber and Cabify are legal in CDMX. My family and friends in CDMX use them quite a bit. No tips expected, as above, but if you’re foreign they might give you that expectant look.


METRO - METROBÚS - LIGHT RAIL - TROLLEY BUS SHARED FARES

Fares for these systems are paid via a prepaid fare card, or stored-value card, called Tarjeta Ciudad de México (literally Mexico City Card) as a payment method for STC Metro, Metrobús and the city's trolleybus and light rail systems, though they are all managed by different organizations. These can be purchased and topped up from machines at stations.


METRO de la CDMX / Sistema de Transporte Colectivo / STC / SUBWAY

The metro is efficient, but it can get very crowded at certain times such as rush hour. On some lines there may be cars set aside for women, due to harassment and petty thievery. “The Mexico City Metro offers in and out-street transfers to three major rapid transit systems: the Mexico City Metrobús bus rapid transit system, the Mexico City light rail system and the Ferrocarril Suburbano (FSZMVM) commuter rail. None of these is part of the Sistema de Transporte Colectivo network and an extra fare must be paid for access.” - Wikipedia Paperbtivkets are also sold at metro stations.

Link to best resource guide, Lauren’s Beginners Guide to the CDMX Metro (updated 29th April 2018)

Link to Metro website (Castilian Spanish, lame and useless site concentrating in PR rather than useful information)

Link to Wikipedia STC article



METROBÚS

The next map shows the Metrobús Lines, including the orange #4 Airport Metrobús line.

The Metrobús lines are numbered and colored, the red line between Indios Verdes abpnd La Caminera is operated by suburban / light rail.

Metrobús fares are payable by the Tarjeta de Ciudad, or by the rechargeable MB / Metrobús Card, which you can buy from fare machines at each Metrobús station.

A fare on Sistema Metrobús is $6.00 pesos m.n., and the fare on the orange #4 line to or from the airport terminals 1 and 2 is $30.00 pesos m.n.

Transfers between Linea 1, Línea 2, Línea 3, Línea 4, Línea 5 y Línea 6 are free as long as they occur within two hours from the start of your trip.

Link