I am planning a trip to Mexico City. I have been told that it's pretty bad, crime wise.?

Question

I speak Spanish, but have never been there. Should I not take my camera? If i do, will I be safe to take fotos at my points of interest (pyramids, basilica) and not on the streets? Please give me some advice in general.

Answer 1

This is a frequent question and gets a variety of answers.  One thing I noticed in one of the answer is about the polution...it is actually FAR less than a few years ago and skies are usually clear.  anyway...here is a quote from an answerer a few weeks ago...I saved it since it is so positive and gives a good balance to other answers.

" I just visited Mexico City about a month ago...and I absolutely loved it to death...I didn't feel in danger at any moment..

There were 2 police guards on every block corner and basically just ALOT of police all over the city...

People also overrate about dangers with taxi/metro crimes...The only thing i'd suggest about taxi's is do not take the buggy cabs because they only have 1 passenger door, but the rest are mostly fine..Metro is fantastic, do not listen to what people say about not going on the metro..it is the main way of transportation around the city besides car, tons of people use it...I was going on the metro at 10 at night with no problems at all, metro was packed at that time too...only time i'd say it's not a good idea to go on metro is if there was almost no one on it but it's packed almost always...The public transportation in the city is fabulous, Microbus, metrobus, metro, taxi..so many things and they're all great.. " Use your common sense and have a great trip.

Answer 2

when i was in mexico city i stayed in the city areas or places with lots of police [cus they are ALL OVER] and it was okay, and all around the tour attractions were really safe

Answer 3

I can think of other places I'd rather go, but take  cheap disposable film cameras.  Don't be flashy and show that you might have cash.  Dress down, if you know what I mean.   Stay in main tourist areas where there are crowds.  Don't go wandering off into the neighborhoods.

Answer 4

A) If you are careful and use your common sense it will be OK. Just do not get in to conflictive poor parts of the city(colonias) nor be flashy (goods and appeareance).

B) ATMs: avoid using those at streets specially during night and/or at isolated places.

C) Transportation:

C.1) General Public trasportation (metro, metrobus, etc). It is generally safe, there are even women-only routes

C.2) Taxis: Do not miss: http://www.mexicocity.com.mx/taxis2.html is an objective source of information.

My own choice:

http://www.solunet-infomex.com/mexbdir/c...

Price from Polanco to Santa fe about 100 pesos or 10 CAD or 10 USD.

Mexico city drivers' are usually unpolite, agressive and don't consider pedestrians as humans, so be extremely careful at crossing streets and avenues. Frantic cars and lorries circulate all day and night and traffic jams make drivers even more anxious. Speed is usually override and a red lights don't mean that a car will stop.

As a tourist you should ask for a special drivers licence if you dare to drive.

If you use public transport consider this:

Underground is efficent, safe, fast, cheap and clean. Runs from 6.00 AM to Midnight. Unlimitted distance fare.

Trolley cars are neat, cheap and efficient but there are only few routes. Fixed price.

Coaches are less confortable but they have even a lower rate.

A curious mean of transport are the so called microbuses. Their design is pretty uneven, usually unconfortable but practical, since they cover any possible destination.

There is a fixed rate in taxis but sometimes you have to deal a reasonable payment. Giving a tip is a good idea because rates are still low.

Radio taxi service charge double fee but are very secure.

Some other radio taxi telephones:

Entire city: 5516 60 20, 5519 76 90, 56 48 28 28

South area: Cuicuilco 56 74 61 20, Tlalpan 5573 6857, Las Águilas 5680 3930

North area: Polanco 52 82 18 83, Palmas 52 82 46 98, Lomas Verdes 53 44 41 99

D) More general safety information:

Mexico City is as any otherr major city in the world when it comes to security and safety issues, the must important rule is: use your common sense. Avoid poor conflictive neighborhoods and/or walking alone in the street by night.

Look at:

http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p...

E) Assitance:

Canadian Embassy

Apartado Postal 105-05, Calle Schiller 529 (Rincon del Bosque), Colonia Polanco, 11580 México DF, Mexico

Tel: [phone]. Fax: [phone] (administration) or 724 7983 (immigration).

Consulates in: Acapulco, Cancún, Guadalajara, Mazatlán, Monterrey, Oaxaca, Puerto Vallarta and Tijuana.

F) Bonus! Travel information:

http://www.visitmexico.com/wb/Visitmexic...

http://www.mexicocity.gob.mx/index.php?i...

http://www.mexicocity.com.mx/indexen.htm...

Finally, to get more information, you may call toll free to: 1 888 401 38 80

That is the Mexican Tourism Integral Services Center (Government Agency) , they will serve you in English or in French.

'Mexico City has been and continues to be Mexico’s very heart as well as the historical and cultural capital of the Americas. Since its foundation by the Aztecs in 1325 its has been a meeting place for diverse cultures.

Mexico City is one of the largest and most dynamic cities on the planet; a conglomeration of legendary as well as modern cultural-origin myths; and it seduces and fascinates all who experience and enjoy it.

The city conserves both pre-Hispanic constructions, witnesses to the richness of the cultures that originally emerged in the Valley of Mexico, as well the architecture of Mexico’s enigmatic colonial period. Hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, museums, galleries and entertainment facilities also abound.

You’ll find useful information and tools on this site that will let you enjoy, discover and experience Mexico City, the “capital on the move.”'

Answer 5

I live here right now and you do have to be careful, just as if you were to visit new york or Los Angeles. But it's not as bad as other people have said. I suggest for you to visit thisngs during the day. Zona Rosa is fun to go go clubbing at night  and there are alot of police and surprisingly chinese people LOL.

Answer 6

yes crime is very bad in Mexico city and pollution is the worst in the world!! never keep your wallet in your back pocket, always put it in your front pocket, don't wear anything of worth like a expensive watch or jewelery! I recommend you buy a cheap watch if you don't have one for the trip. I would not take a expensive camera but a regular digital should be OK! don't keep the camera out or hanging by it cord take some pictures and put it away (backpack) as long as you stay in busy well lit places you should be fine!! have fun BUT remember there are thief's hanging around looking at tourists looking for things of value!! so the less you have out for them to see the better!!

The best crime defense for any visitor in Mexico City is to avoid the use of "Libre" taxi cabs, poorly regulated and often criminally-linked taxis indicated by an "L" in the first place of the vehicle's registration number and license plate. "Sitio" taxis, indicated by the initial letter "S," are far safer and more reliable, and worth the added expense. Passengers who use "Libre" taxis are often robbed by two or three armed individuals who enter the taxi a few minutes into the trip, having been called or signaled by the driver. Also, "Libre" taxis are often connected to "express kidnappings" - abductions where the victim is turned around in a matter of hours for a small ransom or shuttled to a series of ATMs and forced to withdraw funds. Because 24-hour withdrawal limits are now the industry standard on ATM cards, express kidnapping victims are being held for 24­ to 48 hours to maximize withdrawal amounts. 24-hour radio taxi service is available at 5516-6020 to 34, 5571-9344, 5571-3600.

Answer 7

Patticha and Charlie are right. Mexico City is like any larger city in the world, use common sense and you will be OK.

Regarding cameras, I see no problem taking photos in the steet, I do it all the time. You will be amazed at the number of people carrying cameras, both pocket size and larger, even professional photographers with large equipment. Also, people is always taking photos with their state-of-the art cellphones, so you won't be the exception taking photos in the street.

Just be careful as you would be anywhere else. Personally, when I travel I always keep my mid-size camera in my purse, whenever I am not using it. Either in Europe, US or Mexico, common sense is a must.

Enjoy!

Answer 8

Do not go there unless you will have a guide that is from there. It is the most dangerous city in the world. Speaking Spanish is not going to keep the robbers away. They know what tourist look like. No doubt you will stand out. I've heard of stories from people being robbed walking out the airport. Only go with a guide.and have him pick you up in the airport. You do not want to get lost.

Answer 9

It's like any major city, and the chances of you as a foreign tourist getting kidnapped are very nill because kidnappers aren't stupid enough to get the USA involved in getting them caught and thrown to prision for the next 60 years.

Take your camera, I sometimes go walking around with my camera and take photos with no problems. You'll probably have a huge urge to take photos of the splurge of people running around in every direction like insane in the Hidalgo subway station anytday, anytime.

I warn you like others have already did about pickpockets. It can happen to you. I know tons of friends that got their cellphones stolen in the subway because they were careless. I've been on the subway thousands of times myself and I've never been mugged. I did have a guy kinda rubbing my rump though when the car was filled like we were packed sardines, but don't believe the stories that men are raping women left and right. If a man is ever stupid enough to even touch you very visibly, he can automatically go to prision for 6 years because it's a federal crime to sexually harass a woman in public transportation. The subway stations usually have cops walking around at rush hour just to let you know.

I feel pretty safe walking around in Mexico City and I'm a wimpy 5'0 90 pound white female to boot. Just shows that if you use street smarts you should be fine. Avoid walking alone in dar alleys at night, learn how to avoid getting into pirate taxis because there's a higher risk the driver could rape you (use a sitio taxi if possible because those are very safe). Buses can be dangerous, but it's mostly because they stuff em up with people like sardines with the sidedoors open most of the time and you could fall off. That actually happened to my dad once haha, but it's part of the charm of this city and I will indeed miss grabbing to the rail next to the open door of a crammed bus listening to hideous cumbia music at full volume the day I move out..

However, I use buses all the time and I've never had any major injuries. The worst that happened to me was that i hit the floor pretty hard when the bus stopped and I didn't catch a good hold of the rail. I didn't hurt myself that much though and people on the bus were kind enough to help me get back up.

If you visit Mexico City, I suggest you to ride a bus at rush hour just for the bragging experience at home. Try to spot the naco things a mexican bus can't go without like:

* Jesus stickers on window panels

* Calvin peeing stickers on window panels

* Stickers in spanish with religious phrases like "God is love"

* Cumbia or grupero music on the radio. You get extra points if the driver is listenting to a radio station called "La Zeta" or if the music is a pirated CD that's skipping tracks left and right.

* Sometimes bus drivers listen to english music. I bet you 5 pesos the 80's song "Sweet Dreams are Made of This" will be played sometime during your trip.

* A half empty coke bottle next to the driver seat.

* The bus has a copilot sitting in a revolutionary proof of mexican invention consiting of an old plastic paint bucket next to the driver's seat. It never fails when you get on one of those big buses.

* If the bus driver is smoking a cig while he's driving.

* If the bus driver stops in the middle of nowhere and chit chats with another bus driver. Extra points if they both decide to have a race.

* A dirty old shoe of a kid of the driver tied to the rail.

* A passenger has to get off the bus in the middle lane of a car infested street because the bus driver is too lazy to leave the person safely at the stop.

* Your chair has a huge hole in it (haha, poor b*****d)

* Some old lady gets on the bus with 5 huge bags filled with potato chips and sits right next to you blocking your way out.

* The bus is so filled with people you end up grabbing to the rail for dear life with the exit door wide open. Even better if it's raining cats and dogs outside haha.

* Someone yells the word "BAJAN" when they get off because they are too lazy to push the stop button.

Well, there's more, but if you can spot any of the above when and if you dare get on a mexican bus (and not the fancy tourist buses, I mean the real run-down ones us locals use everyday), you should have a lot of fun. The back seats of the really big buses are great because you fly 3 feet into the air from your seat every time the bus passes a speedbump. I always try to sit in back just for the fun of damaging my lower back pointlessly.

You should have a lot of fun indeed down here. There's museums and archeological sites a plenty and the food is great. I reccomend you to spend a good 30 minutes of your time going to the top of the Torre Latinoamericana which has binoculars. You will be able to get a view of how endlessly large the city is. The building is right in front of Bellas Artes, you can't miss it.

If you're planning to be here for quite a while, it isn't a bad idea to visit the Sanborns restaurant next to Bellas Artes for dinner. It's a famous old building with nice murals. Sanborns is a sort of restaurant-cafeteria chain that are all over Mexico but that one if the first. I personally reccomend las Enchiladas Sanborns with red sauce. They are a bit spicy, but very good.

Oh, go on the Turi-Bus. They take off in front of the building "Auditorio Nacional". The subway station named Auditiorio is right next to it if you plan on travelling by subway. The trip lasts about 2 hours sfaely showing you major downtown buildings with a guide speaking in english and it only costs 20 dollars.

Have fun! ;) If you ever need help and you're lost, most people are pretty polite. Buying a Guia Roji map isn't such a bad idea if you're more adventurous and want to simply wander around.

Oh, the building where the Basilica is pretty far north from downtown. Your best short to get there quickly is by subway. The line the Basilica is is the red line.

Answer 10

Mexico City has, like any other large metro area, its share of crime. It is fairly easy to avoid by using common sense. I've been there several times and never, ever had a problem. I think the biggest concern, especially in the tourist areas, are little kids who gather around and try to get their hands into your bags. They can get real grabby and cause a lot of chaos, which can distract you.

When you go out at night, stay in the populated areas. The Zona Rosa is an area of nightclubs and restaurants that's busy and well patroled. You don't want to venture off the beaten path.

Certainly take your camera. The pyramids and all the other sites are teeming with visitors from all over the world.

You want to take care not to set your camera down anywhere where it could be grabbed easily by a passer-by. Keep it in a front pocket, on a neck strap or a shoulder strap.

If you carry a backpack, don't put anything in the outside pockets that the kids can get at.

Change your money at the hotel or an exchange center. Carry small amounts of money. Don't flash money around or be obvious with rolls of U.S. currency.

Keep jewelry to a minimum. Leave gold chains, pricey watches, showing rings at home.

Ladies should wear shoulder bags across the body rather than on one shoulder. Never leave a purse hanging on the back of a chair in a restaurant.

Keep your wallet in a front pocket. Better yet, take an I.D., some cash and a credit card and keep that in your front pocket. Less is more.

There's nothing to be afraid of. Just keep your wits about you and use common sense and good judgment. You will love Mexico City. The people are gracious and accommodating. Your Spanish will thrill them to death, too!

Have fun!