Capital city, Mexico
Is Mexico City safe?
Fine in the main visitor neighborhoods by day and with app rides at night.
Is Mexico City safe?
Fine in the main visitor neighborhoods by day and with app rides at night. Pickpocketing, phone snatching and taxi robberies are the usual problems; some boroughs are best avoided.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 3/5, take real precautions.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2025-08-11.
- Homicide rate in Mexico: 24.9 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Mexico: 12.8 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · Tourist police 078 · All emergencies 911.
Safety in Mexico City at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Crime | Phone snatching and pickpocketing on the Metro and in crowded markets, robbery from street-hailed taxis, and drink spiking in some bars and apps-arranged dates. |
| At night | Roma, Condesa and Polanco stay busy and are fine on foot until late. Use Uber or DiDi at night and never hail taxis in the street. |
| Solo women | Many women travel here solo. Catcalling is common; the Metro has women-only cars. Use app rides at night and watch drinks. |
| Other risks | Earthquakes; know the SASMEX alert and exits; Altitude 2,240 m: headaches and poor sleep first days; Flooded streets in summer storms |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Street-hailed taxis driving to ATMs or robbing passengers; use apps
- Fake police asking to inspect your wallet or passport
- Spiked drinks and inflated bills at bars in Centro and Zona Rosa
- Dating-app meetups ending in drugging and theft
Take care
- Tepito, Doctores and Iztapalapa: robbery risk, little reason to visit
- Centro Histórico after dark: empty streets and phone snatching
- Metro at rush hour: pickpockets and groping
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Carrying any firearm or even a single bullet can mean prison.
- Vapes and e-cigarettes are banned and can be confiscated.
- Drinking in the street is illegal in most cities and brings fines or arrest.
How Mexico City compares in Mexico
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Mérida | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| San Miguel de Allende | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Cozumel | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Isla Mujeres | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Holbox | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bacalar | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Guanajuato | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Monterrey | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Valladolid | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| La Paz | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Puebla | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Querétaro | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Puerto Morelos | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Mazunte | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Todos Santos | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Ajijic | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Mexico City | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Cancún | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Tulum | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Playa del Carmen | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Puerto Vallarta | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Cabo San Lucas | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Oaxaca | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Guadalajara | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Puerto Escondido | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Sayulita | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| San Cristóbal de las Casas | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Mazatlán | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Tijuana | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Acapulco | 2/5 · High risk |
Quick answers
Is Mexico City safe for solo female travelers?
Many women travel here solo. Catcalling is common; the Metro has women-only cars. Use app rides at night and watch drinks.
Is Mexico City safe at night?
Roma, Condesa and Polanco stay busy and are fine on foot until late. Use Uber or DiDi at night and never hail taxis in the street.
What is the crime rate in Mexico City?
Phone snatching and pickpocketing on the Metro and in crowded markets, robbery from street-hailed taxis, and drink spiking in some bars and apps-arranged dates. Nationally, Mexico records 24.9 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Mexico City?
Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · Tourist police 078 · All emergencies 911.
More about Mexico City
Going to Mexico City solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Metro CDMX
- Mexico City International Airport (AICM)
- Ecobici
- Sistema de Monitoreo Atmosférico CDMX
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.