Mexico City Airport to Mexico City Centre

What to expect when visiting Mexico City

Mexico City is a destination that will keep any type of traveller entertained for days on end. Interesting history, rich culture, endless shopping and vibrant nightlife are just a few of the many things Mexico City has to offer.

A fun fact, with over 150 museums, Mexico City has the highest number of museums in the world. When you’re museumed-out, there are plenty of other things to do in Mexico City. Visit the Metropolitan Cathedral, explore Frida Kahlo’s house, or take a boat trip along the canals of Xochimilco.

3 ways to get from Mexico City Airport to Mexico City Centre

Travelling light? The Metro is the cheapest way to get from Mexico City International Airport to the city centre. But there are two things to note to know whether taking the Metro is for you:

• Bulky luggage is not allowed in the Metro.
• There is no direct Metro line going to the city centre. Depending on where you’re heading, you may have to make a few transfers.

If you don’t mind any of these restrictions, let’s get to the more detailed guide!

The nearest Metro station to Mexico City Airport is Terminal Area Station (Line 5). This train station is just a 7-minute walk from Terminal 1. Head to the exit gates. Once you’re outside of Terminal 1, turn left and follow the signs to the Metro.

If you’re coming from Terminal 2, you’ll first have to take the Aerotren to get to Terminal 1.

Now on to the train transfers. Metro Line 5 (yellow lane) can only take you up to Pantitlan. From here, the most common route for tourists is to transfer to Line 1 (pink lane). If you’re heading to the main square, get off at Pino Suarez Station and then transfer to Line 2 (blue lane). The next stop is already Zocalo. It’s best to know the train station nearest to your hotel before setting off!

The Metro operates from 05:00 to midnight on weekdays. On weekends, it opens a bit later — 06:00 on Saturdays and 07:00 on Sundays and holidays. You can buy your tickets at the vending machines in the Metro station. A ticket costs 5 MXN ($0.30). Travel time with the Metro from Mexico City Airport to the centre is around 50 minutes.

Use the Metro if your hotel is outside the city centre

While the Metrobus uses its own lane on the road, the Metro is an underground rail, which is faster to cover long distances.

Both the Metro and the Metrobus have maps to check your location, but we recommend using apps like Moovit or Google Maps. These apps can be very helpful when planning your route and switching metro lines or finding the nearest stop to your accommodation.

Alongside showing you suggested routes, Moovit is a dedicated transport app that also allows you to explore bus lines and stations, allowing you to look for alternative routes on your own.

Moovit also notifies when bus lines are not operating or when schedules change, so this can be a better tool than Google Maps as long as you have a local data plan on your phone.

If you’re heading to the city centre, the easiest and most direct option is to take Line #4 of the Metrobus. You’ll find the Metrobus stops right outside of both airport passenger terminals:

• Gate 7 on Terminal 1
• Gate 2 on Terminal 2

The Metrobus runs every day from 05:00 to 00:00 and the rate is just 30 MXN ($1.80) for a single ticket from Mexico City Airport to the centre. You can buy your tickets at the ticket machine at the bus stop.

After around 45 minutes on the Metrobus, you’ll reach Republica de Argentina, the closest stop to the main square called Zocalo. It’s best to research beforehand which bus stop is the nearest to your hotel to avoid any inconvenience.

Other stops within the city centre are Republica de Chile, Teatro Blanquita, and Bellas Artes.

The most convenient way to get from Benito Juárez International Airport to the city centre is to take a taxi, but it’s also the most expensive.

You’ll need to prepay for your taxi at one of the counters inside the airport. The rate will depend on the distance to your destination, but it usually starts from 300 MXN ($18).

If you have internet access, a more affordable option is to use Uber. A ride to the city centre costs around 200 MXN ($12).

For both the taxi and Uber, the time to reach the city centre is around 25 minutes.

Shared Minivan for solo travellers heading outside the city centre

We don’t really recommend using the shared minivan to get from Mexico City International Airport to the centre because the rate is about the same as a taxi or Uber. You won’t be saving much money and will likely spend more time if they drop off other passengers before you.

However, shared minivans can be a good option if you are travelling alone and staying in other areas located further away from the airport like Condesa, Polanco or Coyoacan. You will avoid the hassle of switching lines on the Metro or Metrobus and will be dropped off directly at your accommodation at a lower rate than a taxi.

Also, if you are arriving late in the evening, shared minivans are a safer option than public transport.

Shared minivans are available 24/7 and depart every hour. You can book this service on BookAway with rates starting from 180 MXN ($10.80) to the city centre and from 315 MXN ($18.90) to other areas. Travel time is 30 to 50 minutes depending on where your hotel is located.