Is Mexico City Safe for Solo Travel?

Is Mexico City safe for solo travel ~ or really just travel, period?  That’s the question we’ll answer here, & it was certainly one that crossed my mind as I set out for a solo adventure in Mexico City this past June.  But the more I read other blogs & various travel guides: the more excited I got.  One blog put it very succinctly, & I found this to be 100% true: when asked where you could safely walk in Mexico City, the blog said: “Everywhere.”  Though I certainly didn’t walk every street in Mexico City (this city is MASSIVE!!), I did walk 5-10 miles each day ~ mainly through Roma, Condesa, Zona Rosa, the Zocalo, & upscale Polanco. 

And I didn’t feel unsafe anywhere. 

And there’s great food…everywhere.  Which we’ll dig into as we explore Mexico City in this post…

Palacio de Bellas Artes is just one stunning example of Mexico City architecture ~ a city where I felt much safer than expected.

Map of Mexico City

Is Mexico City Safe for Solo Travel?

The primary neighborhoods I spent time in were Zona Rosa (where my hotels were), Polanco, the Zocalo/Historical Center, Roma, & Condesa.  I had NO issues walking in any of these neighborhoods, even when I found myself getting off-the-beaten-path.  Mexico City is HUGE ~ but these neighborhoods are all close to the heart of the city, & relatively close to the International Airport.

Condesa is one of the most popular neighborhoods to stay in: it’s filled with leafy boulevards, graceful mansions, & colorful cafes ~ with a safe, neighborhood feel.

Observations I made while walking through Mexico City: 

• The ease with which you can grab (an extremely cheap) Uber is ASTOUNDING!!!  The longest I ever waited was about 4 minutes ~ but the average wait time was about 1-2 minutes.  Uber’s are literally everywhere in Mexico City, so if you ever feel like you’re in a sketchy situation or neighborhood: just call an Uber ASAP! 
• It’s safer to take an Uber in Mexico City than a cab, as your ride is tracked by the app, & you can literally share your driver’s information with a friend.  One thing I always do when taking an Uber: I memorize the first 3 numbers of the license plate, so I know I’m getting in the correct car ~ & I verify it with the app & the driver before entering the car.
• I picked up an Uber at Benito Juarez International Airport & it arrived in less than 2 minutes, at a cost of $7 US for a 45-minute ride (to the Room Mate Valentina Hotel in Zona Rosa). 
• Though I walked an average of 5-10 miles each day for a week in Mexico City, I NEVER got cat-called.  Not ONCE.  Not even by construction workers!  As a blonde traveling alone in Mexico, this is almost unheard of, & it allowed me to enjoy the city that much more. 
• Women in Mexico City typically wear pants or long skirts, & very rarely show their legs (though the younger generation is starting to change this) ~ no matter how warm it is.  If you prefer to blend in with locals: leave your shorts at home.  Stick to long skirts & pants. 
• I wore a cross-body, anti-theft purse (as I do in most big cities), & felt completely at ease with it walking the city.  No pick-pocket attempts!  Also: nearly everyone in Mexico City had their cell phones out ~ so I didn’t feel too worried using mine to take photos, etc.
• The architecture in Mexico City is astounding ~ you’ll find gorgeous statues & buildings along main avenues as well as in its many parks.  You’ll also find armed police officers at nearly every major intersection, in front of ALL major tourist sights & important buildings, & in front of nearly all nice hotels.  This added to my overall sense of safety while in Mexico City, & I often found myself asking them for directions.  They were helpful & spoke English, which was a bonus!  
• No matter where I walked in Mexico City, the streets were filled with people, & I found this added greatly to my overall sense of safety.  Most were dressed in business attire, & seemed to be busy getting wherever they were going ~ but you definitely got the sense of having “safety in numbers” in Mexico City.

Safest Areas to Stay in Mexico City

As far as where to stay in Mexico City, I suggest honing in on five neighborhoods: Roma, Condesa, Zona Rosa, Polanco, & the Zocalo/Historical Center.  Of those, Roma & Condesa are the most trendy & current right now, with lots of hip restaurants, wine bars, & cafes.  Condesa felt like the quietest neighborhood to me, with nice avenues for strolling & old mansions that have been beautifully restored. 

Boutique hotels are the name of the game in Condesa, & a great option is Maria Condesa Boutique Hotel ($170+/night). 

Condesa & Roma

Plaza Rio de Janeiro is a beautiful park in Roma, surrounded by bistros, wine bars, & chic restaurants. 

Casa Goliana is a quiet, elegant choice for a stay in the hip Roma neighborhood.

Great Modern Stay in the Roma Neighborhood: Casa Goliana La Roma ($225+/night). 

Upscale Polanco

Polanco is like the “Beverly Hills” of Mexico City, with a killer restaurant row (make sure you dress up)!  You’ll also find great shopping & plenty of upscale hotels…like the JW Marriott ($429+/night), the W Hotel Mexico City ($315+/night), & a more fun, boutique-y choice: The Wild Oscar ($245+/night). 

Plus, the beauty of Polanco is that you’re within walking distance of Chapultepec Park, the “Central Park” of Mexico City. 

The Wild Oscar Hotel in upscale Polanco gives you more quirk & character than the larger, chain hotels ~ at about 1/2 the price.

One of the best parts of Polanco is that it parallels the “Central Park” of Mexico City: Chapultepec Park. Every time I visited, the park was filled with runners, families, smooching couples, tourists….you get the idea. You won’t be alone here!

Zona Rosa

Zona Rosa is where I stayed, at the delightful Room Mate Valentina Hotel ($58+/night).  This neighborhood has a more urban, slightly less upscale feel than others mentioned.  It’s also home to the gay district (which I didn’t realize when I booked my hotel).  But frankly, as a solo female traveler, I found it wildly refreshing to stay in this part of town….because no one paid any attention to me!  Zona Rosa is in a great, central location, & I was able to walk to both Chapultepec Park & the Zocalo along beautiful Paseo de la Reforma. 

Some of the city’s most high-end hotels are located here, right next to Chapultepec Park, such as the St. Regis Mexico City ($469+/night) & the Four Seasons Mexico City ($225+/night)….which happens to be where Taylor Swift stays when she’s in town!

There are plenty of restaurants in Zona Rosa: but better ones can be found in Polanco & Roma Norte. 

My HUGE room at the darling, safe, & reasonably-priced hotel: Roommate Valentina, in Zona Rosa.

One of the best things about Zona Rosa is its location by the magnificent statues of Paseo de la Reforma. Like the Angel of Independence, & this one ~ of Diana the Huntress.

Zocalo/Historical Center

Finally, you can choose to stay right in the Historical Center of town, where the most beautiful architecture is found.  I also found the most tourists here.  And the downside is: though the streets are very busy during the day ~ it’s much quieter at night, with less exciting restaurant & nightlife options than other neighborhoods. 

BUT: if you’re looking to soak up the history of the city, & nightlife isn’t of concern to you ~ then try staying at the Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico ($117+/night), with its amazing location overlooking the Zocalo.

You’ll get views like this when you stay at Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico, of the magnificent Zocalo ~ one of the most significant buildings in Aztec culture.

Is Mexico City Safe for Solo Travel?

I hope I’ve helped to put your mind to rest before your trip.  The book that helped me most during my research was the “Top 10 Guide to Mexico City” ~ it answered all my questions & gave great run-downs of hotels & attractions, while being lightweight enough to pack.  It’s a great resource, especially for first-timers to the city.   

xoxo Noelia

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