Solo Travel in Mexico City
July 12, 2018 7:06 AM Subscribe
I'm a woman traveling solo to Mexico next month, and am debating whether I want to stop for ~5 days in Mexico City. Do you think it will be safe and reasonably carefree? Any recommendations on where to stay or where to go (and where not to)? I am an experienced traveler, but I do not speak Spanish and have never been to Mexico before.
I have seen the previous questions, but since the political situation here in the US is constantly evolving (especially regarding the Mexico-US border), I figured I'd ask again. Also, this is specifically regarding solo female travel.
My employer has gifted me a week-long stay at a resort in Cabo, and the Mexico City trip would be tacked on to the first few days of the vacation. So I would be flying into Mexico City on/around Saturday, August 11th, and flying out to Cabo on Thursday, August 16th. The other options are to fly directly to Cabo on the 16th (from home, which is DC) or to fly out to another city in the American Southwest to vacation there before going to Cabo.
I like history and culture and am a city person, and have also heard great things about Mexico City in general -- it looks like a wonderful place to visit. However, my mother is freaking out about the idea of me going there as a tourist alone, and others have echoed her worries. I'm trying to get insight into what the trip (and its benefits/risks) would actually be like.
Also, any recommendations on sightseeing, transportation, eating, and hotels for if/when I am there would be fantastic, too!
Thanks!
I have seen the previous questions, but since the political situation here in the US is constantly evolving (especially regarding the Mexico-US border), I figured I'd ask again. Also, this is specifically regarding solo female travel.
My employer has gifted me a week-long stay at a resort in Cabo, and the Mexico City trip would be tacked on to the first few days of the vacation. So I would be flying into Mexico City on/around Saturday, August 11th, and flying out to Cabo on Thursday, August 16th. The other options are to fly directly to Cabo on the 16th (from home, which is DC) or to fly out to another city in the American Southwest to vacation there before going to Cabo.
I like history and culture and am a city person, and have also heard great things about Mexico City in general -- it looks like a wonderful place to visit. However, my mother is freaking out about the idea of me going there as a tourist alone, and others have echoed her worries. I'm trying to get insight into what the trip (and its benefits/risks) would actually be like.
Also, any recommendations on sightseeing, transportation, eating, and hotels for if/when I am there would be fantastic, too!
Thanks!
Best answer: I travelled there as a woman (35) alone this past spring. Given, I do have a friend that lives there, but I spent most of my days alone other than meeting my friend for dinner. I stayed in a beautiful Airbnb in Roma Norte, which is very safe, centrally located, walkable to lots of great things. I would also have felt comfortable in Condesa or Polanco. I mostly got around by uber if I was going across town, which was very cheap and very safe. My Spanish isn't great, but I can do the basics like ordering from a menu, etc, but I find that it's like any other place where you don't know the language--do what you can and the friendly people will help you out. I live in New York, which is very safe, but this felt even safer (and also so clean! The streets are immaculate).
In other words, absolutely go for it. It was lovely. Happy to give you all the details and any recommendations--I created a huge and glorious google map with all the crowd-sourced ideas and would also recommend the Airbnb I stayed in as well--feel free to MeMail me!
posted by greta simone at 7:22 AM on July 12, 2018 [10 favorites]
In other words, absolutely go for it. It was lovely. Happy to give you all the details and any recommendations--I created a huge and glorious google map with all the crowd-sourced ideas and would also recommend the Airbnb I stayed in as well--feel free to MeMail me!
posted by greta simone at 7:22 AM on July 12, 2018 [10 favorites]
Best answer: It’s been a few years, but I had a lovely time in Mexico City as a solo female traveler and can’t wait to go back. If you love cities, it’s a must-visit.
Tip: go to the Alameda Central in the early evening. It’s a beautiful park, full of fountains, and will be full of families, couples, groups of friends, enjoying the evening and the fountains. Wonderful people-watching and is an amazing counterpoint to all the bad press Mexico gets in the US.
posted by lunasol at 7:32 AM on July 12, 2018
Tip: go to the Alameda Central in the early evening. It’s a beautiful park, full of fountains, and will be full of families, couples, groups of friends, enjoying the evening and the fountains. Wonderful people-watching and is an amazing counterpoint to all the bad press Mexico gets in the US.
posted by lunasol at 7:32 AM on July 12, 2018
Best answer: I've done this and can confirm, very safe, fantastic city, absolutely go. I was there for a month a few years ago as a solo lady (very white, very blonde) traveler and walked everywhere, through crowded markets and subways, through all kinds of neighborhoods, and had a great time. I was in Condesa, which I loved.
I did got some comments/sexual harassment on the street, but not more than many cities in US and Europe, and I did get groped once in the subway -- do take the women-only cars if you take the subway. But I still 1000% recommend Mexico City. Eat lots of street food it is the best!
posted by LeeLanded at 8:15 AM on July 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
I did got some comments/sexual harassment on the street, but not more than many cities in US and Europe, and I did get groped once in the subway -- do take the women-only cars if you take the subway. But I still 1000% recommend Mexico City. Eat lots of street food it is the best!
posted by LeeLanded at 8:15 AM on July 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I spent 3 weeks in Mexico City last autumn as a solo female traveler with very basic Spanish. I took public transportation and walked everywhere with the occasion taxi. I never felt unsafe, and I had a wonderful time. So many museums! And parks! And food!
posted by Pineapplicious at 8:22 AM on July 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Pineapplicious at 8:22 AM on July 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I went to Mexico City this winter with my sister and brother-in-law so I can't comment on what it's like as a female solo traveller, but my general sense from my experience there is that it's very safe and friendly. For what it's worth, my sister and I were a twosome for some of our touring and were never harassed. We had a wonderful time staying in an AirBnB in Condesa, and spent a lot of time in Roma Norte as well. We primarily relied on Uber as the subway seemed a little overwhelming. I highly recommend the food tour of the La Merced market (basically impossible to navigate without a guide but totally intriguing), the anthropology museum, the Frida Kahlo house, and the quirky Museo del Objecto. For an amazing meal go to Contra Mar for lunch. We almost skipped Teotihuacan because it seemed like getting there was a pain, but it was absolutely magnificent and totally worth it. We took an Uber there and caught a taxi on the way back. I hope you go and have a fabulous time!
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 8:48 AM on July 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 8:48 AM on July 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Disclaimer: I was there this year during Easter week, and that probably affected my experiences...
I went for a work trip and had a few days with colleagues, before I spent the final few days on my own. I wasn't as comfortable traveling by myself as I thought I would be, especially at night.
I was told that oh, it's pretty easy to get by with just English. I ended up having to use my high school level Spanish a lot more than I was expecting (even at upscale hotels catering towards U.S. tourists). The U.S. is not terribly popular in Mexico (I imagine this sentiment is even worse now than it was this spring), so I didn't find that people were willing to give me the benefit of the doubt.
I regret not springing for a larger international data plan, so that I could use Uber.
The museum of anthropology was fantastic.
Overall, I'm glad I went, but it was a much more difficult trip than I had anticipated. I did enjoy myself more when I was with colleagues.
posted by oceano at 9:12 AM on July 12, 2018
I went for a work trip and had a few days with colleagues, before I spent the final few days on my own. I wasn't as comfortable traveling by myself as I thought I would be, especially at night.
I was told that oh, it's pretty easy to get by with just English. I ended up having to use my high school level Spanish a lot more than I was expecting (even at upscale hotels catering towards U.S. tourists). The U.S. is not terribly popular in Mexico (I imagine this sentiment is even worse now than it was this spring), so I didn't find that people were willing to give me the benefit of the doubt.
I regret not springing for a larger international data plan, so that I could use Uber.
The museum of anthropology was fantastic.
Overall, I'm glad I went, but it was a much more difficult trip than I had anticipated. I did enjoy myself more when I was with colleagues.
posted by oceano at 9:12 AM on July 12, 2018
Best answer: I like history and culture and am a city person
I think that you'll like Mexico City! A week seems like just about enough time to see many of the museums and historical sites (and have some really great meals) there.
I spent a week there in May 2017 - the first half as part of a conference (although I stayed at a different hotel than the other attendees and did a lot of dining, sightseeing, and wandering around on my own) and the second half with my husband. (We are both white, in our 30s, and understand written/spoken Spanish but are not at all confident speakers.) Neither of us uses ridesharing apps, so we walked or took cabs or the Metro to get around.
I thought that the area around Alameda Central and many of the neighborhoods that people have mentioned here (Roma Norte, Condesa, Polanco, and Coyoacán, where the Kahlo/Rivera/Trotsky museums are) seemed at least as clean and even safer than similarly trendy neighborhoods in Los Angeles, where I live, with a lot more people - including women and children of all ages - just out and about in the parks, along the sidewalks, etc. I think that you'd be comfortable staying in any of those areas. The city is super-pedestrian-friendly (and I say that not as an LA resident, but as someone who's lived in DC and Boston). I took a long, leisurely, solo walk from Alameda Central to Condesa to meet a friend for dinner in order to see a couple of shops along the way, and it was lovely. I did not feel unsafe.
Having access to my data plan (in order to use maps, mostly) was an enormous help to me. If you weren't already planning to do that, it would be my number one recommendation for your peace of mind as a solo, female traveler.
I'd also recommend taking a day trip to Teotihuacan, if you can, and second all of the museum recommendations above (especially the anthropology museum), in addition to the Museo Franz Mayer. If you're in the city center, the murals by Diego Rivera in the Palacio Nacional are definitely worth an additional stop.
I hope that you go! I also made a map of sights, restaurants, etc. before my trip that I'd be happy to share with you.
posted by Anita Bath at 11:02 AM on July 12, 2018 [2 favorites]
I think that you'll like Mexico City! A week seems like just about enough time to see many of the museums and historical sites (and have some really great meals) there.
I spent a week there in May 2017 - the first half as part of a conference (although I stayed at a different hotel than the other attendees and did a lot of dining, sightseeing, and wandering around on my own) and the second half with my husband. (We are both white, in our 30s, and understand written/spoken Spanish but are not at all confident speakers.) Neither of us uses ridesharing apps, so we walked or took cabs or the Metro to get around.
I thought that the area around Alameda Central and many of the neighborhoods that people have mentioned here (Roma Norte, Condesa, Polanco, and Coyoacán, where the Kahlo/Rivera/Trotsky museums are) seemed at least as clean and even safer than similarly trendy neighborhoods in Los Angeles, where I live, with a lot more people - including women and children of all ages - just out and about in the parks, along the sidewalks, etc. I think that you'd be comfortable staying in any of those areas. The city is super-pedestrian-friendly (and I say that not as an LA resident, but as someone who's lived in DC and Boston). I took a long, leisurely, solo walk from Alameda Central to Condesa to meet a friend for dinner in order to see a couple of shops along the way, and it was lovely. I did not feel unsafe.
Having access to my data plan (in order to use maps, mostly) was an enormous help to me. If you weren't already planning to do that, it would be my number one recommendation for your peace of mind as a solo, female traveler.
I'd also recommend taking a day trip to Teotihuacan, if you can, and second all of the museum recommendations above (especially the anthropology museum), in addition to the Museo Franz Mayer. If you're in the city center, the murals by Diego Rivera in the Palacio Nacional are definitely worth an additional stop.
I hope that you go! I also made a map of sights, restaurants, etc. before my trip that I'd be happy to share with you.
posted by Anita Bath at 11:02 AM on July 12, 2018 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Watch your phone on the subway. Was there for two weeks back in February, phone got pickpocketed.
Stayed in a just ok neighborhood and never once felt unsafe.
Learn as much Spanish as you can. Only people I was able to speak English with were my apartment host and a guide at the anthropology museum.
El Gato Volador was the beast taco stand I came across. It's in Roma. Also recommend doing the Sunday bike ride along Reforma Ave.
posted by aerotive at 1:36 PM on July 12, 2018
Stayed in a just ok neighborhood and never once felt unsafe.
Learn as much Spanish as you can. Only people I was able to speak English with were my apartment host and a guide at the anthropology museum.
El Gato Volador was the beast taco stand I came across. It's in Roma. Also recommend doing the Sunday bike ride along Reforma Ave.
posted by aerotive at 1:36 PM on July 12, 2018
Best answer: I’m a woman who was born and lives in Mexico City. Yes, come visit. Learn enough Spanish to order a meal and drinks. Most people outside touristic places don’t speak much English, but everybody tries their best to be accomodating. My foreign friends (all women) have visited and traveled on their own and they all had a great time.
If you stay in a hostel you’ll make friends and make it easier to go to places in group, if that’s your thing.
DM me if you want recommendations. I also know a great anthropologist that gives guided tours to the museums, Teotihuacan, etc.
posted by clearlydemon at 3:54 PM on July 12, 2018 [2 favorites]
If you stay in a hostel you’ll make friends and make it easier to go to places in group, if that’s your thing.
DM me if you want recommendations. I also know a great anthropologist that gives guided tours to the museums, Teotihuacan, etc.
posted by clearlydemon at 3:54 PM on July 12, 2018 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thank you everybody for your advice and recommendations! I have just booked my flight, and will be in Mexico City from the evening of Saturday, 8/11 until the evening of Thursday, 8/16 (when I fly to Cabo). Very excited and VERY much looking forward to it!
posted by rue72 at 6:33 PM on August 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by rue72 at 6:33 PM on August 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
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Roma Norte, and many surrounding neighborhoods are very family friendly with fabulous restaurants, parks, art and culture. If you love big cities, you will surely love Mexico City. We did a food tour to one of the biggest markets through a business called Eat Mexico, did a Mezcal tasting through AirBnB experiences and overall met wonderful people. We also utilized Uber for many trips. The subway is also very inexpensive ($0.25) and efficient, but can be very crowded, however, there are female train cars designated during rush hour, and probably other times of day.
Mexico is often portrayed in the US as a scary place full of threats, gangs, and kidnappings. While this is true, it hasn't been part of my experience. At worst, a homeless person approached our outside cafe table, begging for money - something that happens in every large (or smaller) city that I have been to. Instead, I have relished in the food, art, culture, beaches, hospitality and the kindness of people that we have interacted with (even though not in the service industry for those who are cynical). People are very family oriented, and want the same things as we all want.
Eat at food trucks and other street food, try the aqua frescas, go to the art museums, hang out in the parks, walk the beautiful wide boulevards. In fact, with the amount of time you have, maybe you can even arrange for a day trip to Puebla, home of mole! I really hope you go, and fall in love with it as we have.
posted by wocka wocka wocka at 7:19 AM on July 12, 2018 [7 favorites]