Is Mexico City Safe? Breakdown by 7 Neighborhoods

I’ll admit it.

When Mexico City first crossed my mind, my thoughts went straight to drug cartels and Netflix’s Narcos.

Blame my parents, the headlines, or my own outdated mental file on the place. Yes, Mexico City used to have a dangerous reputation.

But here’s the thing: after watching wave after wave of recent travelers rave about their experiences, I realized it was time to test my assumptions.

For context, I’m a middle-aged female traveler (ugh, it stings to say that because in my head I’m still 29) who’s visited 6 continents and 34 countries, from Cambodia to Zimbabwe to Chile.

My idea of “acceptable risk” has evolved a lot since my 20s, and I share that so you know where this safety perspective is coming from.

I’ll walk you through the ….

→   Three safety factors I considered before deciding to book my trip.

→   My firsthand take on exploring Mexico City’s 7 most popular neighborhoods.

The U.S. Department of State rates every country on a 1–4 travel advisory scale:

1 = Exercise normal precautions (white)
2 = Exercise increased caution (yellow)
3 = Reconsider travel (orange)
4 = Do not travel (red)

I only visit destinations rated 1 or 2.

Keep in mind, different regions within the same country can have different ratings. Mexico, for example, has all four. Mexico City is a Level 2 (yellow), but many areas outside the city are Level 3 (orange).

Bottom line: know your 1s, 2s, 3s, and 4s and stick to the “donut hole” of safer zones.

Before choosing a destination, I look at its financial, social, and political climate.

Right now, Mexico is seeing major auto industry investment from companies like Ford and Chinese electric automaker BYD, which could mean more jobs and stability, although that is just speculation.

I also focus on crime that specifically targets tourists. Cartel violence is one thing; incidents involving visitors in tourist areas are a deal breaker.

For Mexico City, I found no recent reports of violent crime against tourists.

However, there was unrest in early July in Condesa and Roma, where tourists were harassed. This tension was driven by rising rents from the tourism boom (similar to the protests that occurred in Barcelona and Paris against mass tourism). 

City officials are working on reforms to address affordability and displacement.

This is why it’s always important to keep an eye on the latest news!

I put a lot of weight on recent traveler reports. Sure, forums like TripAdvisor and Reddit have the occasional troll or “fake news,” but they’re great for real-world, boots-on-the-ground insight.

Always check a poster’s history. One-time commenters are sketchy.

Ask if a place is safe, and you’ll usually get the same answer: take normal precautions, just like at home. Sometimes you’ll hear about petty theft, but it’s the serious stuff (like shootings or assaults in tourist areas) that are the real red flags for me. 

When I dug into Mexico City, I couldn’t find a single recent report of personal harm against tourists in the forums.

Alright, the part you actually care about. We felt confident from our research that Mexico City was safe with normal precautions.

Did reality match the research? Absolutely.

We spent a full week in Mexico City, walking almost everywhere and using Uber when needed.

Here’s what it was like as first-time visitors exploring the city on foot and by car.

First things first. Know your neighborhoods. Just like in my own city, I know which areas are fine to walk and which ones to avoid.

If you are not familiar with where the sketchier parts are, stick to the well-traveled tourist areas like we did (with one uneventful but briefly nerve-racking exception I’ll share at the end when I ignored this rule).

Here are the 7 neighborhoods we explored in Mexico City:

Out of all the neighborhoods in Mexico City, Roma Norte was my favorite!

Think romantic intricate Art Deco architecture and tree-lined streets.

We stayed in one of the BEST boutique hotels (in my opinion!) with a foodie secret on the BEST street in Roma Norte … Colima Street.

My husband and I felt completely comfortable walking around everywhere in Roma Norte day and night. We visited:

→   Numerous cafes (Café Memorias de un Barista, Buna, Libertario Coffee Roasters (our favorite), etc)

→   Restaurants & bakeries (Restaurante Rosetta, Panadería Rosetta, and Contramar (watch the Masterclass on Contramar’s Chef Gabriela– love her food!) 

→   Cocktail bars (Licorería Limantour, Tlecan (super friendly bar), and 686 Bar).

* If you love a well-crafted cocktail, do not miss my top 5 bars in Mexico City!

The dividing street between Roma Norte and Roma Sur is Coahuila Street. 

We did not experience Roma Sur in the late evening, so I cannot speak for that time frame.

However, I can vouch for our experience in the daytime, which was fantastic!

In the morning, we walked from our hotel in Roma Norte down to Tamales Doña Emi in Roma Sur for breakfast.

They have some of the best tamales I have ever had! We love tamales so much that we even booked a Tamale Cooking Class while in the city.

Later on in the day, we also enjoyed some of the best barbacoa tacos we have ever had at El Hidalguense. Ask to sit on the rooftop overlooking the street.

Mexican cuisine is just incredible. Don’t miss my ultimate self-guided taco tour if you want to experience the best tacos in the city!

No problems at all in Roma Sur.

Condesa is also another beautiful Mexico City neighborhood with a hipster vibe and leafy parks.

Strolling Avenida Amsterdam in Condesa quickly became one of our favorite activities. This shaded, pedestrian-only pathway is shaped like a horse track. In one section, it is sandwiched in between two beautiful parks, Parque España and Parque Mexico. Incredibly peaceful.

This may be TMI, but Parque España in Condesa has one of the cleanest public restrooms I have been to.

My husband and I had just finished our coffee class, and we started to walk back to the hotel. I hate public restrooms, but it would have been a very uncomfortable walk back. I rolled the dice and was pleasantly surprised.

The bathroom is located right next to a children’s park. The bathroom attendant was friendly and efficient. 5 pesos was well spent. 

Highlights of the Condesa neighborhood:

→   Enjoying some of our favorite tacos (Tacos Don Juan and El Pescadito)

→   Sipping an Old George Sour at our favorite cocktail bar in Mexico City

→   Participating in a Mexican coffee tasting class hosted in a local’s home who happens to be a coffee tasting judge

Yep, I’d say we felt pretty safe in Condesa!

Polanco is the fancy modern neighborhood of Mexico City. Think luxury car dealerships and high end clothing stores. It’s very nice and safe but does not possess the local charm of Roma and Condesa.

However, if my parents or in-laws asked where they should stay in Mexico City, Polanco is where I would book their hotel. 

We enjoyed two great experiences here:

→   Our foodie pilgrimage at Pujol, the restaurant that put Mexico on the culinary world map

→   Wonderful stroll through the large, sprawling Chapultepec Park (known as the Central Park of Mexico City)

Awe, Coyoacan, how I love this cute colorful, artsy city.

We did Uber there just because of the distance from our hotel in Roma Norte, but once there, we loved walking around this neighborhood with its cobblestone streets. We always felt safe.

My husband and  I had an incredible coffee from one of the best cafes in Mexico City, Cafe Avellaneda, before strolling past the famous Coyote Fountain.

Of course, we had to visit the Frida Kahlo Museum to view some of Frida’s classic artwork and her incredible avant-garde dresses. Book tickets in advance! 

If you do not know who Frida Kahlo is, check out the PBS Documentary Becoming Frida Kahlo.

Afterward, we enjoyed a delicious chicken tostado at the well-known food stall, Tostados Coyoacan at the Coyoacan Market.

We loved the vibrant vitality of this cute little Mexico City neighborhood, which had a nice mix of locals and tourists.

El Centro is the business and historic center of Mexico City.

Lots of history and culture! It is known for the Zocalo square, world-class museums, and incredible local restaurants that are foodie institutions.

We walked all over El Centro but stuck to the touristy areas. There is a lot to see, and you should dedicate a full day to take it all in. Highlights we enjoyed …

→   Zocalo (main city square)

→   National Palace (the Diego Rivera murals are truly masterpieces!)

→   Museo Mural Diego Rivera (it is worth it to see this one iconic art piece)

→   Palacio de Bellas Artes (great place to sit and enjoy a pastry, check out the fine art, or attend a concert)

→   Alameda Central (beautiful park)

→   Foodie stops including Tacos de Canasta Los Especiales (incredible basket tacos), Pasteleria Ideal (the pastry choices are overwhelming!), Taquería Los Cocuyos (Bourdain-approved taco shop), and El Cardenal (amazing breakfast in a beautiful building).

We Ubered to/from El Centro. Doctores is a neighborhood in between Roma Norte and El Centro that I didn’t feel comfortable walking near.

When I had researched the Is Mexico City Safe? question before our visit, I found a local who shared her perspective.

What I really appreciated is she shared what Mexico City neighborhoods to avoid. This included Iztapalapa, Tepito, Neza, Ecatepec, and Doctores. That’s the info tourists are craving to know, so thank you!

So, yes, I avoided walking anywhere near Doctores, and Ubered to/from El Centro.

Once in El Centro though, I felt completely comfortable walking in between the tourist sites. However, we did not venture too far off the beaten path.

Again, if we were touring with a local guide, no problem since they know the good streets and the not-so-good streets.

Petty crimes such as pickpocketing are a possibility here, much like in Barcelona, Spain (known as one of the world’s top pickpocketing cities, a fact my sister can unfortunately attest to), so be aware of your surroundings.

Situated a short 15-minute walk north of Roma Norte, this Mexico City neighborhood has more of a local eclectic hipster vibe.

It is located south of Paseo de la Reforma and north of Avenida Chapultepec. Refer back to my Mexico City Neighborhoods Map for orientation.

There are several wonderful sights we explored in Juarez:

→   Chocolateria La Rifa (great Mexican hot chocolate where you pick your % of cacao)

→   Bazar Fusion (cute little shops where I found some beautiful handpainted mezcal cups)

→   Tamale Cooking Class (where we learned to make salsa and delicious homemade tamales in a local’s home!)

→   Wine Bar by CMB (where we tried award-winning Mexican wine)

→   Hanky Panky (one of the World’s Best Bars!)

→   Handshake Speakeasy (another top cocktail bar, #11 to be exact according to the World’s Best Bars)

One more story, which occurred somewhere between the south end of Juarez and the north end of Roma Norte.

My husband and I love city bike rides. In Lima, we once cruised car-free streets on a Sunday, so when we learned Mexico City closes Paseo de la Reforma from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays, we were all in.

Plan: rent Ecobici bikes and ride from the Angel of Independence to Chapultepec Park.

Didn’t happen.

The Ecobici app wouldn’t process payment, even after the bank confirmed it was fine. The service center near the Angel had two other American couples with the same issue. They told us to buy a Metro card instead to use for payment. 

Google Maps led us toward a nearby metro station, but the route got sketchy.

Quiet streets, a couple of guys on a corner looking shocked to see us, and a cluster of makeshift tents blocking the way. Spidey senses kicked in, so we turned around.

Would anything have happened? Probably not. But in an unfamiliar city without a local guide, why risk turning a great trip into a bad one?

We ditched the Sunday bike ride plan and opted to walk the 2.5 miles along Paseo de la Reforma to Chapultepec Park instead. It turned out to be a beautiful stroll.

Locals everywhere enjoying the fresh air, and we felt completely safe the entire way. 

Hopefully Ecobici has fixed its glitchy app by the time we return, because that bike ride is still high on our Mexico City to-do list.

Using Uber in Mexico City was a great experience. All our drivers had excellent ratings, and every ride was smooth.

It was quick and affordable, and it actually reminded us of our time using Uber in Cape Town, South Africa, another place where travelers often wonder about safety.

Here is where we chose to Uber, either for the distance or as a precaution:

→   Mexico City International Airport to/from hotel: DISTANCE

→   Hotel to/from Coyoacan: DISTANCE

→   Hotel to/from Pujol: DISTANCE

→   Hotel to/from Centro: DISTANCE + PRECAUTION

→   Handshake speakeasy to Hotel: PRECAUTION (due to later hour)

→   Hanky Panky cocktail bar to Hotel: PRECAUTION (due to later hour)

→   Baltra Bar to Hotel: PRECAUTION (due to later hour)

→   Hotel to/from Pujol: DISTANCE

Otherwise, we walked everywhere!

In summary, did we feel safe in Mexico City?

Yes!

But as first-time visitors …

✔️   We stuck to the tourist areas only (besides that one situation)

✔️   Did not wear flashy clothing or jewelry

✔️   Kept our valuables like our phone well hidden

✔️   Took Uber when we felt we needed to especially at night

✔️   Accomplished our sightseeing in the day

✔️   In bed by 9/10 pm (hey, we’re also older-ish)

Always use common sense, and remember to check a destination’s current events since things can change.

We went to Mexico City for the food and culture, and it SURPASSED our expectations. Even the Michelin Guide has taken notice and just announced their top foodie picks for the first time in 2024!

If you decide to book that trip, I strongly suggest making Roma Norte your home base, particularly on Colima Street. Stay at Casa Izeba, an incredible boutique hotel with an amazing rooftop.

And if you love Mexico City, you are going to LOVE Oaxaca for these 19 reasons.

I hope this perspective helps as you make your own travel safety decision.

Safe and happy travels!

REACH OUT, FOLLOW, OR SHARE THIS POST WITH A FRIEND!