Your Guide to Public Transport in Mexico City
Updated: November 6, 2024 | Tagged: Mexico, Travel Hacks
This guide to using public transportation in Mexico City covers these 6 options:
- Mexico City Metro
- Mexico City Metrobus
- Mexico City Trolleybus
- Tren Ligero
- CDMX - Toluca Commuter train
- Cablebús CDMX
If you secure a job with Jooble in Mexico City, you will definitely need this guide to help you get around.
1. Metro CDMX
The Mexico City Metro is the second-biggest in the Americas after the Metro in New York and is now said to be the ninth busiest in the world. With 12 lines and 163 different stations, with 44 of them being transfer stations, it is definitely the best way to get around Mexico City. Read my full Metro Guide Mexico City.
2. Metrobus CDMX
The Mexico City Metro Bus network has 7 lines, 283 stations and covers 125km. It fills in the gaps not covered by the metro. Read my full guide about the Mexico City Metrobus.
There is an extension of Metrobus line #4 which runs from San Lazaro to Mexico City Airport which costs 30 Pesos:
3. Trolleybus CDMX
The Mexico City Trolley Bus network has 12 lines and covers more than 200 km. It's a little slow and not really much use to the tourist. Read my full guide about the Mexico City TrolleyBus.
4. Tren Ligero CDMX
The Mexico City Tren Ligero runs from Tasqueña to Xochimilco. The line is 13.04 km in length with 2 terminus stations and 16 intermediate stations. Read my full guide about the Mexico City Tren Ligero.
5. CDMX - Toluca Commuter Train
The Interurbano train known as El Insturgente is now running from Santa Fe to Zinacantepec (Toluca) and will soon link to the Observatorio Metro station, the terminus station of the Pink Line (linea 1). Read my post on the Tren "El Insurgente"
6. Cablebús CDMX
The cable car system in Mexico City, known as the Cablebús CDMX, has three lines up and running, with a fourth under construction. I rode line 3 from Vasco de Quiroga, and you get awesome views of the western part of the city. Line 3 is more of a sightseeing option, but lines 1 and 2 are perfect for those living in the barrios it serves, drastically cutting travel time.
|
|
|
|
How to buy tickets in Mexico City
The Mexico City Metro Card:
The Mexico City Metro Card, officially known as the "Integrated Mobility Card" (#MICard) in Spanish: La tarjeta de movilidad integrada, and you will need to get one before you can start using the city's transport network. It covers travel on the Metro, Metrobus, Trolleybus, Trenligero, the new Cablebús CDMX and the Interurbano Train.
You can buy the MI Card at the ticket offices (taquilla) in the Metro Stations or at the ticket machines in some Metro stations or at the Metrobus stations.
The card costs just 15 Pesos. When you buy the card at the Metrobus stations you pay 21 Pesos and it includes 1 ride for the Metrobus which is 6 Pesos compared to 5 Pesos on the Metro. Some machines accept cash, others accept only cards.
To buy your Integrated Mobility Card, the keyword is COMPRA. If you are topping up, the keyword is RECARGA.
You can load the card to a maximum limit of 500 Pesos.
The card costs just 15 Pesos. When you buy the card at the Metrobus stations you pay 21 Pesos and it includes 1 ride for the Metrobus which is 6 Pesos compared to 5 Pesos on the Metro. Some machines accept cash, others accept only cards.
To buy your Integrated Mobility Card, the keyword is COMPRA. If you are topping up, the keyword is RECARGA.
You can load the card to a maximum limit of 500 Pesos.
The fare for the Metro is 5 Pesos, for the Metrobus, 6 Pesos, for the Trolleybus, 4 Pesos, for the Tren Ligero, 3 Pesos. and for the Cablebús, 7 pesos.
You need to tap in, on entry to the metro, metrobus and trenligero stations and when you board the trolleybus. You do not need to tap out.
The Single Trip Tickets for the Metro pictured below, are no longer valid:
You need to tap in, on entry to the metro, metrobus and trenligero stations and when you board the trolleybus. You do not need to tap out.
The Single Trip Tickets for the Metro pictured below, are no longer valid:
Contactless:
The Metro and Metrobus are going contactless. You can now access the Mexico City Metro and Metrobus, using your contactless bank card anywhere you see these machines:
Tacubaya Metro Station Line 7 to Rosario:
Tips For Using the Public Transportation in Mexico City:
You have to remember that Mexico City, with a population of more than 22 million, is the sixth-largest metropolitan area in the world and this is of course not including the thousands who are here undocumented: immigrants, homeless, tourists and digital nomads.
Public transportation is a great way to get around Mexico City. It's very easy to navigate, even if you don't speak Spanish.
But here are my tips to make sure you have a more pleasant public transportation experience in Mexico City:
Public transportation is a great way to get around Mexico City. It's very easy to navigate, even if you don't speak Spanish.
But here are my tips to make sure you have a more pleasant public transportation experience in Mexico City:
- Avoid the rush hour
- Watch your pockets and possessions at all times
- Hang on
- For the female readers among you, sit in the designated sections
I have just come across this interesting article regarding the CDMX Metro, "10 Stations that were never built".
They have introduced Electric MetroBuses "Soy Eléctrico" on many lines making it a clean option:
|
|
|
|
Mexico City also has 3 cable cars (blog post coming soon) and the RTP Bus which are not covered in this post as they are geared towards locals who live away from the Metro and Metro bus routes in far-flung neighbourhoods.
The Tren Suburbano which runs from Buenavista to Cuautitlán is of no real use to the tourist until that is, the line to the Felipe Ángeles International Airport is completed and you can rest assured that I will be blogging about that as soon as it becomes operational.
The Tren Suburbano which runs from Buenavista to Cuautitlán is of no real use to the tourist until that is, the line to the Felipe Ángeles International Airport is completed and you can rest assured that I will be blogging about that as soon as it becomes operational.
Previous Post: United Nations Member States That I Have Visited