When I first visited Mexico City in 2019, it felt like it was right on the tipping point. Travellers were starting to catch on, but the city hadn’t exploded in popularity yet. I was lucky to see it in that in-between moment. I’ve returned more than five times since then, and the city has changed a lot. With 2026 bringing the World Cup and a huge wave of new visitors, it felt like the right time to put together an updated guide that reflects what the city is really like now.
Mexico City in 2026 still has the same energy that pulls people in. It is busy, colourful and full of places worth exploring, but the tourism boom has shifted the pace of daily life. Some changes feel positive, others simply feel different. Prices are higher. Reservations matter in a way they didn’t before. The city also feels safer and more organized than it has in years. If you have been here before, you will spot the differences almost immediately. If this is your first visit, this guide will help you understand what to expect so you arrive with a clearer sense of how the city works right now.
Summer in Mexico City is always lively, but June and July 2026 will feel different. The city will host the opening match at Estadio Azteca for the World Cup, which also makes it the only stadium in the world to host the World Cup’s opening match three times. Even if you are not here for the games, you will feel the impact. Hotels and short-term rentals are already soaring during the World Cup than at any other time of year. Popular museums, restaurants and bars will be much busier than usual, especially in the weeks surrounding the opener. There will be more people in the streets, more events happening and a noticeable uptick in atmosphere and energy.
If you enjoy that kind of energy and are comfortable with higher prices, it can be an exciting time to visit. If you prefer a quieter and more affordable trip, it may be better to skip summer 2026 and plan for another season instead. If you’re visiting during the World Cup, be sure to give yourself extra time to move around the city, especially near the stadium or major fan zones.
The city has been rolling out a steady stream of upgrades ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Some projects focus on infrastructure, some on safety and movement, and others on creating more public spaces for events. The biggest work is happening at the airport. AICM has been undergoing major repairs and improvements long before June, but the World Cup pushed the timeline faster. Runways, drainage systems and passenger areas are being reinforced so the airport can handle the wave of visitors. AIFA, the newer airport, has also been expanding services and transport connections.
Around the city, mobility projects are another priority. Transit routes linked to the stadium and main visitor zones are being improved, and some pedestrian areas have been made safer and easier to navigate. You will notice better lighting, clearer signage and upgraded walkways in areas that see a lot of foot traffic. It is subtle in some places, more obvious in others, but it helps the city feel more organized for first-time visitors.
Security planning has also increased. Federal and city authorities have coordinated extra patrols, more cameras in high-traffic areas and a larger presence around fan zones, museums and major squares. The goal is to keep movement smooth and prevent overcrowding issues when match days get busy.
Public spaces are getting attention too. The city has been preparing plazas, cultural centres and event areas for concerts, screenings and exhibitions tied to the World Cup. Even if you are not attending a match, you will feel the scale of the event in the way the city uses its streets and public spaces.
Estadio Azteca itself is part of the upgrades. As the host of the opening match, it has gone through rounds of refurbishment to meet updated FIFA standards and improve the overall visitor experience. All of this adds up to a city that feels like it has been polished in small but meaningful ways. Travellers in 2026 will find better movement through the city, clearer infrastructure and a stronger focus on safety and crowd management than in previous years.
The Anthropology Museum, one of the most visited spots in the city, raised its admission prices at the start of 2026. The change is noticeable. Foreign visitors now pay around 210 pesos, which is more than double what it cost just a year earlier. Mexican citizens and residents pay a lower rate, but it has increased as well. Some visitors still enter for free, including children under thirteen, seniors with INAPAM, students, teachers and people with disabilities. Sundays also remain free for everyone, and therefore, crowds are very heavy. This price jump is part of a broader trend in CDMX. More museums and historic sites are adjusting their fees, and a few places that were once free now charge some form of admission. It is still affordable by international standards, but worth keeping in mind if you plan to visit several museums during your trip.
When I first visited Mexico City in 2019, Uber felt like a game-changer. Back then, taxi scams were still a common worry for travellers, and having an app that handled the route, the fare and the payment took a lot of that stress away. It made getting around the city feel simpler and far more reliable. While Uber is still widely used, there is a new app on the market that has introduced some competition, and I found it to be a much better price. And that app is Didi. Didi is a ride-hailing app that started in China and expanded across Latin America, and in CDMX, it’s usually the cheaper, faster option. The interface works almost exactly like Uber: you enter your destination, see the fare, choose your car type and pay through the app. Drivers tend to prefer it because the commission fees are lower, which is part of why wait times are often shorter.
Didi lets you choose from a few ride types depending on your budget and how fast you need to get somewhere. Express is the standard option and works for most trips. Economy is the cheapest choice and good for short rides. Taxi connects you with official city cabs at a set price. Premier offers slightly nicer cars, often used for airport travel. Flash simply sends the closest available car, which usually gives you the quickest pickup.
One thing to keep in mind in Mexico City is that most rideshare cars are small. Even if you select a larger option on Uber or Didi, you are often getting a compact sedan rather than a truly spacious vehicle. If you are travelling with big suitcases or you are a group of four with multiple bags, it can get tight fast. Vans are rare on the apps. If you have a lot of luggage, it is usually easier to order two cars instead of hoping a bigger one shows up. It saves time, avoids awkward rearranging on the curb and keeps the trip more comfortable for everyone.
One thing you may have already heard about Mexico City is the traffic, and honestly, it’s well earned. Studies regularly rank CDMX among the most congested cities in the world, with drivers losing hours each week to slowdowns. In a metropolitan area of more than twenty million people, the roads are almost always busy. Getting around becomes its own small craft. Once you learn the rhythm of the day and which routes to avoid at certain times, the whole experience feels a lot more manageable.
Mornings between seven and nine can be packed with commuters, but the worst stretch is usually late afternoon into early evening. Around four to seven, whole sections of the city crawl, especially anywhere near Reforma, Insurgentes, Polanco, Condesa or the major ring roads. Even short trips can double in time without warning. One good piece of advice is to plan your day so you spend long stretches within the same neighbourhood. Explore Roma one day, Condesa the next, Centro on another and finish with Polanco or Coyoacan. The city is far more enjoyable when you are not zigzagging across it during peak hours.
If you have a timed entry for a museum, a restaurant reservation or an event, it helps to leave earlier than you think you need to. Ordering a ride fifteen or twenty minutes sooner can make the difference between arriving relaxed and rushing through the door. Another option is planning your movements around these peak windows. Do your big transfers in the late morning or early afternoon, stay put in a neighbourhood during the evening rush and walk to dinner if it is close by. The city is far more pleasant on foot than in standstill traffic.
Mexico City has firmly established itself as one of the best food cities in the world, and that reputation shows in how busy restaurants have become. Many places now book out quickly, and reservations are almost always expected. For spots like Masala y Maiz, you often have to grab a table the moment their booking window opens. I tried securing a reservation more than three months ahead and still ended up with a three o’clock lunch, but it was worth it. Even smaller neighbourhood favourites in Roma Norte, Condesa, Polanco and parts of Juárez rely heavily on reservations now. It’s no longer just the fine dining restaurants; the demand is everywhere.
My best advice to balance getting into the spots you really have your heart set on and not feeling like every hour is pre-planned and free of spontaneity is to plan one or two “anchor” meals each day, then leave everything else flexible. After all, as good as the top food spots are, those random taco stands on the streets are always some of my favourite meals and not to be missed!
When I first visited in 2019, some of the older people in my life were nervous about the idea of Mexico City because they still pictured it as dangerous. I ended up feeling completely safe, and honestly safer than in many parts of the U.S. Since then, the city has continued to change, and the numbers reflect that shift. Mexico’s national homicide rate dropped significantly in 2025, reaching its lowest level in about ten years. Early 2026 data suggests the trend is continuing. That doesn’t mean the city is free of crime, but day to day, especially in popular neighbourhoods, CDMX feels more stable and secure than it has in a long time.
Police presence is consistent, not just in tourist hubs in the Historic Centre but also in Condesa parks. I felt more comfortable walking more at night in familiar neighbourhoods, something I wouldn’t have said years ago. Normal city awareness still applies; stick to lit streets, and use rideshares when it gets really late or if you’re travelling on your own.
CDMX isn’t the bargain destination it once was. Food, museums and transport are still good value, but prices rise every year. Trendy cafés now charge closer to North American prices. Cocktail bars definitely do. Another reason that you should expect to pay a little more in Mexico City than in previous years is the strengthening peso, which is great for the country, but does mean your dollar or euro won’t stretch as far as it once did. However, traditional and local street food remains affordable, which is part of why people keep returning.
Different locations around the city have started charging new admission fees, which can catch travellers off guard. The famous Palacio Postal remains one of my favourite buildings in the city, but to enter the main area, they are now charging a 50 peso admission fee; however, you do get a souvenir postcard and a tamp! This admission fee helps preserve the spaces, but it does change the experience compared to past visits.
Tourism keeps growing in Mexico City. That means busy weekends in Centro, Coyoacán, Roma, and Condesa. Weekdays still feel manageable. Early mornings remain your best friend for museums, cafés, and markets. One of the places I noticed the biggest change in crowds was Coyoacan! The Frida Kahlo Museum brings steady crowds every single day, and weekends get especially packed as visitors fill the plazas, the Coyote Fountain area and the artisan market. The neighbourhood’s colonial streets, cafés, restaurants and food stalls add to the appeal, but those same narrow roads weren’t built for modern traffic, so congestion builds quickly.
Advance booking is now the norm. The Frida Kahlo museum frequently sells out months in advance for certain days and times, so this must be booked as soon as you pick your travel dates. And museums that used to be walk-up friendly, like Anthropology and Soumaya, now see long lines during holiday weeks. Prebook if and when you can. And if you know it’s going to be busy, arrive right at opening!
Even with how modern Mexico City feels, cash is still a big part of daily life, and it’s something first-time visitors are often surprised by. Many restaurants, cafés and museums now accept cards without issue, but plenty of everyday spots still run on pesos only. Street food vendors, small market stalls, bakeries, corner shops, neighbourhood taxis and even some bars prefer cash. A big reason cash is still so common in Mexico City is that a large share of the population doesn’t use formal banking. National financial surveys show that only about half of adults in Mexico have a bank account, which means millions of people rely on cash for most everyday transactions. Even with digital payments becoming more visible in cafés and restaurants, cash is still the backbone of how many locals pay for food, transport and small purchases.
You don’t need to carry large amounts, but having a mix of small bills and coins makes life smoother. It’s useful for tipping, buying street snacks, and most importantly, paying for public restrooms.
Public restrooms in Mexico City work a little differently than what many travellers are used to, so it helps to know the basics before you go. The main thing to expect is a small fee. Most public washrooms, in parks, markets, bus stations, metro stations and older shopping centres, charge anywhere from 5 to 10 pesos for entry. Sometimes you’ll pay a person at a small desk, other times you’ll drop coins into a tray or a turnstile.
Because the fee is so common, it’s smart to keep a handful of coins or small bills on you. Larger notes aren’t always accepted, and attendants can’t always make change. This is one of the many reasons having some cash on hand in Mexico City makes your day easier.
Inside the restroom, you may be handed a small amount of toilet paper when you pay. Other times, there will be a shared dispenser outside the stalls. It’s a good idea to bring a small pack of tissues in your bag, just in case. Soap is usually available, but not always. Hand sanitizer is helpful to carry, especially if you’re spending the day walking through markets, parks or historic centres where facilities vary in quality.
A small, respectful heads-up. Even as tourism has grown, some public restrooms, particularly in busy markets or older public buildings, can feel a bit more rough around the edges than visitors expect. Knowing this ahead of time helps you take it in stride rather than be caught off guard. In contrast, restrooms in museums, restaurants and modern malls are generally free, cleaner and stocked normally. But when you’re out in the city for a long day, assume you’ll encounter paid facilities and plan for that.
Air pollution is something most people hear about before visiting Mexico City, but it affects travellers in different ways. Some barely notice it. Others feel small effects, especially on their first day or two while adjusting to the altitude. The city sits in a high mountain basin, which can trap vehicle emissions and make the air feel heavier at certain times, especially late in the afternoon.
Visitors often describe mild symptoms like a dry throat, light coughing, irritated eyes or feeling winded after walking uphill. These sensations are usually temporary and fade once your body settles in, but knowing what to expect can help. The easiest rhythm is to plan outdoor time in the morning, when the air tends to be clearer, and shift museums or indoor activities to the later part of the day. Avoid walking long distances along major avenues like Reforma or Insurgentes during busy hours; the side streets are quieter and cleaner. Drink more water than you think you need. The altitude and dry air make a bigger difference than most travellers expect.
If you’re someone who’s sensitive to air quality, a few simple extras can make the days feel easier. Wearing a light mask during high-pollution afternoons can take the edge off if the air feels hazy or if you’re walking along a major road. Many locals still use masks on bad-air days, so you won’t stand out. Lozenges also help with the dry, scratchy feeling some people get from the altitude and the city air. I usually keep a few in my bag, especially on long walking days. These aren’t musts, but they’re small comforts that can make a noticeable difference if you start to feel the dryness catch up with you.
Mexico City sits at roughly 2,240 metres above sea level, and even if you’re in good shape, you might feel the difference when you land. Some people notice it right away, others barely feel it, but it’s worth giving yourself a gentle first day so your body can settle in. The most common things travellers feel are a little shortness of breath when walking uphill, mild headaches, dry throat, slightly upset stomach or nausea or a general sense of being tired earlier than usual. None of this is dramatic, but it can catch people by surprise, especially if you fly in from sea level and go straight into a packed itinerary.
The easiest approach is to slow your pace on day one. Skip the big hikes, long walks or anything overly strenuous. Drink more water than you think you need; the altitude and dry air make dehydration happen faster. Eating light, simple meals helps too. Give yourself breaks throughout the day, even if you feel fine. Sit in a café, wander through a museum, or spend a little time in a shaded park. Your body adjusts more smoothly when you’re not pushing it.
If you’re prone to altitude headaches, bring a few painkillers just in case. Most travellers adjust within 24 to 48 hours. Once your body catches up, the altitude becomes something you stop noticing entirely. A slow first morning, plenty of water and a bit of patience make a big difference.
If you’ve visited Mexico City before, you might remember the old arrival form, that flimsy little piece of paper you had to fill out on the plane, keep track of for your entire trip and hand back when you left. In 2026, that system will have mostly been replaced by a digital QR code process at the airport.
When you land, you’ll go through immigration as usual, but instead of receiving a slip of paper, you’re given a printed QR code or directed to generate one digitally. This QR code acts as your proof of legal entry into the country. It contains your arrival date, your permitted length of stay and your traveller information. Even though Mexico has moved toward a digital system, you still need to keep that QR code with you for your entire trip. Think of it as the modern version of the old paper form. Airlines may ask for it when you depart, immigration may scan it, and some officials still expect travellers to have it on hand when leaving the country.
A few small tips:
• Take a photo of the QR code as soon as you receive it so you have a backup on your phone.
• Keep the printed version in your passport so you don’t misplace it.
• If you’re travelling with family, each person needs their own QR code, including children.
• Don’t assume you can look it up later; you need the physical or digital copy they give you on arrival.
The new system is faster and much easier than before, but it still requires you to keep track of that QR code throughout your stay. As long as you tuck it somewhere safe, you won’t have to think about it again until departure day.
Mexico City in 2026 feels bigger, busier and more polished than it did even a few years ago, but the heart of the city hasn’t changed. It’s still a place where you can wander into a market for a snack, spend an afternoon in a museum, get lost in a neighbourhood you didn’t plan to visit and feel completely at ease doing it. The World Cup, the rising prices and the growing crowds are all part of this moment in the city’s story, but they don’t take away from what makes CDMX special. With a bit of planning, some flexibility and an understanding of how the city works right now, you can still have an incredible trip, one that’s full of colour, food, history and the kind of everyday details that stay with you long after you’ve flown home.
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