To complement the city’s trunk systems and reach every corner of the metropolis or the State of Mexico, the capital has an extensive network of additional services and private transportation options. This diversified offering ensures that, regardless of your destination or the time, there is always a safe and efficient way to get around.
Concessioned Corridors (Purple Buses)
These modern purple units have progressively replaced the old minibuses (microbuses), professionalizing surface transport on main avenues that do not have a Metrobús.
- Key routes: They cross fundamental main roads like Tlalpan, Revolución, Patriotismo, and Legaria, connecting areas like San Ángel, Condesa, and Polanco.
- Fares and payment: The cost per trip is $8.00 MXN. Access is by scanning your MI Card.
- Safety and technology: The buses have surveillance cameras, real-time GPS, and trained drivers, operating only at established fixed stops.
“El Insurgente” Interurban Train
This high-tech train connects the west of Mexico City (from the modern corporate area of Santa Fe) with the Toluca Valley in the State of Mexico.
- Tourist use: It is the fastest route for those staying in or visiting the large shopping centers, universities, and Parque La Mexicana in Santa Fe, crossing the wooded areas at high speed.
- Fares and payment: The cost varies depending on the distance traveled (between $15.00 and $90.00 MXN if you travel to Toluca). To access, you simply need to tap your MI Card at the turnstiles or purchase a QR code ticket at the stations.
Metropolitan Connectivity: Suburban Train and Mexibús
Explore the suburban areas of the State of Mexico with high-capacity systems:
- Suburban Train (Tren Suburbano): A fast and safe commuter rail that departs northbound from Buenavista station, arriving in Cuautitlán. It is a vital artery connecting with industrial zones and, thanks to its recent expansions, serves as a link to the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA). Currently, it uses its own rechargeable card, on sale at its ticket booths.
- Mexibús and Mexicable: The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and cable car network of the State of Mexico.
- Major technological update: Today, the Mexico City MI Card is now accepted at Mexibús and Mexicable validators, achieving a standardization that allows tourists to cross from the capital to the State of Mexico using a single mobility card.
Taxis and apps
For direct transfers, trips with luggage, or late-night returns, the city offers highly regulated and safe private transportation options:
- Mexico City Taxis (White with Pink): These are the official street taxis. They have a regulated taximeter and are ideal for short distances.
- Safety tip: Download the official government app App CDMX and use the “Mi Taxi” module. This function allows you to request an official taxi from your cell phone, or if you hail one on the street, you can enter the license plates to verify that the driver is registered, share your trip in real-time, and have a panic button linked to the police.
- Taxi Stands (Sitios de taxis): These are authorized taxi bases located outside hotels, shopping centers, bus terminals, and airports. Although their rates are fixed and higher than street taxis, they have a strict registry of every driver, guaranteeing maximum safety.
- Mobility Apps (Uber, DiDi, among others): These platforms operate completely legally throughout the capital and are the preferred option for many international visitors. They allow you to know the fare in advance and you can pay directly with your bank card linked to the app. They are indispensable for trips late at night or to reach venues far from public transportation stations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I go from the International Airport (AICM) to my hotel in Uber or DiDi? Due to federal regulations at the AICM terminals, app drivers will ask you to walk to a meeting point outside the main doors. For greater convenience with lots of luggage, authorized Taxi Stands (Taxis de Sitio) inside the airport or Metrobús Line 4 are the most direct options.
Is it mandatory to tip in taxis or apps? It is not mandatory. In street or stand taxis, tipping is not customary; you simply pay what the taximeter or fixed rate indicates. In the case of apps, the platform gives you the option to add an extra tip voluntarily if the service was exceptional.
