Mexico City Travel Forum

Hi,

Next month I will have a 7.5hr wait in Mexico city airport(In transfer so would be airside) and I wondered if anyone could give me an idea of whether this is enough time to leave the airport to have a quick look around (say 5 hours to be on the safe side)
I will have been staying in mexico for 2 weeks prior to this flight so prosume that I should not have a problem leaving the airport as I would have already completed the immagration forms to enter originally but again not sure how it works there.

Thanks inadvance.
Jason

At check in for your return flight you will be asked for your tourist card - dont lose it.

I would say you would have enough time to take the metro from the airport to the Zocalo station and look at the Palacio (Rivera murals) and the Cathedral. You might also take the metro from Zocalo to Bellas Artes and look around there a little before returning to the airport.

You have to change lines twice in either direction so there is a bit of walking involved, but I would say that 1 hour is sufficient for the trip in and back so that gives you 3 hours to explore.

If you decide to take a taxi do not hail one from the street.

Where are you visiting in Mexico?

Thanks for that! Very helpful. Im staying in Obregon but as there on business I will not get any time to explore so a few hours in MC will at least be something :0)

If you don't leave the country during those 2 weeks and your flight is domestic (Obregon-Mex City) you won't go through customs when arriving in Mex city, so getting out of the airport will be quick. The metro station is just outside the domestic terminal no. 1 and I guess this will be the best way to reach downtown and see around for a while before going back to the airport. I don't know what time you will be arriving and then departing from Mex city, but there are several works in progress on the roads and highways around the airport so you may lose up to 2 hours or more from the aiport to downtown during rush hours if you decide to take a taxi. I guess the metro is the best and fastest option. I would say that the 1-hour transfer time suggested by osoeno is accurate, but take into account that even the metro can take longer if you take it during rush hours (cars are crowded so sometimes you have to wait for another train to come in order to be able to get in, sometimes they stop longer at the stations, etc.). So try to allow a bit more of time when coming back from downtown so you don't miss your flight back home.

I agree that 3 hrs. is a short time so I'd limit my touristic visit to the Cathedral, National/Government palace and Bellas artes, right next to this latest you will find a couple of buildings worth visiting (especially the Post office building) and behind the palace (across the street) there are also a couple of nice churches you may want to stop by at. There are also 2 small museums next to these churches in case you have time to see them. I guess this is what you can cover during this time and I'm sure you'll like it. Enjoy yourself, cheers.

PS.- The 2 museums I was talking about are called MUSEO FRANZ MAYER and MUSEO DE LA ESTAMPA, but I just remembered that half a block away from Bellas artes or so (as if going back towards the zocalo) there's this gorgeous museum called MUSEO NACIONAL DE ARTE, aka MUNAL, which is also very worth a visit in case you have time for it.

Bye now.

Thanks Laura!! All useful info. Will use the metro as youi both suggest. should be there around 12 noon.

You're welcome! That's a good time to arrive to Mex City.... Hopefully you can hop on the metro by 1 PM the latest and then ride it back to the airport no later than 5:30 (even if you get there by 6:30 you'll still be safe, depending also on the time of your flight of course) because the worst rush hour starts by 6 PM and traveling by metro can be pretty unpleasant. Hope you enjoy yourself!

jaybob: I second the suggestion for the art miuseum. You mjght even have enough time to dash up to the top of the torre latinoamerica for a spectacular view if the air is reasonably clear.