Smart Self-Managed Tours

Country guide

Mexico

A photograph of Mexico
Photograph · Daniel Schwen · CC BY-SA 4.0

Mexico took 42.2 million international arrivals in 2022, sixth most of any country in the world, and a large share of them never left the Caribbean coast. That coast is a reasonable holiday and a very small fraction of 1,972,550 km2, thirteenth-largest on Earth, holding 32 states and more than 134 million people. Mexico City sits high in a valley in the middle of it, with colonial silver towns a few hours north and the Maya sites of the Yucatan two hours east by air. No country in the Americas has more World Heritage Sites.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
Spanish; recognised Indigenous languages are also spoken
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+52
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Mexican peso (MXN)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
911
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type A and B · 127 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No verified nationwide visitor drinking-water statement was recorded

Planning a visit

  1. January: no seasonality data recorded
  2. February: no seasonality data recorded
  3. March: no seasonality data recorded
  4. April: no seasonality data recorded
  5. May: no seasonality data recorded
  6. June: no seasonality data recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  9. September: no seasonality data recorded
  10. October: no seasonality data recorded
  11. November: no seasonality data recorded
  12. December: no seasonality data recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. 11:11
    02 2 hours

    11:11

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Cancún
  2. 19-A
    03 2 hours

    19-A

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  3. Abolengo
    04 2 hours

    Abolengo

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Cancún
  4. Abrazarnos
    05 2 hours

    Abrazarnos

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  5. Ala burguer
    09 2 hours

    Ala burguer

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  6. Angus Bar
    10 2 hours

    Angus Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  7. ANTRAX
    12 2 hours

    ANTRAX

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  8. Arracheras
    13 2 hours

    Arracheras

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  9. Artemisia
    14 2 hours

    Artemisia

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  10. Bacanal
    16 2 hours

    Bacanal

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  11. Balagan
    17 2 hours

    Balagan

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  12. Baltoro
    19 2 hours

    Baltoro

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  13. Baltra
    20 2 hours

    Baltra

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  14. Barba Azul
    21 2 hours

    Barba Azul

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  15. Bar del Mar
    22 2 hours

    Bar del Mar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Cancún
  16. Bar Lepanto
    27 2 hours

    Bar Lepanto

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  17. Bar Mauro
    28 2 hours

    Bar Mauro

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  18. Bar Miramar
    29 2 hours

    Bar Miramar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  19. Bar Oriente
    30 2 hours

    Bar Oriente

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  20. Bar Plaza
    31 2 hours

    Bar Plaza

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  21. Barra de Mar
    33 2 hours

    Barra de Mar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  22. Barrio Tonala
    35 2 hours

    Barrio Tonala

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  23. Barrita
    36 2 hours

    Barrita

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  24. Bar-Salon
    37 2 hours

    Bar-Salon

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  25. Bar Sambuca
    38 2 hours

    Bar Sambuca

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  26. Bar San Luis
    39 2 hours

    Bar San Luis

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  27. BB Bar
    43 2 hours

    BB Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  28. Beer bros
    44 2 hours

    Beer bros

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  29. Beer Factory
    45 2 hours

    Beer Factory

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  30. Beerlyn
    48 2 hours

    Beerlyn

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  31. Benne
    49 2 hours

    Benne

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  32. BESTIA bar
    50 2 hours

    BESTIA bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  33. Biergarten
    52 2 hours

    Biergarten

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  34. Big Corner
    53 2 hours

    Big Corner

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  35. Black Code
    55 2 hours

    Black Code

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  36. Black Horse
    56 2 hours

    Black Horse

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  37. Blow Bar
    57 2 hours

    Blow Bar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  38. Bonanza
    58 2 hours

    Bonanza

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Cancún
  39. Bósforo
    59 2 hours

    Bósforo

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  40. Bósforo
    60 2 hours

    Bósforo

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  41. Botellón
    67 2 hours

    Botellón

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  42. Café Brujas
    71 2 hours

    Café Brujas

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  43. Café Ocampo
    72 2 hours

    Café Ocampo

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  44. Café Tacobar
    73 2 hours

    Café Tacobar

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  45. Cananea
    75 2 hours

    Cananea

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  46. Cantina
    78 2 hours

    Cantina

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  47. casa
    91 2 hours

    casa

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  48. Casa Franca
    92 2 hours

    Casa Franca

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  49. Casa Prunes
    94 2 hours

    Casa Prunes

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  50. Casa Q
    95 2 hours

    Casa Q

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  51. CatWalk
    97 2 hours

    CatWalk

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City
  52. Celtic's Pub
    98 2 hours

    Celtic's Pub

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue
    • Mexico City

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Mexico be?

Ten to fourteen days should focus on one Mexican region, such as the central highlands, Yucatán or a Pacific corridor. Domestic distances are too large for a first trip that treats Mexico City, Cancún and several coasts as nearby stops.

What entry documents are needed for Mexico?

Mexico’s Instituto Nacional de Migración provides the official entry process and forms. Admission conditions depend on passport, purpose and route, so use its current service rather than an airline summary or an old exemption list.

What is the best way to travel around Mexico?

Mexico City and Cancún are major international gateways, with domestic flights and intercity buses linking regional centres. Urban transport is city-specific, and road legs should be planned against current official route guidance.

When is a practical time to visit Mexico?

November to April is a useful broad window for many central and coastal routes. Hurricane exposure, altitude and regional rainy seasons differ sharply, so the selected coast or highland region should control timing.

What money and payment basics apply in Mexico?

The Mexican peso (MXN) is the recorded currency. ATM fees, card acceptance and conversion terms are Not recorded in this guide; read the amount in pesos before approving a transaction.

What practical safety details should I save for Mexico?

Mexico uses 911 for emergencies and Type A or B plugs at 127 V. Tap-water guidance is Not recorded nationally in the cited source and should be checked at the destination.