travel to cdmx

for first timers

before you fly: pre-travel planning

Flying from New York to Mexico City is about a 5-hour direct flight. Book a direct flight if possible—Aeromexico, Delta, and American Airlines often have nonstops. We recommend flying into Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX) but CDMX flights are also serviced through Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU). 

If you value comfort, opt for business/first class or premium economy. Aeromexico’s Clase Premier has lie-flat seats on some flights. It’s worth it.

At LGA, make use of lounges before boarding. If you’re in Delta One, Delta Sky Club is excellent. If you’re on another airline and have a Priority Pass, use The Centurion Lounge (JFK is more lounge-rich, but LGA has been newly updated). Plan to arrive 90 minutes ahead since security at LGA can still be chaotic despite renovations.

Before you go:

  • Passport: Valid for at least 6 months, no visa required for U.S. citizens.

  • Credit cards: Notify your bank. Mexico City is card-friendly.

  • Cash: Bring some pesos (can withdraw at ATMs when you arrive).

  • Clothing: Mexico City is stylish, layered—think elevated casual.

  • Download apps: WhatsApp (for local communication), Uber, Didi (affordable local rideshare), Google Translate and Xe Send Money & Currency (easy & simple way to convert USD t to Pesos)

  • Please note LYFT is not found in CDMX.

In Flight & Arrival at Mexico City International Airport CDMX

We do not recommend you renting a car.

Mexico City driving is nothing like New York—lanes are fluid, traffic laws are loosely followed, and congestion is intense. Valet parking is limited and insurance/accident risks are not worth it.

Instead, book a rideshare (Uber or Didi) right from the airport app once you exit customs. Ignore random taxi offers inside. Your driver will meet you in a designated rideshare pickup area (the app will guide you). The cost is affordable—even for premium rides.

Expect the drive from the airport to central neighborhoods (Roma, Condesa, Polanco, Centro Histórico) to take 30–60 minutes, depending on traffic. This is a perfect moment to watch the city open itself to you: murals on overpasses, street vendors, and bougainvillea everywhere.

*TRAVEL TIP — Flights to Mexico City tend to be full, so pre-select your seat.

The airport is busy but well-organized. After passport control, you’ll collect luggage and walk through customs. If asked, mention you’re here for a wedding—easy, simple.

Luggage Porters: If you have heavy luggage, porters are available and inexpensive; tip them in pesos or USD.

Transportation: What to Do Once You Land

Check-in at Your Hotel

Most hotels and boutique stays are in Condesa/Roma/Polanco and have bilingual staff. English is widely spoken at higher-end hotels, but learning a few Spanish phrases is appreciated.

Have your passport and credit card ready. Most hotels also ask for a contact number. Tipping is customary for bellmen.

IN CITY GUIDE

OUR FAVORITE SUB CITIES WITHIN CDMX THAT WE RECOMMEND STAYING IN

Colonia Cuauhtémoc - PARK AVENUE or gramercy park

***Our Wedding Hotel Block is confirmed for Volga - Spots are limited to 20 blocks we encourage you to book immediately

Our hotel sits in Colonia Cuauhtémoc, a leafy and elegant neighborhood just off Mexico City’s grand boulevard, Paseo de la Reforma. This area has the feel of Park Avenue meets Gramercy Park—a mix of embassies, modern office towers, artful boutique hotels, and cafés tucked along quiet, tree-lined streets.

By day, it’s bustling with professionals, diplomats, and city life; by night, it becomes calm, polished, and residential. From here, you’re perfectly placed: just minutes by car or a short walk from the cultural heartbeats of Roma Norte and Condesa, and a quick ride to the galleries and luxury shops of Polanco.

Think of it as Mexico City’s stylish, cosmopolitan center, where you have the energy of Reforma at your doorstep and the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods just around the corner.

POLANCO — The Fifth Avenue of Mexico City

Polanco is polished. Wide, tree‑lined avenues lead to luxury boutiques, gleaming galleries, and some of the city’s most celebrated restaurants. It has the quiet confidence of old wealth mixed with new ambition—you’ll see high-end art galleries, jewel-box concept stores, embassies, and stately parks like Lincoln Park. Think Upper East Side and Madison Avenue with a Latin soul. If you want to dress up, browse designer shops, or settle in for a long, lavish meal at Pujol or Quintonil, this is where you come. It feels formal yet modern, understated but sophisticated.

**art collectors, Michelin-star dining, and luxury shopping.

Roma Norte – BROOKYN-meets-west village

Roma Norte is the city’s beating creative heart. Every block holds a surprise: a 19th-century mansion next to a sleek contemporary café, street murals bursting with color, tiny wine bars where chefs and artists gather late into the night. It is a Brooklyn-meets-West Village hybrid, full of stylish people on bicycles, concept galleries, artisanal bakeries, and award-winning restaurants. There’s a looseness here, a permission to wander: brunch turns into shopping, shopping turns into mezcal, mezcal turns into a late dinner. Roma is where you feel the city’s youthful ambition and its long, storied history at the same time.

**culinary adventures, independent galleries, and the avant-garde.

Condesa – Park slope or cobble hill

Condesa is Laid-back and chic. It curls itself around two lush, circular parks—Parque México and Parque España—like a quiet secret in the middle of a pulsing city. It’s leafy and romantic, full of Art Deco buildings painted in faded pastel tones, and dogs trotting happily beside their owners. Cafés spill onto sidewalks, boutique hotels hide behind ivy-covered walls, and there’s a stylish but relaxed rhythm to the day. Condesa feels like Park Slope or Cobble Hill if they suddenly discovered mezcal—artistic but softer than Roma, with a neighborly atmosphere. It’s perfect for a morning run, a slow breakfast, and people-watching under the jacaranda trees.

**lower pace, leafy beauty, and long, lazy afternoons.

What to Know About CDMX

  • Passport (always)

  • Credit/debit cards (chip and tap)

  • A copy of your wedding invitation (good for showing taxi/Uber drivers where you’re headed if there’s a private venue)

  • International roaming or eSIM for data

  • Universal adapter (Mexico uses the same plugs as the US, so you’re fine)

WHAT TO BRING/CARRY

March is dry-season, springtime in Mexico City:

  • Daytime: 70s °F (21–24 °C), sunny and warm

  • Evenings: 50s °F (10–14 °C), cooler, crisp air

  • Altitude: 7,000 feet—so the sun is strong, and nights cool quickly

  • Rain is rare, but weather can shift fast.

Like any big city, be aware of your surroundings, but CDMX is vibrant and welcoming. Use rideshares and enjoy exploring in groups.