Dangerous and Safe Areas in Mexico City
Staying Safe in CDMX
The Myths and the Reality
Mexico City doesn’t exactly have the best PR team. Type “Mexico City safety” into Google and you’ll get a bunch of U.S. State Department warnings, overblown travel advisories, and wild blog posts that make it sound like you’ll be kidnapped the second you land.
Reality: 23 million people live in CDMX’s metro area. They go to work, send their kids to school, and live their lives without daily disaster. If the city was as dangerous as the headlines say, it wouldn’t function. Mexico City actually ends up being safer than a lot of big american cities.
Is Mexico Safe? Safer than the United States
After a group of Americans were kidnapped and killed around Matamoros, Mexico, Mexico's President AMLO decided to take a stand against all the people claiming that Mexico is "dangerous." His claim is that the criticism is extremely overhyped and America should be worried about its own increasingly dangerous cities. I can say I have lived here for multip…
Still… It’s not Tokyo or Zurich. CDMX has pockets of extreme wealth, poverty, and crime, sometimes within a few blocks of each other. One street feels like Paris with fancy restaurants and dog walkers; the next is you wandered into a bad movie set.
If you have a lot of street smarts. I think you can just look around and tell when youre in a bad part of town. But also given even some nicer areas might have pockets of disrepair.. here is a short guide to help in terms of
Which neighborhoods are safer for foreigners to live, work, or party ect
Which ones actually have risks
The street level smarts to help you out
What scams, traps, and bad decisions you might want to look out for .
I'll also write this in terms of whether youre visiting for a weekend or actually looking for a place to live long term.
Mexico City’s Geography of Safety
Slight amou of history, there are 16 boroughs (“alcaldías”) and hundreds of colonias (neighborhoods). Each has its own reputation, social class, and level of policing. Crime here is hyper local. It doesn’t really spread into other neighborhoods like in Americans cities.
But a general rule of thumb is..
North & East CDMX -Working-class and industrial zones. More poverty, more crime. Iztapalapa, Gustavo A. Madero, and Ecatepec (just outside city limits) are the names you’ll hear in crime stats.
South & West CDMX - Wealthier and more secure. Think Polanco, Roma, Condesa, Santa Fe, San Ángel. These have more police, more private security, and more foreigners.
Centro → Mixed bag. Packed with history, culture, and tourists by day; empties out and gets sketchy after dark.
It’s not really as simple as “safe” vs. “unsafe.” Most crime in CDMX is opportunistic: muggings, phone theft, scams. Foreigners aren’t targeted by cartels here. The danger comes from being in the wrong place at the wrong time or acting like an obvious target.
Areas with Higher Risk
Tepito
Tepito has a rep of being CDMX’s black market hub, famous for counterfeit goods,crime and boxers. Yes, you can buy anything there sneakers, pirated DVDs, fake iPhones, a animal to sacrifice…maybe even a rocket launcher if you ask around. Even many locals won’t go there, especially at night. Its kinda a place where some people visit in the day or weekend for the markets..but after dark is really a place where if youre not from there..everyone will spot you
Doctores
Ironically close to Roma, has gotten better over the years, but deeper into the hood, its still… a hood.. Doctores is notorious for car theft and assaults. In the daytime, you’ll see auto shops and the wrestling arena; at night, it gets rough. I personally dont think its that bad anymore, but a lot of uber drivers will do whatever they can to not drive through there and even if you live in a nicer part of the barrio, people will still look at you funny if you mention living there.
Iztapalapa
Home to millions.. its culturally interesting but it consistently ranks among the highest in crime. For most foreigners, there’s no reason to go. The risk-to-reward ratio just isnt there. I have a couple friends from there and have visited. But Its not even near anything that the average foreigner needs to venture into or live there.
Gustavo A. Madero (La Raza, Indios Verdes)
These are major transport hubs with tons of foot traffic. Which also means means pickpockets, phone snatchers, and the occasional assault. The metro here is chaos during rush hour. Not worth going to this area
Nezahualcóyotl (“Neza”)
Technically Estado de México, but it borders CDMX. This sprawling working-class suburb has improved over the years, but it’s still high risk, especially at night. If you’re dating, you will inevitable meet girls from this area and its a hassle to get them back and forth. The people arent bad, but Neza was originally a slum that just got incorporated. The infrastructure is bad, it experiences a lot of flooding during the rainy season. No matter how attractive the girl is.. Just bring her to youre area. Dont go here.
El Centro at Night
During the day, Centro Histórico is full of families, tourists, and police. Once the shops close, it empties out fast. Key is that,when you see most of the street vendors leaving..you should do. It has gotten better over the years. There are occasional parties there. Buildings are getting renovated all day. But theres still a big homeless population and Its not a place I would walk around alone unless I know exactly where im going.
Areas Generally Considered Safer
Now the good news: Mexico City has plenty of neighborhoods where you can live, eat, party, and feel relatively secure.
Polanco
Think Beverly Hills with tacos. Polanco is home to embassies, luxury boutiques, and some of the city’s fanciest apartments. Police and private security are everywhere. But don’t get cocky thogut muggings happen here too, especially around nightlife spots simply because people know theres money here.
While not random at all, there have been a couple cartel hits in the malls here.
Roma Norte & Condesa
The hipster heart of the city. Cafés, parks, trendy bars, expats, and digital nomads everywhere. Safe overall, but phones vanish in bars occasionally. Watch your stuff, especially at night. Cops are really the biggest threat here. They love to stop solo walkers or anyone that looks like theyve been drinking and try to get a bribe
Coyoacán
Colonial charm, cobblestone streets, and Frida Kahlo’s house. Family friendly, artsy, and calmer than Roma or Condesa. Great for long-term living. But in my opinion..boring
Santa Fe
CDMX’s business district. Skyscrapers, malls, and gated condos. Super safe but sterile feels more like Dallas than Mexico. If you like living in a bubble, it works
Its a bit far from the main action of the city. But this is one of the rare areas where Ive seen upper class little kids just playing solo in parks.
San Ángel & Del Valle
Middle to upper-class residential areas. Quiet, leafy streets. Popular with families and professionals. Safe, local vibe.
Bosques de las Lomas & Interlomas
Wealthy suburbs with mansions, malls, and golf courses. Very safe, but car-dependent
Emergencies & Who to Call 🚨
911 - Same as america Police, fire, ambulance. Works citywide.
Tourist Police → English-speaking officers patrol Centro Histórico and Polanco. Look for their uniforms.
U.S. Embassy +52 55 5080 2000 (if you’re American, they’ll connect you with lawyers/family).
Pro tip: Don’t expect English on emergency calls. Learn some Spanish or have a bilingual friend available.
Nightlife & Dating Safety
Drinks: Honestly not really an issue. I’ve only heard of two people getting drinks spiked in the last year. Its not a problem like parts of colombia but keep them in sight and dont be a target
Apps: Tinder/Bumble are popular, but scams exist. I’ve only heard of once instance of a dude getting robbed from tinder. But its never not going to happen
Building security: If you’re dating, it helps to live in a place with doormen
Walking home: As long as your walk is less than like 15 minutes. You’re fine. As long as your not drunk, youre fine. The biggest issue for a man or woman walking home is police trying to stop you and claim they saw you with drugs.
General Street Smarts
Don’t use your phone while walking in Centro or on the metro. Phone snatchings are the biggest crime. Locals and foreigners get their phones snatched all the time.
Don’t flash jewelry, watches, or expensive cameras, which is obvious anywhere in the world
if you want to be extra safe carry a “dummy wallet” with a little cash. Keep your real money/cards elsewhere.
But at the end of the day - Trust your gut. If you arent built for it. dont risk it
Transport:
Uber, Didi, Beat > Street Taxis. Always. Street taxis can still pull the old “express kidnapping” scam / not running the meter, or just be a general pain to negotiate with
Sitio taxis are fine - they’re official and called from stands.
Metro is safe in the day, crowded, and dirt cheap. At night, avoid.
Buses are a gamble. If you’re new, skip them.
Tourist Traps & Scams
Plaza Garibaldi: Yes, it’s the mariachi square. By day, it’s fun. At night, sketchy and people get addressive since its one of the few places where you can openly drink
Centro Street Vendors: often Aggressive, overpriced. Say no and move on. They are often running little tricks and scams - the food is fine now
Fake police: Not common anymore, but they stop tourists, ask for ID, and demand bribes. In general, I just ignore all police. Even if they are real, there usually no reason for a police officer to stop you. So if they say anything to you, dont even break stride.
End of the day..
Nowhere in Mexico City is 100% safe. Polanco has occasional muggings. Condesa has break-ins at night because some places are street level. Santa Fe has had kidnapping in the past for being a higher end family place... But most of this crime is opportunistic, not targeted. Being a local will probably make you more a target than a foreigner in a lot of setting.
But ig you act like a clueless foreigner, flashing your iPhone, walking drunk down an empty street, taking random street taxis..you’re painting a target on your back for opportunists