Navigating Mexico City's Public Transportation

Navigating North America's largest city is a daunting task. Luckily, since many of the city's residents do not own cars, there are a few very straightforward methods of getting from point A to point B. Starting from the very beginning of your trip at the airport, visitors will have a number of transportation options that are broken down for you here so you can best plan your trip to meet you and your fellow travelers' needs.

From the Airport

Mexico City is served by Benito Juarez which, like many modern airports, is accessible via a local monorail system. For security purposes, the monorail is only available to those with airplane tickets, stubs or receipts. Otherwise, people must take a taxi or the city bus in order to get to the airport. And the subway is also nearby. Since there are so many public transit options near the airport, the best way to figure out which one to take is to find out which mode of transportation is closest to your destination or hotel. Calling the hotel may be the easiest way to find out how to best get to their location from the airport. Just make sure to have a few pesos on hand so you have the option of taking any method of transportation. Not all of them take credit cards or U.S. dollars.

Related: Best Family-Friendly Restaurants In Mexico City

Subway

The Mexico City subway system, or "metro," offers 12 lines of transit that travel to about 200 stops throughout the city. The metro, which is formally called the Sistema de Transporte Colectivo or the "STC" by the locals, is the second largest subway system in North America, making it one of the most convenient and cost-efficient ways of getting around the city. The subway lines are color coded and fairly easy to navigate. Print out a map of the subway system and you'll be good to go.

Train

The train is not really necessary for guests planning to stay within downtown Mexico City, but those looking to take day trips to nearby cities and suburbs will definitely be interested in looking into train options. Mexico City is served by the national rail system which serves most of northern Mexico. Though there aren't nearly as many passenger trains as there are freight trains serving the area, this is going to change over the next few years. Construction of a new high-speed passenger rail line between Mexico City, Puebla and Tlaxcala will open in 2018.

Bus

The Mexico City Metrobus is another public transit option that is easily accessible in most parts of the city. However, due to the sheer size of the city, the bus is best used for shorter trips. The bus system is actually a network of much smaller bus systems that operate throughout the city's neighborhoods. These neighborhood systems are then connected by five major bus lines that traverse the entire city. The bus system is essential to Mexico City's economy - about a million people rely on the Metrobus every single day.

Related: Top 10 Reasons To Vacation In Mexico City

Other Options

Like every other city, Mexico City has a taxi system. Taxis are by far the most comfortable way to travel throughout the city and may be the best choice for business people. Taxis are essential for visitors from the U.S. that do not speak Spanish because renting a car would make getting lost quite easy - and dangerous. Though cabs are comfortable, it is recommended that visitors exercise caution because some cab companies have been linked to kidnapping. All in all, the subway system might be a quicker and safer way to travel throughout the city.

Cameron Bruns is the founder of BostonGreenBlog.com and co-author of Just Us Gals Boston. She lives in Boston's North End, where her goal is to promote ethical, stylish, and sustainable lifestyle choices to all Boston residents. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.