Banks: 08:00 to 19:00, Monday to Friday
Post Offices: 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday
Department Stores and Shops: 10:00 to 22:00, daily
Museums: times vary
Business Offices: 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday

Mexico City, like most large urban areas, suffers from high levels of petty crime. There are a number of children living on the streets who have become masters at pick-pocketing. Crime is often their only means of survival so you should always keep a tight hold of your belongings and never flash cash around in public if you do not want to become a target.

Violent crime is a concern in the city. Mexico has the highest number of kidnappings in the world, with many of them taking place in crowded areas where you think you would be safe. It is common for kidnappers to pose as taxi drivers as it is relatively easy to kidnap unsuspecting tourists this way. Never get in an unlicensed cab as you may find that you are held captive until your bank account has been cleared out.

Police: 060

120V, 60Hz; round two-pin European plugs are the norm.

The city has a serious pollution problem which leads to many people suffering from lung conditions. Much of the pollution is trapped by the surrounding mountains. If you suffer from any allergies or asthma, you should avoid Mexico City in the summer months.

Before travelling to Mexico City, you should get vaccinated against typhoid and make sure that you are up to date with vaccinations such as tetanus and hepatitis A. There have been cases of cholera and salmonella in recent years. Never drink water from the tap and be careful when eating food from street vendors; always make sure that it is completely cooked.

Ambulance: 061 (English speaking service)
Hospital General de Mexico: +52 5578 4346

The official language of Mexico is Spanish, but there are over 50 different dialects spoken by the indigenous people. The most common of these are Nahuatl and various Mayan dialects.

The peso is the currency of Mexico and it is divided into 100 centavos. Banknotes can be found in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 pesos, while coins come in denominations of 10, 20 and 50 centavos as well as 1, 2, 10 and 20 pesos.

There are plenty of ATMs across the city which allows you to take money out whenever you need it. In recent years, this has become the most popular way to exchange money. Most large shops and restaurants take credit cards although you should always carry cash on you just in case. If you do want to change foreign currency while in the city, US dollars are by far the most widely accepted currency.

You can change money and travellers’ cheques at banks or casas de cambio (exchange bureaux).

Customs officials in Mexico are notorious for carrying out random searches so you need to ensure you are only carrying permissible goods. On entry into the country, you are permitted to bring in two cartons of cigarettes or 50 cigars plus 1 kilogram of smoking tobacco; two one-litre bottles of wine or hard liquor; and 12 rolls of camera film. You will have no problem bringing a laptop computer or camera equipment into the country, as long as you are not carrying large quantities of goods for re-sale.

There are not many rules of etiquette which need to be followed on a holiday in Mexico; however, there are some points to note. The usual way to greet people is with a handshake and women will often kiss each other on the cheek. First names are normally used on introductions, unless you are at a business meeting.

Many of the restaurants operate no-smoking polices which should be heeded at all times to avoid a fine. There are many outside areas available to those who smoke. If you are at a business function, you should not smoke unless you host lights up first. If your host does not smoke, it is considered rude to smoke in front of him or her.

Photographing locals can cause problems so you should always make sure that you have permission before snapping away. Never take photos of the military or the inside of any church while there is a service taking place as this is considered disrespectful.

Dining Etiquette
Mexicans live to eat. They frequent restaurants and take great pride in their cooking. A typical dining routine is to have a small breakfast, a very large lunch and a light dinner. Lunches are usually started in the early afternoon and can last for up to three hours. This means that dinner is not usually served until after 21:00. Most locals will eat at a restaurant for lunch and take their time over their courses, with this being a popular time to socialise.

Generally, waiters who work in small, cheap restaurants do not expect to be tipped although one will be appreciated. The more expensive restaurants will usually expect a top of between 10 and 15 per cent of the bill.

When entering the country, you must be able to show a Mexican Tourist Permit (FMT), which is a tourist visa. These are issued free of charge when you arrive to nationals of most countries. You will receive the relevant forms, which will need to be filled out, on your flight. This visa is more important than your passport so you must make sure you never lose it. The FMT can be issued for up to 180 days and you must inform immigration if you are planning on staying longer.

Mexico City’s tourist information office is open everyday from 08:00 until 18:00 and can be found at:

Amberes 54
Esq. Londres Col. Juarez
06600
Mexico
Phone: +52 553 3 4700