Mexico City is one of the most vibrant cities in the world. And if you plan your Mexico City itinerary effectively, it can be one of the most rewarding places to visit with little ones.
However, due to the nature of Mexico’s capital, it can also be a challenging place to be with small children if you don’t get your planning right in advance.
Here are four things you might hate about visiting Mexico City with kids.
1. The Traffic Is Crazy
With more than 25 million inhabitants, Mexico City is an extremely busy place. Despite having one of the largest subway systems in the world, the car is still king.
When you’re within specific neighbourhoods — La Condesa, Roma, Polanco — it can feel like you’re a world away from the busiest streets. However, if you’re planning to move around in a hire car, Uber, or taxi, be prepared to sit in some very long and time-consuming traffic jams. Lots of data suggests it is one of the most congested cities in the world.
Whatever you do, do not be on the road in the rush hours at the start and the end of the day. They are energy-sapping. We made this mistake, and it took us almost two hours to complete the fairly short drive from Coyoacan back to our Airbnb in Polanco.
At least Harriet and Luca had fun taking selfies in the back of the taxi!
2. Everything Is Really Far Apart
Mexico City is big — really big. That means that it can take a long time to get between places of interest. And we all know that kids don’t take well to long periods of downtime, especially when they’re on holiday!
With that in mind, it might be better to focus on a specific part of the city, explore everything it has to see, then come back to a different area in the future. Of course, that is not always possible, depending on where you are travelling from. However, if you are planning on returning in the future, it is definitely one of the best approaches.
3. It Is Not Stroller-Friendly
Most cities in Mexico lack wide sidewalks and even surfaces, and Mexico City is no different.
Don’t get us wrong, there are plenty of areas where you can enjoy a leisurely walk with the kids in a stroller. But don’t expect to be able to look at a map and automatically assume you can walk between the various points you want to visit. The lack of good city-wide sidewalks, paired with the crazy traffic, can make for a harrowing experience.
Once again, this is a mistake we made ourselves when we tried to walk between two sections of Chapultepec Park. We had to commission the help of a friendly policeman to get over a double bridge that crossed a huge multi-lane highway. On the map, it looked like it would be relaxing walk!
4. The Air Quality
Mexico City has suffered from an air quality issue for many years. The heavy reliance on cars, the surrounding mountains, and the high altitude are a dangerous mix.
After a day out and about, it is definitely possible to feel the dirt in the back of your throat. And with the city sitting at more than 2000 metres above sea level, the air is much thinner than what you might be accustomed to back home. If you suffer from asthma or your kids have breathing problems, make sure you take appropriate precautions.
What Is Your Least Favourite Thing About Mexico City?
Have you visited Mexico City? Did you feel the same way that we did about the downside of visiting with kids? Let us know in the comments below.
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