Mexico
Mexico combines ancient pyramids, colonial silver towns, Caribbean reefs and one of the world's great food cultures. Chichén Itzá's step pyramid is among the most recognisable Maya monuments, Oaxaca is a pilgrimage for mole and mezcal, and Mexico City rivals any capital for museums. The highland cities stay mild all year, while the coasts are hot year-round.
Overview
Mexico is enormous, about eight times the size of the UK, so most first trips focus on one region. The classic choices are central Mexico, combining Mexico City with Teotihuacan, Puebla, Oaxaca and the colonial towns of Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende; or the Yucatán Peninsula, linking Cancún's airport with Mérida, Chichén Itzá, Tulum and swims in cenotes. Chiapas, with San Cristóbal de las Casas and the jungle ruins of Palenque, connects the two. The north is less visited but holds the Copper Canyon railway and Baja California's whale-watching lagoons.
Travel is good value away from the Caribbean resort strip: comfortable first-class buses, cheap street food and characterful guesthouses keep costs down, while Tulum and Cancún charge resort prices. The Yucatán's big sites are packed by mid-morning in high season, so start early. Mexico works for backpackers, families and food-focused trips alike, and its range of climates means somewhere is pleasant in any month. Visitors are often surprised by Mexico City's altitude and its world-class restaurants, by the sheer number of regional cuisines, and by how warmly they are welcomed in small towns.
Map of Mexico
Top 5 highlights
- 1History
Chichén Itzá
The great Maya city of the Yucatán, dominated by the El Castillo pyramid, whose staircase casts a serpent of light and shadow at the equinoxes. Arrive at opening time, before the day-trippers from Cancún, and cool off in a nearby cenote.
- 2Food
Oaxaca
A colonial city of green-stone churches and markets, famed for its seven moles, tlayudas, chocolate and mezcal. Use it as a base for the Zapotec hilltop city of Monte Albán, craft villages and the mineral cascades of Hierve el Agua.
- 3History
Teotihuacan
An hour north-east of Mexico City, this vast pre-Aztec city is laid out along the Avenue of the Dead between the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon. Arrive early to beat the heat, or see it at dawn from a hot-air balloon.
- 4Beach
Tulum and the Riviera Maya cenotes
Maya ruins perched on a cliff above a turquoise Caribbean beach, with freshwater cenotes such as Gran Cenote and Dos Ojos nearby for swimming and snorkelling. Tulum town is expensive; neighbouring Akumal is good for snorkelling with turtles.
- 5Adventure
Copper Canyon
A network of canyons in the Sierra Madre Occidental, larger overall than the Grand Canyon and deeper in places. Ride the Chepe train between Los Mochis and Chihuahua, stopping at Divisadero and Creel to hike and meet Rarámuri communities.
Biggest cities
Mexico City
Give it at least four days: the Zócalo and Templo Mayor, the National Museum of Anthropology, Frida Kahlo's Casa Azul, the restaurants of Roma and Condesa, and Xochimilco's canal boats.
Monterrey
A wealthy industrial city ringed by dramatic mountains; worth a stop for the Macroplaza, the Horno3 steelworks museum, roast cabrito and climbing in Parque La Huasteca.
Guadalajara
The home of mariachi and tequila, with a handsome cathedral, Orozco's murals at the Hospicio Cabañas and easy day trips to the agave fields around the town of Tequila.
Ranked by urban-area population where available. Figures are rounded estimates, and sources define city limits differently, so rankings of similar-sized cities can vary.
Holiday regions in Mexico
These areas have their own season and weather — see their guides for sea temperatures, resorts and flights.
When to go to Mexico
Best time: Nov–Apr.
Average climate in Mexico City
Festivals & events
- JulGuelaguetza
Oaxaca's great July festival, when dance troupes from across the state perform in the hillside auditorium on two consecutive Mondays, surrounded by parades and mezcal fairs.
- SepIndependence Day
On the night of 15 September the president re-enacts the Grito de Dolores from the National Palace balcony to a packed Zócalo, followed by fireworks, pozole and parades on the 16th.
- Oct–NovDía de Muertos
Around 1–2 November, families welcome back the dead with marigold-decked altars, candlelit graveyard vigils and sugar skulls; Oaxaca, Pátzcuaro and Mexico City are the best places to see it.
How much does Mexico cost?
Estimates per person per day, excluding flights. Prices vary by season and city.
Food to try
Tacos al pastor
Pork marinated in chilli and achiote and cooked on a vertical spit, an idea brought by Lebanese immigrants, shaved onto small tortillas with pineapple, onion and coriander.
Mole
A complex sauce of chillies, spices, nuts and sometimes chocolate; Puebla's mole poblano and Oaxaca's seven moles are the benchmarks, usually served over chicken or turkey.
Cochinita pibil
Yucatecan pork marinated in sour orange and achiote, slow-cooked in banana leaves and served in tacos or tortas with pickled red onions.
Getting around
Long-distance travel is mostly by comfortable first-class buses run by ADO, ETN and Primera Plus, or by cheap domestic flights on Volaris, Viva and Aeroméxico. The Tren Maya now links Cancún, Mérida, Palenque and Tulum, and the Chepe train crosses the Copper Canyon. Uber and DiDi work in the big cities, Mexico City's metro is very cheap, and hiring a car is easy in the Yucatán.
Practical information
- Plugs & voltage
- AB127V — bring a UK-to-A/B adapter
- Emergency numbers
- Telephone: 911 (ambulance, fire, police)
- Mexico City Tourist Police: Telephone: (0052) 55 5207 4155
- WhatsApp: (0052) 55 4891 1166
Source: FCDO “Getting help”
- Dialling code
- +52
- Time zones
- UTC-6, UTC-5, UTC-7, UTC-8 (standard time)
- Tap water
- Not safe — drink bottled or treated water
- Driving
- On the right
- Tipping
- Tip 10–15% in sit-down restaurants (check whether a 'propina' has been added), plus small change for petrol attendants, supermarket packers and guides.
- Etiquette
- Say 'buenos días' or 'buenas tardes' when entering shops and lifts. Meals are unhurried, and the waiter won't bring the bill until you ask for 'la cuenta'.
- Main airports
- Mexico City International Airport (MEX), Mexico City; Cancún International Airport (CUN), Cancún; Guadalajara International Airport (GDL), Guadalajara
Visas & entry for Mexico
Shown for a British passport.
No visa needed
If you’re visiting Mexico as a tourist, you do not need a visa. You’ll get a stamp in your passport with the number of days you are allowed to stay.
British nationals entering Mexico by land must fill in an immigration form online.
From the UK government's FCDO entry requirements for British passport holders — read the full page for passport validity, permits and exceptions.
Health & vaccinations
- Recommended for most travellers
- Hepatitis ATetanusTyphoid
- Sometimes advised — depends on your trip, activities and health
- ChikungunyaDengueMeaslesRabies
- Yellow fever certificate
- No yellow fever certificate is required to enter.
- Malaria
- Very low risk of malaria
- There is a very low risk of malaria in Mexico: awareness of risk and bite avoidance recommended.
Source: TravelHealthPro (National Travel Health Network and Centre), checked 21 October 2026. This is a summary, not medical advice.
Public holidays in Mexico
The next 12 months. Banks, offices and some sights may close, and transport and hotels get busy around these dates.
| Mon 16 Nov 2026 | Revolution Day |
| Fri 25 Dec 2026 | Christmas Day |
| Fri 1 Jan 2027 | New Year's Day |
| Mon 1 Feb 2027 | Constitution Day |
| Mon 15 Mar 2027 | Benito Juárez's birthday |
| Sat 1 May 2027 | Labour Day |
| Thu 16 Sep 2027 | Independence Day |
National holidays only. Dates based on lunar calendars can move by a day or two depending on official announcements.
Useful phrases in Spanish
| English | Spanish | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Hola | OH-lah |
| Thank you | Gracias | GRAH-see-ahs |
| Please | Por favor | por fah-VOR |
| Excuse me | Disculpe | dees-KOOL-peh |
| How much is this? | ¿Cuánto cuesta? | KWAN-toh KWES-tah |
Know before you go
- Use ATMs inside banks or shopping centres, and always choose to be charged in pesos rather than pounds when a machine or card terminal offers a conversion.
- Mexico City sits at about 2,240m: take the first day gently, drink plenty of water and pack layers, as mornings and evenings are cool even when afternoons are warm.
- Sargassum seaweed can blanket Caribbean beaches between roughly April and September, so check recent reports before booking a beach stay in Cancún, Playa del Carmen or Tulum.
Mexico travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Mexico?
The best time to visit Mexico is generally Nov–Apr. Peak months are January, February, March and November. Average highs in Mexico City range from 22°C to 27°C across the year.
How much does a trip to Mexico cost per day?
Roughly £40 a day on a tight budget, £95 mid-range and £210+ for comfortable travel, per person including accommodation, food and local transport. Flights are extra.
What currency is used in Mexico?
Mexican peso (MXN).
What plug type does Mexico use?
Type A and B sockets at 127V. UK visitors need a travel adapter — UK Type G plugs will not fit.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Mexico?
Traffic drives on the right in Mexico, unlike the UK.
Is tap water safe to drink in Mexico?
Not safe — drink bottled or treated water.
Do I need a visa for Mexico?
For British passport holders, the FCDO says: If you’re visiting Mexico as a tourist, you do not need a visa. Entry rules change, so check the official FCDO entry requirements for Mexico before you travel: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/mexico/entry-requirements
What vaccinations do I need for Mexico?
TravelHealthPro recommends Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Typhoid for most travellers, with Chikungunya, Dengue, Measles and Rabies sometimes advised depending on your trip. Make sure routine UK vaccinations are up to date and see a travel health professional 6–8 weeks before you go.
