Mexico City is privileged in the weather department since it enjoys a consistent temperature averaging the 70s most of the year. Evenings can be chilly so pack layers. Pack comfortable shoes since you might do lots of walking as you explore the city. Dress up if visiting high-end restaurants. Chilangos (locals) tend to be dressier and chic when going out.

Some restaurants and museums should be booked in advance. The Mexico City dining and bar scene is lively and includes some of the best restaurants in North America, and the world. You should book lunch or dinner reservations in advance if you have Pujol (https://pujol.com.mx/eng/) or Quintonil (https://quintonil.com/en/home-3/) on your list of places to eat. If traveling to Mexico City with friends or family, it's also worth booking lunch and dinner reservations in advance because it will be harder for sought-after restaurants and bars to accommodate walk-ins of large parties. Buy tickets to the Frida Kahlo Museum or the Luis Barragan House with plenty of time, and plan the itinerary of your trip around the reservations that are harder to get. February to early May and September to December are usually the busiest months to visit Mexico City, so plan around that if you prefer to avoid crowds.

Mexico City is a predominantly working-class city, and there is a lot of economic disparity in the service and hospitality industry. Consider a 15% tip as the standard and even 20% based on the full tab at restaurants, bars, and coffee shops or the amount paid for booking experiences and services. It is customary to tip the person who takes your luggage to your room in Mexico City around 100-200 MXN. This is equivalent to $5-10 USD. Service staff at restaurants and bars will ask if you wish to add a tip before swiping your card. On the other hand, if you decide to take a tour or hire a city guide, tip with cash, preferably in pesos. Tip taxi drivers 15%. If you hire a personal chauffeur throughout your trip, tipping will be expected. If you visit a supermarket and someone assists you in packing your groceries, tip 10 to 15 pesos.

A good rule of thumb is that you can brush your teeth, but do not swallow any tap water. Depending on the city borough, the quality and sanitation of the tap water might change. Consequently, Mexico City residents drink only filtered or bottled water. Since 2014, Mexico City restaurants have been required by local authorities to serve filtered water to consumers at no extra cost. Any ice used to prepare drinks, aguas frescas (fruity beverages), and cocktails is made with filtered water. Coffee shops and juice stands prepare beverages with filtered water as well.

Strolling around central neighborhoods like Roma, Polanco, Coyoacán or Condesa is way safer than walking, for example, in certain areas of cities such as San Francisco, Philadelphia, Phoenix, LA, Washington DC, or Chicago. In recent years, Mexico City's government has increased security patrols in most areas, and overall, the city is safe. As in any major city, be aware of your surroundings and always be mindful of your belongings. Watch out for petty crime and pickpocketing in tourist areas.

•Use a reputable taxi service or ride-sharing app. •Be aware of your surroundings and avoid walking alone at night. •Avoid wearing flashy jewelry and expensive watches around town. •Avoid using ATMs at night or in poorly lit areas. •Never go to a nightclub/bar/antro alone or leave someone by themselves. Everyone should be accounted for at the end of the night. •Avoid drinking too much alcohol, especially if you are alone (which you shouldn't be). •Be careful when crossing the street, as drivers can be erratic.

Drinking in the streets of Mexico City is illegal. If you get caught by the police drinking alcohol in the streets, you may face or fine or jail time. Avoid all drug use.

Stay hydrated to help with the altitude. Mexico City sits in a valley in the high Mexican central plateau with an elevation of 7,349 feet. You might notice you are more tired than usual after a day or two of arrival. Drink enough water and stay hydrated at all times. You might also experience that alcohol hits you faster here, and it is all because of the high elevation. Luckily, you can find bottles of electrolytes in every OXXO or 7-11 store. Locals call them electrolitos, and once you recognize the bottles, you will catch them everywhere.

Plan a four- to five-day trip to have enough time to explore the city's most popular neighborhoods (https://apple.news/A63Qh20B5QR2z4S43REJ6wQ) and attractions. If you wish to visit Teotihuacan (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/mexico/north-of-mexico-city/teotihuacan) – an archaeological site located 39km northeast of Mexico City (https://apple.news/A0o9G1602RWa4OGcIvN25Qw) – or Xochimilco's Cuemanco ecological area (http://www.xochimilco.cdmx.gob.mx/los-embarcaderos/) in the southern part of the city, set aside an entire morning for each activity since it can take around 1.5 hours to reach each destination coming from the central areas of the city. The National Museum of Archaeology (https://museu.ms/museum/details/16762/national-museum-of-anthropology) and the Chapultepec Castle (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/mexico/mexico-city/polanco-and-bosque-de-chapultepec/attractions/castillo-de-chapultepec/a/poi-sig/1382610/1342809) deserve at least four or five hours of your time. Allow a full day to walk around Centro Histórico (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/mexico/mexico-city/centro-historico) (Mexico City's downtown area), visiting sites such as Bellas Artes (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/mexico/mexico-city/alameda-central/attractions/palacio-de-bellas-artes/a/poi-sig/1146839/1342811), the Diego Rivera murals (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/mexico/mexico-city/alameda-central/attractions/museo-mural-diego-rivera/a/poi-sig/375891/1342811), Catedral Metropolitana (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/mexico/mexico-city/centro-historico/attractions/catedral-metropolitana/a/poi-sig/375723/1342806), and Templo Mayor (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/mexico/mexico-city/centro-historico/attractions/templo-mayor/a/poi-sig/376007/1342806). Give yourself some time to experience Mexico City's pace of life. It can be hectic but quiet enough to enjoy a coffee or a cocktail and unwind.