Benito Juárez Airport is close to the city centre and transport takes between 20 and 45 minutes, depending on the time of day and the type of transport chosen.
Public transport
As the two terminals are on opposite sides of the airport, each building can be reached from the centre by different methods and in slightly different times.
Bus number 4 (Terminals 1 and 2)
Metrobus bus line 4 serves both terminals. Line 4 is an express service and stops only at the stops marked on the map below.
The bus circles the entire historic centre, stopping at San Lazaro bus station (TAPO station) and Buenavista train station.
The airport is only served by services marked as "Ruta Norte" or "Ruta Aeropuerto". Buses with destination "Pantitlán" or "Ruta Sur" do not serve the airport.
- Price: 30 mxn + 21 mxn for a recharge card
- Travel time: 40 minutes from Terminal 1; 55-60 minutes from Terminal 2
- Frequency: 5-7 minutes
- Last bus from the airport - 0:01 (from both terminals)
- First bus to airport - 4:30
- Official website: metrobus.cdmx.gob.mx
Tickets
To pay your fare, you must purchase a "Metro Card" for 21 mxn from the machine in the arrivals hall or at the bus stop (the cost of the card is not included in the fare). When you buy it, you charge the card directly to the amount of your choice.
The Metro Card can also be topped up at any time at the machines at each metro or metrobus station.
One ride on line 4 to/from the airport costs 30 mxn. Travel on other lines of the Metrobus system works out at 4 mxn. Check the official website for current ticket prices: metrobus.cdmx.gob.mx.
Metro Line 5 (Terminal 1)
The metro is only a complementary option to the airport. The "Terminal Aérea" station is located approximately 5-8 minutes on foot from Terminal 1 and is clearly marked by a pedestrian corridor.
The nearest station to Terminal 2 is called Pantitlán and is approximately 2 km from the building. The pedestrian route is not through a nice neighbourhood and is very inconvenient. Use the bus instead to get to the centre from Terminal 2.
The yellow line 5 runs through the station, connecting the airport with the northern part of the city and the long-distance bus station "Terminal del Norte".
Line 5 doesn't go to the historic centre and to get to the centre of Mexico City you have to change to line B at Oceanía station or go the other way to Pantitlán terminal, where you can use line 1 to get to the centre.
For a map of the metro network and more information, visit the official website: metro.cdmx.gob.mx/la-red.
- Price: 5 mxn + 21 mxn for a recharge card
- Journey time: 35-40 minutes to the historic centre, changing at Oceanía station
- Frequency: 3-5 minutes
- Last metro from the airport - 0:03
- First metro to the airport - 5:00 am (7:00 am on Sundays)
Tickets
To pay your fare, you must purchase a "Metro Card" for 21 mxn from the machine in the arrivals hall or at the bus stop (the cost of the card is not included in the fare). When you buy it, you charge the card directly to the amount of your choice.
The Metro Card can also be topped up at any time at the machines at each metro or metrobus station.
The metro fare is symbolic and amounts to 5 mxn. The price also applies on the airport line. There are no turnstiles during transfers, so for 5 pesos you can get anywhere in the city from the airport with a transfer.
Taxi, Uber
You can get to the airport in regular taxis, and there's also a mobile app called Uber in Mexico City.
Official airport taxis are always pre-paid. In both terminals, you'll find taxi counters in the arrivals halls where you tell your destination and pay for the taxi.
You no longer discuss the price with the taxi driver, you just show the receipt.
The normal price of a classic taxi to the historic centre is 300 mxn. The price of an Uber service especially during off-peak hours (midday and late evening) can be even less than 170 mxn.
Renting a car
If you will only be staying in Mexico City during your stay, renting a car is definitely not worth it due to the heavy and chaotic traffic.
However, if you're heading straight from the airport to explore Mexico's natural beauty and countryside, renting a car is a convenient and cheap option.
Many international car rental counters are located in both terminals and weekly rental rates start at 4 000 mxn.
Long-distance buses
Long-distance buses to other Mexican cities also stop at the airport near both terminals.
The airport is served by the ADO and Primera Plus bus companies. Timetables and online ticketing can be found on the website:
- ADO: book.distribusion.com/ADO
- Primera Plus: primeraplus.com.mx
The airport does not appear in the drop-down booking system. You have to type "Mexico City Aeropuerto" in the box.
Buses from the airport serve the following destinations:
- Puebla - ADO, approx. once per hour, price from 396 mxn
- Córdoba - ADO, 1x per day, price from 586 mxn
- Santiago de Querétaro - Primera Plus, approx. 1x per hour, price from 500 mxn
- Celaya - Primera Plus, 3 times a day, price from 675 mxn
- San Juan del Río - Primera Plus, 1x per day, price from 375 mxn
