The Ultimate Mexico City Packing List
What to pack for Mexico City
Most Mexico packing lists are designed for trips to tropical beach towns. But packing for Mexico City, the country’s capital, is very different.
Whether you plan to stroll the streets of Roma Norte, marvel at the ancient ruins of Teotihuacán, take in the best cityscapes, or all of the above, my carefully designed Mexico City packing list will ensure that you have everything needed to make the most of your time in this diverse metropolis.
This Mexico City packing list is exactly what I use whenever I travel to CDMX (Ciudad de Mexico), regardless of season. Funny enough, if I don’t reference my own packing lists, I tend to forget essential things at home.
For background, I’m an avid Mexico traveler and frequent visitor to Mexico City. I’ve visited the city in every season, and my trips have ranged from less than 24 hours to just over a week.
👋🏽 Note from the author: Did this article impact the way you planned your trip? Have any questions? Please comment at the end of the article! It helps this blog grow and helps me know what types of articles to write more. 💛
🇲🇽 My Mexico City Favorites 🇲🇽
🌚 Hot Air Ballon Ride over the Sun and Moon Temples: Watch the sunrise over ancient Aztec temples at Teotithuacan from a hot air balloon (or stay grounded on a Teotihuacan walking tour).
🛶 Xochimilco and Frida Kahlo Day Trip: Join a floating fiesta boat ride through the ancient canals of Xochimilco then a visit Frida Kahlo’s iconic ‘Blue House’ on this brilliant guided day trip.
🚠 Discover Mexico City’s best hidden gems: Choose from my 21 favorite Mexico City hidden gems and explore lesser known parts of the city!
👟 Wander through Mexico City’s most vibrant neighborhoods: Head to Coyoacan (colorful part of town that Frida Kahlo called home), Roma Norte (lowkey greenery-filled neighborhood), and/or Condesa (a small but lively neighborhood).
🌿 Where to Stay: One-of-a-kind boutique luxury room at La Valise in Roma, a high end yet affordable room beside Parque Mexico at Casa Mannach in Coyoacan, or a charming budget-friendly room at NaNa Vida in Roma.
What to Pack for a Trip to Mexico City
Mexico City is such an enchanting and surprising place!
If you’ve never visited before, you’re in for a treat! And if you have already strolled the streets of Ciudad de Mexico (CDMX for short, Mexico City in Spanish) and are heading back again, you’ll be in for a treat as well.
No matter how many times I journey to this stunning capital city, I always find new things to do and yummy things to eat.
But before we can enjoy all that CDMX has to offer, we have to get there! And before we leave, we must pack.
I complied this Mexico City packing list based on my own extensive experience traveling to Mexico City on various occasions throughout the year.
Without further ado, here are my top recommendations on what to bring to Mexico City:
Mexico City Packing List Essentials
Let’s start with the things you should always pack for Mexico City, regardless of time of year or length of stay.
Sun Protectant
Unless you’re only visiting CDMX for a few hours on your way to another destination, you’ll need need sunscreen, sunglasses, and other sun protectant. Even on colder days, the Mexico City sun is very strong because of the city’s high elevation.
SunScreen
Sunscreen can be difficult to find (and expensive) in Mexico. Get yours ahead of time and protect that gorgeous skin!
SunGlasses
Get an extra pair (or two) of sunglasses—you’ll thank me later! I love SOJOS sunglasses.
Hat
It doesn’t matter if its a ball cap, a wide brim straw hat, or an athletic sunhat, all can shield you from the sun.
Walking Shoes
Most Mexico City itineraries will include a great deal of walking. During my recent trip to Mexico City, I walked over 20,000 steps one day exploring Roma and Condesa, and I was so glad I had comfortable walking shoes.
Regardless of the time of year or weather forecast, I always bring at least one pair of Birkenstock sandals and sneakers to Mexico City. And if you see any of my travel photos (in Mexico City and beyond), I’ll likely be wearing Birks. They’re breathable, cute (depending on style), and comfortable enough for 20k step walking days. Sneakers come in handy if I go on a hike on rugged terrain.
Comfy Sandals
There are so many styles and colors of Birkenstocks (theses are vegan) and they’re all super comfy for exploring CDMX by foot.
Sneakers
Don’t forget your favorite (comfy) sneakers when packing for Mexico City!
Layers
Many Mexico City mornings start out chilly, and likewise, you experience a cold breeze in the evening. But by noon, most of the year, you’ll find yourself sweating. This is why it’s so important to prioritize layers when packing for Mexico City. A button-up shirt (unbuttoned), shawl, light sweatshirt, or cardigan will work wonders.
Day Pack
Whether you’re planning to explore the historical neighborhood of Coyoacan by bike, read in the park at Parque Mexico, fly over the city in a cable car, or embark on another exciting CDMX adventure, you’ll want a day pack to carry your essentials. I typically bring a backpack as my personal item on the flight, and also pack a small sling bag (fanny pack). Both work as great day packs, and I like being able to choose between the two depending on the day.
Travel Backpack
Fjallraven’s water resistant backpacks make great carry-ons as well as perfect day packs for exploring CDMX.
Large Fanny Pack
This is my go-to day pack. It’s large enough to fit all my essentials, plus a small water bottle! Each pack is made with different colored fabric scraps so they’re all unique!
Small Fanny Pack
My husband has this small Patagonia fanny pack (in black). It’s comfortable and fits a phone, wallet, and a few other essentials.
Chargers + More Chargers
When exploring a big city like CDMX, I can easily go through 2+ phone charges in one day from ordering Ubers, looking up places on Google Maps, following walking directions, and more. This makes a portable charger an essential item on my packing list for Mexico City!
In addition to bringing a portable charger, I recommend a wall adapter so that you can charge more devices at once (mostly while you sleep). I tend to travel with my iPhone, laptop, AirPods, and often several cameras.
Sometimes hotel rooms in Mexico City don’t have many plugs, which can be a problem with so many electronics plus travel companions. Bringing a power strip helps me ensure I have everything fully charged every morning for a full day of adventure.
Portable Charger
This portable charger is always on my Mexico City packing list!
Travel Power Strip
Make sure you and your family have enough spots to charge all devices!
Travel Adapter
If you’re coming from another continent, you might need an adapter.
Bathroom Essentials + Sanitizer
There aren’t free public restrooms in most parts of Mexico. Typically, you have to pay a few pesos to use a bathroom, and will be given a small amount of toilet paper. However, I always like to have my own tissues in my bag just in case I’m not given enough TP or there is none available. Likewise, hand sanitizer comes in handy all the time, and wet wipes are helpful to clean up messes regardless of where you travel.
What to Pack for Mexico City Elevation and Food Poisoning
It’s difficult to know whether you’ll experience altitude sickness or food poisoning on your first trip to Mexico City. Thankfully, there are a few precautionary things you get ahead of time that may reduce the risk of feeling sick.
Probiotic + Prebiotic Pills
These vegan + gluten free supplements can boost your gut health if taken ahead of time (and during your travels).
Liquid I.V. Electrolyte Drinks
These single-serve electrolyte drink mixes help you stay hydrated, which is key when adjusting to high altitude.
Lifestraw Waterbottle
You should never drink tap water in CDMX. This water bottle has a built-in filter to protect you from dirty water.
Snacks
I’ve mentioned in other Mexico travel guides that I often have trouble finding healthy snacks in Mexico. Of course, it depends on the city and neighborhood, but I tend to pack some snacks from home to get me through long travel days. A few of my favorites include:
Larabars
Larabars are a longtime favorite snack of mine. The peanut butter chocolate chip flavor never gets old! Tasty, filling, and healthy!
Wasabi Edaname
These wasabi edamame are a great high-protein swap for wasabi peas. The same company also makes them in a sea salt flavor if you aren’t a wasabi person.
Lentil Snacks
These lentil snacks are a recent find that I can’t get enough of! The texture is perfect, flavors are impeccable, and they leave me feeling satisfied.
Travel Ring
I don’t recommend wearing flashy jewelry in Mexico City. Although I’ve felt much more safe in CDMX than in large cities in Europe where pickpocketing is common, theft can still happen. If you’re married (or engaged) and want to wear a ring, but don’t want to risk losing your special one, I highly recommend getting a cute new ring for travel. I have a $10 jade ring that I always wear when traveling.
Digital Necessities + More
Physical items aren’t the only things you need to “pack” for a trip to CDMX! Don’t miss these digital neccesities and other essentials on your Mexico City packing list.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is one of the most overlooked yet most important things to “pack” on any trip. I personally use SafetyWing, which I’ve found to be significantly more affordable compared to other insurance companies. Plus, their online platform is really easy to use and their support is great. I travel often, and I can easily log into the platform to start or cancel my insurance with the click of a button based on my travel plans.
Check out SafetyWing Travel Insurance
eSIM for Phone Service in Mexico
If your current phone plan does not have coverage in Mexico, be sure to purchase an eSIM through Airalo before your trip. You can conveniently access the eSIM digitally, without needing a physical SIM card, and keep your current phone plan (if you wish). I’ve found Airalo’s rates to be very affordable compared to most international phone plans.
Check Airalo’s eSIM rates for Mexico
Priority Pass Airport Lounge pass
I recently became a Priority Pass member and I don’t think I can ever go back. Lounge access ends up saving me tons of money on airport food (yep, even as a vegan) and makes the overall travel experience so much better!
Check Priority Pass membership rates
Credit Card with No foreign Transaction Fees + Cash
Check ahead of time to see if your debit and credit cards have foreign transaction fees. These pesky little fees can really add up over time. If you don’t already have a card without foreign transaction fees, consider applying for one.
I also recommend bringing cash. I typically bring about $40 USD in case of emergencies, and then pull out pesos from an ATM at the airport. While you can use card at many businesses throughout Mexico City, there are still a large handful that only accept cash.
My General Travel Essentials
Regardless of if I’m heading to Mexico City or somewhere else in the world, these are a few things I always brings when traveling. They may not be essentials for Mexico City, but they are essentials for me, and maybe they’ll be useful to you as well!
Camera
This mirrorless Sony is my baby! It is light weight and takes incredible photos (42.3 megapixels!)
Lens
This is my go-to travel lens due to its size, price, weight, and quality.
Kindle
My Kindle is an essential because I can bring unlimited books to Mexico without adding any weight to my bag.
Travel Jewelry Case
This jewelry organizer has been a game changer for me. It keeps my jewelry from tangling, it takes up virtually no room in my bag!
Solid Shampoo Bar
Swapping liquid shampoo for a shampoo bar saves space, makes airport security easier, and its a sustainable choice!
Castile Soap Bar
Like with shampoo bars, I swap body wash and shaving cream for castile soap bars when traveling. PS: the lavender bar is the best!
Conditioner
This solid vegan conditioner travels well and works wonders on the hair!
Face Wash Bar
This highly-rated face wash bar saves space and is equivalent two two bottles!
Travel Soap Case
These soap bar cases make it easy to travel with solid toiletries. I even use them at home!
SPF Moisturizer
I always bring facial sunscreen to protect from the powerful rays in CDMX!
Lotion
The dry air in Mexico City quickly impacts my skin. To combat it, I pack a travel-size lotion.
Dental Care
Last but not least, a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss are essential on any packing list!
Exploring the Roma Norte neighborhood on a recent trip to CDMX
Understanding Mexico City’s Seasons & Climate
When considering what to pack for Mexico City, it’s important to understand the city’s unique climate and seasons.
Mexico City located at a significant 7,350 feet above sea level (2240 meters). The city’s high altitude heavily impacts its climate and weather year round.
Many first time visitors to Mexico City expect the sweltering temperatures of Mexico’s beach towns, but are shocked to find the capital city’s weather to be much more variant. As I mentioned above, many mornings and evenings are chilly, while afternoons can be very hot.
The average temperatures don’t change too much throughout the seasons, with highs at 76°F (24°C) in July and at 72°F (22C°) in January, and lows ranging between 41°F (5°C) and 54°F (12°C) throughout the year. Even in the coldest month, you’ll probably need to pack for warm weather, and in the heat of the summer momths, you’ll need to bring at least a light jacket.
One thing that does change throughout the season is the rain. The rainy season generally lasts through May or June to November. Mexico City still experiences plenty of sunshine and heat throughout the rainy season, but with an occasional cloudy day, and frequent downpours in the late afternoon and evenings.
If you’re packing for Mexico City during the rainy season, be sure to consider the rain.
Mexico City Packing List FAQs
Should you bring a rain jacket to Mexico City during the rainy season?
A rain jacket can be helpful, but you’ll be one of the only people wearing one. Most locals opt for umbrellas as they’re more affordable and do a better job of keeping your whole body dry.
During my recent trip to Mexico City during the rainy season, I brought a rain jacket but barely used it. In the future, I plan to only bring an umbrella. Either way, be sure to bring a light jacket for chilly mornings and evenings.
Is it appropriate to wear tank tops, short shorts, skinny jeans, etc in Mexico City?
As a general rule, you should feel to dress in your own personal style in Mexico City. It is Mexico’s capital and a large city where people from all over the world live. As I discuss in my What to Wear in Mexico City guide, locals tend to dress a little more conservatively. You want to dress respectfully and avoid unwanted attention, but tank tops, shorts, and skinny jeans are common amongst tourists.
Does Mexico City have a tropical climate?
No. Mexico City is located in Central Mexico and its higher elevation means that it is not tropical.
I’m visiting an all-inclusive resort for a Mexico beach vacation after CDMX. What should I bring?
Packing for resort towns like Playa del Carmen, Puerto Vallarta, and Cabo San Lucas is very different. If you’re visiting both CDMX and the beach during your Mexico vacation, be sure to pack for both climates. You can expect warm temperatures all year round on the Yucatan peninsula and many other parts of Mexico’s coast.
In addition to the essentials on this CDMX packing list, be sure to pack beach essentials including: bathing suit, water shoes and a dry bag for snorkeling and beach days, a pair of sneakers and lightweight clothing for outdoor activities, a beach cover-up, insect repellent, nice outfits for dinner out at high-end restaurants, SPF lip balm, a first aid kit (if hiking), and resort wear.
Final Thoughts: Packing List Mexico City
I hope this Mexico City packing list helps as you prepare for your upcoming trip.
And I’m curious, is there anything else you’d add to this packing list for Mexico City? If there are any other items worth mentioning, please leave a comment below. I’d love to try out your suggestions on my next CDMX trip!
