Guía de ciudad
Mexico City MEX: What to Do on a Layover
Zócalo and tacos in 4 hours: largest plaza in the Americas, suadero, mezcal.
Getting from the airport
MEX to city center: 72 minutes by metro (Pantitlán - Observatorio). Trains run every 6 minutes. Service runs 05:00 to 23:30. Skip the taxi unless your connection is under 5 hours.
What to do in Mexico City
The stops worth making: Zócalo main square, Teotihuacán pyramids, Frida Kahlo Museum, Tacos al pastor. Rated above 4.4: The Angel of Independence (4.7), Palacio de Bellas Artes (4.8), Monument to the Revolution (4.7), Constitution Plaza (4.7), Parque México (4.7). You do not need the full tourist circuit. Pick two and commit.
Visa and entry
Mexico City is visa-free for US passports. No application, no fee. The border process at MEX is standard. Budget 30 minutes.
How long do you need
The minimum useful layover is 6 hours. That gives you 72 minutes in each direction plus about 126 minutes on the ground. Up to 24 hours is a proper overnight.
MEX airport
MEX has 6 lounges. For short connections under 4 hours, the terminal is the destination: food options, showers, and enough space to reset before the next leg.