Can I leave Mexico City International Airport (AICM, Benito Juárez) on my layover?

Who can leave MEX without a visa?

Since 22 October 2023 Mexico requires anyone who needs a Mexican visa to carry it even for an immediate connection at a Mexican airport, so there is no visa-free airside transit for visa-required nationals. Anyone, of any nationality, is exempt from the Mexican visa if they hold a valid visa of Canada, the US, Japan, the UK or a Schengen country, or permanent residence in those countries or in a Pacific Alliance country (Chile, Colombia, Peru). Visa-exempt visitors may stay up to 180 days for tourism, transit or business. Brazilians need a visa, available since 5 February 2026 as a single-entry, air-only electronic visa.

8 of the 14 passports we cover can leave the airport without applying for a visa first (some need an online authorisation). Other passports: check the official sources linked in the planner.

Transit rules in Mexico

Entry/transit with a third-country visa or residence (any nationality)

Who: Holders of a valid visa of Canada, US, Japan, UK or a Schengen country, or permanent residence in Canada, US, Japan, UK, Schengen or Pacific Alliance countries (Chile, Colombia, Peru)

• Present the valid visa / residence card with the passport
• Purpose: tourism, business or transit, no paid activity
• Stay up to 180 days

Source: Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (gob.mx), Instituto Nacional de Migración, Consulado General de México en Washington (SRE)

Getting from MEX into Mexico City

We measure to Zócalo (Centro Histórico). Times are the operators' own figures; ≈ marks a timetable-based estimate where no official door-to-door time is published.

Good to know: Two terminals 3 km apart, linked by the free Aerotrén (about 4 min 40 s, boarding pass required; hours quoted 05:00-23:00 on one AICM page) or inter-terminal buses (T1 entrance 6 / T2 entrance 4). Metrobús airport stops are temporarily at T1 gate 7 and T2 gate 4 during airport works (older AICM page says T2 gate 2). Ride-hailing apps are not authorized to pick up in the airport federal zone; use authorized taxis. Metro is cheap but needs changes to reach the Zócalo and is busy.

If you stay in the airport

Transit hotel

Hilton (T1, third level) and Camino Real (T2) inside the terminals, landside source

Left luggage

Left-luggage rooms in Terminal 1, Salas A and E2, open 24h (AICM FAQ); provider list also shows a T2 ground-floor locker (Viajes Kokai) source

Free layover tour

None that we know of.

Questions

Do I need a visa for a layover in Mexico City?

If you stay airside, it depends on your passport: Since 22 October 2023 Mexico requires anyone who needs a Mexican visa to carry it even for an immediate connection at a Mexican airport, so there is no visa-free airside transit for visa-required nationals. Anyone, of any nationality, is exempt from the Mexican visa if they hold a valid visa of Canada, the US, Japan, the UK or a Schengen country, or permanent residence in those countries or in a Pacific Alliance country (Chile, Colombia, Peru). Visa-exempt visitors may stay up to 180 days for tourism, transit or business. Brazilians need a visa, available since 5 February 2026 as a single-entry, air-only electronic visa. Choose your passport above for the exact rule and its official source.

How long does it take to get from MEX to Mexico City?

The fastest public option, Metrobús Line 4 from the terminal to the Centro Histórico (traffic dependent), takes about 50 minutes to Zócalo (Centro Histórico) (timetable-based estimate). The planner adds 20% for waiting and delays.

How long a layover do I need to leave Mexico City International Airport (AICM, Benito Juárez)?

With our cautious defaults (45 minutes to get out, 120 minutes back before departure, the transfer both ways plus 20%), you need about 7 hours for 90 minutes in the city. Below that, stay in the airport.

Rules checked against official sources on 2026-11-01; airport facts from Mexico City International Airport (AICM, Benito Juárez). Found something out of date? Tell us.