FESTIVALS, HOLIDAYS AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS IN Mexico

There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Mexico City each year. The main ones are listed below.

For the feast of the three kings, Mexicans get together with their families to share the Rosca de Reyes, a sweetbread baked in the shape of an oval ring, with a plastic figure of the baby Jesus concealed inside.

Celebrated as a holiday throughout Mexico, commemorating the victory of the Mexican militia over the forces of Napoleon III in 1862.

The liturgical feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is celebrated across Mexico with fairs, dances and stage shows.

This celebration commemorates the grito, a call to sedition issued by Manuel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Roman Catholic priest from the small town of Dolores, on this day in 1810. Each year on the night of September 15, the Mexican president rings the bell of the National Palace in Mexico City and delivers a speech from its balcony. When he waves the nation's tricoloured flag, thousands of spectators cry out in unison, “Viva Mexico!”

With festivities that combine Christian and native traditions, this two-day celebration is a very important event for the Mexican people. They evoke and pay tribute to the memory of their dearly departed with a festive celebration through prayer, song, music and dance.

Celebration of Mexico's patron saint. Festivities throughout Mexico City and around the country include shows, dancing, concerts etc.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN Mexico

Month	Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Average Rains (MM)	Best Time to Travel
January	6/43	21/70	8/0.3	Not the best period to go
February	7/45	23/73	6/0.2	Not the best period to go
March	9/48	25/77	10/0.4	Not the best period to go
April	10/50	27/81	23/0.9	Good period to go
May	11/52	26/79	56/2.2	Good period to go
June	12/54	25/77	134/5.3	Not the best period to go
July	11/52	23/73	161/6.3	Not the best period to go
August	11/52	23/73	153/6.0	Not the best period to go
September	12/54	22/72	127/5.0	Not the best period to go
October	10/50	22/72	54/2.1	Not the best period to go
November	8/46	21/70	12/0.5	Good period to go
December	6/43	21/70	7/0.3	Good period to go

Mexico City Benito Juárez International Airport

Mexico City's International Airport, the largest and busiest in Mexico, and the second busiest in all of Latin America by passenger traffic, is located about 13 kilometres (8 miles) north-east of the city centre.

• Two terminals:
  • Terminal 1 (Air France)
  • Terminal 2

• By car
  • Accessible via Avenida Frey Servando Teresa de Mier.
  • There are 3 short- and long-term parking facilities at the airport, with a capacity of 5,000 spaces (MXN 22 for 30 minutes, MXN 288 for 1 day).
  • Several car rental companies have counters in the arrivals hall.
• By rail
  • A Metro station is located next to the airport in Zone A. Take line 5 to reach Mexico City's centre and Pantitlán, where you can change to Line 1. Get off at the Insurgentes station. A single ticket costs MXN 3.
  • AICM Bus line from the airport to the city centre. Leaves from Terminal D. One-way ticket fare is MXN 6.
• By Metrobús
  • Line 4 connects the airport with San Lázaro station, where you can pick up Line 1 or Line B of the Metro. The fare for this airport service provided by Metrobús is MXN 30 each way and payment must be made in Terminals 1 and 2. Operated from 4:30 a.m. to midnight Monday to Saturday and from 5:00 to midnight on Sunday.
• By taxi
  • Official ‘Sitio 300' taxis (yellow and white, bearing an airplane logo). You can prepay at the Transportaciòn terrestre counter located next to baggage claim. Fares to central Mexico City run about MXN 127.

• Services: shops, bars and restaurants, free Internet access (Wi-Fi) available in the airport.
• Telephone: : +52 55 2482 2424 / + 52 55 2482 2400
• Website: http://www.aicm.com.mx

GETTING AROUND Mexico

Mexico City is a huge metropolis, one of the world's largest, with a population of over 20 million. Fortunately, the Mexican capital has a particularly well-developed and efficient public transport system.

By rail

Mexico City's Metro has twelve lines, covering a total route length of about 225 kilometres (140 miles). Both modern and fast, it serves the entire metropolitan area. At rush hours, the first car is reserved for women and children. A single ticket costs MXN 3.

By Metrobús

Metrobús currently operates 4 routes, with the main one (Line 1) running along Avenida de los Insurgentes. A single ticket costs MXN 6.

By light rail

Mexico City's light rail network, runs over a total distance of 13 kilometres (8 miles), and has 18 stations in the city centre. A single ticket costs MXN 3.

By taxi

Taxis are available for hire throughout the city. Fares for trips between destinations are calculated on the basis of established fare zones. Expect to pay between MXN 100 and MXN 200 for a medium-distance trip in the city centre.

Visitor information

Upon your arrival in Mexico City, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organise your stay.

Offers practical information and useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.).

• Address: Viaducto Presidente Miguel Alemán 105, Col. Escandón, Mexico City, C.P. 11800
• Telephone: +52 55 5278 4200
• Website: http://www.visitmexico.com

Currency and Exchange Rates

The official currency in Mexico is the Mexican Peso (MXN).

EUR 1 = MXN 21,50

MXN 1 = EUR 0,05

The above exchange rate is given for information because is variable.

Medical information

See your doctor before you travel. Mexico has an excellent health care system, but costs are high. It is therefore recommended that you obtain insurance covering health care expenses as well as medical evacuation or repatriation before you leave home.

Visitors arriving from countries where yellow fever is endemic must show proof of yellow fever vaccination, usually documented on an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP). Obtaining a booster vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio is recommended. For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:

• Address: 38 Quai de Jemmapes 75010 Paris
• Website: http://www.vaccinations-airfrance.fr
• Telephone: +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00
• To make a vaccination appointment:
  • online (click here)
  • call the centre at +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00

The problems that you are likely to face at high altitude depend on your body's ability to adapt to changes in atmospheric conditions. If you have heart disease or a respiratory disorder, you should consult with your doctor before visiting Mexico City. All visitors should be aware that an adaptation period is often necessary.

Tap water is not safe to drink. Favour bottled mineral water instead.

Administrative formalities

Travellers visiting Mexico for tourism purposes and carrying proof of permanent residence in various countries do not need a visa if they will be staying for less than 180 days. For more information, please check the Mexican Government portal: http://www.gob.mx/inm

Useful addresses

To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Mexico, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.

Essential phrases

Good to know

00 52 55

+ phone number

-6 : 00
of time difference with
Dublin

Start of daylight saving time: first Sunday in April

End of daylight saving time: last Sunday in October

BANKS

Usually open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

GOVERNMENT OFFICES

Usually open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 pm. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

127 V / 60 Hz

Tipping
Leaving a tip, called a propina, is expected in Mexico City. In bars and restaurants, it is customary to tip between 10 and 15 percent of the bill. However, before leaving a tip, check the bill to make sure that a gratuity or service charge is not already included.