Mexico
United Mexican States
North America · MEX
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Mexico
Mexico is one of the easiest high-reward picks in the Americas for travelers who want food, culture, beaches, and enough regional variety to support repeat visits. You can build a trip around Mexico City and the central highlands, Oaxaca, Yucatán ruins and coast, Baja road trips, or a Pacific beach stay without sacrificing convenience.
Popular For
Things To See
- Mexico City
- Oaxaca
- Yucatán Peninsula
- Chichén Itzá
- San Miguel de Allende
- Baja California Sur
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- November through April is the easiest broad window for first visits, especially if you want to mix cities, archaeology, and beach time.
- Mexico works better as a repeat destination than a one-trip country, so most itineraries are stronger when centered on one region.
- Altitude, heat, and humidity vary sharply by region, so Mexico City, Oaxaca, Los Cabos, and Caribbean beach trips do not all fit the same month equally well.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Mexico.
Guidebooks
Lonely Planet Mexico
Lonely Planet
Detailed guide with regional coverage, itineraries, and insider recommendations.
View on Amazon →
Moon Mexico City
Moon Handbooks
Comprehensive Mexico City guide with neighborhood walks, food culture, and local favorites.
View on Amazon →
Moon Oaxaca
Moon Handbooks
Regional guide to Oaxaca focusing on cultural experiences, cuisine, and local traditions.
View on Amazon →Tours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Mexico.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Mexico City
- Population
- 130,575,786
- Area
- 1,964,375 km²
- Region
- North America
Languages
- Spanish
Currency
Mexican peso ($)
MXN
1 USD = 17.26 MXN
Cost of Living (World Bank)
54.2
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 46.6
- Restaurants
- 43.6
- Rent
- 17.8
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Mexico City (19.43°N, 99.13°W).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
77/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 100/100
- Lived safety
- 35/100
This traveler-facing score is lower than the legal protections score because lived-safety context is weaker, based on broader traveler safety and development conditions.
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionMarriage
- Adoption recognition✅
- Anti-discrimination laws✅
- Employment protections✅
- Legal gender recognition✅
- Conversion therapy ban✅
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.789
High human development
- 5-year change
- +0.004
- 10-year change
- +0.024
- Trend
- stable
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.976
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.358
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.721
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (36)
- 🏛️
Wixárika Route through Sacred Sites to Wirikuta (Tatehuarí Huajuyé)
Inscribed 2025
- 🌍
Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley: originary habitat of Mesoamerica
Inscribed 2018
- 🌿
Archipiélago de Revillagigedo
Inscribed 2016
- 🏛️
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque Hydraulic System
Inscribed 2015
- 🌿
El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve
Inscribed 2013
- 🏛️
Prehistoric Caves of Yagul and Mitla in the Central Valley of Oaxaca
Inscribed 2010
- 🏛️
Camino Real de Tierra Adentro
Inscribed 2010
- 🌿
Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve
Inscribed 2008
- 🏛️
Protective town of San Miguel and the Sanctuary of Jesús Nazareno de Atotonilco
Inscribed 2008
- 🏛️
Central University City Campus of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)
Inscribed 2007
- 🏛️
Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila
Inscribed 2006
- 🌿
Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California
Inscribed 2005
- 🏛️
Luis Barragán House and Studio
Inscribed 2004
- 🏛️
Franciscan Missions in the Sierra Gorda of Querétaro
Inscribed 2003
- 🌍
Ancient Maya City and Protected Tropical Forests of Calakmul, Campeche
Inscribed 2002
- 🏛️
Historic Fortified Town of Campeche
Inscribed 1999
- 🏛️
Archaeological Monuments Zone of Xochicalco
Inscribed 1999
- 🏛️
Historic Monuments Zone of Tlacotalpan
Inscribed 1998
- 🏛️
Archaeological Zone of Paquimé, Casas Grandes
Inscribed 1998
- 🏛️
Hospicio Cabañas, Guadalajara
Inscribed 1997
- 🏛️
Pre-Hispanic Town of Uxmal
Inscribed 1996
- 🏛️
Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
Inscribed 1996
- 🏛️
Earliest 16th-Century Monasteries on the Slopes of Popocatepetl
Inscribed 1994
- 🏛️
Rock Paintings of the Sierra de San Francisco
Inscribed 1993
- 🏛️
Historic Centre of Zacatecas
Inscribed 1993
- 🌿
Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino
Inscribed 1993
- 🏛️
El Tajin, Pre-Hispanic City
Inscribed 1992
- 🏛️
Historic Centre of Morelia
Inscribed 1991
- 🏛️
Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen-Itza
Inscribed 1988
- 🏛️
Historic Town of Guanajuato and Adjacent Mines
Inscribed 1988
- 🏛️
Historic Centre of Puebla
Inscribed 1987
- 🏛️
Historic Centre of Oaxaca and Archaeological Site of Monte Albán
Inscribed 1987
- 🏛️
Historic Centre of Mexico City and Xochimilco
Inscribed 1987
- 🏛️
Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan
Inscribed 1987
- 🌿
Sian Ka'an
Inscribed 1987
- 🏛️
Pre-Hispanic City and National Park of Palenque
Inscribed 1987
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 15.3%
- Forest cover
- 33.6%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 97
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 68
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
57/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Winter Sports
18/100
Ski infrastructure & alpine pedigree
Combines ski resort depth, ski resort density, and Winter Olympic skiing results. Separate from climate comfort.
Luxury Infrastructure
92/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Exercise increased cautionin Mexico due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping. Many violent crimes take place in Mexico. They include homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery. There is a risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Mexico. Visit the U.S. Department of State’s country reports on terrorism to learn more. The U.S. government has limited ability to help in many parts of Mexico. U.S. government employees are not allowed to travel to certain high-risk areas. Due to security risks, U.S. citizens should follow the same restrictions as U.S. government employees while traveling. Emergency services are limited or unavailable in remote or rural areas. If you encounter a road checkpoint, you should comply. Fleeing or ignoring instructions can lead to you being hurt or killed. Check the map of restricted areas. U.S. government employee travel restrictions (U.S. citizens are advised to follow): May not travel between cities after dark. Must rely on dispatched vehicles from regulated taxi stands or app-based services like Uber or Cabify and may not wave down taxis on the street. Should avoid traveling alone, especially in remote areas. May not drive between Mexican border cities, the U.S.-Mexico border and the interior of Mexico. There are some limited exceptions.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data