Areas to Stay Alert — Data, not fear

Safety isn't rumor, it's data. This map gathers 8 zones where you should be extra careful by time and context, based on official stats and local judgment. They are not “no-go zones”, they're perimeters where carelessness costs.

How to read it: Each point shows level (High / Medium-High / Medium), borough, highest-risk time window and most common type (pickpocketing, mugging). By day and on main avenues most are walkable; at night use rideshare and request it at the door.

The 8 zones (first 5 extract):

1. Tepito (Eje 1 Norte informal commerce) — 19.4460, -99.1268 — Cuauhtemoc — High — Avoid at night; by day only with local contact — Risk spikes after 5pm when stalls close. Dense informal trade, pickpocketing and turf disputes. Cited in all consular advisories.
2. La Merced Market & alleys — 19.4258, -99.1213 — Venustiano Carranza — Medium-High — Day with caution; avoid at night — Bustling 7am–2pm, deserted alleys at night. Phone/chain theft. Go early, leave by metro/rideshare.
3. Doctores (inner streets at night) — 19.4160, -99.1470 — Cuauhtemoc — Medium-High at night — Day on avenues ok — Arena Mexico Tue/Fri fine by day; inner streets deserted at night. For lucha libre, Uber door-to-door.
4. Iztapalapa deep east residential — 19.3467, -99.0500 — Iztapalapa — High in far east — Central parks safe by day — Violent crime concentrates in non-tourist colonias. Cerro de la Estrella park safe by day; no reason to go deep east.
5. Nezahualcoyotl eastern fringe — 19.4003, -99.0148 — EdoMex border — Medium-High — Non-tourist conurbation — No tourist corridors. Keep to consolidated corridors (Centro-Roma-Condesa-Coyoacan).

+3 complete the map (see My Map):

• Ecatepec north fringe — High — Not recommended; for Teotihuacan use authorized tour or direct bus from North Terminal.
• Centro Historico — Perimeter B alleys at night — Medium at night — Madero/Regina policed; avoid dark alleys after 10:30pm.
• Metro network (Line B & 3 rush hour) — Medium — Petty theft, not violence — 7–9:30am & 6–8:30pm. Backpack on chest, phone away.

Local rule: Save map offline, share route on WhatsApp and look for Tourist Police (green vest) if you need help.

8 zones · Official SESNSP/C5 CSV · Updated 2026-01-15 · Filter by borough and time in your My Map.