Mexico City
Mexico · CIEE · UNAM exchange
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Travel advisory
Level 2 · Exercise increased caution
Exercise increased caution. Advisory levels in Mexico are set by state — several states are Level 3 or 4 even though Mexico City itself is Level 2. Check every state you plan to visit on a weekend.
Visa and entry
Difficulty: Easier Lead time: 3–6 weeks if a student visa is needed
Under 180 days, US citizens can usually study on a visitor permit, which is why a single semester is comparatively simple. Longer than that and you need a Temporary Resident Student visa, applied for in person at a Mexican consulate before you travel — you cannot convert from visitor status inside Mexico.
Apply or check requirements → Mexican consulates in the US
We are students, not immigration advisers. Requirements change and depend on your citizenship and program length. Always confirm against the official consulate site above and with CU Education Abroad.
From the team
A few things worth knowing before you get there.
- Liga MX: Club América and Cruz Azul both play at Estadio Azteca. Tickets are inexpensive by US standards.
- Museo Nacional de Antropología is worth a full day, and it is the one museum locals insist on.
- Sunday mornings Reforma closes to cars for cyclists and runners.
- Altitude is 7,350 feet — higher than Boulder. Expect a week of adjustment.
Students recommend
Aggregated from students who studied in Mexico City. These lists fill in as submissions come in — nothing here is invented.
Food
Where students actually eat, not where the guidebooks send you.
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Nightlife
Bars, clubs and the nights out people remembered.
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Daytime spots
Parks, cafes, markets and places to work.
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Attractions
What was worth the ticket price and what was not.
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We are students, not an agency. Everything here comes from people who went.