Getting Around Monterrey
Monterrey is a large, sprawling metropolitan area, and how you move around it will shape your trip. The good news for visitors is that the city offers a wide variety of transportation options, from a clean and inexpensive subway to e-hailing apps, taxis, and an extensive bus network. The practical reality is that no single mode covers everything well, so most visitors end up mixing a few of them depending on where they're going.
E-Hailing and Taxis
For many visitors, e-hailing and walking are the best choices for getting around. Uber and Didi both serve the city, which makes point-to-point trips simple if you have a working phone and data connection.
Traditional taxis are also plentiful and affordable. They come in two color schemes: older ones are lime green and white, while newer ones are yellow and white. The difference is purely cosmetic. Taxis in Monterrey use meters, so to avoid being overcharged, insist that the driver actually turn the meter on.
The Metro (Metrorrey)
The Metrorrey subway system is clean, modern, and very inexpensive, and it's generally the best public transport option when it serves your route. It's a good choice for reaching downtown areas such as the Macroplaza and Barrio Antiguo, and it connects to the Central de Autobuses bus station. It also stops near the Cervecería Cuauhtémoc and the Coliseo, and it's useful if you're staying in the eastern suburban municipalities of Guadalupe or San Nicolás.
One important caveat: the subway is good but has limited coverage, so it won't get you everywhere. When a metro route works for your trip, though, it's worth taking it over the bus.
Fares are low, and at some stations you can pay in cash without a card. At several stations, however, a rechargeable metro card is required because single-ride tickets aren't sold there. The card itself is inexpensive and can be recharged in any amount.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Buses are common and cover far more of the city than the metro does, but they're the least visitor-friendly option to figure out. Buses stop only at dedicated bus stops, and not every stop has a sign — so look for where other people are waiting, or ask someone nearby where the stop is.
Route numbers tell you something about where a bus goes. Local or urban buses stay within a certain part of the city, while higher-numbered routes range across multiple colonias and municipalities. Minibuses make up another category of service. There is also a Metrobus service in the Guadalupe and San Bernabé areas.
Monterrey also has a bus-rapid-transit (BRT) system called Ecovia, which runs large, new articulated buses on dedicated transit lanes. The operational route follows a major avenue from the northwest of the city through downtown and then east toward San Nicolás and Guadalupe. Ecovia travel times are considerably faster than going by car or taxi, and passengers can transfer to the Metrorrey system at certain points without paying an additional charge.
Paying for Public Transport
Monterrey is in the process of discontinuing cash payment on public transportation, so it's worth setting yourself up with a card or app early. Fares can be paid either with a "Me Muevo" card, available in metro stations, or with the Urbani app. Both can be recharged at OXXO convenience stores. The app also has a credit card option, though it does not appear to support foreign credit cards — so a Me Muevo card is often the safer bet for international visitors.
Planning Your Route
For finding a connection, Moovit and Google Maps both cover the city. Be aware that bus timetables and routing information on Google Maps have been unreliable, while Moovit appears to have correct routes at least for buses. As a rule of thumb, when a metro option exists for your trip, take it instead of the bus.
Walking
Walking is one of the best ways to get around, at least in the areas where it makes sense. Central districts such as the Macroplaza and Barrio Antiguo are well suited to exploring on foot, and combining walking with the metro lets you cover a lot of ground without dealing with traffic or parking. Outside the central areas, the city is large and spread out, so walking alone won't get you everywhere.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Monterrey has two airports, but all commercial flights use Monterrey International Airport (MTY), the city's main airport. The smaller Del Norte Airport handles private and cargo carriers. MTY sits in the suburban municipality of Apodaca, roughly a half-hour drive from downtown.
The airport has multiple terminals. Terminal A is often considered the main terminal building and serves both international and domestic flights. Terminal B primarily serves Aeromexico flights, and Terminal C serves Viva Aerobus flights, both domestic and international — though Viva Aerobus flights may also arrive at Terminal A. A free inter-terminal shuttle is available, which matters if you're connecting or meeting someone arriving at a different terminal. ATMs can be found in all terminals.
Once you've arrived, your options for reaching the city mirror the general options above: e-hailing apps, taxis, or arranging a transfer. If you're arriving at the smaller Del Norte Airport on a private plane, the fixed-base operators there can put you in touch with a car rental company or take you to your hotel.
Arriving by Bus or Car
If you're coming into Monterrey by long-distance bus, you'll likely arrive at the Central de Autobuses on Avenida Cristóbal Colón, in the heart of the city. It's served by many first-class and second-class bus lines, including trans-border services to and from cities throughout the United States. The station is reachable via the Metrorrey subway system, which makes it easy to connect to the rest of the city. Inside the station you'll find food options, luggage storage, and ATMs.
Drivers coming from the United States typically cross at Laredo/Nuevo Laredo or McAllen-Hidalgo/Reynosa, both in South Texas, and then continue south into Monterrey. If you're driving in the city itself, keep in mind that Monterrey is large and complex — a navigation app with international roaming enabled, or a plan that includes Mexico coverage, will serve you far better than a paper map.