When Is The Best Time To Visit Mexico City? – By Local Expats

Over the past few years, we’ve lived in the capital during every month of the year, and we’ve got a strong feeling about the best time to visit Mexico City!

CDMX is an all-year-round destination. Its eternal spring climate means that there’s never a really bad time to go. Even during the rainy season in Mexico City, we’ve found that the downpours mostly take place after 5 pm, so you can pretty much plan your whole day like clockwork. Well, almost!

Ideal time to visit is down to personal preferences, really. For some people, the hottest months might sound the most attractive, while others might prefer to come when the prices are at their cheapest.

That’s why in this post, we’re going to deep dive into different aspects related to what is the best time to go to Mexico City, exploring month by month the temperatures, festivals, and other factors to consider before booking your holiday.

Overall Best Time To Visit Mexico City

We’re going to say upfront that the best time to travel Mexico City, in our opinion, is January and February. Here are a few reasons why:

Another option is to come in early spring. The temperature warms up a bit, but the humidity is comfortable. About March and April, the jacaranda trees start to bloom, lighting up CDMX in a lavender haze, making this the best time to visit Mexico City for natural beauty.

During the Easter holidays, the capital also quietens down a bit as the locals all escape to the beach. We’re talking super-light traffic and less crowded streets. What could be better?

Best Time To Visit Mexico City By Season

We like to think of four seasons in Mexico City – and not the traditional seasons you’re thinking of! Some of these overlap, but this general guide will give you a good idea of what to expect during each segment of the year.

Mexico City In Dry Season

WHEN: October to May

WHY VISIT: If you’re planning to combine your visit with a trip to the Yucatan, this is the best season to visit Mexico City. The temperatures are nice and hot, particularly by the coast, making for perfect beach weather. We’re talking sun, sand, sea, and cervezas.

It’s also the best time to visit Mexico City and do one of our favourite Mexican activities: take a balloon ride over Teotihuacan. The good weather makes for perfect holiday snaps. No need to add a filter to clean up any grey sky!

EVENTS: The dry season runs for about 7 months of the year, covering some of the most vibrant Mexican events and festivals.

The biggest is, of course, Dia de los Muertos, also known as the Day of the Dead. Taking place over two days from November 1 to 2, this incredibly colourful, energetic celebration should be on everyone’s bucket list. 

We’re also big fans of the lesser-known Festival Centro Historico, which focuses specifically on the capital’s culture and heritage. There are hundreds of music, theatre, dance, and art events that take place over two weeks in March/April, many of them free.

Don’t forget to check out the cool, modern festivals if you’re visiting in the spring. One of the largest is Vive Latino, a festival dedicated to Spanish-language rock and other genres. This takes place in March, the same month as the Festival Ceremonia, another music-centred event that focuses on promoting inclusivity.

PRO TIP: Easter is a great time to rock up due to low traffic. Residents exit the city to top up their tans, leaving the roads a bit quieter. Unfortunately, the secret is out about how this is the best time of year to visit Mexico City, so hotel prices may be slightly higher.

Mexico City’s High Season 

WHEN: October to December

WHY VISIT: The reason so many people turn up during this time of the year is the combination of good weather and festivals. These are the best months to visit Mexico City for major cultural events like the Dia de los Muertos and the Dia de la Revolucion, which both take place in November.

A month earlier, in October, Formula 1 races into the capital, attracting crowds of car fanatics.

EVENTS: For something that will entertain the kids, the Feria de las Calacas is held at the same time as Dia de los Muertos but focuses on child-friendly activities like storytelling workshops and handicraft sessions.

Mexico’s biggest music festival, Corona Capital, also takes place in November. Headlined by international bands, the event has featured the likes of the Foo Fighters and Green Day in the past. 

A bit less mainstream, MUTEK Mexico lands in October and combines digital innovation with avant-garde performance.

PRO TIP: Book everything well in advance. The influx of people is no joke, and everything from tours and accommodation to restaurants will be oversubscribed. Don’t miss out due to last-minute planning.

Summer In Mexico City

WHEN: Technically June to August, but really April to June

WHY VISIT: When we talk about summer here, we’re really talking about the fieriest time of the year. That would be April to June when temperatures soar into the late 20s Celsius (about 80 degrees Fahrenheit). 

In other words, this is the best time to travel to Mexico City if you like it muy caliente! 🥵☀️

As a bonus, even though April to June is the hottest time of the year, it isn’t the most humid, so you tend to get that nice dry heat rather than that sticky heat.

EVENTS: If you’ve read some of the other posts on this website, you’ll know that our favourite part of CDMX is La Condesa (and to a slightly lesser extent Roma). So naturally, we throw ourselves into the Corredor Cultural Roma-Condesa every spring. It’s essentially a way for the best colonias of the capital to show off their fashion, food, and art with popups and performance programmes.

May is also when Cinco de Mayo takes place, but it’s actually not as big a deal in Mexico as it is in the USA. Still, you’ll find a few parties as well as specials on restaurant menus to mark the occasion. For the best celebrations, you’ll need to head south to the city of Puebla, a couple of hours away from CDMX.

PRO TIP: Book accommodation with air con! 2024 has sent the mercury shooting up to record highs on the thermometer. Those sizzling temps might be nice during the day, but it can get uncomfortable during the night.

Rainy Season In Mexico City

WHEN: June to September

WHY VISIT: There are a couple of good reasons why June to September could be considered the best time to visit Mexico City. First, it’s the cheapest time to visit Mexico City, because, well, people are generally put off by the thought of the wet. However, as we’ve already mentioned, most of the day stays relatively dry, so you can actually get on pretty well in the mornings and early afternoons.

The other major reason to visit during the rainy season is that the regular downpours wash everything clean – and it really is noticeable. When we wear white shoes out in the dry season, they are filthy by the end of the day, but in the rainy season, they hold up much better.

EVENTS: You probably won’t be too surprised to hear that the rainy season is NOT when a lot of events take place. There is one though that really stands out for us: Independence Day. 

As the clock strikes midnight on September 15, the President of Mexico issues a rallying call from the balcony of the Palacio Nacional. This interesting spectacle is a tribute to El Grito de Dolores (the Cry of Dolores), which triggered the Mexicans to revolt against Spanish rule in 1810. 

Today, people gather in the Zocalo to heed the cry and sing the national anthem – as well as catch the fantastic free fireworks display!

September 16 then has a bunch of celebrations featuring music, dancing, and national costumes, as well as a parade down Paseo de la Reforma.

PRO TIP: Plan your outdoor activities in the morning when it’s mostly dry and sunny. Save the museums and other indoor stuff for the afternoons.

Best Times To Visit Mexico City By Month

Now that we’ve dealt with the general state of affairs by season, we reckon it’s probably helpful to do a bit of a deep dive into Mexico City temperature by month, as well as the main advantage and disadvantage for each time of year.

Mexico City In January: Cool, Sunny & Dry

WEATHER: By Mexico City standards, January is the coldest time of the year. The average temperature is about 22 degrees Celsius (72 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day and 5 degrees Celsius (41 degrees Fahrenheit) during the night.

Rainfall is also at its lowest, with sunny days to brighten your mood as you sightsee your way across the capital.

Mexico City In February: Cool, Sunny & Dry

WEATHER: February is when to go to Mexico City if you are a Goldilocks kind of person: not too hot, not to cold, but just right. 

This is our favourite month to be in CDMX when the combo of dryness, mildness, and sunniness is complemented by a relative lack of people. 

Mexico City In March: Cool, Sunny & Dry

WEATHER: Humidity is at its lowest in March, which can be an important factor, especially as Mexico City’s relatively high altitude means you feel the effects more than you would elsewhere.

Tourism picks up a bit more in March, but you still won’t see the highs of the autumn. The end of the month is also the best time to go to Mexico City to see the jacaranda trees bloom.

Mexico City In April: Hot, Sunny & Dry

WEATHER: Phew, does it get hot in April? We’re talking 28 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day. That might not sound like a lot compared to the 30+ degrees you see elsewhere in Mexico but trust us: it’s enough when you’re walking a concrete jungle rather than lying on a beach! This is the kind of weather where staying in a hotel with a pool is 100% a good idea. 

Mexico City In May: Hot, Sunny & Dry

WEATHER: Just like April, May is hot, hot, hot, though you do begin to notice an increase in rainy days towards the end of the month. 

This is probably the best time to visit Mexico City if drinking margaritas in rooftop bars or local speciality coffee at one of the hip cafes sounds like heaven. Take advantage of the good weather to get those perfect holiday snaps.

Mexico City In June: Hot, Humid & Rainy

WEATHER: And just like that, relative humidity leaps more than 10% between May and June! It’s still hot, but the rain is more prevalent.

The double whammy of rain and June being right before the summer holidays for northern hemisphere countries means fewer travellers. That’s why it’s perhaps the cheapest time to travel to Mexico City.

Mexico City In July: Hot, Humid & Rainy

WEATHER: July has, on average, the most rainy days of the year. In fact, usually, we see showers for two-thirds of the month when we’re in town. The temperature is down slightly, but it’s still hot and certainly humid.

Mexico City In August: Hot, Humid & Rainy

WEATHER: Still wet, still rainy, still humid. August is overall better than July in terms of weather, but it’s also the height of the summer holidays. 

On the one hand, that means locals head out of town. On the other, it means quite a few people from abroad brave the bad weather to visit Mexico.

Mexico City In September: The Rainiest Month

WEATHER: If you’re wondering what is the best month to visit Mexico City for cheap deals, September is your answer. That’s mainly because it’s just so wet.

With an average of 90 millimetres of rain falling in September, this is CDMX’s most waterlogged time of year. We recommend always having some kind of waterproof clothing or umbrella on you.

Mexico City In October: Start Of Dry Season

WEATHER: After the downpours of September, we always feel a bit relieved to come out the other side into October. The sudden emergence into dry season makes this month a contender for the best time to visit Mexico City for good weather, with the temperature remaining a very pleasant 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit).

On the other hand, this may not be the best time to travel to Mexico City if you want to avoid the crowds, which get heavier as October progresses.

Mexico City In November: Cool, Sunny & Dry

WEATHER: Humidity really begins to drop off in November, along with the continuing decrease in rain. 

It’s maybe the best time of the year to visit Mexico City if you want a buzzy vibe. Not only is November when you get to experience Dia de los Muertos, but it’s also when the city’s biggest music fest, Corona Capital, rocks CDMX’s foundations. 

Mexico City In December: Cool, Sunny & Dry

WEATHER: December is the driest, coldest time of year apart from maybe January, but honestly, it’s still really mild during the day. Just remember that jacket as the sun goes down!

It’s a good time to visit Mexico City if you want to experience the local traditions and festive cheer around Christmastime.

Best Time To Visit Mexico City: FAQs

Is There A Hurricane Season In Mexico City?

It’s unlikely that Mexico’s hurricane season will affect you in Mexico City. Although the country can experience some drastic weather along the coast from June to September, CDMX is quite far inland. There may be plenty of rain, but no hurricanes.

What’s The Worst Time To Visit Mexico City?

July and September are easily the worst in terms of rainfall, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the worst time to visit CDMX. The surge in prices around October and November can also be off-putting, especially if you really monitor just how much the cost of everything goes up. 

When Is The Cheapest Time To Visit Mexico City?

September and June are the best time to visit Mexico City for bargains, thanks mostly to the amount of rainfall. Even though July and August are also wet, they tend to be more expensive because they fall during the summer holidays. January and February are also reasonably affordable times to visit due to the relative coldness.

Does Mexico City get cold at night?

Yes, it does get cold at night, particularly in the winter. In January, for example, the average lows are about 5 degrees Celsius (41 degrees Fahrenheit). We wouldn’t venture out in the evenings without a jacket. April through to October though are fairly mild.

What time of year is Mexico City hottest?

April and May are peak heat. Temperatures regularly hit 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Celsius). It’s a nice time of year to enjoy the city’s rooftop pools and bars, although bear in mind that with the dryness tends to come dustier streets that will dirty your clothing. As with many places in the world, pollution is highest in the heat.

What’s the coldest it gets in Mexico City?

In the past, the temperature in CDMX has dropped as low as -2 degrees Celsius (29 degrees Fahrenheit) – but we’ve never experienced anything like that chilly! Even in the coldest months of winter, the mercury doesn’t normally go below about 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day. 

When To Visit Mexico City: Wrap-Up

We’ve already mentioned that the best time to visit Mexico City in our book is January and February, when the climate is perfect for sightseeing.

However, there’s arguments to be made for visiting in September, when the prices are cheaper, and November, when its worth braving the crowds to experience the buzzing fiesta atmosphere. Ultimately, it’s almost always a good time to visit the Mexican capital with its year-round springtime vibe!