What is the best month to visit Mexico City?

April, narrowly, for the jacarandas. Late March through April is warm, dry and the weeks when thousands of jacaranda trees bloom across Roma Norte, Condesa and Polanco, turning entire streets purple - it is the city at its most photogenic. October and November are the other strong window, dry and mild with the added draw of Day of the Dead. If you want the good weather without peak prices, February and May are quieter alternatives with almost identical conditions.

When is the rainy season in Mexico City?

June to September, peaking in September. It is far less disruptive than it sounds: mornings are usually clear and bright, and the rain arrives as a heavy but short afternoon or evening thunderstorm. Plan sightseeing for the morning and museums, markets or a long lunch for the afternoon and you will barely lose anything. The rain also washes the valley's air clean, which makes July and August the clearest-air months of the year.

Does the altitude in Mexico City affect you?

It can, and it catches people out because nobody thinks of Mexico City as a high-altitude destination. At 2,240 metres, some visitors get headaches, breathlessness on stairs or unusual tiredness for the first day or two. The fixes are simple: take the first day gently, drink far more water than usual, and go easy on alcohol for the first evening - drinks hit noticeably harder up here. If you are heading on to higher ground afterwards, the city is useful acclimatisation.

Is Mexico City worth visiting for Day of the Dead?

Yes, if you plan for it. On 1 and 2 November the city fills with marigold altars, painted faces and a large parade through the historic centre, and the cemeteries and neighbourhood celebrations in places like Mixquic are genuinely moving rather than touristic. The trade-off is that this is the single busiest window of the Mexican year - flights and hotels need booking months ahead and prices peak. Come deliberately or shift your dates by a week either side.

When is the cheapest time to visit Mexico City?

June through September, the rainy season, when hotel rates and flights drop noticeably. Given that the rain is mostly confined to afternoon storms and the temperature stays a pleasant 23-25°C, this is one of the better value trade-offs in Latin America - you are giving up a few afternoons rather than the whole trip. Avoid the price spikes around Day of the Dead in early November, Semana Santa at Easter, and the Christmas period.

How many days do you need in Mexico City?

Four days is a sensible minimum: the historic centre and the Zocalo, the Anthropology Museum, Coyoacan and the Frida Kahlo house, and a day in Roma Norte and Condesa for the food. Add a fifth for Teotihuacan's pyramids, an hour out and the best day trip from the city, and a sixth for Xochimilco's canals. It is one of the largest and most layered cities in the world, and a short trip only scratches it.

Month by monthMexico2026

The Best Time to Visit Mexico City

Best: March-May & October-NovemberCheapest: June-September

Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0

Mexico City sits at 2,240 metres, which quietly rewrites the weather you would expect from its latitude. It never gets truly hot, nights are cool year-round, and the rain arrives almost exclusively as a late-afternoon downpour in summer. The altitude also means your first day will feel harder than it should.

Alice - Trip planning and when to go

Published July 26, 2026

Updated 26 July 2026

In Brief

When is the best time to visit Mexico City?

March to May is the best time to visit Mexico City - warm, dry days in the mid-20s°C and the jacaranda trees turning whole neighbourhoods purple through late March and April. October and November are the other strong window, dry and mild with Day of the Dead at the start of November. June to September is the rainy season, though showers are usually short afternoon storms. Winter is dry but chilly at night and can be hazy.

Jacaranda season peaks late March to April, covering Roma Norte and Polanco in purple blossom.
The rainy season is June to September, but it typically rains for an hour or two in the afternoon, not all day.
At 2,240m the altitude is real - take the first day slowly, drink water, go easy on alcohol.
Day of the Dead, 1-2 November, is the biggest draw of the year; book months ahead.

Best time to go

March-May & October-November

Cheapest time

June-September

When to avoid

Day of the Dead for price and crowds

Mexico City climate at a glance

Avg daytime high (°C / °F) · rainfall · season

Peak seasonGreatShoulder / valueOff-peakmore drops = wetter

22°72°F
Jan
24°75°F
Feb
26°79°F
Mar
27°81°F
Apr
27°81°F
May
25°77°F
Jun
24°75°F
Jul
24°75°F
Aug
23°73°F
Sep
23°73°F
Oct
23°73°F
Nov
22°72°F
Dec

Find your month

Every month in Mexico City is rated for weather, crowds and price. Drag the slider to find your sweet spot — the greener the month, the better value the trip.

Sweet spot — best value

Cheapest window: June-September

June: $ · Low crowds · 25°C, warm, wet

See June hotels

Flights to Mexico CityCompare fares for your month on Trip.com Hotels in Mexico CityBook earlier for peak-season dates Things to doTours & tickets in Mexico City

Mexico City month by month

Every month rated for weather, crowds and price, so you can match the trip to the month.

Peak seasonGreatShoulder / valueOff-peak

Month	Weather	Crowds	Price	What it's like
Jan	22°C, dry, cool nights	Moderate	$$	Dry and bright by day but genuinely cold after dark, near 6°C. Air quality is at its worst this time of year.
Feb	24°C, dry, mild	Moderate	$$	Warming up, still dry, and the first jacarandas start appearing late in the month. Pleasant sightseeing weather.
Mar	26°C, dry, warm	High	$$$	Jacaranda season begins in earnest and the city turns lavender. Warm, dry and arguably the prettiest month.
Apr	27°C, dry, warm	High	$$$	Peak jacaranda and the warmest, driest stretch of the year. Semana Santa can empty or fill the city depending on the week.
May	27°C, warm, first rains	Moderate	$$	Hottest month on paper, with the first afternoon storms arriving late in the month. Still an excellent time to visit.
Jun	25°C, warm, wet	Low	$	The rainy season starts properly - mornings clear, afternoons stormy. Prices drop and the city greens up.
Jul	24°C, mild, wet	Moderate	$$	Reliable afternoon downpours and the cleanest air of the year, since the rain washes the valley out.
Aug	24°C, mild, wet	Moderate	$$	Similar to July - plan museums and long lunches for the afternoons and sightseeing for the mornings.
Sep	23°C, mild, wettest	Moderate	$$	The wettest month, and Independence Day on the 16th fills the Zocalo with the biggest civic party of the year.
Oct	23°C, mild, drying	High	$$$	The rains stop, the air stays clean and the city prepares for Day of the Dead. One of the best months.
Nov	23°C, dry, cool nights	Peak	$$$	Day of the Dead on the 1st and 2nd is the year's biggest event. Dry, clear and busy, with rates to match.
Dec	22°C, dry, cold nights	High	$$$	Dry and bright with cold evenings. Christmas markets, posadas and a festive Zocalo, but hazier air returns.

Time it right: Mexico City's seasonal highlights

Jacaranda season
Late March-April
Thousands of jacaranda trees bloom across Roma Norte, Condesa and Polanco, turning whole streets purple for a few weeks.
Day of the Dead
1-2 November
Altars, marigolds, painted faces and a huge parade through the centre - the most-booked window of the Mexican year.
Independence Day
15-16 September
El Grito from the National Palace balcony fills the Zocalo on the night of the 15th, followed by a military parade.
Monarch butterfly season
November-March
The overwintering colonies in Michoacan and the State of Mexico are a long but extraordinary day trip from the city.

Best time to visit Mexico City: FAQ

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The Best Time to Visit Mexico City

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Mexico City climate at a glance

Mexico City month by month

Time it right: Mexico City's seasonal highlights

Jacaranda season

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Monarch butterfly season

Best time to visit Mexico City: FAQ

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Time it right: Mexico City's seasonal highlights

Jacaranda season

Day of the Dead

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Monarch butterfly season

Best time to visit Mexico City: FAQ

What is the best month to visit Mexico City?expand_more

When is the rainy season in Mexico City?expand_more

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