Season guide · Mexico City · Mexico
Mexico City in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: kornemuz, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Dry, sunny days and cold nights, with Guadalupe pilgrimages, Christmas posadas and clear views of the volcanoes on some mornings. Expect highs up to 24°C (75°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F), with about 6 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 6°C (43°F) to 24°C (75°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 6
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22°C (72°F) | 6°C (43°F) | 2 | 11.1 h | 3/5 |
| February | 24°C (75°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 2 | 11.5 h | 3/5 |
| December | 21°C (70°F) | 6°C (43°F) | 2 | 11 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 22°C (72°F) against a yearly 24°C (75°F), and 6 of the year's roughly 118 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Día de Reyes with rosca de reyes cake (6 January)
- February: Día de la Candelaria, when tamales are shared (2 February)
- February: Zona Maco contemporary art fair (usually February)
- December: Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe (12 December)
- December: Posadas, Christmas processions and parties (16–24 December)
Make the most of the weather
Experience · Xochimilco
Xochimilco canals
Go on a weekday for a quieter ride or on Sunday for the full party, and agree the boat price by the hour using the official board at the landing.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Kids
- Food
- Outdoors
Street · Juárez and Reforma
Paseo de la Reforma and the Ángel
The city's grand boulevard, laid out in the 1860s under Emperor Maximilian, runs from the Alameda past monuments such as the golden Ángel de la Independencia to Chapultepec Park.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Active
- Architecture
Viewpoint · Centro Histórico
Torre Latinoamericana
Go on a clear morning after overnight rain, when the volcanoes may be visible, or at dusk to watch the city lights come on.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- History
- After dark
Castle · Chapultepec
Chapultepec Castle
On a hill in Chapultepec Park, one of the largest city parks in the Americas, the castle was the residence of Emperor Maximilian in the 1860s and later of Mexican presidents.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Architecture
- Kids
Day trips in winter
- Taxco (About 2.5–3 hours by bus) — A hillside colonial town of white houses and red-tiled roofs, famous for its silver workshops, with the baroque Santa Prisca church at its centre and a cable car up to a hilltop viewpoint.
- Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (About 3.5 hours by car) — From about mid-November to March, millions of monarch butterflies overwinter in the high fir forests of Michoacán and the State of Mexico, covering the branches and filling the air on sunny days.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Mexico City?
It is a trade-off: Dry, sunny days and cold nights, with Guadalupe pilgrimages, Christmas posadas and clear views of the volcanoes on some mornings. The best months overall are March–April and October–November.
+What is the weather like in Mexico City in winter?
Highs of up to 24°C (75°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F), with about 6 rainy days over the season.