Mexico, North America
Mexico City in October
Rains taper, ofrendas and marigolds appear everywhere, and Dia de Muertos season builds through the second half of the month.
The straight answer
October is one of the best months of the year to visit Mexico City. Rains taper, ofrendas and marigolds appear everywhere, and Dia de Muertos season builds through the second half of the month.
- Weather
- Drying out, highs near 72F (22C)
- Crowds
- 3 of 5
- Prices
- 3 of 5
What October is like in Mexico City
October is when Mexico City starts to shine again. The rains taper off, highs sit near 72F (22C), and the days turn clear and fresh. Marigolds and ofrendas start appearing in markets and plazas, and Dia de Muertos season builds through the second half of the month. Crowds and prices are moderate, rising toward the end of the month.
October is one of the best months for first-timers, couples and families. It suits anyone who wants mild weather and a taste of Dia de Muertos without the peak crush. If you want the full celebration, stay into early November, and book your hotel well ahead.
Make the most of October
What is especially good about Mexico City this month.
Dia de Muertos season begins
Ofrendas fill plazas and marigold markets pop up across the city in the second half of the month.
Drying weather
Afternoon rain fades as the month goes on, so late October feels close to dry season.
The downtown parade
A huge parade runs through the center in the days before November 2. Check this year's route and date.
What to pack for October
- A light jacket for cool evenings
- A compact umbrella for early-month showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sunscreen for bright, clear days
Our timing tip
Book your hotel for the last week of October months ahead, since Dia de Muertos visitors fill the city fast.
Book Mexico City for October.
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- Hotels for October
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Mexico CityOpens a hotel search for Mexico City in October, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Mexico CityWhole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Mexico CityTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Mexico City for October. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
What's on in October
Day of the Dead in Mexico City
November 1 and 2 every year, with parades, altars, and events building through the second half of October
Marigold altars, a giant parade down Reforma, and candlelit cemetery vigils in one of the world's great cities.
Dia de Muertos season
Late October through November 2
Ofrendas in every plaza, marigold markets, and a huge downtown parade in the days before November 2. Book hotels well ahead for the final week.
Things to do in Mexico City
Museo Nacional de Antropologia
The Aztec Sun Stone, the Maya rooms, and hall after hall of the pre-Hispanic Americas. Give it a full morning; it is closed Mondays like most museums here.
Centro Historico and the Zocalo
The cathedral, the Templo Mayor excavation, and Diego Rivera's murals at the Palacio Nacional and San Ildefonso, all within a few blocks of one of the world's largest city squares.
Teotihuacan
The immense pyramid city about an hour northeast. Arrive at opening ahead of the heat and the buses, or splurge on a dawn hot-air balloon flight over the site.
Chapultepec Park and Castle
Twice the size of Central Park, with the castle's hilltop views, museums, and boating lakes. Sundays are joyful, family-packed chaos.
Coyoacan and the Frida Kahlo Museum
The Casa Azul sells out days or weeks ahead; buy timed tickets online early, then give the rest of the day to Coyoacan's plazas and markets.
Xochimilco
Float the canals of the old lake system on a painted trajinera with mariachis rowing past. Go with a group, go at midday, and negotiate the boat price before boarding.
Beat the crowds
- Do the Centro Historico early on a weekday morning: by afternoon, and especially on weekends, the pedestrian streets around the Zocalo run at carnival density.
- Book the two sellout tickets first, the Casa Azul and any famous tasting-menu restaurant; everything else in this city can be decided the same day.
- Reach Teotihuacan at opening. The site is vast enough to absorb crowds, but shade is scarce and tour buses stack up from mid morning.
- Use rainy-season afternoons on purpose: the 4pm downpour is the best museum ticket in town, and the streets after rain are the clearest-aired, prettiest version of the city.
Know before you go
- Mexico City has no off season: museums, restaurants, and sights run all year. The planning facts are weekly and holiday rhythms, not seasonal shutdowns.
- Most museums, including Anthropology and the Casa Azul, close on Mondays. Teotihuacan is open daily, which makes Monday the natural pyramid day.
- Semana Santa, the week before Easter, and the December 12 to January 6 holiday corridor send locals out of town: traffic lightens, big sights stay open, but a noticeable share of small restaurants and shops takes the week off.
- Around Dia de Muertos and Independence Day, downtown streets close for parades and the Zocalo hosts massive events: thrilling to join, worth routing around if crowds are not your thing.
Mexico City in October, quick answers
Is October a good time to visit Mexico City?
October is one of the best months of the year to visit Mexico City. Rains taper, ofrendas and marigolds appear everywhere, and Dia de Muertos season builds through the second half of the month.
What is the weather like in Mexico City in October?
Drying out, highs near 72F (22C).
Is Mexico City crowded in October?
Crowds in Mexico City are moderate in October; timed bookings still help at the biggest sights.
What is happening in Mexico City in October?
Dia de Muertos season (late october through november 2).
Keep planning Mexico City.
The months either side, and the best one if this is not it.
Also at their best in October
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