Best Time to Visit Gustavo Adolfo Madero

Dry season: November to April

This is the easy stretch. Days are sunny and mostly dry, and the afternoons feel warm without being heavy. Nights are the catch. December and January dip to 7°C, so you'll want a proper jacket for evenings in the streets around the Basilica de Guadalupe, the area's big draw.

Rain is rare, so it's a good time for walking. You can spend a full day at the Basilica and its hillside chapel at Tepeyac without worrying about a downpour. Heading on to the pyramids at Teotihuacán, north of the city? Dry months also suit that trip best. Spring warms up steadily, and April and May tie for the warmest days at 28°C.

Rainy season: June to September

Expect rain nearly every day. July and August tie as the wettest months, each with 159 mm on 28 days, and sun drops to about three and a half hours a day. Storms usually roll in as heavy afternoon bursts, so mornings are your best window for sightseeing. The air feels damp, and streets can flood in the low-lying parts.

It's not a write-off, though. Hills turn green and the crowds are thinner. If you're happy with museums, markets and long lunches of tacos or tlacoyos (stuffed corn cakes), this is a fair time to come. Just don't plan a whole day outdoors.

Festivals and crowds

The biggest date is 12 December, the feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Pilgrims arrive from all over Mexico, many on foot, and the Basilica area gets extremely packed. Come then if you want to see it, but expect long waits and heavy crowds. If you hate crowds, avoid the days around it.

Early November brings Day of the Dead, with offerings and marigolds in homes and cemeteries. It's a rewarding time to visit and the weather is still pleasant. Holy Week, the days before Easter, is another busy time, since many locals take holiday.

When to go

For the best mix of weather and calm, pick late January to March. Days are sunny, nights are cooler, and you avoid the December crowds. May and October are in-between months. They rate Excellent, but each still sees rain on about two weeks of the month. Travelling on a budget or happy with showers? The wet months are quieter, though the weather will shape every plan.