October is the month Mexico City stops raining and starts building altars.
Weather#
| Early October | Late October | |
|---|---|---|
| Days | ~23°C / 73°F | ~23°C / 73°F |
| Afternoons | Storms, fading | Dry, clear |
| Nights | ~11°C / 52°F | ~9°C / 48°F |
September before, November after.
Day of the Dead builds#
From mid-month: cempasúchil in every market (Jamaica market is the wholesale spectacle), ofrendas in the Zócalo, the Anthropology Museum and the university, pan de muerto in every bakery, the Catrina procession and the Reforma parade on the last weekend or the first of November. Day of the Dead in Mexico has the dates and the neighbourhoods; Halloween in Mexico City the blur between the two; how to build an ofrenda.
Formula 1#
The Mexico City Grand Prix, late October: one weekend when Polanco and Roma hotels fill and prices double. Lively if you're here for it; avoid the dates otherwise.
What to do#
The last clear mornings for Teotihuacán, the marigold markets, Coyoacán's ofrendas, the Reforma parade from a kerb. Things to do, day trips, the 4-day itinerary. Oaxaca for Day of the Dead is the great side trip; getting there.
Prices#
Low for the first half; high for the F1 weekend and the last ten days. Book the Dead early. Neighbourhoods, on a budget.
Pack#
A jacket for cooling nights, an umbrella for the first half. First time in Mexico City.
With a chilango#
An ofrenda is built for someone, and a family's altar with the story of who's on it is a different thing from a museum's. Post your dates on Roavi Community and a Local Friend can bring you to one.
Mexico City for Day of the Dead? See an ofrenda with the family who built it.
Meet a Local FriendFrequently Asked Questions
What is the weather like in Mexico City in October?
Mild, with the rainy season ending: highs around 23°C (73°F), lows around 10°C (50°F), afternoon storms in the first half fading to dry clear days by the end. Evenings get cooler through the month.When is Day of the Dead in Mexico City?
1 and 2 November, with the build-up through late October: marigold markets from mid-month, ofrendas in the Zócalo and museums, the Catrina procession and the big Reforma parade on the last weekend of October or the first of November (dates are announced each year). The Day of the Dead guide has the full calendar.Does the Formula 1 affect a Mexico City trip?
For one weekend in late October: hotels near the Autódromo and in Roma and Polanco fill and prices jump, Reforma hosts fan events, the city is lively. If you're not going to the race, avoid that weekend or book far ahead.Is Halloween celebrated in Mexico City?
Increasingly, alongside Day of the Dead: children trick-or-treat in some neighbourhoods, bars hold costume parties, and the two traditions blur over the last days of October. Day of the Dead remains the real event.
