World Guide

Mexico City

Capital of Mexico

Mexico City
Photo: Gobierno CDMX, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, is a major urban center with a population of about 9.2 million people as of 2020. Visitors come to explore its numerous museums, historical sites, and expansive parks.

What to see

The historic center of Mexico City, a UNESCO site, contains the Zócalo, the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Palace, and the Templo Mayor. Nearby, you can visit the Torre Latinoamericana, the Palacio de Bellas Artes, and the Monumento a la Revolución. The Paseo de la Reforma features the Angel of Independence and leads toward Chapultepec, which houses Chapultepec Castle, the National Museum of Anthropology, and the Chapultepec Zoo. Other notable locations include the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Frida Kahlo Museum, the Leon Trotsky House Museum, the Anahuacalli Museum, the Luis Barragán House and Studio, the Museo Soumaya, and the Biblioteca Vasconcelos. The Polanco and Zona Rosa districts are also well-known areas.

When to go

The city experiences a distinct rainy season from May to October, with July and August seeing the most precipitation at over 160 mm across nearly all days of the month. The driest months are December through March, which see very little rain and daily highs ranging from 19 °C to 23 °C. Temperatures remain relatively consistent throughout the year, with daily highs mostly between 19 °C and 24 °C. Lows drop to 5 °C in January and reach 11 °C during the warmer, rainy summer months.

Getting there

The primary gateway is Mexico City Benito Juárez International Airport, located 11 km from the city.

Top sights in Mexico City

  1. Basilica of Our Lady of GuadalupeBasilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
  2. Templo MayorTemplo Mayor
  3. Chapultepec CastleChapultepec Castle
  4. ZócaloZócalo
  5. Mexico City Metropolitan CathedralMexico City Metropolitan Cathedral
  6. Angel of IndependenceAngel of Independence
  7. National PalaceNational Palace
  8. Palacio de Bellas ArtesPalacio de Bellas Artes
  9. Monumento a la RevoluciónMonumento a la Revolución
  10. National Museum of AnthropologyNational Museum of Anthropology
  11. Frida Kahlo MuseumFrida Kahlo Museum
  12. ChapultepecChapultepec
  1. Museo Soumaya
  2. Historic center of Mexico CityUNESCO
  3. Chapultepec Zoo
  4. Biblioteca Vasconcelos
  5. Paseo de la Reforma
  6. Torre Latinoamericana
  7. Polanco
  8. Leon Trotsky House Museum
  9. Zona Rosa, Mexico City
  10. Anahuacalli Museum
  11. Luis Barragán House and StudioUNESCO

Weather by month

The warmest month is April, with an average high of 24 °C. The wettest is July, with about 168 mm of rain.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average high, °C202123242322212120202019
Average low, °C56791011111111976
Rainfall, mm111012266114316816514057116
Rainy days225815212828261561

Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Mexico City (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.

Also worth a look

  • Academy of San Carlos
  • Alameda Central
  • Central Library
  • Ciudad Satélite
  • Colección Jumex
  • Colegio de San Ildefonso
  • Colonia del Valle
  • Cuicuilco
  • Franz Mayer Museum
  • Mexico City National Cemetery
  • Monument to Cuauhtémoc
  • Museo Nacional de Arte
  • Museo Nacional de las Culturas
  • Museo Rufino Tamayo, Mexico City
  • Museum of Mexico City
  • Nacional Monte de Piedad
  • Palace of Iturbide
  • Palacio de Correos de México
  • Palacio de Minería
  • Plaza Garibaldi
  • Plaza de las Tres Culturas
  • San Ángel
  • Santa Fe, Mexico City
  • Supreme Court of Mexico
  • Torre Mayor
  • Villa de Guadalupe, Mexico City

Other cities in Mexico