At a Glance
Compared to this destination's peak season Splits sharply: the week of El Grito, Wednesday 15 September 2027, and the Independence Day holiday on the 16th price and fill like a peak near the Centro; the rest of the month is rainy-season value.
Mexico City in September — Travel Guide
By Harry Nara · Last updated
Mexico City in September offers some of the best conditions of the year, ideal for culture seekers & festival lovers. Expect temperatures of 13–24°C, around 18 days of rain, and medium crowds across the city. Daily budgets typically land around $40–155 for mid-range travellers. Book three to four weeks ahead for the best mid-range rates and the widest hotel choice.
Contents14 sections
#Weather in Mexico City in September
Mexico City in September averages 13–24°C (55–75°F) with around 18 days of rain, and crowds are medium.
| Measure | September in Mexico City |
|---|---|
| Daytime high | About 24°C / 75°F |
| Overnight low | About 13°C / 55°F |
| Wet days | About 18, with 158mm of rain, easing towards the end of the month |
| Sunset | 6:52pm on the 1st, 6:26pm on the 30th |
| Big dates | El Grito, Wednesday 15 September 2027; Independence Day parade, Thursday 16 September |
| Pattern | Sunny mornings, an afternoon or evening storm |
Figures are Servicio Meteorológico Nacional 1991–2020 normals for Tacubaya, Mexico City, with sunsets for the Centro.
What that actually means for your trip:
- Mornings are for plans; afternoons are for shelter. The rainy season's rhythm still holds: clear, fresh mornings, then a heavy storm that builds through the afternoon and usually passes by the evening.
- The storms are short and hard. Streets and low Metro stations can flood for an hour; wait them out over a long lunch.
- The rains loosen their grip late in the month. Eighteen wet days is fewer than July or August, and the last week is often drier.
- The city is at its greenest, and the air is cleaner than in the dry season, rinsed every afternoon.
Should you come in September? It is the most Mexican month of the Mexico City year. The whole of September is the mes patrio, the patriotic month: flags hang from buildings, the Zócalo is lit in green, white and red, and chiles en nogada are on every menu.
The Grito on the night of the 15th is the biggest civic celebration of the year. The price is the rain, and the week of the 15th, when hotels near the Centro fill.
#What to Do in Mexico City in September
El Grito, Wednesday 15 September
Late on the night of 15 September, the president rings the bell on the balcony of the National Palace and gives the grito, the cry of independence, and the Zócalo shouts back ¡Viva México! Tens of thousands fill the square, which is fenced, searched and full hours ahead, with concerts before and fireworks after.
In 2027 it falls on a Wednesday. See our Grito guide.
The Independence Day parade, Thursday 16 September
On the morning of the 16th, a national holiday, the military parade runs through the Zócalo and along Reforma. Crowds line the route from early in the morning; the Reforma end is easier than the square.
Chiles en nogada
Chiles en nogada, poblano peppers stuffed with a sweet and savoury mince, covered in walnut sauce and scattered with pomegranate in the colours of the flag, are the dish of the season. Every restaurant, from market fonda to tasting menu, has a version, and the walnut sauce is only made while the fresh walnuts last.
The earthquake anniversary
Major earthquakes struck the city on 19 September in both 1985 and 2017, and the anniversary is a sober date. A national earthquake drill has usually been held on or near it, with sirens across the city and buildings evacuating; in 2027 the 19th falls on a Sunday, so check the date. If you are caught in one, follow your hotel's staff to the marked assembly point.
Museums for the afternoons
The Museo Nacional de Antropología, the Palacio de Bellas Artes and the Museo Nacional de Arte fill a stormy afternoon; the Museo Frida Kahlo in Coyoacán needs booking well ahead. Museums close on Mondays, and some government buildings close on the 16th.
The green city
September is the greenest month: Chapultepec, the Bosque de Tlalpan and the volcanic gardens of Ciudad Universitaria are lush. Go out in the morning and come back before the storm.
#Getting Around
Plan cross-city journeys for the morning, before the storms.
The Metro and Metrobús are fast and cheap; some low-lying stations flood in a heavy storm, so ride-hailing apps are the backup, though prices surge when it rains.
Around the 15th and 16th the Centro is closed to traffic for days, and the Zócalo is fenced off for the stage and the parade. Arrive on foot or by Metro, and expect stations near the square to be packed on the night of the 15th.
#Budget & Costs
| Travel style | Per day | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | US$40–70 | Guesthouse, fondas and street stalls, Metro and Metrobús |
| Mid-range | US$100–155 | Boutique hotel in Roma or Condesa, restaurants, museums |
| Luxury | US$280+ | Polanco hotels and tasting menus |
Where the money actually goes:
- The week of the 15th is the peak. Hotels in and near the Centro fill early and charge accordingly; Roma and Condesa are a short ride away.
- The rest of the month is low season, still inside the rainy-season value that runs through the summer.
- Room rates often exclude the lodging tax and VAT, so check the total before you book.
- Chiles en nogada are dear at the famous restaurants and good value in the fondas.
September divides into the Grito week and everything else. Book the 15th early if you want to be near the Zócalo; for the rest of the month, Mexico City is good value.
#Food & Dining
Beyond chiles en nogada, September is the month for pozole, the hominy stew served white, green or red, eaten late on the night of the 15th and in families across the holiday.
Antojitos, the street snacks, fill the Grito-night stalls: tostadas, sopes and elotes.
The comida corrida, the fixed lunch in a fonda, suits the month's rhythm: a long meal in the early afternoon while the storm passes. For chiles en nogada, book a restaurant for the weekends around the 16th. Drink bottled or filtered water, which every restaurant uses.
#Nightlife
The night of the 15th is the biggest night out of the year, and not only in the Zócalo: bars, restaurants and private parties across Roma, Condesa and the Centro hold their own grito at about eleven. The rest of the month, the rain usually clears before the city goes out. At 2,240 metres alcohol hits harder; the 15th is not the night to find that out.
#Shopping
From the first week, street vendors sell flags, rattles, hats and tricolour everything, and the streets around the Centro are the place for it.
Mercado de la Ciudadela has crafts from across the country at fixed prices, and Mercado de Jamaica sells flowers. The covered markets are the answer to a wet afternoon.
#Culture & Etiquette
- Join in. Wearing the colours and shouting ¡Viva! with the crowd is welcome; standing apart and filming it as a show is noticed.
- The 19th is a solemn date, a day of remembrance, not a festival.
- Say buenas tardes first, then ask; usted is the safe form with strangers.
- Restaurant tips run 10 to 15%, and you request the bill yourself.
- Keep valuables hidden in crowds, and agree a meeting point, because phone signal fails in the packed square.
#Essential Local Phrases
| Spanish | What it means |
|---|---|
| El Grito | The cry of independence, on the night of 15 September |
| ¡Viva México! | The answer, shouted back by the crowd |
| Mes patrio | The patriotic month, all of September |
| Chiles en nogada | The dish of the season, in the colours of the flag |
| Simulacro | An earthquake drill |
| ¿Va a llover? | Is it going to rain? |
| La cuenta, por favor | The bill, please |
#Packing List
- A compact umbrella or a light rain jacket
- Shoes that cope with puddles, and with standing for hours on the 15th
- Something green, white or red if you are joining the Grito
- A light layer for the cool evenings
- Sunscreen for the bright mornings
- A small bag rather than a large one for the crowds
- Cash in small notes for street food and stalls
#Backup Plans
If the storm arrives early: the Centro's museums are close together; go from Bellas Artes to the Museo Nacional de Arte and the Diego Rivera murals in the courtyards of the Secretaría de Educación Pública.
If the Zócalo is full on the 15th: every neighbourhood square holds its own grito, and Coyoacán's and San Ángel's are among the most enjoyable.
If a storm floods the street: wait. The water drains within an hour or so, and wading through it is not worth the risk.
If the drill sounds: follow the staff out and wait at the assembly point; it is over in minutes.
#Safety & Health
Crowds are the September-specific risk: the Zócalo on the night of the 15th is packed, phone signal fails and pickpockets work the crowd.
Storms bring lightning and flash flooding; stay out of underpasses and low streets in a heavy one.
Find out where your hotel's earthquake assembly point is when you arrive, and take the first day slowly at 2,240 metres. Ride-hailing is safer than a street taxi, the tap water is not for drinking, and the emergency number is 911.
#What's New for September 2027
- El Grito falls on Wednesday 15 September 2027, and the parade on Thursday 16 September
- The 19 September anniversary falls on a Sunday; check when the national drill is held
- Chiles en nogada season runs through the month
- The rains ease in the last week, as the wet season winds down
- Mexico City no longer changes its clocks
#About This Guide
By Harry Nara (founder of WhenToWander), first written in September 2026 and rewritten in October 2026 for September 2027. Climate figures are Servicio Meteorológico Nacional 1991–2020 normals for Tacubaya. Facts verified against:
- Servicio Meteorológico Nacional for the September normals
- Gobierno de México for the national holidays and the Grito
- CENAPRED for earthquake preparedness
- INAH for the national museums
- AICM for transport from the airport
For the season as a whole, see Mexico City's wet season, and for the month that follows, Mexico City in October.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Grito de Independencia in 2027?
Late on the night of Wednesday 15 September 2027, when the president gives the cry of independence from the balcony of the National Palace. The military parade follows on the morning of Thursday 16 September, a national holiday. The Zócalo is fenced off and the Centro closed to traffic for days around it.
Is September a good time to visit Mexico City?
It is the most Mexican month of the year: the whole of September is the patriotic month, the city is decorated, and chiles en nogada are everywhere. Expect about 18 wet days, mostly short afternoon storms, with mornings that are usually clear, and book early for the week of the 15th.
What happens on 19 September in Mexico City?
It is the anniversary of the earthquakes of 1985 and 2017, a solemn date. A national earthquake drill has usually been held on or near it, with sirens and building evacuations; in 2027 the 19th falls on a Sunday, so check the date. Follow your hotel’s staff to the assembly point.
Should I be in the Zócalo for the Grito?
If you want the full experience, yes, but go early: the square is searched and full hours ahead, phone signal fails and leaving is slow. Neighbourhood squares, such as Coyoacán’s and San Ángel’s, hold their own grito at about eleven and are far easier to enjoy.
What’s the weather like in Mexico City in September?
Mexico City in September typically sees temperatures of 13–24°C with around 18 days of rain across the period. Pack lightweight layers that suit both cooler mornings and warmer afternoons.
How much does it cost to visit Mexico City in September?
Budget-conscious travellers can expect daily costs of $40–155, covering accommodation, food, and local transport. Flexible dates can save up to 20% compared with peak-week rates.