Things to Do in Mexico City in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Mexico City
Is December Right for You?
Advantages
- Perfect temperature range for exploring on foot - mornings start crisp at 8°C (47°F) but warm quickly to comfortable 22°C (72°F) by midday, ideal for museum-hopping and neighborhood walks without overheating
- Minimal rainfall means you can plan outdoor activities with confidence - only 5 mm (0.2 inches) for the entire month, though interestingly you might see brief light drizzle on about 10 days that clears within minutes
- December brings the city's most vibrant cultural calendar - Las Posadas processions fill neighborhoods nightly from December 16-24, plus the massive Zócalo Christmas market and ice skating rink transform the historic center into something genuinely magical
- High season pricing hasn't kicked in yet for the first two weeks - flight and hotel costs typically run 20-30% lower than the Christmas week rush, making early December particularly smart for budget-conscious travelers
Considerations
- Temperature swings of 14°C (25°F) between morning and afternoon mean you're constantly adjusting layers - that jacket you needed at breakfast feels ridiculous by 2pm, and locals joke about wearing your entire wardrobe at once
- Air quality deteriorates noticeably in December due to thermal inversion trapping pollution - the city sits in a valley at 2,240 m (7,350 ft), and you'll see haze most mornings that can irritate sensitive throats and eyes
- Christmas week (December 23-26) sees massive domestic tourism influx - popular spots like Teotihuacan and Xochimilco become genuinely crowded, with wait times doubling and restaurants requiring reservations days ahead
Best Activities in December
Teotihuacan Pyramid Sunrise Tours
December's cool mornings make the 2,240 m (7,350 ft) altitude climb much more comfortable than summer months. The pyramids open at 9am, but early access tours departing Mexico City around 5:30am get you there for sunrise around 7am when temperatures are still 8-10°C (46-50°F) and the site is nearly empty. The thin air at this elevation means UV exposure is intense even in winter - that UV index of 8 is no joke - but morning visits avoid the worst of it. By December the rainy season has completely ended, so you get crystal-clear views across the entire archaeological complex without the haze that plagues summer months.
Historic Center Walking Routes
The 70% humidity feels surprisingly comfortable in December's mild temperatures, making multi-hour walking tours actually pleasant rather than the sweaty ordeal they become in May. The Zócalo Christmas market and ice skating rink operate throughout December, transforming the main plaza into something worth experiencing even if you're not typically into holiday tourism. Las Posadas processions happen nightly from December 16-24 in neighborhoods like Coyoacán and Roma Norte - these aren't tourist performances but actual community celebrations where locals reenact Mary and Joseph's search for lodging. The variable weather means you might catch occasional light drizzle, but it rarely lasts more than 20 minutes and provides good excuses to duck into the incredible baroque churches scattered everywhere.
Xochimilco Trajinera Boat Tours
December weather makes the floating gardens experience genuinely enjoyable rather than scorching hot or rain-interrupted. The canals stay calm, and that 22°C (72°F) afternoon temperature is perfect for the 2-3 hour boat rides through the ancient Aztec waterways. Weekends get packed with local families celebrating posadas and Christmas parties, which actually adds to the festive atmosphere - you'll see elaborately decorated boats with full sound systems and families singing. The ecological areas toward Cuemanco remain quieter if you want the nature experience without the party scene. Worth noting that December is when you'll find the best seasonal foods from vendors paddling alongside - tamales, champurrado hot chocolate, and ponche navideño fruit punch.
Chapultepec Park Museum Circuit
The park's 686 hectares (1,695 acres) become much more walkable in December's cooler weather - summer heat makes the distances between museums genuinely exhausting. December typically sees lower tourist numbers in the first two weeks, meaning shorter lines at the National Museum of Anthropology and Chapultepec Castle. The 8°C (47°F) morning temperatures are perfect for starting early when museums open at 9am, then you can move indoors as crowds build mid-afternoon. The park's elevation at 2,240 m (7,350 ft) means that UV index of 8 requires serious sun protection even in winter - locals know to wear hats and sunscreen. December also brings migrating birds to the park's lakes, adding an unexpected nature element to the cultural attractions.
Coyoacán and Frida Kahlo Museum Visits
December brings a completely different energy to this colonial neighborhood - the main plaza hosts elaborate nativity scenes and nightly posadas processions that give you genuine local cultural immersion rather than tourist performances. The Frida Kahlo Museum requires advance tickets year-round, but December weekday mornings see noticeably smaller crowds than peak summer months. The neighborhood's cafes and street food scene thrives in December's comfortable temperatures - you'll actually want to sit outside in the plazas rather than seeking air conditioning. The 70% humidity feels pleasant rather than oppressive, and those occasional 10 rainy days usually just mean brief afternoon sprinkles that clear quickly.
Lucha Libre Wrestling Matches
December brings special holiday-themed matches and the energy inside Arena México reaches peak levels as locals celebrate the season. The indoor venue means weather is irrelevant, making this perfect for those occasional drizzly evenings. Matches typically run Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday nights starting around 7:30pm and lasting 3-4 hours. December crowds skew more local than tourist, which actually makes the atmosphere more authentic - you'll be surrounded by families who've been coming for generations and know all the wrestlers' storylines. The high altitude means the arena can feel stuffy, but December's cooler outside temperatures make the contrast less shocking than summer months.
December Events & Festivals
Las Posadas Processions
From December 16-24, neighborhoods across the city host nightly reenactments of Mary and Joseph searching for lodging. These aren't staged tourist events but actual community traditions where neighbors process through streets singing, carrying candles, and stopping at designated houses. Coyoacán, Roma Norte, and San Ángel host particularly elaborate versions with hundreds of participants. The processions typically start around 8pm and last 1-2 hours, ending with ponche (hot fruit punch), tamales, and breaking piñatas. Worth experiencing at least once for genuine cultural immersion.
Zócalo Christmas Market and Ice Skating
The main plaza transforms into a massive Christmas market with an actual ice skating rink - somewhat surreal given the 22°C (72°F) daytime temperatures. The market runs throughout December with 150+ vendor stalls selling crafts, seasonal foods, and decorations. The ice rink operates daily from around 10am-10pm with entry costing 50-80 pesos for 45-minute sessions. Evenings bring elaborate light shows projected onto the Cathedral and National Palace facades. Gets absolutely packed on weekends but weekday afternoons offer reasonable crowd levels.
Guadalupe-Reyes Marathon
Not an official event but a beloved local tradition where people celebrate continuously from December 12 (Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe) through January 6 (Three Kings Day). The city's bars, cantinas, and restaurants host special events throughout this period. You'll see the effects everywhere - extended happy hours, special menus, and a generally festive atmosphere that makes December nightlife particularly vibrant. The December 12 pilgrimage to the Basilica of Guadalupe brings millions of people and is worth witnessing even from a distance.