Things to Do in Mexico City in July
July weather, activities, events & insider tips
July Weather in Mexico City
Is July Right for You?
Advantages
- Peak rainy season means the city is lush and vibrant - Chapultepec Forest looks spectacular, and the jacarandas are still finishing their bloom. Air quality is typically at its best all year, with pollution washed away by frequent showers.
- Summer crowds thin out significantly after schools break in late June - you'll find shorter lines at major museums like Frida Kahlo's Casa Azul and Templo Mayor, though weekends still get busy with local families.
- July brings mango season to its absolute peak, and street vendors sell them cut fresh for 30-50 pesos with chili and lime. Markets overflow with seasonal produce, and restaurants feature special summer menus with ingredients you won't find other times of year.
- Hotel prices drop 20-30% compared to high season (November-April), and you can often score last-minute deals on boutique properties in Roma and Condesa. Flight prices from the US and Europe are typically lower mid-week, avoiding the July 4th weekend spike.
Considerations
- Afternoon thunderstorms hit around 4-6pm on roughly 10 days throughout the month - not daily, but frequent enough that you need to plan indoor activities for late afternoons. These aren't light drizzles; they're proper downpours that flood streets temporarily and shut down outdoor markets.
- The humidity at 2,240 m (7,350 ft) altitude creates a strange combination - you're breathing harder from thin air while also dealing with sticky heat. First-time visitors often underestimate how the altitude amplifies fatigue, especially when combined with summer warmth.
- July coincides with Mexico's summer vacation period, so while international tourists are fewer, domestic tourism picks up on weekends. Xochimilco trajineras and Teotihuacan pyramids get packed with chilango families on Saturdays and Sundays, making weekday visits essential for a better experience.
Best Activities in July
Teotihuacan Pyramid Sunrise Tours
July mornings are typically clear before afternoon clouds roll in, making this the ideal time to climb the Pyramid of the Sun and Moon. Start at 6am to beat both the heat and crowds - by 9am it gets significantly warmer and tour buses arrive. The 65 m (213 ft) climb up the Pyramid of the Sun is challenging at altitude, but morning temperatures around 15°C (59°F) make it manageable. The site is 48 km (30 miles) northeast of the city center.
Centro Historico Walking Food Tours
July's afternoon rain pattern actually works in your favor - morning food tours from 9am-1pm let you sample street food and markets before the downpours hit. The humidity keeps tortillas soft and brings out intense flavors in mole and pozole. You'll cover 2-3 km (1.2-1.9 miles) walking through neighborhoods like La Merced market, where July brings peak season for mamey sapote, tejocote, and the best mangoes you'll ever taste.
Xochimilco Trajinera Boat Tours
The floating gardens are at their greenest in July thanks to consistent rainfall, and the canals are full - you're not scraping bottom like you might in dry season. Go on weekdays between 11am-3pm to avoid weekend crowds and catch the period between morning mist and afternoon storms. The covered boats protect you from sun and occasional sprinkles. Mariachi bands float by, and you can order food from passing vendors. Budget 2-3 hours for the full experience on the 170 km (105 miles) of canals.
Museum Circuit in Polanco and Chapultepec
July's rainy afternoons make this the perfect month to dive deep into Mexico City's world-class museums. The Museo Nacional de Antropologia alone deserves 3-4 hours, and July's smaller crowds mean you can actually spend time with the Aztec Sun Stone without being pushed along. Pair it with Tamayo Museum or Museo Rufino Tamayo for contemporary art. The museums are climate-controlled, offering relief from humidity, and the surrounding Chapultepec Forest is stunning after rain.
Lucha Libre Wrestling Shows
Arena Mexico hosts matches Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday nights - perfect for July evenings when you want indoor entertainment after afternoon rains. This is genuine local culture, not a tourist show, though plenty of visitors attend. The atmosphere is electric, families bring kids, and the acrobatic wrestling style is uniquely Mexican. Shows run 2.5-3 hours starting around 7:30pm, and the arena is a 15-minute walk from metro Cuauhtemoc.
Coyoacan and Frida Kahlo Museum Tours
The cobblestone streets and colonial architecture of Coyoacan look particularly beautiful after July rains wash everything clean. The neighborhood is walkable year-round, but July's greenery makes it special. Casa Azul (Frida Kahlo Museum) requires advance tickets and gets busy, but July weekday mornings see lighter crowds than high season. The neighborhood is 11 km (6.8 miles) south of Centro, and you'll want 4-5 hours to explore properly including the Mercado de Coyoacan.
July Events & Festivals
Feria de las Culturas Amigas
This massive international cultural festival typically runs for two weeks in late July at the Zocalo, featuring food, crafts, and performances from 70+ countries. It's completely free and draws huge crowds on weekends, but weekday afternoons offer a more relaxed experience. You'll find authentic cuisine from embassies and cultural institutes, plus live music and dance performances. Plan for 2-3 hours and go hungry - this is one of the best opportunities to sample global food without leaving Mexico City.