Plan your trip · Hyderabad
Best time to visit Hyderabad
Hyderabad sits on the Deccan plateau at around 500 m, so winters are mild and summers are dry and fierce. The weather narrows the best months, and the festival calendar decides which of those months suits you.
❄️ Winter
RecommendedOct – Mar
Warm in October and March, cool and mostly dry from November to February — the comfortable peak season, with crisp mornings and evenings.
Pack: light layers with a jacket or shawl for early mornings and after dark.
Plan a winter day →☀️ Summer
Apr – Jun
Very hot and dry, often 40 °C+ by midday — the off-season on the plains. Best explored at dawn and dusk, resting through the afternoon.
Pack: loose light cottons, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and plenty of water.
Plan a summer day →🌧️ Monsoon
Jul – Sep
Warm and humid with on-and-off showers that cool the air and green the gardens — rain rarely lasts all day.
Pack: a compact umbrella or light rain shell, quick-dry clothes and grippy footwear.
Shines now: Hussain Sagar
Plan a monsoon day →October to February: the easy months
This is the season to come. After the monsoon ends in October, days are warm and dry and the sky clears. December and January mornings are fresh, and nights feel cool rather than cold. A light layer is all you need. This is the best time to climb Golconda Fort in daylight and to stay out for the evening sound-and-light show. In January the Numaish exhibition fills the Nampally grounds with stalls.
March to June: heat builds
March is still pleasant in the mornings, but by April the afternoons are hot. May is the peak, often above 40 °C. If you come now, see the monuments at opening time and after 4 pm, and spend midday in a palace interior, a museum or a café. Hotels are cheaper and the Qutb Shahi gardens are nearly empty.
June to September: monsoon
The rain arrives in June and is heaviest in July and August. It comes as heavy bursts, not all-day drizzle. A strong storm can flood underpasses and low Old City lanes for a few hours and snarl traffic across town. Hussain Sagar and the gardens turn green. Keep plans flexible, and allow extra time to reach the airport after heavy rain.
Festivals that change the city
- Ramzan (moves about 11 days earlier each year): the Old City around Charminar stays open late, and haleem is everywhere. It is the best month for food and the most crowded.
- Bonalu (usually July–August): goddess processions, and road closures around the temples.
- Ganesh Chaturthi (August–September): giant idols across the city, ending in immersions at Hussain Sagar. Traffic near Tank Bund stops for a day or more.
- Bathukamma (September–October): women gather with flower stacks, with a finale by the lake.
See what's on in Hyderabad for more on each.
Questions
Hyderabad — FAQ
Is December a good month for Hyderabad?
Yes, it is one of the best. Days are sunny and warm, mornings are fresh, and there is almost no rain. Book ahead around Christmas and New Year.
Is Hyderabad too hot in May?
It is hard going, often above 40 °C in the afternoon. It is doable if you sightsee at dawn and late afternoon and rest indoors at midday.
Should I visit Hyderabad during Ramzan?
If food is your priority, yes. The Old City comes alive after sunset and haleem is everywhere. Some Old City eateries close during the day, and evenings are crowded.
Does it flood in Hyderabad during the monsoon?
Heavy bursts of rain can flood underpasses and low-lying roads for a few hours, mostly in July to September. Check the forecast and leave extra travel time on stormy days.