Bukittinggi sits at 930 metres altitude, which makes it cooler and fresher than coastal Sumatra. Daytime temperatures rarely climb above 26°C and nights can be chilly enough for a jumper.
The dry season runs roughly from May to September and is the best time to visit — clearer canyon views, fewer afternoon downpours, and reliable trekking weather on the surrounding volcanoes. The wet season (October to April) is rarely a washout but expect heavy rain most afternoons. The town's biggest festival, Pacu Jawi (the spectacular Minangkabau bull-races on flooded paddies, held in the surrounding regencies), usually runs after the rice harvest in November and December.