Things to Do in Mexico City in April
April weather, activities, events & insider tips
April Weather in Mexico City
Is April Right for You?
Advantages
- Dry season tail-end means mostly sunny days with only occasional afternoon sprinkles - you'll get maybe 10 rainy days total, and even those are usually just brief 20-30 minute showers that clear quickly
- Jacaranda trees bloom throughout the city creating stunning purple canopies along Reforma and in neighborhoods like Condesa and Roma - it's genuinely one of the most photogenic times to visit and locals actually plan picnics around it
- Semana Santa (Holy Week) brings unique cultural experiences including elaborate street processions in Iztapalapa and special foods like capirotada and romeritos that you won't find other times of year - plus many chilangos leave the city so neighborhoods feel less crowded
- Comfortable temperature swings from cool mornings perfect for market visits to warm afternoons ideal for rooftop mezcalerias - you can actually layer up and down throughout the day which beats the intense May heat
Considerations
- Semana Santa week (April 13-20 in 2026) means higher accommodation prices, fully booked hostels, and some restaurants closing for the holiday - if you're visiting then, book at least 8 weeks ahead or expect to pay 40-60% more than normal rates
- That 2,240 m (7,350 ft) altitude hits harder when combined with April's increasing humidity and UV index of 8 - first-timers often underestimate how winded they'll get walking uphill in Polanco or climbing Teotihuacan pyramids, and sunburn happens fast
- Air quality deteriorates in late April as we transition toward rainy season - you might see haze settling over the valley by afternoon, and people with respiratory sensitivities should check daily pollution levels on the AIRE app before planning outdoor activities
Best Activities in April
Teotihuacan Pyramid Complex Visits
April offers that sweet spot before the brutal May heat makes climbing the Pyramid of the Sun genuinely miserable. The site opens at 9am but tour groups don't arrive until 10:30-11am, giving you a solid window to explore with fewer people. The morning temperatures sit around 15-18°C (59-64°F) which is perfect for the steep climbs - by noon it hits 25°C (77°F) and the sun at this altitude is intense. The jacarandas blooming along the approach road make for stunning photos. Worth noting that Semana Santa week brings Mexican families so avoid April 13-20 if you want smaller crowds.
Centro Historico Walking Routes
The historic center is actually more pleasant in April than in summer when afternoon thunderstorms are daily and intense. You'll get those cool 13-15°C (55-59°F) mornings perfect for exploring the Zocalo, Templo Mayor ruins, and Palacio de Bellas Artes without overheating. The occasional April shower is brief and you can duck into the hundreds of cafes, cantinas, or museums. Weekday mornings (Tuesday-Thursday) are noticeably less crowded than weekends when provincial tourists flood in. The light in April is beautiful for photographing colonial architecture - that high-altitude sun creates sharp shadows and vivid colors.
Xochimilco Trajinera Boat Tours
April weekends at Xochimilco are festive chaos with mariachi bands, michelada vendors, and families celebrating - it's the authentic local experience but expect crowds. Weekday mornings are dramatically quieter and the light filtering through the willows is gorgeous. The canals are at good water levels (rainy season hasn't started filling them yet) and temperatures by 11am hit that comfortable 22-24°C (72-75°F) range. You'll see locals harvesting flowers and vegetables from the chinampas which is fascinating. The humidity makes afternoon visits sticky, so morning or late afternoon around 4-5pm works best.
Coyoacan and Frida Kahlo Museum Exploration
Coyoacan's tree-lined plazas are spectacular in April with jacarandas in full bloom creating purple canopies over the cafes and artisan markets. The neighborhood feels like a small town rather than part of a megacity. The Frida Kahlo Museum (Casa Azul) gets mobbed on weekends but Tuesday-Thursday mornings are manageable. April's weather is perfect for wandering - cool enough for the 2-3 km (1.2-1.9 miles) of walking between sites but warm enough for outdoor cafe sitting. The weekend markets at Plaza Hidalgo are lively without being overwhelming, and you'll find seasonal fruits like ciruela and mamey.
Chapultepec Park and Museum Circuit
This massive 686-hectare (1,695-acre) park is Mexico City's lung and April weather makes it actually enjoyable rather than sweltering. The park hosts six world-class museums including the Anthropology Museum which you could spend an entire day in. Weekday mornings the park fills with chilangos jogging and practicing tai chi, while weekends bring families picnicking under the ahuehuete trees. The Chapultepec Castle offers stunning city views and the walk up through the forest feels 5°C (9°F) cooler than street level. April's jacaranda blooms along Reforma leading to the park create that iconic purple tunnel effect.
Roma and Condesa Neighborhood Food Walks
These neighborhoods are peak photogenic in April with jacarandas lining streets like Alvaro Obregon and Amsterdam. The food scene here ranges from corner taquerias to high-end restaurants, and April weather is perfect for the outdoor seating that defines these areas. You'll walk 4-6 km (2.5-3.7 miles) over 3-4 hours hitting markets, street stands, cafes, and mezcalerias. The neighborhoods come alive around 2pm for comida corrida (set lunch menus at 120-180 pesos) and stay buzzing until late. Weekday afternoons feel more local than weekend evenings when the scene skews touristy.
April Events & Festivals
Semana Santa (Holy Week) Processions
The Iztapalapa Passion Play is one of the world's largest Holy Week reenactments with over 450 actors and 2 million spectators watching the crucifixion procession through the neighborhood. It's intense, genuine religious devotion rather than tourist spectacle. Throughout the city you'll find smaller processions, special masses, and families preparing traditional foods. Many museums and restaurants close Thursday-Sunday of Holy Week, while others have reduced hours. Markets sell special Lenten foods like romeritos (herb with mole and shrimp) and capirotada (bread pudding). This is deeply meaningful cultural immersion but requires planning around closures.
Festival del Centro Historico
This month-long cultural festival typically runs through April with free concerts, dance performances, art exhibitions, and theater in venues throughout the historic center. You'll find everything from classical music in colonial churches to contemporary dance in Plaza Santo Domingo. The programming includes both Mexican and international artists, and events happen mainly evenings and weekends. It's worth checking the official schedule once you're in town as performances are high quality and many venues are architectural gems you wouldn't otherwise access. Most events are free or under 200 pesos.