10 Things to Do in Mexico City in April

During April, Mexico City is full of fun activities, such as food festivals, events celebrating spring and the chance to climb the Torre Latinoamericana or take a trajinera ride in Xochimilco. You can also take a night walk, picnic in the Botanical Gardens or swim in the spas.

Mexico City never sleeps and is a historic capital that offers a variety of events, festivals and monuments that I recommend you get to know. The best time to visit is during April, a month of spring activities. It is characterised by sunny, pleasant temperatures, affordable accommodation prices, discounts on attractions and the guarantee of outdoor activities, as rainfall is rare.

Mexican celebrations and festivals have a particular charm. Music, food and cultural performances are the stars of each event. April brings together some of the best things to do in Mexico City.

Vive Latino Music Festival

The Vive Latino Music Festival is one of the most important music events in the country and in Latin America, held annually between March and April. It features artists from different genres, as well as activities, food stalls and areas to buy records. You can also enjoy the Music Village, where workshops, conferences and autograph signings take place completely free of charge.

Tickets range from 100 to 282 Є, the most expensive ones include private areas, rest areas near the main stage, wifi, among others.

Texcoco International Festival

Take your car and head out of the city to visit the small town of Texcoco, where the Texcoco International Festival is held. It's an ideal plan, as many artists perform live, there are mechanical games, livestock exhibitions and traditional Mexican food.

Tickets range from 15 to 156 Є, depending on how close to the stage you want to be. You can find more information on the official website.

While in town, you can visit the Autocinema Quinta which has stunning views of Lake Texcoco, or stop by the Museo Regional del Pulque y el Maguey where you can sample authentic Mexican beverages.

If you still want to continue exploring, I invite you to the Tetzcotzinco Archaeological Zone to discover all about Mexico' s ancestral past or the Ex-Convent of Coatlinchan which fuses Spanish and Mexican culture.

Festival of the Historic Centre

Every year the Centro Historico Festival enlivens the city's most important architectural area, with art exhibitions, dance and music performances, opera performances and local food stalls.

Many activities are free and it is one of the oldest festivals in the country. There are also a variety of entertainment options for children. The main locations for the festival's events are the National Museum of Art, the Palace of Fine Arts, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Franz Mayer Museum. Other attractions in the area include:

• Corredor Cultural Madero, the street of hidden talents and crafts, ideal for exploring shops, cafes and bookshops.
• Mercado Ciudadela, a great place to spend an afternoon exploring local crafts.
• La Peninsular, visit one of the city's most emblematic cantinas, where authentic Mexican traditions are maintained.

Flower Festival

Nature lovers can enjoy the Festival de las Flores (Flower Festival) held in the city's Centro Historico, a completely free event with a variety of entertaining attractions. There are floral displays prepared by landscapers and discounts are offered in the surrounding shops. To celebrate, other activities are held at other monuments in the area, such as the Templo Mayor Museum, which exhibits works inspired by flowers.

A similar option is the Spring Garden, which is held twice a year: in March and April. In the Zócalo square there are booths covered by monuments whose design is inspired by flowers.

There are parades, artificial and natural gardens, food stalls, picnic areas and live music. Also, between the last weeks of March and the first days of April, the Noche de Primavera (Spring Night) takes place, where more than 400 artists perform in different parts of the Centro Histórico.

Easter traditions are a very important part of Mexican culture, therefore, its inhabitants show their respect through food, dances, parades and processions. The patron saint events are distributed throughout the week, in different parts of the city.

Iztapalapa Stations of the Cross

The Viacrucis Iztapalapa is a procession that pays homage to the Passion of Christ through a representation. It takes place in the area of Cerro la Estrella and is a very old tradition that has been going on since 1843. Different scenes are recreated, such as the Last Supper, the washing of the feet and the betrayal of Judas. It is a long walk, so I recommend you wear comfortable shoes.

Visit the 7 temples

In many cities around the world, the 7 temples or monuments are visited to symbolically accompany Jesus Christ during the crucifixion. Mexico City is no exception and is one of the most important traditions during Holy Week. Most of the temples are concentrated in the Historic Centre, the most visited being the Parroquia de la Santa Veracruz, the Iglesia de la Profesa and the Templo de San Francisco.

Taste the typical dishes of Semana Santa (Holy Week)

During Holy Week there are days when it is considered inappropriate to eat meat, so you will find different proposals in the restaurants of the city, such as sopa de habas con nopales (bean soup with nopales) prepared with chicken and vegetables, capirotada (a pudding with bread), different dishes where fish and lentils are the protagonists. The tradition of the 7 potajes is also celebrated, which consists of a variety of stews exclusive to this season.

During April the city can experience some hot days, I recommend adding to your itinerary some great places to cool off, such as the city's spas. The pools at Balneario Elba are a great option for a refreshing dip, a barbecue or a meal by the water's edge. Admission is around 4 Є, so it's an economical plan not to be missed.

Another option is to go to the Jajalpa y Águilas Japan Water Park, which has two spas completely free of charge.

In Mexico City there are still many activities to continue enjoying the month of April. You can take a gastronomic tour of the city, visit fairs or art exhibitions.

Taste Mexican enchiladas

The National Enchilada Fair is one of the most important gastronomic festivals in Mexico. To enjoy it, you must go to the southeast of the city, where you will find a variety of stalls offering dishes where enchiladas are the protagonists. There are dance shows, live music and mechanical games. This fair can also be enjoyed between August and September.

MUFO Exhibition

One of the best museums in Mexico City is the Museum of the Future, better known as MUFO. The exhibitions take place between March and May, its proposal invites you to live through the senses, you can enjoy optical illusions, tastings, Metaverse galleries, and live music with dimensional effects.

The entrance goes from 8 to 18 Є. This museum is closed for the rest of the year, so I recommend visiting in April.

During the night Mexico City lights up and there are places you can't miss. The best option to enjoy it to the fullest is to take a tourist bus tour that will take you to see the best of the city, so you can visit the Historic Centre, Polanco, Basilica or South Coyoacan, with audio-guided commentary.

You can also sign up for a night guided tour around the city, this way you will feel safer and you will be able to know the history in depth from the hand of a professional guide. Some places you can visit are:

• The National Palace, which guards the history of the country and has artistic exhibitions, murals and other cultural representations.
• The Palacio de Bellas Artes, one of the most important attractions of the capital, where the National Museum of Architecture is located and where you will be able to observe models of the main buildings. There are also murals, exhibitions and a dance company that organises shows.
• The Metropolitan Cathedral, considered one of the most important churches in the city, both for its history and architecture.

Traveller Tip

Some areas of Mexico City are unsafe, especially at night. It is advisable to take group tours with a professional guide.

One of the best months to climb the Torre Latinoamericana is April, as the views are clear and the colours of the sky are photo-worthy. It is considered one of the tallest buildings in Latin America and during this month there are fun activities such as yoga classes at the top of the city.

On the 41st floor is the Miralto restaurant, ideal for a midday stop. Another option is to stop by the museums to learn about the history of the tower and its relevance to the city, or buy a souvenir in the gift shop. Of course, the main attraction is the observation deck that resembles the Empire State Building in New York.

A free experience not to be missed is the series of picnics that take place in the forest of the Chapultepec Botanical Garden. To enjoy the experience I recommend you to arrive early and bring your own equipment to organise a meal on the green areas, such as a tablecloth, basket, and of course, warm clothes, as temperatures cool down considerably in the evenings. The rest of the year there is one picnic a month, depending on the weather.

Xochimilco is one of the most famous areas of Mexico City. Spring rides in April are ideal, as the pleasant temperatures allow you to tour the eleven piers corresponding to Nuevo Nativitas, Las Flores, Zacapa, Caltongo, Salitre, San Cristobal, Belem, Belem de las Flores, Cuemanco, Fernando Celada and Puente de Urrutia.

I recommend at least one day to get to know the area, in the surrounding area you will find other activities and you can take a bike tour to explore it in depth. If you want to enjoy a ride on a trajinera, I recommend you to go to the Salitre pier, which also has sport boats.

If you go by car you can leave it in one of the car parks near the canals, and go on foot to El Bosque de Nativitas, the Madreselva Plant and Flower Market and the Isla de las Muñecas, a peculiar place whose entrance fee is 2 Є and is full of antique dolls. An excellent choice for lunch is the Manantiales Restaurant.

International Book Day is celebrated on 23 April. In Mexico City it is considered a very important day, so you'll find workshops, children's talks, book clubs, book launches, events at the city's main publishing houses, documentary screenings and fairs. Locations where you can enjoy events include bookshops, museums, cultural centres and the streets of the Centro Histórico.

In addition, you can also visit the Fiesta del Libro y la Rosa, which has a varied itinerary that includes forums and readings aloud, among others.

Children's Day is very important in Mexico as it commemorates the child casualties of World War I. On this day a festival is held in the Zocalo square with music, roller coaster fairs and food stalls. Half an hour from the centre is the National Arts Centre, which organises games, theatre, workshops and activities for children.

Museums and libraries also have children's areas, and the Virtual Aquarium has interactive games, such as a sailing simulator, as well as terraces and outdoor areas. Some parks organise camps and the planetarium is a great place to share.

In the streets you'll see children with crazy hairdos, a tradition used in Mexico City's schools and districts.

There are still plenty of festivals to visit, attractions to book and activities worth doing. Some of the lesser known ones that take place in April are:

• Mezcalverso Fest, is a bazaar held during April that allows pets and is free to enter. If you want to try the typical cochinita pibil, tacos or quesadillas, you will find food stalls with a variety of proposals. The main protagonist of this event is mezcal, a Mexican drink that will keep you in the mood.
• Cantinas, many cantinas hold events during the month of April, some of them offer dances where the protagonists are the famous catrinas.
• Festival Vaivén, come to the Jardines de México and enjoy a musical experience. You must bring everything you need, as re-entry is not allowed. On site there are themed gardens, food stalls, drink bars, lockers and camping areas. In addition, parking is free, so you can arrive in your car.