What is it like to visit Mexico City during Semana Santa?
Late March or early April brings Semana Santa (Holy Week), which is secretly the absolute best time to experience Mexico City. Nearly half the population leaves for the coast, turning the usually jammed avenues into quiet, breezy boulevards. Traffic vanishes, reservations at hot spots like Rosetta or Contramar become surprisingly easy to snag, and the spring air is warm and clear. It is a blissful, slow-motion version of the capital that feels like a private club for those who stay behind.
What locals actually do
While tourists flock to the beaches of Oaxaca and Guerrero, Chilangos who stay in the city relish the empty streets. Locals spend the holiday taking long, uninterrupted bike rides down Paseo de la Reforma, lingering over lazy 3-hour lunches in Condesa without the usual roar of traffic, and visiting major museums like the National Museum of Anthropology without the typical queues. The city feels spacious and breezy. However, keep in mind that neighborhood businesses, family-run fondas, and municipal markets often close from Holy Thursday through Easter Sunday so staff can travel.
Rent an Ecobici on Good Friday morning and ride down a completely empty Paseo de la Reforma, then head to Bosque de Chapultepec for a quiet walk before a late lunch in Juárez.
Practical notes
- 01Book high-end dining reservations weeks in advance, as top restaurants remain open and draw in the remaining locals and visitors.
- 02Check the operating hours of smaller, family-run galleries, bakeries, and mezcalerías, which frequently close from Thursday to Sunday.
- 03Take advantage of the dramatically reduced traffic to visit farther-flung neighborhoods like Coyoacán or San Ángel in record time.
Good to know
- ✗Many neighborhood street markets and local tortillerías close completely for the long holiday weekend.
- ✗Public transportation runs on a limited holiday schedule on Thursday, Friday, and Monday.
- ✗Banks and government offices are closed on Holy Thursday and Good Friday.