Holy Week comes early in 2027: it runs from Palm Sunday, March 21, to Easter Sunday, March 28. Many locals leave town, and the city slows down, with fewer cars and quieter streets. It also overlaps with jacaranda season. Here’s what to expect and how to make the most of it from Roma Norte, home of Hotel Emma Boutique.
Holy Week 2027 dates
| Day | Date | Day off? |
|---|---|---|
| Benito Juárez long weekend | Saturday, March 13 to Monday, March 15 | Monday the 15th: mandatory holiday by law |
| Palm Sunday | Sunday, March 21 | Sunday |
| Holy Thursday | Thursday, March 25 | Customary, not required by law |
| Good Friday | Friday, March 26 | Customary, not required by law |
| Easter Sunday | Sunday, March 28 | Sunday |
| SEP school break | Monday, March 22 to Friday, April 2 | Classes resume Monday, April 5 |
Article 74 of Mexico’s Federal Labor Law does not list Holy Thursday or Good Friday as mandatory days off. Even so, many companies and offices give them by custom or contract, and in 2026 banks closed on both days.
A quieter city to explore
Between the school break and people heading to the beach, the city empties out a bit, especially Thursday to Sunday. In 2026 the Metro opened at 7:00 on Holy Thursday and Good Friday because of lower demand. It’s a good time to walk Paseo de la Reforma, the historic center, and Roma and Condesa without the usual traffic.
There’s no single rule for museums: most close on Mondays, and some change their hours on Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Check each one’s website before you go. The First Section of Chapultepec Park closes on Mondays, March 22 included; neighborhood parks such as Parque México are open every day.
The Iztapalapa Passion Play
It’s the best-known Holy Week reenactment in Mexico. It began as a vow made by Iztapalapa residents during the 1833 cholera epidemic, and today it’s staged by the borough’s eight traditional neighborhoods, which turn their streets into biblical scenes. In December 2025 UNESCO inscribed it as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The main days are Holy Thursday and Good Friday; Friday’s Way of the Cross ends at Cerro de la Estrella and in recent years has drawn more than a million people, according to the borough. It’s a religious event and very crowded: arrive early, bring water, sunscreen and comfortable shoes, and leave anything you don’t need at the hotel.
Getting to Iztapalapa from the hotel
- Metro: take Line 1 at Sevilla, 200 m from the hotel, toward Pantitlán, to Salto del Agua. Change to Line 8 toward Constitución de 1917 and get off at Iztapalapa or Cerro de la Estrella.
- Taxi or ride-hailing app: handy for getting back at night, but streets around Ermita Iztapalapa close on those days, so get dropped off early and walk.
- Skip the car: there’s nowhere to park nearby and the Metro is the most reliable option.
Jacarandas in March
Jacarandas usually bloom from late February to April, so you’re likely to catch them in full season during Holy Week 2027. Look for the purple canopy on Paseo de la Reforma, in Parque México and Parque España in La Condesa, and on several streets in Roma Norte, a short walk from the hotel.
More ideas for those days
- Chapultepec Park, Tuesday to Sunday.
- National Museum of Anthropology, inside the park.
- Zócalo and Palacio de Bellas Artes, in the historic center.
- Xochimilco, for a trajinera ride.
- Sevilla Metro station, your closest stop.
The 2027 dates and times of the Iztapalapa Passion Play, road closures and Metro hours for those days haven’t been published yet. The Iztapalapa borough, the organizing committee, the city’s Public Safety Ministry and the Metro announce them a few days before; we’ll update this guide when they do.
Frequently asked questions
When is Holy Week 2027?
From Palm Sunday, March 21, to Easter Sunday, March 28, 2027. Holy Thursday is the 25th and Good Friday the 26th.
Are Holy Thursday and Good Friday public holidays in Mexico?
Not mandatory ones. Mexico’s Federal Labor Law doesn’t list them. Many employers give them by custom or contract, but it isn’t a legal requirement.
When is the 2027 Holy Week school break in Mexico?
The SEP break runs from Monday, March 22 to Friday, April 2, 2027, with classes resuming Monday, April 5.
How do I get to the Iztapalapa Passion Play by Metro?
From Roma Norte: Line 1 from Sevilla to Salto del Agua, then Line 8 toward Constitución de 1917 to Iztapalapa or Cerro de la Estrella.
Where to stay in Mexico City for Holy Week?
In Roma Norte, Hotel Emma Boutique is 200 m from Sevilla Metro, just one transfer from Line 8, and has rooms for 1 to 5 guests, some family rooms with a kitchenette.