10 Things to Do in Mexico City in May

May is the warmest month of spring in Mexico City, with temperatures ranging from approximately 12° to 27°. There are many entertaining activities, such as running a marathon during Mother's Day, strolling through the city's best museums, taking advantage of the dance shows or walking through Chapultepec Forest in a colourful party where neon is the protagonist.

There are also gastronomic fairs and exhibitions, so I recommend you add them to your itinerary to taste the surprises of Mexican food. If you are a lover of Halloween and horror movies, you should take advantage of all the plans that the month of May has to offer, such as sanatoriums and haunted mansions, extreme parks and the opportunity to solve a murder case.

International Dance Day is celebrated between the last week of April and the first days of May, with a variety of dance performances in the city's theatres, opera houses, museums, recital halls and academies. For example, the Royal Academy of Ballet prepares classical and modern pieces and offers sample classes for beginners.

CENART also organises free events such as dance performances, master classes and documentary screenings.

During Mother's Day the streets of Mexico City are full of fun events and most of them are completely free. For example, you can sign up for a mini-marathon along the canals of Xochimilco, around which there are food stalls and hydration points, as well as other sports games.

Throughout the city there are also activities such as mariachi bands, live shows and dances. In addition, there are plenty of things to do in Mexico City to enjoy the rest of the day.

The Electric Run marathon is the perfect opportunity to get to know the Bosque de Chapultepec in depth. Wear neon sportswear to be in line with the theme and get ready for a one-hour run. Entry costs approximately €40 and includes a make-up kit, shirt, competitor number, hydration and medal, it's an interactive experience you should sign up for.

Along the different sections you'll find surprises such as foam showers, live music, colourful tunnels, DJs and food courts. Also, if you arrive early, they will help you with your neon make-up. You can find more information on the official website.

May is a month full of fun and movement in Mexico City, the temperatures are pleasant, so you'll find a variety of festivals and great things to do at night.

Aleph: The Festival of Art and Science

If you are interested in artistic performances or learning about science and medicine, the Festival de Arte y Ciencia is for you. It is held at the UNAM and its name is inspired by a story by Jorge Luis Borges. Each edition has a different theme, so you'll be surprised by the activities and exhibitions. There are acrobatics, conferences, dances and most of them are completely free.

NRMAL Festival

One of the most important music festivals in Mexico City, held during May, there are a variety of independent bands and musicians, food stalls, electronic performances and unexpected surprises. Tickets start at €30 and it's a similar event to Corona Capital.

Food Festivals

During the month of May there are a variety of gastronomic festivals, where you can try enchiladas, quesadillas, chapulines, pulque, local beers, tacos, mezcal, among others. Some of the festivals you can enjoy include:

• Snow Fair in Tláhuac, it is installed between April and May, the interesting thing is that there are a variety of stalls offering ice creams of different flavours, from the traditional ones to mysterious proposals such as rattlesnake, tequila and pulque, among others. In the surrounding area you will see very interesting cultural shows.
• Yucatán Expone is located in the Zócalo square and admission is free. It offers savoury and sweet dishes, such as cochinita pibil, panuchos, poc chuc, alfeñique and coconut candy, based on the roots of Aztec cuisine. You will also find craft stalls and live music.
• Feria del Mundo, don't miss the opportunity to travel the world without leaving Mexico City. It is a colourful and completely free event that allows you to taste the gastronomy of at least 30 countries, including Spain, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile, Argentina, France, Italy, Bulgaria, Turkey and Tunisia.

Another option is the Medieval Barbecue Festival which offers barbecues, live music such as bagpipes and medieval games such as knightly combat and archery. The Japanese Market in Mexico City also opens its doors during the month of May, has limited spaces and offers traditional Japanese food, clothing and handicraft shops.

If you want to experience a hot air balloon ride in Mexico City, while sampling Mexican dishes, then the International Balloon Festival is ideal for you. Keep in mind that dates often vary and sometimes events are rescheduled for other months, so it's important to keep an eye on their website.

May 18th is International Museum Day, so you have the perfect excuse to take a tour of Mexico City's main museums. During this week special events are organised such as the Night of Museums and the Historic Walks around the corners of the city, which are completely free.

At the end of April a variety of exhibitions, art and culture events are announced and there are open passes to the best art galleries. There are also talks, concerts, photo tours, dance performances and plays. Some of the must-see museums in May include:

• Museo del Palacio de Bellas Artes offers permanent and temporary exhibitions, history sections and children's areas. Admission is around 4 €.
• Museo del Pulque y las Pulquerías, Pulque is a popular fermented drink in Mexico that has been prepared since pre-Hispanic times. In the museum area you can learn about the artisanal process, the collection of traditional vessels and the changes that the recipe has undergone, while in the pulqueria you can taste the drink, as well as enchiladas and chapulines. The entrance fee is approximately €2.
• Museo de la Luz has exhibitions based on light and colour, and is ideal for children as there are many learning spaces. Museum nights are priced at around€1, while regular admission costs around €2.

Traveller Tip

If you want to win special prizes, you can take part in rallies at various museums around the city.

Why wait for Halloween when May is the month of terror in Mexico City? Every year, different events are prepared for lovers of horror and mystery films. For example, the Carnival by Scream Park mobile park, considered the largest horror theme park in Latin America, arrives in the city and is regularly located in Guadalajara.

If you have a student card you can get special discounts and general admission tickets cost approximately 22 €. You can tour a haunted mansion, get lost in a sanatorium or enjoy a cocktail in the drinking area.

To solve mysteries and murders, head to Murder Mystery, an immersive game set in the 1940s-inspired Casa Rivas Mercado, where you'll be left clues to solve a case. The experience lasts approximately two hours, you must comply with the dress code of the era and the entrance fee is around €24.

In May, the Portuguese Film Week is held at the Cineteca Nacional in Mexico City. It is an event that broadcasts the best films made by Portuguese talent and throughout the week there are several screenings to cover as many films as possible.

This event also takes place in Ecuador, Colombia, Chile and Argentina. Each screening costs approximately €3. At the Cineteca you can also view the film archives, explore the video library, enjoy the exhibitions in the museum area, have a beer on the terrace, watch a film in the open-air forum or sample authentic Mexican dishes in the restaurant.

Mexico City is one of the cities with the most palaces in Latin America, in fact it is called the City of Palaces. In its facilities there are history and art exhibitions, monuments, relics and period items. Some of the palaces you should visit are:

Chapultepec Castle

The Chapultepec Castle is located next to the Chapultepec Forest and is a piece of the monarchy that was built in 1785 with a neoclassical and baroque design. During your visit you can take the opportunity to:

• Visit the Butterfly Farm, which in springtime is full of colourful flowers and shelters at least 50 species.
• Have a picnic in the Chapultepec Lake.
• Interact with snakes, amphibians and turtles in the Herpetarium.
• Enjoy the company of animals at the Chapultepec Zoo.

You will find more attractions, such as the fair, the children's playground, the botanical garden, the athletics track and more than ten museums.

Postal Palace or the Fifth House of the Post Office

The Postal Palace has a variety of monuments, very important for the history of Mexico. Its library stands out as an attraction for reading lovers, and its architectural design is eye-catching and ideal for taking pictures. The entrance fee is approximately 3 €.

Palace of Fine Arts

A great place to spend the afternoon is the Palacio de Bellas Artes. It's ideal for enjoying performances by dance companies, attending lectures, exploring the museum, taking a guided tour, listening to the Symphony Orchestra which usually performs during May and learning more about Mexican culture.

Mexico City is multicultural and its experiences are up to par, offering the best attractions for locals and tourists alike. La Imperial restaurant, located in La Reforma, offers a gastronomic challenge for the bravest. It takes place in May, Christmas and other special dates, when you arrive you will be blindfolded to taste and judge the dishes through smell and taste.

Don't worry! There is a menu of meat, fish and other seafood proposals, for vegans and vegetarians. You can make reservations online.

If you are looking for something to do with children, I recommend you to visit Six Flag theme park during May. This month has ideal temperatures to enjoy their activities which include:

Fun Nights

They are available between March and June and access is completely free after the park closes. It is a night-time concept offering live music, marimba shows, food stalls, mariachi and catrinas shows, cocktail areas and more. Please note that parking is available at an additional cost. On the grounds of the park you can stroll through the French Village which offers music and atmosphere of the sixties. Additionally, you don't need to make a reservation, but I suggest you arrive early.

Heroes and Villains Festival

After enjoying the hero-inspired roller coasters, I suggest you take advantage of one of the best events of the spring. This is the Festival of Heroes and Villains which offers shows for children, parades of dancers, acrobats and cartoon characters, the entrance fee is from 36 €.

Burger Challenge

To celebrate Hamburger Day during May, the park organises a challenge to eat as many hamburgers as possible in fifteen minutes. It lasts five hours and the official rules can be found on the park's website.

In the month of May there are many activities organised, so you can continue to explore the city and fall in love with its charm. The best way to get to know every corner of the city is to take a bike tour, making stops at the city's highlights.

Make the most of Labour Day events

If you arrive in the city on the first day of May, you should be aware that it is International Workers' Day, which has its advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, it's a day of rest and many Mexicans take the opportunity to get out of the city or walk the streets. There are also free events and shows in the plazas, but some shops, restaurants, monuments and areas are closed, metro lines have limited opening hours and banks are not open.

Don't miss Italian Film Week

If Portuguese films aren't your thing, maybe try Italian cinema. The Italian Film Week is similar and is organised by the Italian Institute of Culture at the Cineteca Nacional to screen the Italian films that have won the most awards at international festivals and prizes. There is a variety of genres such as suspense, horror, drama, comedy, romance, documentary, among others, and there are also talks to learn more about how cinema works in Italy.

Around the Cineteca you will find many places to eat, such as the Diana Restaurant, the Corazón de Maguey and the Chicha Cineteca. It is also close to the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the Frida Kahlo Museum, the Zócalo square and the Palace of Fine Arts. It is an event that takes place between April and June in Mexico City and Argentina, on the Cineteca website you can find all the details.