Celebrating Day of the Dead in Mexico City is a bucket list worthy experience. Mexico City is always fun, but during Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos), it’s an incredible place to be. With all the festivities, activities and decorations, celebrating Day of the Dead in Mexico City will certainly be a trip to remember.
Mexico City is huge – it’s the largest city in North America with more than 9 million people. During Day of the Dead, millions of tourists are traveling throughout Mexico, with many of them deciding on Mexico City. Because of this, Mexico City, an already very busy city, becomes extremely busy and crowded in many areas.
Should this deter you from visiting? Definitely not! But it’s just something to keep in mind, especially when making travel plans.
Celebrating Day of the Dead in Mexico City
What is Day of the Dead?
Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday and celebration where families welcome the return of the souls of their loved ones who have passed away. Each year, Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico from October 31-November 2 and different events take place on different days.
However, celebrations and decorations will start popping up around Mexico City the week before Day of the Dead, so I highly recommend coming early. After November 2nd, Day of the Dead is over and all of the decorations quickly come down.
- October 31: At midnight, the gates of heaven open allowing the souls of children to return to their families for 24 hours.
- November 2: At midnight, the gates of heaven open allowing the souls of adults to return to their families for 24 hours.
To welcome back loved ones, families create beautiful offerings (ofrendas). These offerings can be seen in homes, businesses and graveyards and are a way of celebrating with those who have passed on. Ofrendas typically include photos of the deceased, marigold flowers, sugar skulls, as well as their favorite foods and treats.
Many cultural institutions, businesses, restaurants and museums create giant, beautiful ofrendas that are stunning to see. These ofrendas can be found around the city and in the days leading up to Day of the Dead they are on display for all to see. You could easily spend an entire day walking around the city and marveling at the beautifully designed ofrendas, complete with calaveras de azucar (sugar skulls) and papel picado (paper flags).
Day of the Dead Drinks and Food
Around Day of the Dead you’ll start to see sugar skulls and pan de muerto (bread of the dead) popping up in markets and bakeries all over Mexico. These are two of the most iconic sweets associated with Day of the Dead.
Although I don’t recommend eating sugar skulls, they’re more for decoration or to include on an ofrenda, during this time of year you’ll find many “skull themed” treats that are reminiscent of sugar skulls.
Pan de Muerto is a delicious sweet bread that is also very commonly seen on ofrendas, as it’s meant as an offering to nourish the souls who are returning to earth during Day of the Dead.
Other dishes that are commonly part of Day of the Dead celebrations include, tamales and mole negro (a delicious sauce made with chiles and chocolate).
During Day of the Dead in Mexico City be sure to also try some Mexican hot chocolate (often made with spices like cinnamon and cayenne pepper), it’s especially delicious with some pan de muerto. Mexican hot chocolate and other popular drinks like horchata (sweet rice milk drink with cinnamon) and atole (a hot drink made with corn and masa) are served year round, but they pair very nicely with Day of the Dead dishes.
Day of the Dead Parade
Every year in Mexico City there’s a Day of the Dead Parade, usually starting on Paseo de la Reforma and arriving to the Zócalo in the Historic City Center. The official date is released in advance of the parade each year.
The parade usually begins around 5pm and draws huge crowds of over a million people. I can’t even begin to explain how crowded it can be (especially in the Historic Center,) but check out my photo below to see for yourselves. If you want to find a spot to watch the parade, arrive at least a few hours early.
Day of the Dead Decorations in the Zócalo
My absolute favorite place to see Day of the Dead decorations in Mexico City is in the Zócalo, Mexico City’s main square in the Historic Center. Here, for Day of the Dead and the days leading up to it, you’ll find amazing decorations, larger than life Catrinas (beautifully dressed skeleton woman), face painting, performances and so much more.
It should be your first stop when celebrating Day of the Dead in Mexico City. Just be warned that it will be very busy, especially in the evenings and on the weekends. For the best photos without the crowds, try a weekday morning.
Dressing up for Day of the Dead
For Day of the Dead, it’s very common for women to dress in beautiful, colorful outfits (reminiscent of Catrinas). These outfits often include intricate face paint that rivals any sugar skull out there. You will see a plethora of places to get your face painted on the street during the Day of the Dead festivities and it’s a wonderful way to take part in the traditions and celebrations.
Note: Day of the Dead is not Mexican Halloween and it’s not about being scary. Stay away from costumes and instead purchase a handmade headband from one of the many street vendors and dress in a colorful and appropriate style!
Tips for Visiting Mexico City During Day of the Dead
How many days should I spend in Mexico City during Day of the Dead?
The festivities in Mexico City start a few days before Day of the Dead and end promptly on November 2nd with the conclusion of the holiday. I recommend arriving in CDMX a few days before Day of the Dead “officially” starts, that way you can partake in the pre-holiday events and enjoy the fun and festive atmosphere of the city.
If you arrive a few days before Day of the Dead officially starts, and stay through the end of the holiday, you’ll be looking at a 4-7 day trip.
Be sure to check out my guide for how to spend 4 perfect days in Mexico City.
Book Your Hotels in Advance and Stay in a Central Area
Hotels fill up quickly, so book as far in advance as you can! It’s important to note that hotels and AirBnbs are also much more expensive during the Day of the Dead celebrations than at many other times during the year, so be prepared to pay more than usual.
Where Should I Stay in Mexico City during Day of the Dead?
Usually I don’t recommend staying in the Historic Center (Centro Historico) of Mexico City, but if you want to be right in the middle of the Day of the Dead celebrations, festivities and decorations, this is a good place to base yourself.
Hotels in the Historic Center:
- Hotel Punto MX
- Kali Ciudadela
- Círculo Mexicano
- Casa Pepe (Hostel) – Historic Center
- Viajero CDMX Centro Hostel – Historic Center
- They, usually, offer fun Day of the Dead activities
If staying in the Historic Center isn’t for you, Roma Norte, Coyoacan, Polanco and Condesa are my favorite neighborhoods. They’re central, beautiful, safe and have a lot going on during Day of the Dead.
Hotels in Mexico City:
- NaNa Vida CDMX – Roma Norte
- ULIV Colima – Roma Norte
- Brick Hotel Mexico City – Roma Norte
- W Mexico City – Polanco
- Pug Seal Allan Poe – Polanco
- Casa Tuna – Coyoacán
- H21 Hospedaje Boutique – Coyoacán
- Casa Pancha (Hostel) – Condesa
If possible, I highly recommend staying in a central, walkable area (like the ones above). The traffic in Mexico City is so bad, and even worse during Day of the Dead, that you will end up spending a ton of time in traffic if you’re trying to commute into the city by car.
Make Restaurant Reservations When You Book your Hotel
Mexico City is known for its delicious food and for being home to world renowned restaurants. If you’re hoping to snag a reservation at one of these restaurants, like the coveted Pujol, you’ll always need to book at least a month in advance. Around Dia de los Muertos, however, book as far in advance as you can.
Even if the restaurants you want to visit usually have reservations available, during Day of the Dead the city is so busy that places will fill up quickly. If you know where you want to eat during your trip, definitely consider making a reservation far in advance.
Mexico City Restaurant Recommendations:
- Azul Historico (Historic Center)
- El Cardenal (Historic Center)
- Elly’s (Juarez)
- Pujol (Polanco)
- Cafe de Tacuba (Historic Center)
- Plantasia (Roma Norte)
- Madre Cafe (Roma Norte)
- Cafe Nin (Juarez)
- Churrería El Moro – multiple locations, the original is in the Historic Center. No reservations.
Prepare for a Ton of Traffic: Even More Than Normal
Mexico City is known for its heavy traffic. During Day of the Dead, the city is busier than ever and therefore, the traffic is even more intense. For this reason, I really recommend staying in a central area where you can walk to restaurants, shops and attractions.
However, because Mexico City is huge, even if you stay in a central area (say Roma Norte), you’ll still need to Uber or take the metro to other central areas, like the Historic Center. While Ubers are cheap, prepare to spend at least 45 minutes to an hour in the car almost every time you plan to travel somewhere. A drive that would usually take 25 minutes can easily take 45 during Day of the Dead.
My advice is to walk when you can and to give yourself as much time as possible when Ubering from one location to another.
Are you ready to book your trip to celebrate Day of the Dead in Mexico City? If you have any questions, or anything you’d like to add to this post, let me know in the comments. Enjoy the wonderful experience of spending Day of the Dead in Mexico City!
Make sure you’re following us on Instagram, @twosistersabroad, for tons of mini-guides and photo inspiration.
Related posts to check out:
- 4 Days in Mexico City: Epic Itinerary and Travel Guide
- What to Wear in Mexico – Vacation Lookbook and Outfit Inspiration
- Your Go To Mexico Packing Guide: FREE Printable Packing List for Mexico
Q&A: Celebrating Day of the Dead in Mexico City
- What is the Day of the Dead called in Mexico City?
- In Spanish Day of the Dead is Día de Los Muertos or Día de Muertos
- Where is the best place to celebrate Day of the Dead in Mexico City?
- The Historic Center, Coyoacán and the Trajineras in Xochimilco
- Where is the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City?
- The parade route begins at Chapultepec Park, along Paseo de la Reforma and ends in the Historic Center at the Zócalo. As Day of the Dead gets approaches, be on the lookout for the city’s announcement of the official route, day and time.
- How long is the Day of the Dead parade Mexico City?
- 4.5-5 hours total. To get a good viewing spot, make sure to arrive well before the parade begins.
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♡Kate
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