Your Ultimate Guide to Celebrating Dia de los Muertos in Mexico City
Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday that has captured the imagination of people around the world. This multi-day celebration honors loved ones who have passed away and is a time to remember and celebrate their lives.
There are many ways to experience the rich traditions of Día de los Muertos in Mexico City. Visit the Gran Ofrenda at the Zócalo, explore Coyoacán, or join the celebrations along Avenida Reforma. And of course, no visit to Mexico City during Dia de los Muertos would be complete without experiencing the Great Day of the Dead Parade.
In this guide, we explore the best things to do during Día de los Muertos in Mexico City. You’ll also learn how to fully embrace this unique and vibrant celebration.
If you’re planning a trip to Mexico in late October or early November, don’t miss the “Día de los Muertos” celebrations.
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The Día de los Muertos is a celebration that honors the return of the dead from beyond. One of the key traditions involves building “ofrendas” (altars) adorned with flowers, candles, food, and a photo of the deceased. These altars come in two forms: small, individual ones built in households, and large public ones that can be used by anyone.
Sugar Skulls
The skull is a central symbol of the Día de los Muertos, but it is made less scary through colorful decorations. Sugar skulls are often handcrafted and produced specifically for the holiday.
Pan de Muerto
In Mexico, there is a special dish for every major festival. For Independence Day, it’s the “Chile en Nogada,” for “Dia de los Reyes Magos,” it’s the Rosca de Reyes, and for the Día de los Muertos, it’s the Pan de Muerto. This sweet, fried bread is coated in sugar and sometimes filled with a sweet custard.
Las Catrinas
These elegantly dressed skeletons have become a festive symbol of the Día de los Muertos. During the festivities, you can find Las Catrinas in public spaces, souvenir stores, cafes, and many other places. This satirical symbol represents pride in Mexican and indigenous culture. Nowadays, Las Catrinas are also one of the most popular symbols of the Día de los Muertos outside of Mexico.
For Día de los Muertos, you will find many vendors selling decorations, accessories, and offering services to paint beautiful Catrina makeup on your face. You can usually choose between having half of your face or the whole face painted. We got our makeup done in the morning in Coyoacán, and it lasted the entire day. However, remember to bring a good makeup cleanser to remove it in the evening. Prices vary but are typically between 15 and 20 euros.
Alebrijes
These brightly colored Mexican sculptures depict mythical or fantastical creatures and gained special recognition thanks to the Disney movie “Coco.” In the film, we see different kinds of alebrijes, such as Dante the Dog and Pepita the feathered Dragon. Alebrijes are believed to be guides to lost souls in the Land of the Dead and protect their “owners.” During the Día de los Muertos festivities, you can find many stalls and shops selling all kinds of alebrijes.
Cempasuchil
Cempasuchil, also known as Marigold in English, is the flower used to decorate ofrendas. The typical colors used are orange or purple. The orange marigolds are said to help lost souls find their way back home to their families. This is why they are often sprinkled all over the ground to create a path for the deceased.
Papel Picado
Papel Picado is a traditional Mexican handicraft made of colorful paper cuttings used to create garlands. Most of the garlands are still handmade. They are used to decorate ofrendas, houses, and other buildings such as churches.
Ofrendas
During Día de los Muertos, families and communities create ofrendas in their homes and public spaces to honor their loved ones. They place a photo of the deceased at the center of the altar and decorate it with marigold flowers, candles, sugar skulls, and colorful papel picado. In addition, they add the favorite foods and drinks of the departed to welcome them back for this special occasion.
One of the biggest ofrendas we have seen is located at the Senate Building on Avenida Reforma.
If you’re planning to visit Mexico City during the Day of the Dead festivities, there are many unique and fascinating experiences to enjoy. From colorful parades to solemn grave visits, the traditions of this holiday offer a window into Mexican culture and beliefs about life, death, and remembrance.
In the following sections, we’ll explore the best Día de los Muertos experiences in Mexico City. These include the Gran Ofrenda at the Zócalo, the celebrations in Coyoacán, Avenida Reforma, and the famous Day of the Dead Parade.
Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a curious first-time visitor, these experiences will deepen your appreciation for this rich and vibrant holiday.
Visit the Gran Ofrenda at the Zócalo, Mexico City
The festivities in Mexico City start one week before the actual Día de los Muertos. Ofrendas, Catrinas, Calaveras, and Alebrijes are set up all over the city center, and the Zócalo is decorated festively.
In 2022, huge Catrinas were set up at the Zócalo, and there were many ofrendas – one from each state in Mexico.
In addition, the surrounding buildings are also decorated festively, similar to how they are decorated for the Independence Day in September.
Diá de los Muertos at Coyoacán, Mexico City
I recommend spending the actual Día de los Muertos in a smaller neighborhood of Mexico City, such as Coyoacán. Located in the south of the city, Coyoacán charms visitors with its vibrant atmosphere, historic streets, trendy cafés, restaurants, and attractions such as the Frida Kahlo Museum.
Start your day with a nourishing breakfast at the Coyoacán Market. Here, you can sample some of the most authentic local dishes while exploring one of the city’s most colorful markets.
The corridors are narrow and full of energy. The stalls sell Día de los Muertos decorations, costumes, and local souvenirs.
Next, head to the central plaza and Plaza Jardín Hidalgo. During the celebrations, local vendors transform the area with food stalls, souvenir stands, carousels, and face-painting stations. The lively atmosphere makes it easy to spend hours wandering through the streets and discovering new details around every corner.
Afterward, take a closer look at the local government building on the northern side of the plaza. Local organizations create beautiful ofrendas here and decorate the building with flowers and colorful papel picado, adding to the festive spirit of the neighborhood.
On the Day of the Dead, the central plaza and Plaza Jardin Hidalgo are festively decorated and offer food and souvenir stalls, carousels, and people offering Day of the Dead make-up. The narrow streets are bustling with activity, and you can easily spend an entire day exploring all the stalls, soaking in the atmosphere, and discovering the small details. Take your time and enjoy the day wandering around, immersing yourself in the experience. On the northern side of the plaza, you’ll find the local government building. Like many public buildings, an ofrenda is set up here and the building is festively decorated with flowers and papel picado.
Visit a graveyard for the Diá de los Muerto
This might sound a little bit weird, and you might be asking yourself, ‘is this really okay?’ The answer is ‘yes’, it is okay. Graveyards are central gathering places during Día de los Muertos. Families come together around the graves of loved ones to celebrate their lives. They bring the favorite foods, drinks, and music of the deceased, and sometimes even a whole Mariachi Band. Be respectful when visiting the graveyard, and everyone will be fine with it. Soak in this very special atmosphere, which is a mixture of gratitude and celebration.
Diá de los Muertos celebrations at the Avenida Reforma, Mexico City
In the evening, make your way to Avenida Reforma to experience a different side of the Día de los Muertos celebrations. Between the Ángel de la Independencia and the Monument to Cuauhtémoc, local vendors line the avenue with street food and handicraft stalls. Meanwhile, thousands of visitors gather to celebrate, admire creative costumes, and enjoy the festive atmosphere. Decorated cars, live entertainment, and the vibrant energy of the crowd make this one of the most memorable places to experience the holiday.
Great Day of the Dead Parade
Finally, don’t miss the Great Day of the Dead Parade, known in Spanish as El Gran Desfile de Día de los Muertos. Each year, performers, artists, and community groups bring the celebration to life with elaborate floats, giant skeletons, colorful alebrijes, traditional dances, music, and impressive catrina costumes. The parade starts at the Zócalo and travels along Avenida Reforma, attracting millions of visitors who come to celebrate Mexican culture and remembrance traditions.
Interestingly, this famous parade is a relatively new tradition. The event was first introduced in 2016 after it appeared in the Spectre James Bond film, and it has since become one of the highlights of Día de los Muertos in Mexico City.
Diá de los Muertos schedule in Mexico City (2022): Here is the Diá de los Muertos schedule for Mexico City in 2022, which can be used as a guideline for future planning as well:
22nd of October 2022: Alebrijes Parade
Start: 12:00 PM Location: Zocalo Mexico City
23rd of October 2022: Catrinas Parade
Start: 12:00 PM Location: Zocalo Mexico City
29th of October 2022: Grand day of the dead Mexico City Parade (El Gran Desfile de Diá de los Muertos)
Start: 12:00 PM Location: Zocalo Mexico City -> Avenida Reforma
1st and 2nd of November 2022: Mega ofrenda by UNAM
Time: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Location: Plaza de Santo Doming
