Visiting Mexico City for Day of the Dead is the ultimate bucket list scratch! There is no better place in the world to immerse yourself in this beautiful holiday. Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) is a holiday that spans two days (November 1 and 2) that is a way to celebrate and remember our passed loved ones. Families will decorate altars with offerings to keep their memories alive. Bright yellow marigolds cover the city and there are celebrations and tributes everywhere you turn. Here are 6 things to do in Mexico City for Day of the Dead!
Read More: How to Spend One Day in Mexico City, Mexico
Zócalo
Zócalo (which is the nickname for Constitution Plaza and the Historical Center of Mexico City) is the hot spot for all things Día de Muertos! The entire Centro Historico is decked out with decorations, marigolds, altars, and offerings. Wander through the old town streets and take in all of the vibes. The Palacio de Bellas Artes, and the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral are two particularly beautiful buildings in the area that are absolutely worth a stop along your walk. Grab some street meat, a churro, or a bite of pan de muerto (more on that below!) and walk through the streets enjoying the performers, music, and holiday festivities.
Constitution Plaza
Right in the heart of Zócalo is Constitution Plaza. This square is the center hub of all things Day of the Dead! It is packed with people, decor, and festivities! At all corners of the plaza you will find tons of art, statues, music, and people dressed for the holiday. The grand main stage features daily entertainment with dancers and musicians that can be heard from all over the area. The best part of all of this? It’s free to enter! My absolute favorite part was the large marigold field in the center of the square. Marigolds are synonymous with Day of the Dead, as the flower’s colors are said to attract the departed’s souls back to earth and symbolize the fragility of life.
The Grand Parade
There is nothing more iconic about Day of the Dead in Mexico City than the Grand Parade! This is a major highlight, and event that is not to be missed! The route starts at Puerta de los Leones in Chapultepec Park and ends up in the Zócalo. It’s a long parade (I googled it after, and it said it can be about 4 hours long!). Try to get a spot early as close to the park as you can. Our spots were (maybe) a half mile from the start and it took over 45 minutes for them to get to us.
It’s a slow-moving parade, but it really gives you a chance to immerse yourself in it and appreciate all of the floats, dancers, and musicians! There are bleachers along the route to sit on, but they are first-come, first-serve. We were able to snag the last few spots and it was absolutely perfect to be slightly elevated. You could see everything!
Paseo de la Reforma
Aside from viewing the Grand Parade, Paseo de la Reforma is a great place to experience Day of the Dead in Mexico City! Earlier in the day (hours before the parade starts) wander the street and experience all the magic before the crowds. The streets are closed off to cars, so you can have plenty of space to stroll. You can get right up close to iconic monuments such as The Angel of Independence, Dianna the Huntress and Glorieta del Ahuehuete.
There are so many other photo opportunities along the street as well! Fun statues, photo walls, and giant colorful skulls are everywhere to help you get into the spirit. Floats from other parades in the city are also on display so you can get close and admire them. Vendors will also start setting up their areas in the morning. Meaning you can get first dibs on face paintings, flower crowns, and souvenirs! I absolutely loved my marigold crown and wore it for the rest of the day!
Snack on Pan de Muerto
Pan de Muerto is a tasty treat that you can only get in the days leading up to Día de Muertos! It is a light, sweet bread that will be found in bakeries all over the city. It’s not too dense and is sometimes filled with different options (like pistachio, caramel, or chocolate) and then dusted with sugar. The dough is often infused with the slightest bit of orange zest to give it a subtle citrus flavor. The bread is really symbolic, too! The round shape represents the cycle of life and death, while the sugar coating represents a sweet remembrance of your loved ones.
Public Offerings
For Day of the Dead, families will create altars with offerings for passed loved ones in their particular family. But if you’re only visiting Mexico City for Day of the Dead and want to honor your loved ones, you’ll need to do so at a public altar! Unfortunately, they’re not as common as you’d expect. However, we did find a few in popular spots like Zócalo and the Chapultepec Castle. Pack a few photos of your loved ones and feel free to place them in public areas if it is allowed. Some altars are set only as decoration and you’re not able to leave personal photos or offering. However, we never had a problem placing a photo down for a moment and taking a picture. It’s not much, but it’s something!
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