top of page

DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS in MEXICO | Where to Go, How It's Celebrated, When to Visit, and Fun Facts. Useful Information

  • Writer: World Mappers
    World Mappers
  • Aug 8
  • 5 min read

Updated: Sep 17


ree

DAY OF THE DEAD in MEXICO

Practical information to help you organize your trip to this destination, including details on when to go, required documents, how to get around, and much more.

ree

BRIEF HISTORY and MEANING of the DIA DE LOS MUERTOS in MEXICO

The Día de los Muertos is one of Mexico’s most deeply rooted traditions, with origins dating back to pre-Columbian cultures such as the Aztecs, who celebrated death as a natural part of life. With the arrival of the Spaniards, indigenous practices merged with Catholicism, becoming tied to All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. The meaning is to honor deceased loved ones with offerings, altars, food, music, and decorations, symbolically welcoming their souls with joy rather than sadness.


WHEN TO EXPERIENCE the DIA DE LOS MUERTOS in MEXICO

Día de los Muertos is officially celebrated on November 1st and 2nd, but preparations begin in late October. October 31st is often dedicated to the souls of children, while November 1st honors deceased adults. The celebrations peak between November 1st and 2nd with public events, processions, and altars in homes and cemeteries. To fully experience the atmosphere, it is advisable to be in Mexico from around October 28–29, following the entire festive period.


WHERE TO EXPERIENCE the DIA DE LOS MUERTOS in MEXICO

Día de los Muertos is celebrated throughout Mexico, but some places offer more authentic and spectacular experiences. Oaxaca is famous for its processions, markets, and colorful altars. Mexico City hosts a large parade, partly inspired by the film Spectre. The town of Pátzcuaro, in the state of Michoacán, is renowned for its lakeside and cemetery traditions, with evocative night vigils. Mérida and the Yucatán Peninsula also feature celebrations strongly tied to Mayan culture.


HOW MUCH DOES IT COST to TRAVEL to MEXICO for the DIA DE LOS MUERTOS

Visiting Mexico during Día de los Muertos can be more expensive than other times due to the high tourist season. Flights from Europe range between €700 and €1,200, with higher prices for last-minute bookings. Hotels in major cities can cost from €50 to €200 per night. For a one-week trip, including accommodation, food, transportation, and activities, you should budget between €1,200 and €1,800 per person, depending on your travel style.


HOW the DIA DE LOS MUERTOS is CELEBRATED in MEXICO

During Día de los Muertos, Mexican families set up altars (ofrendas) in homes and cemeteries, decorated with marigolds (cempasúchil), candles, photos of the deceased, food, and personal objects. Traditional dishes such as pan de muerto are prepared, and moments of prayer and music are shared. In the streets, there are processions, performances, and parades with people dressed as calaveras (skulls) or Catrinas. It is a joyful celebration that blends religious, symbolic, and cultural elements, transforming mourning into an occasion of remembrance and celebration.


WHERE TO STAY during the DIA DE LOS MUERTOS in MEXICO

Mexico City - Gran Hotel Ciudad de México Zócalo View *****

Pátzcuaro - Hacienda Mariposas **** Pátzcuaro - Eco Hotel Ixhi ***


CITIES to VISIT during the DIA DE LOS MUERTOS in MEXICO


Mexico City

Mexico City, the country’s capital, is a vibrant metropolis blending history, art, and modernity. Highlights include the Zócalo, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the National Palace. Cultural attractions abound, such as the Frida Kahlo Museum and the National Museum of Anthropology. Coyoacán preserves a bohemian atmosphere, while Xochimilco offers colorful boat rides. During Día de los Muertos, the city comes alive with large parades, public altars, and decorations in every neighborhood, making it one of the main centers of national celebration.


Oaxaca

Oaxaca is considered one of Mexico’s most fascinating cities for culture, art, and traditions. Famous for its cuisine, crafts, and colonial architecture, it features lively markets and historic squares. During Día de los Muertos, Oaxaca fills with decorated altars, sand art (colored sand carpets), and nighttime processions that involve the entire city. Families gather in cemeteries to honor their loved ones with candles, music, and food. Oaxaca is also a great starting point for visiting Monte Albán and surrounding artisan villages.


Pátzcuaro

Pátzcuaro, in the state of Michoacán, is one of the most iconic places to experience Día de los Muertos in Mexico. This small town preserves a colonial atmosphere, with cobblestone streets and white houses with red-tiled roofs. The real magic happens between November 1st and 2nd, when families decorate graves with flowers and candles, especially on the islands of Lake Pátzcuaro, such as Janitzio. At night, vigils filled with spirituality take place, with illuminated boats crossing the lake, creating a unique and deeply rooted Purépecha tradition.


TIPS for VISITING the DIA DE LOS MUERTOS in MEXICO by World Mappers 

  • Book flights and accommodation well in advance! During Día de los Muertos, cities such as Oaxaca, Pátzcuaro, and Mexico City experience high tourist demand, with hotels and flights selling out quickly. To secure good rates and availability, it’s best to book 3–4 months ahead. This applies to both budget and luxury options. Early booking also allows you to organize tours and attend local events without missing out on the most authentic experiences.

  • Respect the tradition. Día de los Muertos is not Carnival but a spiritual and family-oriented commemoration. While the atmosphere is festive, it’s important to be respectful, especially in cemeteries and near private altars. Always ask permission before photographing people or ofrendas. Wearing calavera makeup is acceptable but should be done with cultural awareness. The celebration is about sharing, not trivializing a deeply rooted Mexican tradition.

  • Visit markets and buy traditional items. In the days leading up to Día de los Muertos, local markets fill with traditional decorations: sugar skulls, candles, marigolds, pan de muerto, and paper figurines. Visiting these markets is a must to experience the authentic atmosphere and discover unique handmade products. Buying traditional items also supports the local economy. Famous markets include those in Oaxaca, Mexico City, and the popular markets of Michoacán.

  • Taste the traditional foods of the celebration! Día de los Muertos is also a culinary occasion: one of its symbolic dishes is pan de muerto, a sweet bread flavored and decorated with bone-like shapes. Local bakeries and markets also sell sugar skulls, chocolate, tamales, mole, and other typical dishes. Trying these specialties is part of the experience since food holds symbolic meaning: it is offered on altars for the dead and shared among family and friends during the festivities.

  • Learn about the meaning before you go. Dedicating time to understand the significance of Día de los Muertos enriches the experience. You can read books, watch documentaries, or films like Coco, which make Mexican views on death more accessible. Understanding the value of memory, family, and tradition will help you appreciate the celebrations even more once there. Knowing what the altars, offerings, and symbols represent allows you to experience the trip with greater awareness and respect for local culture.

Discover More

Consult the Practical Information for your trip

Discover also:

ree

Comments


croazia_barca_tdv_world_mappers (11).jpg

GROUP TRIPS:

DISCOVER OUR GROUP TRIPS

AND FLY WITH US AROUND THE WORLD

world_mappers_heymondo_assicurazione_sconto_instagram.jpg.png
holafly_worldmappers_esims_no_roaming_italiano.gif
LOGO Parking my Car.jpg
discovercars-car-rental-discount-world-mappers.webp
sudafrica TdV.png

GROUP TRIP to SOUTH AFRICA

Are you ready to travel to South Africa with the World Mappers?

From the vibrant heart of Cape Town, amidst culture, history, and breathtaking views, to a moving journey into the memory of the LGBTQ+ community, through hidden tales and stories of resistance that have spanned centuries of silence and conquest. We'll admire the spectacular Atlantic coast along the Cape Peninsula, greet the penguins of Boulder's Beach, and venture to the legendary Cape of Good Hope. The adventure continues in the heart of the South African savannah, in Kruger National Park, with sunrise safaris, close encounters with the Big Five, and fiery sunsets. We'll be amazed by the landscapes of the Panorama Route, with majestic canyons, waterfalls, and rock formations sculpted by time. We'll uncover the country's profound history, passing from Pretoria to the authentic pulse of Soweto, concluding with a moving visit to the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg.!

 

Learn more: Group Trip to SOUTH AFRICA - November December 2025

GROUP TRIP to MALAYSIA

Are you ready to travel to Malaysia with World Mappers?

An exciting journey through Malaysia's breathtaking landscapes and fascinating cultures, a journey that blends tradition and modernity in a unique experience. We'll depart from Kuala Lumpur, a modern metropolis dominated by the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, where we'll discover a perfect blend of Islamic architecture and contemporary skyscrapers. In the heart of Taman Negara, the world's oldest rainforest, we'll explore wild and unspoiled nature, walking on its evocative suspension bridges and observing tropical biodiversity. The Cameron Highlands will welcome us with tea plantations, lush green hills, and a mild climate reminiscent of British colonial times. In Georgetown, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, we'll immerse ourselves in the multi-ethnic culture with its street food and extraordinary murals telling local stories. Our journey will culminate in the heavenly Perhentian Islands, an archipelago of crystal-clear waters and white beaches where we can relax and immerse ourselves in a pure tropical experience!

 

Find out more: Group Trip to MALESIA - April May 2026

image.png
image.png
banner_sconto_civitatis_logo_world_mappers.jpg

CHEAP CAR RENTAL

To travel far and wide in this Destination you can do it with a rental car. We have chosen to rely on DiscoverCars.com , the best website for Car Rental where you can search, compare and save up to 70%, a real bargain, right? They will help you choose the perfect car for your next trip, without having surprises of car delivery supplements, and where it is most convenient for you. Then just download their App to manage the reservation wherever you are.

discount-car-rental-companies-world-mappers.jpg

LOW COST CAR PARKING?

Every time the same problem, which cheap parking to book to not spend a lot? Don't worry.. now with ParkingMyCar you can compare all the available parking and choose the most advantageous and economical one.

ParkingMyCar.it is the best website to book your car parking where you can search and compare more than 4754 car parks in cities, airports, ports and stations and book a parking space in a few simple clicks.

 

Instant 10% discount

Code " WORLDMAPPERS10 "

LOGO Parking my Car ORIZZONTALE.png

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Before any trip, it is a good idea to get insurance to cover any inconveniences that could ruin the experience. We always rely on HeyMondo , which allows you to choose the right insurance for every need. We recommend that you always protect yourself with health insurance and coverage for any cancellations, delays and, if you use it, for theft or breakage of electronic equipment. Medical care abroad can be very expensive. Health insurance in this country is not mandatory by law but it is strongly recommended, without it even a routine visit can make you pay out astronomical amounts.

Instant 5% Discount

on this link

heymondo_sconto_assicurazione_viaggio_world_mappers_600x124.png

INTERNET & PHONE CALL

eSIM CARD

How many times do we go abroad and the first thing we do is call home to say we have arrived. How often are we in a city on vacation and we need to find a place to eat using Google Maps or the internet. How many times do we need to send messages and photos on WhatsApp without spending a salary.

 

Tired of spending millions when abroad calling or using the internet?

Here is the SOLUTION we use: Holafly, a new technology with eSIM. Order your eSIM on the website and within minutes you will receive an email with a QR code. Just scan it and you'll be connected to the internet right away. You save time, stress and above all do something good for the environment by not having a physical SIM. If you are in a hurry and have to leave tomorrow and have not thought about the internet problem, you can solve it very quickly with this eSIM, and there is no problem that you could accidentally lose it or damage it while traveling. Most importantly, with the eSIM you don't have to change or remove your regular SIM card, you can leave it in the phone and use the eSIM instead of the physical one.

Don't waste time and above all don't spend millions, activate your Holafly eSim.

It's very easy, but how to do it? Just 3 steps and voilà!

Holafly-eSIM-how-does-it-work.jpg

Holafly also offers data plans with unlimited data to many of the world's top destinations: for example, USA, Indonesia, Europe, Mexico, Thailand and many more.

 

This is a "new" technology and not all devices are compatible with it, but you can check which phones are already compatible with eSIM at this link: https://esim.holafly.com/how-to/esim-phones.

 

Instant 5% Discount
with Code "
WORLDMAPPERS "

holafly_worldmappers_esims_english_buy.jpeg
© Copyright
bottom of page