Travel Tips

Inside Mexico City’s 2025 Day of the Dead parade — when and where the magic happens

Heading to Day of the Dead in Mexico City? Discover the best parade spots, unique cultural traditions, and festival tips for an unforgettable Día de los Muertos trip.

Details of the 2025 Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City have just been released and are as follows:

Date: 1st November 2025
Starting time: 2 pm
Duration: 4 – 5 hours
Starting point: Puerta de los Leones in Chapultepec Park
Finish point: Zócalo Square in Mexico City center

The parade is just the start, however. In this guide, you’ll discover how to experience Day of the Dead in Mexico City 2025 like a local, including where to find the best parades and some authentic traditions you shouldn’t miss.

In this article

Best places to experience Day of the Dead in Mexico City

While the 4-hour parade passes through many areas in Mexico City, here are a few top spots to watch the magic happen and enjoy other traditions from Mexico’s most popular festival.

Zócalo Square

Best for: Those who want to be in the heart of the action and those seeking a convenient city center spot.

Source: Shutterstock

Zócalo Square is Mexico City’s central square and the heart of Día de los Muertos celebrations.

During the festival period, the square transforms into a vibrant, colorful space with a huge ofrenda (altar) and many other artistic displays, containing traditional Day of the Dead decorations like cempasúchil flowers and sugar skulls. These are usually set up by the end of October and taken down in early November.

Zócalo Square is where the grand parade finishes. So it’s a popular viewing spot on the big day, particularly in the evening around 6 pm when the parade is due to arrive there. Afterward, the square lights up and there’s a fantastic opera show.

Mixquic

Best for: Those seeking a truly authentic cultural experience.

Source: Shutterstock

Mixquic is a small town about a 1.5-hour drive south of Mexico City. While it is out of the way, it’s one of the best spots to head to if you want to escape the tourist crowds and see how the locals celebrate this day.

Although the main parade does not pass through Mixquic, a different, more authentic celebration takes place. Families gather to celebrate the lives of their deceased loved ones with candlelit cemeteries and beautifully designed flower arrangements in the town’s cemetery.

The best time to visit is in the evening, around 8 pm, when they ring the church bells and dim the lights over the graveyard. The candles that adorn the graves illuminate the church grounds, and incense is burned to attract the spirits.

Xochimilco

Best for: Music and dance enthusiasts, as well as anyone seeking a unique theatrical experience.

Source: Shutterstock

Xochimilco, in the south of Mexico City, offers another unique Día de los Muertos cultural experience. From October 30th to November 2nd, nightly boat tours and cultural performances take place.

The event starts at around 6 pm with a river cruise on a decorated trajinera (boat). Surrounded by marigolds, candles, and skull motifs, you drift along the canals under the moonlight, like a floating altar.

After about 45 minutes, the boat anchors in Laguna de Tlílac, which feels like a floating auditorium. Here you watch Xochimilco’s famous theatrical show (La Llorona), performed on floating stages. The show combines haunting music, mesmerizing dances, and epic visuals, leaving you with a travel memory you’ll never forget!

Paseo de la Reforma

Best for: Those who want to see the grand parade up close or join in the celebrations without leaving the city center.

Source: Shutterstock

Paseo de la Reforma, in central Mexico City, is a prime viewing spot for the grand parade, which passes directly through here. If you arrive by mid-afternoon, you’ll see the giant skeletons (calacas), colorful floats, and live bands up close.

There are also many altars and sculptures along the avenue, designed by local artists, turning it into an open-air gallery. The entire area has a street party vibe, complete with food vendors, face-painting, and market stalls.

Day of the Dead traditions you shouldn’t miss

When joining in the celebrations of Day of the Dead in Mexico City 2025, look out for these traditions:

Ofrendas: Many people create altars outside their homes or in public spaces to honor their deceased loved ones. They decorate them with candles, photos, and offerings of the deceased’s favorite foods and drinks.
Pan de muerto: This sweet bread is baked specifically for this occasion and sold in bakeries throughout Mexico City. You’ll find it in many variations and styles, and they all smell amazing!
Sugar skulls: You’ll also find these colorful, edible skull-shaped tributes in bakeries and street stalls across the city. They’re made of sugar and decorated with frosting and glitter.
Cempasúchil: Known as the Mexican marigold, these orange flowers are believed to guide spirits back to the living world. Mexico City’s markets, such as Mercado Jamaica, overflow with these vibrant blooms, along with candles and handmade crafts, in the days leading up to the festival.

Remember: When admiring family ofrendas and other offerings, be respectful and avoid using flash photography.

Extend your Day of the Dead journey

While Day of the Dead in Mexico City is the largest and most well-known event, you can find smaller (but equally magical) celebrations in other Mexican towns.

If you’re looking for a more personal and authentic Día de los Muertos experience, or you want to extend your vacation with some day trips from Mexico City, consider the following:

Oaxaca: Famous for its candlelit cemetery vigils and vibrant sand tapestries.
Puebla: The city’s historic center fills with artisanal displays and music, with multiple street parades taking place.
San Miguel de Allende: Here, there are some excellent parades and musical concerts, but without the large crowds of Mexico City.

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When celebrating Day of the Dead in Mexico City, you’ll want to capture every magical moment without the worry of losing signal or hunting for WiFi.

By purchasing a Holafly eSIM, you can navigate the best spots to see the parade, upload photos of glowing ofrendas in real-time, and keep up to date with the festival’s schedule.

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