November is two trips: the Dead for two days, then the best weather in Mexico City's year.
Weather#
| Typical | |
|---|---|
| Days | ~22°C / 72°F, sunny, dry |
| Nights | ~8°C / 46°F, cold |
| Rain | Almost none |
| Skies | The clearest of the year |
October before, December after.
1 and 2 November#
The Zócalo's ofrenda, the altars in museums and the university, Coyoacán's plazas, pan de muerto and hot chocolate, and the cemeteries: Mixquic in the far south-east is the famous all-night vigil, candlelit and crowded; San Andrés Mixquic's neighbours and the Panteón de Dolores are quieter. The Reforma parade lands in late October or the first weekend of November depending on the year. Day of the Dead in Mexico, Día de Muertos, building an ofrenda.
After the 3rd#
The city empties, the ofrendas stay up for days, hotels drop, and the weather is perfect. Mid-November is the week to book if the Dead isn't the point.
What's on#
- Revolution Day, the third Monday: a long weekend; a parade in the Zócalo.
- Buen Fin, the same weekend: discounts, full malls.
- Lucha libre every Friday, football every weekend, the Gran Premio is done.
What to do#
Everything outdoors: Teotihuacán on a crystal morning (day trips), Chapultepec, Xochimilco, Coyoacán, the rooftops at sunset with the volcanoes. Things to do, the 5-day itinerary, where locals eat.
Prices#
Peak for the Dead; fair the rest of the month. Neighbourhoods, on a budget.
Pack#
Layers for a 14-degree swing, a real jacket for nights, sunscreen for days. First time in Mexico City.
With a chilango#
Day of the Dead is a family's night, and the vigil at a grave with the people who knew the name on it is the thing no tour sells. Post your dates on Roavi Community and a Local Friend may bring you.
Mexico City for Day of the Dead? Spend it with someone who lives there.
Meet a Local FriendFrequently Asked Questions
What is Day of the Dead like in Mexico City?
1 November for children, 2 November for adults: a giant ofrenda in the Zócalo, altars in every museum and plaza, families cleaning and decorating graves, candlelit all-night vigils in Mixquic and other village cemeteries on the edge of the city, pan de muerto and marigolds everywhere. The Reforma parade falls in late October or early November depending on the year.What is the weather like in Mexico City in November?
The start of the dry season and the best weather of the year: highs around 22°C (72°F), lows around 8°C (46°F), almost no rain, clear skies, cold mornings and warm afternoons. The volcanoes are often visible.Is Mexico City crowded for Day of the Dead?
Yes, around the 1st and 2nd and the parade weekend: hotels full, Coyoacán and the Centro packed, Mixquic a slow procession. Book months ahead or arrive on the 4th, when the city empties and the ofrendas are still up for days.What is Buen Fin?
Mexico's long shopping weekend around Revolution Day (the third Monday of November): discounts everywhere, malls packed, a long weekend when many chilangos travel. Good for shopping, slightly worse for restaurants that weekend.
