What to pack for Mexico City in November: Day of the Dead

For the Day of the Dead, from October 31 to November 2, Mexico City runs from about 10 to 23 °C (50 to 73 °F), and the rainy season is ending: most days are dry. Pack layers: T-shirts for the afternoons, a sweater and a warm jacket for nights outside, a compact umbrella, and comfortable walking shoes.

The story

Mexico City on the last day of October, and the whole city smells of marigolds. Bundles of cempasúchil, the orange flower of the Day of the Dead, are stacked at the markets, and every shop, office and hotel lobby has an ofrenda: an altar of photos, candles, sugar skulls, pan de muerto and the favorite food of someone who has died.

It’s 11 °C when you leave the hotel in the morning, in a sweater over a T-shirt. By noon it’s 22 °C, the sky is a hard blue, and at 2,240 metres the sun feels stronger than the number says. The sweater goes into your bag, and the hat comes out.

At two in the afternoon, the great parade starts down Paseo de la Reforma on its way to the Zócalo: giant skeletons, Catrinas in long dresses and feathered hats, dancers and brass bands. You stand for three hours on the curb. On the side streets, artists paint faces for a few pesos, and you sit down for a Catrina of your own. That night you’re glad of the makeup wipes you packed.

On November 1 you take the morning slow in Coyoacán, with a ticket booked ahead for the Museo Frida Kahlo, and spend the afternoon among the altars of the Zócalo. Then, as it gets dark, you ride out to San Andrés Mixquic, in the city’s southeast, where families spend the night at the graves of their dead. The cemetery glows with thousands of candles and marigold petals. The temperature keeps falling; by midnight, standing still among the graves, it’s near 10 °C, and your warm jacket earns its place. You dress in dark, plain clothes, speak quietly and ask before taking a photo of anyone.

Mexico City for the Day of the Dead is warm and sunny by day, cool at night, and mostly dry, at the very end of the rainy season. Pack light layers for the afternoons, a sweater and a warm jacket for long evenings outdoors, a compact umbrella just in case, and shoes you can stand in for hours.

What to pack for Mexico City in November

Pack for a 13-degree swing between afternoon and night, and for hours on your feet in crowds.

Clothes

T-shirts or light tops for the afternoons, around 23 °C in the sun.
A sweater or fleece for the mornings and the evenings.
A warm jacket for a night in the cemetery at Mixquic: you’ll stand still outdoors until late, near 10 °C.
Jeans or light trousers, and something dark and simple for the cemeteries, where families are mourning.
A hat and sunglasses: the sun is strong at 2,240 metres.

Shoes

Comfortable walking shoes you can stand in for hours: the parade, the Zócalo and the cemetery are all on foot, in crowds.
A second pair, in case a late shower soaks the first.

For the day

A small bag that closes, worn in front at the parade and in the crowds of the Zócalo.
A compact umbrella: the rainy season is ending, but October still has about ten days with some rain.
Cash in pesos, in small bills: marigolds, pan de muerto, street food and the face painters on the street.
Makeup remover wipes, if you want your face painted as a Catrina.
A refillable bottle: drink purified or bottled water, not tap water.
Sunscreen and lip balm: the air is dry and the sun is high.

Documents, money and tech

Passport.
A plug adapter if you come from outside North America: sockets are types A and B, at 127 V.
A power bank: maps, tickets and photos all day, and candlelight photos at night.
An eSIM with mobile data, for maps and ride apps from the moment you land.

Good to know

Weather: by the 1991–2020 averages of Mexico’s National Weather Service (SMN) for Tacubaya, in Mexico City, the two months of the holiday compare like this:

Month	Temperature	Rain	What changes in the bag
October	12–23 °C (53–74 °F)	about 10 days, 71 mm (2.8 in)	A compact umbrella or a light rain jacket
November	10–23 °C (50–73 °F)	about 4 days, 17 mm (0.7 in)	A warmer layer for the nights

The dates in 2026: the city’s official guide lists the great parade on Saturday, October 31, at 2 pm, along Paseo de la Reforma to the Zócalo; the Zócalo’s ofrenda from October 29 to November 2; and the celebrations in Mixquic from October 31 to November 2. Check it again before you go, as times can change.
Altitude: Mexico City is at 2,240 metres. Take your first day slowly, drink water and go easy on alcohol while you get used to it.
In the cemeteries: they’re places of mourning, not a show. Dress simply, keep your voice down, and ask before photographing people or graves.
Plugs: types A and B, 127 V.
Money: Mexican peso (MXN). Cards work in hotels and restaurants; markets, stalls and street food want cash.
Entry: check the entry rules for your passport on Mexico’s National Migration Institute site before you fly (checked October 6, 2026).
Coming in the rainy season, or going on to the beach? What to pack for Mexico City and Cancún, June to October.

Questions

What should I wear in Mexico City for the Day of the Dead?

Layers: T-shirts for afternoons around 23 °C, a sweater for the evenings, and a warm jacket for nights outdoors near 10 °C. Wear comfortable walking shoes for hours in crowds, and something dark and simple for the cemeteries.

Is there a Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City?

Yes: in 2026, the city’s official guide lists it on Saturday, October 31, at 2 pm, along Paseo de la Reforma to the Zócalo. Check the guide again before you go, as times can change.

How cold is Mexico City in November?

About 10 to 23 °C (50 to 73 °F): warm and sunny afternoons, and cool nights. Pack a sweater, and a warm jacket if you’ll spend a night outdoors, like the cemetery vigil at Mixquic.

Does it rain in Mexico City at the end of October?

Sometimes: October has about ten days with some rain, and November about four. The rainy season is ending, so a compact umbrella or a light rain jacket is enough.

What do I need to enter Mexico?

A passport, and depending on your nationality, a visa. Check the entry rules for your passport on the site of Mexico’s National Migration Institute before you fly.