Top Cemeteries to Celebrate Day of the Dead in Mexico

Locals and tourists gather at these important spots each year.

Fact checked by Elizabeth MacLennan

The Day of the Dead (or Día de los Muertos in Spanish) is one of the most important traditional celebrations in Mexico. It celebrates the circle of life by remembering the lives of those who are no longer with us. Moreover, its significance is recognized far beyond Mexico — since 2003, the festival has been included on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The fundamental belief behind this holiday — which fuses Indigenous and Roman Catholic traditions — is that, during the first two days of November, those who have passed away come back to the world of the living. To honor that, Mexican communities fill this time of year with festivities and events for both themselves and their late loved ones to enjoy. Starting in late October, many families set up ofrendas (offerings) in their homes to pay tribute to relatives who have passed away. These altars, which are covered in flowers, candles and food, are also placed in public spaces like museums and schools.

Visiting cemeteries — and setting up ofrendas within them — is particularly common during Día de los Muertos. For many, this means traveling to the grave sites of their own deceased relatives, to play music for their loved ones and to decorate their tombs and gravestones with pierced papers (papel picado), colorful flowers, food, and pictures. Others, however, prefer making pilgrimages to cemeteries known for their vibrant Day of the Dead celebrations. These cemetery pilgrims usually arrive on November 1 (All Saints’ Day) and depart on November 2 — All Souls’ Day, the official Day of the Dead.

Mexican cemeteries receive thousands of visitors over these two days. The sites are adorned with light and color, creating a unique essence, full of life, celebration, and energy. Therefore, if you’d like to join in on the tradition, here are some of the most famous cemeteries in Mexico, organized by location. Visiting any of these will help you truly make the most of Día de los Muertos.

Pátzcuaro, Michoacán

The Pátzcuaro region in the southwestern state of Michoacán is one of the most-visited destinations during the Day of the Dead. Any graveyard in the city of Pátzcuaro or its neighboring villages is a sight worth seeing, with elaborate altars and tombs covered in Mexico’s iconic yellow marigolds. After visiting one (or more) of the local cementerios, people head to the shores of Lake Pátzcuaro, from which several boats travel to the island of Janitzio to honor ancestors in what’s known as “the dance of the fishermen.” The lake transforms into an amazing scene, completely illuminated with countless candles guiding the way for the boats. A public celebration occurs each year on the island, featuring traditional dance, music, and food.

Mexico City

Two of the most-visited cemeteries in the country are located in the capital: the Panteón San Andres Mixquic and the Panteón de Dolores.

Located just south of the city, the graveyard of San Andres Mixquic (which used to be a convent) has become a must-visit for both locals and travelers. Impressive multi-level altars are placed along the tombs on October 31, but it’s not until November 2 that the site truly comes alive. That night, thousands participate in a candlelit procession through the flower-strewn tombs, called “la Alumbrada” (the illumination). The idea behind this event is that the living illuminate the way for the dead, enabling them to return for a night and enjoy everything prepared for them.

The other cemetery that attracts thousands every year is the Panteón Civil de Dolores, primarily because many famous figures are buried here. The largest graveyard in Mexico, it holds 700,000 tombs, including those of painter Diego Rivera, singer Agustín Lara, actress Dolores Del Río, and muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros.

Mexico City hosts some of the most significant burial grounds in the country, and even lesser-known sites can be worth exploring. The Panteón Español has existed for more than 100 years and is the resting place of Cantinflas, one of the most cherished actors of Mexican cinema. Panteón Jardín, meanwhile, is home to the famed singer Jorge Negrete, actor Tin-Tan, and musician and actor Pedro Infante. Although the site receives many visitors in November, tourism peaks on April 15, when people bring mariachis to Infante’s tomb for the anniversary of his death.

Aguascalientes

This city in central Mexico is among the most festive in the country. Here, people celebrate Día de los Muertos with the Festival of Skeletons (Festival de las Calaveras), honoring José Guadalupe Posada, an Aguascalientes-born artist who created La Catrina, a dress- and hat-clad skeleton that has become a national emblem of the Day of the Dead. While you cannot visit Posada’s resting place — believed to be an unmarked grave in Mexico City — you can and should visit the neighboring cemeteries of Los Angeles and La Cruz. Their central location is directly along the Festival of Skeletons parade route, making them a fitting place to observe elaborate ofrendas and enjoy the dance, music, plays, and food events that comprise the festival. If you want to get into the holiday spirit, do as the locals do and dress up in your best La Catrina costume.

Guadalajara, Jalisco

The Panteón de Belén, recognized as one of the most beautiful graveyards in the country, is located in Guadalajara. Although the cemetery was only active from 1848 to 1896, it remains open today as a museum showcasing the region’s ornate funerary architecture. During the Day of the Dead, visitors come specifically for the museum’s nighttime tours, where they can view tombs adorned with floral arrangements and candles that add mysticism to the night.