Mérida Mexico truly has so much to offer visitors. We’ve been regularly traveling to Yucatan’s lovely capital city for the past five years and continue to discover so many awesome things to do in Merida each visit. It’s become one of our favorite travel destinations in Mexico. Hence, we’re always happy to share with fellow travelers this list of ideas of what to do in Merida.
If planning a trip to the Yucatan, we hope this detailed travel guide provides inspiration for some fun things to do in Merida!
A Brief Intro to Travel in Merida, Mexico
Merida truly is a beautiful travel destination, inside and out. Nicknamed the ciudad blanca (white city), you certainly do see some white structures while roaming around the grid-like streets of this charming colonial city. Yet we find that the white buildings are actually outnumbered by colorful pastel dwellings, adding much vibrancy to Merida’s colonial architecture.
But it’s Merida’s culture that shines through even brighter. Perhaps that helps to explain why Merida is the only city that has been twice selected to serve as the American Capital of Culture (2000, 2017). You can find culture oozing all throughout Merida, whether admiring ancient Mayan artwork at a museum or simply soaking in the local culture that’s abundant within the swinging doors of Merida’s cantinas. The many cultural things to do in Merida and even the daily cultural events are a big appeal to Yucatan’s largest city.
Adding to the cultural appeal, the people living in Mérida, many of Mayan descent, are such a friendly and welcoming bunch. Another the part of this culture appeal is the unique Yucatan cuisine in Merida. The food throughout Merida is delicious and distinctive to the region. After dinner, you’ll find that Merida’s nightlife is fun and active, particularly so on weekends. In fact, if planning a trip to Mérida, we recommend trying to stay over a weekend. That’s when the entire city tends to come out to play.
As this website often has a focus on travel value around the world, we’d be remiss not to mention that Mérida offers fantastic value. Your pesos go far here, particularly so in comparison to popular travel destinations along the neighboring Riviera Maya to the east (Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum). In Merida, prices in restaurants, tour excursions, and hotels are a fraction of what is found on the other side of the Yucatan peninsula.
So while roaming around Merida, don’t hold back on eating your weight in delicious 10-peso (~$0.50) tacos. Additionally, most of the top things to do in Mérida are actually free, from free walking tours to Merida’s many free museums. When it’s time for bed, there are some great inexpensive places to stay, and even a handful of fantastic 3-star hotels for US$30-per-night. (We’ll show you where towards the end of this post).
Additionally, with daily car rental prices in Mérida usually hovering under US$15 and bus tickets for just a few pesos, travelers can afford to use Merida as a base for further explorations all throughout the Yucatan. It’s all this incredible value Merida delivers on, which helps to make it a fantastic travel destination for all budgets.
Are you looking for ideas of what to do in Merida, Mexico? This detailed Merida travel guide dishes out what we’ve found to be the 15 best things to do in Merida that we now recommend to you!
Best Things to Do In Merida Mexico
There are so many great things to do in the city of Merida itself. Yet it can become a bit perplexing to figure out exactly where everything is and how best to plan out a day in Merida. So below is a map to help navigate your way around the city. It pinpoints each location suggested throughout this article.
After figuring out what things you may want to do in Merida, come back to this map of Merida’s attractions to help plan out your itinerary. And since this is a Google Map, you can even access it on your phone and use it on the ground once on the ground in Merida.
15) Best Intro to Merida: Take the Free Walking Tour
Every morning there is a free walking tour of Merida that departs from the centrally located Plaza Grande. A friendly guide offers a great lesson in the Merida’s history while also providing you bearings to know your way around town.
The free walking tour of Merida is a perfect introduction to many of the sites and attractions all around Merida centro. You’ll learn a lot about the city itself, as the walking tour is full of interesting facts that you likely have not read up on before you arrived in town.
If staying in the city for a few days, we recommend starting off your visit with this free walking tour as the very first thing to do in Merida. It provides such a nice overview of Merida to help get acquainted with the city.
During the Merida free walking tour, you’ll learn how this Catholic church was constructed from Mayan ruins and spot ancient Mayan symbols.
This free walking tour of Merida is put on by Merida’s Tourism Office, for which they ask participants to register there.
- Time: 9:30 am, every day
- Price: Free (consider a tip)
- Location: Merida Tourism Office, located here on the ground floor the Palacio Municipal (Municipal Palace) on the west side of Plaza Grande.
14) Discover the Mayan World at the Gran Museo de Mundo Maya Merida
If you want to learn more about the Mayan people, culture, and history, the Mayan World Museum is most definitely the place to do it. We don’t know of anywhere else in the world with more Mayan artifacts under the same roof. There are over 1,000 different pieces here!
This expansive museum will leave visitors with a deep understanding of the Mayan civilization. The Mayan World museum takes guests on a journey that begins with natural history from the beginning of time. The exhibits slowly progress to the life of the modern Maya today.
It’s all a great primer before visiting the many ancient Mayan sites throughout the Yucatan. Most of those ruins lack information at the actual sites. So visiting the Maya Museum can be a good idea to do in Merida to gain some knowledge about the Maya before venturing out to ruin sites. Those who are fascinated with history can likely spend several hours perusing the exhibits of the Mayan World Museum.
Just be aware that visiting this museum is the only thing to do in Merida listed within this guide that is well outside Merida Centro. But don’t let that hinder you from heading out to Merida’s northern outskirts. This impressive museum is worth the trip to deeply explore the local Mayan culture and history. Plus it’s cheap and easy to take an Uber to the museum. The 20-minute ride from Centro should cost around between $80-$100 pesos (taxis, a bit more).
- Hours: 8:00-5:00, 6 days per week (closed on Tuesday)
- Price: $150 pesos
- Location: Calle 60 299 E, towards the road to Progreso. Look for the building that looks like a metallic bird nest.
- Website: The site is in Spanish, so you may want to use a browser with translation: Official Website
13) Get Lost Amongst Chaos in the Lucas de Galvez Market Merida
Merida’s main market is a site not be seen. The Lucas de Galvez market is something that should be experienced! You can find everything from fresh vegetables, to homemade crafts, local clothing, and lots more in between.
Merida’s bustling market dates back to the late 1800s when it was just a small shed. It sure has grown since then. Today Merida main market is a sprawling and delightfully chaotic place that’s now packed with local life. That’s all part of the fun. Weave your way through the hectic maze-like atmosphere and browse away at all the local goods!
You can even eat lunch at the Lucas de Galvez market. So you may want to plan to grab a bite from one of the many vendors hawking freshly made plates of food. Personally, we’ve had good luck with both tacos and pork here, but we shy away from the grilled fish that has a very fishy smell. Agua frescas and horchatas near the entrance are also a good bet if you fancy something cool to sip on while strolling through the warm mercado.
If near Merida’s city center in the daytime, a visit to Lucas de Galvez market Merida is a must to get a taste of local life in Merida. Note: We recommend to stay clear of the pet section towards the center of the market due to poor conditions observed during our last visit.
- Hours: Daytime. Hours for each stall varies, but are generally open between 6:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Price: Free to be a lookie-loo. Products are priced accordingly and are generally inexpensive.
- Location: Walk towards the intersection of Calle 56 and Calle 65.
12) Attend One of Merida’s Annual Festivals
Merida has some interesting and popular annual events to consider if your visit happens to coincide with the right time of year. There are so many things to do in Merida all year long!
January brings Merida Fest, which spans the course of several weeks of nightly fiestas. If you’re lucky enough to be visiting Merida in early January, be sure not to miss the opening night trova stroll to Plaza Grande that precedes an awesome fireworks display to ring in Merida Fest. The 2020 event spans Jan 5-26. But mark your calendars way in the future for Merida Fest 2022, which should prove to be a particularly large celebration. That’s the year that will be celebrating Merida’s 500th birthday! (We’re already planning to be there.)
February (or March) in Merida (pending the Easter/Lent calendar each year) brings Carnaval of Merida. Events are held throughout the city, with several big parades now held at the X’matkuil Fairgrounds (rather than its former location along the Paseo de Montejo). Free shuttle buses provide transportation from the center of town. Merida Carnaval brings upon a really fun party during this Latin American tradition. So if your visit to Merida coincides with this annual event, be sure to head out to the fairgrounds to watch all the lively floats go by while sipping on a michelada! Festivities for Merida Carnaval 2020 run Feb 19 – 26.
Just as in the rest of Mexico, here in Merida you can expect to experience the culture of Semana Santa processions surrounding Easter. In 2020, this runs April 5-11.
Meanwhile November 1st ushers in traditional Day of the Dead displays and festivities that you can find throughout Centro. Día de Muertos in Merida is known locally here as Hanal Pixán. That’s what the Mayans call Day of the Dead and it is full of festivities. In Merida, the holiday is punctuated by Paseo de las Animas event in which a spirited stroll occurs from San Juan to the General Cemetery.
Finally, Christmas in Merida brings out decorations, a festive atmosphere, and other holiday traditions. It’s a fun time of year to spend in Merida, for a warm-weather holiday season.
And that’s just a smattering of happenings, as there are many annual events in Merida popping up in between. You can find sporting events, concerts, ballads, operas, races, and so much more. The suggestions above just scratch the surface with the top highlights of the year.
- Price: Most all of Merida’s annual events are free (including the Carnaval Merida and Merida Fest).
- Location: All over town, generally in centro, except for Merida Carnaval which is at the X’matkuil Fairgrounds.
- Event Calendar: Take a look at this up-to-date event Calendar to see if there may be something interesting happening in Merida during your visit.
11) Have a Night at the Theatre in Merida
Even if you’re not actually going to have a night out at the theatre, it’s worth popping into the Teatro Jose Peon Contreras during the day. It’s a worthwhile thing to do in Merida to simply have a look around the elegant century-old theatre. While popping in, don’t hesitate to visit the small, free, air-conditioned art museum. This little museum can simultaneously be used as a great excuse to cool-off while viewing the funky exhibits.
After taking in the art, walk by the impressive marble staircase towards the box-office to see if there may be any events during your visit. Typically there are symphonies on most (not all) Fridays at 9:00 pm and Sundays at Noon. Getting tickets for a theatre night could prove to be a classy way to spend a Friday evening, or to escape the mid-day heat on a Sunday.
The Peon Theatre itself is stunning, which provides an air of elegance, and is free to visit. Yet spending a few pesos on a night at the theatre in Merida remains a surprisingly budget-friendly pursuit.
- Price: Ticket prices start at $150 pesos. Free to look around during the day.
- Hours: Open 9 am – 6 pm. Concert times vary, usually Friday nights and Sunday at Noon. Check the box office.
- Location: Here Calle 60 near Calle 57.
10) Experience Pok Ta Pok: Representation of the Mayan Ball Game
The tradition of this ancient sport is kept alive each Saturday night at 8:30 on Calle 60 in front of the Cathedral and Plaza Grande. Watch the players battle it out while traditional live music accompanies the spectacle. Although this game is played as a re-creation for demonstrative purposes, the players still seem to be very much into the game with a high competitive spirit.
It’s a miracle each player doesn’t leave the ball court a bloody mess. That’s because players of Pok Ta Pok slide onto the cobblestones in an attempt to score by hitting the ball with their hips into the post.
Scoring is actually quite rare. Doing so is extremely difficult, particularly during this abridged 30-minute version of this game. So if someone does manage to complete a goal, consider yourself lucky (we’ve never seen it) and be sure to cheer loudly!
The Pok Ta Pok event in Merida is free and begins promptly at 8:30 pm on Saturdays. We strongly suggest arriving at least 15-20 minutes early to get a good spot in the bleachers that are set up prior to this free weekly event. Seats do fill up, particularly so during high season in Merida. Commentary of the Mayan ball game is mostly in Spanish, but it is still a worthwhile spectacle to attend for non-Spanish speakers.
- Hours: Saturdays 8:30 pm -9:30 pm, but be sure arrive early
- Price: Free
- Location: On the east side of Plaza Grande, on Calle 60 here, right in front of the Cathedral
9) Roam the Famed Paseo de Montejo, Merida
You can’t come to Merida without seeing the grand Paseo de Montejo. This wide avenue built in Merida’s heyday conjectures images of Paris’s Champs-Élysées. Historic mansions line the grand avenue, as do many quaint cafes.
There's even an inviting Starbucks along the Paseo that blends right into the white cityscape. But with many great local cafes, we suggest stopping into one of those instead. To break up your stroll this broad boulevard, go have a coffee at Sukra or Pistache. You'll pass both along the way on the east side of the road. Or go to Posheria, where they'll add a shot of pox (local Mayan liquor) into your iced latte, upon request.
You can also find two notable museums while strolling the west side of the Paseo. The Casa Museo Montes Molina provides 45-minute guided tours of the period furnishings around this mansion that served generations of Montejos, descendants of Merida's founder. Info: English tours are Monday-Friday, 9 am, 10 am, 11 am, & 3 pm; Saturdays at 9 am & 11 am.
The Palacio Canton showcases Mayan archaeology across two levels of a big Neoclassical mansion, pictured below. If you don't have a chance to make it to the big Mayan World museum (suggested earlier in this article), then this is a closer albeit smaller alternative to consider visiting to view Mayan artifacts. Info: It's $60 pesos to get in and opens every day except Mondays, 8:00-5:00.
How you experience the Paseo de Montejo is entirely up to you.
You can easily walk it. The sidewalks along the Paseo de Montejo are the widest and most pedestrian-friendly in all of Merida. Frequent trees offer up shade to help protect you from Merida's often-intense sun. We suggest strolling in the morning, when it's not as warm.
The most scenic stretch of Paseo de Montejo is from the Montejo Monument near Plaza Santa Ana to the ornate Monumento a la Patria that's encircled by a busy roundabout. This 1.6-kilometer section can take about 30 minutes to walk, each way, if taking a leisurely stroll. To beat the heat, consider returning to Centro using one of the frequent public buses that travel up and down Paseo de Montejo.
Yet you could easily spend a half-day along the Paseo if breaking apart your walk at museums, cafes, mansions, monuments, stop for ice cream, and other points of interest you may stumble across along the way.
While a slow stroll is recommended to really absorb this grand avenue, you may also consider experiencing the Paseo de Montejo by car, horse & carriage, or bicycle. More information on the latter two options can be found in the subsequent sections. But however you tour this famous boulevard, just make sure that it's on your list of things to do in Merida, Mexico!
- Price: Free to stroll and view mansions and monuments. Additional costs for cafes and museums, as noted.
- Location: Paseo de Montejo begins East of Santa Ana Park and runs nearly 8-km to the North.
8) Explore Merida by Horse & Carriage
Skip Merida's double-decker hop-on-hop-off tour bus and instead see Merida by horse & carriage. A friendly guide will lead you through the city center and up the historic Paseo de Montejo on a private tour of Merida and for a reasonable price.
Clopping through the historical city can be a magical experience that may make you feel like you’ve gone back in time to a by-gone era. For a more romantic spin around town, consider an evening tour as the city lights up and the streets cool off. To add a touch of romance to your night in Merida, you can even arrange for the carriage to drop you off at dinner after a brief tour around town.
The standard ride through Merida Centro and up the Paseo takes about 45 minutes, although you can negotiate with the horse & carriage handlers for a ride that's as short or long as you desire. Are you hot to trot?
- Price: Ranges between $200 and $300 pesos, making this not only a lovely thing to do in Merida, but also a great value. This is one of the least expensive horse & carriage rides we’ve encountered around the world.
- Location: You can find the horse & carriages waiting for customers near Plaza Grande, around the corner of Calle 60 & 61
7) Relax & Connect Among Mexico's Most Pleasant Plazas
If you're searching for what to do in Merida, don't overlook just taking a break in the center of town to absorb all the beautiful ambiance. The Plaza Grande is the perfect place for that.
It's a great central spot to simply unwind. Plaza Grande is where many Meridians and travelers alike congregate during the day, into the evening, and particularly on the weekends. Surrounded by architectural marvels, like the Cathedral and Government Palace, this central city square provides a beautiful 360-degree backdrop.
Find a bench shaded by a tree to get out of the heat and let the cool breeze drift by. Visit one of the many food vendors who set up along the edge of the plaza, particularly on Sundays, to indulge in a mid-afternoon snack. Watch children feeding the pigeons and buying balloons.
Enjoy the company you’re with or practice your Spanish by making some new friends. Merida's Plaza Grande is the place to do so. The Yucatan's signature dual chairs make it easy to chat with one another.
Alternatively, catch up on a few emails or post to your Instagram to show your friends back home how beautiful Merida is. The Plaza Grande is connected! Complimentary Wi-Fi and numerous charging stations are found all throughout this pleasant plaza right in the heart of Merida.
Free wifi is a feature that is found in many of Merida's relaxing squares throughout town. Plaza Grande may be the most central and well-known of Merida's plazas. Yet there are several more that you should check out while ambling about town. Here are a few other interesting plazas to stop at, relax, and enjoy local life:
- Parque Santa Lucia: Merida's second most popular plaza is lined with great restaurants, has the large novelty-sized "you-and-me" chair for fun photos (see below), and free concerts on Thursday nights.
- Parque Santa Ana: Sunny open plaza on the northern part of centro.
- Parque Santiago: Square with adjacent market, food vendors with turkey specialties, and Tuesday night orchestra with dancing that attracts an older, local crowd.
- Price: Free
- Location: All roads in Merida lead to Plaza Grande. It is located here between Calle 60 & 62, and between Calle 61 & 63.
6) Drink Your Way Across Merida
There are lots of great cantinas and lively bars to enjoy all throughout Merida. Happy hour runs late here, so you can often find great drink deals into the 8:00 hour and even beyond.
Whether you're after cervezas, margaritas, palomas, or micheladas, there's no shortage of libations to be had in Merida. There are even some local craft beers made in Merida that you can find throughout Merida Centro. Move over Corona!
If you enjoy drinking, you must visit some of Merida's cantinas. La Negrita is a traveler favorite that's a comfortable introduction to cantinas in Merida, given its friendly service, live music, complimentary botanas (snacks), and local cerveza artisanal (craft beer).
Speaking of craft beer, there are a few good breweries that have popped up in Merida during the past couple of years. You don't have to venture all the way out to the Northern fringes of Merida where Cerveza Patito brews their local beer. Instead, this brewery has two taprooms more conveniently located in Merida Centro, both offering their full line (currently 8) beers on draft: Hermana República and Bela Chela. Pints are $70 pesos and our favorites are the Vanilla Porter and the APA.
More recently a smaller brew operation, La Linda, has come about in Merida, where we enjoy their Cazadora (a refreshing wheat beer) and their Gitana (extra pale ale), starting at $60 pesos per pint.
For something stronger, check out La Fundacion Mezcaleria if you want to dabble into the mezcal, the famous agave liquor produced in Oaxaca, Mexico. The mezcal is served with sour orange slices and a salty powder made from ground up worms. Try it if you dare. We think this sal de gusano (worm salt), as it's called, tastes much better than it sounds!
If you're a bit intimidate or not sure where to begin your bar crawl of Merida, then try this Merida Cantina Walking Tour. The fun-filled tour will usher you to three of Merida's best cantinas. During the cantina crawl, a guide explains all about Merida's cantina culture and tells entertaining stories along the way. The price includes drinks and hearty local snacks at all three of the cantinas you visit. Check availability and latest reviews here.
5) Explore the Free Public Buildings Surrounding Plaza Grande
Within this one recommendation, we're really giving you an extra 5 things to do in Merida! There is so much to see and experience all around the Plaza Grande's perimeter. So once you're done relaxing in the plaza, check out each of these Plaza Grande attractions.
Perhaps best of all, each of the following museums and buildings lining the Plaza Grande are entirely free to enter. And many of them are air-conditioned too, providing some much-needed relief from the heat if roaming around town in the hot afternoon. Thank you, Mérida!
Some of these buildings are nondescript, with no signage. Security guards are stationed in front of the government buildings, leading visitors to believe they are off-limits. But these buildings are actually totally open to the public. Those of you who are now in-the-know can walk right past the security guards to enjoy fantastic balconies that are hidden in plain sight.
5.1 For Art - Museo Fernando García Ponce-Macay, Merida
View the artwork found throughout the free Museo Fernando García Ponce-Macay. You’ll walk through the museum’s open courtyard and along the interior balcony as curators periodically escort you into private rooms through old large doors. In these rooms, you’ll find beautiful and eccentric artwork, on both permanent and temporary display, and both from the Yucatan and further afield.
5.2 For a Glimpse into Merida's Wealthy Past - Casa de Montejo, Merida
Want to know what wealthy Victorian Mexican life was like back in the hacienda days? Then wander on into the free Casa de Montejo on the Plaza’s south side to take a peek at the rooms, furniture, and fine china of this former Meridian mansion.
5.3 For Merida's Grand Cathedral - Catedral de San Ildefonso
Marvel at the architecture of the Catedral de San Ildefonso, built in the late 1500s. Have a peek inside to see the huge crucifix behind the altar, while Meridians come in to pray periodically. There is an English tour of the Cathedral de San Ildefonso on Saturdays at 10:00 am and English-speaking church services occur on Sundays at 9:00 am. If entering this functioning church, be sure to dress respectfully. There is no strict dress code, but as a sign of respect shoulders and knees should be covered.
5.4 For Views & Architecture - Palacio Municipal, Merida
On the west side of the plaza head upstairs onto the long shaded balcony of the municipal building to capture a nice panoramic view of Merida's Plaza Grande. Meanwhile, a convenient tourism office is on the ground floor.
5.5 For Open-Air Strolls and Magnificent Murals - Palacio de Gobierno, Merida
Yet our personal favorite building in this area to roam around is the roomy halls and courtyard of the Palacio de Gobierno. Built in the late 1800s, the lovely "government palace" now houses some large and impressive murals depicting the history between the Mayans and Spaniards, by artist Fernando Castro Pacheco.
It's one of the few buildings surrounding Plaza Grande that is open fairly late (9:30 pm). As a result, the open-air building makes for an enchanting evening stroll through its corridors as the Cathedral lights up at night.
- Price: Each are completely free to enter. You may simply be asked to sign a guestbook upon entry.
- Hours: Open at varying times in the morning and close at 7:00 pm (Government Palace, 8:00 pm).
- Location: Surrounding all sides of Plaza Grande.
4) Dance in the Streets of Merida During Its Weekly Fiestas!
There’s always something going on every night of the week in Merida. You simply have to know when and where to look.
So here is what to do in Merida for every night of the week, which often involves dancing the night away:
- Monday’s in Merida: Vaqueria Night on Calle 62 at Plaza Grande begins at 9:00-10:00 pm. Folkloric Ballet of Merida accompanied by the Jaranera Orchestra.
- Tuesday in Merida: Musical Memories in Parque Santiago begins at 8:30-10:00. It attracts an older local crowd who come out to dance to Big Band sounds played by the live orchestra.
- Wednesdays in Merida: Take a break from the dancing and see the video mapping of the Casa de Montejo at 8:30 in summers and 8:00 in winter months (narration in Spanish only).
- Thursdays in Merida: Yucatecan Serenade in Parque Santa Lucia at 9:00 pm is one of the longest standing weekly events in the city, having been going on for over 40 years. This is a must for things to do in Merida on a Thursday night.
- Fridays in Merida: Video mapping of the Cathedral is at 8:30, but for something more lively, stroll along Calle 60 which often becomes closed to vehicles on Friday in favor of fiestas instead.
- Saturdays in Merida: Noche Mexicana boasts Mexican culture from across the country through traditional song and dance performances that occur on stage at Remate Paseo Montejo from 8:00pm-midnight.
- Sundays in Merida: Merida en Domingo is all day event (8:00 am - 9:00 pm) taking place in Plaza Grande. Food stalls and pop-up restaurants congregate in the plaza with more marquesita stands than you can count. As night approaches, bands begin to play and people start to dance. It's a beautiful Sunday tradition in Merida.
On weekend nights a few of the main streets in the city are closed to traffic and the city becomes abuzz. Sidewalk cafes begin setting up in the streets. Street performers come out to play. Street food vendors don't hesitate to get into the mix as well, providing plenty of opportunities for a midnight snack. The bars and cantinas get busy, the music becomes blaring and it all lasts well into the night. ¡Fiesta!
During these weekend nights in Merida, certainly stroll through the Plaza Grande. Yet, perhaps more importantly, walk up Calle 60 which is usually closed to vehicular traffic by 8:00 pm. Shops on Calle 60 also stay open late as sidewalk cafes set up tables to expand their presence into the closed-off street.
- Price: All are free
- Location: In Merida Centro, the exact location is specified above, for each weekly event in Merida.
3) Go for a Bike Ride on Sunday Morning: Bici-Ruta Merida
We sure do love a good bike-friendly city. Unfortunately, Mérida is not one. There are no bike lanes nor paths throughout Merida centro. Instead, you'll find hectic narrow streets and even skinnier sidewalks which are for pedestrians only.
But this all changes each Sunday morning when some of the Merida's most beautiful and popular streets are shut down for La Bici Ruta (Bike Route) to allow cyclists a chance to ride around town. Much of the city comes out on Sunday morning to partake in a bike ride.
You don't have to look far to find a bike rental. Just walk up the Paseo and you'll see stands that are renting bikes. Check near the Flag Monument, or closer to Centro there's a bike rental place here.
There's no need to worry about traffic or cars at all on Sunday mornings. It's only then that vehicles are blocked from the biciruta route that cuts right through the heart of Merida.
Cruise on up the beautiful wide streets of Paseo de Montejo which were modeled to be like the Champs-Élysées. Pedal on past the lovely town squares. Have a friendly race with a child. If you’re here on a Sunday morning, the Bici-Ruta is THE thing to do in Mérida. Don't miss it.
There is now a night Biciruta in Merida that takes place only on the first Saturday of every month, beginning at 6:00 pm. So if you happen to be passing through Merida on a first Saturday, take to two wheels for a spin around town before the weekly Noche Mexicana event.
- Price: Bike rental prices vary from $15-$40 pesos per hour. Be sure to bring an ID of some sort, which is required for the bike rental person to hold as collateral. Water and bike repair services are offered complimentary along the biciruta.
- Location: Paseo de Montejo and Merida Centro
2) Discover Local Yucatan Cuisine in Merida
Merida is home to some of the best cuisine in Mexico. Sure, you can find Mexican favorites such as great tacos and elote (corn) in Merida. But the Yucatan holds its own regional specialties. Any visitor to Merida absolutely must try this local Yucatecan cuisine, which is unique, distinctive, and quite different from elsewhere in Mexico.
Many of these regional Yucatan dishes have roots from traditional Mayan cooking yet with heavy influences from Europe, the Caribbean, and other Mexican regions. This culmination of cooking cultures makes for some interesting local cuisine to try in Merida. That's what makes eating one of the best things to do in Merida!
Here are some notable Yucatan meals to try in Merida:
- Cochinita pibil: Perhaps the most notable Yucatecan dish (and our favorite), this tender slow-cooked pork is marinated in sour-orange, achiote, and other spices. There's also a tasty chicken version, pollo pibil. Both make a great taco filling.
- Sopa de lima: A hearty soup loaded with shredded turkey in a deliciously tangy broth thanks to the namesake lime juice.
- Poc-chuc: Thinly sliced pork that has been marinated in sour orange juice and grilled to perfection.
- Queso relleno: A hollowed out ball of Edam cheese is stuffed with ground pork and cooked until it becomes gooey before being smothered with gravy.
- Pavo relleno negro: Turkey covered in a rich dark chili sauce.
- Papadzules: A great vegetarian dish of hard boil eggs, wrapped in tortillas and topped with a pumpkin seed sauce.
- Huevos Motuleños: A Yucatan breakfast dish, named from the nearby town of Motul. It's composed of tortillas with eggs, beans, and cheese that's covered in a salsa and topped with chopped ham and peas.
Also, be sure to try Heather's absolute favorite Yucatan snack, marquesitas. (You can thank us later, after biting into this unique sweet and savory treat.) Marquesita stands are easily found everywhere throughout Merida.
What is a marquesita? See our video demonstration below:
So where do you find all this yummy Yucatan food in Merida? We wrote a separate post that details what we suggest are some of the best restaurants in Merida for local cuisine!
Yet to really get to know the food scene in Merida, we recommend this highly-rated Street Food walking tour (Monday-Saturday). Some even rate this 3-hour tour as the best thing they did while visiting Merida. It's a perfect introduction to Yucatan cuisine throughout Merida, allowing visitors to sample all of the Yucatan's best cuisine with a local guide that knows all the best spots. Check availability and recent reviews.
For any home cooks visiting Merida, consider learning how to make Merida's most famous dishes. What better idea than taking a cooking class. In doing so, a local Merida resident will take you shopping at the market before venturing back to their kitchen. It's there in this intimate setting that they'll impart endless Yucatan culinary knowledge onto you so that you can recreate these delicious meals once you return home. Check availability and prices for this 5-star-reviewed market tour & cooking class.
- Prices: The prices for drinks and restaurants will vary greatly across Merida, depending on the type of restaurant.
Budget meals: $20-$90 pesos, midrange: $100-$250 pesos, higher-end $300 pesos+ - Location: All over Merida – so many great restaurants!
- Where to eat in Merida? Check out our separate post with full reviews and recommendations of the Best Restaurants in Merida Mexico You Need To Try!
The #1 Thing to Do in Merida, Mexico: Day Trips!
Mérida itself is a fantastic place to explore for a few days. Yet perhaps one of the best things about Merida is its central location within the Yucatan. This allows for so many amazing day trips for endless adventure around the peninsula.
Merida is surrounded by a countless number of ancient Mayan ruins, beautiful blue cenotes (natural underground pools), fascinating haciendas, quiet strands of Gulf beaches, and intriguing Mayan villages dotting the land in between. This is all why day trips top our list of things to do in Merida. There is always a new Yucatan adventure to embark on from Merida.
Merida is such a perfect hub city as it connects so many of these sites within a short hour or two jaunt from the city center. We love using Merida as a charming base to explore the Yucatan to the fullest during the day, then retreat back to Merida for more comfort, food, and fun in the evening.
Here are just a few recommendations for the best day trips from Merida:
- Visit nearby cenotes such as our favorite: the three cenotes of Cuzuma, visited by horse cart,
- Tour an old hacienda outside of town,
- Go see wild flamingos in Celestun,
- Have an extreme caving adventure in Grutas Calcehtok or Grutas Tzabnah,
- Take this highly reviewed Chichen Itza Day Trip from Merida,
- Journey to the nearby yellow Mayan town of Izamal,
- Explore the lesser-visited Mayapan Ruins or the nearby Dzibilchaltún ruins,
- Take a road-trip down the Ruta Puuc,
- Simply have a relaxing day at a beach near Merida, or
- Try this 5-star rated tour of Uxmal, to see the Yucatan's other famous ruins and our favorite (see video below).
The possibilities of exploring the Yucatan from Merida are virtually endless. Take a second-class bus out of the city for the day, rent a car to explore entirely on your own, or join one of the many tours in Merida you can find on offer. Search Viator for a good selection of well-priced day tours.
Mérida is the perfect home base to go out and explore the Yucatan during the day. Have some amazing adventures, then return to Merida in the evening for the excellent restaurants, the culture, and the festive nightlife. For us, that is truly what Mérida's appeal is all about! And that is what continues to draw us back to this magical city, again and again, as we keep discovering so many awesome adventures all throughout the Yucatan.
We have published an accompanying article with all of our recommendations for the: Best Day Trips from Merida. This additional Merida travel guide details all of the best excursions from Merida, reviews the best ruins to visit, best beaches go to, the best nearby cenotes to explore, and best cultural towns that are all within a two-hour drive, bus, or tour from Merida.
Where to Stay in Merida Mexico
If you're trying to determine where to stay in Merida, you're in luck because there seems to be an abundance of great Merida hotels at bargain prices. Book early though, as some of the best accommodation and prices do tend to get reserved in advance.
There are two main districts in Merida where most visitors stay:
- the Centro around Plaza Grande, or
- Plaza Fiesta Americana near the intersection of Colon and Paseo Montejo.
Of the two, we recommend staying close to Centro Merida within an easy walking distance of Plaza Grande. That way you'll be close by most of Merida's main attractions, many restaurants & bars, and where the fiestas take place. But if you do opt to stay around Plaza Americana instead, you're really not too far from all the action either. It's just a 30-minute walk or a very quick Uber/taxi/bus ride to Centro and Plaza Grande.
We've listed some of our Merida hotel and accommodation recommendations below. For ease of searching and to obtain pricing for your exact dates, we've included affiliate links to HotelsCombined.com, which then scours through all the main booking sites (Expedia, Orbitz, Agoda, Travelocity, Booking, etc.) to determine which site gives you the very best rate.
Hostels in Merida Are Best for Solo Travelers
If you're a solo traveler in Merida, hostels are a great choice. But if you're traveling as a couple or a group, you'll find much better value at the city's very reasonably priced hotels instead. Hostel beds in shared dorms start around $10 USD per night in Merida. Meanwhile, private rooms at hostels start closer to $30 USD, making hotels a better option for those who want a private room, since 3-star rooms can be had for about the same price.
The consistently top rated and recommended hostel in Merida is:
- Nomadas is centrally located, has a big pool, and free breakfast. But book early, as Nomadas regularly sells out, particularly so during high season (winter months). Check availability for Nomadas on HostelWorld now.
Great Midrange Hotels in Merida for Only $30 per Night!
There are some great 3-star+ properties right in the heart of Merida Centro for $30-40, making for excellent value! We've stayed at many of them ourselves, including each of these three steals below.
- Hotel Dolores Alba Merida is difficult to beat in terms of value. The centrally located 3-star hotel has an outdoor pool and nice clean rooms. But their rack rate is nearly $100 USD (totally not worth it). However, they regularly runs online deals for about $30 USD, which even includes a decent hot breakfast buffet for two! That's an absolute bargain in Merida that we couldn't refuse. We now wholeheartedly recommend it, based on that price. Just check current rates.
- Casa Continental is clean, comfy, cheap, cheerful, centrally located, good wifi, and provides a simple breakfast. Really, what more do you need? Well, maybe a pool. There's not one here, but it does have a nice breakfast patio.
- Hotel Maria Jose has large-sized rooms, a nice pool, and the strongest wifi of any hotel we've stayed at in Merida.
And for just a bit more, also consider one of the best in Merida:
- Luz en Yucatan: There's a reason why this 15-room boutique hotel has been consistently listed as a #1 accommodation in Merida by popular travel guidebooks and Tripadvisor alike. Perhaps it's the excellent location right next to Parque Santa Lucia. Maybe it's the well-appointed rooms that are all different from one another. Perhaps it's the relaxed atmosphere, the inviting pool, communal kitchen and dining area. Nah, we think it's because Luz is owned by travelers who have hence mastered what travelers are looking for in a place to stay. Oh, and the freebies go well beyond coffee at Luz. You'll find complimentary cervezas in the mini-fridges and there's a mythical hospitality bar if you fancy a shot of tequila! (I know where we're staying next visit!) Note: Luz tends to book up solid during high season, so reserve early. Check availability now.
Use Airbnb for Full Casas in Merida at Great Prices
We often use Airbnb in Merida, as they have some fantastic apartments and entire homes listed right in centro. We particularly recommend Airbnb for larger groups to share a big place and also for longer stays. Many Airbnb hosts offer steep discounts when you stay for 28 days or longer, so that often works well. It's great to have a kitchen, to feel more at home, and to live more like a local. If you’ve never used Airbnb before you can use our referral code to save up to $40 on your first booking.
Here's the place we scored during our last Airbnb in Merida, which included this beautiful enclosed pool!
For Those Who Want Luxury in Merida
If you're looking for a little more luxury, consider staying about a kilometer North of the center of Merida. Near the intersection of Colon and Paseo Montejo is where you'll find reliable upscale hotel chains in Merida that still offer some pretty generous rates. Here you find Intercontinental Presidente Merida, the Hyatt Regency Merida, and the Fiesta Americana Merida.
Two other fantastic local luxury hotels within the $100 range to consider are Hotel Hacienda Merida and Hotel Hacienda VIP.
Yet for a truly decadent and unique experience, consider staying outside of Merida at one of the famous luxury haciendas. Even if you can't afford the $200-per-night price tag, just take a look at some of these absolutely incredible properties to swoon and dream over:
Merida Travel Tips: Plan Before Your Trip
Here are a few travel tips to keep in a mind as you plan to roam around the streets of Merida:
⌛ How many days to spend during a trip to Merida?
Most of the Merida city highlights mentioned in this travel guide can be experienced within about two days or so. Yet we'd suggest spending at least 5-7 days in Merida in order to pursue the abundance of awesome day trips that surround city.
Having a week in Merida will further allow time to get out to Merida's nearby ruins, centoes, and beaches. A one-week stay in Merida will also allow you to experience each of the nightly cultural events that the city puts on and give an opportunity to try many of the great restaurants in town.
✈️ Getting to Merida Mexico
Merida has its own airport with regular domestic flights all throughout Mexico, in addition to international flights to Miami, Houston, Havana, and Toronto (seasonal).
Ways to save traveling to Merida: If flying to Merida from outside Mexico, it can often prove economical to fly into Mexico City first, then book a subsequent flight to Merida. Another money-saving tactic to get to Merida is flying into Cancun. There are regularly departing ADO buses direct from the Cancun airport to Merida, which takes about four hours.
💵 Money matters in Merida
This is Mexico, so Mexican pesos are the currency. Rarely, if ever, is USD or other currencies accepted. ATMs abound throughout Merida, accept foreign cards, and provide good rates. (Just check with your bank before departing to inquire about international fees your bank may charge.) Credit cards are also accepted around Merida. But smaller businesses will likely only take pesos in cash. Currency exchange places can be easily found in Merida centro and at the Merida airport. Rates vary.
🚕 Getting around Merida
Centro Merida is easily walkable.
But to go further afield or even short distance during a particularly hot afternoon, consider taking an Uber. It's a safe way to get around Merida, they're frequent, and it can be particularly handy if your Spanish isn't good enough to explain directions since you input the destination in the app. You can use the same Uber app in Merida that works for you at home. Just ensure you have a local or international data plan on your phone. Most rides around Centro come out to $40 pesos or less (under $2 USD).
Taxis are also available in Merida.
☔ Rainy Season in Merida
June-October is when rain chances become higher in Merida. Note, that it doesn't rain all day, every day in Merida during those months. So don't let Merida's rainy season be a reason to halt travel plans. But there is a likely chance of rain at some point during a summer visit. Just be prepared for occasional showers during this time of year. Pack a good rain jacket or a compact travel umbrella like this.
☀️ Beware of Merida's afternoon heat
Merida can be very hot, year-round. The most pleasant temperatures tend to come between November and February, but visitors may still find very warm afternoons during that time. April-August ushers in the intense heat. But it's the month of May tends to be the hottest month, when it's not unusual for temps to exceed 100° F (38° C).
Mid-afternoon brings upon the hottest temps. So at any time of year, consider reserving outdoor activities for the mornings, unless it's for a water-bound activity And make sure you come to Merida armed with sunglasses, a hat, and sunblock. Check Merida's monthly weather averages here to have an idea of the weather to expect during your trip.
💦 Stay hydrated
You'll likely sweat a lot more in Merida than you're accustomed to back home. Make it a point to stay hydrated and drink lots of water. Bottled water can be easily found all over the city.
🚰 Don’t drink Merida's tap water
The tap water in Merida is generally not safe to drink. Use bottled water only. Also, consider traveling with this compact LifeStraw. We have one and it's come in handy a few times during our travels when water wasn't drinkable and stores were closed.
💬 Learn Some Basic Spanish
There is some limited English spoken throughout Merida in places where tourists and expats tend to go. But most people throughout Merida speak Spanish, in addition to Mayan dialects. It can be a great idea to learn up on some basics before a trip to Merida. If you don't speak any Spanish at all, it's still possible to get by, albeit with some difficulties. Yet knowing even a tiny amount of Spanish and some simple pleasantries can really go along way to enhance a visit to Merida.
We like to use Babbel as an easy, fun, and inexpensive way to learn Spanish. With each lesson just 10-15 minutes, it's something we can always work into the day and the associated app even lets us learn Spanish on-the-go. It's a great way to brush up before visiting Merida. Right now you can use this discount link to save 25% off a subscription.
☠️ Stay Safe in Merida
Mexico's Yucatan state is regularly touted as being the safest state in all of Mexico. Yucatan's capital, Merida, is a shining example of this accolade. Data aggregator Numbeo reports Merida's crime rate as: low. For perspective, Numbeo's crime index for Merida is even lower than many US and European cities of the same size.
Personally, we never feel any sense of danger in this welcoming city. We feel completely comfortable walking around day and night. That said, it can always be a wise idea to take modest precautions to stay safe in Merida, as you would in any city around the world. Look before crossing Merida's busy streets. Keep belongings close in crowded places. Don't get drunk and look for trouble. Simply put, just use common sense.
⚠️ Have You Purchased Travel Insurance Yet?
While Merida is largely a safe city, you never know what may happen during a trip to Mexico. Possibilities include getting sick, a flight gets canceled, hurricanes (June-Nov), car accidents, lost baggage, your phone falls in the water, camera gets lost or stolen, rental car damage, etc.
Travel insurance will have you covered so that you don't incur the high cost of these unfortunate possibilities. We never roam around Mexico without travel insurance. We use and have been happy with World Nomads, with what we've found to have the best price and coverage combination. Enter the dates for your trip to get a quick estimate.
What to Pack for Merida
Before you depart on your trip to Merida, Mexico, here are a few final preparations to consider:
What to Pack for Your Trip To Merida? We recommend packing for Merida just as you would for any warm weather climate. You already know the essentials you require like clothes, toiletries, and a camera. So here are some items specifically for Merida, you may want to consider adding to your luggage:
Light, dry-wicking clothing is an absolute must! It gets hot in Merida - pack breathable clothing!
Light, dry-wicking clothing is an absolute must! It gets hot in Merida - pack breathable clothing!- Biodegradable sunscreen is very important to bring if you plan to go into the area's cenotes. Regular sunscreen can cause damage to the cenotes, kill the fish, and add chemicals to the fresh water. So please use biodegradable sunscreen, which can be difficult to find in Merida. This Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen SPF 45 is a great choice on Amazon, has consistently great reviews, and is inexpensive too.
- Mosquito repellent. Pesky mosquitos can be found in and around Merida. So if you're susceptible to mosquito bites (like I am), bring some spray or wipes. You can go for the heavy-duty stuff with DEET. But we find this natural Repel Lemon-Eucalyptus repellent works well, isn't as harsh on your skin, and better for the environment (particularly if you're going in the water).
- Mask & snorkel - You may not think to pack this for landlocked Merida, but if you're visiting any of the area's cenotes, be sure to bring a mask & snorkel so you can see those fascinating underwater worlds that lie below the surface. This US Divers Mask is an excellent quality mask for its inexpensive price.
- Don't forget a wide-brimmed hat & sunglasses. Keep that sun off your face and out of your eyes.
- Quick-dry, odor-preventing underwear - This special breathable underwear is an absolute must! Things can get pretty hot and sticky in Merida and this is the only underwear we've worn down there that have been able to hold up to the heat while walking around town. These ExOfficio Boxers are dry-wicking, super comfy, and after a day of use, they somehow don't smell! We call them our miracle underwear! But don't just take my word for it, check out the thousands of positive reviews on Amazon.
- A Travel Guide Book: For more background information about Mexico and further travel advice, you may want to grab a guidebook. We like the Lonely Planet Mexico Travel Guide.
- To ensure you haven't forgotten anything important, you can check out all of our specific suggestions in this post: Ultimate Packing Checklist, which is full of packing tips and recommendations.
More Free Online Travel Guides to Merida Mexico
Here you can find additional detailed travel guides for the Merida area and beyond:
- Best Day Trips From Merida to plan out your Yucatan adventures to the area's best ruins, beaches, cenotes and more.
- Best Restaurants in Merida provides local dining recommendations and shows where to find the cheap eats in town!
- How To Visit the Ruta Puuc from Merida details how to pursue the Yucatan's ultimate road trip across the ancient Mayan World.
- Where to Next? Consider heading south to cool off in the mountains of Cristobal de las Casas. Or head over to the Palenque ruins along the way. Both are accessible by bus from Merida.
Enjoy Your Visit and All the Things to Do in Merida Mexico!
Enjoy the food, the culture, the people, the fiestas, and all the fun things to do in Merida that make it such a great place in Mexico to visit!
We hope this Merida travel guide is helpful to your planning and it has given you a few ideas for fun things to do in Merida. Let us know in the comments section below. Or feel free to ask any questions.
Wait don't go yet! Let's stay connected! If you found this guide to Merida helpful, consider following our Facebook Page where we post every day to give you more travel tips and fuel travel inspiration from wherever in the world we’re currently roaming around! You can go over to our Facebook Page to see where we are today. (Most often it's Mexico).
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Great info! But seeing the baby bump was the highlight! Stay safe💜
Hate to say it but what about the person who cooked it?
Mom looking fabulous. Buffalo Wild Wings, BOGO on wings Tuesday n Thursday.
This is perfect! Literally what I’ve been doing at home too.
You two are the cutest!
Thanks. Stay safe. Miss you guys.
Utaro Shaun Yenokida I cant find the reporters video but it’s basically this
Not ready to explore the beautiful and vibrant city of Merida just yet?
Bookmark this page or pin the image on the right to your travel Pinterest boards so you can easily come back to review all the things to do in Merida.
Publishing note: this travel guide about Things to Do in Merida Mexico was originally written in January 2014 and is regularly updated after subsequent return visits. Most recently updated January 2020.
An update on the taxi from the airport to Centro: there are booths outside the airport where you can buy a ticket. Mine cost 220MXP. Taxi takes your ticket so no haggling required. My driver spoke excellent English and the cab was clean. No cookies or water however. Feel hyped now. LOL.
John! Thanks for this wealth of knowledge on this beautiful country. I am living here for 9 months and this will come in so handy! Again, THANK YOU! I like your vibe and the activities you value are in line with my own!
‘Quite helpful! And informative. Well-written, too.
I met a woman from Merida and I live in Morelia. Soooo, you know–I have to learn a bit about things before I go.
Sooooo … thank you! I KNOW how long composing, editing, and posting photos, etc. can take. I appreciate your efforts. And the tip on “better underwear” was eye-opening. I’d thought about the heat in many, many ways–but not THAT way. LOL ‘Great tip.
Again, thanks!
Hope you have a great trip to Merida! It’ll be a bit warmer down there compared to Morelia. (We’re currently nearby enjoying Patzcuaro’s cool weather.) Having that dry-wicking underwear is such a funny little tip, but it’s really proven so useful for us in hot, sticky climates like Merida. I’ve just ordered a few more pairs for our next trip, lol. Buen viaje!
Thank you for all this information about Merida. This town has a lot of history and beauty must be a place to visit to discover the real Mexico. Not only the city is important but eating is too. I was so glad that you talk a lot about this. My personal favorites are papadzules, cochinita, Chaya and ice cream at “Colon” in the Paseo Montejo. If people want to learn about Merida and Yucatan from a Novel I recommend Xtabentum: A Novel of Yucatan. Enjoy the city. Better to gon in winter!
Yes, it’s such a beautiful city with an equally beautiful culinary offerings to match! 🙂 Thanks for the book recommendation – hope to try and read it before our next visit.
How do I join this webpage and blog. Great, we will be in Merida next week and this webpage is so helpful. Thanks so much. Ron
So glad to hear it was helpful and hope you’re enjoying Merida! 🙂 We don’t currently have an email newsletter but it’s a consideration for the future. You can find all the different ways to stay connected to our blog on the “Contact Us” page, here: https://www.roamingaroundtheworld.com/contact/
Happy travels! 🙂
Amazing Merida post with tons of info I am going to bookmark it and refer to it for when I next visit Yucatan.
I just wanted to thank you for your blog post. SO HELPFUL!
Many, many thanks for your blog post! After struggling to navigate Merida on our own, we are just following in your foot steps and things are looking up! 🙂
We are only staying here 4 days, so we don’t have a lot of time for trial and error.
PS: Indeed Las Vigas is awesome!
Awesome, so glad you’re finding the guide helpful! Hope it helps you to continue to enjoy all that Merida has to offer. Four days is still a nice amount of time to pack in lots of activities in and around the city. Enjoy! And have some ribs or a burrito at Las Vigas for us! 😉
Thank you very much for the very useful information!!
We will spend Christmas in Merida, December 21-January 1st, and your information is very helpful.
We will spend a night in Celestun at Hotel San Julio as you recommend in your blog. I think we will need to come back to do all the very interesting things you talk about.
So glad this to hear this was helpful to your planning. Hope you have a fantastic trip to Merida and the Yucatan! That should be a very nice time to go, with mild temps and holiday festivities. ¡Buen viaje!
Hey! I just wanted to thank you for your insights into Merida. We just returned from a 6-day stay there, and did almost everything you recommended – and more! What a delightful area. Many of your suggestions were for places we would have missed had I not read your post before we left. Thanks again.
Thanks so much for stopping back by our blog with the positive feedback. Always puts a smile on our faces to hear we may have helped others to discover some of the interesting places this city has to offer. So glad you enjoyed Merida! 🙂
Will be headed to Merida in August for something new and R&R, (have done the Caribbean side extensively). Will also be looking at potential second home around the nearby beach communities. Any recommendations on realtors to show us around or X-Pat communities to visit?
all the architectures are awesome. if any one want to make a 3d architecture deign then visit
There are many great realtors around Merida and on the beach in Progreso that particularly cater to expats looking for second homes. We don’t personally have any experience with them since we’ve just sought out short-term apartment rentals and hotels during our travels. So can’t recommend any from our personal experience.
Here it is 2 years later and your post is still super helpful. Thanks so much!
So glad it’s still helpful! And we’re actually very excited to be traveling back to Merida yet again in next month (June 2018) so we can continue to explore this awesome city and further update this post with even more great things to do in Merida! 🙂
Update to the Mayan ball game in Merida. A little bit of commentary is now in English. P.S. We saw 3 goals!
That’s great to hear about the added commentary in English – thanks so much for letting us know. And 3 goals? Wow! We’ve been about 5 times and have never seen a single goal. Congrats! 🙂
Thank you for the great information regarding the Merida area. I will be spending the first week of 2018 there and this website has been very helpful in planning my time there.
That’s always nice to hear! Thanks for stopping by to comment! 🙂 We hope you have an awesome trip to the Yucatan – January is a great time to visit. ¡Buen viaje¡
My wife and I will be spending a couple of months in Merida in Feb/Mar 2018. We thoroughly enjoyed every line of your website and expect that we will have a great time in the city and surrounds. One thing that we have learned in traveling to many different lands and cultures is that our expectations are usually met. If you expect to be disappointed and “taken advantage of” will will probably be successful. We love meeting different people, experiencing different things and mostly learning.
Thanks you for your thoughtful words and kindness in encouraging people to experience Merida. I thought that your responses to Meg were right on the mark. Sometimes in order to really communicate with someone you have to (unfortunately) go to their level so that they can understand you. Nicely done and still professional.
We will experience many of the things that you suggest and will look forward to finding some others on our own. Muchas Gracias!
Tim and Karen
Thank you. We really hope you enjoy your time in Merida – Feb is such a great time to visit too. Cooler weather! 🙂 And thank you for the kind words and weighing in on this silly little debate. We had only intended this post to provide travel suggestions for the things to do in Merida that we enjoyed, to pass on to other travelers. We really hope you enjoy your time there and some of those suggestions ultimately prove helpful as you explore Merida on your own next year.
Bien viaje! 🙂
I appreciate you sharing all this information. I found it to be very helpful. We are leaving in a couple weeks and my sister and her husband were in Merida last year based on a recommendation I received from a person who goes every year and stays for a month. My sister was not disappointed and wished they’d had more time. I have had trouble finding specific information on the boat tours out of Celestun – you suggest going early but I don’t know how early the boats go out. Do you know? Thanks.
So glad to hear your sister had a great visit and hope you do too! 🙂 Regarding Celestun, I don’t recall exactly what time the begin, but we arrived shortly after sunrise and there were boat guys there ready to get out on the water. If you go shortly after sunrise, I’d imagine you will either be able to organize a boat or shouldn’t have to wait long. And there will likely be boat tours available for the remainder of the day but it’s just a matter of timing if you want to share the boat costs with other passengers. Have a great trip to the Yucatan!
I know, people keep talking about how much they love it and we just don’t see it at all! We went to almost every place this article suggested and we found it so underwhelming (the cathedral has been looted of all art…it’s empty, for example), and we still have yet to find any good food for a reasonable price. It’s like we’re in the wrong merida or something. Or maybe people like it better than the city because people speak English here and they think the run-down parts are “authentic.” Or they don’t realize that all the tour offers are three times the price of going alone and they think it’s a good deal. Anyhow, we’re trying really hard, but we just don’t get the love people have for this place. All I’m left with is the small of the diesel busses in our face! Also, we talked to some people who live here (a self proclaimed “welcome committee”) and they said there wasn’t really any good street food in the city and the thing to do really is just drink all the time and take day trips out of here. I can understand why people like the day trips, but honestly, I would recommend people just staying in one of the smaller less touristy towns instead…they can get to the same places from there. Mexico has so many great places and art to see, all I was saying is that merida is not what it was cracked up to be and they should reconsider visiting. Sorry if that doesn’t fit into your conception of the place!
To each their own. One thing I think we can both agree upon is that Merida and Mexico City are very different from one another. The DF is great. But Merida is NOT Mexico City. And that is something we’ve enjoyed about Merida.
We also didn’t find it to be this English-speaking touristic destination that you paint Merida as. Sure, there are certainly some touristic restaurants and shops that cater to that crowd, as there are in many cities throughout Mexico, including Mexico City. I didn’t find that aspect to be overwhelming in Merida as you describe. And we’ve always enjoyed practicing our Spanish in Merida, only seldom coming across English speakers aside from the occasional expats.
And yes, also like everywhere in the world, tours tend to cost much more than doing day trips on your own. That is why we gave two different detailed directions in our day trips guide on how to do it on your own and compared that to tours, to let readers decide which best suits them. Some people enjoy the convenience of a tour, desire more information a guide can provide, don’t feel comfortable driving, and/or perhaps don’t speak Spanish; so tours can be great options for some people, even if they do cost more.
Another point I’ll agree with you on is that the smaller towns throughout the Yucatan are very nice to stay in, as we’ve stayed in many. It’s a great experience for a night. But for more than a night, I definitely prefer to base myself in Merida for day trips, given there is so much more eating/drinking/doing options in Merida for when we’re not out exploring the Yucatan.
Also, you claim that you can get to the same places from the smaller towns as you can from Merida. But from our experience, that is completely untrue. Merida is the most centrally located hub in the region with all roads leading to/from there. If traveling around by bus, you would almost certainly have to go back to Merida to transfer to get to anywhere else, adding hours of travel time and hassle. It’s also the most convenient location for rental car and tour options too. But I digress.
“All I was saying is that merida is not what it was cracked up to be.” So Merida was underwhelming to you. That’s fine. I get that. But actually that’s not all you were saying. You also said, “I wouldn’t recommend anyone visit Merida.” And that’s wrong. Merida certainly isn’t for everyone, but most people do enjoy it. We like to encourage others to explore a destination and decide for themselves. But that’s still not all you were saying. You also attacked our “traveling” articles as untrustworthy. But just because your opinion of a place differs from ours, it doesn’t invalidate all the information we’ve put a lot of effort into providing here for free, and the trust we’ve built with our readers.
I wouldn’t recommend anyone visiting Merida. I honestly have no idea what this article is talking about. You could walk for a mile before finding any street food, which may be possible if the sidewalks weren’t too small (a fact that also limits any kind of meaningful street life). The traffic is loud, the prices insane for Mexico, and everything is a tourist trap. If one of the top ten things to do anywhere is sitting in a tiny plaza, I would reconsider visiting. You can get to all the ruins from far more pleasant places. I would recommend spending more time in Mexico City. The museums and street scene there are fantastic, the food is much better and EVERYTHING is cheaper. It’s also far more beautiful and actually less polluted and hectic than merida. Plus all the people in the plazas, restaurants and coffee shops don’t endlessly bother you with tourist traps and recommendations to bad restaurants. Frankly, I wouldn’t even trust these “traveling” articles anymore for even suggesting merida as a good place to visit.
Wow, that’s pretty harsh. Am sadden by the hatred you have for what we found to be such a lovely city. The way you describe it, it almost sounds like you visited an entirely different place. We found loads of street food, never had problems with sidewalks or traffic, never got caught in any tourist traps, never had any touts hassling us, loved the different Yucatecan cuisine, and found everything to be very reasonably priced. Actually, probably cheaper than your beloved Mexico City. But that’s just our experience. We loved Merida and you’re the first person we’ve ever heard from who has not enjoyed their time there.
I find travel to be like food or music. People have different tastes. It’s clear you did not have a taste for Merida and that’s okay. You didn’t appreciate all of its charms that we found there and that’s fine. But to recommend “anyone” against visiting Merida just because you were one person who didn’t like it, is pretty one-sided and closed-minded. We hope you continue to enjoy Mexico City!
I appreciate your Blog,, I am traveling to Merida to visit my tanta who bought a hacienda You helped me feel comfortable about going there. I will miss my pistol Feel sad for Meg, some folks can’t find the positive in anything,, poor miserable thing! Will contact when I return!
Can you make a suggestion regarding transportation from Tulum to Merida and then Merida to Cancun Airport. There will be 5 of us, one who is 85 years of age. Private car? Rental car. ADO bus has been used, just not sure we want to do that when trying to get to Cancun airport.
There are ADO buses that connect Tulum-Merida and from Merida to Cancun Airport. I’ve taken both routes many times. It’s inexpensive, comfortable enough, and air-conditioned. But for Merida to Cancun Airport, just be sure to get the one directly to the airport, as there are others that go to the downtown Cancun bus terminal instead. But depending on the 85-year-old’s mobility and depending on your budget, you may want to consider a rental car or private driver instead. A private driver will be expensive though. I’ve seen them listed for about ~$250-$300 USD, each way. Rental car could work well. But it may be difficult to do a one-way rental that begins in Tulum and ends Merida. Instead, it would be better to start and end in Cancun. I’ve found the roads to be good and easily navigable, if staying on the main roads. Hope that may help!
Will be headed to Merida in August for something new and R&R, (have done the Caribbean side extensively). Will also be looking at potential second home around the nearby beach communities. Any recommendations on realtors to show us around or X-Pat communities to visit?
We’ve only visited Merida and Progreso as travelers (and monthlong temporary residents), so we can’t really recommend any realtors. (We used Airbnb for our monthlong rental.) There are a number of websites out there, like yucatanexpatlife.com, that have listings and recommendations, but I really can’t speak to how good they are. What I would recommend before buying a second home there is to live in the area for a month (if you have the time to do that) to really get a better feel for the areas, prices, and houses you may prefer. You’ll gain a much better understanding and will be able to connect with many expats living there who can offer their two-cents on realtors and housing. Best of luck on your search for a second home in this charming part of Mexico!
Thanks….. if anyone reading this had bought in Merida , would like some perspective on their experience. (Regrets?)
I moved from Illinois in 2015, it’s a very good State and city to live, and also it’s where you want to live, if you want to find a house let me know I can help you with it.
Hey guys, great blog! It’s been very helpful to us as we explore Central America.
FYI – we did the free walking tour in Merida this week and it starts at 9:30, not 9 AM. We learned about it through your site but found conflicting information online about the start time.
Thank you for letting us know about the updated walking tour times. It’s very important for us to try to keep this resource up-to-date, so thanks to you, I have edited this post to reflect the new 9:30 am start time.
What an excellent article! This is one of the best write-ups I’ve ever seen on Mérida. As one of the vety fortunate residents of this magical city, I thank you for the time and effort you’ve spent in describing our town in such wonderful detail. Everything is factual, including the prices, and I’m writing this in March, 2017! We have been voted America’s Cultural Capital for 2017, and your article beautifully explains why. One of our most popular solicitors (lawyers), who is also a fantastic writer, says that “Mérida is where you come to learn how to love again,” and that is so very true. The people, the trees and flowers, the music, even our hot weather, exude love!
Hi Patricia, thanks so much for the comment and kind words. You truly live in a magical city! How fantastic that Mérida was voted America’s Cultural Capital for 2017, a well deserved award for the city.
Hi dd says
Me and my family will be traveling for doctor appointment and thereafter to enjoy the ambiance of this city. What is the cost to get to uxmal and also what are the events happening their for the New Years of 2017..we should be arriving on the 28th December and leaving January 2nd 2017
For costs of the different ways to get to Uxmal, please check out our other post on the Best Day Trips from Merida here, in which we provide the pricing a number of different ways to get to Uxmal:
https://www.roamingaroundtheworld.com/best-day-trips-yucatan-merida-mexico/
For New Years, there will likely be a big party in the historic center of Merida and many of the clubs and restaurants I’m sure will have festivities to attend. I’d recommend heading to the historic center on New Years Eve. Also, as Dec 31 gets closer check this event calendar to see what events may have been added:
http://www.yucatanliving.com/calendar/
Excelente blog, gracias! Muy informativo e interesante! (I know you understand that) 🙂
You made my husband and I really excited about visitng Merida this January 2017!
Gracias, gracias, gracias!
De nada! Con gusto! 🙂
Merida is so much fun! We hope you enjoy it as much as we have. The weather in Merida is perfect in January too – that’s when we always tend to visit. Enjoy! 🙂
We’re headed to the Yucatan in December 2016 — we love the ideas in your blog posts and will use them to plan our trip. We are interested in diving near Cancun and Cozumel. We have also heard about diving in the cenotes near Merida — would you please recommend dive shops where we can rent equipment? Thanx! Danita and Juan. from San Jose.
So glad to hear you’ve found some of our blog posts helpful in planning your trip. I’ve dove in Cozumel once before but it’s been years, so unfortunately can’t recommend a dive shop there. Sorry! As for diving in cenotes around Merida, a friend of mine recommends Freedom Divers Mexico, but I personally have never dove with them. Here is their website for more info: http://www.freedomdiversmexico.com
Hope you have an awesome trip to the Yucatan in December!
While there is a lot of good information on this blog number 7, horse drawn carriage rides should be dropped. With a horse having collapsed and died on Paseo Montejo in April it’s the last thing people should be thinking of doing. There is so much wrong with it. Please consider not advertising it.
What a horrible incident and thank you for bringing it to our attention. During the time we spent in Merida, we had only witnessed horses that appeared to be well cared for. I’m hoping that your comment will help to serve as a warning to other travelers to Merida so they can use discretion before pursuing this activity.
Hi John
Great Info!!! I am currently in Merida exploring some of the options that you mentioned as I am bringing a large group of Rotarians in January of next year to this city to do some social projects. We are contemplating one dinner at Progreso to look for a lovely sunset and a dinner and light show at the Uxmal Ruins.
Thanks Arturo! I hope you and your Rotarian group enjoy Merida and the Yucatan as much as we did! 🙂 I think a Progreso sunset dinner and the Uxmal ruin light show both sound like a great idea! Have a great trip!
Thanks!!!!!!!! Great post
Awesome stuff! Very detailed and informative post. Looking forward to exploring some of Merida today!
Thanks for the feedback and we’re so glad to hear you’ve found this to be helpful. Hope you have (or had) a great time exploring Merida! Enjoy it and happy travels!
I just wanna say i was really excited about going to Mérida. There are some really nice recomendations mentioned here, that I try and I recommend a 100%!!
There is just one thing missing, I had an awesome massage in a spa called Boho Spa. There is one located in the center part of the city and is really beautiful! I really recommend to go!
Thanks Emily! Glad to hear these recommendations were helpful. And thank you for commenting with your suggestion of the Boho Spa. Sounds like a perfect way to relax and wind down after a hot Merida day!
Wow what a great read. My GF an I are coming to Merida in Sep. for a week an cant wait. We are staying at the Luz De Yucatan. This article has us so pumped up we wish it was sep. now. Thanks for this an im going to go back an read it again. Yours Truly Steven A Chambers.
Hi Steven, Thanks for stopping by our site. We can sense your excitement and it puts a smile on our faces to know its getting you pumped. You’r going to love Merida! September can’t get here soon enough! We’re in the midst of writing a new post detailing all of our favorite day trips from Merida so stay tuned for that within the next few days to give you a handful of other activities to get excited about! 🙂
Thanks for the reply. Done many AI hotels in MR an Cancun but this time we are going to travel around a bit to see the Yucatan. Holbox,Merida Campeche an maybe a few others. Love your blog an look forward to reading your new posts. Thanks an have a great day. Yours truly Steven A Chambers from B.C Canada
Great Blog! We are a family of 4 with kids 8yo and 12yo. We’re staying in Cancun for 7 days but venturing out April 6-8th to the central Yucatan. We will have a rental car and originally we planned on going to Valladolid for 2 nights, but after reading your blog I’m thinking I should just go to Merida for all the actvities of this vibrant city.
I want to take day trips to the Mayan ruins, but not too keen on a “tour” as i find too many hours are spent on the bus going from hotel to hotel.
Question…are there locals that you can arrange to meet at the ruins for a personal “tour” or people for hire once you get to the ruins for a “tour”?
Hi Matt! Glad you found our blog. If you have a car, you’ll be in good shape to simply drive to the ruin sites and won’t need to take a packaged bus tour. At Chitzen Itza there will be plenty of locals there eager to provide you with a tour of the ruins. Expect to pay about 600 pesos. Same for Uxmal, if you go there. At the Izamal temples, there are local horse and carriage drivers who can tour you around the area. Some of the smaller sites like Mayapan ruins, you likely won’t find any local guides there. The ruins are still easy to explore on your own, you just won’t get all the interesting facts to go along with them.
As for Valladolid vs Merida… that’s a tough call. Valladolid is a lovely town too. Much smaller. I’d decided based upon the sites you’re planning to see. If you are planning to see Chitzen Itza, Izamal, Coba, and the cenotes near Valladolid, it may be more convenient to just stay there. But if you’re taking day trips further afield, Merida might be the better option.
Hope that helps or at least gives you some ideas. Have a great trip to the Yucatan!
Hi, there are some really nice recomendations mentioned here, which I’ll definetly gong to try 🙂
You wrote that on weekend evenings there is some “Fiesta”-atmosphere in Merida. I would arrive on a sunday afternoon. Are there also some special events going on sundays?
I would have liked to ride a long on a bike in merida. But as you mentioned in your blog, I guess that I wont make it since I am arriving in the afternoon.
Hi Sandy! Yes, there always seems to be something going in Merida every day and Sundays certainly aren’t excluded 🙂 In fact there’s a weekly event called “Merida en Domingo” (Merida on Sunday). Head to the centro and you’ll find many food vendors other booths set-up. They sometimes have bands playing too. I’m not sure when you’re arriving but if you are coming this Sunday (Feb 7) you may also want to go our to the fairgrounds because it is Carnaval, which will be happening there tomorrow and into the evening. Hope you have a great trip to Merida!
Great article. We’ll have to add Merida to our to-do list. Is there any diving?
Thanks! There is diving in some nearby cenotes, which sounds really interesting although we haven’t done it (yet!). I’ve heard about a place called Alacranes Reef, about 60 miles off the coast here, but it seems difficult to venture too. The closest accessible ocean diving is about 3-4 hours drive away, closer to the Caribbean side of the Yucatan, with Holbox possibly being nearest to Merida.
I was in Merida last january with my girlfriend, we researched the area and of we went, we spent a week there and it was fabulous. We visited all the ruins big and small, and we loved them all, very impresive
and we were the only visiters in most of the lesser known ruins, the feeling we had walking around all by ourselves was incredible and i recomend it to all, Ek-Balam, Uxmal, Mayapan and you can climb all the buildings. From the food, its culture, historical buildings, and most of all its people I recomend it to all. We are going back in late Jan.
Isn’t that the best when you’re the only people at such incredible places like those ruins!? We’re also heading back to the Yucatan soon and hope to make it out to explore some of the ruins that you’ve mentioned. And we’ll second the notion about loving the food, culture, historic buildings, and the people! That’s why people like us return! 😉 Oh, I can’t wait to get back. Thanks for dropping by our blog and happy travels!
Awesome Post John (and Heather),
We are heading to Merida Jan/Feb of 2016 for 2 weeks and so looking forward to doing as many of the items you described as possible! Are you aware if there is any Karaoke in town? What is the best way to get to our Hotel (Near Plaza de Independancia) from the airport?
We hope you enjoy Merida and the surrounding area as much as we did! We never stumbled across any Karaoke while we were there but I would’t be surprised if there may be a Karaoke night somewhere in town. If not, there is plenty of live music on the weekends to enjoy. From the Merida Airport to Centro, I’ve actually never flown into the airport and have always arrived from elsewhere in Mexico by bus, so I can’t speak from experience. But I understand that the easiest way would be a taxi which should cost no more than 250 pesos (~$15 USD). You can catch an ADO bus for significantly less but it’ll take more time and you’ll need to walk a bit from the bus station where it drops you off, so I’d probably recommend a cab. Happy travels to the Yucatan!
There is a kiosk at the front of the airport, you can book your cab there and when we did it they handed us each a small bottle of water and a package of cookies. The cost was about USD20 into the Centro Historico and we did give him a tip. The cab was clean and we had no qualms about using it..
Thank you for writing such an informative post about Merida! I am visiting here in November and am starting my research of things to do while I am there. Your list was very helpful and I will be sure to do many of your suggestions!
Glad to hear it was helpful! I hope you enjoy Merida and the surrounding area as much as we did!
Thanks! I am sure I will. It definitely looks and sounds like my ideal type of city 🙂