What to Do in Mérida: Culture, Cuisine, & Adventure
Welcome to Mérida, the cultural heart and capital city of the Yucatán Peninsula. The colorful city is rich in historical significance and is renowned as the gateway to incredible Mayan ruins, including Chichén Itzá, Uxmal, and the Ruta Puuc. Thinking about visiting soon and curious about what to do? Here is a list of must-see spots and adventures that will make your trip unforgettable.
Oh & as always practice sustainable tourism while traveling and respect the locals—Mérida is their home :)
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What to do in Merida
#1: Explore the Main Square: Plaza Grande
Plaza Grande is the main square of Merida and one of the most popular places to be in the city. It is filled with shops, restaurants, colorful buildings, and a massive park in the center. If you want to learn the history of the plaza you can opt for a FREE walking tour here! The tour covers the entire square, plus some, and explains the history and importance of each of the buildings.
Things to do in Plaza Grande:
Catedral de San Ildefonso: Also known as the Cathedral of Merida, this massive church is one of the oldest Cathedrals in Mexico.
Olimpo Cultural Center: This cultural center is an architecturally beautiful building with free art exhibits inside.
Pasaje de La Revolución: A massive green passage sitting beside Merida Cathedral. The arch entrance is an impressive and beautiful sight. There are sometimes art exhibits inside as well.
Palacio de Gobierno: Government Palace is an older green colonial government building in the square. You can head inside the courtyard of this building and explore the historical (yet grueling) murals inside. The building is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Edificio Municipal de Mérida: The pretty pink colonial building with a clock tower rising above it.
Museo Casa Montejo: This 16th-century museum is another FREE entry spot in Merida. It covers the history of a powerful family, Montejo. There are restored rooms and photography exhibits to explore. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Sunday it is open 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
#2: Wander the colorful streets
Merida is full of bright, colorful buildings lining every street, showcasing a variety of hues and architectural styles. The city is best explored by foot, in my opinion, from Plaza Grande up to Monumento a la Patricia. By walking, you can take in all the colors of this rainbow city and find hidden gems you may not otherwise see in a car. You will find a pastel blue hotel, Casa Azul Monumento Historico, and the vibrant orange La Casa Morisca with its funky doorway. Do not miss the bright yellow arches of Arco de Dragones and Arco del Puente, along with plenty of colorful surprises around every corner. Be sure to check out the unique doors scattered throughout the city! Calle 64 claims to be the most colorful street in Merida, but wandering around as much as possible on foot will lead you to find even more colorful areas.
If you are trying to find the bright yellow building above, head down Calle 60 towards Parque de Santa Ana.
#3: Find the Bright Colored Churches
Another highlight of Merida is its’ beautiful and historical churches. Some of my favorites were the red church, Iglesia De La Primera Orden, and the yellow church, Sanctuary of the Blessed.
#4: Stroll down Paseo De Montejo
Paseo de Montejo is a famous street in Merida and a breath of fresh air, offering an open road filled with colonial mansions and greenery. This street is perfect for wandering in the afternoon, with lots of shade provided by nearby trees. There are many mansions and museums on this road for you to explore as well.
Casas Gemelas/Cámara: Also known as Twin Houses, these historic houses offer a glimpse into the life of the wealthy and powerful Cámara family. The house is partially restored and is still being restored into what is believed to have been how the original house was laid out.
Hours: Thursday to Sunday 9 AM - 5 PM
Entrance Fee: 250 pesos for foreigners | 50 pesos per phone you want to take photos with
Yucantan Residents: 150 pesos
Teachers / Students: 100 pesos
Museo Regional de Antropología: A museum with rotating exhibits—Ek Balam and Palenque exhibits when I visited. The exterior of this building is a beautifully crafted mansion well worth walking around even if you do not pay to enter the museum.
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Entrance Fee: 95 pesos
Quinta Montes Molina: A 1900s restored mansion, open for exploring!
Hours: Sunday to Wednesday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM | Thursday to Saturday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
This museum does hold events, wedding photography, etc., so be sure to check online if they are closed to the public.
Entrance Fee: 120 pesos for adults | 70 pesos for children
A 45-minute guided tour of the mansion for 180 pesos is available.
#5: Monumento a la patria
Monumento a la Patria is an iconic sculpture located on a roundabout at the end of Paseo de Montejo that is well worth the walk! The impressive stone-carved sculpture is covered in Mexican history from the Declaration of Independence and wars or revolutions to Mayan symbolism and famous Mexican artists. It represents Mexican pride and nationalism for all of its residents.
You can read more about the landmark’s history here.
#6: Try the delicious Cuisine (&coffee)
A trip to Merida could not possibly feel complete without taste-testing all the flavors of Mexico. For my plant-based, vegan, and gluten-free friends, there are many options for you, but one of my favorites was La Kombucheria. It had a funky atmosphere with delicious Mexican-inspired dishes and locally made kombucha. I recommend trying the Veggie Enmoladas and the Cauliflower tacos alongside a kombucha.
For coffee lovers, my top recommendation would be Sempere, a cozy, book-filled cafe perfect for escaping the bustling world that is Merida to relax or to get some work done.
If you are feeling sweet, Avegana Vegano Sin Gluten has some insanely yummy gluten-free AND vegan desserts. The best part? They offer delivery anywhere in Merida, even if you just want a few slices of their cakes. Of course, I tried the coconut-inspired cake— it was honestly way too good to even comprehend!
#7: Relax in a park
Merida is filled with smaller parks sprinkled throughout the city that are great spots to take a break from exploring to rest your feet or enjoy an afternoon coffee. Some of my favorite parks include:
Parque de los Hidalgos: A cute little park with beautifully colored colonial buildings. For Starbucks fanatics, there is one located in this park! This park is the one featured in the photos above.
Parque Santa Ana: Another adorable smaller park that holds the famous Merida sign.
Parque de Santa Lucía: A park famous for its GIANT me and you chairs (more on this one further down). Iglesia de Saint Lucia, the red church mentioned earlier, is also here.
#8: See A New 7 Wonder Of The World: Chichen Itza
This next stop is at the top of the list of things to do in Merida. You cannot possibly stay in Merida and not take advantage of its proximity to the Unesco World Heritage Site: Chichen Itza. It is one of the tallest standing Mayan ruins in the Yucatan and is just as impressive in person. The archeological site has much more to uncover than just the famous El Castillo, including a Great Ball Court, Temple of Warriors, and my personal favorite, El Caracol.
Head here for some more info on these incredible structures!
The entrance fee to Chichen Itza is 643 pesos (about 34 USD). It is only a 1.5-hour drive from Merida, and you will need half a day to explore the site.
You can find more information on visiting Chichen Itza here!
#9: Enjoy an evening in valladolid
Valladolid is a charming small city just under 2 hours from Merida and only 35-40 minutes from Chichen Itza. It is common for a trip to include a stop in Valladolid if you book a tour to see Chichen Itza from Merida! Enjoy wandering more colorful streets, Mayan performances, traditional Jarana dances, and a Marquesitas, a famous dessert in the Yucatan. This city was one of my favorite places during my time in Mexico and I would definitely recommend making a stop here!
Already visited Valladolid and looking for something different?
Izamal: This is a beautiful little yellow city located 55 minutes east of Merida. Every house and building looks to be painted yellow… adorable.
Campeche: A colorful coastal town located 2 hours southwest of Merida!
Uayma Church and Village: This small town is just 40 minutes from Chichen Itza and has only 3,000 residents. It has become widely known for its adorable and Instagrammable church.
#10: Ruta Puuc & Uxmal
Ruta Puuc refers to a 60-kilometer-long collection of ancient Mayan ruins sites, that are truly incredible to see. This Unesco World Heritage site begins at Uxmal, making it one of the more accessible sites to visit along the route. Uxmal has the tallest building in the area, standing over 100 feet! Following Uxmal are Kabah, Sayil, Xlapak, and Loltun cave all of which are open for visitors.
The sites differ from its neighbors like Chichen Itza, because of their intricate and diverse carvings that are unlike the others–now referred to as Puuc style. You can find numerous geometrical configurations, Chaac (the Mayan god of rain), and other symbolic animals and symbols carved into the structures. They are truly mind-blowing considering how these structures and facades were built so long ago by stone on stone.
Uxmal is the most visited site of the Ruta Puuc and is a short 1-hour drive from the city. You only need half a day to visit the site and I recommend using this tour, which includes transport, a tour guide, and entrance fees into Uxmal and the second ruin on the route, Kabah.
You can find more information on visiting Uxmal and the Ruta Puuc here!
#11: find the giant kissing chairs
In many parks and walking areas across the Yucatan Peninsula, you will find sillas tú y yo, or me and you chairs—two white chairs connected to face one another. However, in Parque de Santa Lucía, you can find 2 HUGE me and you chairs in the center of the park! If the photo above does not do them justice, you can bear in mind that I struggled to get onto the chairs—that is how tall they were. The park is only a quick 6-minute walk from Plaza Grande and is a perfect spot to sit and relax during your Merida travels.
#12: Visit Celestún
Calling all flamingo lovers! This small fishing village, just a 1.5-hour drive from Mérida, is home to the Reserva de la Biosfera Ría Celestún, a wildlife sanctuary known for its beautiful pink flamingo flock. The best time to visit here is from December to April when the flamingos are present and posing for photos. Aside from pink feathered birds, you can take boat rides here with the chance of seeing crocodiles resting amongst flourishing mangroves. I recommend bringing pesos with you since this smaller village is less visited and most likely will not take cards in its shops or restaurants.
You can plan on spending around half a day here and if you do not have a form of transport, you can find a great guided tour option here that includes round-trip transport.
General Information on Merida
Best Time to Visit:
Hurricane Season: June - October | Dry Season: November-April
Merida, located near the western coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, is best visited during the "cooler" months from November to March. With Merida being landlocked, and the nearest beach being around 45 minutes, cooler weather makes exploring the city less sweaty and more enjoyable.
If you prefer higher temperatures and do not mind the chance of rain or even a hurricane, you can visit during the rainy season from May or June to the end of November. When I visited during June, it was extremely hot, making daytime exploration challenging.
How to Get to Merida:
FLYING: Merida has an international airport you can fly into: Merida International Airport (MID). It is around 7 KM from the Plaza Grande.
ADO BUS: ADO is the largest Mexican bus company throughout the Yucatan Peninsula. You can take an ADO bus from anywhere else in the Yucatan Peninsula to Merida. Prices vary depending on the time of year and time of departure. I arrived in Merida from Valladolid on ADO and the ride was around 2.5 hours.
COLECTIVO: A Colectivo is a shared van with other people heading to the same destination you are. They are the favored form of transport by backpackers and travelers with less luggage. ADO also has an “ADO Conecta” option that will be faster and similar to a Colectivo but more comfortable to ride in. I recommend this over a Colectivo.
PRIVATE TAXI: A private taxi is always an option but can be quite pricey. I recommend reaching out to multiple companies for quotes before deciding on which to take.
Bonus Tip: Transportation throughout the Yucatán Peninsula is on its way to becoming more accessible with the new Tren Maya Railway. Head here for more information and to stay updated on what routes are open now!
Mode of Transport in Merida:
Merida is quite walkable, especially for short-term visitors. It will give you an authentic feel of Merida as you enjoy spotting the colorful houses and streets.
Uber is available and is cheaper than taxis for those who prefer less walking around.
Colectivos, shared vans, ADO Conetas, day tours, etc., are around for day trips outside Merida. For example, I LOVED my day tour to Uxmal and Kabah (Ruta Puuc). You can find it here!
Where to Stay:
The best area to stay in Merida is either near the Plaza Grande area or along the Paseo de Montejo road. I have listed some of the best options below!
Best Accommodation Options For Every Traveler
Best Backpacker/Hostel Option: Hotel & Hostal Boutique Casa Garza or Che Nomadas Mérida Hostel Adults Only
Best Low-Budget: Hotel Santa Ana or Hotel Santa María Mérida
Best Mid-Budget: Villa Orquídea Boutique Hotel, Viva Merida Hotel Boutique, Acqua In Bocca, or Hotel Boutique Casa Flor de Mayo
Best High End Budget: El Palacito Secreto Luxury Boutique Hotel & Spa
Best Luxury Budget: The Loft Room at Viva Merida Hotel Boutique or The Patio Suite at Cigno Hotel Boutique- Adults Only
Are There Vegan Options?
Yes, there are! Here are a few of my favorites:
Sempere (Cute Coffee Shop)
Avegana Vegano Sin Gluten (The BEST cakes and cupcakes)
Is It Safe?
This is a huge debate with Mexico in general, and it all depends on what you will be doing and where you will be going. I was never out after dark nor do I drink or head out to bars. I felt pretty safe in Merida, although this city felt more rough around the edges in some areas. I did see some bizarre and questionable things during our time, but never experienced anything that put me in harm’s way. Just be wary of where you are wandering.
ALSO - it is common for locals in Merida to try and speak to you about Mayan culture or events, followed by directing you to a nearby attraction or market. They will then follow you to see if you go there to receive a potential commission on your spending. Your best bet is to simply say no thanks when they start trying to discuss this with you and then continue with your day. This happened to me and I simply popped into a big tourist store to lose him. It was sketchy for sure…
I recommend staying up to date with your country’s travel advisories. Follow basic rules of safety while traveling, in addition to:
Never travel without the right insurance in case of any sickness, injuries, or theft. Safety Wing is by far the best travel medical insurance. It has saved me numerous times by covering hospital visits when I was sick during my travels in Asia.
Emergency Contact Number: 9-1-1
