Mérida is one of Mexico’s finest cities.
Steeped in approximately 400 years of history – with stunning architecture and leafy plazas to match – the city serves as the cultural hub of the Yucatán Peninsula. Mérida is home to the region’s top museums and restaurants, bustling markets, and a vibrant nightlife. Each day, visitors and locals enjoy free events ranging from regional dance and spoken word performances to live concerts and captivating light and sound shows. Moreover, this bustling capital is an excellent base for exploring some of the region’s most iconic sights, including Maya ruins, hidden cenotes, and even pink flamingos.
Here are the best things to do in and around Mérida.
Walk (or bike) the streets on a Sunday
If possible, plan to spend a Sunday here. During the weekly Domingo en Mérida event, downtown streets are closed to vehicles, allowing pedestrians, folk art vendors, street performers, and food carts selling steaming elote (corn on the cob), marquesitas (stuffed crepes), and other delightful antojitos (treats) to fill the avenues. The lively atmosphere includes the sounds of dance and music performances alongside the applause and laughter of cheerful audiences. Arrive early to join locals on the Bici-Ruta, a 3-mile (5km) bike route through the historic center – bike rentals are affordable and readily available on the main plaza.
Take a city tour with an expert
A fantastic way to delve into the rich history of Mérida – one of the oldest continuously inhabited locations in the Americas – is to take a guided tour. The city tourist office offers free 1.5-hour walking tours that depart daily from the Palacio Municipal; knowledgeable guides focus on the key colonial-era buildings and plazas in the historic center. Keep an eye out for the intricate carved stones integrated into various structures, remnants of the ancient Maya temples and palaces that once stood here.
Soak up the Plaza Grande’s charm
Plaza Grande is the heart of Mérida, boasting one of Mexico’s most enchanting plazas, adorned with towering laurel trees and iron benches, offering views of the city’s historic buildings. Scattered throughout the square, S-shaped “tú y yo” chairs are popular with women in colorful huipiles and teens texting with friends, while children in oversized sneakers dart past. On weekends and evenings, food carts and artisan stands fill the plaza, providing endless treats. Time your visit to enjoy the folk-dance performance known as vaquerías, complete with live music, poetry, and dancers adorned in traditional attire.
Admire Yucatecan art
Immerse yourself in the region’s artistic talent at Museo Macay, Mérida’s modern art museum. Housed within the opulent 16th-century Palacio Arzobispal, the museum boasts an impressive collection of works from esteemed artists such as Fernando Castro Pacheco and Fernando García Ponce. For folk art, visit the Museo de Arte Popular de Yucatán, a revitalized casona showcasing remarkable textiles, ceramics, and woodwork crafted by skilled artisans from near and far.
Hit up a cantina
Enjoy an artisanal mezcal or a local beer at one of Mérida’s traditional cantinas, now transformed into lively hotspots with fading Talavera tile floors, crumbling stone walls, and breezy courtyards. The air is filled with live music on most nights, and each round brings enhanced botanas (snacks). Popular spots to check include La Negrita, Pipiripau Bar, and La Fundación Mezcalería.
Get serenaded by street musicians
Once a stagecoach stop, the picturesque Parque Santa Lucía is surrounded by arcades that are now home to some of the finest restaurants in Mérida, their tables spilling out onto the lush plaza. Every Thursday evening, treat yourself to a gourmet Yucatecan meal and a creative cocktail while enjoying Serenatas Yucatecas, a city-sponsored concert featuring trova (traditional folk music) on an outdoor stage. This long-standing event, started in 1965, attracts hundreds every week, so arrive early for a good table.
Learn about the ancient Maya
Situated in the heart of the Maya world, Mérida naturally hosts exceptional archaeological museums – must-visits for anyone interested in the region’s history. The Gran Museo del Mundo Maya is a prominent museum with multimedia exhibits about both ancient and modern Maya culture, featuring over 1,100 well-preserved artifacts, including intricately painted ceramics, ceremonial pieces, and detailed sculptures. The building’s unique tree-like design reflects the sacred ceiba tree of Maya tradition. Additionally, on weekend evenings, a Maya-themed light-and-sound show is projected onto the museum’s exterior walls for viewers to enjoy.
Explore Maya ruins
Just 50 miles (80km) south of Mérida is the Ruta Puuc, a driving itinerary connecting five unique Maya ruins: Labná, Xlapak, Sayil, Kabah, and Uxmal. This popular day trip can be accessed by rental car, bus, or organized tour; staying overnight in the village of Santa Elena allows for a more leisurely exploration of each site. Each of these ancient locations is celebrated for its unique Puuc-style architecture, especially Uxmal, boasting magnificent temples and astonishing facades adorned with animal-form deities. In the evenings, a mesmerizing light-and-sound show is projected onto Uxmal’s prominent structures.
Watch a flaming ball game
Few places in the world allow you to witness pok ta pok, the ancient Maya ball game. Every Wednesday evening in front of Mérida’s Catedral de San Ildefonso, the city hosts a riveting re-enactment of this historical sport – sans human sacrifice. Players, adorned in body paint and loin cloths, use only their hips to propel a solid rubber ball weighing up to 9 pounds through elevated stone hoops. Notably, these balls are lit on fire as the crowd cheers, making this event a spectacle well worth witnessing. Players often linger after the show for photos with fans.
Dance under the stars
On Tuesday evenings, follow the vibrant sounds of big-band music to Parque Santiago, located just west of the historic center. Here, you can join the joyful outdoor dance party known as Rembranzas Musicales, where locals twirl to the Cuban-inspired rhythms of danzón and salsa. When musicians take a break, take a seat at one of the surrounding restaurants, most of which specialize in local favorites such as panuchos (stuffed fried tortillas), salbutes (deep-fried tortillas topped with various goodies), and refreshing aguas frescas (fruit-based drinks).
Cool off in a cenote (or three)
Dedicate a full morning to visiting the Cenotes de Cuzumál, arguably the most stunning of the numerous cenotes around Mérida. This series of three limestone sinkholes features crystal-clear freshwater pools found deep underground, adorned with stalactites hanging from the cave ceilings and rope-like tree roots reaching down to the inviting waters. At midday, ethereal shafts of light further enhance the breathtaking scene. Upon arrival at the site, once an old henequen plantation, visitors are transported by horse-drawn trukes (rail carts) to the entrances of the cenotes, providing a fun ride through lush fields. Be sure to bring your swimsuit and exercise caution when descending the ladders, as they can be slippery.
Float among flamingos
Even if you’re not an avid birdwatcher, witnessing thousands of pink flamingos feeding and displaying their elegant forms will leave you in awe. Reserva de la Biósfera Ría Celestún, located 60 miles (96km) west of Mérida, is home to one of the world’s largest colonies of American flamingos – the most sizeable and vibrant of the species. Although boat tours are available year-round, flamingo populations surge to over 35,000 between November and March during the mating season. If you’re traveling on a budget, coordinating a boat share with other visitors is quite manageable.
Wander through the market
For an authentic slice of local life, meander through Mérida’s primary market – Mercado Municipal Lucas de Gálvez. This substantial, warehouse-like structure is bursting with colors and aromas, showcasing neat piles of tropical fruits, buckets of vibrant flowers, hanging animal parts, and stalls overflowing with religious icons. For affordable meals, venture to the second floor, where traditional comidas corridas (two-course lunches accompanied by a drink) are served at friendly local eateries.
Buy folk art
As the largest city in the region, Mérida serves as a hub for exquisite Yucatecan crafts, including linen guayaberas, colorful hammocks, handcrafted jewelry, and jars of artisanal honey. For those who enjoy browsing, upscale boutiques and sidewalk markets line almost every block in the historic center. For one-stop shopping, visit the state-run Casa de las Artesanías, a brick-and-mortar store featuring the creations of some of the finest local artisans; prices are fixed and reasonable.
Stroll along Mérida’s most elegant boulevard
The grandest of Mérida’s avenues, Paseo de Montejo is a broad, tree-lined boulevard designed to evoke the charm of Paris’s Champs-Élysées. This avenue is adorned with 19th-century mansions that highlight the strong architectural and social influence of Europe on the city, as well as the remarkable wealth of Mérida’s former henequen barons. Today, many homes house fine restaurants, boutique hotels, upscale shops, and museums. Join the locals for a late-afternoon walk along the avenue, stopping into the Casa Museo Montes Molina or Palacio Cantón, concluding your journey with a meal at Ku’uk, and experience what life might have been like for the upper class during Mérida’s most refined era.
Lie out on the beach
If you’re craving a beach getaway, follow the locals to Progreso, a quick 21-mile (33km) bus ride north. There, you’ll discover a relaxed beach town featuring a broad stretch of soft, tawny sand, sprinkled with palapa shades next to a winding malecón (boardwalk). Calm days offer emerald waters and refreshing ocean breezes; during winter, strong northerly winds may cloud the water, adding a lively scene of kiteboarders flipping and flying in the distance. To experience a festive atmosphere, visit on a summer weekend, when beachfront eateries and bars buzz with sun-seeking locals.
Mérida is on our 2022 Best of Travel list. For more insights from some of the world’s most exciting destinations, feel free to explore.
Safety recommendations and restrictions during a pandemic can change rapidly. It is advisable for travelers to check with local authorities for the most current guidance before traveling during Covid-19.
