Coming to the vibrant city, Mérida, Mexico for a vacation and wondering what there is to do there; how long you need in the Mexican city; and if Mérida is even safe? These are all normal questions to ask yourself (and Google) when planning your vacation and I’m glad to be able to help answer them for you.

Maybe you’ve heard about the cenotes in Yucátan, or you’re excited to visit the Maya ruins that are so easily accessible from Mérida, or maybe you quite fancy a vacation that’s a perfect blend of beach and culture.

Mérida, I promise you, is an excellent vacation choice. I’m excited to help you figure out your plans in the place I have been lucky enough to live for six years.

❓ Are you wondering whether to visit Mérida or Valladolid on your trip around Yucatán?

_{There are affiliate links in this article. If you click and make a purchase I could make a small sum at zero cost to you. Thank you!}

This is a long article but in case you’re in a rush and are mainly looking for my top hotel picks, here they are:

#1 Quirky Hotel: Casa San Ángel ➡️ Check rates and availability now

#1 Eco Hotel Kuka Y Naranjo ➡️ Check rates and availability now

#1 Hostel Che Nomadas ➡️ Check rates and availability now

Who better to help you figure out what you’re going to do in Mérida, Mexico than the original Mérida blogger who wrote two books about the area (Moving to Mérida and a Yucatán Guidebook) and who wrote for the famous Yucátan Today travel magazine for years?

Let’s answer those immediate questions first:

How Long Do You Need in Mérida, Mexico?

⏳ That depends on how long you have. I lived in Mérida for six years and was never bored. Whatever you can manage is going to be just fine, but be sure you’ll never be short of things to do in Merida.

⏳ While I definitely think that more time is better, even 24 hours in Mérida gives you a good chance to see quite a lot, if you plan your time well.

⏳ In one weekend you could visit the local markets, stroll around Mérida Centro, enjoy some culture and see a museum.

⏳ If you can spend a week or longer in Mérida then you would have ample opportunity to get to the beach, to visit a cenote, see a ruin or two and even take day trips to see the flamingos or pink salt lakes. Road trips from Mérida are also always worth considering.

Is Mérida, Mexico Safe?

🇲🇽 Mérida is one of the safest cities in Mexico. It was ranked by CEOWorld Magazine as the second safest city in North America after Quebec City. In 2022, Condé Nast Traveler Magazine readers voted Mérida the fourth best city in the world and Forbes also ranks Mérida as one of the best Mexican cities to live in.

🇲🇽 Yucatán is one of two Mexican states for which the US almost never issues safety warnings.

🇲🇽 There’s very little petty crime in Mérida compared to big cities around the world.

🇲🇽 My advice when visiting any Mexican destination is to be respectful of local laws. Don’t do anything illegal and you’ll be fine.

🇲🇽 Police corruption in Mérida is almost unheard of. If you’re stopped by the police at any point, be polite, and don’t worry about being exhorted as it really is an extremely rare occurrence here.

🇲🇽 When crossing the road, always look both ways, even when it’s a one-way street and never assume pedestrians have the right of way, even at crossings.

➡️ Read more about safety in Yucatan

Why Do People Want to Visit Mérida, Mexico?

People visit Mérida, Mexico for many reasons including its excellent location.

🧭 Mérida is located in the north west of the Yucatan Peninsula. It is the capital city of the state of Yucatán (to be clear, the Yucatán Peninsula is made of three states: Yucatán, Campeche and Quintana Roo).

🚗 The city of Mérida has good roads linking it to Valladolid, Campeche, the coast and even Cancun.

🚂 As of early 2024, Mérida is visitable as part of your Maya Train adventure around the Yucatan Peninsula.

✈️ It is also easily accessible from the US, Canada and CDMX thanks to the newly renovated airport in the south of Mérida.

🧭 Mérida is a beautiful, old colonial city with every modern convenience holidaymakers might need. It is fast gaining a reputation as a foodie city, there are good bars, numerous museums and the city of Mérida is the only city in the Americas to have been named City of Culture in the Americas more than once.

🧭 Locals are extremely friendly, and are happy to help when visitors don’t speak Spanish.

🧭 There is so much to do in and around Mérida, Mexico. The beaches are beautiful and untainted by mass tourism; the Mayan ruins are plentiful and the cenotes are incredible natural wonders to behold.

What to do in Mérida, Mexico

Free Things to Do and Cultural Events in Mérida, Mexico

🆓 Free Walking Tour of Mérida

Mérida’s historic centre is the second largest in Mexico and its streets are ideal for walking. Mérida City Council provides free Merida walking tours with a local guide(each tour takes about ninety minutes) daily Monday to Saturday at 9.30 am and 5 pm.

Insider Knowledge: make sure you are prompt and show up at the tourist information office on the Plaza Grande at least fifteen minutes early, since each tour takes just twenty-five people.

🆓 Pok ta Pok Demonstration

Pok Ta Pok is the ball game that the ancient Maya played to thank the gods for a good harvest and ask for their protection. The name of the game comes from the curious sound that the ball produced against the floors and walls of the courts, or when the players hit it with their forearms or with their hips, depending on the type of game.

You can watch an exact representation of this game every Saturday at 8 pm right at the Atrium of the Cathedral of San Ildefonso on the Plaza Grande.

🆓 Free Traditional Music And Dancing Demonstrations

There are free music and dancing demonstrations every week week in Merida’s Centro as part of the ayuntamiento’s (local council’s) free evening events.

📌 Monday:  Vaqueria. Plaza Grande 8.30 pm.  Watch a local dance troupe perform traditional dances and enjoy the witty poetry that is interspersed with the dancing.

📌 Tuesday: Remembranzas Musicales. Plaza Santiago 8.30 pm. Everyone, old, young, local, visitor, everyone just piles onto the dance floor and enjoys dancing to the live band.

📌 Tuesday: Trova: Centro Cultural Olimpio. 8 pm. (A trova is a form of romantic musical composition)

📌 Thursday: Serenata de Santa Lucia. Parque Santa Lucia, 9 pm. This is extremely popular so either book a table at a restaurant on the square or get there early.

📌 Saturday: Noche Mexicana. Remate de Paseo Montejo. 8 -10 pm. Musical Demonstrations and stalls. Between the Remate and Plaza Grande, the roads are closed to vehicles and there are markets and stalls open.

🆓 Video Mapping 

📌 Wednesday: Dialogos del Conquistador. Museo Casa Montejo. 8 pm. This is part video mapping, part theatrical performance at the house of the Spanish Conquistadors, the Montejo family.

📌 Friday: Peidras Sagradas. Catedral, Plaza Grande. 8 pm. Be sure to show up early to get a good view of this incredible show that is beamed onto the cathedral.

📌 During the monthly Nocturnal Bici-Ruta, the Glorieta de la Patria is lit up with video mapping technology.

🆓 Visit the Mérida Cementerio General

I find walking through cemeteries to be both relaxing and fascinating. It’s also a great way to learn about a society and culture. I highly recommend checking out the main cemetery in Merida on your own.

There is a Wednesday night tour of the cemetery but it’s all in Spanish so take along a Spanish speaking friend if you don’t speak Spanish and want to know what’s going on.

If you’re in Mérida in October / November, be sure to read up about Hanal Pixán, the Maya equivalent of Día de los Muertos.

🆓 Lucas de Galvez Market

Merida’s main market is a veritable maze of wonder. I love heading down here for a morning of exploration. Let yourself get lost in this enormous market, try new foods, soak in the ambiance and definitely don’t miss the coconut sellers!

🆓 Murals: Head upstairs in Palacio de Gobierno on the Plaza Grande to see amazing murals telling Yucatan’s history. Every town in Mexico has a Palacio and I’ve never yet found one that didn’t have fabulous murals. You could also keep an eye out for incredible street-art when walking around Mérida.

🆓 Biciruta: By Sunday morning even more of the city is shut down to motorised vehicles to allow pedestrians, cyclists, skateboarders and others to enjoy the city safely. From Montejo all the way to La Ermita you can explore on foot, or on a bicycle (you can hire bikes on Montejo, for adults, kids and groups).

➕ If you’re exploring Mérida with children, you could use this scavenger hunt to make it more fun for them.

What to Do in Merida, Mexico – by area

Mérida: Centro Historico

Plaza Grande

📍 Catedral de San Ildelfonso – one of the oldest cathedrals in the Americas, it was built in the 16th century using stone plundered from the ancient Mayan city of Th’o

📍Palacio de Gobierno and Murals – as in most cities in Mexico, the palacio is adorned with murals explaining the region’s history

📍Centro Cultural Olimpio – free events here, also tourist information

📍Casa Montejo – the oldest colonial building in Mérida, it is now a free musuem

📍Mérida letters – take a photo with the city letters

Insider Knowledge: Head upstairs in Palacio Municipal to take photos over the plaza and city letters

📍 Sunday market

📍 El Trebol Bazar – a collection of handicraft stores and a giant traditional bench for all your Instagram needs

📍Enjoy a drink on the rooftop bar of Restaurante Picheta

📍Have an ice cream at Colón and watch the world go by in this gorgeous location of the oldest ice cream store in Mérida

Insider Knowledge: From Plaza Grande, walk down Calle 62. One block down (calle 65) is the excellent Cielo Hamacas. I’ve bought every single one of my hammocks here. They ship if you can’t carry. Keep walking down to Parque San Juan, cross the park onto Calle 64. From here walk down Calle 64a. This is one of my most favourite walks in the whole of Mérida because the streets are small and the houses beautiful. Keep walking until you reach Parque de la Ermita.

Mérida Centro Historico: Other Plazas

📍 Parque Santa Lucía – very popular for its restaurants and the Wednesday performances. The giant “tu y yo” chairs are here. These chairs are also called Sillas Confidantes, and Kissing Chairs. Everyone loves to have their photos taken with the chairs. You’ll find regular sized chairs across the state but these are the only giant ones

📍 Parque Santa Ana – this pleasant square has a good market, is surrounded by some of the oldest souvenir stores in town and is often host to tianguis markets from across the country

📍 Parque Hidalgo – if you stop here be sure to look inside the gorgeous Hotel Caribe and Gran Hotel. The fairly new Music Museum, Palacio de la Música is just off to the side of this plaza on Calle 59

📍 Parque de la Madre – opposite is the famous UADY university building and to one side is the Teatro José Peón Contreras (Mérida’s famous opera house)

📍Parque de la Ermita – if the Botanical Gardens behind the church are open this is a nice place to stroll around for a few minutes

📍 Parque de la Mejorada – two of the three city arches are found near here as is the Musel de Arte Popular de Yucatan (in late 2023 it closed for renovation)

Mérida: Paseo Montejo

📍 Begin at the Remate – check out Hotel Casa San Angel

📍On the right is Calle 47, home to some of the best restaurants in Mérida including Catrín, Micaela Y Leña and Anima.

📍 Eat at Cafeteria Impala, one of Mérida oldest and most iconic restaurants

📍Visit the museums on Paseo Montejo: Casa de Gemelos / Casa 495, Chocolate Museum, Museo de Antroplogia e Historia, Quinta Montes Molina

📍Have an ice cream at Sorbeteria Colón or a cold beer at Hennesy’s Pub and watch the world go by

📍Wonder why there’s a giant zebra on the street and then go insde the shop attached to it – Galerias Triumfal to gawp at the fascinating array of items soldthere

📍Enjoy a weekend jazz brunch at the iconic Rosas & Xocoloate hotel

📍 Try posh in the Poshería

📍Take an electric cart ride around the city

📍 Walk up to the Monumento a la Patria and have your photo taken on this famous Mayan roundabout. There are smaller Mérida city letters just in front of it for some good photo opportunities.

🐾 Find out which cafes in Mérida will welcome your fur baby here

Insider Knowledge: Also at this roundabout are Pan Montejo Matriz, a very popular traditional bakery and Kuuk, one of Mérida’s first Michelin-star restaurants. I’ve eaten at Kuuk twice and at the bakery many times.

What to see in Mérida (other)

📍In the north of Mérida, by Costco (check out the cenote in the car park if you’re up here) is El Gran Museo del Mundo Maya, one of the most eminent museums in the city

📍 Next door to Lucas del Galvez market is the Mérida City Museum

📍 Don’t miss the Gastronomy Museum for an informative and tasty view of Mérida’s history.

📍Parque Las Americas in Garcia Gineres is a four-block park with interesting historical points to see.

Mérida: Quirky Mérida

📍Noches De Leyenda 

Take an interactive an historical walking our through the streets of Mérida.I believe the tour is available on Friday and Saturday nights at 8.40pm. Tickets cost $300 pesos for adults (less for nationals) and the tour is only in Spanish. Book through Facebook or via WhatsApp 9991291502

📍Maquech Beetles

When you’re strolling around centro, look out for the bejewelled beetles in little fish tanks. Yup.

📍Paranormal Museum

This museum in the east of the city is a fascinating gem of a spot. Learn all about the spooky side of Mexico here.

📍Slow Food Market

The Saturday morning market may not truly be ‘quirky’ but it’s still interesting and is very much where locals and expats go to chill, buy interesting food and meet friends. There are also some good cafes in this area.

Address: Calle 33D off Calle 72 (Avenida Reforma)

📍 Evening Tour of the Cemetery

Every Wednesday at 8 pm, people gather to take a walking tour of the main cemetery. This is yet another of the fantastic events put on by the local government. The tour is free and lasts around an hour. Meet at the corner of calle 89A/Calle 66. – NOTE that in 2023 I haven’t been able to verify that this is still operational. Ask in your hotel.

Kid Activities  in Mérida

📍 For a full rundown of all the activities for kids in Mérida, you’ll need to read my article about fun for kids in Mérida. We have trampoline parks, ice-skating, bowling, adventure parks, evening playgrounds, zoo-parks and so much more.

📍The beaches within reach of Mérida are also some of the most family friendly beaches in all of Mexico.

⭐️ Wherever you’re going in Mexico with kids, our packing list for Mexico with kids will come in handy.

IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN KNOWING  MORE ABOUT MOVING TO MÉRIDA, YOU WILL FIND MY BEST SELLING BOOK EXTREMELY  USEFUL.

Best Merida Day Trips

Merida is a fabulous location if you are planning on exploring the Yucatan. There are good roads in every direction. I have written extensively about day trips from Merida so I will just include the highlights here.

📍 If you’re interested in archaeological sites near Merida then you have the pick of a dozen or so all within easy reach of the city. Read here for detailed info to help you pick. Remember, the Maya built far more than just Chichén Itzá (although it does, of course, sit at #1 on the list of top 10 ruins to visit on the Yucatán Peninsula)

📍 If you want to visit cenotes near Merida, click here for detailed descriptions of the best cenotes near Merida (including which has an elevator for people with reduced mobility). There’s really nothing like swimming in a cenote on a hot day. If you’re looking for a cenote to visit after a trip to Chichén Itzá, then take a peek here.

📍If you don’t have a car, you could take a tour to visit cenotes. Check out my 2023 cenote tour recommendations here

📍The Costa Esmeralda (Emerald Coast), as the Yucatán Gulf of Mexico coast is called, is just gorgeous. The best beaches near Merida are not spoiled by mass tourism, they are gentle and offer a great deal of fun for everyone.

📍 Celestun: People tend to head to Celestun to take a boat trip to see the flamingos on the ría. This is easily done as a day trip, either driving yourself or by taking a tour.  

📍 Izamal: It’s well worth leaving the famous ‘White City’ to visit the pueblo magico ‘Yellow City’ of Izamal, located halfway between Merida and Valladolid. It’s a perfect day trip or overnighter as the small city of Izamal has plenty to see and do for visitors including the famous convent and Maya archaeological sites. It’s possible to drive or to take public transport to Izamal from Merida but there are plenty of Izamal tours available too.

📍 Valladolid: Valladolid is the second-largest city in Yucatán and it’s a great place to base yourself in order to explore the east of the state, or you can visit for a  day or two from Mérida. It’s a lovely, gentle town with plenty of cultural activities and outdoor excursions on offer.

📍 Haciendas: In Yucatan these old plantations are no longer producing henequen but instead tend to be beautifully restored hotels, restaurants, and places of interest. Some still have the old henequen machines lying around for you to see. Sotuta de Peon Hacienda has a fabulous tour that I highly recommend.

📍There are seven pueblos magicos (magical towns) in the state of Yucatán and all are easily reached from Mérida.

Where To Eat In Merida

Merida has become a foodie city, there’s no doubt about that. If you read magazines such as Style and Leisure or Fodor’s you might dismiss Merida as being a city for the wealthy and super cool, somewhere eating out will break the bank or make you feel unworthy for not being a super woke hipster from New York with your own private jet.

Oh, my friends, no no no. Merida has something for everyone. Yes, if you are searching for exclusive fine dining in Merida, you can find it, for sure, but if you’re after a little more low-key and casual or even low-key elegance, you’ll also be able to eat extremely well in Merida. (And, sssshhhh, but honestly, some of the restaurant names you’ll see chucked around aren’t actually nearly as good as people claim. I’ve eaten in some very ‘nice’ places and been left underwhelmed and substantially poorer for it)

Breakfast in Mérida

🌮 Wayan’é in Itzimna is the best breakfast taco spot in the whole of Mérida. Get there early to ensure you don’t miss out.

🌮 Te Extraño Extraño – modern takes on traditional breakfasts such as chilaquiles.

🌮 Cuna – a gorgeous restaurant in a beautiful hotel. Perfect for a relaxed breakfast with friends.

Main Meals in Mérida

I don’t want to split lunch and supper here because, of course, people eat their main meals at different times of the day. As noted above, Calle 47 has become something of a foodie street

🌯 Mexican with a Twist: Catrín where traditional Mexican food with a twist is the name of the game. Make sure you a) order a good tequila, the staff really know what they’re doing, and b) try to sit outside if you go for an evening meal, you’ll know why when you do it. Then write to me and tell me I was super super right!

🌯 Coolest Place in Town: Anima – incredible quality food and cocktails in a reasonably priced restaurant. Note, this is the hottest new place in Mérida for 2023.

🌯 Traditional Yucatecan: Chaya Maya – note that there are two Chaya Maya restaurants, locals all swear that the older of the two is better. Tourists are generally directed to the newer and fancier one.

Insider Knowledge: When locals want fancy traditional food such as cochinita pibil, they go to Pueblo Pibil in Tixkokob. It’s good. The menu is small, it’s all very traditional but done very, very well. I recommend booking here. And take an uber so you can drink

🌯 As seen on Netflix: Manjar Blanco – I ate here years before it was featured on the Taco Chronicles because anyone who knows food and Mérida knows Manjar Blanco is one of the top spots in Mérida. Try the cochinita pibil.

🌯 Super kid friendly: Los Trompos or Pollo Feliz Both serve perfectly decent food (Los Trompos is traditional Yucatecan food and Pollo Feliz serves rotisserie chicken) and alcohol. Both are chain restaurants so it’s worth checking out on a map to see which have children’s play spaces because, while most do, some don’t.

🌯 Street Food: Street food in Mérida is plentiful. Check my article dedicated to it here.

🌯 Asian: Good Asian food can be hard to find in Merida. For sushi that isn’t cheap salmon smothered in cream cheese, the my long-time favourite is Miyabi (three locations across the city) where the fish is fresh and the quality is high.

🌯 Outdoor Food Courts: Mercado 60 or Paseo 60 – both have outdoor dining and good live music.

Best Places To Drink In Merida

🍸 La Negrita

🍸 Casa Chica

🍸 Hermana Republica

🍸 La Fundacion Mezcalaria was voted one of the best bars in the world at one time

🍸 Malahat – a speakeasy on Parque Santa Lucia. You have to know where it is to find it!

🍸Salón Gallos – very cool bar set in a large, disused factory

Where to Stay In Merida

Mérida has an enormous number of hotels and Airbnb options for visitors to the city. There is truly something for every budget from hostel to luxury hacienda. Find my three favourite hotel suggestions below the interactive hotel map.

🐾 If you’re hoping for a pet-friendly hotel in Mérida, know that there are a surprisingly good number to choose from.

Important Dates and Festivals in Merida

🎡 Carnaval In Merida

Every February the city, like the rest of Mexico, hosts its own carnaval. Merida’s carnaval is mainly held out of town at the dedicated city fairground though the children’s parade remains in centro.There are free buses to and from the fairground.

🏝 Spring Break in Mérida

While Mérida isn’t really a “spring break destination”, there’s really no real reason for this. Spring break doesn’t have to mean parties and sex (although it can if that’s what you’re looking for). It can be culture, history and adventure too. I say, Yucatán and Mérida make a perfect spring break destination.

💀 Hanal Pixan In Merida

Hanal Pixan is the Maya name for ‘Día de Muertos‘, or ‘Day of the Dead’. It literally means ‘feeding the spirits’. It is celebrated overOctober 31 – November 2 but there are events in the lead up throughout October too.

In Merida, you can visit the plaza grande to check out the annual altar competition, watch a traditional retelling of the Hanal Pixan story in dance at an evening trova, visit the cemetery along with the whole city and then dance, explore, and drink until the wee hours with everyone else on the traditional Paseo de las Animas from the cemetery back to the centre of town

Note: It can be hard to pin down the dates for specific events as they often aren’t announced until just before Hanal Pixan but it’s probably safe to assume most events will be in the last ten days of October / first two days of November.

➡️ Read more about Hanal Pixan in Mérida

🐖 Chicharra Festival (Feria de la Chicharra, Xcalachén)

This is truly my personal favourite festival in Merida and it isn’t one many non-locals go to. Chicharra and castacan are basically pork belly and pork-scratchings so twice a year Merida holds a pork festival. Yum yum. It’s held in the south of the city in the traditional castacan cooking area. It’s also worth a trip to this part of town to check out the fabulous street art down here.

You’ll need to keep your ears to the ground for this one as it isn’t really for visitors but it’s well worth a visit for delicious local treats. It’s generally held in June and November.

🎊 Merida Fest

Most of January is taken up with the Merida Fest. This is essentially a month-long birthday party for the city. There are hundreds of events that take place throughout this period, mostly free. Just be aware that the city is busy at this time as locals come out in droves to have fun and enjoy the party too.

🌸 Camino de las Flores, Parque de la Paz (Mejorada)

This recent addition to Merida’s arsenal of festivals has proved so popular that it’s now held twice a year. The first display is generally around the end of April and the second in October. It’s worth checking dates as, of course, this can change.

🎢 Yucatan State Fair

Every November, the state of Yucatan holds its annual fair down at the state fairground. As with the carnaval, there is free public transportation to take people to and from the fairground.

If you’re interested in local livestock, shows, fairgrounds, shops and just generally having a fabulous day out with local people, I couldn’t recommend this more highly.

Don’t forget to purchase travel insurance before your trip. Hopefully, nothing will go wrong but you never know when transport will fail or you’ll turn an ankle. Be prepared!

Where to Find the Best Best Souvenirs in Mérida

Centro: Most visitors to Merida are going to do their shopping in centro. Here you’ll be able to find all the usual souvenir goodies. My personal favourite shops in Centro are:

🛍 TAGS – corner of calle 49 and 58. Stop in here for some fabulous, locally made espadrilles. You’ll look super cool, be amazed at how reasonably priced they are and you’ll be supporting a local business.

🛍 Casa de las Artesanias (Parque Santa Ana)

🛍 Between The Lines (Calle 62, x51y53) – a stunningly beautiful English language bookstore that you really can’t miss

🛍 Ki Xocolatl on Parque Santa Lucia for the best chocolate in Merida

🛍 Calle 55 down from Santa Lucia has a few nice souvenir shops

🛍 By Lucas de Galvez market and behind the Museo de la Ciudad is a row of interesting little shops selling good souvenirs. Here you’ll find traditional Yucatecan shirts for everyone for a fraction of the price of the tourist shops. They’re not hand made but they are the ones many locals are wearing and they’re much more affordable.

🛍 Around Parque Santiago there are numerous small art galleries that are interesting to explore – walk here from calle 55 and you’ll walk past the famous Coqui Coqui that you may have seen mentioned in so many of the articles designed to entice you to Merida

🛍 Casa T’ho on Paseo de Montejo. This is essentially an extremely upmarket souvenir shop. Again, it gets mentioned in all the upmarket magazine articles about Merida.

How To Stay Cool In Merida

Of course, if you’re coming to enjoy Merida you need to remember that for at least three…ummm four…maybe five months of the year it’s hotter than the inside of a furnace. I don’t recommend staying anywhere that doesn’t have a swimming pool and A.C. if you visit Merida between April and October. Even the rest of the year can be brutally hot for people who aren’t used to the heat. Basic (and hopefully obvious) tips for staying cool / alive in Merida:

☀️ Walk in the shade

☀️ Carry water

☀️ Expect to stop for refreshing sorbets or paletas regularly

☀️ Don’t force yourself to be out all day long, the heat in the middle of the day keeps most people inside

☀️ Wear light clothes

Frequently Asked Questions Mérida