Over the years of living in Mérida, México, I’ve noticed a rhythm of life, shaped by the tropical climate, that if you get in sync with, makes the day go more smoothly. If you follow the locals, you can avoid getting caught in the midday heat or wondering why no one’s around when you go to the park.

To get the most out of your 24 hours in Mérida, you’ve come to the right place! Besides telling you all my favorite things to do in the White City, I’ll give you some practical tips that will help you plan your perfect 24 hour Mérida itinerary.

You will be amazed by how much fun you can pack into just one day (and even have time for a siesta)!

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Transport in/around Mérida

✈️ If you’re using Mérida’s airport, book easy transfers so you’re not worrying about booking cabs last minute and can make the most of your short time in Mérida.

🚂 If you’re coming into Mérida as part of a tour around the Yucatán Peninsula on the Maya Train, be sure to make the most of your time and book transfers or read up on the buses that travel between the train station and Mérida.

🛳 If you have 1 day to explore Mérida when stopping in Progreso on a cruise, you can either book a tour of Mérida or book transfers and use this article to plan your own day.

How to spend 24 hours in Merida

In the morning, the sun is up but it’s not yet too hot to explore. This is the best time to go on an outdoor adventure!

Coffee and breakfast

☕️ We recommend Marago Coffee, Pan & Koffee, or Manifesto: Casa Tostadora Calabres for excellent coffee options in Mérida Centro.

🌮 If you’re already in the mood to sample Yucatecan food, try one of the traditional breakfast dishes at Manjar Blanco, Cafetería Pop (known for their huevos motuleños), or Chilakilez Morning Food & Treats (known for their chilaquiles).

My personal favorite for curbing morning hunger is Wa’ayne. This is one of the best places for breakfast tacos. They’ve been around for years and serve delicious tortas and tacos for the morning crowd.

➡️ Use this article that explains traditional Mexican breakfasts to ensure you begin your 24 hours in Mérida with a happy tummy.

After breakfast you have a number of great activity options – let’s run through a few:

Visit a Mayan Ruin

While there are plenty of things to see and do within the city of Mérida, part of the city’s incredible history and draw for visitors lies in the Maya ruins surrounding it.

Several archaeological sites are close enough to Mérida to make for an easy day trip. The best way to explore a Mayan ruin is to get there early (they open at 9am), and walk the extensive site during the cooler part of the day.

➡️ Read more about the Maya ruins near Mérida

Explore the historic center of Mérida 

Early mornings are also the best time to walk around the historic center of Mérida and avoid the heat. The heart of Mérida is rich with history and iconic buildings and landmarks make sightseeing here a must.

⭐️ The city provides limited spaces on a free walking tour every morning except Sundays, beginning in Plaza Grande at 9:30am (meet the tour guide at the Tourist Information Office located at the bottom floor of the Palacio Municipal). If there are no free spaces left, we recommend booking yourself on a morning walking tour of Mérida.

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

Plaza Grande

From Plaza Grande you will discover several historic buildings around the main square that are open for you to epxlore. Experience the architecture inside the enormous Catedral de San Idelfonso (the Merida Cathedral), and the large murals reflecting the history of Yucatan inside the Palacio de Gobierno and Palacio Municipal.

If you are lucky, you will be here on a Sunday for “Merida en Domingo”, when the streets around the main square are closed to traffic and bustling with artisans, food stands and activities.

Paseo de Montejo

Paseo de Montejo is another great place to sightsee and enjoy the city of Mérida. Beautiful mansions such as the Palacio Cantón, Quinta Montes Molina and the two Casas Gemelas were built in the early 1900s as homes for local hacienda owners. Today they are part of the large number of excellent museums in Mérida.

Along the center of the avenue are roundabouts featuring historic monuments such as the Monumento a la Patria, a hand-carved landmark with hundreds of figures that tell the story of México.

🚴🏼‍♀️ On Sunday Mornings, one side of the avenue is closed to traffic so that locals and visitors alike can rent bicycles and take a leisurely ride through the downtown.

Local Markets and Souvenir Shopping

Mérida is home to several markets full of fresh food and places to sit and enjoy a local snack, as well as street vendors and artisan shops that will catch your eye for souvenir shopping.

If you’re in the mood to find some things to take back home, the Lucas de Gálvez market is a great place to visit because not only is it the city’s main market but the newly renovated upstairs area has vendors selling traditional products such as huipiles, baskets, and hats.

Another great option is the stores just north of the main square (Calle 62 x 59 y 61) that carry many cute and colorful products from other regions of Mexico including Chiapas. 

For something more upscale, check out the stores along Calle 55 x 60 y 64 (and pick up some pure Mexican chocolate bars from Ki’Xocalatl while you’re there). Hotel Casa San Angel and Casa T’ho Concept House on Paseo Montejo both have beautiful gift shops and are your best option for high-quality Mexican products.

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Best ways to beat the midday heat

Between 11 am and 4 pm, it is usually too hot to be walking around outside. But that’s not a problem, because there is still lots to do around Mérida that will also help keep you cool!

Get in the water

A nice swim in the hotel pool is be a fabulous way to beat the midday heat. But, if you’re looking to experience as much of Mérida and the surrounding Yucatán countryside as you can in 24 hours, here are some great alternatives.

Cenotes 

The cenote is a marvel of the Yucatán Peninsula. It is kind of like a pool, only naturally fresh and a thousand times more enchanting.

Handily, there are many cenotes within easy reach of Mérida. Some cenotes are entirely open while others are deep below the ground in caves and can be accessed only by staircases carved into the rock.

➡️ Read more about the 15 best cenotes to visit from Mérida

➡️ Pick from the best cenote tours from Mérida

➡️ Best cenotes for kids and nervous swimmers

Beaches

The breezy Gulf of Mexico shore is less than an hour’s drive from Mérida’s Centro. You can go to the nearby coastal town of Progreso, have lunch on the beach, and be back in just a few hours.

Or, you can go further out to a more remote beach village and enjoy the ocean until the sun goes down.

➡️ Read more about the best beaches in Yucatán

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Enjoy an Indoor Activity

Explore a Museum

This is a great time of day to learn about Mexican history (did someone say air conditioning?). If you love learning about the ancient Maya world and want to explore Maya culture, Gran Museo del Mundo Maya is worth visiting. On weekends they offer free kids workshops at 11 am that can be registered for online.

Music lovers will enjoy Palacio de la Música, where you can learn about the history of Mexican music via high-tech interactive displays.

➡️ Read more about the diverse collection of museums in Mérida

Enjoy Yucatecan Cuisine

There are so many great restaurants in Mérida, but if you are only here for a day then you must try one of the famous regional dishes such as cochinita pibil, poc chuc or sopa de lima.

🌮 Great spots for ordering Yucatecan food are Manjar Blanco, La Chaya Maya, Museo de la Gastronomia Yucateca, and the market restaurants.

If you’re visiting Mérida with young kids, try Los Trompos, Mérida’s beloved taco chain that has monitored indoor playgrounds in almost every branch. If you want a fine dining experience, try eating the best Yucatecan cuisine at Kuuk.

Visit an Ice-Cream Parlour 

🍨 Ice-cream is the most delicious way to beat the heat! It’s also how locals love to relax when it’s hot.

Have you ever tried flavors such as strawberry & x’catik chili, roasted corn & chocolate achiote, or even pork & beans? Well this is your chance! Pola Gelato Shop offers all of these flavors and more.

For the more traditional Yucatecan fruit cream sorbets, try Dulceria y Sorbeteria Colon or Helados El Principal.

Take a Siesta

A siesta is a great way to spend a part of your afternoon! With everything that is still yet to happen in the city, you won’t want to go to bed early. Hang a hammock, take a nap, and freshen up because the best part of the day is about to begin!

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Late Afternoon in Mérida

During the golden hours either side of dusk you will want to be outside to experience the city. These are the best hours to enjoy the vibrant local life as everyone comes out and gathers in the parks and squares. Go see for yourself how magical Mérida feels in the evenings! 

Stroll around centro & Paseo de Montejo 

After years of living in Mérida, taking a stroll down Paseo de Montejo is still one of my favorite things to around dusk. There is something so special about being on this street in the evening. It is the perfect place to eat a marquesita or esquite from one of the street food stalls, wander into boutiques, or simply watch passers-by.

If you’re interested in the history of the beautiful buildings, take a free guided tour any evening except Sundays at 6:30pm (meet the tour guide at the Tourist Information Office on the corner of Paseo de Montejo and Avenida Colón).

Enjoy outdoor dining 

If you want to continue savoring the outdoor ambiance over dinner, there are a few great spots around Centro that really stand out. For the most traditional experience, Parque Santa Lucía has a few excellent restaurants with tables set out in the large neighborhood square.

For some of the city’s best restaurants, Mérida’s brand new Gastronomic Corridor features blocks of culinary gems set behind colonial facades of a recently revitalized neighborhood.

For the most local experience, try the food market at Parque Santiago and enjoy music, food and a joyful atmosphere.

Go to the park

Parks are a gathering place for people of all ages in Mérida. Once the sun begins to set, go and see for yourself how much the community enjoys playing outside until well after dark!

Parque La Plancha is the newest and by far the largest park in Mérida. It has multiple playgrounds, a dog park, skate park, bike trails, fountains, and even a food court.

For a more traditional experience, visit Parque de Las Americas. This is a long-standing and cherished park that holds a special place in hearts of many locals. There is always something going on here, and is a great place to catch a performance or artisan fair, or sample a famous snack as there are lots of food stalls lined up by the park.

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Best things to do in Mérida at night

After the sun goes down, the party continues in Mérida. The city invites both locals and visitors alike to join in the fun. Whether you’re in the mood for live music, a cultural performance, or a cool, cold cocktail, Mérida has something for everyone. The city’s bustling nightlife scene provides the perfect opportunity to unwind, socialize, and create unforgettable memories.

Attend a free cultural event

Mérida offers a wide range of free cultural events throughout the week, so there will definitely be something going on the night that you are here.

Sundays feature artisans, food stands, and activities around the Plaza Grande.

Mondays you can watch live music and dance performances at Palacio Municipal.

Tuesdays enjoy Trova music at Museo de la Canción Yucateca, and then music and dancing at Parque Santiago.

Wednesdays feature walking tour of the main cemetery, and a video mapping display at Casa Montejo.

Thursdays enjoy an unforgettable music and dancing performance at Santa Lucía Park.

Fridays watch video mapping at the Merida Cathedral.

Saturday nights there is a traditional Mexican music and dance show at the Remate de Paseo de Montejo, as well as a Mayan ball game reenactment in front of the Merida Cathedral.

Order drinks at a traditional cantina

While I wouldn’t walk into just any cantina alone, there are several in the historic center of Mérida that offer a comfortable environment for everyone. Great places to go and enjoy the atmosphere of a traditional cantina are El Lucero, La Negrita Cantina, and El Cardinal Cantina. Here you will find live music, Yucatecan snacks, and a wide selection of drinks in a cantina that has maintained its look and vibe over the years.

➡️ Book a cantina tour if you’re not sure about exploring this side of México alone.

Enjoy a chill night with cool cocktails

For something more low-key but just as happening, try Dzalbay for food and live music, Patio Petanca for drinks and a casual game of pétanque, and Salon Gallos for a venue that blends nightlife with cultural center, Casa Chica for cocktails on Paseo Montejo or Picheta for rooftop cocktails overlooking the main square.

Dance into the night

For a fun night out dancing, try Bianca Tropical, La Fundación Mezcaleria, and Pipiripau Bar. All located in Centro, like the cantinas, you can easily walk from place to place.

Anímate! You won’t be disappointed! 

Go out on the town with family

Probably best not to try and take the kids into the cantinas, instead, hit up Mercado 60. This is an open-air music venue that offers a variety of food options in an amazing atmosphere. Here you can enjoy food, drinks, live music, and dancing together.

There is so much to do and see in Mérida that a day is barely enough to scrape the tip of the iceberg! But I hope this list gets you started and gives you a taste for all this magical city has to offer. Whatever you choose to do in your 24 hours, Mérida promises an unforgettable experience, and will leave you longing to return for more adventures!