10 Best Things To Do In Mérida, Mexico

Hi, I’m Matthew Karsten

I’ve been traveling the world for 10+ years as a professional photographer & writer. I hope you enjoy my Merida travel tips! If you find them useful, using my affiliate links to book something will give me a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thanks!

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Merida Mexico Travel Guide

1. Explore Plaza Grande

Probably the first thing I recommend you do while visiting Merida is to take a walk around the Centro Historico (Historic District) of the city. Set aside a few hours to explore the Plaza Grande (aka Zocalo) as well as the historic buildings surrounding it.

The tree-lined public park has a colorful and photogenic “Merida” sign, as well as a huge Mexican flag, with the Merida Cathedral in the background.

The park really comes alive at night too, featuring street vendors, musicians, and local families just enjoying the cooler evening weather.

There is a free walking tour of the area starting at 9:30 am at the Municipal Palace.

2. Stay At A Hacienda Estate

Merida is full of old Spanish style Haciendas – large estates used by the Spanish during colonial times. Many of these haciendas have been renovated and turned into hotels and vacation apartments that tourists can rent.

These beautiful & historic stone buildings often come with garden courtyards and pools, while being surprisingly affordable too! And many are hidden right in the city center.

For the price of ONE night at a beach resort in Cancun, you can stay at a luxury hacienda in Merida for ONE WEEK!

Every time we visit Merida we try to stay at one, and it really makes the trip extra special. You’ll find some of my favorites below.

3. Relax At Progreso Beach

If you’re craving some beach time, Progreso is a port town located only 45 minutes North of Merida on the Gulf Coast. It’s a bit touristy due to the cruise ships that stop by, but the beaches are nice and the water is warm.

Progreso also has a nice boardwalk along the beach full of shops, restaurants, and bars.

While I highly recommend renting a car when you’re in Mexico, if you don’t want to, you can still reach Progreso beach from Merida easily by bus. The station is only a few blocks away from the central park (Zocalo), and a ticket only costs $1 USD.

4. Visit Mayan Ruins Nearby

Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is littered with crumbling Mayan cities built by their late ancestors, pyramids of stone abandoned for various reasons and left to be overtaken by the jungle. Visiting some of these Mayan ruins is one of the top highlights of traveling to Merida.

While there are many Mayan archeological sites to see in the area, here are some of my favorites that are an easy day trip from Merida:

• Mayapan Ruins – This set of Mayan ruins (pictured above) are not visited that often, so it can sometimes feel like you have it to yourself. Especially if you arrive early. The city was destroyed by in internal civil war. Mayapan is located about 45 minutes away from Merida. We loved visiting this place with our family.
• Uxmal Mayan Ruins – The city of Uxmal was thought to have a population of about 25,000 people. The Pyramid of the Magician is a very cool structure because it is rounded in the back. It looks much different than many other Mayan ruins. Uxmal is located about 1 hour south of Merida by car.
• Chichen Itza – Probably the most famous set of Mayan ruins in Mexico. It’s beautiful, but very touristy and crowded due to all the organized tour buses that stop here. It is about 1.5 hours east of Merida by car.

➜ Read My Guide To Mexico’s Best Mayan Ruins

5. Check Out Local Museums

There are many great museums located in Merida that cover its colonial roots, Mayan culture, food, art, and more. Many of these museums are right in the city center, so you could visit them all in a single day if you wanted to. Here are some of my favorites.

• Museo Casa Montejo – This was the former home of Don Francisco de Montejo, conqueror of Yucatán and founder of the city of Mérida. It is a showcase of how the rich Spanish colonists used to live, featuring fine antique furniture and art.
• Palacio de la Musica – A very cool interactive museum about the history of Mexican music. They also hold regular concerts here, like the Yucatan Symphony Orchestra.
• Mayan World Museum – Huge museum dedicated to the history & culture of the Mayan people. Clothing, architecture, art, and more.

6. Sample The Yucatecan Food

Mexico’s Yucatan has its own food traditions that are very different than what most people consider “Mexican food”. Yucatecan food comes from the Mayan people, and Merida has all kinds of great Yucatecan restaurants to try.

Some of my favorite Yucatecan dishes in Merida are Cochinita Pibil, Enchiladas Suizas, and Pavo Relleno Negro.

Manjar Blanco – Amazing restaurant in Merida with delicious food and affordable prices. They have and outdoor seating area in the back.

Museo Gastronomia Yucateca – Part museum, part restaurant, this hip spot serves traditional Yucatecan food in an outdoor/indoor setting by Parque Santa Lucia. Excellent food, atmosphere and Mayan decorations.

7. Swim In Some Cenotes

Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is famous for its amazing cenotes — natural pools of fresh water located in limestone caves. These pools are connected to each other through the world’s largest underground river system.

You can go swimming in many of these cenotes, and it’s truly a unique experience. While there are thousands of cenotes spread out over the Yucatan, most of Merida’s cenotes are located by the Chicxulub Crater. The asteroid impact that struck the area roughly 60 million years ago that is believed to have killed off the dinosaurs.

• Cuzama Cenotes – This is a set of 3 different cenotes that you can visit by covered horse cart tour that gets pulled along an old rail system. They are mostly cave cenotes.
• Homun Cenotes – Around the small village of Houma there are many different cenotes to see. Cenote Yax Bacaltun has a rope swing, and there are 3 different cenotes at Santa Barbara.

8. Parque Santa Lucia

Just one of Merida’s many public parks, Parque Santa Lucia features an enlarged version of the “Kissing Chairs”. Also known as Tu y Yo Chairs (You and I), Sillas Confidantes (Confidant Chairs).

These chairs are prevalent in parks around the Yucatan, and are set up so friends or lovers can sit across from each other while talking.

9. Stroll Down Paseo de Montejo

In the late 19th Century, Merida was experiencing an economic boom due to the henequen industry, agave plants used to make rope.

Paseo de Montejo is a tree lined street featuring many beautiful old mansions from this time period. Go for a walk and marvel at these magnificent estates.