Mérida: Must-Try Activities
Mérida is the biggest city in the Yucatán… and you can feel it. Like Valladolid, it is not near the beaches, but there is still a lot to explore right in town. The historical center, which is also the most touristic area, is relatively small, easily walkable, pretty and filled with churches, restaurants and cafés, souvenir shops, parcs, and historical buildings.
For my restaurant recommendations in Merida, click here.
Catedral San Idelfonso, illuminated, right on the Main Plaza
Without further ado, here are my five must-try activities while visiting Mérida… plus one out of town:
Statue outside the Museo del Mundo Maya
Visit the Museo del Mundo Maya
One cannot visit Mérida and not got to the Museo del Mundo Maya, inaugurated in 2012.
It’s a beautiful museum and remarkable, quite large (take your time), very interactive, and you will learn a lot about the culture of the Maya: their agricultural knowledge, architectural practices, artistic expressions, and more.
It is not in the center of town, however it is easy and inexpensive to access from the historic center by taxi.
Do a Free Walking Tour
A Free Walking Tour is always a great way to discover a city, and I always recommend doing it early in your stay so you can see what you’d like to visit more in detail later.
They exist in different languages and this one will take you through the historic city center and point out the most important or interesting buildings and areas, introduce you to the history of the place and its people, and the guide always has great recommendations for other things to see in town!
Eat Mayan Specialties
Many people, especially in the United States, have an idea of what Mexican food is… even if it’s not always true to Mexican cuisine. However, few people would think of specialties from specific regions, but the Yucatan has many!
We went to the Museo de la Gastronomía Yucateca (MUGY) which is beautiful in and of itself, but, most importantly, the food was delicious!
To see more delicious food options in Mérida, click here.
Do you recognize the several symbols of Mexico represented here?
Hang out on the Main Plaza
The Main Plaza is a great place for people watching and eating ice cream. It is frequented by locals and tourists alike, and you can often see people playing music there.
Around the Plaza, there are many interesting and historical buildings: the San Idelfonso Cathedral, the Centro Cultural, the Museo Casa Montejo, and the Museo de Arte Contemporaneo for example.
You can also find restaurants, souvenir shops and ice cream parlors right around the Plaza.
Meander the Streets
The historical center of Mérida is a very colorful part of the city. Wander and notice the different buildings, their architecture and vegetation.
Also, try to look up to see the old street signs that used animals and other local symbols to identify streets. They’re not everywhere, so it’s fun to look for them!
By just wandering, you might also find a cool little café or less-touristy restaurant or souvenir shop!
However, be careful with the sidewalks and uneven steps when crossing, it’s easy to fall and twist an ankle on the old streets!
Take a Day Trip to Uxmal and Kabah
From Mérida, many archeological sites and cenotes can be visited as day trips. I recommend Uxmal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The best way to learn is to do a guided visit. The guide will point out and explain some decoration patterns on the building that we would have missed, explain the history of the site and the purpose of the different areas… Our guided trip included transportation from Mérida, entrance to Uxmal and to Kabah (another archeological site) as well as the Sambulá cenote (don’t forget your bathing suit!).
To see a video of this day during our January 2023 visit, click here.
Do you have more recommendations for Mérida? Have you visited? What was your favorite thing about this city? Let me know in the comments below!