This travel guide about Things To Do in Merida Mexico was originally written in January 2014 and is continually updated, most recently in July 2018, following our latest visit.

Mérida Mexico truly has so much to offer visitors. We’ve been regularly traveling to Yucatan’s lovely capital city for the past five years and continue to discover so many awesome things to do in Merida every time. It’s become one of our favorite travel destinations in Mexico and we’re always happy to share with fellow travelers this list of of ideas for what to do in Merida.

If planning a trip to the Yucatan, we hope this detailed travel guide leads you to some fun things to do in Merida!

A Brief Intro to Travel in Merida, Mexico

Merida truly is a beautiful travel destination, inside and out. Nicknamed the ciudad blanca (white city), you certainly do see some white structures while roaming around the grid-like streets of this charming colonial city. Yet we find that the white buildings are actually outnumbered by colorful pastel architecture, adding much vibrancy to Merida’s colonial look.

But it’s Merida’s culture that shines through even brighter. Perhaps that helps to explain why Merida is the only city that has been twice selected to serve as the American Capital of Culture (2000, 2017). You can find culture oozing all throughout Merida, whether admiring ancient Mayan artwork at a museum or simply soaking in the local culture that’s abundant within the swinging doors of Merida’s cantinas. The many cultural things to do in Merida and even the city’s daily cultural events are a big appeal to Yucatan’s largest city.

Adding to the cultural appeal, the people living in Mérida (many of Mayan decent) are a very friendly and welcoming bunch. The Yucatecan cuisine found in Merida is delicious. Merida’s nightlife is fun and active, particularly so on the weekends. In fact, if planning a trip to Mérida, we recommend trying to stay over a weekend, as the entire city tends to come out to play then.

As this website often has a focus on travel value around the world, we’d be remiss not to mention that Mérida offers fantastic value. Your pesos go quite far here, particularly so in comparison to popular travel destinations along the neighboring Riviera Maya to the east. In Merida, prices in restaurants, tour excursions, and hotels are a fraction of what is found on the other side of the Yucatan peninsula.

So while roaming around Merida, don’t hold back on eating your weight in delicious 10-peso (~$0.50) tacos. Additionally, most of the top things to do in Mérida are actually free, from walking tours to Merida’s many museums. When it’s time for bed, there are some great inexpensive places to stay, and even a handful of fantastic 3-star hotels for US$30-per-night. (We’ll show you where towards the end of this post). Additionally, with daily rental car prices in Mérida usually hovering under US$15, you can certainly afford to explore the Yucatan on a budget. It’s all of this incredible value Merida delivers on, which helps to make it such a fantastic travel destination for all budgets.

Are you looking for ideas of what to do in Merida, Mexico? This Merida travel guide dishes out what we’ve found to be the 15 best things to do in Merida that we now recommend to you!

Best Things To Do In Merida Mexico

15) Best Intro to Merida: Take the Free Walking Tour

Every morning there is a free walking tour of Merida that departs from the centrally located Plaza Grande. A friendly guide offers a great lesson in the Merida’s history while also providing you bearings to know your way around town.

The free walking tour of Merida is a perfect introduction to many of the sites and attractions all around Merida centro. You’ll learn a lot about the city itself, as the walking tour is full of many interesting facts that you likely have not read up on before you arrived to town.

If staying in the city for a few days, we recommend starting off your visit with this free walking tour as the very first thing to do in Merida. It provides such a nice overview of Merida to help you get acquainted with the city.

This free walking tour of Merida is put on by Merida’s Tourism Office, for which they ask participants to register there.

14) Discover the Mayan World at the Gran Museo de Mundo Maya Merida

If you want to learn more about the Mayan people, culture, and history, this is most definitely the place to do it. We don’t know of anywhere else in the world with more Mayan artifacts under the same roof. There are over 1,000 different pieces here!

This expansive museum will leave you with a deep understanding of the civilization.The Mayan World museum begins way back with natural history from the beginning of time and slowly walks you through to the life of the modern Maya today. It’s a great primer before visiting the many ancient Mayan sites throughout the Yucatan. Most of those ruins lack information at the sites, so it can be nice to gain some knowledge here before visiting. Those who are fascinated with history can likely spend several hours perusing the exhibits of the Mayan World Museum.

Just be aware that visiting this museum is the only thing to do in Merida listed within this guide that is well outside Merida Centro. But don’t let that hinder you from venturing to Merida’s northern outskirts. This impressive museum is worth the trip to deeply explore the local Mayan culture and history. Plus it’s cheap and easy to take an Uber to the museum. The 20-minute ride from Centro should cost between $80-$100 pesos (taxis, a bit more).

13) Get Lost Amongst Chaos in the Lucas de Galvez Market Merida

Merida’s main market is a site not be be seen. It’s something that should be experienced! You can find everything from fresh vegetables, to homemade crafts, local clothing, and lots more in between.

Merida’s bustling market dates back to the late 1800’s when it was just a small shed. It sure has grown since then as the sprawling and chaotic market is now packed with local life. That’s all part of the fun. Weave your way through the hectic maze-like atmosphere and browse away at all the local goods!

You can even eat lunch at the Lucas de Galvez market. So you may want to plan to grab a bite from one of the many vendors hawking freshly made spreads. We’ve had good luck with both tacos and pork here, but we shy away from the grilled fish. Agua frescas and horchatas near the entrance are also a good bet if you fancy something cool to sip on while strolling through the warm mercado.

If near Merida’s city center in the daytime, a visit to Lucas de Galvez market Merida is a must to get a taste of local life in Merida. Note: We recommend to stay clear of the pet section towards the center of the market due to poor conditions during our last visit.

12) Attend One Of Merida’s Annual Festivals

Merida has some interesting and popular annual events to consider if your visit happens to coincide with the right time of year. There are so many things to do in Merida all year long!

January brings Merida Fest, which spans the course of several weeks of nightly fiestas. If you’re lucky enough to be visiting Merida in early January, be sure not to miss the opening night trova stroll to Plaza Grande that precedes an awesome fireworks display to ring in Merida Fest. Mark your calendars way in the future for Merida Fest 2022, which  should prove to be a particularly large celebration, because that year will actually be celebrating the city’s 500th birthday!

February or March in Merida (pending the Easter/Lent calendar each year) brings Carnaval of Merida, which is now held at the X’matkuil Fairgrounds, rather than its former location along the Paseo de Montejo. Free shuttle buses provide transportation from the center of town. Merida Carnaval brings upon a really fun party during this Latin American tradition. So if your visit to Merida coincides with this annual event, be sure to head out to the fairgrounds to watch all the lively floats go by while sipping on a michelada!

Just as in the rest of Mexico, here in Merida you can expect to experience the culture of Semana Santa processions surrounding Easter.

Meanwhile November 1st ushers in traditional Day of the Dead displays and festivities that you can find throughout Centro. Christmas in Merida brings out decorations, a festive atmosphere, and other holiday traditions.

And that’s just a smattering of happenings, as there are many annual events in Merida popping up in between. You can find sporting events, concerts, ballads, operas, races, and so much more. The suggestions above just scratch the surface with the top highlights of the year.

11) Have a Night at the Theatre in Merida

Even if you’re not actually going to have a night out at the theatre, it’s worth popping into the Teatro Jose Peon Contreras during the day. It’s a worthwhile thing to do in Merida to simply have a look around the elegant century-old theatre. While you’re there, there’s a small, free, air-conditioned art museum you can use as an excuse to cool-off as you view the funky exhibits.

After taking in the art, walk by the impressive marble staircase towards the box-office to see if there may be any events during your visit. Typically there are symphonies on most (not all) Fridays at 9:00 pm and Sundays at Noon. It could prove to be a classy way to spend a Friday night or escape the heat on a Sunday. The Peon Theatre itself is stunning, which provides an air of elegance. Yet a night at the theatre in Merida remains a surprisingly budget-friendly pursuit.

10) Experience Pok Ta Pok: Representation of the Mayan Ball Game

The tradition of this ancient sport is kept alive each Saturday night at 8:30 on Calle 60 in front of the Cathedral and Plaza Grande. Watch the players battle it out as traditional live music accompanies the spectacle. Although this game is played as a recreation for demonstrative purposes, the players still seem to be very much into the game with a high competitive spirit.

It’s a miracle each player doesn’t leave the ball court a bloody mess. Players of Pok Ta Pok slide onto the cobblestones in an attempt to score by hitting the ball with their hips into the post. Scoring is actually quite rare, as it is extremely difficult, particularly during this abridged 30-minute version of the game. So if someone does manage to complete a goal, consider yourself lucky (we’ve never seen it) and be sure to cheer loudly!

The Pok Ta Pok event in Merida is free and begins promptly at 8:30 pm on Saturdays (*note: this is a new day & time for 2018). We strongly suggest arriving at least 15-20 minutes early to get a good spot in the bleachers. They do fill up, particularly so during high season in Merida. Commentary of the Mayan ball game is mostly in Spanish, but it is still a worthwhile spectacle to attend for non-Spanish speakers.

9) Cruise the Famed Paseo de Montejo, Merida

You can’t come to Merida without seeing the grand Paseo de Montejo. This wide avenue built in Merida’s heyday conjectures images of Paris’s Champs-Élysées. Historic mansions line the grand avenue, as do many quaint cafes.

There’s even an inviting Starbucks along the Paseo that blends right into the white cityscape. But with many great local cafes, we suggest to stop into one of those instead. To break up your stroll, go have a coffee at Sukra or Pistache, which you’ll pass both along the way on the east side of the road. Or go to Posheria, where they’ll add a shot of pox (local Mayan liquor) into your iced latte, upon request.

You can also find two notable museums while strolling the west side of the Paseo. The Casa Museo Montes Molina provides 45-minute guided tours of the period furnishings around this mansion that served generations of Montejos, descendents of Merida’s founder. Info: English tours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 am, 10:00 am, 11:00 am, and 3:00 pm; Saturdays at 9:00 and 11:00.

The Palacio Canton showcases Mayan archaeology across two levels of a big Neoclassical mansion, pictured below. If you don’t have a chance to make it to the big Mayan World museum, this is a closer, albeit smaller and less complete, alternative to consider visiting to view Mayan artifacts. Info: It’s $60 pesos to get in and opens every day but Monday, 8:00-5:00.

How you experience the Paseo de Montejo is entirely up to you. You can easily walk it. The sidewalks along the Paseo de Montejo are the widest and most pedestrian-friendly in all of Merida. Frequent trees offer up shade to help protect you from Merida’s often-intense sun. Go in the morning when it’s not as warm.

The most scenic stretch of Paseo de Montejo is from the Montejo Monument near Plaza Santa Ana to the ornate Monumento a la Patria that’s encircled by a busy roundabout. This 1.6 kilometer section can take about 30 minutes to walk, each way, if taking a leisurely stroll. To beat the heat, consider returning to Centro using one of the frequent public buses that travel up and down Paseo de Montejo.

Yet you could easily spend a half-day along the Paseo if breaking apart your walk at museums, cafes, mansions, monuments, stop for ice cream, and other points of interest you may stumble across along the way.

While a slow stroll is our recommended option to really absorb this grand avenue, you may also consider experiencing the Paseo de Montejo by car, horse & carriage, or bicycle. More information on the latter two options can be found in the subsequent sections. But however you tour this famous boulevard, just make sure that it’s on your list of things to do in Merida, Mexico!

8) Explore Merida by Horse & Carriage

Skip Merida’s double decker hop-on hop-off tour bus and instead see Merida by horse & carriage. A friendly guide will lead you through the city center and up the historic Paseo de Montejo on a private tour of Merida and for a reasonable price.

Clopping through the historical city is a magical experience that may make you feel like you’ve gone back in time to a by-gone era. For a more romantic spin around town, consider an evening tour as the city lights up and the streets cool off. To add a touch of romance to your night in Merida, you can even arrange for the carriage to drop you off at dinner after a brief tour around town.

The standard ride through Merida Centro and up the Paseo takes about 45 minutes, although you can negotiate with the horse & carriage handlers for a ride that’s as short or long as you desire. Are you hot to trot?

7) Relax & Connect Among Mexico’s Most Pleasant Plazas

If you’re searching for what to do in Merida, don’t overlook just taking a break in the center of town to absorb all the beautiful ambiance. The Plaza Grande is the perfect place for that. It’s a great central spot to simply unwind. Plaza Grande is where many Meridians and tourists alike congregate during the day, into the evening, and particularly on the weekends. Surrounded by architectural marvels, like the Cathedral and Government Palace, this central city square provides a beautiful 360-degree backdrop.

Find a bench shaded by a tree to get out of the heat and let the cool breeze drift by. Visit one of the many food vendors who set up along the edge of the plaza, particularly on Sundays, to indulge in a mid-afternoon snack. Watch children feeding the pigeons and buying balloons.

Enjoy the company you’re with or practice your Spanish by making some new friends. This is the place to do so. The Yucatan’s signature dual chairs make it easy to chat with one another.

Alternatively, catch up on a few emails or check your Facebook newsfeed. The Plaza Grande is connected! Complimentary Wi-Fi and numerous charging stations are found all throughout this pleasant plaza right in the heart of Merida.

This is a feature that is found in many of Merida’s relaxing squares throughout town. Plaza Grande may be the most central and well-known, yet there are several other plazas you should check out while ambling about town. Here are a few other interesting plazas to stop at, relax, and enjoy local life:

• Parque Santa Lucia: Merida’s second most popular plaza is lined with great restaurants, has a large novelty-sized you-and-me chair for fun photos (see below), and free concerts on Thursday nights.
• Parque Santa Ana: Sunny plaza on the northern part of centro.
• Parque Santiago: Square with adjacent market, food vendors with turkey specialities, and Tuesday night orchestra and dancing that attracts an older, local crowd.

6) Drink Your Way Across Merida

There are lots of great cantinas and lively bars to enjoy around town. Happy hour runs late here so you can often find great drink deals into the 8:00 hour and beyond. Whether you’re after cervezas, margaritas, palomas, or micheladas, there’s no shortage of libations to be had around town. There are even some local craft beers made in Merida and around the Yucatan that you can only find in this area. Move over Corona!

If you enjoy drinking, you must visit some of Merida’s cantinas. La Negrita is a traveler favorite that’s a comfortable introduction to cantinas in Merida, given its friendly service, live music, complimentary botanas (snacks), and local cerveza artisanal (craft beer).

Speaking of craft beer, there are a few good breweries that have popped up in Merida during the past couple of years. You don’t have to venture all the way out to the Northern fringes of Merida where Cerveza Patito is located. Instead, this brewery has two taprooms more conveniently located in Merida Centro, both offering their full line (currently 8) beers on draft: Hermana República and Bela Chela. Pints are $70 pesos and  our favorites are the Vanilla Porter and the APA. More recently a smaller brew operation, La Linda, has come about in Merida, where we enjoy their Cazadora (a refreshing wheat beer) and their Gitana (extra pale ale), starting at $60 pesos per pint.

For something stronger, check out La Fundacion Mezcaleria if you want to dabble into the mezcal, an agave liquor, like tequila, that’s produced in Oaxaca, Mexico. The mezcal is served with sour orange slices and a salty powder made from ground up worms. Try it if you dare. We think this sal de gusano (worm salt), as it’s called, tastes much better than it sounds!

If you’re a bit intimidate or not sure where to begin your bar crawl of Merida, then try this Merida Cantina Walking Tour. The fun-filled tour will usher you to three of Merida’s best cantinas. During the cantina crawl, a guide explains all about Merida’s cantina culture and tells entertaining stories along the way. The price includes drinks and hearty local snacks at all three of the cantinas you visit. Check availability and latest reviews here.

5) Explore the Free Public Buildings Surrounding Plaza Grande

Within this one recommendation, we’re really giving you an extra 5 things to do in Merida! There is so much to see and experience all around the Plaza Grande’s perimeter. So once you’re done relaxing in the plaza, check out each of these Plaza Grande attractions.

Perhaps best of all, each of the following museums and buildings lining the Plaza Grande are entirely free to enter. And many of them are air-conditioned too, providing some much-needed relief from the heat if roaming around town in the afternoon. Thank you Mérida!

Some of these buildings are nondescript, with no signage. Security guards are stationed in front of the government buildings, leading visitors to believe they are off-limits. But they are actually totally open to the public. Those of you who are now in-the-know can walk right past the security guards to enjoy fantastic balconies that are hidden in plain sight.

5.1 For Art – Museo Fernando García Ponce-Macay, Merida

View the artwork found throughout the free Museo Fernando García Ponce-Macay. You’ll walk through the museum’s open courtyard and along the interior balcony as curators periodically escort you into private rooms through old large doors. In these rooms you’ll find beautiful and eccentric artwork, on both permanent and temporary display, and both from the Yucatan and further afield.

5.2 For a Glimpse into Merida’s Wealthy Past – Casa de Montejo, Merida

Want to know what wealthy Victorian Mexican life was like back in the hacienda days? Then wander on into the free Casa de Montejo on the Plaza’s south side to take a peak at the rooms, furniture, and fine china of this former Meridian mansion.

5.3 For Merida’s Grand Cathedral – Catedral de San Ildefonso

Marvel at the architecture of the Catedral de San Ildefonso, built in the late 1500’s. Have a peak inside to see the huge crucifix behind the alter, while Meridians come in to pray periodically. There is an English tour of the Cathedral de San Ildefonso on Saturdays at 10:00 am and English-speaking church services occur on Sundays at 9:00 am. If entering this functioning church, be sure to dress respectfully. There is no strict dress code, but as a sign of respect shoulders and knees should be covered.

5.4 For Views & Architecture – Palacio Municipal, Merida

On the west side of the plaza head upstairs onto the long shaded balcony of the municipal building to capture a nice panoramic view of Merida’s Plaza Grande. Meanwhile a convenient tourism office is on the ground floor.

5.5 For Open-Air Strolls and Magnificent Murals – Palacio de Gobierno, Merida

Yet perhaps our favorite building in this area to roam around is the roomy halls and courtyard of the Palacio de Gobierno. Built in the late 1800’s the lovely “government palace” now houses some large and impressive murals depicting the history between the Mayans and Spaniards, by artist Fernando Castro Pacheco.

It’s one of the few buildings surrounding Plaza Grande that is open fairly late (9:30 pm). This open-air building makes for an enchanting evening stroll through its corridors as the Cathedral lights up at night.

4) Dance in the Streets of Merida During Its Weekly Fiestas!

There’s always something going on every night of the week in Merida. You simply have to know when and where to look.

So here is what to do in Merida for every night of the week, which often involves dancing the night away:

• Monday’s in Merida: Vaqueria Night on Calle 62 at Plaza Grande begins at 9:00-10:00 pm. Folkloric Ballet of Merida accompanied by the Jaranera Orchestra.
• Tuesday in Merida: Musical Memories in Parque Santiago begins at 8:30-10:00. It attracts an older local crowd who come out to dance to Big Band sounds played by the live orchestra.
• Wednesdays in Merida: Take a break from the dancing and see the video mapping of the Casa de Montejo at 8:30 in summers and 8:00 in winter months (narration in Spanish only).
• Thursdays in Merida: Yucatecan Serenade in Parque Santa Lucia at 9:00pm is one of the longest standing weekly events in the city having been going on for over 40 years. This is a must for things to do in Merida on a Thursday night.
• Fridays in Merida: Video mapping of the Cathedral is at 8:30, but for something more lively, stroll along Calle 60 which often becomes closed to vehicles on Friday in favor of fiestas instead.
• Saturdays in Merida: Noche Mexicana boasts Mexican culture from across the country through traditional song and dance performances that occur on stage at Remate Paseo Montejo from 8:00pm-midnight.
• Sundays in Merida: Merida en Domingo is all day event (8:00 am – 9:00 pm) taking place in Plaza Grande. Food stalls and pop-up restaurants congregate in the plaza with more marquesita stands than you can count. As night approaches, bands begin to play and people start to dance. It’s a beautiful Sunday tradition in Merida.

On weekend nights a few of the main streets in the city are closed to traffic and the city becomes abuzz. Sidewalk cafes begin setting up in the streets. Street performers come out to play. Street food vendors don’t hesitate to get into the mix as well, providing plenty of opportunities for a midnight snack. The bars and cantinas get busy, the music becomes blaring and it all lasts well into the night. Fiesta!

During these weekend nights in Merida, certainly stroll through the Plaza Grande. Yet, perhaps more importantly, walk up Calle 60 which is usually closed to vehicular traffic by 8:00 pm. Shops on Calle 60 also stay open late as sidewalk cafes set up tables to expand their presence into the closed-off street.

3) Go for a Bike Ride on Sunday Morning: Bici-Ruta Merida

We sure do love a good bike-friendly city. Unfortunately, Mérida is not one. There are no bike lanes or paths. Instead you’ll find hectic narrow streets, and even skinnier sidewalks which are for pedestrians only.