9 Best Things to Do in Merida, Mexico
Are you looking for the best things to do in Merida, Mexico? Merida is a beautiful colonial city and the perfect destination for those who want to see the authentic side of Mexico beyond the luxury beach resorts.
Take a day trip to the city or spend a few days here and explore the best attractions. Swim in the cenotes, join cultural activities, try Yucatan food, explore historic buildings, or enjoy Merida’s nightlife.
The colonial city of Merida is a mix of traditional and modern Mexican culture that makes for a fantastic experience on a Yucatan Peninsula Itinerary.
This ultimate guide to visiting the White City includes how to get there, where to stay, and the best things to do in Merida, Yucatan.
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- 9 Best Things to Do in Merida, Mexico
- Where is Merida, Mexico?
- Best Time to Visit Merida, Mexico
- How to Get to Merida, Mexico
- How to Get Around Merida
- Best Things to Do in Merida, Mexico
- 1. Walk in the Historic Center of Merida
- 2. Explore Chichen Itza
- 3. Visit the Best Beaches
- 4. Take a Photo at the Monumento a la Patria
- 5. Visit Izamal
- 6. Visit Uxmal Ruins
- 7. Take a Day Trip to Valladolid
- 8. Swim in the Cenotes
- 9. Enjoy the City Nightlife
- Where to Eat in Merida
- Where to Stay in Merida
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Where is Merida, Mexico?
It is located in the southeast of Mexico, on the Yucatan Peninsula, not far from the Yellow City of Izamal.
Best Time to Visit Merida, Mexico
Merida has a tropical climate and is warm all year round. The hottest and most humid months are April and May. Therefore, if you visit the city during this period, we recommend you choose accommodation with a pool.
The best time to visit Merida is from late October to March when the weather is pleasant, not too humid, and ideal for discovering the city. The rainy season runs from June to October, with more humid weather and heavy rainfall.
How to Get to Merida, Mexico
Merida is easily accessible by car or bus from Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and Valladolid. The best way to get to Merida and explore the area is by car. We arrived from Valladolid, and the travel time was 2.5 hours.
Merida has its own airport, the Merida International Airport (airport code MID).
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Use Skyscanner to get cheap flights to Merida, Mexico.
You can rent a car at the airport or online. Book your car in advance to get the best price! Check car rental prices and availability HERE.
During our travels, we always use Discover Cars for car rentals. Because they always offer the best deals and provide free cancellation 48 hours before your reservation.
Recommended Post → How to Renting a Car in Mexico
Alternatively, you can travel by the popular ADO buses, which connect most cities and are cheap and comfortable.
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If you want to book bus tickets or transfers, use Bookaway.
How to Get Around Merida
Getting around in Merida is easy because it is a walkable city. Explore the historic city center by walking or by taxi/Uber.
You can rent a car at Merida Airport and then drive to explore the nearby cenotes and Mayan Ruins, visit the Pueblos Mágicos (Magical Towns) like Izamal and Valladolid, and go to Progreso Beach.
If you don’t want to rent a car, join a private or group tour to visit the surrounding attractions.
Read our → Yucatan Peninsula Itinerary
Best Things to Do in Merida, Mexico
1. Walk in the Historic Center of Merida
One of the best things to do in Merida or the White City is to explore the historic center. You can easily walk around the historic center in a few hours, take some great photos, and enjoy the charming atmosphere.
Free walking tours depart daily from Parque de Santa Lucia around 9-10 AM. Support local guides and give a tip at the end of the tour.
In the main square of Plaza Grande, you will find the Merida Cathedral. The Cathedral of San Ildefonso is almost 500 years old, built by the Spanish from the stones of the Mayan Temple.
2. Explore Chichen Itza
Visiting Chichen Itza is one of the best things to do in Merida and the highlight of every Mexico Itinerary. You can get to Chichen Itza by car, organized tour, or taxi.
Plan your day to allow enough time to explore the famous Mayan Ruins. If you arrive in the morning, you can avoid the crowds of tourists and enjoy a stroll around the ruins without the burning sun.
Book your best Chichen Itza day trips via GetYourGuide or Viator.
After Chichen Itza, you should visit Cenote Ik Kil, which is about a 10-minute drive away.
Read the full post → Guide to Visiting Chichen Itza
3. Visit the Best Beaches
The beaches near Merida are stunning, which is a popular escape from the heat weather, and with a car, you can easily visit each of them.
Playa Puerto Progreso is a seaside town, which is the closest beach, just 35 minutes from the city. You can easily reach Progreso Beach by car or by bus. Take the Autoprogreso bus from Merida to Progreso for just 1-2 USD.
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The best beaches near Merida are Progperso, Telchac, Celestun, San Crisanto, and Sisal.
See also → Bacalar Guide
4. Take a Photo at the Monumento a la Patria
The Monumento a la Patria is a beautiful statue by Mexican/Colombian sculptor Rómulo Rozo. We saw many photos and videos of this statue. Therefore we were looking forward to seeing it, but unfortunately, it was graffitied when we visited.
You can visit this stunning monument for free. See the beautiful details and take some photos, as it is situated on Paseo de Montejo at a roundabout in Merida.
5. Visit Izamal
The Yellow City of Izamal is one of Mexico’s popular Magical Towns (Pueblos Mágicos). Take a short visit to Izamal, which is just 1-hour drive away. Stroll through the charming yellow streets of Izamal, visit the Convento De San Antonio de Padua, climb the Kinich Kak Moo Pyramid, and shop at the local market.
Izamal is well worth a visit and was one of our favorite places on our trip to Mexico.
Book your best Izamal day trips via GetYourGuide or Viator.
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If you spend more time in Mexico, take a day trip to the colorful city of Campeche.
Recommended post → What to Do in Izamal
6. Visit Uxmal Ruins
There are many beautiful Mayan Ruins near Merida. One of the best ruins is Uxmal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The best way to explore the ruins is to rent a car or join a private or group tour.
Book your Uxmal & Kabah tour HERE.
The Uxmal Ruins can be reached from Merida in about 1-1.5 hours by car. You can easily combine your visit to Uxmal with the Kabah, Labna, Xlapak, and Sayil Ruins.
If you have more time, visit the other best Mayan Ruins. The Mayapan Archaeological Site, similar to Chichen Itza, is only 45 minutes from Merida. The wonderful Dzibilchaltún Maya ruin is 30 minutes away.
7. Take a Day Trip to Valladolid
Merida is a fantastic base for visiting the surrounding attractions. One of the best day trips is to visit the colonial city of Valladolid.
Valladolid is also one of the Magical Towns (Pueblos Mágicos), which is only 2 hours from Merida, depending on traffic. There is plenty to see and do in and around Valladolid, so if you can, spend at least 3-days here and enjoy Valladolid.
Book this excellent tour, which includes Valladolid, Izamal, and the Cenote Chichikan.
8. Swim in the Cenotes
On a hot day, it’s best to escape to a cenote to cool off and swim. The Yucatan Peninsula has many stunning cenotes, which are natural water sinkholes.
Some of the best cenotes near Merida are the Homun cenotes, the Cuzama cenotes, the Cenotes Hacienda Mucuyche, and the Cenote Kankirixche. You can visit the cenotes by car or join a tour with a local guide who will take you to Merida’s best cenotes.
Recommended post → Best Cenotes near Valladolid
9. Enjoy the City Nightlife
One of the best things to do in Merida is to see a local cultural dance performance. The Parque de Santa Lucía often has live music and dancing. In addition, you can usually enjoy a show every Thursday evening.
There are many bars, pubs, and canteens in the city. The cantinas are Latin American-style bars, which are usually open at lunchtime and close at 10 PM. Here you can try some traditional drinks and food, talk with the locals and enjoy the fantastic atmosphere.
Best bars and cantinas
- La Negrita Cantina
- Eladio’s Bar
- El Cardenal Cantina
- La Fundación Mezcalería
- El Lucero del Alba
- Mayan Pub
Where to Eat in Merida
One of the best things to do in Merida is to try the local Yucatan dishes. As Merida is the capital of the Yucatan, you couldn’t find a better place to enjoy delicious Mexican food.
It has many great local restaurants with a lovely atmosphere. But it’s easy to find trendy restaurants to experience the Mayan food.
Best restaurants in Merida
- La Chaya Maya
- Mercado 60
- Latte Quattro Sette
- Kuuk restaurant
- Wayan’e
- Catrin
- Picheta
- Dulceria y Sorbeteria Colon
- Pola Gelato Shop
Join a street food walking tour.
Where to Stay in Merida
Most people only take a short visit, but for the best experience, it is worth spending 2-3 days here. These are our accommodation recommendations.
Best Hotels in Merida
- Luxury: Más Palomas Concept House
- Mid-Range: Viva Merida Hotel Boutique or Hotel Santa María Mérida
- Budget: Hotel Caribe Merida Yucatan
We hope our list of the best things to do in Merida will help you plan your next trip to Mexico. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comment below.
Travel Resources
Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Transfer – Bookaway
RECOMMENDED POSTS
How to Visit the Yellow City of Izamal, Mexico
The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Chichen Itza, Mexico (2025)
