20+ Things to do in Mérida, Mexico
Mérida is the capital and largest city in the state of Yucatan and on the Yucatán Peninsula. It offers an abundance of colonial architecture, quiet cenotes and wonderful food. If you’re looking for a quiet spot in Mexico that isn’t flooded with tourists, then Mérida will not disappoint. I visited Mérida with a group of my best friends and we had a blast wandering around town and eating delicious food. We surely didn’t run out of things to do while visiting Mérida. From swimming in cenotes, visiting Chichen Itza and indulging in relaxing days at the hacienda pool, we were always entertained. Here are 21+ things to do in Mérida, Mexico.
Try Mayan Food
First, the Yucatán Peninsula is home to rich and traditional cuisine that mixes Mexican ingredients like corn, tomato, and beans, with unique products from the Yucatán region such as habanero chili, sour orange, turkey, chaya and the famous Achiote that gives it’s dished a brilliant color and profound flavor. Make sure to try out regional dishes like Cochinita Pibil while in the Yucatán Peninsula. In Mérida, you can find several Yucatecan restaurants like, Cheen Cocina Yucateca La Chaya Maya and Coyote Maya.
Take a Day Trip to Cenotes
Believe it or not, cenotes are the best kept secret of the Yucatán Peninsula. Cenotes are natural pits, or sinkholes, resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater. They are beautiful while simultaneously full of mystery and magic all at once. Cenotes were of great importance to Mayan culture and have been a symbol of duality since they represented life and death. Needless to say, although they are sheltered by the jungle, swimming in a cenote is an adventure you don’t want to miss while visiting Mérida. There are hundreds of cenotes to visit in the Yucatán Peninsula, and several near Mérida. Understanding what kind of cenotes you want to visit will make your cenote itinerary easier. Here are a list of the best cenotes:
Go Pox Tasting
On our group trip to Mérida, we did a Pox tasting at the local Poshería on Paseo Montejo which is located in the Mérida Centro area. Pox (pronounced “posh”) is a traditional Mayan liquor made from a blend of corn, wheat, and sugarcane. In the Tzotzil Maya language, the word “pox” translates to “medicine” and signifies its historical use in rituals and healing practices. It was considered to be a ceremonial drink to the Mayans. Pox is becoming increasingly popular in cocktails due to its unique smoky and toasty flavor profile.
Plan a Romantic Dinner Date at a Rooftop
Next, nothing quite says romance like a candle lit dinner for 2 at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the beautiful plaza with towering colonial architecture. There are a couple spots to enjoy the views at rooftop restaurants, Picheta being one of them. I loved eating at Picheta and it was by far one of the best rooftops to dine at. The dazzling views of the colonial architecture are truly breathtaking and can be enjoyed at any time of the day. Not to mention, the food at Picheta is truly delicious and their staff is incredible.
Stay cool with Yucatáco sherbet
As most days in Mérida are hot, you’ll have to find a way to cool off. Luckily for you, I have a sweet spot to recommend. There are several parlors that offer sherbet inspired by local ingredients like blending guava, tamarind & other local crops from the Yucatán peninsula into sweet desserts. The parlor is called Dulcería y Sorbetería Colón and can be found on Paseo Montejo. There are many dulcerías in Mérida.
Head to the Centro (Plaza Grande)
Head to the Plaza Grande and to enjoy a stroll. There are plenty of places for snacks and benches to sit on. Plus, the plaza offers free complimentary wifi.
Take a day trip to Mayan Ruins
While there’s no exact count, the Yucatan Peninsula is home to thousands of Mayan ruins, with the most famous being Chichen Itza, and other notable sites like Tulum, Uxmal, Cobá, Ek Balam, and Calakmul. Additionally, these are all considered significant archaeological locations across the peninsula, which makes it a major hub for exploring ancient Mayan structures. Check out this blog post on how to plan a day trip to Chichen Itza or Ek Balam.
Check out Local Coffee Spots
As a Seattle transplant, I am a sucker for good coffee and cute coffee shop vibes. As I travel, I am always on the look out for unique coffee shops. I must admit, my favorite coffee morning memory was made at Manifesto Cafe as I sat in calmness listening to the Mexican Jazz Lo-fi music coming out of the speakers while I enjoyed a rich and thick avocado toast. Not to mention the coffee was lovely. While staying in Mérida I found these wonderful spots to enjoy coffee as well.
- Manifestor Cafe – Address: Calle 59 #538 por 66 y 68, Centro, 97000 Mérida, Yuc., Mexico
- María & Montejo, Rituales de Café – Address: C. 58 393, entre calle 37 y calle 39, Zona Paseo Montejo, Centro, 97000 Mérida, Yuc., Mexico
- Sempere Libros y Café – Address: Centro Second floor, Calle 62. 479 x 55 y 57, Santa Lucía, 97000 Mérida, Yuc., Mexico
- Baretto | Espresso Bar – Address: Calle 47 478-por 54 y 56, Zona Paseo Montejo, Centro, 97000 Mérida, Yuc., Mexico
- Márago Coffee – Paseo de Montejo – Address: P.º de Montejo 481-Int 101, entre 39 y 41, Zona Paseo Montejo, Centro, 97000 Mérida, Yuc., Mexico
Take a Day Trip to Progresso
Now, only a short 40 min drive away, Progresso is a Mexican beach town found 27 mi (43km) from Mérida. It’s the perfect distance for a day trip and definitely merits a visit. Progresso is the center of the fishing industry and also the newest port for cruises. Needless to say, when visiting Progresso one needs to try out the seafood also known as mariscos in Spanish. Things to do in Progresso include visiting Pig Beach, the Malecón (boardwalk) and go kayaking.
Take a Weekend Trip to Campenche
If you have more time to visit while in the Yucatán Peninsula, you definitely want to visit the port town of Campeche. Believe it or not, but Campeche is a UNESCO-listed city and known as one of the most charming towns in Mexico. Campeche deserves a weekend to explore it. For those of you who don’t know, UNESCO World Heritage sites are places that demonstrate exceptional cultural or natural significance, representing the shared heritage of humanity. Mexico is full of UNESCO world heritage sites that are worth adding to your travel bucket list. Here is a blog post for the full list of UNESCO world heritage sites in Mexico.
Eat at local Cafes
Whether I’m traveling solo or with friends, I love waking up early and enjoying breakfast at local cafes. Nothing quite feels more homey than holding a cup of cafecito and people watching in the morning. While traveling with friends, we had a wonderful brunch at El Apapacho which offered wonderful food, colorful ambiance and good vibes. Some local cafes that I loved trying out were:
Take a Day Trip to Valladolid
Located 98 mi (159km) west of Mérida, Valladolid is a beautiful, quiet town tucked away in the Peninsula. Valladolid is a Pueblo Mágico in Mexico. It’s rich in culture, history, food, archeological sites and cenotes (the best kept secret of the Yucatán Peninsula). If you’re planning on visiting this town there are a plethora of things to do. Here are 15 Things to do in Valladolid, Mexico.
Watch live music at Plaza Grande
The Plaza Grande is not only a place to enjoy food, people watch and site see, it is also a place to enjoy fantastic live music. While we were visiting Mérida, we stumbled upon a live music at the plaza. It was a Cumbia band from the local community in Mérida. We joined in with the locals to dance the night away.
Visit Local Restaurants
One way to truly immerse oneself when traveling is to enjoy the local food and restaurants. The Yucatán Peninsula has rich and deep roots when it comes to their cuisine, from the utilization of local crops to ancient Mayan cooking methods. Here is a list of local restaurants to check out while visiting Mérida, Mexico.
- Visit Local Restaurants
Relax in an amazing hacienda with a private pool
There is an abundance of things to do in Mérida, and one of my favorite relaxing items to do was to spend time in the pool at an hacienda. When I traveled with my friends, we were a group of 12 so renting our an hacienda for the week was the obvious best choice. It was a beautiful, vibrant yellow hacienda of colonial architecture that came equipped with a pool. Not only did we get the entire hacienda to ourselves, but it was also very affordable. Relaxing in the pool was the best way to decompress from exploring Mérida. Here is the link to the Airbnb we stayed at for our visit.
Walk around the colorful architecture
As you may have gathered by now, Mérida is a colorful colonial city with a rich cultural heritage. Mérida is known for its brightly painted buildings in a variety of colors, including vibrant colors like yellow, purple, pink, green, and red. They say you need to take a stroll on Calle 64 as it’s considered to be Mérida’s most colorful colonial street. Grab a friend (or a selfie stick) and capture yourself immersed in beautiful architecture.
Try out tacos at Mercado San Benito
Watch a Pok-A-Tok Game
Pok-A-Tok is like a cross between soccer and basketball—except much more difficult to play. The object of the game was for the two opposing side to try and hit the hard rubber ball into a stone hoop placed at both ends of the playing field. The Maya ball courts where Pok-A-Tok was played can still be found at ancient Maya sites like Chichen Itza and Copan. However, you can catch a Pok-A-Tok game in Mérida. They take place on Saturdays at 8pm in front of the Mérida cathedral. The seats fill up quickly, as it is a free event. Make sure to get there about an hour before if possible to secure a seat.
Take Instagramable photos in front of the Merida Sign
Conveniently located in the Mérida Plaza, you will find the iconic “Mérida” letters artwork. Make sure to snap a photo of the letters, better yet, make sure to capture yourself in the photo.
Have a Spa Day
If you’re looking to pamper yourself with a spa day, look no further! Coqui Coqui Mérida was the spa experience I didn’t know I needed. First off, the vibes are a combination of elegant vintage and exquisite. I enjoyed a wonderful massage, which included choosing their custom oils and scents. They offer an elegant collection of body oils and perfumes for your massage or to take home as souvenirs or gifts for family.
Go Glamping
One unique thing to do in Mérida that may not have popped up on your radar is glamping! If you’re looking for a unique place to stay outside of the traditional haciendas in Mérida, this is it. The Hameki Glamping y Cenotes campsite is a great place to outdoor adventurers and campers alike. Not only do they offer a wonderful glamping experience, they are also conveniently located near several cenotes. Cenotes are the best tourist attraction in the Yucatán Peninsula and is worth the visit. What better way to experience the Yucatán Peninsula than by glamping near cenotes (the best hidden gem of the Yucatán Peninsula).
In Summary 20+ Things to Do in Mérida, Mexico
Whether you’re searching for a relaxing vacation or a cultural experience in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mérida is the perfect place to immerse in Mexico’s rich culture and traditions. After traveling to several Mexican towns over the years, I wanted to share these unique things to do in Mérida with you. I hope this blog post helped you plan your visit to Mexico!
What items in this blog post are you adding to your Mérida bucket list? Feel free to leave a comment, I’ll make sure to respond.
Need help finding things to do in Mexico? Here is a list of helpful blog posts to plan your trip to Mexico.
- Where to stay in Merida, Mexico
- Hidden Blue Gems: Best Cenotes to Visit in the Yucatán Peninsula
- 35+ Unique Things to Do in Mexico City
- Best Cenotes to Visit Near Valladolid
- Things to do in Valladolid, Mexico
- Best Day Trips from Valladolid Mexico
- Things to do in Isla Holbox
- 12+ Things to know about Isla Holbox before Visiting
- How to Celebrate New Year’s Even in Isla Holbox
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Evie
Female solo traveler, blogger and personal finance nerd helping women plan their solo travel adventures!
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