How to Spend Three Days in Magical Mérida, Mexico

Planning a trip to Mérida, Mexico? This guide outlines the best things to do in Merida and how to organise a 3-day Merida itinerary.

Colourful streets, colonial charm, incredible food and easy access to ancient ruins and cenotes – Mérida is a highlight of Mexico’s beautiful Yucatán Peninsula.

As the capital of the Yucatán state, Mérida is a city where history and culture run deep. It’s a place that feels both lively and – even with a population of more than 1 million – laid-back at the same time.

When I first planned our trip through the Yucatan, Mérida was simply a great starting point – an alternative to flying in to touristy Cancun. But the city quickly won me over with its pastel-painted buildings, leafy plazas and a food scene that had me hunting down panuchos and marquesitas on a daily basis. It didn’t take long for me to wish I’d planned a few more days here.

Sometimes overlooked in favour of coastal destinations like Cancun or Tulum, Mérida rewards those who make the journey inland. Here’s how to spend a few days in this magical city.

How many days in Mérida?

So how long should you spend in Mérida? I’ve chosen to focus on three days in this Merida itinerary guide because I think it’s the sweet spot – enough time to see the main sights, eat a lot of local food and venture beyond the city on a day trip or two. Although you could easily stay here for a week or more if you have that sort of time.

Merida was the perfect place to start our 2-week Yucatan itinerary – a more peaceful alternative to Cancun.

Day 1: Exploring Mérida’s historic centre

Start your Mérida itinerary in the city’s beautiful and walkable centro histórico, where centuries-old buildings now house contemporary galleries, cafés, museums and restaurants.

You can join a free walking tour, which usually departs in the morning from Plaza Grande, or follow a self-guided route through the city’s highlights. Here’s the free tour we took, and I highly recommend it – our guide Fernando was incredibly knowledgeable and full of energy. Don’t forget to tip at the end!

If you’re happy to explore on your own, begin at Parque Santa Lucía, one of Mérida’s most photogenic squares and home to the iconic sillas tú y yo (conversation chairs). These white, curved benches are designed for two people to sit face-to-face and chat (or snuggle up!). The chairs are found throughout the city and are great for a rest and a photo opp.

The nearby Iglesia de Santa Lucía is a small church with a peaceful courtyard. From there, head to the Teatro José Peón Contreras, an opulent theatre that showcases Mérida’s cultural sophistication.

Pause at the nearby Parque a la Maternidad to see the statue dedicated to motherhood, a replica of a piece of work by the French sculptor André Lenoir. This is a small park but it’s lovely and shaded.

Make your way to the Palacio de la Música, an impressive museum and cultural space dedicated to Mexico’s diverse musical traditions. There’s a fantastic mural out the front of the building which celebrates some of Mexico’s most famous musicians.

Then continue to the majestic Mérida Cathedral, one of the oldest on the continent, built with stones from ancient Mayan temples that were torn down by the Spanish.

Diagonally opposite, the Palacio de Gobierno contains a huge ballroom-sized room of powerful murals that tell the story of the Yucatán and its struggles and wins. Its green courtyard is very photogenic. It’s free to enter.

These buildings are all centred around the Plaza Grande, and on the other side of the square is the pink Palacio Municipal. You can climb up to the balcony for sweeping views over the plaza.

End your walking tour at Casa de Montejo, a 16th-century mansion built by Spanish conquistadors. This imposing structure now houses a cultural centre and museum where you can learn about Mérida’s colonial past.

You can then spend some time hanging out in Plaza Grande, which was recently renovated. It’s one of the most popular Merida attractions so it’s always full of people and things to do.

In the afternoon, it’s time to experience Mérida’s fantastic food scene with a taco tour. You can explore the famous Lucas de Gálvez market (it’s more than 200 years old!) by yourself, but we decided to book a tour with journalist and history buff Gabriel. He took us to tiny little vendors we’d never have found ourselves and gave us some great background on the food we were eating as well as the history and culture of the region.

We ate panuchos (crispy tortillas filled with beans and topped with shredded meat and pickled onions), salbutes (a puffy corn tortilla topped with things like pulled turkey or black beans) and the region’s famous cochinita pibil (slow-roasted pork marinated in citrus and achiote paste).

You can book the tour online here. It costs MXN$200 per person, plus food and any drinks – it’s a bargain for all the food and information you’ll receive.

Here are some other food tour options:

After your taco crawl, grab dinner or a drink at one of Mérida’s many restaurants. Don’t forget to end the night with a marquesita, a crunchy rolled crepe filled with edam cheese and sweet spreads like Nutella or cajeta, sold by street vendors all around the centre. The mix might sound odd, but it works surprisingly well!

If you’re visiting on a weekend or during a festival period, check Yucatán Today for free concerts, dance performances or shows. There are often concerts set up around Plaza Grande.

Day 2: Museums and Paseo de Montejo

On day two, turn your focus to the region’s history with a visit to the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya. Just a short drive from the city centre, this impressive museum is dedicated to the legacy of the Mayan civilisation.

There are interactive exhibits, ancient artefacts and multimedia displays that bring thousands of years of history to life. Plan to spend anywhere between one and three hours here, depending on how deep you want to go.

In the afternoon, head back to town and stroll down Paseo de Montejo, Mérida’s answer to the Champs-Élysées. Lined with grand 19th-century mansions and leafy trees, it’s one of the city’s most elegant boulevards and one of the most beautiful places to visit in Merida.

There are also plenty of cafés along the avenue – my husband loved the horchata espresso from Cafe Maria y Montejo, which is on a little side street.

At the northern end of Paseo de Montejo is the striking Monumento a la Patria – a massive stone monument carved with scenes from Mexican history. It sits right in the middle of a roundabout and there are guards that guide people safely across the road. It’s one of the coolest things to see in Merida – definitely worth visiting for the photo opps!

Wrap up the day with dinner – you can choose something more traditional like Chaya Maya or experience fine dining at K’u’uk. Or go more casual with plate loads of tacos from Taqueria de la Union or Los Trompos.

Day 3: Take a day trip

One of the best things about Mérida is that it’s so close to heaps of incredible day trips.

Head west to Celestún, a sleepy fishing village and biosphere reserve known for its mangroves and flocks of flamingos (especially abundant from November to March). A boat tour here will take you through mangrove tunnels and bird-filled lagoons.

You can also just grab a shaded table on the beach for a seafood lunch – we had an enormous plate of ceviche at family-run Restaurant Avila and made friends with a few local dogs.

This full-day tour to Celestún includes hotel pick-up and drop-off in Mérida, a boat ride through the mangroves, time on the beach as well as lunch at a local restaurant.

Prefer a dose of history? Uxmal is one of the most impressive and under-visited Mayan ruins in the region, featuring the curved Pyramid of the Magician and ornate Puuc-style architecture. It’s just an hour from the city and you can either rent a car or take a tour from Mérida.

We actually stayed here the night (at a hotel right near the entrance – The Lodge at Uxmal, if you’re interested) and arrived as the gates were opening – we saw only about two dozen people the whole morning. It was incredible to have the place almost to ourselves!

Our guide Jorge was incredible! He’s been visiting Uxmal for decades and knows so much about the site and its history – and has seen it as it’s been slowly recovered from the jungle.

Alternatively, visit Chichén Itzá, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, and explore the massive stepped pyramid of El Castillo, the sacred cenote, and the observatory.

This incredibly popular site is just 1.5 hours from Mérida – so you can get up early and be at the gate when it opens to beat the crowds.

For something slower paced, consider Izamal, also known as the “Yellow City” thanks to its uniformly golden buildings. It’s a peaceful town to wander, home to a large Franciscan convent and a few Mayan pyramids you can climb for great views. We drove here and spent a few hours wandering around and eating.

You could also design a day trip around swimming in cenotes – natural limestone sinkholes filled with cool, clear water. We spent a few hours at Cenotes Santa Bárbara. You can take a bike and cycle to the various cenotes across the site. They are each so beautiful with crisp, clear water, and either inside a cave or outside under cliffs.

To go deeper into local culture, consider taking a Yucatecan cooking class. Visit one of the local markets and then take all the produce back to the kitchen to learn to make traditional dishes like sikil pak (a pumpkin seed dip), tamales or cochinita pibil. Book the class online here.

Where to eat in Mérida

Mérida’s food scene is incredible. As the capital of the state, it’s a great place to try Yucatecan cuisine because there are so many options throughout the city (although you’ll be hard-pressed to fit everything to eat into your Merida itinerary!).

Yucatecan food is really unique and there are plenty of regional specialties to try, including:

• Panuchos: Tortillas stuffed with refried beans and topped with shredded meat
• Salbutes: Puffy tortillas with chicken, avocado and pickled onions on top (or other toppings like slow-roasted turkey in black sauce)
• Cochinita pibil: Slow-roasted pork cooked in citrus and achiote paste
• Papadzules: Rolled tortillas in pumpkin seed sauce (soooo good!!)
• Chaya con piña: A refreshing juice made with local spinach-like leaves and pineapple

For breakfast, head to Soco for baked goods and strong coffee or try Pancho Maíz, a place that puts corn front and centre (this café should definitely be on your Merida itinerary). Pancho Maíz is my absolute favourite – what they do with local ingredients is just a beautiful way to start the day. Tinoc Cafe has a great acai bowl and healthy options.

For lunch or dinner, Los Trompos is a reliable favourite with locals. Ignore the fact that there’s pizza and pasta on the menu and go straight for the tacos – the al pastor and bistec are particularly juicy and flavourful. Taqueria de la Union is another option for tacos, although it’s a little more touristy.

Mercado 60 is a food hall with all kinds of food to try (from Mexican to burgers to pasta) as well as bars and live music.

For more refined dining, K’u’uk is one of the best restaurants in Merida, with contemporary Mexican dishes made with local ingredients. Chaya Maya is a great place to try those traditional dishes like cochinita pibil and papadzules.

When to visit Mérida

The best time to visit Mérida is between November and March, when the weather is cooler and the humidity a little lower. During these months, daytime temperatures hover in the mid-to-high 20s°C (mid-70s to low 80s°F), and there’s little rain.

Summer (June to September) brings high humidity, soaring temperatures and the rainy season. While there’s still plenty to do here during this time, it’s wise to get any outdoors activities done during the morning and then spend the afternoons somewhere shaded or indoors. This is low season, so you may find better hotel deals.

We visited in October and some of our days were overcast with just a little bit of rain in the morning and evening. It definitely didn’t stop us from doing anything – although the humidity was still high, which meant an afternoon siesta to recuperate!

How to get to Mérida

Mérida has an international airport, Manuel Crescencio Rejón International Airport (MID), just 20 minutes from the city centre. The airport is connected to several major Mexican cities like Mexico City, Guadalajara, Oaxaca and Monterrey, as well as to cities in the United States including Dallas, Houston and Miami.

CHECK FLIGHTS TO MERIDA

Note that Uber drivers can’t pick you up from the entrance at the terminal – you have to walk a fair way to the pick-up zone. We weren’t keen on doing this in the dark so we went with an approved airport driver, which cost us around MXN$300.

If you’re already travelling within the Yucatán Peninsula, Mérida is easily accessible by long-distance bus. ADO (and other bus companies) operates frequent routes from Cancún (about 3.5 hours), Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Campeche. Buses are air-conditioned and some even have onboard entertainment.

How to get around Mérida

Mérida’s historic centre is compact and very walkable, so the easiest way to get around is on foot. If you’re staying centrally, you’ll only need a car or taxi for day trips outside the city.

Taxis and ride-share apps like Uber are super affordable.

Public transportation in Mérida also includes local buses and colectivos, but they can be difficult to navigate if you don’t speak Spanish or are unfamiliar with the routes. For short stays in Merida, they’re usually not necessary.

If you’re planning to do multiple day trips – to Uxmal, cenotes or the beach at Celestún – consider renting a car. We picked up some wheels in Mérida for the rest of our Yucatan road trip, and used it in Merida to head out for some day trips. A rental car cost us around US$600 for two weeks. I recommend using DiscoverCars to compare all the major rental brands. Alternatively, I’ve suggested several tours earlier so you can leave the planning and driving to someone else.

Where to stay in Mérida

For first-time visitors (like we were), I recommend staying in the Centro Histórico so you’re close to everything that I’ve included on this Merida itinerary. For a touch of glamour, consider a stay along Paseo de Montejo, home to some luxurious hotels.

We loved our stay at Hotel Hacienda Merida. In an 18^th-century building, this boutique hotel has huge rooms. It’s located close to the centre of town so it’s easy to walk everywhere from here. Check pricing and availability at Booking.com and Expedia

Other options include Casa Tres Colibries, which is in a great location and has a lovely pool in lush gardens. Check availability and pricing on Booking.com and Expedia

Decu Downtown is also in a great location but more upscale – the architecture is stunning. Check availability and pricing on Booking.com and Expedia

What to pack

Pack lightweight, breathable clothing – Mérida is hot and humid for much of the year – along with flat walking shoes for navigating cobblestone streets.

Don’t forget sunscreen, a hat and insect repellent (especially if you’re visiting cenotes or nature reserves). And a swimsuit (or three!) for the cenotes!

Bring a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the day – I pack Aquatabs (they kill waterborne bacteria that cause stomach upsets) so I can fill up my bottle with tap water safely. I’m also considering getting a Lifestraw Go Bottle for my upcoming trips – it would be very handy for many of the countries I like to visit!

Additional travel tips

Mérida is considered one of the safest cities in Mexico for travellers and you’re unlikely to encounter issues as a visitor. Still, use common sense when walking alone at night or when travelling to remote areas.

Most businesses accept credit cards, but you’ll want to carry cash for smaller markets and food stalls. There are several ATMs in the city centre. I like to bring several different credit cards just in case one doesn’t work – and a Wise card is good for getting decent currency conversions.

While not everyone speaks English, many people in the hospitality industry do. A few basic Spanish phrases will go a long way – and locals always appreciate the effort.

Merida itinerary: Final thoughts

With three days in Mérida, you’ll get a satisfying glimpse into the city’s culture, cuisine and community – but don’t be surprised if you find yourself wanting to stay longer.

We loved basing ourselves here as part of a longer Yucatan road trip, and a car was super handy for day trips to cenotes, archaeological sites and the coast.

What makes Mérida so memorable is its balance: it’s lively but laid-back, historic yet creative, and full of things to do without ever feeling overwhelming. Whether you come for the food, the history or simply to soak up the atmosphere of this colourful colonial city, Mérida makes a great base.

What’s on your Merida itinerary? Leave your comments and tips in the comments section below.

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• The Perfect 2-Week Yucatan Itinerary: Ruins, Cenotes and Colourful Towns
• 3 Days in Mexico City: What to See, Do and Eat
• 4 Days in Oaxaca Itinerary: 25+ Best Things To Do
• 19 Useful Things to Know Before Travelling to Oaxaca, Mexico
• The Best Things To Do in Cancun, Mexico: An Insider’s Guide

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