Mérida is the largest city in the Yucatan but it doesn’t carry a big-city vibe at all. It’s a delightful town and there are so many fun things to do in Merida. The city gives off almost more of a European feel yet is still very much Mexico. Here, colorful pastels blend with historic charm along Mérida’s grid-like streets. You’ll always be only a few blocks away from a plaza (city square) where there is likely some event going on.

The locals in Mérida are very friendly, the food is delicious, and the nightlife is often jamming. If planning a trip to Mérida, we would recommend trying to stay during the weekend, as the entire city tends to come out to play then.

Check any preconceived notions of safety in Mexico at the door because here, Mérida is very safe. In fact, Mérida is often cited as the safest city in Mexico!

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What is mostly liked about Mérida, are the amount of cultural events going on. Each evening, there is something going on in the city, just check the schedule on the website of Mérida's town hall. 

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Also, there are lots of cultural museums like The Gran Museo del Mundo Maya, and the Museo Regional de Antropología. There are cathedrals and churches and floral gardens. 

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Casa Montejo is this gorgeous colonial mansion in the center of town that's been turned into a museum. It is one of the most impressive exhibits you will see throughout your trip in Mexico, and it's right in the heart of the city. After some time browsing the exhibitions, sit in the courtyard at the center of the city and admire the Catedral de Mérida, then head to El Colón Sorbetes y Dulces Finos for the most delicious sorbet. When you're at one of their two locations, order the mamey–it's a tropical fruit flavor that basically tastes like sweet potato pie. When you find mamey in the states, it's usually overripe; in Mexico, it's this garnet colored kiwi-esque fruit that has the taste, texture and cinnamon-y goodness of Thanksgiving.

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A highly recommended tip: skip the beach and go swimming in the cenotes instead. These little oases from the jungle heat have such a different energy than the beach; it feels like Austin's Barton Springs but in the Yucatàn. These natural pools are something out of Tarzan, full of vines with deep blue water. They're these beautiful sources of spring water in the heart of the jungle and adventurous swimmers can dive in from the cliffs on the sides or swing into the water from tree roots.

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Mérida is the perfect initial situation for visiting several ruins in the area. Famous ruins like Uxmal and Chichén Itzá can be visited with tours as well as independently from here. 

Don't miss visiting  one of the lesser known Mayan sites like:

- Ruins of Dzibilchaltún

- Mayapan

- Village of Oxkutzcab

- Izamal

- Ek Balam (close to Valladolid)