The 44 best free attractions in Merida

Amazing place on Mérida you can walk, eat marquesitas and have fun! Take a lot of photos

Nice walk with explanations along the way, can visit some interesting places such as the concept like Casa Tho

The buildings are beautiful, the area is clean and very safe. Some of the architecture is just amazing and romantic.

Sad to see that many historic buildings are now either empty and abandoned or have become a business. I guess there is no other option.

Beautiful and great atmosphere

Beautiful road of the city of Merida. Clean and modern, perfect road to walk, run and ride a bike. Many beautiful colonial architectures along the road. At day time not many people are walking because of the sun. Approximately from 6pm, people come out.

Nice area to walk and eat. Beautiful buildings

We had a great time during our visit here. It was a historical building in the city center of Merida where we could see murals, artworks, and museum. It was a free entry during my visit. In October, the city is preparing for a carnival. We could see many beautiful decorations inside the city. We managed to see local performances in the other part of the street.

Very large artworks depicting historical events, Mayan traditions and folklore ,displayed on two floors. Our Tour Leader took the 3 of us in for a brief viewing. For someone really interested in art ,longer than a brief view essential. Free to enter. Guards at main doors amenable .

Beautiful museum with incredible artworks. I loved the green colour of the buildings and the lighting throughout the museum was stunning. It’s in a great location and definitely a must see spot when you’re visiting Merida.

This is an exquisite and well maintained palace of the governor. The entry is free and is well guarded by police, however they allow people to view it. The palace has amazing paintings and murals which depict historic events and modern works from a famous Mexican artist.

Merida is the capital of Yucatan state and the biggest city of the entire peninsula. This elegant green edifice is the area's government seat, standing on the main Plaza Grande square. In normal times you can enter it to admire great murals in the arched courtyard. They remind on Diego Rivera murals in Mexico city's City Hall, but here in Merida, Fernando Pacheco is responsible for them. Murals depict Spanish invasion of Yucatan and enslaving and destroying Mayan culture.

A beautiful building right around the corner from the Cathedral. The building is open to the public with no admission charge. Exceptional murals on the walls and especially in the expansive rooms on the second floor. The building is clean and very well cared for. Definitely worth a visit if you are in this area.

An unexpectedly interesting place, full of huge beautiful murals depicting the struggles of the Maya people and the government establishment in the Yucatán. Definitely a great place for learning and appreciating art.

You have to visit in person to get a feeling for this historic monument. Also there are numerous shops and a park where you can buy food and souvenirs

This is a MUST SEE if you’re in Merida! Stunningly beautiful cathedral that was the FIRST one built in Mexico. Easy to access, safe, no admission charge and stunning. You must check it out! 🤩

Beautiful site in Merida. Must see for anyone. Looking at it from Picheta is amazing as well. Also I recommend viewing it day and night because it looks amazing in different kinds of ways. Also research the history as it’s pretty interesting.

Architecturally impressive, this cathedral houses none of the original art. Either stripped during the Mexican Revolution, or removed to prevent theft, the cathedral is a less decorative experience than the frilly, gilded majesty of the ones we saw in Mexico City, Puebla, and Oaxaca. Saturday nights there is a Mayan pelota demonstration in front of the Cathedral. It is a fitting location, since the stone walls of the Catedral de San Ildefonso are also the last remnants of the Mayan Temple that stood on the same spot. If you are visiting the archeological sites in the area, the ball game demonstration and ceremony will add significantly to your overall understanding and experience.

Fascinating cathedral, especially during the Christmas season. I love the light show they project onto the cathedral, as well as all the events that take place during this time. The church is free of charge. I believe the projection only happens during the weekend.

It’s one of the oldest buildings in Mexico, making it a fascinating spot for anyone interested in history and architecture

The oldest Catholic Cathedral and Church in North America. It was amazing to go to Mass here and experience history. Imagining the millions of pilgrims and Catholics that have worshipped here over centuries. The authentic structure gives the feeling of traveling through time and being in an International landmark is something special. Located directly in Central Mérida Yucatan Mexico across from the plaza is the iconic landmark. The Church is very peaceful and popular for tourists. But, it still functions as a Catholic Church with Masses held daily. This cultural heritage center is where Catholics formed their first Cathedral in North America. Then branching out to form missions throughout North, Central, and South America. You can feel the connection between the past and the present in a Holy Site. Then enjoy the food, shopping, and the cultural park directly across the street. A great place for family to visit and also fellowship in Christ!

Entry is free!! And surprisingly hardly any visitors. Guess people got used to paying entrance fee 😉 Nice, well maintained place. Security takes it’s job seriously 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Museo Casa Montejo is a beautifully preserved slice of colonial history nestled in the heart of Mérida, Yucatán. Built in the 16th century by Spanish conquistador Francisco de Montejo, this mansion-turned-museum offers a rare glimpse into the opulence and architecture of the colonial era. The façade alone is worth the visit—ornately carved in the Plateresque style, it’s a stunning example of Spanish colonial artistry. Inside, the museum is divided into historical and cultural exhibits. The historical rooms are furnished with period pieces that recreate the lifestyle of wealthy colonial families, while the gallery spaces often feature rotating exhibitions of contemporary art.

The museum is located in the city center of Merida and we can visit for free. It is a great place to spend the time to know about the history of the city.

Free to enter and worth the short visit. Lots of local artwork displayed in the gallery and even a short film in Spanish with English subtitles on the history of Merida. I found this interesting and worth the visit and time it took. Spend a little or a lot of time there is no rush.

Very well kept and renovated with some of the original furniture. The rooms were air conditioned and the path well marked. Ask to view the mural, it pictures the hardship and reality of the indigenous people. Free admission.

Former house of the city's governor, which had to be sold by the family after several generations and is now in possession of the Mexican National Bank. The villa was restored and is now available for public for free. Note the exhibition opens at 11am - before only the bank terminal housed inside is accessable.

This is a good free museum to visit in Merida. It’s got some fantastic colonial furniture and a helpful video showcasing the history of the house. It’s now owned by a bank, which put the museum on show as a public service I assume. If you are in the main plaza check it out.

A very nice Museum about the history of Merida. There are cards in Spanish and English which tell you about the history of the city and it gives a good overview for someone, who doesn't know anything about the city's history. It is free, but there aren't that many things to look at, which is fine for the cost. On the ground floor there is a history exhibition and on the upper two floors various artists present their art.

The City Museum of Merida is free museum located near Lucas de Galvez Market PROs Free Interesting works of art and representations of Mayan city Great explanations on plaques, many even in English to Can be completed in 30ish minutes Air conditioning Staff incredibly helpful, they answered many questions about exhibits for me Wheel chair ramp CONS Small In a VERY busy section of town No real parking so Uber or walk

In 4 seperate halls you get taken through the history of the city of T'ho, better known as Mérida. From ancient times to pre-hispanic times to conquistadora to modern times, Mérida is a city with a story. And this museum is here to tell it. There is an exhibition in 'Hall 5' with photos from the USA and México, but it is not at all connected with this museum

Very nice temporary exposition artwork. The permanent items show a bit of community history. Its free. Has A/C. Worth the visit and it just some steps away from Lucas de Galvez market.

Wonderful museum with a variety of exhibits. Bonus was being free and cold AC. Definitely recommend to all those in Merida.

A nice little museum. Not much to see in the permanent collection, but their current installation was incredible. The henequén dresses were so beautiful. The 'history' of fashion in the Yucatan was fun with the presentation being very creative.

Three stories of local art and history. A great break from a hot city.

(Translated by Google) A great place to spend time, walk around, shop, enjoy the architecture, the people, and the beautiful skies. I highly recommend it. (Original) Un lugar para pasar un buen rato, caminar, comprar, disfrutar la arquitectura, la gente, los cielos hermosos. Se los recomiendo ampliamente

Mérida's Gran Plaza is a captivating blend of history and vibrant life, especially during Easter. The stunning colonial architecture, including the majestic Catedral and Palacios, provides a breathtaking backdrop. During Easter, the plaza buzzes with festive energy, often hosting cultural events that draw families and visitors alike. Adding to the lively atmosphere are the numerous street vendors, offering local treats and crafts. The Gran Plaza at Easter is a sensory experience, a perfect snapshot of Mérida's charm and community spirit.

Such a beautiful town square, lots of trees and the traditional seats for couples, not loud, live music and a photographer offering cheap pictures, very lovely place!

Merida is a lovely 16th century origins city in Yucatan. Lots of Spanish colonial and Republica buildings, many pleasant squares. We'll worth a visit if you are in the area. Quite a large city so takes some time to reach the historic centre. Many buildings are free to enter.

So much history in one plaza! Fantastic photo opportunities from the second floor of the governors mansion. Visit all the shops and enjoy the daily activities!

All.week and event to do . Kind people and respectful vendors dance listen to music ice cream food sage street access and kind people all.around ♥️

Beautiful place to relax, eat and walk around, specially on Sundays which is dia de familia.

I think that "La plaza grande" it's a beautiful park and we can find different colonial architecture, you really enjoy this place and if you want to se more content visit our YouTube channel "Yucatravel"

There are a few interesting things to see inside of this very beautiful building, but the collection is quite small and really only the first floor is related to the Mayan culture. The second floor is family history of the house and rather boring. The QR codes for English take you to a broken link in the Google Drive. Staff were unfriendly, on their phones, or just plain sleeping. They won’t let you keep your bag with you or take water, despite the excessive heat. There are much better museums to explore in Cozumel and Valladolid. Overall, it took about an hour and mostly because there’s a lot of reading/translating large information posters.

Amazing experience and very pretty building. There are QR codes that guests can scan for the English language option. Apparently, some displays are switched out from time to time, so you can see different artifacts and collections tickets are cheap, and if you have a resident card, they are even cheaper.

Overall - a good place to learn a little about the past and the present of the region. The way the English translation works is not the most convenient, but functional, I guess. The experience is short, yet fulfilling and the place itself is stunning!

Loved exploring this musuem and learning about the history of Merida and the Yucatan area. The signs have QR codes that pull the English version of the description cards. Great way to spend 1-2 hours in air conditioned comfort.

Interesting museum currently they have a exhibit about the trade routes used by indigenous peoples and the part rivers and ocean ports played in these historic markets

Small museum, housed in a beautiful historic mansion on Paseo Montejo. It contains exhibits of Mayan ceramics and other artifacts and id owned by the State of Yucatan. Also, an exhibit about General Canton, the person who had the building constructed as his home, in the early 1900's along with the history of the building. English translations available on line with a QR code. There was one room photographic exhibit of the various religions in the Yucatan. Entry fee is a modest $100Mx.

As others have said, there are little to no explanations in English or other languages so you're pretty much on your own. It's a great museum that's not too expensive, entrance fees are $95 pesos per person. There's no parking inside only on the street so you'll need to go around a few times to find a spot. Lots of really cool things to see in this museum and didn't really encounter the curmudgeon up front that many reviewers were talking about.

Good space outside the museum for cultural events, under cover out of the elements.

Very nice modern art museum. While party of the building is under renovation the museum IS open, just not easy to find the entrance. It is from the passage with the flower exhibition, and the entrance fee for foreigners is 60 pesos. Very nice to spend half an hour to an hour here.

Google needs to be updated. We came by and the location is no longer modern art. It has some nice exhibits as part of the “Tren Maya” but all old stuff. We understand things change but disappointed.

This place is no longer free. Peaking in, we thought we’d spend our pesos on paletas instead. The Camino de Flores outside in the covered breezeway, which is free, was excellent. Do check it out!

Beautiful museum! It is free to enter, and it wasn't busy at all. The García Ponce exhibits were really nice, I really enjoy his work. I also loved the variety of pieces from other artists, and especially liked seeing a Diego Rivera painting. This is such a great museum, I will definitely be back!

Very nice art museum in the very heart of the historical center. Unlike other museums is also open on Monday. Free of charge. The exhibitions change regularly. You might expect to spend an hour there, or more if you are a slow-walker like me. There’s also quite a strong AC, better bring some light sweater.

Overall the museum is nice you can spend minimum half an hour there. Sadly I didn’t like the art there. If you like the art you can spend definitely more time there. Locals and residents get a ticket discount.

By the work "park" I imagine a lot of greenery, trees and benches to relax on, but there is almost none of that in this park. It's more like a small square with three palm trees and restaurants. What's interesting here are two huge white benches (or more like chairs) that you can sit on if you are able to climb them. However, if you are in luck, you may see the Yucatecan Serenade - an open-air dance with live music - taking place in this park every week. I imagine this event is what makes this park interesting.

City park in the historic center of the city. The park has GINORMOUSgossip chairs, the white chairs that face opposite directions for lovers to kiss or gossip to share information. The park is surrounded by restaurants. Once a week there is a city sponsored concert in the park. Get there early to sign a seat for the singing and dancing. The park is easy to get two of you are visiting in the center or the historic center of the city, or a quick Uber ride from the outside of the center. This is a lovely park, but it is just a park. The oldest park in the city of Merida

There’s often events going on at this park, like traditional music and dances. This is an iconic little park in the heart of Merida, so it’s a must visit if you are around the area. The place captures the Mexican culture and colors.

Great plaza a few blocks away from downtown with lots of places to sit and restaurant around the park. Don't miss sitting on the large chairs and get your picture taken. In the evenings there is usually live music.

Beautiful park just blocks from centro. If you're staying on the north side, you can walk past this park every time you're heading to the city center. The park is shaded by beautiful trees, and has 4 restaurants with outdoor seating to relax in the shade. Tucked in the corner is Ki'Xocolatl - authentic Yucatan chocolate that is a must visit, and the perfect place to get some gifts for friends and family when you get back home. Also Grab a few photos at the Sillas gigantes (giant kissing chairs) or wait to get those down in the centro by the Merida sign. One of the favorite things we did was the free walking tour with Gabriel that starts here. This is a great way to see the highlights of the city, the history and a few of Gabriel's favorite places all in 2 hours. Please take my word for it - do this on your first day and you'll feel like you got the insider tour - https://www.freewalkingtourmerida.mx/. Lastly, and maybe most importantly, Yucatecan Serenade, an open-air dance with live music, has been held weekly on Thursday night at 9:00 pm since 1965 right here (now you know what the stadium bench seating is for). Please take my word for it... this is the place to be on Thursday. Locals and travelers alike attend this event and it is always amazing and it is always busy. Get there at 8:00 pm (or earlier) to get a seat at this free event, because it is the place to be! The regional music was played by a full band, and some of the songs were accompanied by traditional dancers. You don't want to miss this on your visit!

This park is full of joy. I went there for the Thursday local dance show which starts at 9 p.m.. The people there are in a really good mood, they are chilling, talking, laughing and just enjoying their time there. Come around 8 to 8.30, find a nice spot to sit. Bring snacks or buy some of the many locals selling snacks, water, coke or buy some food from the food stalls or many restaurants.

Great place to hangout. Several restaurants, little pricey but good food everywhere. Make sure you ask if there are discounts, we got our drinks half price at the Soberana patio.

Not worth the time or the effort or money indeed the price of both getting there, it’s far, and admission. The edifice is huge but the galleries are small, so much so that currently there is a large section on crafts, not really what one is expecting. Basically if you have been to the many Mayan museums in each city including the excellent Anthropological Museum in CDMX then this is a total waste of time. Sad but true!

This was a decent museum but it was a little bit confusing. For some reason when you enter you are actually entering at the end of the exhibit and when you exit it's the beginning of the exhibit. I'm not quite clear on why this was happening. I also was a little bit confused by the items that appear to be original archaeological pieces. Were they really? After you walk through there for a while, you start to realize that these may not be actual archaeological items but reproductions of them. I noticed this when I was reading what they were saying about each item.

Great artifacts! Big museum with lots of history and interesting facts about Maya. Taking off 2 starts for: 1) No English guide (or any guide) at this pint 2) No air conditioning, we wanted to leave earlier just because it was unbearable hot inside

We arrived at the museum an hour and 15 minutes before it closed, but it turned out that was the perfect amount of time. It doesn't have a ton of blockbuster artifacts (especially if you've already visited, and are implicitly comparing it to, the Museo de Antropologia in Mexico City...which was the case for us). However, what it DOES do quite well is to paint a picture of how the ancient Maya actually lived, how their society was impacted and shaped by the Spanish conquest (such as the role of the henequen trade), and how that all connects to the lives of the modern Maya. That throughline is essentially absent from the CDMX museum; in fact, I think the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya feels more like an "anthropology" museum, while the Museo de Antropologia feels like an archaeology museum, not anthropology. Both are worthwhile for their own reasons!

Fascinating and accessible museum covering Mayan culture ancient and current. Interesting artefacts and signs in Mayan, Spanish and English. Gives a great insight into the cultural and technological sophistication of their ancient civilisation, and the impact of colonisation. Huge modern building with clearly money splashed on it.

If you're interested in the Mayan culture, there are interesting artifacts to view at this museum. It also includes early Spanish artifacts. There are also three movie theaters with interesting visuals that are presented in Spanish language audio. This was our second visit in six years. We visited the museum during a weekday afternoon, and it was relatively quiet. The staff was very friendly and we had a great experience!

Mayan world museum is a really good museum. It is well done, in Spanish Mayan and English. They have artifacts of every type, recreations, and movies explaining the Mayan culture. This is a great museum! My problem with it was that it was quiet like a church. No music, people really weren't talking, it was just so freaky quiet. Also the air conditioning is tepid not cold. When we visited the museum the cafeteria was out of order, but there is a vending machine in a dark corner of the parking lot underneath the museum. I'm glad I went to the museum. I am so glad that I got all the knowledge. It is not a museum I would visit again unless I was with people when never been before.

Amazing fresh market with deep history. Step in here and visit the real Mexico.

You never know what you might discover buying local produce direct from the growers, or shoes made in Merida by local craftsmen. Take some time to wander about the market and learn about the different areas of concentration of types of things being sold. I found a great place to get my shoes repaired, knives sharpened, spice jars filled and lots of artisanal foods including cheese.

Always get everything need here. Love it, just crowded for Nov and Dec.

Love this market very much. It was busy and crowded, full of so many things that stimulate all the senses. So much stuff for sale, both new and used. Very inexpensive. Tons of cooked foods every where, especially in there large food court. Lots of locals shopping for their household needs and eating lunches. Very authentic. I wish I had more time to explore.

Amazing market for just about anything but the wonderful fresh produce is just wonderful! A must see if you are visiting Merida!

Ok, I know it's not the coolest place but fruits and vegetables are cheaper than in the supermarket

Great market with fresh fruits and more

What a great restaurant. Welcoming staff, delicious food, pleasant family friendly atmosphere. We have the cochinita pibil and poc chuc. Both were tender, juicy and delicious. The service was very attentive. We didn't have to wait. It was so good we went back a second timime on our last night in Merida. Delicious!

After all the amazing reviews and coverage this place gets, we thought we had to try it for ourselves and went to two of their locations within a few days. While the atmosphere is nice, feels very authentic, and the corn tortillas being prepared in real-time is great, I found the food to be quite bland. The meals looked delicious but flavor was lacking in most of it. The staff was lovely and helpful.

Great place to get a bunch of typical yucatecan food in one place. This location is quite spacious and indoors if you're looking for AC and fewer mosquitos. We had the sopa de lima, a vaporcito, and poc chuc and with the complimentary totopos and dips (frijoles, salsa habanera, and a pumpkin seed dip), we had plenty of food.

Despite the line for a table these guys move fast and efficient. Food was delivered fast a promptly, great taste, hot and delicious. Great atmosphere of traditional Yucateca dishes. Server was very efficient and always checking on us.

This was really good. Very friendly service, great food (huge portions) and super cold beer.

Was my first time in Merida Yucatan Mexico and my friend sed let's go to La Chaya Maya and we went , it was sooo delicious 😋 the ladies are making the corn tortillas right in front of you and there is a parking right before u reach on your right hand u get your ticket and before u left La Chaya Maya tell them to stamp it u will get a discount or maybe u even have to pay for the parking , and let me tell u the have 2 La Chaya Maya and 2 of them are same distance from the Parking u can just ask the parking person , as u come out of the parking if u go to your right hand u do straight on the corner and the next to your left hand and as u reach corner u take your right hand little down and on your right hand there 😉 enjoy.

Someone we met in Merida recommended this place and we're certainly glad that they did. It was amazing. Very very crowded but we only waited about 5 minutes. Everything was amazing.

Small little church . Worth a stop if you are passing close by. I wouldn't go out of my way though.

Seems this place has seen better days along with the plazs

Beautiful church. Too bad the little chapel was very dark and without AC or any kind of fan.

Not a huge deal. You can visit if you have nothing else to do in Merida.

How often do you get to visit a church built in the 1700’s?? What are you waiting for? Just go!

wonderful place , love it

Breathtaking, check out tombstones from time of conquistadors

I walked by this place a couple times a day not knowing what it was. One day, when there was a performance, the doors were open and saw that it was a performance center. I asked one of the ushers for a program and saw there was going to be a matinee concert in a couple of days. I purchased tickets easily on my phone and they were quite inexpensive too. The process was in Spanish but Google Translate to the rescue! I was excited and looked forward to the program. The guest conductor was the apparently renowned Jose Luis Castillo and the program included Georges Bizet (Sinfonia no. 1)and another composer that I had never heard of before but was quickly a fan of - the French composer Gabriel Faure (Pavana Op. 50 & Suite Pelleas & Melisande, Op. 80) The hall was a bit rundown in spots here and there but it was a grand lady just showing her age in spots. The ceiling was beautiful. If you can catch a performance, I promise you will thoroughly enjoy yourselves!

We had the amazing experience with the beautiful opera Cavalleria Rusticana. amazing performance! We also enjoy to experience the magnificent night life around there.

This theater is not only beautiful, but the acoustics are outstanding. I have been to many theaters and the comfort level of the seating is extraordinary in the orchestra. The balconies provide incredible views, but seating is tight. Overall an exceptional environment to experience an artistic event.

Nice theater with an old colonial feel. Excellent sightlines from practically every seat. The box seats on the second level are a nice touch but the ones closer to the stage don't have such a good view. A great place to have a night out, the ticket prices are always reasonable and there is a wide variety of shows. It can be hard to figure out where to get tickets because the box office on site is just for the symphony shows. BTW: show some class and dress nicely, shorts are for children and sandals are for the beach.

I'm in love with this theater. I used to come here once a week because the Yucatan symphonica plays here. The seats are a bit tight but actually the sound quality of the space is nice. You can totally hear what's happening even if you're on the top floor. The visibility is not as good when you're too close to the stage on the sides of a higher level, and it's a big difficult to really appreciate what's happening on scene. For an Opera or ballet function I will totally spend a bit more on a better seat.

It's an interesting place to visit in this beautiful city. I was fortunate to listen to the Yucatan Symphony Orchestra. The sound is very good, and the place is spacious so there is no problem with large audiences. You can enjoy various musical and cultural events. If you are visiting Merida, I recommend you know this place someday

Wonderful venue for classical music. Great acoustics.

Nice place to visit,dedicated to all south american countries, Dr.Carlos Finlay, Jose Marti ... Visited at Sunday. the acustic shell is awesome. The fountain was out of service - sad In general the park buildings and monuments shoud have more maintanance.

My favorite park in Mérida. Beautiful all year round. Magical at Christmas time.

I think we missed the bulk of the Christmas lights, unfortunately. (We could see many of them a few days ago as we drove by, and a few days later stopped and checked the park out.) This park is situated on 4 city blocks, the design and structures are a nod to the Mayan past. I think the park could use a little TLC and maintenance, otherwise it's a very nice place to go for a walk, a rest, and somewhere to take the kids.

A relaxing walk. There are four blocks; the first block is a children's park, the second is a fountain, the 3rd is a library, and the 4th is an amphitheater. The evenings (especially near the weekend) fill up with local vendors of corn, tacos, tortas, marquesitas, and ice cream. a relaxing historical park that is a part of the Garcia Gineres neighborhood since the early 1940's

Perhaps the nicest park in Mérida, and that's saying something. It is divided in to four sections including a great park for kids, an amphitheater and enormous neo-maya fountain. Lots to explore, that's for sure. Also tons of great food stands, especially in the evenings and weekends.

this park consists of 4 sections, I enjoyed all of them! The first section has a playground with games, small cycle track and carts. The second section is the acoustic shell, which is an open-air theater adorned with Mayan elements, around it has 2 corridors reminiscent of the temple of warriors in Chichen Itza, since it is formed by many columns. The night I was there, beautiful music was playing during a dance class. The third is the "Jose Marti" library that has the shape of a Mayan hut adorned with a pheasant and a deer on both sides of the building, in the back, can you find a place to read and admire each shield of the countries of Latin America, The fourth is a frontispiece in the form of a platform, adorned with faces of the rain god and 7 snakes reminiscent of Kukulcan.

Beautiful place to see the culture of Mérida. Not very crowded most times and we got great pictures. There’s a library and convenience store nearby and of course street vendors.

You may say this market is dirty, but it was a great experience to be in the local market in Merida. I loved to see the chilli, fresh fruits, and vegetables.

This market lived up to my expectations, both high and low. There is a curious mix of things and food for sale. The things are colourful and cheap for the most part. Plastic stuff in every shape and colour. Plastic toys, costume jewellery and religious icons and ephemera. Electronics and parts. Clothing for literally cents on the dollar, but nothing I could wear. Size being the problem. I was more interested in the potential for prepared food and refreshments. My expectations were realized in terms of the plenty, however there was no way I was prepared to take a chance on some of these places. I'm not suggesting that the vendors were dirty or lacking in skill in the kitchen. Just a bit outside my comfort zone in terms of my notions of hygiene. Having said this, I did enjoy a few foods and suffered no I'll effects. My concerns were further belayed after a food tour through here the following day. Treat this place as a combination museum and fun house as a tourist. But keep in mind that it is a serious, integral part of community life here in Merida.

The real deal! If you’re used to local Mexico living this is your kind of place, 99% local, actually we saw only locals, but this is where it all happens, best food, best local experience, get your Spanish ready you’re going to need it! My kind of place, friendly, helpful, enjoyable. Can’t wait to go back! Prices are great, the meat market is huge!

Mercado San Benito isn’t just a market—it’s an experience. It’s big, it’s bustling, and it’s got everything. Think of it as the Costco or Super Walmart of regional markets, attached to Mercado Lucas de Gálvez. Walk out of Galvez, and boom—you’re in Benito. This place is a maze of vendors selling fruit next to shoes, next to tacos, next to cell phones. Not a flea market (everything’s new), but it’s got that chaotic, treasure-hunt vibe. Feeling hungry? Don’t hesitate—food here is clean, delicious, and dirt cheap. Pro tip: The market is huge and organized by sections—candy with candy, shoes with shoes, butchers with butchers. It can feel overwhelming, but everyone’s polite, and the prices? Unreal. Must-tries: Cochinita pibil (slow-roasted pork heaven) and a Jamaica juice (refreshing hibiscus drink). you can visit every day and barely scratch the surface! I was fascinated by the people watching as for the food and offerings. I hope you enjoy!!

Mercado San Benito in Merida, Mexico, is a vibrant marketplace that offers an impressive array of fresh fruits, vegetables, regional spices, and household goods at fantastic prices. The lively atmosphere is complemented by the friendly vendors who showcase the region's rich culinary heritage. For the best selection and a more leisurely shopping experience, I recommend visiting early in the day, close to opening hours. It's a delightful destination for those seeking quality produce and local flavors in a charming setting.

Great market to buy produce, clothes etc. I visited the vegetable and fruit stalls.

Huge, authentic market, almost only locals. Very cheap prices. You will find almost everything: Meat, vegetables, fruit, spices, shoes, clothes, hardware, animals... . Craftsmen repair phones, shoes and jewelry. Taco-Factories. Lots of places to eat cheap, local food. All the Hustle and Bustle a market needs!

Large platform dominates the square that is dedicated to the Ninos Heros killed by USA Marines in Mexico City in 1848. Only a block away from main Merida police station and across the street from the UADY architecture campus, lots of students hanging out. Unfortunatly drunks, and annoying self-entitled street verdors here selling pure crap. They spoil it for everyone who would like to sit quietly and enjoy the park. This a general problem in parts of Merida. Old church, now closed, on SE corner across from the square. South and west the neighborhood is genteifying. Inside the old walled city, witk classic arched gates to the walled city 1 block south.

It's a nice parque, with an old church, a statue an old city entrance arch and nice buildings and it offers places to sit and enjoy your drink or snack,

A great park with multiple places for kids to play, adults to gather, and a lot of activities. There’s bike paths, a walking route, and the food court is delightful.

Love the christmas flowers. We walked through te park while we were going to the museo de arte yucatan. Lovely christmas music at the park, not so many turists there, so that's always great. The policemen were walking through the park!

Went to La Noche Blanca festival. Great local park. Restaurants and tiendas surround the park. The Yucatecan Folk museum can be found here too.

This historic square is an ideal place to take a little break amongst its shady trees. In the center of the plaza is the monument of the Niños Heroes. It features the sculpture of an eagle and six bronze figures that represent the teenage cadets who are reported to have sacrificed their lives in the 1847 battle of Chapultepec against invading U.S forces.

Very nice monument to these patriots who died for their country 🇲🇽

Cultural central with changing art exhibit. Free to enter and view. Nice architecture.

This is a great museum, with multiple exhibits showing modern art of different types of art media. I'm so glad I visited, it's definitely worth checking out!

The area is free to enter and has rotating exhibitions. Today we saw the works of Jaime Barrera, a local artist who depicts the abstract landscapes of Iceland in his exhibition Islandia - Terra Incógnita. Jaime is incredibly talented, particularly in the use of textures and colour pallets. Be sure to sign the guest book upon entry and there are free public toilets on site. Barrera's exhibition will continue to be on showcase until April 2025.

A nice building to visit when you're in Merida. From Saturday through Monday there are performances in front of the building (For free). Just be there on time to have a chair. The show starts at 8 p.m.

I really enjoyed the Terra Incógnita exposition, go see it while you can.

Wonderful exhibit by Marc Chagall. Make sure you see all the exhibit halls. They are not marked.

I was lucky to catch up the show on every Tue 8-9pm. Excellent show! And it’s free !

Lived and worked in Merida 10 months in mid 70s This was my. Main hangout in the evening. Made a lot of awesome friends here. It saddened me to leave. I really miss those people.😓 My intentions were to return to live but couldn't make it back.

A nice little park right around shops and restaurants. There are other historical landmarks close by, like the church across the street. It is a bustling area with a great atmosphere. It's a nice place to have a seat and take in the charm of Merida.

Great park with many benches. This area is covered by free wifi in Mérida. Restaurants and cafes are nearby. It is a good place to stop in the hot weather. The location is easy to find by walking straight after the main cathedral. The park is facing a church.

A charming little park located between the Rectory of Jesus Church and the main plaza. There are a few restaurants, a coffee shop, a couple of old hotels, a theater, and an ancient church constructed from stones taken from a dismantled Mayan pyramid that stood on this site.

Interesting park. Even though it is colloquially known as Parque Hidalgo, that apparently isn’t its official name. The Hidalgo soldiers used to train here in the past, and this is where the name comes from. The parque is simple and not that big, but it is surrounded by a few very historically significant buildings - the Jesuit built church, the first gender-mixed club in Mexico, and the region’s first hotel.

Perfect place to sit and enjoy a typical morning vibe of the city

Very cool park in the center of el centro! A must see if you’re walking around downtown!

Wonderful Zoo with LOTS of shade!! Both my kids (9 & 2) had a great time here. The animals overall look like they are in good health. My toddler even wanted some of the food that the birds had 😅 (fruit salad). I appreciate the playgrounds and food stalls. Makes it easy to spend a few hours here. I came on a weekday both times so it wasn’t very busy.

Amazing Free Zoo – A Fun and Family-Friendly Day Out! We recently visited this zoo and had an absolutely wonderful experience. One of the best things about it is that admission is completely free, making it a fantastic option for families, students, or anyone looking for an affordable day of fun. The zoo offers a wide variety of animals to see, from exotic species to local favorites. There are plenty of exhibits and enclosures that are well-maintained and engaging for visitors of all ages. Kids especially enjoyed seeing the animals up close, and there were plenty of opportunities for photos and learning. In addition to the animals, the zoo features many food vendors offering a range of delicious snacks and meals, so you’ll never go hungry during your visit. Whether you're craving a quick bite or a sit-down meal, there's plenty of choice. A standout feature is the free train ride that takes visitors around the zoo. It’s a great way to cover more ground and enjoy the scenery without getting too tired, especially for little ones or those who prefer a more relaxed experience. The layout of the zoo is thoughtfully designed, with lots of shaded areas scattered throughout the grounds. This was a huge plus on a warm day, as it kept us comfortable and protected from the sun. There are also many benches and picnic spots if you want to take a break or enjoy a packed lunch. Another important convenience is the abundance of free bathrooms, which made our visit much more comfortable and hassle-free. It’s always nice to see such thoughtful amenities provided for visitors. Overall, this zoo exceeded our expectations. It’s a clean, well-organized, and family-friendly destination that offers a lot for free. We left with great memories and a desire to return soon. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a fun, educational, and budget-friendly outing!

This zoo has a lot of animals and isnt just a zoo. It is a park for the little ones too. There are a lot of vendors for food and plenty of bathrooms. Restrooms are free but tips are asked for at the door. Most important thing I can say is that alot of the reviews and write-ups online are incorrect or deceiving. All that I saw said the zoo opens at 8AM, that is incorrect. The zoo opens at 9AM on most days amd the park opens at 8AM. The vendors were starting to open around 8:30 for food but most were still closed when I left around 1030 on a Wednesday. The entire time I was there there was someone cleaning enclosures. The enclosures are old zoo style, maybe think private collection? There are some indictments for some of the animals and others that you would find roaming the plains they basically have an open area to move around in. I had a great experience and the animals on display seemed happy and well maintained.

Nice park to walk around. I cannot say much, we went at quite times, not sure how it is when all the stalls are open, but looks like good fun for kids

Very nice family zoo! Free. All the animals you would see at a pay zoo. Hippos lions tigers jaguars giraffes birds monkeys etc. There is a small train that goes through the zoo. takes about 3 hours to walk through if you would like to see it all. Photo is the entrance at night.

Loved this place. Free access to the park and the train is $1peso per ride. Takes you all around the park. There are tiendas that sell souvenirs, toys, treats and a little cafeteria area with picnic tables and washrooms. We were very impressed by the number of animals as well as the type. There were so many cool ones and the way the areas are setup, you can see the animals clearly. The park is pretty outdated but well worth the visit. We spent a very nice afternoon here for about 1-2hrs. I would definitely recommend!

Absolutely wonderful park, free entrance, take a train just for 1 peso per person. Kids will definitely love it.. you can spend all day there, zoo, park, food, souvenirs, toilet also feria. Amazing ☺️❤️

A handsome city hall building characterized by a double arcaded gallery. Nice enough structure that houses city government offices including a tourism office where you can get information about Merida and its environs. This is also where the city sponsored walking tours begin.

This gorgeous Spanish style arched City Hall stands right on the main Plaza Grande opposite the Cathedral. It's beautifully painted in pastel pink with a central tower clock. Before the Covid era you could climb the first gallery to have a better look on the Plaza from the terrace.

The palace lights up beautifully at night. There are also shows nightly in front of the palace - anything from music and dance to ancient games.

Very impressive building!

Closed to tourist right now. The guards wouldn't let me in.

Open Sunday

(Translated by Google) The paintings that narrate part of the city's history and the conquest are spectacular. They are painted on very large canvases, with a unique technique, beautiful strokes, and colors that complement the story. It's worth visiting and spending time with each painting. (Original) Las pinturas que narran parte de la historia de la ciudad como de la conquista son espectaculares. Son pinturas de lienzos muy grandes, con una técnica peculiar, trazos bonitos y colores que acompañar de acuerdo a lo que se está contando. Vale la pena visitar y dedicarla su tiempo a cada pintura

Went to the Summer Sale fundraiser as a vendor. It was a very well run event. Alfonso did a great job keeping things flowing smoothly. Will definitely attend next year!

This is one of the most beautiful libraries I've ever been! I moved back to the states but when I lived there I would take my students for a school tour and it was fabulous! The atmosphere is wonderful and everyone is so nice! MEL is a must visit place if you're living or planning to visit Merida.

The library is a valuable resource for English speakers who are moving to or just visiting Merida. We were just here for a month, but took advantage of their very expansive and impressive catalog of activities. For example, we took their home tour, art gallery tour, and considered their wine tasting evening. Check them out! Even if it’s just to see the cats on the back patio!

Lovely community library in Merida Centro I can’t believe we found this wonderful place, just around the corner from our hotel, on our last hour in Merida! On our next visit we’ll have to visit sooner to find out what’s going on. There were 2 friendly librarians to answer questions about the library and what it’s like to live in Merida. The facility is beautiful and well-stocked with a wide variety of books and other media. They even have a kids’ and teens’ department. In the back, there’s a little café and outdoor garden space for relaxing and for community events such as yoga classes. They accept donations too, so bring your extra books when you travel here to help their collection grow. A little gem in the center of Merida!

They are very nice, very kind and serene people, the place is tidy, pretty and it has a very nice, very fresh vibe 💗

What an incredible assett for readers of English and those learning. They had a great section of fiction and a book I really wanted. Unfortunately, I missed the library part of the title that implies renting nd returning. They do have a smaller section of books for sale incase you need a book for your travels.

Great atmosphere with water, wife, snacks and some group activities as well as many many books in English and free or at least cheap spanish lessons - Catch a full video tour at ( Noahmad ) YouTube channel

Came on a Sunday around 11am. Easy to find a parking spot right outside for free (not considering the tip for the gentleman). It was a bit overwhelming once the waiters began to yell very aggress for us to check out their menu and competing against each other. But it stopped as soon as I chose one of the many outstretched menus held out at us. The waiter was very helpful and friendly. We chose FRUTI-LUNCH. The menu had a great variety plus nice fresh drinks. We ordered the tacos cochinita, panuchos cochinita, empanadas con carne y queso and one tamal. To drink, we ordered one litre each of mango agua fresca and a mix of mango and pineapple aguafresca. Every order was good and tasty and we were satisfied (2 adults and 2 children) for a total of $505pesos. I thought that was pretty good! We had a few people approach us at our table while waiting for our food and we welcomed it as we actually were interested in the items. One was selling hammocks, another handmade pine fans and another handmade bracelets. They were a bit pushy but budged easily and quickly on the prices. We got a beautiful hammock ($650 pesos) and a fan that smells so nice and is very pretty($100pesos). Sorry about the half eaten food photos, we couldn’t help but dig in before I got some snaps in! That’s first part of our experience was great. The second was disappointing as we expected the place to be full of vendors but most were closed with only about five open. And the bathroom visit was not great either. We had to pay $5pesos pp to use the washroom and they give you a little bit of paper and there are no toilet seats. So once I used the paper for my young one to sit on, there wasn’t enough for her #2! But we figured it out with some leftover napkins in my bag. If I know that it gets busier on another day with all the vendors open, I would give it another try.

This market used to be one of my favorite spots — it had affordable prices, good food, and everything was always kept neat. Unfortunately, things have changed or at least I have seen decline since the beginning. The quality of the food is no longer the same, and it feels like the staff is too tired or overwhelmed to keep the place tidy. For a local market, the prices are now on the high side, which makes it hard to justify coming back as often as before. It’s disappointing to see the decline because it really used to be a great place.

Along most streets after 7:00 pm these energetic people pedal through if there is nice weather or not. The fresh goodies are worth running to the door for. The (pan) bread absolutely wonderful, soft, often oven warm and very economical. No need to go to the market and walk home in the heat. Not usually delivered on Sunday or Monday nights in some zones. When you catch the delivery person ask what nights are available. Once they know you are interested they will often slow and honk the hand operated bicycle horn louder. Please attempt to enjoy this home delivery service it is worth the effort. For 12 years we have enjoyed many of the delivery people in a multitude of housing locations throughout Merida. Enjoy.

Loved it here - authentic Yucatan food, the waiters really try to win you, the juices are delicious and the prices are fantastic. Much better food than some of the up-scaled restaurants that are close to pretentious rather than being authentic.

We arrived to merida and went there 1st day. BIG mistake. For a street market food is VERY EXPENSIVE!!! And barely decent. When u arrive you have all these guys hustling you to seat in their section/food court. For 2 aguas frescas and 2 meals we paid around 450 pesos! In our last day we went to La Chaya Maya, a few blocks from the market. La Chaya is a tipical yucateca food situated in an old hacienda downtown with the best...literally beat local food in merida, amazing service and well served portions (lots of cochinita in each taco) and girls what? Half (yes, 1/2) the price. Avoid the market, GO to la Chaya Maya if you want the best food, place, service and overall experience!

It is place, where you can get souvenirs and give a chance to loc gastronomy. You can find “panuchos”, “tamales”, “salbutes” and more delicatessens. Mérida is well known, actually the entire state of Yucatán, for its “Cochinita Pibil”, where this dish saw the light for first time, many years ago. Enjoy this must, eat and walk in to the shops.

Great restaurant in a great spot. Our mesero, Cesar, was awesome. Very friendly and helpful. Food was good and the craft beer selection too.

I came with a single mission to Parque Santiago. I needed my "fix" of Relleno Negro, a Yucatecan specialty. I was not disappointed. The flavor was spot on, the meatball was perfect and the broth was as black as the moonless night. Charred peppers never tasted so good.

Did I come here because of all the hype this place gets? Yes, but let me tell you it lives up to the hype. I ordered a Torta con lechón, it was fantastic! They bake their own bread, wood-fired just like the lechón so it's fresh and tasty and it's perfect with the pork. I also got a Cochinita Pibil Panucho and a Salbute de relleno negro. Both were amazing as well, however relleno negro was my favorite, it's such an unexpected taste, it's just great. Come to La Lupita, you won't be disappointed, it's worth the trip and the wait.

Get the pork roll - it’s heavenly and only $40 pesos. The chia de limon is also delicious!

They made vegan tacos upon request but since it’s a very traditional spot, all the rest of the dishes were meat + cheese heavy. Not many options for a vegan. Other than that, super authentic though.

Most unique and original experience for local fast food. The best option is to arrive early as it opens at 8 am but demand is so high you may not find all of their variety of dishes by 10 am. You may need to wait no longer than 15 minutes in the line as it is big but it's demand is over their available tables. Totally worth it!

It’s incredibly popular and if you don’t come first thing in the morning they may have sold out on some of the more popular items on the menu! Some of juiciest and most succulent meat I have had was here at Taqueria La Lupita - delicious food with generous servings of meat. For how busy it was, being realistic, I was happy with the level and friendliness of the service and the speed at which I was looked after.

wonderful place, there are a lot of places in this city where you can lechon, cochinita. but la lupita was even featured in a netflix tacos special, the lechon taco is soft and so rich in flavor you’ll need some 6 at least to get the hang of it. i love the fact that it’s inside an actual mercado and walking by yo have more options! like tetiz

Mostly crafts on sale here, prices are good and you'll find variety according to budget, but this place have another area for local food. Try the "Punto y Coma" place at the end of central corridor. This place closes earlier than others so don't came here by sunset or later.

A great experience and opportunity to mis with the local population. There are some hidden gems to find amongst the electronics, perfume and cosmetics vendors. I appreciated the blend of old and new products along with food to eat or carry home . There are lots of vendors selling fresh fruit and sweets along the streets around the market. Its not the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul, but has a similar vibe.

One of the best places to earn typical Yucatecan garments, Huraches and easily one of the top local street food places. RULES!!

Great selection of fruits, vegetables, fresh fish, beef, pork and chicken. Lots of lical food kiosks at great prices. Especiallt recommend Tony's juice bar.

A very big market, although a bit disorganized with mixed products. If you are patient you will find what you are looking for. We went on a Saturday, before noon and many, many people. I think it is a must see in Merida Food, condiments, artesans, even live animals. All the people are nice nice and will explain what they are selling. They will even give you recipies for the food or condiments they sell, if you enjoy the local food, like me.

Super local place, if you want to eat local food from mérida this is it, you will find perfect souvenirs, typically clothes and so much food.

It's a tradition, get a torta de cochinita and horchata. Nice market on Merida's downtown. If you get lucky there's live music playing around. Food and souvenir shops.

Super sparse on the day I went but we did purchase some local food (honey, sausage, etc.) It was food heavy with one craft tent. Would be a good option for a Saturday morning breakfast or lunch.

Great fresh locally made food options

The items are quality, but unless you are going for something specific, I don't feel there's enough options to make the trip out there.

Better location from the Colon! Good mix of merchants! It is good that my favourites came to these place!

Family event with the goats was a success! Good job to team Slowfood Merida Norte!

This market is a great place for organic foods, plants and best tacos

A fun place to go on a Saturday morning.

A bit expensive (250 for foreigners, 150 for Mexicans), but it includes a very good tour! This is a must to know a bit more about the more recent history of Mérida. The guides are very good and have a lot of knowledge. Amazing inside, I do recommend this museum if you are interested in Mérida.

The mansion is very beautiful. I love old homes and architecture, so I'm glad I went... However, it's a bit pricey, especially given that they are doing renovations (which will take a while) so the tour doesn't go upstairs. It's just the main level and then a quick stop in the downstairs kitchen. I think the prices would be more woth it if/when upstairs and bedrooms are included. Price as of today (3/13/22) 250 pesos visitors 150 pesos residents 50 pesos extras if you want to take pictures inside

I really enjoyed this tour - the guide spoke perfect English, was very informative and even took pictures of me. The house is beautifully decorated.

Such a great experience! The house is of course beautiful, but what I really loved was that you truly felt the family that lived there until recently, it was easy to imagine what it was like to live there. Our guide was very knowledgeable, answering any questions easily & fully. Highly recommend.

It’s unfortunate that you have to have a guide to see the museum. It’s completely unnecessary. As long as you have one guard, visitors should be able to pay the entrance fee and then be able to just walk around and take pictures. I also think the entrance fee they charge foreigners is on the high side (especially if you're a single girl like me who’s traveling on a bit of a budget). I went to check the other 1-2 star reviews to see if I was the only one (and if I was, I wasn’t going to leave a review), and it’s upsetting to see that the owners of the museum act angry and criticize some of the negative reviews instead of fixing the issues that are brought up. If your museum revolves around customers, don’t get mad when those customers give you legitimate feedback about the experience you provide. Just say “thank you” and move on.

Business advice: Don’t force people to take a guided tour in order to see the house. If people want to know the history of the place, then a tour can be an OPTION. But some visitors only want to look at how beautiful the place is and take pictures while enjoying the silence. Being charged 400 pesos for me and my wife to just hear a “guide” talk and talk and talk, and move very slowly from one small room to the next giving us pointless details, and telling everybody to stay close to him when we’re only two feet away, was not our idea of a good museum visit. If you’re worried about people touching or stealing things, hire security. Don’t make people join tour groups they don’t want to be in, in order to see the place. Consider offering a price for people who want to roam independently, and a discounted price for people who want to stay in a tour. Also, think about air conditioning.

A very enjoyable tour of a beautiful and well preserved home. It allowed a glimpse into the history of Mérida.

I thought it would bigger and have more variety. It was mostly vendors and a lot of little kid's stuff. However, I am mainly writing this to complain that the event schedules online for both this event and Merida Fest were inaccurate and completely useless. Nothing that was listed in the program corresponded to what was happening on the ground. It would be nice to have an accurate program of events, so you can attend the ones you're interested in and aren't just wasting your time senselessly walking around the plaza in circles.

Beautiful, Cultural and Artistic evenings on every Sunday during the year

Lots of local vendors plying their wares, like an open air flea market on the weekends. We just wanted to get a quick picture at the sign

Great place to people watch, shop, and EAT. Family of 5 ate for about $8US. Took one of the horse drawn carriages for a tour of the historic downtown at night, great experience. We all rode for $300 MP'S.

Always something happening on a Sunday. I have been fixing up a small home within walking distance, and love to stroll up to the Plaza and see what's happening.

Loved the Sunday events! It's also a nice plaza to relax and enjoy the city's vibes. Even offers free WiFi and outlets to charge your phone.

It's good place for walking around

Waited for 15 minutes past their opening time and there was no sign of life anywhere. Looked at the house from outside. From a distance it looks old and nice, but when you get closer it actually looks dirty with the outside kind of run down and full of black mold, in need ot some serious cleaning. Might look good on the inside, I guess I'll never find out. I was here on a Tuesday, at 9 when they should have been open. It is 9.18 now and still closed. Looks like someone else was waiting for them too and gave up and left. Update: sign outside says open Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 5pm. Passed by here at 12.00 noon and still closed.

Really Nice Museum, you can have a glance of the old Fancy Mexico days.

Beautiful house and interesting history. The tour was pleasant. The neighborhood is very nice with a lot of restaurants and cafés.

Enjoyed the guided tour. Beautiful home with interesting story. Recommend a visit.

This is another place you must visit while in Merida. One of the houses has been open after 2021, so the access to this beautiful house is pretty new. The tour helps you understand the wealth of the families in Yucatan and how the power belong to a couple of families in the times of the Haciendas of henequen.

We were walking past and saw people waiting out the front so thought we would explore too. The entrance fee is very high at 250 pesos for non locals, and 150 pesos for Yucatan residents. 100 pesos for teachers / students. Additional 50 pesos to take photos per a phone. This is a private home owned by a wealthy family, they are turning their home and family history into a museum. You can see the luxuries they had/have. The price is extremely high considering. We were told the cost of the ticket goes towards the renovations of the house. The guide and staff were lovely. Majority of the house is closed due to renovations.

Wonderful old buildings makes great photography hopefully will be restored...

Awesome experience!!! Live mexican music,art and delicious food!!!

We have been taking guests there for 10 years. The past weekend we noticed a dramatic change. There were technical difficulties for the first singer, the first Dance group was colorful but lacked the skills of dancers in the past. To be fair, we did not remain for the entire program.

Great place to visit with family on Saturdays. Aside from one or two singers that were just ok, the traditional dances are fun to see. Open to the public free.

Fantastic experience! Went here on a saturday night, there were different dance and music groups from around Mexico. Also little food and artesian craft stalls.

Interesting to see different dances from around México

This event is every Saturday and it brings a lot of amateur and profesional singers to show their talent among the beauty of Mexico. A must to see and hear whenever you are in Merida!

This week was the Merida Fest and there were a Mariachi. It was a very good experience to spend some time and enjoy of Mexican music.

It's always nice to visit Animaya, the trails are relaxing and seeing all the animals (very well kept) is always special. They recently finished the big cat area which is gorgeous, they did an awesome job creating the tree shades for all their resident felines.

We visited with 2 adults, 1 senior, and 3 children (ages 7, 9, and 11), and it was enjoyable for all ages. My elderly father, who has some difficulty walking, was able to complete the entire loop even in the afternoon heat by taking breaks on the shaded benches along the way. I heard there may be free wheelchair rentals available near the front entrance, which could be a good option for those who need extra support. A big tip: wear pants! We made the mistake of wearing shorts and got bitten a lot by mosquitoes, even after applying repellent. When you enter through the main gate and walk toward the tall lookout tower, there’s a booth on the right where you can buy tickets for the train and catamaran. We arrived at 11am, but the earliest train tickets available were after 2:30pm, which is also the time it often rains in late September. Tickets are just 5 pesos per person, but I saw some guests trying unsuccessfully to get refunds when rides were canceled due to rain. The catamaran boat ride was not operating on the day we visited. If you take the right-hand path from the entrance (facing the lookout tower), you’ll see the animal enclosures first. If you go left, you’ll reach the train station, water park, amusement rides, games, and food area. If you’re visiting during rainy season, it’s smart to head toward the large food hall at the sight of rain, which has plenty of covered seating and washrooms. Beyond that area, by the amusement rides, there’s also one larger shelter with benches. These covered spots are lifesavers for families with young kids or seniors who can’t dash quickly when the rain starts

It is a really amazing zoo with a lot of beautiful animals with exhibits that let you get very close up to some of the large cats.

We adore this zoo. The very well cared for animals roam free, while the humans are behind the fences. All the plains animals are free to interact with each other, and seem very comfortable and well fed.

Awesome zoo, many animals roam freely in their America and Africa sections. Nice Lions area. Highly recommended.

Awesome to visit. Free admission

Great Park, but sadly some of the bird cages are too small and the lions cage definitely needs some attention. Thank you Mérida, was great.

Cute square, giving you plenty opportunity to observe everyday life. Just be mindful of random locals starting casual conversations and talking to you about sites and stuff you need to check out, then casually leading you to select stores. It’s a trick mostly used by store owners to attend clients. They will tell you lines along the lines of ‘everything else is from China, this is the only real Mayan store’ etc. this happened to us on our first day and we fell for it. The person in question was friendly, spoke English and German and was very smooth in luring us.

I have been there several times, food is good, the icecream is ok, just not clean enough at the restaurants facing the playground.

It's ok. There are eating places and am ice cream place. I have seen nicer parques in Merida.

Nice plaza with a Mercado next to it that has food stands with fresh fruit vegetables, beans, also fresh chicken and pork stands. Also small prepared food stalls with open air seats and a tortilleria.

Lovely park with many great restaurants on the park and others within a few meters. Spectacular at night with all the lights and lanterns lit. Yucatecan Serenade, an open-air dance with live music, has been held weekly since 1965 at this park on a Thursday evening around 9pm

Santiago Park is a pleasant park with lots of shady trees and a fountain. The park shares a space with its namesake church, market, and lots of inexpensive little restaurants. During the day there are street vendors and on Tuesday nights, an old school band plays and many locals come to dance.

Barrio de Santiago is the first Barrio en Merida ! HISTORIC 🤍 free cultural night once a week! Must check out and get good food!

A tiny, quaint working church located just off the Parque San Juan. It has a handsome portal and a nice bell structure. Its interior is fairly simple but it has an ornate altar. This is a working church that attracts very few tourists.

One of the few very old churches that weren't pillaged and destroyed by the federal forces during the Mexican revolution.

Historic

Amen

(Translated by Google) A very beautiful church, and quite small, but that does not take away from its beauty, as we can see in this church mass is offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9 in the morning and on Saturdays and Sundays at 11 in the morning, This is a church that is very worth visiting, since it transmits a great feeling of peace despite being in the center of the city, and at the same time it is a place with a lot of history. (Original) Una iglesia muy hermosa, y bastante pequeña, pero eso no lo quita lo hermosa, como podemos ver en esta iglesia se ofrecen misa los Martes, Miércoles y Jueves a las 9 de la mañana y los Sábados y Domingo a las 11 de la mañana, está es una iglesia que vale mucho la pena visitar, ya que transmite un sentimiento de paz muy grande a pesar de estar en el centro de la cuidad, y a su vez es un lugar con bastante historia

(Translated by Google) Very pretty despite the age of that place (Original) Muy bonita apesar del tiempo que tiene ese lugar

(Translated by Google) Church of La Candelaria located near the San Juan neighborhood on 64 x 67 street in the historic center, a religious place characterized by its colonial architecture of the new Spain, a very welcoming place visited by many. (Original) Iglesia de la Candelaria ubicado cerca del barrio de San Juan en la calle 64 x 67 del centro histórico lugar religioso caracterizado por su arquitectura colonial de la nueva España lugar muy acogedor y visitado por muchos.

Wonderful little market with lots of things for the home. There are a few small restaurants and plenty of fresh fruit, meat and flowers.

We love this area of Merida and the place we ate really surprised us we found this place at the market of Miguel Aleman . The food was delicious.... We really loved it my husband had a sandwich with coconut shrimps ...we are already thinking of going back 😊

Very down to earth proprietor. Good selection of authentic foods at reasonable prices.

This is a smaller market, in the neighborhood. Quality was Okay, Price moderate. You can find most of what you need. Service was good. Parking was okay.

Perfect place to buy the mixed spices typically use to cook Yucatan Food, like Cichinta Pibil, papadzules etc. Look Diego's stand.

Love this market place. Very small, quaint and there are other store across the street. You don’t have to go to the big market place down town Mérida.

The market is pretty small but you find a lot of produce, meat,fish and household items. There are restaurants here as well.

Awesome park to amuse yourself in Mérida. There's some fun & a bit adrenalin experiences. It still features free admission Jan '22 but it's even worth the admission fee

The fact that it is free is awesome, just make sure you go on a day that doesn't have rain in the forecast as they will close the rides if it rains and it takes a while to reopen. There is also an Aqua park next door with inflatables with water but kids must be wearing swimsuits to enter.

We went to get the kids outdoors for a while. They have a few areas specific for little kids ages 3 and up. Height and weight requirement are posted for most of the rides. There is a bicycle racing course, a Zipline, a maze and a giant slide. There is a concession stand with water and a few pantry snacks. The staff is friendly and it's a short Uber ride away. All and all my family had a good time.

Best park in Merida. All kids will find something they will like and the best of all, it's free! ❤️❤️❤️

Be there well in advance, expect lines in each attraction, be patience. Staff very kind and helpful, excellent service

Awsome free park with many kid friendly activities.

Great place for entire family.

A plain ancient colonial arch that dates back to the late 17th century located in a neighborhood with few attractions. Its nice to look at but only worth a few minutes of your time. Fortunately a few blocks away is the Parque de La Mejorada and a lovely church by the same name. So viewing these can be combined in one trip

It is an arch and it is old. It’s not in the nicest part of town, the roads are bad. Not a dangerous area, just nothing spectacular going on here. I drove by knowing what it was and kept going because it wasn’t really much to consider an attraction.

Beautiful

(Translated by Google) Located on 50th and 61st Street, it was named because dragons were found there, and no, it is not about these fantastic animals, but because at this point there was the Dragon Barracks, located on 50th, 61st Street. Today it functions as the facilities of the Yucatecan Child Cultural Center. (Original) Ubicado en la calle 50 por 61 fue nombrado porque ahí se encontraban dragones, y no, no se trata de estos animales fantásticos, sino porque en este punto se encontraba el Cuartel de los Dragones, ubicado en la calle 50, 61. Hoy funciona como instalaciones del Centro Cultural del Niño Yucateco.

(Translated by Google) Chido. It is an arch and it is well maintained. There's not much more to say. (Original) Chido. Es un arco y está bien cuidado. No hay mucho más que decir.

It’s a busy, yet quite sad place. We learned that it’s a special “entrance to the city” from the olden days, yet in person it looked way too “normal” for us to feel anything about it at all..

(Translated by Google) It is amazing how historical monuments are still preserved in the City of Mérida. The dragon arch, which was also considered one of the entrances to the City of Merida. (Original) Es asombroso como aun se conservan monumentos historicos en la Ciudad de Mérida. El arco de dragones, que tambien era considerado como una de las entradas a la Ciudad de Merida.

Cute city square (not an actual park) with a statue and a church. There is an adjacent market and lots of shoppe and bars around it. This is. A great park to have your kids run around freely. About 6 blocks from the main plaza of Mérida.

With not as much shade as other plazas, and a lot of shops closed, my first visit was pretty uninspiring and hot. However, this plaza CAME ALIVE for the Oaxaca y la Guelaguetza festival. Came here every night just to soak it in.

Great little corner of Merida. Fun to watch the food vendors compete for your business in a friendly way. Be sure to try the fresh juices.

Beautiful and very historic if you’re historian or someone who likes history, this would be a great place for you to visit

Came here for the Sunday Market. Usually held in Plaza Grande due to construction it has been moved here. Much smaller park but still many vendors and food choices. Beautiful walk and views of the near by church.

We love this place. Relax and enjoy the fabulous food. Their Cochinita Pibil is delicious for sure.

Another very beautiful park.

Went on a weekday during business hours. Church was closed, no hours or any information posted besides info on preschool. Garden looked abandoned. Disappointed! Would have loved to walk around those gardens when they were up kept.

Beautiful city. A lot to do and discover. Museums are plenty and most are free. The Centro, with the cathedral is the hub of the action. Clubs, restaurant, festival activity.

Talk to one of the locales and view the botanical garden. Stunning and lots of history.

The district of La Ermita, its Church, its cobblestones street, its squares is a true historical jewel,

Bella

(Translated by Google) I only got to know it from the outside on a bike tour I took. The neighborhood looks very quiet and at sunset it offers beautiful views. (Original) Sólo pude conocerla por fuera en un tour en bici que tomé. El barrio se ve muy tranquilo y al atardecer ofrece vistas bellísimas.

(Translated by Google) According to the historical plaque attached to a wall at the entrance to the Hermitage of Santa Isabel—Mother of Saint John the Baptist, whose feast day is July 8—or Buen Viaje—since, according to the residents of this historic neighborhood, it was there that the Virgin was asked for her blessing before beginning the journey along the Camino Real to San Francisco de Campeche. Its construction, near the grounds of the San Antonio Xcoholté hacienda, dates back to the colonial era: 1748, thanks to Don Gaspar González de Ledesma, who, according to journalist Jessica Ruiz Rubio, financed the construction with his own resources and later went to live there as a penitent hermit—hence the name "Ermita"—giving way to renouncing all material positions. The Hermitage of Santa Isabel or Buen Viaje features, in addition to the rectory, a botanical garden and preserves plants endemic to the region, identified by a plaque with their name and uses. The garden is very spacious and offers shade and rest to visitors. The church itself is beautiful, from its architectural design and its simple but beautiful altar, from where the "Virgin of the Good Journey" gazes lovingly at the traveler before embarking on the long journey to San Francisco de Campeche. President Clinton's wife, President Obama's Secretary of State Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton, and First Lady (visiting the neighborhood in 1997), along with many other personalities and artists, have visited its doors. It is also the center of events such as the National Corn Fair, held from March 29th to 30th. Across the street, which is said to still retain the original paving stones of the old Camino Real, is Santa Isabel Park—or the Hermitage Garden (formerly the Plazuela del Gallo)—with its beautiful gazebo surrounded by palm trees. (Park with free internet access. - Mérida City Council 2021-2024). The richness of this neighborhood, with its charming streets and old houses and buildings, some beautifully preserved and others restored (64th Street) with a focus on the architecture of the period, deserves the nickname "Magical Neighborhood." Next to the Hermitage is an institution working on the preservation of the Mayan language: the Municipal Academy of the Mayan Language ITZAMNA. Fact: But what is a Hermitage? It refers to an isolated place or chapel for prayer and contemplation, for occasional worship; sometimes inhabited by a hermit friar. Masses on Sundays: see schedule. San Sebastián Neighborhood 66th Street South Merida, Yucatan F. Diario de Yucatán: Report by Jessica E. Ruiz Rubio, who holds a degree in Journalism and a master's degree in Management. Megamedia Group / Personal Notes / Google Maps / Wikipedia. (The video and photographs that appear in this article were taken by the author) (Original) Según consta en la Placa Histórica que se encuentra adosada a un muro en la entrada de la Ermita de Santa Isabel -Madre de San Juan Bautista, fiesta el 8 de julio- o del Buen Viaje -ya que, cuentan los pobladores de ese histórico Barrio, ahí se pedía a la Virgen su bendición antes de iniciar el recorrido por el Camino Real a San Francisco de Campeche. Su construcción, en las inmediaciones de los terrenos de la hacienda de San Antonio Xcoholté, se remonta al tiempo de la Colonia: 1748, gracias a Don Gaspar González de Ledesma, quien, según la Periodista Jessica Ruiz Rubio, financió la construcción con sus propios recursos para después irse a vivir ahí como ermitaño penitente-; de ahí el nombre de “Ermita”-, renunciando a toda posición material. La Ermita de Santa Isabel o del Buen Viaje cuenta, además de la casa Cural, con Jardin Botánico, conserva plantas endémicas de la región, identificadas con una Placa con su nombre y usos. El Jardín es muy amplio y brinda sombra y descanso a los visitantes. La iglesia propiamente es hermosa desde su concepción arquitectónica y su sencillo pero bello altar, desde donde la “Virgen del Buen Viaje” mira con amor al viajero, antes de emprender el largo viaje a San Francisco de Campeche. Hasta sus puertas llegó la esposa del Presidente Clinton, Secretaria de Estado del Presidente Obama Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton y Primera Dama (visita al Barrio en 1997) y muchas otras personalidades y artistas, ya que es también el centro de eventos como La Feria Nacional del Maíz, que se lleva a cabo del 29 al 30 de marzo. Cruzando la calle, que se dice conserva aún las baldosas originales del antiguo Camino Real, se encuentra el Parque de Santa Isabel -o Jardín de la Ermita (antigua Plazuela del Gallo) con su precioso kiosko, rodeado de palmeras. (Parque con internet gratuito.- Ayuntamiento de Mérida 2021-2024). La riqueza de este Barrio, de lindas calles con sus antiguas casas y edificaciones, algunas bellamente conservadas y otras restauradas (calle 64) con apego a la arquitectura de la época, se merece el calificativo de “Barrio Mágico”. A un costado de la Ermita se encuentra una institución trabaja en la preservación del Maya: Academia Municipal de la Lengua Maya ITZAMNA. Dato: Pero que es una Ermita? Se dice del Lugar o capilla aislado, de oración y contemplación, de culto ocasional; en ocasiones habitado por un fraile ermitaño. Misas los Domingos: cf horarios. Barrio de San Sebastián Calle 66 Sur Merida, Yuc. F. Diario de Yucatán: reportaje de Jessica E. Ruiz Rubio es licenciada en Periodismo y maestra en Gestión. Grupo Megamedia / Apuntes personales / Google Maps / wikipedia. (Los video y fotografías que aparecen en la presente colaboración, fueron realizados por quien esto firma)