12 Very Best Things To Do In Merida, Mexico – Hand Luggage Only

Merida is an incredible city in Mexico to visit. Nestled on the Yucatan Peninsular, around 3-4 hours west of Cancun, Merida is gorgeous, with heaps of restaurants, historic buildings and stunning neighbourhoods to visit. Honestly, there are heaps of the best things to do in Merida that will fill any trip to the city.

However, with so much choice, comes some tough decisions! After all, you want to make the most out of your visit to Merida and not waste any time once you’ve arrived.

We absolutely loved our time in Merida and we’d go back in a heartbeat. In fact, I’d go as far as saying that it’s my favourite city in all of Mexico.

So, to help you get the most out of your trip, I’m sharing the top things to do in Merida when you visit.

1.) Cathedral of Mérida

Situated right within the heart of the historic centre, the Cathedral of Mérida is one spot you don’t want to miss whilst strolling the city. Not only is it totally gorgeous, but it also has a history that dates back to the 1500s. This, alone, makes the Cathedral of Mérida one of the oldest cathedrals on the continent.

Now, the cathedral is incredible to visit, and you can head inside for free to explore the cathedral. Now, like lots of sites in modern-day Mexico, cathedrals are often trampled over and attempted to suppress local Mayan culture by the Spanish.

Their building was often an attempt to ‘convert’ locals to Catholicism; regularly at the expense of local culture and religious beliefs. In fact, the cathedral was even built using the stones from the Maya Temple that once stood in its place.

That all being said, the site is one spot you can’t miss in Merida, especially as it’s stood for almost 500 years.

Oh, and don’t forget to head outside the cathedral every Saturday at 8 pm every week.

The roads around the plaza are closed and you’ll get to witness a reenactment of the Maya Ballgame that was once integral to Maya culture. It’s all for free, so expect crowds and arrive about 25 minutes early if you want to be at the front.

Read more: Best things to do in Mexico City

2.) Plaza Grande

If you’re already at Merida Cathedral, you will easily stop by Plaza Grande (that’s right outside). Now, the plaza itself is one of the busiest areas of Merida city centre, which makes it a great place to explore on foot.

In fact, the wider historic centre of Merida is perfect to…