The Plaza de la Independencia, the city’s central plaza, is surrounded by a number of notable buildings including the main cathedral and the Museo MACAY, Mérida’s Yucatecan modern art museum.
The plaza itself is dotted with curved love seats built for two, ideal spots for watching the city life bustle around you.
Artisan and traditional markets can also be found in town, in addition to weekly cultural events.
Known for its music and dance, Mérida hosts a number of free concerts and performances throughout the week. Saturday and Sunday offer the best of the line-up.
Along Paseo de Montejo at Calle 47, Saturday nights host Noche Mexicana (Mexican Night) with food stalls, handicrafts, and live music and dance performances from 8 pm to midnight.
At Calle 60, the street closes to traffic between 9 pm and 2 am for live bands, dancing, and outdoor eating in the city’s weekly En El Corazón de Mérida (In the Heart of Mérida) celebration.
If you want to go outside the city, head for the Gulf coast beaches of Progresso. And the archeological zones of Uxmal and Chichén Itzá and colonial splendor of Izamal are all within a two hour drive of Mérida.
For couples without their own transportation, Hacienda Xcanatún can help to arrange excursions to these and other destinations.
