Mérida, Mexico
Mérida is a regional capital of 1,201,000 people in Yucatán, Mexico, founded in January 16, 1542.
Why visit Mérida
Townapedia lists 48 museums and landmarks, 15 parks and trails, 246 places to eat, 156 places to stay and 7 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Anahuac Mayab University, Autonomous University of Yucatán, Palacio de la Música and Korean Immigration Museum.
Weather in Mérida
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Mérida
Mérida (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈmeɾiða] ; Yucatec Maya: Joꞌ) is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Yucatán. The city is also the seat of the eponymous municipality. It is located slightly inland from the northwest corner of the Yucatán Peninsula, about 35 km (22 mi) from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. In 2020, it had a population of 921,770, making it Mexico’s 12th most-populous city.
From the Wikipedia article Mérida, Yucatán (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Mérida on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Things to do7
Museums and landmarks48
Korean Immigration Museum
Museum · 1.1 km
Museum in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
397-A Calle 65
Antimonumenta
Monument and historic site · 1.0 km
Anti-monument in Mérida, México
Dzibilchaltun
Monument and historic site · 14.2 km
Maya archaeological site
Korean migration to Mexico centennial monument
Monument and historic site · 7.3 km
Memorial in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
Museum of Light
Museum · 1.5 km
Science museum in Mexico City dedicated to the phenomena of light
36 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds15
Cuxtal Ecological Reserve
Park · 11.8 km
Ecological Preservation Area in Yucatán, Mexico
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3 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes246
Casa maya
Restaurant · Mexican
Restaurante-bar ubicado en el corazón del centro histórico de la ciudad de Mérida. Somos expertos en comida mexicana y regional. Amantes...
492 Calle 62, Mérida
Tu-Sa 08:00-23:00; Su-Mo 07:00-23:00
El Barrio
Restaurant · Brunch · 1.2 km
Somos un concepto de "comfort food", servimos desayunos/brunch y lunch. Menú base agro ecológico.
9700 Calle 58, Mérida
Mo-Su 08:30-16:00
Maíz, Canela y Cilantro
Restaurant · Mexican · 0.8 km
Ofrecemos desayunos y almuerzos con opción mexicana y vegetariana, café de los mejores tostadores.
464 Calle 70, Mérida
Th-Fr 08:30-14:00; Sa-Su 08:30-15:30
Meriland
Restaurant · Coffee Shop, Brunch
Desayuna, almuerza y toma un rico café en un espacio auténtico en el centro histórico de la ciudad.
510g Calle 59, Mérida
Mo-Fr 08:00-20:00; Sa-Su 08:00-16:00
Restaurante La Chaya Maya
Restaurant · Mexican, Local
Wi-Fi PW: 1234567890
481 Calle 62, Mérida
Mo-Su 07:00-11:00
130° SteakHouse
Restaurant · Steak House · 1.1 km
465 Calle 47, Mérida
Mo-Th 13:00-00:00; Fr-Sa 13:00-02:00; Su 13:00-22:00
Antica Food and Art
Restaurant · Breakfast, Coffee Shop, Fine Dining, Italian, Italian Pizza, Pasta, Pizza · 0.6 km
552 Calle 59
Mo-Sa 08:00-21:30
Casa Ritual
Restaurant · 0.7 km
Un lugar muy especial donde el arte y la gastronomía hacen fusión.
448A Calle 64, Mérida
Tu 09:00-17:00; We-Sa 09:00-23:00; Su 09:00-14:00
Cuerno de Toro Taproom
Restaurant
Laboratorio Gastro Cervecero
461 Calle 64, Mérida
Su-Th 17:00-24:00; Fr-Sa 17:00-25:00
234 more on the map.
History
Mérida was founded in 1542 by the Spanish conquistadors, including Francisco de Montejo the Younger and Juan de la Cámara, and named after the town of Mérida in Extremadura, Spain. It was built on the site of the Maya city of Ti'ho (/tʼχoʼ/), which was also called Ichkanzihóo or Ichcaanzihó (/iʃkan'siχo/; "City of Five Hills") in reference to its pyramids. Many of the carved stones of the ruins of ancient Ti'ho were used in the construction of the early Spanish buildings of Mérida. These stones are visible, for instance, in the walls of the main cathedral. From colonial times through the mid-19th century, Mérida was a walled city designed to protect the peninsulares and criollos from periodic revolts by the indigenous Maya people.
In the late 19th century, the area surrounding Mérida prospered from the cultivation of henequen, the fiber of which was used in the production of rope and twine, as well as for the production of licor del henequén, a traditional Mexican alcoholic drink. By the beginning of the 20th century, manufacturing focused mainly on tobacco, molasses, rum, soap, and leather products. Korean immigration to Mexico began in 1905 when more than a thousand people arrived in Yucatán from the city of Jemulpo. These first Korean immigrants settled around Mérida as workers in henequen plantations.
From the History section of Mérida, Yucatán on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay156
Churches and places of worship16
Iglesia y Rectoría El Jesús de la Tercera Orden
Church · Roman Catholic
Calle 60, Mérida
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Tránsito de Mejorada
Church · Catholic · 0.8 km
Calle 50, Mérida
Shopping39
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries15
Healthcare16
Map of Mérida
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Manuel Crescencio Rejón International Airport (MID) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 5 km away.
- Leona Vicario 7 km south, about 7 min by car
- Kanasín 8 km southeast, about 8 min by car
- Paseos de Itzincab 10 km southwest, about 10 min by car
- Caucel 10 km northwest, about 10 min by car
- Tixcacal 10 km west, about 10 min by car
- Tahdzibichén 9 km south, about 9 min by car
- Santa Cruz Palomeque 10 km south, about 10 min by car
- Cholul 11 km northeast, about 11 min by car
- Dzityá 11 km northwest, about 11 min by car
- Dzununcán 12 km south, about 12 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Collage Merida Yucatan, the above mentioned, CC BY-SA 4.0
- UADY, | yankara |, CC BY 2.0
- Antimonumenta en la ciudad de Mérida, Yucatán 01, Alaniarq, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Dzibilchaltun, -Luyten-, Public domain
- Monumento a la inmigracíon coreana en Yucatán (01), Inri, CC0
- Exterior museo de la luz, PlanoAbierto, CC BY 4.0
- Dzoyaxché (Mérida), Yucatán (06), Inri, CC0
- Merida Mexico Temple 2 by Renegade of Funk - Andy Funk cropped, Renegade of Funk / Andy Funk, CC BY 2.0
- Casa de Montejo 1, https://www.flickr.com/photos/pence/, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Museo de la Canción Yucateca, Mérida, Yucatán (01), Inri, CC0
- Teatro Peón Contreras, Mérida, Yucatán (01), Inri, CC0
- Vista del Palacio de la Música, Mérida, Yucatán 12, Luis Alvaz, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Unimodelo Valladolid, Whitelance, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Museo Conmemorativo de la Inmigracion Coreana a Yucatan, Seefooddiet, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Catedral de San Ildefonso 1, Patrickrichaud, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Chan Cil0001, Yodigo, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 05986 - Teatro Peón Contreras 3, Karenimoreno, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Casa de los Montejo, Mérida, Yucatán (01), Inri, CC0
- Parque de mejorada - panoramio, Ricardo Pool, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Vista del Palacio de la Música, Mérida, Yucatán 10, Luis Alvaz, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Teatro Armando Manzanero - Acceso al interior, WhosAlei, CC BY 4.0
- Estatua del general Manuel Cepeda Peraza en el Parque Hidalgo de Mérida, Yucatán - panoramio, Николай Максимович, CC BY 3.0
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