Plaza Grande — Attraction in Mérida

La plaza grande, is the main Grand plaza. Is surrounded on four sides by many, many things to see. Around the plaza are four government buildings, each of them with a mini museum on the inside. The going price for most of the museum is anywhere between two and eight American dollars. All of the museums are small, air conditioned, quick and easy to see, and very informative. They are worth stopping and see. On one side of the plaza is the cathedral, that is over 400 years old. The cathedral was one of the first cathedrals, not churches, to be built in this part of the world. From the Grand plaza you can walk out to various local events and places. This is worth a stop.

There is a free walking, historical tour, most days from the tourism office at 9:30 a.m. departing from the tourism office in the Grand plaza. Full of great information, tip the person please.

The plaza also holds Mayan ball games on Friday evenings ( maybe even Saturday) get there early to grab a seat.

Do not eat around the Grand plaza, the food is more expensive., and restaurant like. Walk a few blocks, and turn into any market to find local food stalls.

If you are visiting Merida for a few days, remember to go to the website visit Merida or go to Yucatan today travel companion. Both are excellent sites for information and...

Total tourist trap. Now virtually impossible to get a good photo of main cathdreal, one of the oldest in all of Mexico. Zocalo and north is a total Disneyland atmosphere, dissapointing from every social and cultural aspect. Move on to more authentic places. Unfortunatly, south side of zocalo hghlights Merida's aging infrastructure and the Zocalo separates the city along the lines of the socioeconomic caste system that predomimates all of Mecico. Go south and see the real Mexico while you can. Historic builgings around Zocalo ate crumbling, colonized by prernnial weeds, gaudy signs. Same lack of mantenance for Gov. Palace on west side. Weeds, aging paint, cracks in plaster. It is all so sad to see. New bench seating is nice, but already dirty, too much pigon poop. Lost sense of importance of maintence for historic buildings. Its not just the zocalo, most of Merida's historic center is decaying slowly but surely. Everywhere south, east, and west of the Zocalo there are abandoned buildings, trash, stray dogs....

I love Merida. I hope to come back soon. Getting to the city center is easy from the Merida airport. I would recommend getting a bus ticket at the ADO counter at the airport to the ADO terminal. It cost us 45MX. Merida center has many beautiful sites, restaurants, clothing stores, and souvenirs. Always remember that bargaining is an option. I took a tour at Jarana Tours in the city center, they are located next to the Jarana Restaurant. I recommend the Chichen Itza tour, the big cenote is awesome. I recommend the Uxmal tour, that cenote is not as big but it's good. These tours are less expensive than purchasing online. I would also consider them as first time tours, I really found out what I like and don't like regarding the cenotes, pueblos magicos, and archeological sites. I plan to visit Chichen Itza via the ADO line. You can visit Progreso Port by bus, visit the AutoProgeso...