Mérida

Arco de Dragones

Arch of the Dragons

Named for the adjoining former barracks of the Spanish regiment, this has a niche on top with a statue of St. Anthony.

Arco de San Juan

Arch of St. John

This once marked the beginning of the road from Mérida to Campeche. Of the remaining arches, this is the largest and best preserved.

Arco del Puente

X-Cul Arco, Arch of the Bridge

Topped by a stone cross, this was named after an earlier bridge situated here, used in times of seasonal flooding. Noteworthy are the doorways on either side of the arch, each of a different height.

Cafetería Impala

A local institution since 1958, this is a great spot for late night dinners and drinks.

Daily 17:30-02:00

Café Pop

Small and clean but with personality, a favorite of the students of the University of Yucatan just around the corner as well as knowing visitors for generations. The menu offers a curious combination of Yucatecan specialties along with old style diner & soda-fountain treats. Breakfast, lunch, snack, or dinner. In the same building as the larger and more upscale Portal del Peregrino.

Open now · closes midnight tomorrow

Camisería Canul

This shop sells high-quality custom-tailored guayaberas and huipiles.

Mon-Sat 08:30-21:00, Sun 10:00-13:00

Casa Frederick Catherwood

In the 1840s English architect and artist Frederick Catherwood joined American explorer John Lloyd Stephens on an expedition across the Yucatán and Central America in search of Mayan ruins. In addition to illustrating Stephens' subsequently published travel journal, Catherwood published a collection of his remarkable lithographs in an edition of 300. Casa Catherwood does not have a direct historic connection with the artist, but does have the only complete collection of his lithographs on display in Mexico, located in a gallery on the upper floor. The building also houses a bed and breakfast and café.

Mon-Sat 09:00-14:00, 17:00-21:00·M$50 (lithograph collection)

Casa Manzanero

Small modern museum chronicling the life and works of composer Armando Manzanero, known for his bolero works. Fun interactive exhibits include an opportunity to play a marimba and a karaoke room where you can go in and sing along with the maestro. Outdoor patio bar on site.

Daily 10:00-20:00·M$58

Casa de las Artesanías

This is a government-operated shop selling a wide-range of handicrafts. If you are looking for high-quality, locally-made items, this is a good place to find them. Prices are fixed, no bargaining possible.

Mon-Sat 09:00-20:00, Sun 09:00-13:00

Casa de los Montejo

The 1549 palace of Montejo the Conquistador. His descendents lived here until 1978. Although the building was extensively remodeled in 1850, some of the original architectural features remain. The ground floor has been converted to commercial use (a Banamex bank with handy ATMs), but the restored interior of the building is open to visitors during banking hours. If you miss an opportunity to have a look inside, the elaborate facade on the outside is alone worth the visit. Elements of the facade include the Montejo family coat of arms, as well as figures of Spanish Conquistadors standing on the heads of conquered native Maya – a graphic illustration of the new order the Conquest imposed.

Tue-Sat 10:00-19:00, Sun 10:00-14:00·Free

Catedral de San Idelfonso

This is the first cathedral built on the mainland of the Americas and the oldest in Mexico, built on the site of the Mayan temple Xbac-Luum-Chaan. The temple stones were incorporated into the new building, and a number of original Mayan carvings are still visible on the church walls. Construction began in 1561 and was completed in 1599, except for the bell tower, which was finished 200 years later in 1774. The building is rather austere in style, partly due to its Franciscan design, and partly due to looting during the Mexican revolution. The stations of the cross in the interior on the side naves are particularly noteworthy, as is the painting above a door depicting the baptism of the Mayan ruler of Maní. An additional item of interest on the left side is the so-called El Cristo de las Ampollas ('The Christ of the Blisters') located in a side chapel. In 1645 this wood carving was brought from the village of Ichmul, after it miraculously survived a fire which had destroyed the village church. The original was destroyed during the revolution, but the devout still come to pray at the replica.

Daily 06:00-12:00, 16:00-19:00·Free

Centro Cultural Olimpio

A cultural center where dance performances are staged most evenings. Information on upcoming performances is available in the entrance. These performances are very popular – it is best to arrive early. Shortly before the performance people without tickets gather in a queue stretching sometimes to over 100m, in the hopes that paying audience members leave the performance early and thus vacate a seat.

Cigar Club MX

High-end tobacconist with an excellent selection of genuine Cubanos as well as cigars from other parts of Latin America. Very knowledgeable staff with a service-oriented reputation.

Mon-Sat 09:00-21:00 (closed Sun)

Dulcería y Sorbetería Colón

Established in 1907, this family-run establishment specializes in delicious sorbets and meringue-filled pastries, perfect on a hot afternoon. Sorbets are in a slew of exotic flavors, including perennial favorites coconut, mango, pineapple, and limón. Outdoor seating is in a prime spot for people-watching.

Daily 08:00-23:00

Dulcería y Sorbetería Colón Sucursal Montejo

This second branch of the popular sorbetería offers the same array of flavors and has ample outdoor seating.

Daily 09:00-23:00

Dzibilchaltún

The site has been continuously occupied for thousands of years. Its most famous structure is the Temple Of The Seven Dolls (El Templo de las Siete Muñecas), so named because of seven small effigies found at the site when the temple was discovered under the ruins of a later temple pyramid by archaeologists in the 1950s. On the spring equinox the sun rises so that it shines directly through one window of the temple and out the other. The temple is connected to the rest of the site by a long sacbé. The other major feature of Dzibilchaltún is its cenote, which is used as a swimming hole by local residents year round; it is the first stop on the Ruta de los Cenotes. Also on the site are the ruins of a 16th-century Spanish church, as well as a museum displaying Mayan artifacts from the site and the region.

Daily 08:00-17:00 (site), Tue-Sun 09:00-16:00 (museum)·M$68 (adults), M$39 (Mexican adults, non-Mexican children under 12)

El Gallito

The long-established cantina serves a good selection of beers and very generous botanas (snacks), along with full meals.

Daily 12:00-22:00·M$25 beer

El Trapiche

Good and cheap Mexican food, nice atmosphere, friendly staff. The daily comida is an especially good value.

Mon-Fri 08:00-23:00, Sat 08:00-01:00

Ermita de Santa Isabel

This church was built in the 18th century, and although it hasn’t been well maintained it is worth a visit for the baptismal font as well as the painting of St. Anthony, located in a small niche. The charming garden with small chapel is also worth seeing.

Daily 07:00-13:00, 16:00-20:00

Estación del Ferrocarriles

Escuela Superior de Artes de Yucatán

Since passenger rail services had stopped in 1997, this neo-Colonial building has been renovated and now houses an art institute. It is one of the best preserved buildings of its kind and is for this reason worth seeing. The ornate architectural details reflect Moorish influences, and the central tower is especially noteworthy.

Estadio Carlos Iturralde

15,000 seat mixed-use stadium that is home field for the Venados de Yucatan, a professional soccer (futbol) team that is part of the Expansion League.

Galería Mérida

The largest private art gallery in Mérida, this gallery showcases local Yucatecan artists with rotating exhibits.

Tue-Fri 10:00-12:00 14:30-17:30

Gran Museo del Mundo Maya

Opened in 2012 and located in a building clearly inspired by the Beijing National Stadium (aka 'Bird's Nest'), the museum has a large permanent collection of Mayan artifacts as well as a number of interactive exhibits.

Wed-Mon 08:00-17:00·M$150 (foreign nationals), M$100 (Mexicans/residents), M$25 (children/students/seniors)

Hacienda Sotuta de Peón

A former sisal plantation which has been restored and opened up to the public. Sisal, the rope made from the fibers of the henequen plant, put Mérida on the map in the 1900s and made millionaires out of many landowners of that time. The rope came to be known by the name of the port town, Sisal, where it was shipped from to places around the world. Henequen was (and still is) planted throughout the Yucatán Peninsula. The industry crumbled after about 30 years for various reasons, leaving many haciendas in ruin. Today many of those haciendas have been restored, and Sotuta de Peón is an example of one which can be visited without spending the night.

Daily tours at 10:00, 13:00·Tour only M$430/215 (adults/children), Combo (transport, tour and lunch) M$870/460 (adults/children)

Hacienda Yaxcopoil

Another good example of a hacienda kept in a state of arrested decay as a museum.

Mon-Sat 08:00-18:00, Sun 09:00-17:00; by appt·M$75 (adults), free (children)

Hennessy's Irish Pub

The restaurant has good food at reasonable prices, a full bar and, of course, Guinness beer. The owners are almost always on site and greeting customers. There are various distinct rooms, smoking and non-smoking, outdoors and air-conditioned.

Daily·Mains M$95 and up

Hospedaje Barsa

M$150 with ventilator, M$250 with air conditioning. Latest possible check-out at 24:00.

Hospedaje Canada

M$100 with ventilator, M$200 with A/C. Latest possible check-out at 23:00.

Iglesia de Jesús

Iglesia de la Tercera Orden

This church was built in 1618 as part of a Jesuit college once covering an entire city block – only the church survives today. It was built with stone from an earlier Mayan temple; these carved stones can be seen on the west wall.

Iglesia de San Cristóbal

This is the newest church in the centro, with construction begun in 1756 and completed in 1796. Of particular interest is the distinctive scalloped vaulting over the main entrance, as well as a wall-top defensive walkway surrounding the building, used for surveillance in case of revolt. An annual procession takes place here on 12 December in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe.