Mexico is a colorful, diverse and paradisiacal country. In addition to the #caribbean and the breathtaking underwater world, there are also ingenious #colonial cities that you shouldn't miss. One of them is #merida, the vibrant city with a rich #history, #culture, Mayan heritage and an incredible number of excursion possibilities. Mérida is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of #yucatán. The "white city" of Mexico, as Mérida is also called, bears its nickname not only because of the color of its houses and palaces - the inhabitants also traditionally dress in white cloth robes. The old colonial city is the cultural and economic center of the region and is located on the Yucatán Peninsula in southern #mexico. 

Best travel time for Mérida

Merida has a #tropical and hot climate all year round with temperatures never below 30 degrees Celsius. Thus, the perfect travel time does not depend, as usual, on sunshine hours or temperatures, but on the amount of precipitation. The best travel months are the dry months from December to April. Temperatures climb up to 35 degrees and it rains only one or two days a month. You should pack a large bottle of sunscreen with a high sun protection factor and a hat. The hurricane season falls in the months August to October - avoid this period and better don't take any risks.

Sights

Plaza Grande

The historic centre of Mérida can easily be explored on foot. It used to be an important #mayan city. It was destroyed by the Spanish with its five pyramids in order to found its own city. The center of the city is the Plaza de la Independencia (also called Plaza Grande or Zocalo), which is a popular meeting place for locals and tourists. Around the square are also many of the famous monuments such as the Cathedral, the Town Hall, the Governor's Palace and the Casa de Montejo.

Paseo Montejo

Also worth seeing is the great Paseo Montejo boulevard, built in the 20th century according to the Parisian model and lined with numerous monuments. The boulevard leads through the most elegant residential areas and is still the city's top address today. Those who walk along the wide street flanked by trees can admire the magnificent city palaces where the barons resided during the colonial period.

Markets

In addition to outstanding #architecture and history, Mérida also offers picture-book #mexican life, especially in the city's colourful markets. A visit to the Mercado Lucas de Galvez should not be missing on your journey. Here you can buy just about anything you can imagine. On the Mercados southeast of the Plaza Mayor, typical local products change hands. Mérida is best known for its colourful hammocks, which you can buy here as well as large panama hats, baskets and embroidered blouses.

Our Budget Tip: Off to the Cantina - You enter the traditional Mexican bars mostly through saloon doors and find a rustic and cosy pub inside. Take a seat, order a drink of your choice and enjoy FREE tapas. However, you should know that the variety and number of small delicacies vary from cantina to cantina. Some serve more and others less. 

Those who have seen everything from Mérida can set off from here to the surrounding countryside. The city is also called Puerta al Mundo Maya, the gateway to the Mayan world, as it is the ideal starting point for exploring the Yucatán peninsula. Numerous archaeological Mayan sites, such as the excavation site Dzibichaltun, the market town Izamal, Umal, Kabah, Chichen Itza and others, are located in the vicinity of the city.