Merida is the largest city and capital of Yucatán state, and I’ve really enjoyed spending time here. It is not too busy for a city so great for exploring on foot. There is no shortage of restaurants, street food and cafés to try out. I’ll talk about Yucantán and Mexican food in other posts, so here is some of the scenery and architecture from Merida.

Perhaps the most scenic for walking is the Paseo de Montejo. It is the main avenue where many mansions and elaborate houses line the wide boulevard. The houses were built in the early 20th century when henequen (agave plant) production became very prosperous.

The mansions of Las Casas Gemelas have been left in their natural state to retain character. They still have a great original look, many other mansions have instead been restored. They are still privately owned and have recently been turned into a museum.

There are also a number of parks in churches around the city. Shown here is Santa Ana Church, were there is also a small park. Next to the park are local food stalls too, which I would recommend for Yucantán dishes.

There are good local markets in the centro area to explore, nearby I found another park and the San Juan church.

By spending a bit longer here I was really able to get a good feel for the city. I have enjoyed finding the parks and places to eat whilst walking around. It is also easy for day trips out of the city. Such as the beach town Progreso (one hour north) and the village of Homún, which is home to several Cenotes.