The capital of Yucatán, Mérida is one of Mexico’s finest old colonial cities and is perfectly located to serve as a base from which to explore the region’s many fine Mayan sites, including Chichén Itzá and Tulum.
It’s an equally popular day trip or overnight stopover from the resorts of the Mayan Riviera. Established in 1542 by the Spanish, Mérida is laid out on a grid pattern, making it easy to explore its numerous attractive parks and fine old buildings.
European influences are everywhere, particularly in the old city squares and plazas where evidence of French architecture can still be seen. It’s also a remarkably neat and tidy city, something of a badge of honor for its citizens who like to dress in white, giving the city its long-standing nickname of Ciudad Blanca, the “white city.”
Accommodation: Where to Stay in Mérida
