7 Parks to Visit in Merida, Mexico

Merida is a popular destination to visit on the Yucatan Peninsula. The capital city of Yucatan state has numerous smaller and larger parks and squares that are worth adding to your itinerary. During any city break we often visit parks to get away from the city’s hustle and bustle or, in contrast, enjoy people watching in lively squares, ideally with a local snack in our hands from one of the many street vendors. So in this guide, we’ll list 7 parks that you should consider visiting when you’re in Merida, Mexico.

If you’d like to see what we got up to in the city, then make sure to watch our dedicated Merida video. If you’re interested in more Mexico content, check out the Mexico Playlist on our YouTube Channel.

7 Parks and Squares to Visit in Merida Mexico

Visiting city parks and squares is one of the best free activities to do in Merida. What’s great about these plazas is that you can visit them at any time of the day. For example, early birds can enjoy some peace, quiet and cooler temperatures in the morning, and photographers can take some fantastic street photos without the harsh light.

However, if you happen to be wandering around the city in the middle of the day, then these parks can provide you with some well-needed shade and a bench to rest on. A street vendor is also never too far away, or you can just watch the world go by from one of the nearby cafes.

In the evenings, these parks really come alive and will be filled with both locals and tourists. There will be more street vendors and performers, so you can really learn about Merida’s day-to-day dynamics and get a feel for what makes this city unique.

1. Plaza Grande (The Main Square of Merida, Mexico)

We usually start our city trips with a visit to the main plaza, which is called Plaza Grande in Merida. It’s where most residents and tourists meet and socialise during the day and at night. This tree-lined park has witnessed many historical events and has also had its name changed multiple times over the decades.

Since our accommodation was just around the corner from Plaza Grande we spent quite some time there enjoying either the morning calm or the evening hustle and bustle.

What to do at Plaza Grande in Merida?

• Enjoy the views of the square from the balcony of Merida’s City Hall (Red Building).
• Walk around the courtyard of Palacio de Gobierno (Green Building) and admire the murals and paintings.
• Admire the exterior of Catedral de San Ildefonso (Cathedral of Merida).
• Visit Museo Casa Montejo (Montejo House Museum).
• Snap a photo of the giant Merida letters with the Cathedral in the background.

2. Parque de los Hidalgos

Hidalgo Park is a French-inspired, tree-lined square with benches and a few “confidente”, or “you and me” chairs. It’s located just one block north of Plaza Grande. The park got its name from the Hidalgo soldiers who once trained there.

Although it’s small, it’s a really beautiful spot to hang out. During the day you can get away from the heat, and later in the day there are frequent live performances at the plaza.

What to do at Parque de los Hidalgos?

• Enjoy the exterior of the beautiful Gran Hotel de Merida.
• Check out the stepped monument in the centre of the square which is dedicated to Manuel Cepeda Peraza, the founder of the State’s Literary Institute.
• Enjoy the view of the towers of the Rectoría Jesús de la Tercera Órden Church.
• Sit in one of the restaurants or cafes surrounding the park.

3. Parque de la Madre

Just to the north of Parque de los Hidalgos is Parque de la Madre, or Mother’s Park. This plaza isn’t the most impressive one, but it’s worth stopping at for a few minutes, especially if you’re en-route to Paseo de Montejo and the Monumento a La Patria.

What to do at Parque de la Madre?

• Check out the replica of Charles Lenoir’s sculpture “Maternite”, dedicated to motherhood.
• See the facade of the Iglesia de Jesus Catholic Church, built with stones from a former Maya temple. If it’s open, definitely check out its interior, which has frescoes and detailed murals.
• Check out two theaters in Merida: Jose Peon Contreras and Felipe Carrillo Puerto.

4. Parque de Santa Lucia

Santa Lucia Park is only a couple of blocks north of Parque de la Madre. It’s a bigger and more popular park in Merida. Since the 20th century, the park has been a place to honour musicians and composers of the Yucatecan trova. On Thursdays, you can watch traditional Yucatecan serenades performed on stage.

Parque Santa Lucia is also known as a gastronomy hub, serving both national and international cuisines such as Peruvian, Italian and Mediterranean dishes. In addition, you’ll also find one of the biggest “confidente”, or “you and me” chairs, in the city here.

What to do at Parque de Santa Lucia?

• Snap a photo with the giant “confidente”, or “you and me”, chair.
• Check out Santa Lucia Catholic Church (Iglesia de Santa Lucía).
• See the popular folklore performance every Thursday night starting at 9PM.
• Enjoy national or international cuisine at one of the restaurants.

5. Parque de Santa Ana

Further north of Santa Lucia Park is Santa Ana Park, which also marks the northern end of Merida Centro. Only two short blocks from here is the start of the 1.7km long Paseo de Montejo, a wide tree-lined avenue with massive mansions on either side.

Although Santa Ana Park wasn’t our favourite one in Merida, it was nice to stop by here en-route to Paseo de Montejo.

What to do at Parque de Santa Ana?

• Check out the yellow painted Catholic Church (Parroquia Santa Ana)
• Try some traditional Yucatecan cuisine at Mercado Santa Ana.
• Check out the fountain in the middle of the park with a monument to Andrés Quintana Roo.

6. Parque de San Juan

Another historic square to add to your Merida itinerary is San Juan Park. It’s located a few blocks to the south of Plaza Grande and it roughly marks the southern end of Merida Centro. The plaza is relatively big but has plenty of trees and benches to relax on, as well as street-food vendors. You really cannot go hungry in Mexico!

Parque de San Juan hosts a public space with trees, benches and a beautiful fountain in the middle. It also hosts a monument of Benito Juarez, the first indigenous president of Mexico, a large yellow colonial church and the yellow Arco de San Juan.

What to do at Parque de San Juan?

• Check out the “Fuente de la Negrita” fountain with a statue of Benito Juarez (Mexico’s president between 1858 – 1872).
• Admire the stunning yellow San Juan Bautista Church (Iglesia de San Juan Bautista). It reminded us of some of the churches we saw in Antigua Guatemala.
• Snap a photo of San Juan Arch, one of the three remaining historic arches in Merida.

7. Parque La Plancha (The “Central Park” of Merida Mexico)

Another park that’s worth visiting in Merida is Parque La Plancha. It is way bigger than the other smaller squares within Merida Centro, and has some more interesting features. This relatively new outdoor space is only a few blocks east of the Monumento a La Patria.

La Plancha Park is built on the site of Merida’s former main train station and there are still a few wagons scattered around, turning the entire park into an open-air museum. Thanks to its size and attractions, many refer to it as Merida’s “Central Park”.

It’s a place to be in the evening and at weekends.

What to Do at Parque La Plancha?

• Visit the museums: Museum of Light (Museo de La Luz) and the Yucatan Railroad Museum (Museo de los Ferrocarriles de Yucatán).
• Enjoy the recreational areas such as the pools, playgrounds, dog park and the huge lake with fountains that’s lit up in the evenings.
• Try some of the food from the Mercado Gastronomico, a food court that even has an old train wagon inside.
• Check out the illuminated Monumento a La Patria in the evening, to the west of the park.

Final Thoughts on Parks and Squares to Visit in Merida, Mexico

Of course, there are more parks outside Merida Centro that you can add to your itinerary if you’re in the city for longer. However, if you only have a few days, then visiting the above parks in Merida will be completely doable.

We really enjoyed seeing some of these parks transform over the course of the day, from people seeking shade in the afternoon to gathering for their evening activities at night.