When you are planning your trip to Yucatán and are looking for information on where to stay or sleep in Mérida, understanding the boundaries and different neighborhoods of the city center is certainly a challenge.
Are “Centro” and the “Historic Center” the same?
According to the Mérida City Council, they are. The Historic Center (also called “downtown”, zip code 97000) includes more than 650 blocks.
Merida historic center is the second largest in Mexico and is home to nearly 4,000 heritage buildings.
As the map shows, this area has no “regular” boundaries (I mean, it is not a square or rectangle), but its central point is clearly the famous Plaza Grande, extending to the north, south, east, and west.
Differences between neighborhoods in the Centro (north and south)
In order to make it easier, let’s separate the Centro into north and south, keeping the Plaza Grande as a reference.
I definitely recommend staying in the northern area.
While the southern neighborhoods like San Cristóbal, San Juan, La Ermita, and San Sebastián are very lively during the day, they are quite lonely at night.
The reason is simple: they have many businesses/stores (especially in the first two), and they are obviously closed at night.
The Best Neighborhoods to Stay in Downtown Mérida
The northern part of the Centro includes the lively neighborhoods of Santiago, Santa Ana, Santa Lucía, and the Paseo de Montejo area.
This area will be the best base for exploring the Historic Center on foot, and you’ll find it bustling both day and night, being the area with the largest number of restaurants and entertainment venues.
And here I must mention La Mejorada neighborhood. Located in the eastern part of the Centro, it has been revitalized with the construction of the new La Plancha Park. Due to its proximity to the mentioned neighborhoods, I definitely include it in the top areas to stay at.
Therefore, I advise all travelers to find out the exact location of their accommodation before making a decision, as two or three blocks/streets could make a significant difference in your travel experience ( you will understand after you visit Merida Center )
In conclusion, there are no “best” or “worst” neighborhoods. All Mérida is very safe.
Your best choice will depend on what emotions you want to experience, and based on that, you can find the most suitable accommodation for you.
Download your tourist map of the city center.
If you want a unique and personalized experience in Yucatan, just contact me!
