Mexico: The Most Famous Cities of Yucatán

1. CANCÙN

Dreamy beaches, ample shopping opportunities, and a vibrant nightlife for all ages.
The modern city of Cancún is known for its party-loving American spring break students and for all-inclusive vacationers.

The Aeropuerto Internacional de Cancún is the largest airport in Yucatán and is located just under 20 km from the city center.
Thus, the city is the starting point for many Mexico or Yucatán travelers.

The Zona Hotelera with white dream beaches and more than 100 hotels (most of them large luxury hotels) is located on an approximately 22 km long artificially created sandbank.

It is separated from the mainland by the Nichupté Lagoon and connected to the city via two bridges.
By taxi or bus, it takes about 10 to 15 minutes from the Zona Hotelera to the center of Cancún.

The Zona Hotelera differs greatly from the city center Downtown Cancún.
In Downtown itself, there isn't much to see, but there are many small Mexican shops for your first taco experiences and inexpensive markets if you are missing any beach items.

In our opinion, Cancún is not a beautiful city. It was purposefully designed to provide housing for the population working in the hotel zone.
Although there are hotels here as well, a vacation in Downtown is generally not recommended at first.

The beautiful white sandy beaches of Cancún are naturally located in the Zona Hotelera.
There you will find, for example, Playa Las Perlas, Playa Delfines, Playa Langosta, or the most popular public party beach Playa Tortugas.
Although most beaches belong to the many hotels and resorts in the city, some of them are freely accessible.

A real highlight is located below the water's surface. There you will find the remarkable underwater museum MUSA Museo Subacuático de Arte de Cancún with around 400 sculptures by the British artist Jason de Caires Taylor.
Each sculpture is made of special material so that corals can settle there and form new reefs.
The sculptures are located 4 to 9 meters underwater and can be admired by snorkelers and divers alike.
So grab your goggles and flippers and dive into this labyrinth of corals, sculptures, and other artworks!

Cancún is a good starting point for the following excursions:

• Isla Mujeres - Pure Caribbean vibes!
• Isla Holbox - The little island paradise
• Playa del Carmen - A city on the Riviera Maya (see further down in this post)‍
• Isla Cozumel - The diver's paradise

As a package tourist or spring break visitor, you can certainly spend a good two weeks here.
We personally didn't find Cancún spectacular and therefore decided against staying overnight there—a half-day was enough for us.
In our opinion, Yucatán has more worthwhile cities to see.

GOOD TO KNOW

For your trip to Mexico, you’ll need a power adapter, as plug types A and B are used. These are different from the plug types commonly used in many countries around the world.
You can find a suitable adapter here: Travel Adapter Mexico.

2. MÈRIDA

This spot is not without reason a city of culture and gateway to the world of the Maya.
Primarily because of the beautiful buildings, city squares, cafes, restaurants, and shops, a visit to the old colonial city is a must on any Yucatán tour.

Mérida, the white city, is the capital of the state of Yucatán. The white-painted houses and traditionally white-clothed inhabitants gave the city this nickname.

Despite nearly a million inhabitants, Mérida exudes a pleasant calm and has retained a certain small-town friendliness.For initial orientation, we recommend simply strolling through the city.
Get to know the capital of the state best on foot, as the streets can be quite congested at times.

The Plaza de la Independencia, also called Plaza Grande, is the center of the city center.
It is bustling with locals and tourists who leisurely stroll through the avenues of the huge laurel trees, meet for a chat on the park benches, or enjoy a coffee in the inviting cafes.

Around the Plaza de la Independencia, every Sunday the cultural street festival Mérida en Domingo takes place. With live music, various artistic performances are presented.
At the street stalls, delicious typical Mexican food is offered, such as tamales and churros. It is a meeting place for people of all ages.

The Spaniards built, using stones from a former Mayan temple, the twin-towered Catedral de San Ildefonso.
On the west side of the Plaza Grande is the white Palacio Municipal, the town hall, and to the north the Palacio de Gobierno, the governor's palace with its murals in the courtyard.
These are definitely worth seeing, so dare to step into the courtyard!

Another attraction is the very authentic Mercado Lucas de Gálvez, the central market in Mérida.
This is worth a visit. If you like markets, you will surely feel at home among the many stalls.
The bustling activity of the vendors and shoppers in the sometimes very narrow aisles is an experience one should have.
In addition to fruits, vegetables, meat, spices, and Mexican specialties, a variety of items are offered—from shoes to Mexican decor.
At some stalls, you can even pay with a credit card. But be sure to watch your wallet in the crowd!

The Carnival in February is an important part of Mérida. It puts the city in a state of excitement during that time.

How long should I stay in Mérida? The historic center of Mérida can be easily explored in a day.
Moreover, Mérida is also the ideal starting point for day trips to Chichén Itzá, Uxmal, Izamal, Tizimín, and Río Lagartos.

Therefore, you can easily stay up to three nights in Mérida and have no problem filling your days with activities.

HOTEL TIP

If you're still looking for a hotel that offers the perfect base for exploring the region's many attractions, the TRS Yucatan Hotel - Adults Only might be just right for you.
Ideally located between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, it also boasts a prime beachfront location. Multiple pools, top-notch restaurants with delicious cuisine, a private spa, and many other amenities complete the package. Our stay there was absolutely fantastic, and we would return in a heartbeat!

3. PLAYA DEL CARMEN

Playa del Carmen, located on the Caribbean coast like Cancún, has transformed from a small Maya fishing village into a popular travel destination. The city, also known as Playacar, is growing rapidly, primarily due to tourism. Despite the many modern hotels, high-rise construction has been prevented, preserving the authentic charm of the cityscape.

Playa del Carmen is compact and easy to explore on foot. Life revolves around the two-kilometer-long Quinta Avenida, where numerous restaurants, cafés, bars, and souvenir shops can be found. Since our first visit in 2010, the Avenida has changed significantly: today, international fashion stores and boutiques line the street.
However, prices for clothing and food are now comparable to European standards.

The vibrant street art, especially around 10 Avenida, is particularly worth seeing. During midday, the city is quiet, as many people escape the heat at the beaches or in hotel pools.
In the evening, however, Playa comes to life. Bars fill with the sounds of reggae, salsa, and club hits, while open-air beach bars like Zenzi Beach Bar & Restaurant offer live music in a relaxed atmosphere.

Playa del Carmen offers several stunning stretches of beach where you can easily spend hours. The crystal-clear, turquoise water is perfect for swimming, and the sunshine guarantees pure relaxation. The beaches are freely accessible, so you can simply lay down your towel wherever you like.
However, shaded spots are limited. You can either bring your own umbrella or rent a beach chair at one of the beach bars.
These usually require a minimum spend, but the relaxed lounge music in the background comes free of charge.

On weekends and holidays, the beaches are often busy, as many locals also come here to enjoy their free time.

Our beach tip: The somewhat undiscovered Playa Punta Esmeralda on the edge of Playa del Carmen.

For longer distances within Playa del Carmen, taking a taxi is a convenient option. However, tourists usually pay more than locals, so it’s important to negotiate the fare with the driver before the ride. A more affordable alternative for getting around the city is the white buses with “30 - 30” written on the windshield.
These buses run up and down the Avenida. When you want to get off, simply call out “Parada”! or press the designated button.

For destinations outside the city, such as Cancún, Valladolid, or Mérida, the comfortable ADO buses departing from the bus terminal are a great option.
If you're heading to Akumal, Tulum, or Cancún, you can also take a Colectivo (shared taxi). These run from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm, departing every 5 to 15 minutes along Highway 307.
The Colectivos are flexible—they stop wherever you need, so simply let the driver know in advance when you want to get on or off.

How long you should stay in Playa del Carmen depends on your personal interests. While the town center can be comfortably explored in half a day to a full day, the area offers much more.
Playacar is a perfect base for exciting day trips to Cozumel, Tulum, Akumal, Coba, and  Chichén Itzá.
You can easily spend up to four nights in Playacar without getting bored—there are plenty of opportunities to fill your days with exciting activities.

4. VALLADOLID

Valladolid is the third-largest city in the state of Yucatán. A cozy yet lively colonial city with great charm, but also no longer a real insider tip.
Given its very good location, the city is visited daily by tourist buses heading towards Chichén Itzá, Ek Balam, Río Lagartos, or Las Coloradas.

The life of the colonial city takes place mainly around the park Parque Francisco Cantón Rosado. It is surrounded by colonial houses and the imposing Catedral de San Servasio.
The small park is an ideal retreat due to its shade-giving trees, with plenty of seating inviting you to linger.
In the park, locals try to sell tourists some sweet treats with "cotton candy sticks" and "popcorn".

Not far from the town center is Cenote Zaci, where local youth create a thrill with daring jumps into the water. A particularly well-known cenote, located just about 20 minutes away by car, is Cenote Suytun. This cenote gained fame on Instagram because, at midday, light streams through a circular opening, creating the perfect setting for stunning photos.
Many visitors come primarily for pictures rather than swimming. For this reason, we decided not to visit.

The town itself is quick to explore and serves primarily as a gateway to the surrounding attractions. For Valladolid itself, you shouldn’t plan to spend more than 1–2 hours.

Our tip: Every Sunday evening, locals gather at the main square in Parque Francisco Canton Rosado to dance to traditional Mexican music.
This vibrant event is something you definitely shouldn’t miss!

THIS POST WASN’T ENOUGH FOR YOU? YOU’RE LOOKING FOR EVEN MORE TIPS, INSPIRATION, AND MUST-SEE ATTRACTIONS FOR YOUR MEXICO TRIP? THEN BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR FOLLOWING POSTS:

• Mexico: The Yucatán Peninsula – the Ideal Mix of Road Trip & Beach
• Mexico: The Unique Nature of Yucatan
• Mexico: The Exciting World of the Maya
• Mexico: The Island Paradises around Yucatán

Enjoy discovering and planning!

USEFUL LINKS & RECOMMENDED TRAVEL GUIDES FOR YOU

• The Right Travel Adapter for Mexico
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• Discover the best accommodations
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