Municipality of Mérida: Best Things to Do
SIGHTSEEING
Visit the Roman Circus of Mérida and see the remains of a site that used to function for chariot racing thousands of years ago. Today, the historical site that can accommodate more than 30.000 people is listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, you will find some preserved structures such as the Porta Pompae or main entrance, the tribunal iudicium or the tribunal for the judges, and the Porta Triumphalis or the triumph gate. There's also a museum dedicated to the circus located in the area of the site. Another site that is listed as UNESCO Heritage List in Merida is the Alcazaba of Mérida. Alcazaba of Mérida is a Muslim fortification that was built in the ninth-century snd it features and underground freshwater reservoir.
Roman Circus of Mérida
Alcazaba of Mérida
DOWNTOWN
See the impressive collection of Roman art in Merida at the National Museum of Roman Art. This great museum is a must-visit attraction because here you will be able to see really stunning artefacts, mosaics, and sculptures gathered from the Roman theatre and amphitheatre. Besides the impressive collection, the architectural beauty of the building of the museum itself makes it already worth a visit.
National Museum of Roman Art
SHOPPING
Mercadillo de Mérida or Merida Street Market is the perfect place to go when you want to shop in Merida. You will find various items from clothing, fruit, and even vegetable. The market itself is not too crowded, so it's also a perfect place for you who just want to people-watch or see how the locals do their business.
Mercadillo de Mérida
FOOD & DRINK
Merida has the title as the Ibero_American Capital of Gastronomic Culture in 2016. The title is well=deserved since Merida has many amazing dishes with quality ingredients such as the Acorn-fed Iberian ham, Cojondongo which is a dish made of tomato, red and green pepper, cucumber, and onion seasoned with oil, vinegar, and salt. Also, don't miss to taste the tasty Extremaduran lamb stew while in Merida. The lamb stew is one of the dishes with the most history in Extremadura.
CULTURE
Merida is a city that has been existing for thousands of years. The city was found by the Roman colony that used to reside in Merida, which used to be called Emerita Augusta. The remains of the Roman colony can be seen from the remaining buildings still exist until today. These Roman monuments are used by the people of Merida as a place for celebrations such as Merida's Easter Week celebrations. During this time, Merida becomes alive with music, art, and color from the historical places the city has.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Peak season: April to October are the best times to visit Merida. During this time, the weather in Merida is pleasant for exploring, since it's sunny and there's very little rain.
HOTEL
Enjoy a comfortable stay at the Hotel Velada Mérida that features interesting facilities that guests can enjoy like an outdoor pool and a bar. You can get easy access to get to Merida's popular attractions such as the Amphitheatre of Mérida and the Roman Theatre since these destinations are only minutes away by walking from the hotel. Parador de Mérida is another hotel that provides easy access to Merida's famous tourist destinations. The hotel that is situated in an 18th-century convent is only 14 minutes away by walking from the hotel.
Hotel Velada Mérida
Parador de Mérida
RESTAURANT
Get a taste of the delicious tapas and raciones at A de Arco. The restaurant that is located near the Arco de Trajano monument also offers other tasty dishes such as blood sausage, ham croquettes, pinchos, and bacalao dorado. You might as well order the sweet and yummy desserts at the restaurant like cheesecake, tiramisu, and pancakes. Sapori D'Italia is the perfect place to visit when you want to eat delicious authentic Italian food. This place is well-known for its pizza and pasta. The taste of the pizza at this restaurant is even more delicious since it's baked in a wood-fired oven that makes its taste even richer.
A de Arco
Sapori D'Italia
CAFE
Grab a quick bite before you start your exploration in Merida at the Lemon Pie. This nice and cozy cafe serves very good breakfast menus such as cakes, toast, coffee, shakes, and tea. This cafe is popular among the locals, so you might need to wait for service sometimes, but it will be guaranteed that the wait is worth it. Coffee Bar 4L is another great option to have breakfast. Foods from tapas, toast, pastries, to pancakes, are available to order.
Lemon Pie
Coffee Bar 4L
BAR AND NIGHTLIFE
Barocco Copas Mérida is a great place for a drink in Merida. There different rooms in this bar, but the most fun is on the first floor where there's a live DJ performance where you can dance to great music. You can also come to Jazz Bar, which is another great place to enjoy tasty drinks as well as live Jazz music performance in a fun atmosphere.
Barocco Copas Mérida
Jazz Bar
INTERESTING PLACE
Teatro Romano de Mérida is one of the most famous landmarks in Spain. The impressive historical site that has been existing since 2.0000 years ago features several structures such as a stage, peristyle, and grandstands. The site is used as the venue for The Merida Classical Theatre Festival from 1993 until today. Acueducto de Los Milagros or the Miraculous Aqueduct is another Roman structure in Merida that was built to supply water to the Roman colony that occupied Mwrida thousand of years ago. The area around the site is a perfect place to spend an evening or a picnic while admiring the sight of the structure that still stands strong to this day.
Teatro Romano de Mérida
Acueducto de los Milagros
INSTAGRAMMABLE SPOT
Temple of Diana is a perfectly preserved Roman temple located in the middle of Merida. The temple used to function as the main public area of Emerita Augusta, which was a Roman city that existed thousands of years ago which today becomes the city of Merida. The impressively high pillars make this Romans ruins look magical, especially during the night when it's adorned with stunning lighting. Puente Romano, Mérida, or the Roman Bridge is a historical Roman bridge in Merida that crosses the Guadiana River. This well-preserved bridge is considered to be the longest ancient bridge that still survives in modern times. You can walk through the 755-meter building and enjoy the beautiful scenery that can be seen from the bridge, especially during the sunset.
Temple of Diana
Puente Romano, Mérida
