All about Paseo de Montejo in Mérida, Mexico (2025 Guide)

The first street in Mérida I ever heard of was Paseo de Montejo. And it’s no surprise – that long, grand boulevard is hands down the most famous street in Mérida and a must-see when you're in the city.

Alright, on to the next big thing – it’s named after Francisco de Montejo, that Spanish conquistador who founded the city in 1542 and whose presence you still feel everywhere in Mérida today.

The avenue starts downtown at the remate del Paseo de Montejo and stretches for about 1.6 kilometers, ending at the Monumento a la Patria. It's parallel to Calle 56 and Calle 58, which is why it’s also known as Calle 56A.

The wide street, lined with beautiful colonial buildings, was built between 1888 and 1904, during the henequén boom when Yucatán was making a lot of money from henequén production. Back in 1926, they extended it by 371 meters to its current length.

If you’ve ever been to famous boulevards like Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City or the Champs-Élysées in Paris, you’ll see the same kind of inspiration in Paseo de Montejo. It was designed to remind people of those grand avenues.

So, walking down the Paseo de Montejo is something you should definitely do when you visit Mérida for the first time. It’s the perfect spot to feel the city’s history and charm.

Iconic Colonial Buildings

The architecture of the time was strongly influenced by European styles, especially French, Spanish and Italian. The wealthy owners, many of whom were plantation owners, even had their furniture shipped over from Europe.

Today, some of the great old buildings have been converted into a museum and can be visited or booked for events. And while some houses are now in operation as museums or banks, others are still used as normal residential buildings.

On a length of about a mile you can find some of most beautiful and iconic colonial buildings in the city. But there are also several restaurants, bars, clubs, cafes or pastry shops.

Be sure to check out the special article about the Paseo de Montejo, which summarizes all the sights along Mérida's main boulevard.

Prolongacion Montejo

North of the Monumento a la Patria (one of Mérida’s most recognizable landmarks), Paseo de Montejo transitions into the Prolongación Paseo de Montejo, a continuation of the iconic boulevard that stretches north for almost 5 kilometers.

This section of the road was extended in stages, first in 1973 and later in 1998, and does not feature any notable attractions. Prolongacion Montejo then turns into highway 261 at approximately the Gran Plaza Mérida shopping center.

Places of Interest

Some of the most famous buildings (going north from downtown) are:

• Casas Gemelas (one house was turned into a museum)

• Palacio Cantón (now home to Yucatán Anthropology Regional Museum)

• El Minaret (houses Yerba Santa Mérida and can be rented e.g. for events)

• Quinta Montes Molina (operates now as a museum)

• Casa Duarte Molina (for a long time abandoned)

• Casa Vales (today home of Santander Bank)

• Casa Peón de Regil (today headquarter of Inbursa Financial Group)

Along the Paseo de Montejo there are also famous monuments, such as

• Monumento a la Patria (Monument to the Homeland)

• Monumenta a los Montejos (to honor the Montejo family)

• Monument of Gonzalo Guerrero

• Monument of Justo Sierra (the oldest monument on the street)

• Monument to Felipe Carrillo Puerto

Other locations worth visiting include (going north from downtown):

• Casa T´HŌ Concept House (some nice galleries and a cafe)

• Cielo Hamacas (a well-known hammock store)

• Rosas & Xocolate (a hotel & spa)

Best Places to Eat on Paseo de Montejo

Of course, there are also some great restaurants and cafés along Paseo de Montejo.

Again, going north from downtown:

• Cafeteria Impala (a famous cafe)

• Dulceria y Sorbeteria Colon (a famous ice cream parlor)

• Casa T´HŌ Concept House (as mentioned above with a cafe)

• Marago Coffee (another great cafe)

• Rosas & Xocolate (the hotel also has a restaurant)

• Restaurante Emplumado (one of the best restaurants in Mérida)

• K'u'uk (one of the best upscale restaurants)

Join La Biciruta Mérida

Since 2006, every Sunday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, one lane of Paseo de Montejo, is closed to car traffic for "La Biciruta," a popular biking event in Mérida. This bike ride is part of the larger Mérida en Domingo celebration.

The event really picks up around 11:00 AM, and the route, spanning about 5 kilometers, is blocked off from La Ermita de Santa Isabel (Calle 77 at 64) to Plaza Grande, and then heads north to the end of Paseo de Montejo, just past the Monumento a la Patria.

La Biciruta Mérida offers a opportunity to see the city in a totally new light. It’s a fun and lively way to experience Mérida while riding through its scenic streets.

The best part? You can easily combine it with a visit to the Mercado Domingo, which I highly recommend, it’s definitely worth the stop.

A quick tip: bring a small bike lock so you can secure your bike when you take a break to explore.