23 Best Things to Do in Mérida with Kids (2025 Guide)
Updated: June 18, 2025
Discover Mérida / Mérida with Kids
Author: Tobias
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Mérida with Kids
2025
Hi, I’m Tobias – a German travel writer with a home in Mérida and a passion for exploring new places.
For over 20 years, my wife (a local) and I have traveled Mérida, and the Yucatán Peninsula. On this site I share real insights on 200+ places.
Learn more: Our story
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Things to Do in Mérida with Kids at a Glance
Mérida is a safe, family-friendly city. Top activities for kids include Animaya Zoo's safari-style tours and Parque La Plancha with its 8 playgrounds, splash zones, and a train museum.
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Safety in Mérida: The city is consistently ranked as one of Mexico’s safest cities, with very low violent crime rates. Families feel safe walking and using public transit in the city.
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Best park & zoo for kids: Parque La Plancha offers open space, splash zones, and 8 playgrounds for kids to burn off energy – central and stroller-friendly. Animaya Zoo, with its fun safari-style tours, is perfect for families.
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Active fun: Parque de Deportes Extremos in eastern Mérida features 17 outdoor activities for kids, including ziplining, climbing walls, and trampolines. In Xcalachén neighborhood, you can take older kids on a street art safari.
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Train fun for kids: Located in Parque La Plancha just east of downtown Mérida, the Museo de los Ferrocarriles is a favorite among kids. It features vintage locomotives children can climb on, and admission is free.
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Hands-on museum for kids: The Museo Palacio de la Música offers a fun, hands-on experience for families, with interactive stations where kids can mix music, design album covers, and take part in music quizzes.
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Best ice cream in Mérida: Pola Gelato Shop, Dulceria y Sorbetería Colon, and Helados Santa Clara in the city center serve ice cream, sorbets, and creamy treats. They're family favorites and perfect for a sweet break.
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“We’ve got three kids, so we’re always on the lookout for places that keep them entertained, safe, and don’t require too much driving around.
Mérida really hits the mark – with sprawling parks, a safari-style zoo, hands-on museums, and endless space for them to explore and burn off energy.”
The Best Nature Reserve and Zoo in Mérida for Kids
Sure, it’s a matter of personal taste – but I definitely have my favorites:
🥇 Of all the bigger parks in Mérida, Acuaparque is my favorite for kids. It’s a bit outside the city center, but it’s cleaner and better maintained than most, with calm lakes, open space, and plenty of shaded spots to run, play, and feed the turtles.
🥈 Personally, I think Animaya is hands down the best zoo in Mérida for kids. It’s out on the city’s western edge and was designed more like a safari, with wide spaces, a little train, and a lookout tower – making it both fun and easy to explore with children.
👉 Aside from Acuaparque, most large nature reserves in and around Mérida are just wild, overgrown green spaces with minimal facilities and not much to keep children engaged.
Acuaparque
Parque Zoológico Animaya
Best Ice Cream in Mérida
📍 If a pool is priority number one, ice cream comes in at a close second. In Mérida, kids (and adults) will love Pola Gelato Shop – a local favorite with homemade ice cream, sorbets, and waffles.
📍 Another iconic spot is Dulceria y Sorbetería Colon, which has five locations around the city and is famous for its traditional Mexican-style ice cream. For even more options, check out Helados Santa Clara. It’s slightly pricier, but still worth it.
📍 Got chocolate lovers in the family? Stop by Ki'Xocolatl, a bean-to-bar chocolate shop with rich local flavors. Fun fact: September 2 is Mexico’s National Cacao and Chocolate Day!
Helados Santa Clara
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Dulceria y Sorbeteria Colon
The Best Museums to Visit in Mérida with Kids
If your kids are a bit older, there are museums that are definitely worth checking out.
🥇 The Museo de los Ferrocarriles in Parque La Plancha is a real hit with kids – especially those who love trains. Located just east of downtown Mérida, it’s home to vintage locomotives your kids can climb on. Admission is free.
🥈 The Palacio de la Música is a hands-on music museum in Mérida's city center where your kids can interact with exhibits, touch instruments, and discover Mexico’s musical roots. It’s modern, fully air-conditioned, and compact enough for a relaxed family visit.
🥉 The Gran Museo del Mundo Maya, located in northern Mérida, showcases over 1,100 artifacts from the Maya civilization. While the content leans educational, its immersive displays, 3D models, and weekend workshops make it enjoyable for school-age kids as well.
👉 The MACAY and the Mayan World Museum are Mérida’s most important museums – but the MACAY focuses on contemporary art in a classic museum setting and isn’t very engaging for kids.
Museo de los Ferrocarriles
Gran Museo del Mundo Maya
History Museums in Mérida
📍 Museo Regional de Antropología – Great for Curious Tweens
If your kids are old enough to enjoy a quiet walk through history, the Museo Regional de Antropología is a solid pick. Set in a colonial mansion on Paseo de Montejo, it showcases the region’s story from ancient Maya roots to modern-day Mérida.
📍 Museo de la Ciudad de Mérida – A Quick Stop Downtown
The small but engaging Museo de la Ciudad de Mérida tells the story of Mérida’s evolution from the Maya city of T’Ho to the capital of Yucatán. It’s located right in the historic center, making it a nice, easy addition to a family day around Plaza Grande.
📍 Museo de Historia Natural – Perfect Before or After the Zoo
Right next to Parque Zoológico del Centenario, the Museo de Historia Natural is great for kids who love animals and science. It covers local wildlife and geology with easy-to-understand displays – nothing too long or too dense. We like to combine both stops in one outing.
👉 In many cases, you can easily combine a museum visit with another nearby attraction – for example, the Museo de Historia Natural is right next to the Centenario Zoo.
Museo de la Ciudad de Mérida
Museo de Historia Natural
Street Art in Mérida
It depends on the age of the kids, of course – but if they’re a bit older, curious, and up for walking, exploring Mérida's street art could be a fun and colorful adventure.
📍 One of the best places to explore it is in Xcalachén, a local neighborhood just outside the downtown area, where walls come alive with bold colors and unique imagery. Hidden gems can be hit or miss, but this one is a side of Mérida most people never see.
Street art in Xcalachén
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Street art in Xcalachén
General Tips for Visiting Mérida with Kids
My quick tips for visiting Mérida with kids:
▸Pack snacks, water & sun hats.
▸Use sunscreen and mosquito repellent.
▸Pack an umbrella during the rainy season.
▸Carry small bills for treats.
▸Bring a stroller or carrier for little ones.
▸Take AC breaks at midday.
👉 If you haven’t checked them out yet, make sure to browse the 40+ Travel Tips for Mérida and beyond – packed with everything you’ll want to know before exploring the city.
Frequently Asked Questions
🎯 What are the best things to do in Mérida with kids?
Top activities in Mérida for kids include visiting Animaya Zoo, exploring the train museum at Parque La Plancha, and playing at Parque de las Américas. Other highlights are interactive exhibits at the Palacio de la Música and family-friendly green spaces like Acuaparque.
🎟️ Is there an entrance fee for Animaya Zoo?
No, Animaya Zoo in western Mérida is free to enter. Visitors can also enjoy optional paid extras like the safari-style bus tour or panoramic tower ride, which cost around Mex$10–20 per person, making it very affordable for families.
👍 Is Animaya Zoo worth visiting with kids?
Yes – Animaya Zoo is ideal for children. It offers wide open spaces, exotic animals in natural-style enclosures, and a small safari train. It’s less crowded than downtown parks and perfect for a half-day family outing in Mérida.
🎯 What museums in Mérida are best for kids?
The top museums for kids in Mérida are the Museo de los Ferrocarriles, with real trains to climb; the Palacio de la Música, with hands-on exhibits; and the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya, which offers immersive visuals and weekend workshops for older children.
🎯 What is the best park in Mérida for kids?
Parque La Plancha is currently Mérida’s best park for kids. It features eight playgrounds, splash zones, a skate area, and the railway museum. Located east of downtown, it offers shaded paths, open lawns, and local snack stands nearby.
🎯 What nature areas in Mérida are kid-friendly?
Acuaparque in eastern Mérida is the most kid-friendly nature reserve. It has lakes, walking paths, turtles to feed, and open play space. Other reserves tend to be wilder and less maintained, making them less suitable for younger children.
🛡️ Is Mérida safe for families?
Yes – Mérida is consistently ranked one of Mexico’s safest cities, with very low violent‑crime rates. Families report feeling secure walking and using public transit throughout the city
🏥 Is medical care for children available in Mérida?
Yes – Mérida has excellent pediatric care, with private clinics and hospitals such as Star Médica, Faro del Mayab, and Clínica de Mérida offering 24/7 emergency services. Pharmacies are widespread, and most doctors speak at least basic English.