A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Merida vs. Arlington for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Backpackers

Should you visit Merida or Arlington?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Merida or Arlington, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Merida

Merida is a traditional, colonial, and historical city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Arlington

Arlington is a educational, international, and historical city. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Merida and Arlington: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Merida or Arlington?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Merida than Arlington. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Merida is famous for its vibrant plazas, long running history, and colonial architecture. It is also well known for Grand Plaza. Arlington is famous for its international connections, its biking and walking trails, and being the location of the Pentagon.

How is Merida different from Arlington?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Arlington and Merida. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Merida or Arlington?

You'll find a number of superb museums and attractions in both Arlington and Merida.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Merida can be an interesting and educational experience. The city is filled with culture and traditional heritage, and there are many museums and architectural landmarks that will educate and inform visitors on the area. Gran Museo del Mundo Maya is a highlight for many visitors. It's also worth visiting Museo Casa Montejo and Museo Palacio Canton. If you want to visit ruins, then the Dzibilchaltun Mayan Ruins are about 45 minutes outside of town.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Arlington. Arlington National Cemetery is where you'll find the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as well as the tomb of John F. Kennedy Jr. There are many memorials around town, with the most famous being the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial. There are also several museums like the DEA Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Is the Food Better in Merida or Arlington? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Merida and Arlington.

Merida has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. It's a top foodie destination in the Yucatan region and visitors will enjoy the many local restaurants and diverse local dishes that are influenced by the Mayan, Spanish, and Caribbean cultures. The most well known local dish is cochinita pibil, which is marinated pork shoulder. Other popular dishes include sopa de lima (lime soup), papadzules (enchiladas with pumpkin seed sauce), and relleno negro (a local stew).

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Arlington makes for a great culinary experience. It's a global city, and the restaurants reflect that. You'll find amazing Thai, Japanese, and Mexican restaurants. There are also less common cuisines to choose from such as Ethiopian, Moroccan, and Peruvian.

Is Merida or Arlington Better for Nightlife?

Both Merida and Arlington have superb vibes after the sun sets.

Merida has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. Most tourists take advantage of the nightlife scene in the city's downtown area, while locals congregate in the northern part of town. The city has bars, theaters, night clubs, and live music that keeps the energy high late into the night.

The people in Arlington know how to have a good time. The city has a huge young population that drives the nightlife scene. There are clubs, bars, and lounges in many neighborhoods. There are also comedy clubs and plenty of live music.

Is Merida or Arlington Better for its Old Town?

Merida is an excellent place to visit for its historic old town charm. However, Arlington does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Merida to see the historical old town. Centered around the city's Grand Plaza, the old town is filled with colonial architecture and colorful buildings. The Catedral de San Ildefonso was the first cathedral built in the Americas. There are also monuments and examples of Mayan art and culture.

Arlington does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Merida or Arlington?

Merida is an excellent place to visit for its shopping areas. Also, Arlington is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Merida. There are colorful markets that are filled with artisan crafts and traditional clothing. Visitors enjoy discovering the unique vendors and picking up souvenirs that are unique to the area.

Arlington is a great destination for shopping. Many neighborhoods have local shops or farmer's markets. There are also shopping centers and malls such as Ballston Quarter, The Crossing Clarendon, and The Village at Shirlington.

Is Merida or Arlington Better for Families?

Merida and Arlington are both nice destinations for the whole family.

Merida is a family-friendly city. The weekend is the best time to visit the city, as this is when there are the most activities. There are live performances that educate visitors on Mayan traditions. There are also historic museums, bike-friendly streets, and a vibrant central market.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Arlington. Kids will enjoy seeing the planes talk off from Gravelly Point park. There are also plenty of outdoor spaces and educational opportunities in the area, including world class museums.

Is Merida or Arlington Better for Couples?

Merida and Arlington are both nice to visit as a couple.

Merida is a good city for couples to visit. If you're interested in Mayan culture and history, then this is a wonderful destination. There are also romantic hotels, excellent restaurants, and plenty of fascinating activities that couples will enjoy.

Arlington is a nice destination for couples. There's a vibrant cultural scene and many international restaurants that couples can enjoy. It's also a great place to take in a show or concert.

Is Merida or Arlington Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Merida and Arlington are both superb destinations for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Merida. It's a relatively large city with a number of hostels and budget hotels, so backpackers will have no problem finding a place to stay.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Arlington. There are a couple of hostels and many free activities nearby. There's also great public transportation that makes for a convenient backpacker destination.

Is Merida or Arlington Better for Students?

Arlington is an excellent place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Merida is not popular with students.

Arlington is a great city to visit as a student. There are a huge number of colleges and museums in the area as well as many great internship and educational opportunities.

Merida is not popular with students.

Is Merida or Arlington Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Arlington is terrific for times when you don't have a car. Also, Merida is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

The thorough and effecient public transit system of Arlington can take you anywhere. There is a reliable bus system around town as well as many metro connections.

You'll find some public transit in Merida, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. While there are local bus routes, they can be a bit challenging to figure out when you first arrive.

Is Merida or Arlington a more walkable city?

Merida and Arlington are superb when it comes to walkability.

Merida is a very walkable destination. It's a very walkable city and most visitors don't have a car.

Arlington is very walkable. There are many pedestrian-friendly areas around town, particularly in the neighborhoods that are concentrated around metro stations.

For even more information, also check out Is Merida Worth Visiting? and Is Arlington Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Arlington or Merida?

How long in Merida or Arlington?

It's fun to spend time in either Merida or Arlington. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Arlington due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Merida, and 2-4 days is enough time in Arlington.

Families should spend more time in Merida than Arlington. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Merida, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Merida than Arlington. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Merida that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

One day in Merida or Arlington?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Merida. Visiting the old town is also a must. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Merida has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Arlington. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Merida or Arlington?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the colonial destination of Merida. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Arlington is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Merida or Arlington?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the colonial city of Merida. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Arlington. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Merida or Arlington?

Merida is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the international destination of Arlington. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Merida and Arlington, we can see that Arlington is more expensive. And not only is Merida much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Merida would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Merida and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Arlington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arlington than you might in Merida.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Merida Expensive? and Is Arlington Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Merida or Arlington?

Merida has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Arlington. When comparing the sizes of Merida and Arlington, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Merida or Arlington?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Merida or Arlington in the Summer?

Both Arlington and Merida are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Merida because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Arlington this time of year.

Merida is cooler than Arlington in the summer. The daily temperature in Merida averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Arlington fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

It's quite sunny in Arlington. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Merida. Merida usually receives less sunshine than Arlington during summer. Merida gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Arlington receives 278 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Merida usually receives less rain than Arlington. Merida gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Arlington receives 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Merida or Arlington in the Autumn?

Both Arlington and Merida during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Merida this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Arlington for the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Merida is a little warmer than Arlington. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Merida in October average around 21°C (70°F), and Arlington averages at about 60°F (15°C).

It's quite sunny in Merida. In the autumn, Merida often gets more sunshine than Arlington. Merida gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arlington receives 197 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Merida. Merida usually gets more rain in October than Arlington. Merida gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Arlington receives 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Merida or Arlington in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Merida and Arlington. Many travelers come to Merida for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Arlington in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Arlington can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Merida is generally much warmer than Arlington. Daily temperatures in Merida average around 20°C (68°F), and Arlington fluctuates around 35°F (1°C).

In Merida, it's very sunny this time of the year. Merida usually receives more sunshine than Arlington during winter. Merida gets 209 hours of sunny skies, while Arlington receives 139 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Merida usually receives less rain than Arlington. Merida gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Arlington receives 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Merida or Arlington in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Merida as well as Arlington. Many visitors come to Merida in the spring for the activities around the city.

Merida is much warmer than Arlington in the spring. The daily temperature in Merida averages around 21°C (70°F) in April, and Arlington fluctuates around 56°F (14°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Arlington. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Merida this time of the year. In the spring, Merida often gets more sunshine than Arlington. Merida gets 260 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arlington receives 228 hours of full sun.

Merida receives a lot of rain in the spring. Merida usually gets more rain in April than Arlington. Merida gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Arlington receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Arlington and Merida