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

Should you visit Merida or Providence?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Merida or Providence, 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 museums, nightlife, and food.

Providence

Providence is a active, friendly, and fascinating city. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Merida and Providence: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Merida or Providence?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Merida than Providence. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Merida is more touristy than Providence and is known for its vibrant plazas, long running history, and colonial architecture. It is also well known for Grand Plaza. Providence is famous for its outdoor parks, historic atmosphere, and college town vibe.

How is Merida different from Providence?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Providence 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 Providence?

Merida is a great city for its historical sights. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Merida. 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.

Providence is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are several historical museums around town as well as art museums, zoos, a planetarium and natural history museum, and even a children's museum.

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

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

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, Providence makes for a great culinary experience. The food scene around town has grown and diversified in recent years. You'll find a mix of international and local options and for such a small city, it really has a lot to offer.

Is Merida or Providence Better for Nightlife?

Merida is a great city for its evening party scene. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife.

The nightlife in Merida has something for everybody. 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.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Providence. Comedy clubs, bars, and clubs keep the energy high during the evening hours. It's not hard to find something to do, particularly on weekend nights.

Is Merida or Providence Better for its Old Town?

Merida is a great city for its historic old town charm. However, Providence does not have a historic old town.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of Merida. 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.

Providence does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Merida or Providence?

Merida is a great city for its shopping areas. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city 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.

Providence is a great destination for shopping. Malls, shopping centers, and boutiques all offer a range of shopping experiences around town.

Is Merida or Providence Better for Families?

Merida and Providence 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 Providence. There are opportunities for kids to interact with animals at the Roger Williams Park Zoo, as well as plenty of places for kids to run around like Rocky Point Park or Goddard Memorial State Park. There's also the Providence Children's Museum, go carting, and entertainment centers.

Is Merida or Providence Better for Couples?

Merida and Providence 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.

Providence is a nice destination for couples. You can see a show at the Providence Performing Arts Center or visit some of the city's historic buildings and museums. There are also parks and coastal walks as well as many great restaurants.

Is Merida or Providence Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Merida is a great city for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Providence is not known 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.

Providence is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels around town for those who want an affordable place to stay.

Is Merida or Providence Better for Students?

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

Providence is a great city to visit as a student. There's a college town vibe to this small city because it's home to Brown University, which is a member of the Ivy League.

Merida is not popular with students.

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

Visitors will find nice public transit in both Merida and Providence.

Merida has some public transit options. While there are local bus routes, they can be a bit challenging to figure out when you first arrive.

You'll find some public transit in Providence, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are RIPTA buses that travel around town.

Is Merida or Providence a more walkable city?

Merida and Providence are great 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.

Providence is very walkable. It's a walkable city and it's relatively easy to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Providence or Merida?

How long in Merida or Providence?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Merida and Providence. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Providence than in Merida. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Merida, and 2-3 days is enough time in Providence.

Families should spend more time in Merida than Providence. 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 Providence. 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.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Merida than Providence if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Merida.

One day in Merida or Providence?

With museums and nightlife around the colonial city of Merida, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Merida, one day is sufficent for most.

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

A weekend in Merida or Providence?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Merida, there's plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Providence 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 Providence?

Merida, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Providence. 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 Providence?

Merida is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the friendly destination of Providence. 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, The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Merida and Providence, we can see that Providence 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 Providence would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Providence 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 Providence Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Merida or Providence?

Merida has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Providence. When comparing the sizes of Merida and Providence, 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 Providence?

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 Providence in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Merida and Providence. Many travelers come to Merida for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Providence in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

Merida is around the same temperature as Providence in the summer. The daily temperature in Merida averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Providence fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Providence this time of the year. In Merida, it's very sunny this time of the year. Merida usually receives less sunshine than Providence during summer. Merida gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Providence receives 293 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Merida usually receives around the same amount of rain as Providence. Merida gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Providence receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Merida or Providence in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Merida as well as Providence. Many visitors come to Merida in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, most visitors come to Providence for the shopping scene during these months.

In the autumn, Merida is much warmer than Providence. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Merida in October average around 21°C (70°F), and Providence averages at about 53°F (12°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Providence. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Merida this time of the year. In the autumn, Merida often gets more sunshine than Providence. Merida gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Providence receives 211 hours of full sun.

Merida receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Merida usually gets more rain in October than Providence. Merida gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Providence receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Merida or Providence in the Winter?

Both Providence and Merida are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Merida for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Providence because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Providence can be very cold. In January, Merida is generally much warmer than Providence. Daily temperatures in Merida average around 20°C (68°F), and Providence fluctuates around 28°F (-2°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Merida. Merida usually receives more sunshine than Providence during winter. Merida gets 209 hours of sunny skies, while Providence receives 170 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Merida usually receives less rain than Providence. Merida gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Providence receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Merida or Providence in the Spring?

Both Providence and Merida during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Merida because of the activities around the city.

Merida is much warmer than Providence in the spring. The daily temperature in Merida averages around 21°C (70°F) in April, and Providence fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).

In Providence, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Merida. In the spring, Merida often gets more sunshine than Providence. Merida gets 260 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Providence receives 225 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Merida. Merida usually gets more rain in April than Providence. Merida gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Providence receives 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Providence and Merida