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

Should you visit Recife or Merida?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Recife and Merida can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Recife

Recife is a authentic, cultural, and under-rated 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. See Recife travel costs.

Merida

Merida is a historical, traditional, and colonial city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping. See Merida travel costs.

Recife and Merida: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Recife or Merida?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Merida than Recife. While Recife is larger than Merida, Merida has more sights and attractions for tourists. Merida is more popular for its historical sights, while Recife is known for its beaches. Merida is more touristy than Recife and is popular for its vibrant plazas, long running history, and colonial architecture. It is also home to Grand Plaza. Recife is popular for its football and music scenes.

How is Recife different from Merida?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Plenty of people visit the high quality sights and museums in both Recife and Merida.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Recife. The city is large and cultural, so there are a number of museums that you can explore. Some of the favorites include the Instituto Ricardo Brennand, the Jewish Museum and Cultural Center, the State of Pernambuco Museum, and the Recife City Museum.

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.

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

Dining out at restaurants in both Recife and Merida can be an enjoyable experience.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Recife. You'll find plenty of local restaurants around town. Grilled meat is a staple in many of the dishes and you should definitely visit a churrascaria, which is a restaurant that specializes in cooking meat in the churrasco style. Food carts are great for picking up a coxinha (a pastry), and other local dishes include camarão na moranga (pumpkin stuffed with shrimp) and picanha (sirloin cap).

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).

Is Recife or Merida Better for Nightlife?

Both Recife and Merida are high quality when it comes to partying.

Recife offers plenty to do in the evening. Many visitors come for Carnival, and this is the obvious time to visit if you're looking for the best parties. Even during the other times of the year, you'll find many happy hours, dance clubs, and live music to enjoy.

Merida has a large number of nightlife venues. 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.

Is Recife or Merida Better for Beaches?

Recife is an excellent place to visit for the beach. However, Merida is not a beach destination.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Recife. The city's beaches are clean and enjoyable to visit and one of the most famous is Praia de Boa Viagem. Some beaches are lined with hotels and nightclubs while others are a bit more removed. If you decide to swim, do take note that shark attacks in the area are a real concern.

Merida is not a beach destination.

Is Recife or Merida Better for its Old Town?

Merida is a well-known place for its old town. However, Recife does not have a historic old town.

Merida is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. 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.

Recife does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Recife or Merida?

Both Recife and Merida are high quality shopping destinations.

Recife is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city has many local shops, art galleries, and larger shopping centers. Whether you're looking for clothing or a cultural souvenir, there are many places to browse.

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.

Is Recife or Merida Better for Families?

Merida is a city with good options for its family-friendly activities. However, Recife is not a good city for its kid-friendly activities.

Merida is a family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Recife is not always a place people visit with their families. There are a couple of museums that are good for kids, like Museu do Mamulengo. There are also beaches that are relatively clean for swimming, but make sure you go where the locals go and be very aware of the water conditions.

Is Recife or Merida Better for Couples?

Both Recife and Merida are good destinations for a couple's getaway.

Recife makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are beaches and restaurants that make for a nice date day. You can explore the city, visit some museums, and soak up the local culture.

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.

Is Recife or Merida Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Merida is a well-known place for backpackers. Also, Recife is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Merida is a great city to visit for backpackers. 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.

Plenty of backpackers visit Recife. There are a few hostels around town, but they do fill up quickly. The city is often overlooked by tourists but if you're looking for an authentic experience, then this is your place.

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

Both Recife and Merida offer good public transit options.

Recife has a few public transit options. The city has a metro system as well as city buses.

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.

Is Recife or Merida a more walkable city?

Merida is a well-known place for its high level of walkability. However, Recife is not a good city for its ease of walking around.

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

Recife is generally not a very walkable city. Parts of the city are more walkable than others. It's also best not to walk alone at night.

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

Should I spend more time in Merida or Recife?

How long in Recife or Merida?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Recife or Merida to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Recife than Merida because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Recife, and 1-2 days is enough time in Merida.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Merida than Recife 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 Recife or Merida?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Recife. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Merida. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Recife or Merida?

Recife 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.

Merida 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 Recife or Merida?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Recife. Most people come for the beaches. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Merida. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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 Recife or Merida?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the under-rated destination of Recife. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the traditional destination of Merida. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Brazil, The Best Budget Tours to Brazil, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Recife and Merida, we can see that Recife is more expensive. And not only is Merida much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Recife is in South America and Merida is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Recife would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Recife 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 Recife Expensive? and Is Merida Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Recife or Merida?

Recife has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Merida. When comparing the sizes of Recife and Merida, 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 Recife or Merida?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Recife is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Merida has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Recife or Merida in the Summer?

Both Merida and Recife during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Recife for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Merida because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Recife is a little warmer than Merida. Typically, the summer temperatures in Recife in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Merida averages at about 21°C (70°F)in July.

In Merida, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Recife. In the summer, Recife often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Meridain July. Recife gets 246 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Merida receives 254 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Recife. Recife usually gets more rain in January than Meridain July. Recife gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Merida receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year. March to August is the rainy season in Recife.

Should I visit Recife or Merida in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Recife and Merida. The autumn months attract visitors to Recife because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Merida this time of year.

In April, Recife is generally a little warmer than Meridain October. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 26°C (79°F), and Merida fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Merida this time of the year. Recife usually receives less sunshine than Merida during autumn. Recife gets 185 hours of sunny skies, while Merida receives 233 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Merida receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Recife gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Recife usually receives more rain than Meridain October. Recife gets 338 mm (13.3 in) of rain, while Merida receives 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Recife or Merida in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Recife as well as Merida. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Recife this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Merida for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Recife is a little warmer than Merida in the winter. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 24°C (76°F) in July, and Merida fluctuates around 20°C (68°F)in January.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Merida. In the winter, Recife often gets less sunshine than Meridain January. Recife gets 170 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Merida receives 209 hours of full sun.

Recife receives a lot of rain in the winter. Recife usually gets more rain in July than Meridain January. Recife gets 388 mm (15.3 in) of rain, while Merida receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year. March to August in Recife is the rainy season.

Should I visit Recife or Merida in the Spring?

Both Merida and Recife are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Recife for the beaches and the activities around the city. Also, many visitors come to Merida in the spring for the activities around the city.

In the spring, Recife is a little warmer than Merida. Typically, the spring temperatures in Recife in October average around 25°C (77°F), and Merida averages at about 21°C (70°F)in April.

It's quite sunny in Merida. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Recife. Recife usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Merida during spring. Recife gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Merida receives 260 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Merida. In October, Recife usually receives less rain than Meridain April. Recife gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Merida receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Recife is October to December.

Typical Weather for Merida and Recife