Paseo de Montejo
A tree-lined avenue modeled on Paris's Champs-Élysées, lined with French-style mansions from the henequen boom. It is ideal for strolling and for touring by horse-drawn carriage.
Paseo de Montejo was begun in 1888, modeled on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. It is a product of the era when the export of henequen (sisal) made Yucatán wealthy. Along the roughly 5-kilometer avenue stand mansions in French and Italian styles. Some have been converted into museums, banks and restaurants, such as Palacio Cantón, the Casas Gemelas (Twin Houses) and the Casa Montes Molina museum. The avenue also features several sculpture exhibits and the Monumento a la Patria (Monument to the Fatherland). On Saturday evenings, there is music and street food, called 'Mexican Night,' at the start of the avenue. On Sunday mornings, some sections are closed to traffic for cycling. Horse-drawn carriages and sightseeing buses are available. The daytime sun is strong, so bring sun protection.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Palacio Cantón (Regional Museum of Anthropology)
- Monumento a la Patria
- Parque de Santa Lucía
- José Peón Contreras Theatre
- Government Palace of Yucatán
- Mérida Cathedral (San Ildefonso)
- Plaza Grande (Plaza de la Independencia)
- MACAY Contemporary Art Museum