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

Should you visit Merida or Halifax?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Merida or Halifax, 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 colonial, historical, and traditional city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See Merida travel costs.

Halifax

Halifax is a friendly, cultural, and historical city. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Halifax travel costs.

Merida and Halifax: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Merida or Halifax?

You'll generally find more things to do in Merida than Halifax. Merida is bigger than Halifax, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Merida is more touristy than Halifax and is known for its vibrant plazas, long running history, and colonial architecture. Also, Merida is famous for Grand Plaza. Halifax is well known for its maritime past.

How is Merida different from Halifax?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Merida is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, Halifax is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

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.

Halifax offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. You should head to Pier 21, where you'll find the Canadian Museum of Immigration. The Discovery Center is a great spot for kids, as is the Natural History Museum. Finally, check out the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site.

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

Merida is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Halifax is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Merida. 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).

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Halifax. You'll find lobster rolls and other seafood around town, but also make sure you try the Halifax donair, which is a shaved beef sandwich wrap that can be found a many pizza restaurants.

Is Merida or Halifax Better for Nightlife?

Merida is a very popular place for nightlife. Also, Halifax is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

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.

Halifax has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There's a laid back atmosphere to the nightlife scene. There are casual bars and pubs where you can meet the locals and a few nightclubs where there's a relaxed but fun atmosphere.

Is Merida or Halifax Better for its Old Town?

Merida is a very popular place for its historic old town. However, Halifax 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.

Halifax does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Merida or Halifax?

Merida is a very popular place for shopping. Also, Halifax is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting 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.

Halifax offers some nice shopping areas. You'll find a mix of boutiques, artisan shops, large malls, and shopping centers.

Is Merida or Halifax Better for Families?

Merida and Halifax are both notable 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 Halifax. There are a handful of kid-friendly museums like the Museum of Natural History. Kids will also appreciate a visit to the Discovery Center or stretching their legs at Point Pleasant Park. History lovers should go see the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site.

Is Merida or Halifax Better for Couples?

Merida and Halifax are both notable 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.

Halifax is a nice destination for couples. Couples can wander down the waterfront or take a stroll through Point Pleasant Park. The city also has number of romantic restaurants and hotels.

Is Merida or Halifax Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Merida is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Halifax is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Merida is very popular with the backpacker crowd. 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.

Halifax is a good city to visit for backpackers. There's actually a decent number of hostels around town for backpackers and budget travelers.

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

Visitors will find notable public transit in both Merida and Halifax.

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 Halifax, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are buses around town as well as a ferry to Dartmouth.

Is Merida or Halifax a more walkable city?

Merida is a very popular place for its walkability. Also, Halifax is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.

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

Halifax is a somewhat walkable place. It's a compact town that's relatively easy to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Halifax or Merida?

How long in Merida or Halifax?

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

Families should spend more time in Merida than Halifax. 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 Halifax. 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 Halifax 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 Halifax?

In Merida, you'll find nightlife and food. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

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

A weekend in Merida or Halifax?

In Merida, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Merida has to offer.

Halifax 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 Halifax?

Merida is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

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

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Merida. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Merida. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural destination of Halifax. 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 G Adventures Tours to Canada, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Vancouver.

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

Which is Bigger, Merida or Halifax?

Merida has a larger population, and is about 100% larger than the population of Halifax. When comparing the sizes of Merida and Halifax, 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 Halifax?

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 Halifax in the Summer?

Both Halifax 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 Halifax this time of year.

In the summer, Merida is a little warmer than Halifax. Typically, the summer temperatures in Merida in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Halifax averages at about 18°C (64°F).

It's quite sunny in Halifax. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Merida. Merida usually receives more sunshine than Halifax during summer. Merida gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Halifax receives 230 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Merida usually receives less rain than Halifax. Merida gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Halifax receives 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Merida or Halifax in the Autumn?

Both Halifax 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. Furthermore, many travelers come to Halifax for the shopping scene.

In October, Merida is generally much warmer than Halifax. Daily temperatures in Merida average around 21°C (70°F), and Halifax fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).

It's quite sunny in Merida. In the autumn, Merida often gets more sunshine than Halifax. Merida gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Halifax receives 148 hours of full sun.

Halifax gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Merida. Merida usually gets more rain in October than Halifax. Merida gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Halifax receives 121 mm (4.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Merida or Halifax in the Winter?

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

Halifax can get quite cold in the winter. Merida is much warmer than Halifax in the winter. The daily temperature in Merida averages around 20°C (68°F) in January, and Halifax fluctuates around -4°C (24°F).

In Merida, it's very sunny this time of the year. Merida usually receives more sunshine than Halifax during winter. Merida gets 209 hours of sunny skies, while Halifax receives 111 hours of full sun in the winter.

Halifax receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Merida usually receives less rain than Halifax. Merida gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Halifax receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Merida or Halifax in the Spring?

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

Halifax can be very cold during spring. In the spring, Merida is much warmer than Halifax. Typically, the spring temperatures in Merida in April average around 21°C (70°F), and Halifax averages at about 4°C (39°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Merida this time of the year. In the spring, Merida often gets more sunshine than Halifax. Merida gets 260 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Halifax receives 148 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Halifax. Merida receives a lot of rain in the spring. Merida usually gets more rain in April than Halifax. Merida gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Halifax receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Halifax and Merida