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

Should you visit Merida or Hershey?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Merida or Hershey, 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. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Merida travel costs.

Hershey

Hershey is a playful, lighthearted, and fun-filled town. It's also popular because of the shopping and museums. See Hershey travel costs.

Merida and Hershey: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Merida or Hershey?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Merida than Hershey, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Merida is better known for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and big city activities, while Hershey is more popular for its resorts. Hershey is more touristy than Merida and is popular for being the home of the Hershey's milk chocolate bar. Merida is well known for its vibrant plazas, long running history, and colonial architecture. Also, Merida is famous for Grand Plaza.

How is Merida different from Hershey?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Merida is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. Also, Hershey is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Merida offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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.

Hershey offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. In addition to Hershey's Chocolate World, there's the Hershey Story Museum, the Hershey Historic Center, and the Pennsylvania State Police Museum. There's also the AACA Museum (a car museum).

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

Merida is a great destination for its restaurant scene. However, Hershey is a town with minimal options for its local flavors and cuisine.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Merida makes for a great culinary experience. 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).

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Hershey. Restaurants range from casual to fine dining, and many have a very family-friendly atmosphere.

Is Merida or Hershey Better for Nightlife?

Merida is a great destination for nightlife. However, Hershey is a town with minimal options for nightlife and partying.

The people in Merida know how to have a good time. 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.

Hershey doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. Head to downtown Harrisburg for the best nightlife. You'll find some bars and casino's in the area.

Is Merida or Hershey Better for Resorts?

Hershey is an excellent place to visit for its luxury resorts. However, Merida is not a resort destination.

Hershey is a popular resort destination that attracts visitors from everywhere. There are a few of resorts affiliated with Hersheypark including a lodge, a hotel, and even camping.

Merida is not a resort destination.

Is Merida or Hershey Better for its Old Town?

Merida is a great destination for its historic old town. However, Hershey does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting 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.

Hershey does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Merida or Hershey?

Merida is a great destination for shopping. Also, Hershey is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping opportunities.

Merida is an extremely popular place for shoppers. 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.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Hershey. You'll find shops, boutiques, and plenty of Hershey apparel that you can pick up in town.

Is Merida or Hershey Better for Families?

Hershey is terrific for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Merida is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Hershey is an amazing family-friendly town to visit. Hersheypark offers family-friendly resorts and camping. There's also the themed amusement park and even a zoo. When the weather's warm there's a water park and, of course, there's the famous Hershey's Chocolate World.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Merida. 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.

Is Merida or Hershey Better for Couples?

Hershey is an excellent place to visit for couples. Also, Merida is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

Hershey makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. If you don't take yourself too seriously, couples can enjoy a fun and active few days exploring the activities in the area.

Merida is a nice destination for couples. 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 Merida or Hershey Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Merida is a great destination for backpackers. However, Hershey is a town with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to 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.

Hershey is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not the most popular destination for backpackers, but there are some fun activities in the area.

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

Merida is a popular place for its public transit. However, Hershey is a town with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.

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.

Public transit is mostly limited in Hershey. While there is a bus system, it's very limited and most visitors do not rely on it.

Is Merida or Hershey a more walkable city?

Merida is a great destination for its walkability. However, Hershey is a town with minimal options for its high level of walkability.

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

Hershey is generally not a very walkable city. You really need a car to get to the area's attractions.

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

Should I spend more time in Hershey or Merida?

How long in Merida or Hershey?

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

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

Couples should spend more time in Merida than Hershey. 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 Hershey 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 Hershey?

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 shopping when visiting the destination of Hershey. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Merida or Hershey?

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.

Hershey 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 Hershey?

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 Hershey. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. 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 Hershey?

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 playful destination of Hershey. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. 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 3-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America.

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

Which is Bigger, Merida or Hershey?

Merida has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Hershey. When comparing the sizes of Merida and Hershey, 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 Hershey?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Merida or Hershey in the Summer?

Both Hershey and Merida during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Merida in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Hershey for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Merida is cooler than Hershey. Typically, the summer temperatures in Merida in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Hershey averages at about 77°F (25°C).

In Hershey, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Merida. In the summer, Merida often gets less sunshine than Hershey. Merida gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hershey receives 310 hours of full sun.

Merida usually gets less rain in July than Hershey. Merida gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Hershey receives 3.6 inches (91 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Merida or Hershey in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Merida and Hershey. Most visitors come to Merida for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Hershey because of the shopping scene.

In October, Merida is generally much warmer than Hershey. Daily temperatures in Merida average around 21°C (70°F), and Hershey fluctuates around 56°F (13°C).

In Merida, it's very sunny this time of the year. Merida usually receives more sunshine than Hershey during autumn. Merida gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Hershey receives 194 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Merida gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Merida usually receives more rain than Hershey. Merida gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Hershey receives 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Merida or Hershey in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Merida as well as Hershey. The winter months attract visitors to Merida because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Hershey this time of year.

It's quite cold in Hershey in the winter. Merida is much warmer than Hershey in the winter. The daily temperature in Merida averages around 20°C (68°F) in January, and Hershey fluctuates around 30°F (-1°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Merida this time of the year. In the winter, Merida often gets more sunshine than Hershey. Merida gets 209 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hershey receives 153 hours of full sun.

Merida usually gets less rain in January than Hershey. Merida gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Hershey receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Merida or Hershey in the Spring?

Both Hershey and Merida are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The activities around the city are the main draw to Merida this time of year.

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

It's quite sunny in Hershey. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Merida. Merida usually receives more sunshine than Hershey during spring. Merida gets 260 hours of sunny skies, while Hershey receives 237 hours of full sun in the spring.

It's quite rainy in Merida. In April, Merida usually receives more rain than Hershey. Merida gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Hershey receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Hershey and Merida