Fodor's Expert Review Plaza Grande

Mérida's main square is a Wi-Fi hot spot, but don't be so glued to your smartphone that you fail to take in the parade of activity in one of Mexico's loveliest town centers. Locals refer to it as the Plaza Grande or Plaza de la Independencia, and you'll also hear it called “the zócalo” (primarily by foreigners). Whichever name you prefer, it's a good place to start a city tour, watch dance performances, listen to music, or chill in the shade of a laurel tree. You'll find a few vendors here, but they're all low-key. Plaza Grande was laid out in 1542 on the ruins of T'Hó, the Maya city demolished to make way for Mérida, and it's still the focal point around which the most important public buildings cluster. Confidenciales (S-shape benches) invite intimate tête-à-têtes, and lampposts keep the park beautifully illuminated at night.