On foot. The historic centre is compact and walkable. The Plaza Mayor to Parque Santa Lucía takes ten minutes; the Plaza Mayor to the start of the Paseo de Montejo takes about fifteen. In the cooler months, most of the centre can be covered on foot without difficulty. In the heat of the wet season or in April, walking is harder work, but the distances are short enough that you can time walks for the morning or evening.
Taxis and rideshare. Taxis in Mérida do not use meters; agree on a price before you get in, or use the Indriver app, which is more popular locally than Uber. Fares within the city centre are low by any international standard. The apps are particularly useful for the airport run and for getting to the bus station with luggage.
Colectivos. Shared minibuses (colectivos) operate on fixed routes throughout the city and to the outskirts, costing a few pesos per journey. They are how most Meridanos get around and are perfectly reliable, though the routes require some local knowledge or willingness to ask. The colectivos to the northern suburbs (where several markets and the industrial Paseo are) depart from around the central market.
Cycling. The city has expanded its cycling infrastructure significantly and Sunday mornings, when the Paseo de Montejo closes to cars, are particularly good for cycling. Bike rental is available at several points in the centre; prices are very low. The flat terrain makes cycling practical in a way it is not in most Mexican cities. The main limitation is heat — cycling at midday in summer is not advisable.
For day trips. ADO buses from CAME are the most practical way to reach Chichén Itzá, Uxmal, and other ruins. Car rental is available at the airport and in the city and gives flexibility for reaching smaller sites, but driving in Mérida itself is not recommended for the unfamiliar — the one-way system and the numbered street grid take time to learn.