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Spend A Day At Mexico City's La Merced Market

Photo Credit: Thinkstock

Particularly if you are staying near the city center, reserve a day of your Mexico City vacation to visit La Merced Market, one of the world's largest retail and wholesale food markets in the western hemisphere.

La Merced Market
Calle Rosario S/N, Venustiano Carranza
Merced Balbuena, 15810
Ciudad de México, D.F., Mexico
+52 55 5522 7250

What is La Merced Market?

La Merced is one of the city's largest markets. It is also quite old and can be traced back to the 1860s. A majority of the market is fruit and vegetables, but it is also easy to find butchers, street food stands, cookware and kitchen supplies. Mercado de la Merced is definitely one of Mexico City's must-sees, however, it is highly recommend to go in the morning, with a group.

How to Get There

La Merced borders the center of the city and is about a 20-minute walk from the National Palace. Visiting the market is a great activity for tourists, particularly for those staying in downtown hotels. For those staying in other neighborhoods, La Merced shouldn't be too difficult to get to either. One obvious method of transportation is a cab, though don't take one by yourself - be aware of your safety at all times. Another option is traveling to La Merced via metro. The subway stops right in the middle of the market at a stop appropriately named Station La Merced!

Related: Best Markets To Shop In Mexico City

What to Bring

Since the market has many vendors from around the country and even the world, it might be easiest to bring pesos, as not all vendors will be able to accept debit or credit cards. However, La Merced is a busy urban market, so don't carry too much cash, and make sure it is securely stored on you, out of the sight of potential pick-pocketers. Also bring sunscreen. Even though some of the vendors have tents and many are located indoors, much of the market is outside in the hot Mexican sun. A camera or camera phone is also essential for capturing moments of your visit. And lastly, bring a reusable shopping bag if you have one. Do your part to reduce litter and waste in Mexico City by bringing your own bag.

What to Buy

Most of the market consists of fruits and vegetables. If your hotel has a kitchenette, grab ingredients to make a homemade meal, which is a great way to save money while traveling - especially because the prices at La Merced are phenomenal. If you don't have the ability to cook, plan on grabbing snacks for the rest of your trip; bananas, avocados and other easy-to-eat items are perfect to buy at the market and eat later between restaurant meals.

In addition to produce, the market also has a few artisan vendors, most of which sell kitchen items and accessories. This is a great place to grab gifts for mom or grandma, or anyone in your life who likes to cook. Look for locally made items, as La Merced is a big import and export market, and you don't want your souvenirs from Mexico to read "Made in China" on the back.

What to Eat

The most fun thing about La Merced is the incredible array of street food vendors. This is the ideal place to grab an affordable, but insanely delicious lunch. This is particularly great for families or parties where everyone has different tastes and trouble agreeing on restaurants. Here, people will have the freedom to choose their own vendor and then all of you can find somewhere to eat together. La Merced also has a lot of traditional Mexican dishes, so if there is something specific you want to try on vacation, you will probably be able to find it here.

Related: Best Musical Experiences In Mexico City

Cameron Bruns is the founder of BostonGreenBlog.com and co-author of Just Us Gals Boston. She lives in Boston's North End, where her goal is to promote ethical, stylish, and sustainable lifestyle choices to all Boston residents. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.

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