There are quite a few things to do in downtown Cancun. The downtown area is a part of the touristy city of Cancun that is, well, not too touristy.
While others were flocking straight to Cancun’s beachy ‘hotel zone,’ I wanted to discover what made the industrial ‘Cancun Centro‘ tick. And my guess is that if you are reading this article, you’re thinking of doing the same thing.
Downtown Cancun is full of amazing food and restaurants (from street food to high-end), vibrant street art, and TONS of shopping – where you will find everything much cheaper than places like Playa del Carmen and especially Tulum.
Here is my travel guide to Cancun downtown – all the best things to do in downtown Cancun whether you just have an afternoon or up to a couple of days.
How Long do I need in Downtown Cancun?
You may be traveling from Cancun to other places in Yucatan, such as Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Tulum, or even the yellow city of Izamal. But try to spend some time checking out the city before you go!
Well, that depends, honestly. You could get a lot done in an afternoon if that’s all you have, but it would be more comfortable to spend 2-3 days at a slower pace. But in all honesty, you wouldn’t need any more than that (before you head to the beach)!
Where to Stay in Downtown Cancun
There are quite a lot of cool and unique places to stay in Downtown Cancun! Here is where I stayed and some other favorites.
Nilu Downtown Cancun by Selina
If you haven’t heard of Selina before, I suggest checking it out. Selina is a massive chain of accommodation across Central America and other parts of the world that has a bit of something for everyone.
Selina hotels have hostel dorm rooms, micro rooms with a shared bathroom, ensuite boutique hotel rooms, and huge boutique suites as well – all at different price points. They also all have coworking spaces, wellness classes each week (from yoga and meditation to salsa dancing), fun bar/restaurants, and a pool area too.
I think the inclusion of ALL of this really sets Selina apart. Each location is unique and boutique, with colorful decor, murals, and a fun atmosphere. They are also usually VERY well located in the center of town.
Their downtown Cancun location was no different – it was RIGHT across from the bus station and within walking distance of everything. I tried out a micro-room here, which was everything I needed for a few nights on a budget.
The complex here is massive, with an amazing rooftop yoga/wellness space overlooking the city and a comfortable cowoking space too. The pool area is beautiful, surrounded with murals and wooded decor. The bar and restaurant area has so much space to chill or relax, and they also had a pool party each Saturday!
The downtown Cancun Selina was a perfect mixture of convenience, fun, and uniqueness – which is what I look for in a place to stay! I loved it here.
Nomads Hotel + Hostel Downtown Cancun
The Nomads hotel + hostel in Downtown Cancun is the second place I would recommend to stay here. Similarly to Selina, they have both hotel and hostel rooms for any budget, and have a very social atmosphere.
THere’s a cafe/restaurant in the building on the ground floor, and perhaps the best aspect is their rooftop pool (with a view of course).
Located at the top of Avenida Nader, you can walk to MANY great restaurants on the same street as well as pretty much everything else in downtown Cancun as well.
Things to Do in Downtown Cancun
These things to do in downtown Cancun will be broken into sections on activities and places to visit, places to stay, shopping, and restaurants. Scroll to whichever section you need!
Downtown Cancun Street Art Tours + Adventures
Downtown Cancun has some amazing street art, which is something very special about the area. No matter where you wander, you are sure to catch glimpses of some amazing murals, which are one of the coolest Cancun attractions.
You can explore by foot, but if you want to know more about the art and its history, you should check out a Street Art Tour of Cancun Centro. The well-rated tour below mixes street art AND street food, which is pretty much perfect.
Downtown Cancun Shopping
Downtown Cancun shopping needs it’s own category. If there’s any reason to come to downtown Cancun, it would be to shop, shop, and shop some more.
Shop for clothes; shop for souvenirs; shop for hats and purses and shoes and produce. You can get everything here, and at a MUCH cheaper price than other places (cough cough Tulum). Here are the best places to shop in Downtown Cancun:
Mercado 28
I don’t know where to begin with Mercado 28 – the biggest, most maze-like, most overwhelming, incredible, colorful, and bustling market EVER.
This market is where you would go to get STUFF – classic Mexican souvenirs, clothing, jewelry (of all kinds), leather, bags, shoes, and everything you can think of.
I wandered past here without knowing what to expect, and stumbled out three hours later, having haggled my life away and $100 poorer for things I would be about $400 poorer for in Tulum. Oh, I had a great time, and I know you will too!
Parque de Las Palapas
Parque de Las Palapas is great for shopping, food, nightlife, and general community! During the afternoons/evenings there’s are a few dozen market stalls selling mostly souvenirs and jewelry.
One of my favorite stalls had lovely copper jewelry that I hadn’t seen anywhere else in Quintana Roo – as well as being super cheap for only 350 pesos (they would be at least 1500 in Tulum).
Mercado 23
Mercado 23 is another smaller street market with more variety. Besides just souvenirs (of which it still has many), you can also find all kinds of produce at Mercado 23.
From fresh fruit and veg, to all kinds of meat, to fresh flowers or birthday supplies, this market has a little of everything and would be perfect if you want to cook up something nice.
Downtown Cancun Restaurants – A Food Guide from Cheap to Fancy
I never expected downtown Cancun to be so much of a foodie haven. From cheap restaurants and street food to super trendy restaurants, there’s a little of everything! One of the very best things to do in downtown Cancun is to EAT! Here’s what I found:
Where to Find Downtown Cancun Street Food
I mean, to be honest, there is street food on every corner of downtown Cancun. But here are some of the most concentrated areas:
Parque de Las Palapas
You’ll see Parque de Lap Palapas multiple times on this guide of things to do in Downtown Cancun. This is the central gathering space of downtown Cancun, with a HUGE stage, markets, and TONS of street food.
The corner of the park is covered in tables, with savory food on one side and sweets on the other. On the weekends Parque de Las Palapas will have live shows and music, children playing, families gathering, and more.
There are at least 20 different stalls, offering classic Mexican fare and other things too. From sopes, salbutes, gringas, tacos, and empanadas to hamburgers, hot dogs, and cheat dishes with rice and beans… you’ll find what you are looking for here. And it will be CHEAP.
On the sweets side, there are tons of Marquesita stands (like a rolled up thin crispy waffle) of which you can get sweet or savory (like a crepe). There are also churros, fried bananas, and more.
it’s open all the time, but the busiest hours are from just before sunset to 10ish at night.
Street Food Near the ADO Station and Collectivo Stops
For lack of a better term, some amazing downtown Cancun street food is near the ADO bus station, shuttle stops, and collective pickup points. This is where you will get dropped off if you take any transport to Cancun Centro.
Around here there are lots of shops and stands selling everything from sweets to tacos. Have a look to see that you can find!
Best Downtown Cancun Breakfast Restaurants and Cafes
I only went to a few, but they were great!
Café con Gracia
This super cure spot is known for amazing frappes and milkshakes, paninis, bagels, and waffle sandwiches.
It’s got a front and back patio with great chill areas to spend a warm afternoon.
Selina Restaurant + Cafe
Selina is a hostel, boutique hotel, restaurant, pool, bar, and cafe, all right in the center of downtown Cancun.
You can get a delicious breakfast (or lunch or dinner – hello pizza oven!) here, next to the pool and ping pong table. The cafe is next to the front entrance by the street – great for takeaways or quick chill time.
Rooster Cafe
Rooster Cafe is a cute wooden diner-style restaurant with tons of delicious options. For breakfast, choose from 5 styles of eggs Benedict or an entire menu of different brekky dishes.
They have great coffee, lunch options, and friendly service too.
Best Cheaper Mexican Restaurants in Downtown Cancun
Want something more authentic? No problem. There are plenty of downtown Cancun restaurants with cheaper local fare and a bit of an atmosphere.
Calle Tulipanes
Calle Tulipanes is the busy and bustling street to walk down if you want classic Mexican restaurants with competitive deals.
it’s the kind of street where EVERY restaurant has waiters outside busting to tell you their special deal to get you into their restaurant. You’ll find classic Mexican decor and mostly cheap prices at these downtown Cancun restaurants, as well as some nightclubs too.
Mercado 28 Restaurants
When you shop at Mercado 28 (which is inevitable), you’ll find plenty of colorful Mexican restaurants while you are getting lost in the stalls.
Like all the stalls, people will be outside with menus beckoning you inside with special deals.
Taqueria Coapeñitos
This is a spot on the north end of Av Nader with super cheap tacos and Mexican food. It’s pretty cute, too!
Nicer Downtown Cancun Restaurants
There are tons of trendy restaurants in downtown Cancun, and a majority of these are located along Av Carlos Nader. Here are some standouts:
Mu Burgerhouse
Mu Burgerhouse is the place to go if you are looking for a leafy and trendy atmosphere, great tunes at a solid volume, and delicious burgers.
El Tigre Y El Toro
This lovely open-air garden restaurant specializes in pizza and wine. It has a great vibe for a nice sit-down meal.
La Coyota – Cocina y Mixología
La Coyota is the trendy restaurant on Av Nader that reminded me the most of Tulum. With wooded branches and a sleek atmosphere, it’s a great spot to choose for dinner and drinks in an upscale Mexican fusion style.
Onigiri Casa Poke
Onigiri is a cute poke house with a menu full of poke bowls (including tuna, salmon, shrimp, and even beef, chicken, steak, and more).
However, the best thing about this place is definitely the build-your-own poke bowl. You can choose 3 proteins, 2 bases, 3 extras, and 2 toppings. They’re definitely better deals than the menu bowls IMO.
Socio Naiz
This is a more upscale Mexican restaurant with all the classics in a trendy indoor/outdoor setting.
Downtown Cancun Nightlife
There are a few places to go after dark in downtown Cancun – and they’re all pretty much what you’d expect. There are sports bars with cheap drinks and bustling reggaetón bars. Here are some options if that’s what you’re into!
Beach Please
If you can’t find this place, you will surely hear it from far away! It’s in the middle of Calle Tulipanes and has loud bumping Reggaetón/bass music, tons of waiters on the street trying to tell you about their deals (and 65 peso cocktails) and even fog machines! If you’re ready for a down and dirty Cancun night, try here or maybe next door at MANGOS bar.
Getting to the Rest of Cancun from Downtown
You’ll definitely eventually want to check out what Cancun is famous for- BEACHES! I recommend staying a few days to do downtown properly and then moving to a place on the beach for convenience.
If not, you can take taxis or busses to the beach areas. Try to get taxis on the street or father from the bus stations as they will be cheaper that way.
If you’re planning to explore Cancun’s beaches or take day trips to Playa del Carmen or Tulum, it’s worth setting up your eSIM for Mexico before you arrive. Having mobile data makes it much easier to navigate, book transport, and stay connected throughout your trip.
If you are heading on to Playa del Carmen or Tulum, I have plenty more guides to these places, too!
To start, check out:
Passionate, full-time travel blogger with over 230k on social media and 150kMPV blog. Extraordinary photographer with two DSLR's + a drone with a love for capturing candid moments, epic drone shots, and magical compositions. I'm a natural-born content creator originally from California, but I've been on the road for 9 years living, working, traveling, blogging, and photographing my way around the world. I recommend the most amazingly adventurous and unique + boutique travel experiences/stays and helpful products to my audience and write comprehensive guides on my website that have helped millions of travelers so far. I love to inspire people to plan their dream trips, and many readers have given feedback as such. The reach on my platforms continues to soar, especially when combining cutting-edge social content with optimized articles on my high-authority website.