Built during Mérida’s boom in the early 1900s, Teatro José Peón Contreras (Calle 60 at Calle 57, tel. 999/923-7354, 9 a.m.–9 p.m. Tues.–Sat., 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Sun.) is a beautiful, mammoth building: The main staircase is made of Carrara marble and various murals and paintings adorn the walls and ceiling.

Today, the theater hosts mostly music concerts and ballet folklórico performances. For a listing of events, stop by the box office or check at the tourist information center, at the corner of the theater building. When there aren’t rehearsals, you also can take a look around the theater for free from 9 a.m.–6 p.m.

Teatro Mérida (Calle 62 between Calles 59 and 61, tel. 999/924-9990, 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Tues.–Sun.) is an art-deco venue housing a main theater and two smaller ones. It’s an artsy place with top-notch programming year-round—productions vary from modern dance programs to international film festivals.

Renovated in 2006, Teatro Daniel Ayala (Calle 60 between Calles 59 and 61, tel. 999/924-0277, 9 a.m.–9 p.m. Tues.–Sun.) is a cavernous theater that is used mainly for dramatic performances.