Thing to do
Isla Mujeres day trip
A short ferry hop from Cancún to a narrow seven-kilometre island of beaches, golf carts and Maya history, sacred in the past to the goddess Ixchel.
Mercado 28
Downtown Cancún's best-known market, with more than 200 craft shops and restaurants on Avenida Xel-Há, where visitors shop for souvenirs and eat Yucatecan food.
At a glance
- Type
- Crafts market
- Area
- Región 28, Downtown, Cancún, Mexico
Good to know
- Over 200 shops and restaurants
- Seafood restaurants
- Taquerías
- Ice-cream shops
Why we recommend it
Mercado 28 is the market most visitors mean when they talk about shopping in downtown Cancún. It stands on Avenida Xel-Há in Región 28, the district that gives it its name, and it brings together more than 200 shops and restaurants. For anyone staying in the Hotel Zone it is the easiest way to see the mainland city, and for anyone staying downtown it is a natural place to spend an afternoon.
The market has changed over the years. It opened in the 1980s as an ordinary city market, selling fruit, vegetables, meat, chicken, fish and prepared food to residents. After Mexico's economic crisis of 1994, stallholders turned towards visitors, and today around 85 per cent of the market is given over to crafts and souvenirs. What you find now is a mix of regional handicrafts, clothing, jewellery, sandals, watches, T-shirts, keyrings and magnets, alongside the more traditional pieces from around Mexico.
Food is as much of a draw as shopping. Between the aisles are seafood restaurants, taquerías, stands selling antojitos (Mexican snacks) and neverías selling ice cream, and the market is known for its Yucatecan cooking. A meal here is a good way to try regional dishes without leaving the market.
Mercado 28 suits souvenir hunters, families and anyone who wants a few hours in the city rather than at a resort. Allow time to wander slowly and take in the atmosphere rather than rushing between stalls.
Getting there from the Hotel Zone is straightforward by city bus: routes 2 and 5 run from the Hotel Zone, and route 6 connects from other parts of downtown.
If you want a more local market, the city's oldest, Mercado 23 (Mercado Javier Rojo Gómez), founded in 1978, is on Avenida Jabín and still sells fruit, vegetables, meat, poultry and fish along with hammocks, crafts and typical food. For handmade pieces by Indigenous and Maya artisans, the Ki-Huic crafts market on Avenida Tulum is another option. For something newer, Mercado Cancún on Avenida Yaxchilán opened in 2019 in an art deco building, with food stands serving Mexican and international dishes and a space for live music and theatre. In the Hotel Zone, the Coral Negro crafts market at kilometre 9 of Boulevard Kukulcán is the closest equivalent for visitors who do not want to come downtown.
Mercado 28 FAQs
Where is Mercado 28?
On Avenida Xel-Há in Región 28, in downtown Cancún.
What can you buy at Mercado 28?
Regional crafts, clothing, jewellery, sandals, watches, T-shirts and souvenirs such as keyrings and magnets.
Can you eat at Mercado 28?
Yes, the market has seafood restaurants, taquerías, snack stands and ice-cream shops, and is known for Yucatecan food.
How many shops are there?
More than 200 shops and restaurants combined.
How do I get there from the Hotel Zone?
City bus routes 2 and 5 run from the Hotel Zone to the market.
How old is the market?
It dates from the 1980s, when it was a food market; it turned mainly to crafts after the 1994 crisis.
Is there a more local market nearby?
Mercado 23 on Avenida Jabín, founded in 1978, is the city's oldest and still sells fresh produce.
How long should I allow?
Give yourself time to wander slowly, with a meal at one of the market's restaurants.