⛪️ Granada’s Church of La Merced: My Honest Review

A woman standing in front of a large cross in front of an ornate church.
Lukiih’s Overall Rating5.9
🦄 Uniqueness
🍀
😊 Enjoyment
🍀
💰 Value
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🎒 Ease of Preparation
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The Church of La Merced in Granada is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Using a clear rating system, I share my honest review of visiting it.

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🍀 Lukiih’s Verdict

Visiting the Church of La Merced is a decent option that is worth it and doesn’t take much time when you’re in Granada. However, it’s not a must-do attraction.

  • The church has an ornate exterior that’s fun to look at. Climbing up its bell tower for a sweeping view of the city is well worth it, especially around sunset and when there’s a clear view of Mombacho Volcano.
  • The experience is very affordable because it only costs $1 (cash) to go up its bell tower. If you take a Granada walking tour, you can learn more about the church’s history, which involved pirate attacks and reconstructions.
  • No preparation is required. You can pay at the door, and the church is centrally located and easy to walk to.
A high-vantage point view of a historic city.
View from Church of La Merced’s bell tower

Planning a trip? Here’s what to know about Nicaragua.

🏆 Where Does It Rank?

Visiting the Church of La Merced ranks as the #5 experience I had in Nicaragua. Here’s how it compares to other things I did on my trip:

ExperienceLocationOverall Rating
1🌊 Laguna de Apoyo Day TripGranada7.7
2🏖️ Playa MangoOmetepe6.7
3🏍️ Ometepe ScooterOmetepe6.3
4💧 Cascada de San RamónOmetepe6.1
5⛪ Church of La MercedGranada5.9
6🏊‍♂️ Ojo de AguaOmetepe5.7
7🏄‍♀️ Playa Maderas SurfingSan Jual del Sur5.7
8🌋 Concepción Volcano HikeOmetepe5.6
9🏖️ Playa Santo DomingoOmetepe5.6
10🛶 Islets of GranadaGranada5.5
11🏄‍♀️ Playa Remanso SurfingSan Jual del Sur5.4
Learn how Lukiih’s Rating is calculated here

My Nicaragua itinerary features the above experiences.

For more detailed tips on my experience, check out my trip planner below.

Nicaragua Trip Planner 2025

Download my trip planner to make your travel preparation effortless. It features up-to-date travel information and a well-researched itinerary informed by firsthand experience. Each section is customizable so it can be as lightweight or as hyper-organized as you like.

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Nicaragua trip planner preview

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