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City in Guanajuato, Mexico
Photo: AlejandroLinaresGarcia, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
San Miguel de Allende is a colonial city in the state of Guanajuato in the Bajio mountains of central Mexico, about 270 km northwest of Mexico City. In 2020, the town had 72,000 residents, in a metropolitan area of 160,000.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
The marvelous pink granite parish church, looking like an ornate candy sculpture. The building itself dates from the 16th century, while the façade was designed in the 19th century by self-taught indigenous architect Zeferino Gutíerrez, who is said to have been inspired by a postcard depicting a European Gothic cathedral.
Las Monjas
Next to the Bellas Artes and part of the former convent, this church was constructed in the mid-18th century. The massive dome is said to be a copy of Les Invalides in Paris.
Completed in 1714, the church features a delicately-carved pink sandstone façade.
Church of Our Lady of Health
Built in the 17th century and notable for the scalloped stone dome over the main entrance.
Built toward the end of the 18th century, this is a good example of Mexican Baroque architecture.
Casa de Allende
Home of Ignacio Allende, one of the independence heroes. You will learn about Mexican history from the 16th century until the death of Allende in 1811 and you can find an exhibition which shows a typical upper-class house of that time. Spanish and English explanations
Casa de Cultura Banamex
The former home of a very wealthy family and now housing a bank. The courtyard is open to the public, and occasional art exhibits are shown on the ground floor. Visitors must sign in; no photography permitted.
Bellas Artes / Convento de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción
This former convent is now an art school and cultural center, and hosts rotating exhibits by local and international artists. Of particular note is an unfinished mural on the ground floor by David Alfaro Siqueiros, a contemporary of Diego Rivera.
La Otra Cara de Mexico
A private collection of over 500 Mexican ceremonial masks.
La Esquina Museo del Juguete Popular Mexicano
This museum collection is housed in a historic building, and includes a range of antique and modern hand-made toys.
Jardín Allende, Plaza Principal
This central plaza with manicured trees is always buzzing with activity and is a good place for people-watching.
An 18th-century mansion and the former office of the Inquisition was located in this building, now a private home. Directly across the street is the former jail for the Inquisition.
Santuario de Jesús Nazareno de Atotonilco
Often called the “Sistine Chapel of Mexico,” the Sanctuary of Atotonilco is an 18th-century pilgrimage church famous for its dramatic, fresco-covered interiors. It's 12 km northwest of San Miguel de Allende on highway MEX-51, and there are minibuses (“El Santuario”) that run regularly from the city center.
Named after a famous Mexican opera singer who inaugurated the theater in 1873, this is one of San Miguel's principal venues for concerts and performances. It is not normally open to the public except during events.
Holy Week
Celebrated with impressive and touching parades.
Feast of Fools
This annual parade is unique to San Miguel, with thousands of participants clothed in outlandish and colorful costumes and tossing candy into crowds of spectators. The parade begins around 11:30 at the Templo of San Antonio and winds its way up Hernández Macías, Insurgentes, and San Francisco Núñez before terminating at the Jardín.
An annual short film festival, co-hosted by the nearby city of Guanajuato. Hundreds of films from nearly all genres are screened in venues including the Jardín and in the Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramírez. Most films are subtitled in Spanish and English.
Festival de Música de Cámara de San Miguel de Allende
An annual festival featuring internationally renowned quartets and soloists. Concerts are held in a number of venues, including the Teatro Angela Peralta.
Día de la Independencia de México
St Michael's Feast Day
A week of festivities celebrating the Feast Day of San Miguel's patron saint.
The Day of the Dead is one of the most notable Mexican holidays, and of course also celebrated in this city with processions, altars to commemorate loved ones that have passed, colorful sugar skulls and other similar paraphernalia. Also, the Calaca Festival with art performances and exhibitions takes place during these days.
Festival Internacional de Jazz & Blues
Jardín Botánico
Unique park above the town with an enormous collection of cacti. A vast area just past the Balcones area which includes some of the older engineering installations (an old mill and raceway), lovely canyons, well informed guides (mostly expats) for the botanists and birdwatchers. Go early in the day to avoid the heat and for more wildlife. Locals who are members are sometimes given a key to the back gate – find one and buy him beers until he relents! The reservoir is host to a number of migratory birds, and the locals can be rather stunning as well. Guided tours are offered.
Tours are conducted in English, and meet inside the main entrance.
Benito Juarez Park
This well-used park is comprised of many old fruit orchards, and is now a favored nesting area for white egrets.
The only chapter of the Audubon Society in Mexico, this group offers guided birdwalks to locations within and near San Miguel. Destinations include the El Charco del Ingenio Jardín Botánico (see listing above), the Río Laja, and the Presa Allende. Participants travel by carpool.
A bike shop that has operated in San Miguel since 1963. They offer bike rentals and biking or hiking tours with guides that hold an intimate knowledge of the area around San Miguel. You have the choice of seven bike tours and two hiking trips which take you amongst natural landmarks and some of the historical ruins of the area. These are of varying degrees of difficulty and range from 5 to 8 hours. The bicycle tours include a 2-speed aluminum mountain bike with helmet, gloves and transportation if needed.
18-hole, par 72 golf course with a large club house with restaurant, bar, and event spaces. Recreational amenities include tennis courts, swimming pool, spa, and pickleball courts.
Offers horseback riding, hiking, biking, rappelling, camping, four-wheeler (ATV), hot air ballooning, boating, Cañada de la Virgen pyramid tours, and multi-day cross country adventures. Their guides lead you safely through working cattle ranches, into canyons, through rivers, over plains, across gorges, and down sheer cliffs, all the while sharing with you their in-depth knowledge of the native flora and fauna.
Stable offering guided horseback rides over gentle terrain. Friendly guides and well-mannered horses.
The day ticket is for M$190 (Jan 2022). For getting there you can do it the same way as going to La Gruta. From the bus stop it's a 12-min walk. You can bring your own food. Locks for the lockers and towels are only for sale, but you can bring your own. It's open daily until 17:00.
A good place to start eating traditional Mexican dishes for a low price. You find the restaurants with eating tables further inside of the mercado. The restaurants are open daily 8:30-17:00 (they close two hours before the markets closes)
In a nice environment you get a comida corrida for M$90 (Dec 2021).
You get for example 4 tasty tacos with salad on top for M$30 (Dec 2021). Also offered are 4 enchiladas and gorditas. It's open 17:30-21:00.
You get a half grilled chicken with chiles and tortillas for M$55 (Dec 2021).
You can choose one kind of meat for your Chinese dish and get it for M$68 (Dec 2021). Open daily 10:30-20:00.
Some walking minutes out of the center. It has comidas corridas. Open daily.
About 3 km out of the center. With an enormous variety of street food, from gorditas and tacos to fresh fruit juices. Open Tuesdays 08:00-16:00. Bus line 8 or 9 goes there from the Plaza Civica on Mesones.
Beautiful courtyard dining on fresh, local ingredients. Although many menu items seem at first to be the "usual", there's nothing ordinary about them. Try in particular the chicken soup (throw in all the onions and cilantro), tacos and any omelette.
Has good breakfasts and great coffee. Practices Fair Trade.
This is undoubtedly the most innovative and creative breakfast menus in town featuring design-your-own omelets & breakfast burritos, exquisite French toast, and home made fruit salsa. The vibe is very comfy and clients can choose from indoor or outdoor-garden seating.
A well-run restaurant with great food, Mexican and international. The restaurant/cafe in proud of their freshly made churros and a variety of hot and cold chocolate milks. Owned by Margarita Gralia.
A small Mexican food spot which offers simple yet interesting authentic Mexican food in a great location.
formerly Bistro Los Senderos
Relaxed country atmosphere serving old favorites and innovative fusion dishes – the restaurant has its own organic herb and vegetable garden. Great place to take visitors, and kids – bicycles available and horse back rides by reservation. Gets very busy on Sundays, reservations recommended. This charming place also prepares gourmet picnics, and available for private events.
A wonderful, multi-story restaurant owned by Daniel and son Dyami. La Grotta is located downhill, around the corner, just a block from the main cathedral. The restaurant is casual and the main items are pizza, calzones, and Italian-related. The food is very carefully and freshly prepared.
This trendy cafe style restaurant offers a delightful blend of Mexican and international flavor. Its atmosphere is definitely one of the best in town.
This restaurant is based in the patio of a charming inn located in a remarkably well preserved colonial house. Branded as 'fusion', the food offered by this restaurant will make your visit to San Miguel even more memorable, it mixes the classic elements of Mexican cuisine with oriental flavors and dishes.
An open air patio restaurant with a stage and an exterior/second floor patio. The restaurant has traditional Mexican dishes, but specializes in pizzas and pastas. An always packed space, this is an amazing place to eat with a clean kitchen, and a lively bar.
Administered and owned by a Catalan immigrant.
Try the Mar y Tierra.
Wonderful soups, nachos, and entrees. Try the Three meats enchiladas. Friendly service.
For a great nightcap, Berlin is a great chill bar. The owner is very welcoming and the food is sublime.
Showcases musicians from Mexico City.
This is arguably the most popular club in town, and easily the most expensive. It has a cover charge, enough to dissuade the casual visitor from dropping in to take a look. Inside, the building is a panoply of stone and glass sculptures, light displays, and music. How energetic the evening gets usually depends on the crowd, but it's hard for the evening to get much past midnight before the dancing starts. El Grito is only open Fridays and Saturdays, or on certain holidays, like New Year's Eve (when they jack the price)
Mama Mia's is four clubs in one. There's a restaurant and bar in the center with some amazing Italian food, a sports bar to the left (usually displaying a soccer or football game of some kind), a music bar to the right where local acts frequently play (especially Pilaseca, a very popular funk-blues band that tours most of Mexico and the States), and a hard-to-find rooftop lounge overlooking the city. This is a great default place to while away the hours when nothing else is appealing – the music is worth it, if nothing else.
Complete coverage of national and international sports – if it is on TV they have it.
Price depends on the season. In December 2021 it was M$175 for a dorm bed without breakfast. There's a laundry service with same day pickup.
A clean, comfy and friendly alternative to hotels, the Casita is social like a hostel and far more private. Includes a fully-equipped kitchen where guests can cook any time. Clean and well-maintained. Prices and availability must be asked per e-mail or phone call.
Independent hostel. Ricardo, the owner, is a resident of San Miguel and is always happy to show you the real gems of the town: the best sights, clubs, restaurants, bars, hot springs, artisanal markets. Weekly and monthly rates available. Private rooms are available for M$600 (Dez 2021).
Seven charming casitas (small houses) surrounding a beautiful garden. Each casita has a kitchenette, coffee maker, TV, DVD player with a huge selection of films, Wi-Fi. On the grounds is one of the best breakfast cafes in the entire town (not included in room rate).
Bed and breakfast close to El Jardin. Breakfast and lunch are served in a comfortable dining room. The food is outstanding - including soup, main course, and dessert at lunch time. There is also an interior courtyard and rooftop garden. Owner is very warm and friendly.
Colonial-style boutique bed and breakfast with magnificent views. Has free Wi-Fi and outdoor pool.
3 wonderfully designed rooms, full breakfast, roof garden, great sunset and close to El Jardin.
Each room has a terrace, private toilet and bath with toiletries, living room, and fully equipped kitchen. High-speed Internet, car hire, currency exchange, and laundry/dry cleaning.
A former brothel (or "house of the night") that has been converted into a very charming guest house with rooms and suites. 5 minutes from El Jardin and Parrochia. The grounds are beautiful with Mexican handiwork evident everywhere. There are rooms and suites with kitchenette. Weekly and monthly rates are available.
Great location near downtown. Inside this colonial-style building you will find a water well. People say Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico's independence hero, used to drink this water when he was in San Miguel.
Contemporary designed boutique hotel, 2 blocks from the center. Includes wine bar and restaurant.
One of San Miguel's oldest family-owned hotels. Once home to a famous bullfighter, a silk plantation, and has been for decades a retreat for artists such as Diego Rivera and Pablo Neruda.
Luxury boutique resort with accommodations, on-site restaurants, SENSE, A Rosewood Spa and space for meetings, weddings and events.
A retreat. San Miguel is not only a wonderful visit because of the town, but also spectacular for its gorgeous countryside. Sagrada's quiet and tranquil location is high up in the country with views of the high desert. Cabanas and canvas bungalows are spacious and with modern amenities. Architecture is amazing - very modern and built with sustainable materials. Food, yoga, and other spa treatments are offered separately.
Converted colonial home with 12 rooms and suites.
Boutique Hacienda
Boutique hotel.
The best place to get great quality Mexican and international art. This old textile factory has been converted into a unique art and design center that now houses over 30 artists, galleries, restaurants, antique shops, and specialty stores. Artists are usually in-house and demonstrating on Thursdays. Open late on the first Saturday of each month.
Numerous stalls along a pedestrian mall west of the Mercado Ramírez with handicrafts from various regions of Mexico.
Tuesday Market
A colorful market with acres of native crafts, cheap Lakers t-shirts, fly swatters, cheap leather jackets and miscellaneous stuff that you really need, like flypaper, sewing kits, and more flyswatters. This is the place to pick up the best produce in town, as well as local cheese, honey, and sausage. Fresh seafood is trucked in overnight from Veracruz. Also on offer is an enormous variety of street food, from gorditas and tacos to fresh fruit juices.
Mercado El Nigromante
A large indoor market with sections devoted to fruits and vegetables, meat, flowers, shoes and clothing, fast-food, ceramics, and souvenirs. Connected to the Mercado de las Artesanías - see below.
Largest indoor market, open daily, within the Historical Center. Most customers are locals. No handicrafts or souvenirs.
Another hypermarket chain with a decent selection of food items but on the eastern outskirts of town, far from the Historical Center.
Conveniently located a short distance from the Jardín, this is a good place to stock up on essentials as well as other items which are often not carried by the other larger supermarkets. Somewhat overpriced and catering to non-Mexicans with many food items imported from the USA.
Walmart
Large supermarket, part of a national chain, partly owned by Walmart. It has a bakery, a pharmacy, and the usual supermarket departments but unlike Mega, it does not have a prepared food section. Prices somewhat lower than at Mega or Soriana.
By carpooling
From cities around you can have a look for shared rides on Blablacar.
By bus
The town is well-served by first-class and second-class buses and tickets for both can be purchased at the station. From there to the city center take one of the frequent local buses marked 'Central'.
By car
If you're an experienced driver in Mexico, you'll have few problems reaching San Miguel. It's less than two hours from León and one hour from Querétaro, and maybe a three-hour drive from Mexico City.
By e-hailing
By bus
San Miguel has its own pleasant and reliable bus system that serves the entire town, including out-of-the-way places like the Luciérnega Shopping Center.
By taxi
Catch a taxi to any destination within central San Miguel for M$35-40 (2016), and M$40-50 after dark. In-town taxis are abundant and a great option after an afternoon of shopping.
By tourist trolley
Two different companies provide sightseeing rides using trolley-looking buses. You can ask for tickets in the main tourist office just in the main square.
By car
Driving in San Miguel can be challenging due to very narrow streets and limited parking, and is best avoided.
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Silao · International · BJX
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