san miguel de allende
San Miguel de Allende is a colonial city with historic vibe and cobblestoned roads. It is within the central highlands north of Mexico City. It has incredible architecture and is brightly colored. It has a thriving expat, arts and cultural scene as well as numerous accommodations and restaurants for exploration. No wonder it keeps drawing people back over and over. It’s an enchanting city in Mexico and should be on your travel bucket list.
getting to san miguel de allende
San Miguel de Allende doesn’t currently have its own airport. There are three nearby options to fly into and from there you can drive or join bus or shuttle to get to the town. Many people fly into Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez/Mexico City International Airport (MEX) approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes drive north of Mexico City. Guanajuato International Airport (BJX) in León is approximately 1.5 hour drive away. Also Querétaro Intercontinental Airport (QRO) located in Querétaro is approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes drive to San Miguel. You can rent a car, hire a taxi or join a shuttle. Reminder that there can be traffic in Mexico especially in Mexico City so anticipate longer times.
getting around san miguel de allende
San Miguel de Allende is a very walkable city. Just be prepared for cobblestone streets and sidewalks and also some hills. You can also take taxis in town or hire uber. There is limited parking in the town though there are some paid parking lots and some hotels do include parking. You can also take tours to get you out of the city to some of the nearby attractions.
top things to do san miguel de allende
Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel
This iconic temple is not just impressive for this town but for the entire country. It is considered one of the most religious temples in Mexico. It was initially constructed in 1709 but the façade that has a medieval European vibe was completed in 1890 by Zeferino Gutiérrez. Trust me you won’t miss this while visiting the town.
El Jardin
Located just in front of the Parroquia de San Miguel you will see this central square which is a gathering place packed with people, music, vendors, mariachis and more.
El Mirador San Miguel
If you don’t mind a 15 minute walk uphill then this is the place for you. You can also take a taxi up if you wish. It gives sweeping views of the city from above and it is worth it!
El Charco de Ingenio
This botanical garden is about a 30 minute walk or a short taxi drive. It costs 50 pesos to enter per person. Once inside you can see great birdlife, cacti, canyons, ruins and succulents. You will do a lot of walking around this area so make sure to pack the sunscreen as it is very sunny.
Cañada de la Virgen
This Otomi archeological site is fairly newly discovered with official excavation beginning in 2002 and first public access in 2011. The site is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 AM to 3 PM. You must take a shuttle bus from the visitor center and then walk about 3 km round trip. There is very little shade so remember to wear your sunscreen and hats. No bags are allowed in. We used Albert Coffee Tours which which was wonderful and informative.
Santuario de Jesús Nazareno de Atotonilco
This church complex was built in the 18th century and demonstrates Mexican Baroque mural work which was primarily done by Antonio Martínez de Pocasangre over a period of thirty years. It is known as the “Sistene Chapel of Mexico”. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM. For 20 pesos per person you can also enter the side chapel. We arranged a taxi to take us there, wait for us to explore and bring us back. This site is approximately 12 km or 20 minutes from San Miguel de Allende.
Rooftops
There are so many incredible rooftop bars and restaurants around town. These are great to check out at anytime but definitely great during sunset!
