The magical town of San Miguel de Allende; a place of eternal spring, where cafe-lined cobblestone streets and the charm of its people offer a certain fairy tale vibe. The colonial architecture and old-town charm is only made better by its delicious cuisine and great hospitality. The real beauty, though, lies in more traditional pleasures: strolling the jardin, exploring the shops and boutiques, and savoring a traditional Mexican meal.  The days can be spent strolling the main plaza, visiting the market or interacting with the locals. If you don’t get lost, you’re simply not doing it right. Read on for the ultimate guide to San Miguel de Allende.

The city, located in Mexico’s central highlands was declared a Unesco World Heritage site in 2008 and a Pueblo Magico by the Mexican government (one out of about 100 others).

Explore:

Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel: The neo-gothic church is the emblem of the city and one of the most iconic churches in Mexico. Located in the main town plaza, you can always find food vendors (the best tacos I’ve ever had in my entire life), restaurants and people-watching galore.

Mercado de artesanias – market stalls overflow with local artesanias. Everything from talavera to silver and local crafts. It’s no small market, you can easily spends hours and hours here.

Guanajuato City  a quick drive from San Miguel, the capital city of Guanajuato is rich in history. A mining town, at one point it accounted for two-thirds of the world’s silver production. Located in a narrow valley, the streets are narrow and winding and the color scheme of the building is far from subtle!  Check out this post on everything you should know before visiting Guanajuato! We stopped by Dolores Hidalgo for a quick stroll and famous ice cream on the way back to San Miguel!

Fabrica La Aurora From antiques, textiles, and galleries this place has it all in a upbeat, modern concept. This former textile factory is now an art center with everything from fine art to home decor.

Eat:

Street Tacos just do yourself a favor, if you see a taco stand anywhere in the city eat as many tacos as you your heart desires.

Mama Mia a great breakfast buffet spot. The menudo is great!

San Agustin Chocolate & Churros a great stop for a break from sightseeing, the churros are so tasty. Go early to skip the line!

Néctar A delightful tea garden. Enjoy meals made with different local fresh tea’s alongside the humming birds that come to drink

Luna Rooftop Tapas Bar – the best places to take in sweeping, panoramic views. Come to catch the sunset here!

Mercado Centro San Miguel like a fancy street food collective with pizza, taco stands, bars, and juice stalls all under one roof with plenty of distressed wooden benches. Something for everyone!

Sleep

Rosewood San Miguel The beautiful hotel, the amazing hospitality and attention to detail make this my top pick. Luxurious colonial sensibility offsets the mix of modern art. You’ll have an unforgettable stay here.

Getting there

Getting in and out of San Miguel de Allende is really easy. The closest airport is in Leon. Since we wanted to spend a few days in Mexico City we flew in to the Mexico City airport. BajioGo is an awesome company that offers transportation and tours. We chose BajioGo for a day tour of Guanajuato and Dolores Hidalgo as well.

Have you been to San Miguel? I’d love to hear about your favorite spots! Let me know!