In Mexico it isn't difficult to find picturesque and charming cities. San Miguel de Allende is one of them, with colorfully painted houses, balconies full of plants and flowers, and beautiful places on every corner that invite you to fall in love.
Therefore, it is not surprising that San Miguel de Allende is considered the most romantic city in Mexico.
San Miguel de Allende is in the State of Guanajuato. It was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco and thanks to its colonial architecture, it has become one of the most popular places to stop in Mexico.
In this post I tell you what to see and do in San Miguel de Allende, some travel tips and where to stay.
WHAT TO SEE IN SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE, MEXICO
The first thing that I am going to recommend is that you let yourself flow. Stroll aimlessly, visit each street, little store, market... Each place is special in San Miguel de Allende. People are very cordial and friendly.
Guided tours of San Miguel de Allende
To start getting to know the city you can take a guided tour. There are several options, some longer, others in groups... The cheapest only costs about 11 euros per person and is a complete guided tour of about 2 hours and a half. It is one of the best options to soak up the history of the city and get to know the most important places with a guide.
See the square of San Miguel Arcángel
This square is what we can consider the center of the city. And from where you can start to know San Miguel de Allende.
The colonial plaza is quite wide, very colorful and always full of people. The vast majority of places of cultural interest to visit are located in this square or very close to it. There is also a kind of garden here, right in front of the Cathedral, where you can sit down to eat something and enjoy the atmosphere. In the evenings, before dark, the plaza is at its peak. There are street food carts, children playing ball, musicians…
Get to know the parish of San Miguel Arcángel
This parish is located in the Plaza de San Miguel Arcángel. It is a baroque-style temple dating from the 18th century. It is without a doubt the most impressive building in the city, and even if you are not much of churches, this is an architectural marvel that you cannot miss.
The entrance to the church is free.
Artisan market
The Mercado de Artesanías is a good place to buy the typical Mexican catrinas, colorful clothes, textiles, ceramics… It is always a bustle of activity and the perfect place to buy something for the family. haggle! Although this area of Mexico is not as abusive in prices as in the Cancun and Riviera Maya area, the prices are always much higher than what they really cost. So bring out your dribbling skills.
Stroll through San Miguel de Allende
As I told you at the beginning of the list of what to see in San Miguel de Allende, one of the best places are the streets and alleys themselves. You will find colonial-style houses, with facades dotted with different warm colors, patios with flowers, balconies with plants, and cobbled streets.
I couldn't tell you my favorite streets. In each of them I found a window full of cactus that sang to me, or a red wall that contrasted with the yellow wall of the neighboring house, or a balcony full of flowers... Even so, one of the streets that I liked the most It was Aldama Street.
San Francisco Temple
The Temple of San Francisco stands out in the city for its baroque-style building and for being the second most important religious place in the city.
This church has a façade of mixed styles. Some say that it is Baroque, some that it is Rococo and others that it is a Pure Churrigueresque style. Even so, no matter what style the facade is, there is no denying that it is of great beauty.
Inside the church, its ceilings, the skylight and the crystal chandeliers stand out. Admission is free.
Cultural Center of Art Ignacio Ramírez "El Nigromante"
In San Miguel de Allende you can see this art exhibition. In itself, the building where the cultural center is located is beautiful, following the line of the architecture of the city. It stands out mainly for its cloister. In the center you can see works by local and national artists on display.
Viewpoint in San Miguel de Allende
The San Miguel de Allende Viewpoint is the best option if you want to photograph the entire city. From the tourist center they will tell you very well how to get there. Although somewhat far, you can get there on foot or with a taxi for a few pesos. Ask the taxi driver to wait for you, especially if you are going to visit him to see the sunset.
Casa de Allende Historical Museum
This museum is the residence of Ignacio de Allende y Unzaga. He was an important caudillo and the leader and initiator of the independence of Mexico.
In the museum you will find a brief chronicle of the Villa de San Miguel el Grande throughout the years and several of the rooms in the house. If you don't have much time in San Miguel de Allende, it may be one of the not-so-essential places to visit, but if you have plenty of time, you can go and visit it.
Ignacio Ramirez Market
This local market is a place full of life. As soon as you enter you will find stalls full of color and aromas. Fruit, vegetables, flowers... There are also some shops with clothes, souvenirs, handicrafts...
In San Miguel de Allende there are more interesting places to visit such as the Toyan Winery, the Conservatory of Mexican Plants, the botanical garden, the Sanctuary of Jesus Nazareno, the Temple of Our Lady of Health, the temple of the Oratory of San Felipe Neri, the Casa del Mayorazo de la Canal… Walk, walk and walk. San Miguel de Allende is known by walking.
WHERE TO STAY IN SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE
If you can stay as close to Plaza San Miguel Arcángel. From here you can walk to all the places in the city center, you will have places to eat nearby and it is the safest area. Being a popular city and tourist destination, it is not a very cheap city, although you can always find some interesting options.
Some great options to stay in downtown San Miguel de Allende:
PLAN YOUR TRIP STEP BY STEP
I hope you enjoy your trip to Mexico a lot and that this article has been useful to you. You can continue reading many more related articles on the blog.
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A hug and see you soon!