San Miguel de Allende is a colonial city in Guanajuato, a state in central Mexico, 170 miles from Mexico City.

San Miguel was listed on the Top 15 Cities in the World and was voted as “best city” in 2018 and 2019 by Travel + Leisure.

To Do:

The parish at the Historic Centre of San Miguel, Parroquia San Miguel de Arcángel was constructed in the seventeenth century by the Spanish, and is known for its baroque architecture. It was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2008. 

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Lavanda Café is my favorite place to grab coffee and desert, but they also offer breakfast and lunch options. Lavanda translates to lavender, and they add the flower to their food and drinks for a very unique flavor. 

Mercado de Artesanías is a market within walking distance of the parish, 10 minutes away. The stands inside the market offer a huge selection of handicrafts and souvenirs. 

Tips:

Travel to San Miguel for a minimum of two days. One thing I regret from my one-day trip is that I did not have enough time there. Since it is a three-hour trip from Mexico City, I think it would be worth it to stay at least for two nights. There are several boutique hotels and Airbnb options around, and Uber is the most reliable transportation in the town.

Be comfortable. It is very likely that you will do a lot of walking, especially if you are staying within the centre of the city. Close to the parish, streets are not open for cars, and you will be walking up the hill. 

Bring cash. As I have mentioned in previous posts, many places are cash only — especially those in small towns. Cash will be needed at markets, freeway tolls, small stores or boutiques and for souvenirs.

Getting there. You can take a flight to Mexico City or Querétaro, a city one hour from San Miguel. If you are already in Mexico City, you can either rent a car or take a bus. You can find bus and flight fares here.

All photos by me.