San Miguel de Allende is one of the most beautiful and visited towns in Mexico. Blessed with great historical and cultural value, you will be amazed with all it has to offer.
Its beautiful architectural elements, its urban harmony and its wide open spaces turn this place into a highly touristic destination. Having been declared a World Heritage Site, you can’t miss a detailed tour of its historic centre while you soak up the unique essence of San Miguel de Allende. Read on to find out more!
Things to do in San Miguel de Allende
Allende Garden
The Plaza Principal, as the name suggests, is one of the main places to visit on your trip.
Also known as Jardin Allende, this square is characteristically lively. Not only is it surrounded by beautiful and emblematic buildings such as the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel, but it also hosts various events throughout the year. So don’t hesitate to stroll around this lively square full of music and colour!
Temple of San Francisco
Whether you are an architecture lover or not, you can’t miss this imposing temple located in the Plaza de San Francisco during your trip to San Miguel de Allende.
Despite having a style difficult to classify even for the most expert, this building intermingles baroque and rococo styles, besides having a detailed ornamentation that turns this infrastructure into an authentic architectural marvel.
Allende Institute
The Instituto Allende, located in Ancha de San Antonio, is a beautiful building surrounded by gardens and a private chapel. It was built in the 17th century.
Nowadays, this institute is dedicated to host certain social events within a beautiful inner courtyard. It also offers a large art gallery and even restaurants where you can stop for a rest in the most welcoming surroundings.
Church of the Immaculate Conception
Considered one of the most beautiful churches in the city, this religious temple is located right in the historic centre.
Among the various architectural elements that make this church an imposing building, its dome is undoubtedly the most characteristic and impressive part. In addition, you can access the interior and contemplate the atrium, another of the most famous points of this emblematic place.
Craft Market
Among the great variety of markets you can visit in the city, the Mercado de Artesanias is undoubtedly the most visited in San Miguel de Allende.
As you stroll through the different stalls, you will be able to get some of the most affordable prices for handicraft products. Moreover, you will find stalls selling paintings, clay figures, jewellery and embroidery, among others. A 100% recommended visit.
San Miguel Arcangel Parish Church
This parish church is currently one of the most emblematic and well-kept symbols of the city. The first version had a baroque style, but it was destroyed and later rebuilt, this time in a neo-gothic style.
Undoubtedly, the most striking feature of this building is its impressive façade, which most travellers take pictures of. Inside, you will be amazed by its meticulous ornamentation and intense colours. Don’t forget your camera.
El Chorro Promenade
The Paseo del Chorro is a beautiful park that leads to a natural spring and the church, located in the upper part. Endowed with an incomparable natural setting, a stroll through this area is a must.
There is a local legend that tells that the spring in this part was discovered by Friar Juan de San Miguel, becoming the site where the city of San Miguel de Allende was founded. If you want to disconnect from the city, this is the ideal place to relax and get lost in nature.
San Felipe Neri Oratory
Unlike the rest of the religious monuments in San Miguel de Allende, the Oratorio San Felipe Neri is characterised by a more “indigenous” style, since a few years ago it was an Indian chapel.
With a façade and architectural style much more extravagant than usual, this monument is strongly appreciated by locals and travellers alike. Also, it is the starting point for the Pilgrimage of Silence on the Friday of Holy Week. A must-see on your trip.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What to do around San Miguel de Allende?
Sanctuary of Atotonilco
The small town of Atotonilco is only 14 kilometres from the city, and is considered one of the main tourist attractions in Mexico.
The town is charming and worth a stroll through its streets, but what you can’t miss is the Sanctuary of Jesus Nazareno. Declared a World Heritage Site, this incredible baroque temple is highly visited by both the Christian faithful and art lovers alike. Moreover, you will be amazed, especially with the decorative treasures inside.
Botanical Garden
Located just 10 minutes from the historic centre of the city is the Jardin Botanico, an incredible conservation of flora and fauna.
Also, as if that were not enough, besides being a natural environment ideal for walking or other outdoor activities, it is also part of the historical heritage of the city and is a recreational space. Along its route you can visit different emblematic points such as the Ruinas del Batán or the Presa de las Colinas.
From the Mirador
A short distance from the famous Paseo del Chorro is the viewpoint of San Miguel, one of the most impressive corners of the whole city.
The walk to get there is really pleasant, but the most worthwhile part of the visit is when you get to the top. Once there, you’ll be able to enjoy beautiful views of the whole city while contemplating some of the most important places in the city from the top, such as the parish church or the Temple of San Francisco. Don’t forget your camera!
What to do with children in San Miguel de Allende?
Benito Juarez Park
We all love parks, especially the little ones. That’s why you can’t skip a visit to Benito Juarez Park, one of the biggest parks in San Miguel de Allende.
Formerly, the space occupied by the park was dedicated to the orchard; years later it was transformed for the leisure and enjoyment of the locals. Also known as the Jardin Francés due to its resemblance to French parks, this place offers a stroll in an idyllic setting. In addition, we recommend you to visit during the weekend to see the small local market.
Snack in St. Augustin
After a long day of sightseeing, the best thing to do is to sit down and recharge your batteries. Although you can find plenty of places to have a snack in the city, we definitely recommend you to go to Café San Agustin.
Located near the Plaza Central, this café is frequented by locals and tourists alike for its speciality: churros with chocolate. Moreover, it’s the ideal place to recharge your batteries in the afternoon when you’re travelling with the little ones – try to arrive early to avoid the queues!
Parade of the Madmen
If you want to enjoy a unique event, we recommend you to visit San Miguel de Allende in summer, when the famous Desfile de los Locos (Parade of the Crazies) takes place.
This unique event starts at the San Antonio Church and ends at the Jardin Central. Characterised by costumes of celebrities, animals, politicians and transvestites, this parade offers a colourful and musical experience for both adults and children to enjoy.
Itineraries for your trip to San Miguel de Allende
What to do in San Miguel de Allende in 1 day?
- First, visit the Temple of San Francisco.
- Later, stroll around the Main Square.
- Also, enter the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
- In addition, visit the Mirador de San Miguel.
- Finally, snack in San Agustin
What to do in San Miguel de Allende in 3 days?
- First, walk along the Paseo del Chorro.
- Then, visit the Handicrafts Market.
- Also, visit the Allende Institute.
- Moreover, visit the Atotonilco Sanctuary
- Escape to Dolores Hidalgo
- In addition, go to the Desfile de los Locos (Parade of the Fools)
- Finally, stroll through Benito Juarez Park
Frequently Asked Questions
There are certain areas in Mexico where incident rates are high, but this is not the case in San Miguel de Allende. This city has been certified as the safest city in Latin America, so you can have peace of mind during your trip.
– You can take a plane to Mexico City, and once there take a bus from the North Terminal on the ETN or Primera Plus lines to San Miguel de Allende, which takes about 4 hours. The fare is around $550 MXN (equivalent to about 22.60€).
– Also, you can fly to Bajío International Airport in León and then take a bus to San Miguel de Allende, which takes about an hour and a half. The price per way is about MXN$239 (equivalent to about €9.80).
– You can opt for the bus, with most lines departing from the top of Calle Insurgentes. The ticket costs 5$ MXN (about 0,20€).
– You can take a taxi, although this option is not so easy. You can find them in the Plaza Principal, but you can also contact them by phone. They cost around MXN$25, equivalent to €1.
The best time to travel to San Miguel de Allende is between November and April, as the weather is warm and sunny but the nights are still somewhat cool, and there is very little rainfall.
Due to the COVID-19 situation, it is now necessary to obtain a QR code as a new precautionary measure. This code will have to prove that travellers have a reservation to stay in the city.
The nearest airports are Bajío International Airport (BJX) in León and Querétaro Intercontinental Airport (AIQ), both located just 90 kilometres from the city of San Miguel de Allende.
How to plan your itinerary of places to see in San Miguel de Allende?
Download the Passporter app and plan your trip in the most organised way and according to the days and places you want to see in San Miguel de Allende.
With the app you can:
- Be inspired by the experiences of other travellers.
- Save valuable information about the destinations you want to visit that you have found on the internet. Just install the Chrome extension and save everything useful for your trip.
- Save your tickets and reservations.
- Organise your route on google maps with your accommodation as the starting point or any other that you indicate.
- Know the best travel option for each place.
- Save and publish as you go along your own photos and experiences in each of the places.
If you are interested in learning more about how to use and get the most out of the Passporter app, you can read our post: How to create a travel itinerary on Passporter.
No Comments