Your Ultimate Guide to San Miguel de Allende
- Mar Espejo
- Jun 4, 2021
- 6 min read
Hello everyone and welcome to another blog post! Just like every Friday, I've posted a new video in my Youtube Channel where I show some of the best things to do in San Miguel de Allende, which makes me even more excited to have this blog as I can now share what's in the video in English for you, plus I'll add more recommendations and information such as transportation, weather, what to wear and other practical things that will help you make the most our of your trip. Keep reading as I'm about to tell you everything you need to know before going to San Miguel.
First things first, ¿Where is San Miguel de Allende and why should I visit?
San Miguel de Allende is located in the central part of Mexico, algo known as "Bajío" and it's part of the State of Guanajuato (yes, where the mummies are). Its location is prime because it's close to some of the biggest and most historical cities in the country, such as Mexico City, Querétaro, Guanajuato and Zacatecas.
San Miguel has been one of the most important cities in Mexico throughout history. Its importance started when it became part of the Silver Road of The New Spain, which transported minerals from Zacatecas to Mexico City. Then it became crucial to the Mexican Independence, as it was the place of birth of Ignacio Allende, one of the initiators of the movement who, along with Miguel Hidalgo, planned part of the conspiracy against the Spanish in this city.
Today, San Miguel de Allende is one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, it is one of the most touristic cities in the world and has won several touristic awards such as The Best Small City in the World, Best Tourist Destination, Best Hotels in Mexico, among others.
Things to do
There is plenty to do in the city, so I'll leave you here some of the things I did in my last trip and recorded for my Youtube channel, but I'll also add other suggestions that were not included in the video.
1. Visit the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel and the Zócalo (Plaza Allende)
This is the first, and must-do spot in the city. The parish church became a city icon due to its neo-gothic design. The church is right in front of Plaza Allende, where you can find restaurants, Mexican street food, artisans, tourist guides and a lively community. You must visit this area at night as well, the views of the city at night are incredible.
2. Calle Aldama
This may be the second most photographed place in the city after the parish church. This famous cobbled street is full of beautiful, colorful houses and has the perfect background for a photo. Make sure to come early as the street gets busy with tourists in the afternoon.
3. Viñedos San Lucas
This region, although young in the world of wine, is raising the standards of Mexican wines. The wines from the Bajío region are delicious and the vines are creating beautiful landscapes that could easily compete against international wineries. The San Luchas winery has beautiful vines, an amazing restaurant and it offers tours and wine tastings. I highly recommend to do this as this was one of my favorite activities on this trip.
4. Globo San Miguel (Hot air balloon ride)
This was my first hot-air balloon ride ever, and let me tell you, I was hooked by the experience. The flight was unforgettable and the views of the city from above were spectacular. We were able to see San Miguel from above, but also the magnificent fields surrounding the city. The trip starts early at dawn to avoid difficult weather conditions caused by the heat or the wind later in the day. The pilots were very experienced and the trip felt safe the whole time. This ride is SO worth it, you should not miss it.
5. Other Activities Additional to the Ones Shown on Youtube.
If you visit the city with more time and you are looking for other things to do, here is a list of suggestions for you:
Take a historic walking tour: There are plenty of tour guides in the Plaza Allende that can take you on a historic walking tour through the city center. They'll explain every bit of history and will show you the most important places in times of the colony, in independent Mexico and today.
Visit "El Chorro": For the most incredible views of the city, go to El Chorro. Start in Parque Juarez where you can find artists, joggers, artisans and more. Continue through the stairs until you reach the top. The stairs are long but the views from the top are worth it.
Visit the artisans market: This is one of the most colorful places in the city and you'll find beautiful creations made by Mexican artisans to take home.
Visit the Historic Museum Casa de Allende: In this museum you can see how the Allende family lived, while also learning more about the Mexican hero Ignacio Allende, his movement and his death along with Miguel Hidalgo.
¿What's the weather like?
The weather is warm overall. If you visit during Spring, Summer or even Fall, the temperatures are around 20º to 30º celsius, but even when the temperature isn't so high, the sensation of the heat is strong because the city has little shade, so be prepared to feel the sun rays.
If you decide to go during winter, the temperature can decrease a lot. Although it doesn't reach temperatures low enough to snow and the temperatures during the day are still around 20º, it gets pretty chilly at night and in the morning as temperatures can lower down to up to 3º celsius.
¿What should I wear?
As the weather is warm most of the year, I recommend taking light clothing with you. Here you'll find a list of things I recommend you to pack:
Hats: Don't worry if you don't have one, you'll find plenty to buy in the city. There are a lot of boutiques and artisans selling hats everywhere so I'm sure you'll find one you like. But definitely, the hat is key in experiencing the city without feeling the strong sun rays on your head or your shoulders. As I said, there is little shade in the city so make sure to come prepared.
Flat shoes: The streets in the city are cobbled. Remember this city was designed in times of the colony when there were no cars, so you can expect very narrow streets, with even narrower sidewalks. There are also a lot of hills in the center so I do not recommend wearing heels as it can be very complicated to walk. The best is to bring sandals, flat shoes or sneakers (the sneakers are also crucial if you want to take the hot air balloon ride).
Light layers: Although the weather is warm, it can rain sometimes and the temperatures do lower when it does. Make sure to take light layers with you to be prepared.
Light clothing: Shorts, skirts, dresses. As mentioned, the weather can get very hot during the day, so make sure to take light clothes to feel comfortable while strolling around. The city is very casual, but you could also take something to dress up one night. There are plenty of beautiful terraces in the city center and although dressing up isn't required, it's a chance to wear a more glam outfit.
Moving around the city
You can move around the city entirely by foot. The city is small, so it takes no more than 10 to 20 minutes walking to get anywhere. Even if you are bringing your car, I recommend you leave it at your hotel and walk to your destinations because traffic is high, streets are narrow and parking is scarce. You can always take a taxi or uber on your way back if you feel tired.
Activities such as the visit to the wineries are further away, so for those you could either drive for the day or take an uber/taxi to your destination. The hotels are also very helpful and can program a ride for you.
¿Where to stay and eat?
This is one of my favorite topics when doing destination guides, so I'll make a specific post and youtube video next week to cover this :)
I hope you guys enjoyed this destination guide and feel free to reach out for more info!
Love,
-Mar
Comments