Officially named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008, the incredibly charming town of San Miguel de Allende, located in Guanajuato (~4 from Mexico City), has quickly become a popular tourist destination in recent years. While prepping for the trip, I was curious if this small town – known for its charming streets, colorful builds, and being an important spot in Mexico’s Independence would live up to the hype. In a few words – yes, it definitely lived up to the hype. Keep reading for how to spend 4 days in San Miguel de Allende.
How to get to San Miguel de Allende
I will say that getting to San Miguel de Allende isn’t the easiest task. However, there are quite a few options for making it work. As we’re based in San Diego, we used the “Cross Border Express” to get to the Tijuana Airport to then take a domestic Mexican flight. If you’re San Diego-based, this is highly recommended as there are more flights and it is significantly cheaper.
Airports: For the most direct access to the town, fly into “Guanajuato” or “Queretaro.” Both are ~1.5 hours from the town. An alternate option if you’re trying to also squeeze in a visit to Mexico City is to fly into there, spend a few days, and then hire a private driver to drive you the ~4 hours to town. I personally wouldn’t recommend this as Mexico City really should be its own trip where you could easily spend a week.
Transportation: We booked a private driver through our hotel. It was a bit pricey (~$130 USD each way), however it was nice to have everything pre-arranged. You can also try to get an Uber but other people we’ve talked to have mentioned it’s a bit hit or miss, especially depending what time you arrive.
How to spend 4 days in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (Itinerary)
If you’ve stumbled across this article late into your SMA research, you’ll have found that most articles recommend spending 2 days in the town. Our group agreed that in order to explore properly, you really need 3 full days as well as ~1 day for day trips. There are so many neighborhoods, shops, activities, and overall good vibes that it’s great to just “get lost” in San Miguel.
Day 1: Take a walking tour and explore
Start day 1 with a city walking tour.
This is one of my favorite ways to start a trip to get some insider knowledge and a deeper understanding of the history. We booked a 2-hour walking tour via Airbnb Experience with local guide Marimar. The tour is about $30 USD per person and we explored a few spots we never would have found on our own.
Note: San Miguel de Allende isn’t an “early riser” type of town. Most shops, tours, and activities start around 10 am. If you’re looking to get the town to yourself, plan to walk around ~8 am. It’s also perfect for photos!
Have a locals’ style lunch at the “Biblioteca Pública” and enjoy the artwork.
San Miguel de Allende’s public library is the 2nd largest in Mexico with English and Spanish-speaking books. There are murals throughout the library to check out, as well as an extremely stunning ceiling mural in their bookshop (also on the property). In the bookshop, you can find a mix of new and used books.
After exploring the library, grab lunch in their cozy courtyard cafe – Cafe Santa Ana (open 9 AM – 2 PM daily). They serve breakfast, lunch, coffee, and a wide variety of fresh juice and pastries. This was one of our favorite meals of the trip. It’s reasonably priced and really gives you a non-touristy vibe.
Walk around the Parque Benito Juarez, Ancha de San Antonio, and spend sunset at the Luna Rooftop
After lunch, head towards the other side of the center to walk around the Parque Benito Juarez. (On weekends they tend to have art stands.) Regardless of the day, it’s a pretty spot to relax, people watch and enjoy the nature. Afterwards walk down the street “Ancha de San Antonio” which has cute boutiques before heading over to the Rosewood Hotel for sunset drinks at the Luna Rooftop.
Pro Tip: Absolutely make a reservation and plan to arrive a bit early so you can walk around the beautiful hotel. As of recently, it is only open to guests of the hotel or restaurants. Also, time your reservation to be around 30 minutes prior to sunset as there is a 2 hour time limit for the table.
End the night with dinner at Tostevere
Tostevere is a small restaurant (~6 tables) and a small curated tostadas menu. While the space might be small, every dish packs a punch! Our entire group agreed that this was our favorite meal of the trip. We tried at least half the menu and loved every dish! This is another spot that absolutely requires a reservation (plan to make it ~2 weeks early).
Day 2: Day trip to Guanajuato
On day two of your trip, take a day trip to the capital – Guanajuato. The city was founded by the Spanish in the 16th century and later became famous for having the world’s leading silver mine. Later on in their history they also became well-known for their university, mummy museum, and subterranean streets.
- Distance: ~1.5 hour drive each way
- Cost: ~$250-$300 for the private day trip including transportation and tour. This can be booked via your hotel.
Must-Visit Spots in Guanajuato:
- El Pipila Lookout Point
- Museum of the Mummies (if you plan to go here, plan to arrive before they open as the lines get crazy!)
- Subterranean Streets
- Trolley Tour (from in front of the Basilica)
- Teatro Juarez + Jardín de la Unión
- Funicular
- Callejon del Potrero (famous street for photos)
- Tempo de San Francisco
- Basílica Colegiata de Nuestra Señora de Guanajuato
- Callejón del Beso
- Callejoneada (a must-do walking tour through the streets by university students featuring folk songs and stories)
Pro Tip: If you’re reading this and you haven’t booked your San Miguel de Allende trip yet, for the sake of time I recommend actually starting in Guanajuato and spending one night there. This will save the multi-hour back-and-forth car ride. It will also allow you to experience the famous “callejoneadas.” It will also give you time to explore the tiny quaint streets without the rush of a day trip.
Day 3: Day trip to Dolores Hidalgo + Santuario de Atotonilco
On day 3 we took a combined day trip to Dolores Hidalgo (~1 hr from SMA) and the Santuario de Atotonilco (~20min from SMA). This was mainly because most articles recommended not spending more than two days in San Miguel de Allende. First- you could easily spend 3 days exploring San Miguel de Allende. If we had to do it all over again, we would skip Dolores Hidalgo, do a morning visit to Atotonilco and then spend the rest of the day in San Miguel.
Dolores Hidalgo was the birth of the Mexican Independence movement as well as the birthplace and resting place of famed Mexican José singer Alfredo Jiménez. This small town features a few points of interest like his tomb, the Museo de la Independencia, and the Nuestra Señora de los Dolores parish. This is a must-visit spot if you’re interested in Mexican history, otherwise you can visit the town in less than 2 hours.
The Santuario de Atotonilco is known as Mexico’s Sistine Chapel and became an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. Located in the tiny town of Atotonilco, this is an absolute must-visit. The church was founded in 1740 and took 36 years to complete! You can learn more about it here.
Day 4: Shopping Day in San Miguel
Start the day at “El Mirador”
On your last day in San Miguel de Allende, star the day bright and early with an uphill walk to “El Mirador” for some of the best views of the area. The best way to access the mirador is through Parque Benito Suarez and Parque El Choro.
- Address: Salida Real a Querétaro 92, Zona Centro, 37774 San Miguel de Allende, Gto., Mexico
- Pro Tip: As this is the main lookout point in town, it can get pretty crowded so get there early.
Pick up souvenirs at local shops and markets
While San Miguel de Allende is considered expensive in comparison to other towns in Mexico, there is so much stunning artwork that you’ll find yourself reaching for your wallet! A few markets and shops to check out:
- Mercado de Artesanias
- Hours: open daily 9 AM – 7 PM
- Shop for: small handmade items like jewelry
- Fabrica La Aurora (Artisan community – large compound with various artist workshops)
- Hours: open daily 10 AM – 6 PM
- Shop for: unique and high-quality items – from antiques to ceramics to paintings.
- San Juan de Dios
- Hours: open daily 9 AM – 6 PM
- Shop for: food and handmade items
Pro Tip: Also check to see if there are any special seasonal fairs / markets that are more local! We happened to stumble across one during our visit and made quite a few purchases.
Have a casual lunch at a local cafe
San Miguel de Allende is full of adorable coffee shops that feature lunch menus! It’s a more intimate and casual setting that requires less time than a full on restaurant. A few recommendations:
- Xaci Coffee Bar
- Lavanda Cafe
- Ki’bok
Explore off the beaten path to the San Antonio Neighborhood
End your trip with a stroll through the San Antonio neighborhood. Located ~15 min walk from the cathedral, it’s an enjoyable spot to see murals and flower-covered homes.
Where to Stay in San Miguel de Allende
As you walk around SMA, you’ll notice the town is covered in hotels, boutique bnbs, and vacation rentals. There are so many wonderful options that it’s tough to pick!
We stayed off the beaten path at the Antigua Capilla Bed and Breakfast (~10 min walk to the center). We loved the tranquility, aesthetic and customer service. 10/10 recommend. If you’re looking for a few options right in the center, here are a few other highly rated and charming spots:
8 Top Things to do in San Miguel de Allende:
- Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel
- “El Jardín” – central square
- Mercado de Artesanias
- Mercado Ignacio Ramirez
- Fabrica La Aurora
- El Mirador
- Aldama Street
- Parque Benito Juárez
- Biblioteca Pública de San Miguel de Allende
Where to Eat in San Miguel de Allende:
Tips for Visiting San Miguel de Allende:
While this article is littered with tips for visiting San Miguel de Allende, there are 3 main takeaways:
- Spend 3 days – don’t listen to everyone else! Spend 3 days here and just enjoy slowing down, meandering, and getting lost in the town.
- Make Reservations – plan to make reservation ~2-3 weeks in advance for the highly rated spots. It’s almost impossible to walk in off the street.
- Wear walking shoes – it’s a rough terrain with everything being cobblestoned. Plan to wear comfortable walking shoes throughout your visit.
