Ah, San Miguel de Allende. One of my favorite cities in Mexico, it’s a colonial-era city in the heart of Mexico’s mountains. It’s an ex-pat’s dream, has a thriving art scene, and is a cultural gem. It’s known for its baroque Spanish architecture and cobble stone streets, so packing good walking shoes is a must, especially because the historic center is totally walkable. It’s the ideal city to go to for a long weekend or over the holidays, and has tons of cultural activities and stuff to see and do.
The city took top honors at Travel + Leisure magazine’s World’s Best Awards 2016, where it was named “No. 1 City in Mexico and Central and South America” and No. 3 in the overall category of “World´s Best City.”
When to go to San Miguel de Allende:
High season in San Miguel de Allende is actually in the spring (many people think of it as the city of eternal spring), with nice, cool sunny days and chilly nights. The rainy season is typically in the summer time providing mild temperatures (it’s typically pretty dry there so it’s a nice respite), and Fiesta season is in the fall. If you’re looking for lower hotel prices, summer time may be the time to go, but there’s never a bad time.
Unfortunately, there’s no straight way to get to San Miguel de Allende–you either have to fly in to Queretaro or fly into Leon and then get a taxi/driver/bus to take you to San Miguel de Allende, or you can fly into Mexico City and get on a bus and head to San Miguel, but that will probably take you over 2 hours.
What To See And Do In San Miguel De Allende
- Check out the main plaza, El Jardin or Zocalo, which is located in the heart of the city
- Walk around the historic center, popping in and out of boutiques and checking out art galleries
- Admire and check out the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel, the beautiful pink baroque cathedral in the city center
- Check out the new Mercado Centro San Miguel, a gourmet market with 27 vendors, can host up to 200 people
- Take a day trip to Guanajuato to check out the silver mines, and check out Museo Casa Diego Rivera
- soak up the sunset at Rosewood Hotel’s rooftop bar
- Walk around and admire all the different doors in the historic center
- Check out El Charco del Ingenio, a 170-acre botanical garden set in an ecological preserve
- Check out Cañada de La Virgen, a 40-acre archaeological site and nature preserve located just 15 miles west of San Miguel de Allende
- Check out Escondido Place, just outside the city boasting 10 indoor and outdoor thermal pools fed by natural hot springs
- Check out Casa de Ignacio Allende or Museo Historico de San Miguel de Allende, the birthplace of Ignacio José de Allende y Unzaga, a Spanish army officer who fought as a leader for Mexican independence in the early 1800s. This museum will give you a better understanding of the city’s significance in Mexican history.
Where To Stay In San Miguel De Allende
There are several options on where to stay in San Miguel de Allende, from apartments and Air bnbs that you can rent, to fabulous hotels to incredible haciendas. I’ve done site visits or have actually stayed at the following hotels, and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them in a heart beat. Make sure to reach out to me to help get you booked, and in many cases get additional amenities as my VIP customer.
This is where I stayed on my last trip to San Miguel, and it’s equal parts modern and chic, and super comfortable. They have a pool that’s perfect for a dip on those hot summer days, and a beautiful spa with incredible treatments. It’s right around the corner from the famous Rosewood Hotel, and has an incredible restaurant, Moxi, helmed by world-famous chef Enrique Olvera (of Pujol in Mexico City and Cosme in New York).
A beautiful hacienda transformed into a boutique hotel with rooms distributed among the main building and four colonial mansions. As my client, receive the following Virtuoso Amenities:
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Daily full breakfast, for up to two in room guests
- $100 USD Equivalent Spa Services credit, (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value)
- Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
Rosewood San Miguel de Allende
A beautiful hotel set in colonial decor and touches, this is one of San Miguel’s hottest hotels. Book through me and enjoy the following Virtuoso amenities:
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Continental breakfast daily, for up to two in room guests
- $100 USD Equivalent Spa Services credit, to be utilized during stay (not combinable, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
- Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
Where To Eat in San Miguel De Allende
Oh man, where do I start? One of the things I love to do when I travel is to make sure and eat the traditional food from the country that I’m in, and thankfully there’s no shortage of incredible food and traditional dishes in Mexico! I will include the highlights and super recommendations on this blog post, but make sure to check out the map below because it includes far more restaurants to check out while you’re in San Miguel de Allende.
- Restaurant at Doce 18 Concept House (picture d on the right)
- Moxi at Hotel Matilda
- Lavanda Cafe for breakfast
- The Restaurant for lunch
- Áperi (try the tasting menu with wine pairings)
- Luna Tapas Bar at Rosewood Hotel
- Nextia
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La Posadita (has views from its charming roof terrace of the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel)
That’s all I’ve got for you, if you’ve been to San Miguel de Allende and have other insider tips make sure to leave a comment on my last Instagram post, and if you’re ready to plan your next vacation make sure to reach out to me at ane@thehungrychronicles.com. Don’t forget to checkout the handy map below that includes the best restaurants, hotels, shops, and sightseeing in San Miguel de Allende!
San Miguel Pack List
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