Guide To San Miguel de Allende

About San Miguel de Allende

San Miguel de Allende, known just as San Miguel, is one of a group of old Silver Mining cities, which includes San Miguel, Guanajuato, Zacatecas, Queretaro and San Luis Potosi and Alamos. You can discover all these places individually with Mexperience as part of the Colonial Cities section.

These cities all lie north-west of Mexico City. Each has its own unique character, features and atmosphere - but together they make up some of Mexico's best inland travel experiences. These cities are friendly places; the areas are not overwhelmed with tourists as some of the coastal areas can be.

It is in the colonial cities that the real Mexico begins to emerge. You'll see real people living real lives; experience magnificent scenery; stay at wonderful colonial hotels that offer terrific value for money; savor local foods and flavors as colorful and diverse as the cultures that create them.

The road network in this region is well developed, and traveling through it is fast and efficient in most places. These cities are safe: Crime is low and its a great region to consider if you want to treat your family to a real cultural experience in Mexico.

San Miguel de Allende itself is a quiet, quaint, cobble-lined town that attracts in the main, artists, craftspeople and foreign expatriates who have chosen to retire in Mexico.

Although this is a small city, it successfully combines old world charm with modern-day cosmopolitan lifestyle. Most activities surround arts and learning, painting, weaving, photography and sculpture. Spanish Language schools are big here too; you can learn more about residential Spanish Language Courses with Mexperience's Learn Spanish section.

Like Cuernavaca, San Miguel is great for the day, or better if you stay a few days or weeks! The town is known for its fine hotels & B&Bs, quaint restaurants and fine shops.

Gathered around the colonial center are a number of fine examples of great colonial architecture - including the Parish Church which resides in front of the tree-lined main plaza.

San Miguel is a wonderful place to visit, admire and stay in for a few days on a visit to Mexico. It is a must-see destination as part of a tour of Mexico's colonial cities. If a local festival is going on, much more so - but even during quieter times, this city has a unique, attractive charm that reflects all that is best about Mexico. Come here for a visit, and experience what it's like to feel irresistibly drawn in by its colonial spell.

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Key Attractions

Colonial Center

San Miguel is packed with stunning colonial feel and architecture. From the minute you enter the town square you'll sense it. The Parish Church, which faces the main plaza is one of the main architectural attractions here.

Be sure to visit the recently restored home (colonial mansion) of Ignacio Allende, the famous Patriot who the town was named after.

Another colonial gem that should be seen is La Casa del Conde Canal (House of the Count of Canal), now occupied by the famous Instituto Allende (see below), you can walk through here and watch as students paint, weave and sculpt as part of their courses in San Miguel.

Look up San Miguel in the mainstream Guidebooks for more information about these colonial attractions, or consult the local Tourist Information Office (see Practical Information).

Instituto Allende

One of the most famous art schools in Mexico, the Instituto Allende hosts thousands of art students from all over the world who come here to learn arts and languages in the heart of San Miguel. Students come here and stay for weeks or months; rented accommodation is plentiful and available in nearby residential areas.

Museums & Art

Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramirez - Also known as the Escuela de Bellas Artes (school of fine arts), this is a local art institute where courses surrounding, art, sculpture, music and dance can be taken. The center is hosted in a former convent; large trees, a huge courtyard and colonial fountains set the scene for this magnificent place to study, learn and explore. Concerts and lectures are given here; check locally for details.

Casa del Mayorazgo de Canal - This is the old family home of the Canal family - now occupied by Banamex Bank. Check out the wooden carved door, especially.

There are plenty of art galleries allowing you to find art for sale everywhere in San Miguel, but there is also a selection of fine galleries from which you can buy artwork in San Miguel. See the What to Buy in San Miguel section for further details.

Exploring Around San Miguel

There are Hot Springs nearby, where you bathe in natural warm mineral waters. The most popular are La Gruta and La Taboada, and lie about 30 minutes' outside of san Miguel.

Day Trips are available to Dolores Hidalgo, named after the famous Patriot, from the town in which he made the "Grito" (Cry) for Mexican Independence back. September 16th is huge in Dolores Hidalgo - it is traditional that Mexico's President goes here to re-enact the "Grito" on his last year in office. Dolores Hidalgo is also famous for Talavera - a very strong ceramic which is used to make a variety of crockery and also wall and floor tiles. The pottery is colorfully decorated. Talavera is plentiful here, and a lot less expensive than you could buy it elsewhere.

Special Events

San Miguel has a huge number of festivals and parties. There is a saying that Mexicans will find any excuse to have a party. This is no more true than in San Miguel de Allende. See the local events section below, for more details about some of these.

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Getting There & Around

Getting There

By Air/Ground Transport - San Miguel has no airport, but you can fly to Leon, and either get a private taxi to San Miguel (although this is relatively expensive unless you are traveling in a group of 3 or 4 people to share the cost) or take a van service, where several people are transported in a comfortable suburban van. This is ideal if you are traveling alone or with just one or two other people and want to save money. Details of the van service can be found online at viajessanmiguel.com.

Connect to the Mexperience Travel Center for Airlines.

By Bus - You can travel to San Miguel on a luxury bus from Mexico City - the trip takes around 4 hours and departs from Mexico City's northern bus terminal. If you don't want to travel across Mexico City from the airport to the bus terminal, you can board a bus from Mexico City's airport to Queretaro, where you can can change and board a second bus to San Miguel.

Connect to the Mexperience Travel Center for National Buses.

By Car - Driving to San Miguel is very fast and efficient with the roads and toll roads that connect the region. See additional information about Driving in Mexico and Mexico's Toll Roads on Mexperience.

Getting Around

From the Airport - Ground transport from the closest airport (Leon) is by private taxi only although this is relatively expensive unless you are traveling in a group of 3 or 4 people to share the cost. The best way to get to San Miguel is to drive or take the bus.

Taxis - San Miguel's Taxis are not metered, so agree your price before you get in. Your hotel can arrange taxis for you; some post their rates on a board in the lobby. If you speak Spanish, you will have a distinct advantage and be able to negotiate a better price! Another good reason to Learn Spanish!

Rent a Car - San Miguel is very accessible by road, and there is plenty to see and do in the surrounding areas - including no less than 3 other colonial cities! Renting a car would be a smart option you're thinking about traveling around this region, as it will give you the freedom and flexibility to see more of the area and its surrounding attractions.

See the Mexperience Travel Center for Car Rental in San Miguel.

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Local Events Calendar

San Miguel has a huge number of Local Events. A few of the main ones will be detailed here - but there are many others! If you want more information on the local festivals Look up San Miguel in the mainstream Guidebooks for more information, or consult the local Tourist Information Office (see Practical Information).

January 21st - Ignacio Allende's Birthday - a local parade and celebrations take place to mark the birthday Ignacio Allende -- one of Mexico's most revered historical figures and the person whom the town of San Miguel Allende is named after.

Easter Week - Religious celebrations are big in San Miguel - not least because it has six Patron Saints - and Easter week is of course, one of the biggest. The festivals during Easter week, will include a variety of celebrations, parties and street performances.

Third Saturday in September - sees what is probably San Miguel's biggest festival - that of it's Patron Saint - Archangel Saint Michael. The celebrations last all weekend and include bull-fights, cock-fights, street performers, dances, music, and the very famous "pamplonadas", which include letting loose bulls to run through the streets, chasing the crowds around a pre-determined route. Beware! Accidents tend to happen every year during this event. Stay clear of the bull-run if you're not prepared to run hard, fast and possibly be prepared to dodge an agitated two-ton bull.

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Practical Information

Telephone: Connect to the Communications in Mexico Page on Mexperience for full information about keeping in touch and the latest table of national dialing codes.

Exchanging Currency: Banks with ATM machines are found throughout the downtown area of San Miguel. During business hours, they and the local Casas de Cambio will buy traveler's cheques and cash from you as well. Read about currency exchange in Mexperience's Money Section.

Travel Insurance: We recommend that you are adequately covered with travel medical cover and/or travel assistance cover when you are visiting Mexico. Read the Mexperience guide to Travel Insurance in Mexico for full details and links to specialist insurance suppliers.

Internet Access: Internet cafes are commonplace in Mexico - new ones open and old ones close all the time - but you won't have to look too hard to find one downtown and in the main tourist areas.

WiFi Access at the Library: The town's central library (biblioteca) offers free WiFi (wireless internet) access, so if you have a laptop and need access to the web for email or other information, you can get online at the library. It gets busy in the afternoons, when school children go there to study and use the internet access too.

Local Tourist Office: Connect to the Mexperience Travel Center for details of the nearest Tourist Information office.

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Accommodation

• Find a Hotel in San Miguel Allende

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Restaurants

We have no specific restaurant recommendations at this time.

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When Night Falls

Locally Hosted Parties - Check with yours and other Local hotels about public parties they may be hosting during your stay. Traditional Mexican theme night parties are popular with the locals, and there's a chance you could join a really special night out - the real Mexican way, and certainly on the eve of September 16th - Mexico's Independence Day! Hosted parties usually include dinner, dancing, a show and / or live music (usually authentic Mexican Mariachis) plus all drinks for a fixed fee and are always excellent value for money!  Ask at your hotel to find out what is happening locally.

Nightclub Scene - San Miguel has a number of nigh clubs, although they are closed in the week unless there is a festival or major event going on. Thursday-Saturday nights a number of night clubs in San Miguel open their doors to clubbers who are mainly revelers from nearby towns and Mexico City a weekend break.

Night Bars / Restaurants - There's a good variety of Late Night Entertainment in San Miguel to keep you happy and entertained; bars and restaurants tend to stay open later at the weekends (Thursday-Saturday) and on occasions when there are festivals or special events happening in town.

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What to Buy in San Miguel Allende

You can buy art everywhere in San Miguel. The city is well known for its fine shopping - often niche and boutique shops - selling high quality arts and crafts.

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Local Climate

San Miguel enjoys year-round, warm-to-hot & dry weather. The climate is ideal for taking part in a variety of outdoor sports and activities and for taking in the local culture, architecture and scenery. Rain is seldom a feature here; thunderstorms happen infrequently during the months of April thru November, but tend to be fierce and brief in the late afternoon, leaving the evenings dry and cooled off.

Winter evenings and early mornings can be quite cool - so pack some wool pullovers if you're traveling during the winter months.

Live Weather Report:

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