Travel and Leisure voted San Miguel de Allende the Best City in the World in 2017 and it’s easy to see why.
Located just four hours away from the bustle of Mexico City, San Miguel de Allende is filled with everything that you would want from a weekend getaway.
San Miguel de Allende began to attract ex-pats in the 1960s who were eager to create a Bohemian community filled with artists and creatives. In 2008, the city was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its abundance of cultural and historical heritage sites. In addition to the Parroquia San Miguel and Las Lonjas Church, the city’s historical centre is lined with cobblestone streets, artisan markets, and gourmet restaurants.
The city is completely walkable, so there is no need to rent a car. There are plenty of gorgeous boutique hotels but, if you’re on a budget, locals have taken to using AirBnb and VRBO to rent out their homes. Luckily, the region’s climate does not drastically vary throughout the year, though November through April experience less rainfall. And getting here is easy – you can fly directly into Del Bajio Airport, or take a bus from Mexico City.
Enjoy your time in this charming art colony!
Public Library
San Miguel’s public library is the largest privately funded library in Mexico, and is home to the country’s second largest collection of English books. Run entirely by volunteers who host English classes for locals, the library also hosts a café whose profits benefit the centre’s cultural programs.
Artisan Market
The three-block Mercado de Artesanias is filled with stalls of pottery, jewelry, and blankets. You can shop peacefully knowing that your dollars are going directly into the pockets of local artists.
(Photo© Ann Summa).
San Agustin Chocolates & Churros
With a picture-perfect view of the city’s famous cobblestone streets, San Agustin is the place to enjoy a delicious snack of hot chocolate and churros. The café’s owner is Argentine actress, Margarita Gralia, who is famous in Mexico for her appearances in Mexican telenovelas.
Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel
This famous pink-stone church sits proudly in the center of San Miguel’s main town square. Enjoy its intricate inside décor before watching the sun set against the building from the benches in front.
Explore the cobblestone streets
You will fill up your camera roll with all the pictures you take of the lace window shades, brightly colored shops, and multi-colored buildings. The best part? A lack of cars means there’s plenty of opportunity for even better Instas.
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