SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE, MX
San Miguel de Allende is a stunning Spanish-influenced city in Central Mexico. It's a town filled with colorful buildings, cobblestone streets, churches, parks, restaurants and all the beautiful things that adorn a European-style city. In saying that, it really does feel very European here. Almost as if you are walking around a town in Spain or something like that. But as is so frequently the case with Mexico, another surprise is waiting around the corner. I did begin to refer to San Miguel de Allende as Mexican Disneyland. It almost feels that way as you are walking around the seemingly curated streets of the city. It really is beautiful, but it's not the most real Mexico travel you will do. It is most certainly worth a visit, and should realistically be pretty high on your list. Only located a few hours from Mexico City, and easily accessible by bus or plane by flying into the nearest large city; Guanajuato. Guanajuato being one of Mexico's most beautiful cities as well, and 100% worth visiting in its own right. Getting to San Miguel should really be no problem, especially if you are coming from Mexico City. San Miguel, as you can refer to it in short, has grown substantially in popularity in recent years. It is a very popular retirement destination for Americans, and is also a booming wedding destination. For good reason though; it is beautiful, safe and accessible. But with all the new tourism has come the nice hotels, the fancy restaurants, and shops. So that is very much an aspect of the city. That is not to say that you can't enjoy an extremely local experience. There are great local bars, eats and there are hostels; albeit not that social, where you can stay for cheap.
San Miguel is located in the state of Guanajuato, abut 4 hours away from Mexico City. It's a very easy place to get to no matter what your type of travel is. If you are flying in, it's simple to fly into either the Guanajuato or the Queretaro international airports. Both are located about an hour from San Miguel, and you can take a taxi, shuttle, or bus to get over to San Miguel.
If you are coming from Mexico City your options are bus, shuttle, BlaBlaCar, or drive. It's only 4 hours, and the bus transportation will be easy to find and cheap. BlaBlaCar is another great option that I used while I was driving around in Mexico. You just share some of the gas with a stranger, it's pretty much modern-day hitchhiking. Hitchhiking with an app. Regardless, to arrive in San Miguel is a pretty easy thing to do.
San Miguel, when you arrive, is noticeably nice. There is clearly a lot of money in the town which became apparent to me driving in. The streets are just, nicer and better kept than a lot of other parts of Mexico. the quality of the new buildings and shops even on the outskirts of town are another indication. It's just a nice place. One of the nicer places in Mexico. More European feeling than Mexico. But that's Mexico; always blowing through expectations.
When you are in the city, there is a main town square, centered around, of course, the church. It's called 'Jardin Allende', and around this is the shopping, eating and tourism center. It's a quaint and relaxing little town square. Exploring the streets around this square is how most people start their touristic journey through the city.
A long walk in and around the city will lead you through cobblestone street after cobblestone street in this Pueblo Magico. Just getting lost walking around the streets, seeing what you will find is in itself a great day.
HOSTELS, CAMPING, AND HOTELS (IF ANY)
This is where I stayed when I was in San Miguel. It's a quiet little hostel a little bit outside of the downtown area. It was chill; nothing really to find here from a socialization perspective but it wasn't all that expensive. I booked a hostel really last minute, and this was pretty much all that was left. I would say this is a good option if the hostels closer to the center of town are booked up.
The city has become popular with vacationers, tourists, and retirees beginning their expat lives here and a result of that is that there are a lot of nice hotels all around. Some really really nice ones, that come with multi hundred dollar per night price tags.
I won't get into any of that here, but there are a few hostels here. They aren't really all that social, and I wouldn't say that there is much of a backpacking scene to be spoken of here in San Miguel. But there are thankfully some cool hostels around that offer cheap accommodation for the backpacking or budget traveler. All of the hostels mentioned below are under $15 per night, so it's pretty affordable here.
EATS
A nice little hostel near the center of town. It's nothing all that special. Really none of the hostels in San Miguel are all that special. But here, you will be close to all the action, and you will have a comfy place to sleep. There's a few little common areas, and breakfast is included for about 250 pesos.
If I was to go back to San Miguel I would likely stay here. It's a small little hostel, inside kind of a house. It's the cheapest option in town as well, and the location is good. It's just a small little place, with some common space — and is surely a good place to meet some people. It's the cheapest option at 200 pesos, but no breakfast here.
There's a lot of eating options here in San Miguel. It's a place that is pretty filled with nice restaurants and fancier foods given the number of tourists and retirees that are here looking for their own little slice of Mexican paradise.
I found it a bit hard to find local style food, especially in the center of town or the more touristic areas. But there were a few little gems that I found. Also a few nice food recs here that I will add if you are looking to get some nicer food.
Via stumbling around in the middle of the night I found some street food as well. So keep an eye out for that.
Food Options
Best place in San Miguel to get cheap and delicious food. I think I went here like 5 times during my stay here. It's simple; just tortas. They are cheap and delicious, and the place is conveniently right in the center of town.
There's a lot of little cafes and such in the city, and this was certainly my favorite. It's a super-cute little upstairs spot with great breakfast and coffee. An awesome spot to hang out for a morning or more.
Just an amazing open air flea market on the outskirts of town. It's only open Tuesdays and Sundays, but is just packed full of locals eating and shopping. Was one of my favorite things that I did here. The best way to go out and live as the locals live here in San Miguel. Get the Cecina tacos. A salted and air-dried traditional meat.
Tacos De Cecina
This isn't a restaurant or anything, but just a type of local food that you must try. It's called 'Cecina', and it's a traditional type of cured meat that is regional to the area. They make tacos out of this dried and salted meat, and it's delicious. You can find it at the markets, or local taco places.
This is a small and famous spot in the flea market that I already mention above called 'Tianguis'. They famously serve the local tacos de Cecina from their little stand in the market. The tacos are cheap, the environment great, and they are delicious.
A really cool little food court spot. It's kind of a western style food court with a bunch of different food stand options, and some spots that serve alcohol. A great place to start a night with some food and drinks.
and many more...
Go explore. There are restaurants all over the place. Eating your way through a city can be one of the best places to figure it out anyways. A lot of places have great decks and rooftops with views so that's another nice way to explore. There's a lot of really nice places to eat in this city. I couldn't even scratch the surface if I tried. Just do some research, find some other places, and go figure it out.
NIGHTLIFE
Bars and Clubs
The nightlife scene here can be what you make it. You can elect to live a very mellow lifestyle here, taking in the beauty and tranquility of the place, or you can go searching for some late night fun. I was running around late into the night here, and you can certainly find yourself a lot of fun here.
There's rooftop bars almost everywhere you look in the center of town, that are perfect for getting going during the afternoon; some really cool old local Mexican dive bars that I loved to waste some hours away in, and some nice spots to late night. I also heard rumors of raves that happen up in the hills outside of town. I was never around for one of them, but meet some locals and keep your ears open — you may find yourself being able to go to one of those.
One of many really nice rooftop bars that you can get a drink at. They have great food as well. Nothing will be cheap here.
Awesome little local dive bar near the center of town. I loved just popping in here and having a few beers next to some locals.
Cool little cocktail bar with all stone walls. An underground kind of ruin bar type feel to it.
SIGHTS
Another cool but not cheap rooftop bar. They are all over the place, but this is a cool one. Nice Views.
Late night nightclub spot. Great option if you want to be out late and listen to some techno. Not big. Will be a cool crowd.
Nice not western influenced place near the center of town. It's got a cool vibe, and a nice chill rooftop that isn't overpriced.
This has gotta be in my opinion one of the coolest things to do in San Miguel. It's a large circular coliseum of sorts, that is home to bullfighting and other sorts of events. If you can find an event to go to there when you are in town, it is most certainly worth every penny.
There's a lot of stuff to see and do in San Miguel. One of the main things just being walking around. But here are a few more highlights that I found.
Just an amazing open air flea market on the outskirts of town. It's only open Tuesdays and Sundays, but is just packed full of locals eating and shopping. Was one of my favorite things that I did here. The best way to go out and live as the locals live here in San Miguel. Get the Cecina tacos. A salted and air-dried traditional meat.
The square in the center of town is a beautiful and relaxing spot. With nice benches, some food vendors walking around, a really nice view of the church and all that. Just going and hanging out in the square is something that you should do.
An old textile mill from 100 years ago that has been transformed into an area with shops, and art galleries, and things of that nature. It's a nice place to go and shop and buy some local art, or just peruse for fun.
DOORS OF SAN MIGUEL
This is just something that I noticed when I was there. All of the doors to the houses are beautiful all around town. — Each with their own style and color, and I found it fun to just walk around and admire the doors. That might sound stupid, but I liked it. So below I will put a bunch of pictures of my favorite doors.
You're in the middle of Mexico; you already know there's nothing going on up here.
SURFING