San Miguell Allende is a charming colonial town located in the state of Guanojuato. Voted “Best city on earth” two years in a row by Travel and Leisure, San Miguelle Allende is indeed beautiful and totally worth visiting at least once in the lifetime. I spent an awesome day exploring this little town on my own the day after Day of Dead celebration. Here’s my list of top things to see and do in San Miguel de Allende.
How to get to San Miguel de Allende
Guanajuato-Leon airport is the closest airport to San Miguel de Allence. The easiest and fastest way to get to the town from the airport is by taxi. It’s a little price(55-60$), but if the time is an issue, I would suggest to take taxi.
There is also a bus and a shuttle service that runs between San miguelle Alende and BJX airport several times a day.
How much time to spend in San Miguel de Allende
The town is really beautiful and you can spend several days there at your leisure. In my opinion, two days (or even one day) enough to walk around the town and see the major points of interest.
Transportation in San Miguel de Allende
While there are public buses,taxis and Uber that operate in town, the place is fairly and the easiest and the fastest way is just to walk.
Top things to see and do in San Miguel de Allende.
Turn off google maps and get lost
I started my morning in San Miguel de Allende from.. well, from getting lost. This is not top, but the most fun thing to do in San Migel de Allende 
.
Early morning the day after the Day of Dead celebration and the town looked empty. I took couple of pictures, made couple of turns, more pictures and more turns and realized that I was going in the opposite direction. Since I was already several blocks away from the center I decided to continue walking up the hill to see the city from the top. After the endless stairs on Cruz del Pueblo street I got to the Mirador Cruz del Pueblo.
San Miguelle Allende is a safe small town, so turn off google maps and get lost “with a purpose”. Make couple of turns, explore narrow cobblestone streets. This is the best way to explore this town in my opinion.
Mirador Cruz del Pueblo
Mirador Cruz del Pueblo is a very nice, yet not-touristy at all observation point. When I got to the top, the place was totally empty and I have entire area for myself to enjoy. I spent some time there looking at the town from the top in solitude.
The best way to get to the top if to take Cruz del Pueblo street up the hills. Imagine walking up the Lombard street in San Francisco. That’s exactly how Cruz del Pueblo feels, without curves, just straight walk uphill. With a lot of benches and and trees, there are plenty of places to sit and rest on the way up the hill.
The doors.
As I was walking down the narrow streets, I kept taking pictures of the doors and by the time I got down to El Jardin I had more than 3 dozen pictures. I just couldn’t get enough of those doors. Some are painted, others just refurbished to the original wood color. The mix of natural wood and painted green, blue, and even red doors with yellow walls background looks super photogenic.
El Jardin
After seeing the town from the top, I walked down to the El Jardin area. I passed very cool looking old rusty gas pump on my way and almost lost my phone there(little important detail). When I got to Central square, the and area around El Jardin was still empty with just couple of vendor started slowly setting up their tents. So, the only way to see the park like this is to get there early morning. With tons of vendors, shoe polishing stands, musicians and just tourist , the area gets really busy during the day and even busier in the evening.
Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel
Beautiful Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel church is focal point of the town. Tall pinkish sandstone building is visible from almost every part of the city.
Coffee and Pan de Muerto bread
Pan de Muerto for breakfast? Yes, please! Especially the day after the Dia de los Muertos celebration. Pan De Muerto, Bread of the Dead, is a traditional Mexican bread baked before the Day of the Dead celebration. This is slightly sweet bread decorated with the scull, sugar and sometimes sesame seeds.
Benito Juares Park
After coffee I head to Benito Juares park. With the large trees the park is a nice quiet place to relax during the warm sunny day. I walked around the park, spent some time people watching and almost bough a large painting there.
Walk up Paseo El Chorro
Paseo El Chorro is one of the most oldest streets in town. Unlike majority of the people, who walk this pass down I decided to “hike” it up because the morning walk uphill was not enough. I started from Benito Juarez park and continues up the hill. The first red building I passed was Casa de la Cultura San Miguel de Allende. With colorful stairs and columns all around the building it is the perfect place to take couple of pictures.
Lavaderos del Chorro
Public laundry area located near the colonial chapel. Open air public laundry concept was very popular in the past in Mexico and central America. The interesting thing about San Miguel open public laundry is the water running on the edge narrow channel on the side of the tubs. I’ve spotted one person doing his laundry there, but it doesn’t look like the place has a lot of use now days.
El Mirrador
After walking up more stairs and passing couple more colorful cobblestone streets I got to city viewing area El Mirrador. The view of the town from the top is is jut like the postcard. I took more pictures and headed to the Callejon Del Beso
Callejon Del Beso
Unlike Guanajuato Callejon del Beso, Callejon Del Beso in San Miguel de Allende is a small narrow not touristy street. The street sign was super unique and stylish.
Visit the Mercado Igancio Ramirez
I really enjoy walking around the produce markets. So if there is market in the city, I won’t miss it. The produce market in San Miguell de Allende was not an exception. San Miguel de Allende Igancio Ramirez market is fairly small, but super colorful especially during Dia de los Muertos time. I walked around the market, bought fresh peeled mangoes (with the hot sauce, of course) and the Civic Plaza
Civic Plaza and Plaza de la Soledad
Did you know that San Miguel de allende was named after two people? Initially town was named San Miguel after the monk Juan de San Miguel in 16th century. It was renamed later to San Miguel de Allende to honor San Miguel native Ingacio Allende, Mexican independence hero.
I stopped by the Ignacio Allende statue and walked to Plaza de la Soledad to see giant Dia de los Muertos tapete, the traditional Mexican “carpet” made of flowers, colored sand, colored corn and other natural materials.
Read more:
Dia de Los Muertos tapetes in Guanajuato
Templo de Nuestra Senora de la Salud
Nuestra Senora de la Salud is a Baroque-style church built in the middle of 18th century. Both outside and inside of the church are truly unique. The facade of the temple is built into two other buildings from both sides of the temple. The church has really beautiful altar, so make sure to get inside.
Templo de San Felipe Neri
Another interesting (kind of asymmetrical from the eastern side) photogenic church, with pinkish tower also built in 18th century. The church’s old façade built into pinkish painted walls, which seems like a theme around the town.
Mercado de Artesanías
Yes, I know another market. Initially I did not plan to shop, but the market was so colorful and inviting, so, I couldn’t pass it. The market extended to the entire street. I got couple souvenirs and headed to see Templo de la Purísima Concepción that I passed during my morning walk again.
Templo de la Purísima Concepción
The Church of the Immaculate Conception is another beautiful church with yellow dome visible from far away. I got inside and spent some time there looking at another detailed altar. The best place to take a picture of the dome is from the Calle Quebrada street bridge over the Calle Conde de la Canal. So, I took couple of pictures of the church and headed to the hotel to pick up the luggage and take Uber to Guanajuato.
Final thoughts
I’m about the share unpopular opinion here. San Miguel de Allende is unique and interesting place, but at the same time it is touristy to the extent that I did not feel a small colonial town charm.
While I wouldn’t name San Miguel de Allennde “the best Town on earth”, it is truly beautiful, colorful and photogenic place totally worth visiting (having the right expectations, of course). With a lot of things to see and do in San Miguel de Allende you can spend couple of days there walking the streets and enjoying colonial architecture.
