4 Hot Springs in San Miguel de Allende + Things to do while there

For a unique and luxurious spa experience, check out The Mayan Bath. Their thermal pools are just gorgeous, they have a regular open-air pool but they also have subterranean ones, with the pools winding down through caves and tunnels. Lit by candles, it’s the ultimate relaxing experience.

They offer different types of packages, most of them include the entrance, a massage, and meals. They are only open on weekends and make sure to make a reservation well ahead.

For more information or to book, check out their website.

Things to do in San Miguel de Allende

Walking tour of the city

Strolling around the city is the best way to discover San Miguel de Allende’s marvels. Take in the view, admiring the colonial architecture and cute little streets. Here are the city’s main landmarks:

• Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel – The city’s main church and its emblem, built during the 17th century and designed by Ceferino Gutiérrez in the neo-gothic style.
• Ex-Palacio Municipal – A place rich in history, home to the first town hall after independence in 1810.
• Allende’s House – Another historic landmark in San Miguel de Allende. Ignacio Allende is one of the fathers of the Mexican revolution, and you can visit the house he grew up in.
• Templo de San Fransisco – The facade of this church was build in the Churrigueresque style (a type of Spanish Baroque style), and the rest in Neoclassic towards the end of the 18th century.
• Plaza Cívica – Designed in 1550, this square is the city’s center of activities.
• Templo de Nuestra Señora de la Salud – Build towards the end of the 18th century, this church is known to have the city’s oldest bell.
• Casa del Mayorazgo – This private house is the perfect example of luxurious colonial architecture, you can’t visit it but the outside is worth a look.
• El Jardin Allende – also known as the Plaza Principal.

Buy some handicrafts and souvenirs

As there are so many expats and travelers in San Miguel de Allende, everything tends to be overpriced. You’ll find some nice handicrafts there but you can also find the same things cheaper in other cities. It’s still worth having a look even if you don’t buy anything. You’ll see a lot of small shops selling crafts and souvenirs around the town. You can also visit the Handicraft Market (Mercado de Artesanias).

Visit the Botanical Garden

Located near the city center (1.5 miles north), you can take a stroll in this beautiful garden also known as El Charco del Ingenio. The botanical garden is famous for hosting more than 1300 species of Cactaceae.

Open every day from 9 AM to 5 PM. The entrance fee is 50 pesos.

Join the “Desfile de Los Locos”

Every year in June, locals celebrate the Desfile de Los Locos or Locos Parade. During this festival, participants wear a disguise of any kind and parade in the streets, giving out candies and sweets to spectators.

Read more about this 400 years-old tradition here.

Visit some Art Galleries in San Miguel de Allende

San Miguel de Allende is an art hub and is full of art galleries selling local and international pieces. Even if you’re not planning on buying anything most of the galleries are worth a look if you like art. Here are the most famous ones:

• Galeria Casa Diana – This gallery was designed by Pedro Friedeberg, a Mexican surrealist artist. There you’ll find pieces of furniture and sculptures. They organize frequent exhibits showcasing art from renowned artists.
• Yam Gallery – Contemporary art gallery located in a colonial house. Its concept is based on the contrast between contemporary art and the Baroque style of the building.
• Galeria Nudo – This gallery aims at promoting emergent Mexican artists and collaborates with Fransisco Toledo.
• Fabrica La Aurora – a shared space where you’ll find artsy cafes, handicrafts shops, and design and art galleries, the most famous one there is Manuk.
• Galeria Izamal – They don’t charge commissions to the artists who exhibit there so the prices are competitive. They also offer painting and drawing classes once a week.

Take a tour in San Miguel de Allende

If you want to visit San Miguel de Allende with a guide, booking a tour might be a good idea. Several agencies offer walking tours of the city. You can also join a food tour to try local delicacies and discover the best food spots in Miguel de Allende. If you don’t have much time, you can visit San Miguel de Allende as a day trip from Mexico City via a tour.

Best day trips from San Miguel de Allende

Apart from visiting the town and spending some time in the hot springs in San Miguel de Allende, there are several places worth visiting outside of the town. Here are the best day trips you can take from San Miguel de Allende:

Atotonilco

Atotonilco and its Sanctuary of Jesús Nazareno is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes San Miguel de Allende. It’s easily reachable and not far from the city. The sanctuary was built during the 18th century by the Jesuits. It’s considered as the perfect example of Baroque art and architecture in Mexico, but also of the blend of European and Latin American cultures.

There you’ll find a large church and several chapels. The sanctuary’s main features are the murals painted by Miguel Antonio Martínez de Pocasangre and the oil painting by Rodriguez Juárez.

The sanctuary is open every day from 10 AM to 6 PM. You’re not supposed to visit it during mass.

Dolores Hidalgo

Dolores Hidalgo is a cute Pueblo Magico (Magic Town) not far from San Miguel de Allende. It’s also a cheaper alternative to stay at if you’re on a budget.

Dolores Hidalgo is a place rich in history, known for being the cradle of Mexico’s independence. It’s the hometown of Don Miguel Hidalgo, one of the revolution’s main actors. You can visit his house, known as the Casa del Diezmo. You can also visit the Museo Bicentenario featuring more than 800 objects exhibited during the hundredth anniversary of the Independence.

Dolores Hidalgo also saw the birth of the singer and compositor José Alfredo Giménez. His house was turned into a museum and you can visit it.

If you like baroque architecture, you can have a look at the Casa de Visitas from the 18th century and the nearby Templo de la Tercera Orden.

Don’t leave without trying a Nieve (a type of ice cream). The town is known for making original flavors like mole, beer, avocado, or aloe vera.

You can also go on a day trip to Queretaro or Guanajuato, but both deserve more than just a day as there is so much to discover there.

Cañada de la Virgen Archaeological Site

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Only 30 minutes away from the city, you will find a spectacular yet little-known Otomi archaeological site featuring ruins and pyramids from the 7th century.

The best way to visit is to book a tour from San Miguel de Allende, especially if you don’t speak Spanish. Going with a guide is mandatory, and most of the guides you’ll find on-site won’t speak English.

Wear good sneakers as you’ll have to walk and climb. The sun can be pretty hot, so bring protective clothing and sunscreen. Bags are not allowed during the visit.

The site is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 9 am to 3 pm.

Best hotels in San Miguel de Allende

Accommodations in San Miguel de Allende are usually more expensive than in the rest of the country but you can still find some budget options. It’s also the perfect place to indulge yourself and book something exceptional. Here are a few options in or within walking distance from the historic town:

• Hotel – Hostal Punto 79 – great budget option offering dorms and private rooms (each with its bathroom), perfect location, right in the historic part of town. Clean rooms, great staff, lounge, and a nice patio. ~13 USD for a dorm and 50 USD for a room
• Hotel Petra – Located in a well-renovated historic house right in the city center, this hotel is a good mid-range option. The hotel is well decorated, with spacious rooms and a nice garden. Prices start at 80 USD.
• Hacienda Las Amantes – Beautiful boutique hotel in the historical center, with an amazing rooftop terrace. Most rooms have stone walls, visible beams, original furniture, and a balcony with a view. Breakfast included.

Getting to San Miguel de Allende

San Miguel is pretty well served by public transportation. The two closest major cities are Guanajuato and Queretaro. There are also direct buses from Mexico City. The closest airport is in Queretaro, the one in Leon is also close by.

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