The quaint town is brimming with things to do for those who enjoy small town life, colorful streets, and local markets. These are some of the places we saw that are worth a visit.
Jardín Allede and the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel
Every time we got lost in the city, we used this point to coordinate ourselves. You’ll also find a neo-Gothic 17th century church with pink spires and an ornate sanctuary here. There is a park across the street (Jardín Allede) surrounded by cafes and boutiques. It is also a great spot to eat ice cream, people watch, and listen to mariachi bands perform all night.
Address: Principal S/N, Zona Centro
Museo La Esquina del Juguete popular Mexicano
Three-story toy museum exhibiting handmade dolls, models, etc. It has a nice terrace overlooking the city on its top floor. There was a room with dolls that I particularly liked with many details on the clothes of the dolls that were beautifully made.
Address: Nuñez 40
Mercado de Artesanías
This market sells handcrafted items, decorative pottery, shoes, clothes, and silver jewelries. Here, you can negotiate prices more easily than in the city center.
Address: Lucas Balderas S/N, Zona Centro, 37700
Biblioteca Pública de San Miguel de Allende, A.C.
A library with a courtyard and coffee shop. I liked the mural that I saw in one of the rooms next to the library cafe. Unfortunately, we did not get a chance to take a photo of the mural or the library.
Address: Insurgentes #25, Zona Centro
El Mirador
A panoramic view of the city can be seen from this outlook. There is a steep hill on the way here, so it takes about 15 minutes to walk from downtown. In the lookout point area, there are a few vendors selling souvenirs as well as the stores across the street. Expect crowds since it is a tourist attraction.
Address: Salida Real a Querétaro 92
La Casa de Soles
A boutique hotel with a cool interior where they allowed us to take photos of the sun collections in the lobby area. The hotel is next door to the Mercado de Artesanías.
Address: Callejon de Loreto 19
Aldama Street
Tourists take photos of this beautiful street with the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel in the background. Further down the street, away from the Parroquia, are a few boutique shops worth visiting. Also, we use the same route to get to the Mercado Sano.
Dôce 18 Concept House
Located in the heart of downtown, a concept boutique store offering high quality in design, fashion and art.
Address: Relox 18, Zona Centro, 37700
Fabrica La Aurora
An art center with shops, galleries, cafes and business offices with works by local artists. Videos and photos are not allowed.
Address: Calz de La Aurora S/N, Aurora
Mercado Sano
A healthy food market with juice, food, and souvenir stalls. My boyfriend and I each got a shake here and roamed through the grocery store on the bottom floor. They had a few selections of organic items. In the same building, you can walk up to the 2nd floor where there’s a cafe and a small shop. The entrance is the main floor which has a salon with multiple juice and food stands.
This place is quite a walk from the city center but, we thought it was worth checking out. Unfortunately, we did not get a chance to take any photos. However, I substituted a photo (to the right) from Rustica, a restaurant down the street from this market that was good to go to for lunch.
Address: 37750 San Miguel de Allende, Gto.,
Other Places to See Nearby
Mixta: In-store shopping
Address: Priv. de Pila Seca 3
Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramírez El Nigromante:
A converted 18th-century convent with a courtyard and a cafe.
Address: Calle del Dr Ignacio Hernandez Macias 75
The Sanctuary of Atotonilco: A historic church built in the 1600s and nicknamed the “Sistine Chapel of Mexico” due to its ornate Baroque murals covering the walls and ceiling. It’s a 30 min. away from San Miguel de Allende.
Address: Calle San Miguel 14 km, San Miguel de Allende 37700 Mexico
Take a day trip to Guanajuato: also a beautiful city with colorful buildings, narrow streets and plazas. The drive took us 1 hr. 15 min.
Address: Guanajuato, Mexico
Take a day trip to The Mayan Baths: unwind and relax at a spa with thermal waters. The drive is about 25 min.
Address: Camino Hacia Xote A solo 10 Minutos del Centro, 37880 San Miguel de Allende, Gto., Mexico
Take a day trip to Querétaro: mostly flat with a large city vibe. The drive is about 1 hr. 10 min.
Address: Querétaro, Mexico
A Stint Abroad
Hi! I’m a travel blogger based in Southern California. Thanks for stopping by. Several years ago, I lived in Milan, Italy for a year and started this blog. The blog chronicled my experiences traveling whenever I could while living in Europe. Since then, I’ve returned to the U.S., but my wandering feet have not ceased.
Places to Eat in San Miguel De Allende
You can find plenty of restaurants and cafes in San Miguel De Allende. Reservations are recommended for dinner especially on weekends to ensure seating.
San Miguel De Allende, Mexico Summer Travel Guide
This year, I celebrated my birthday in the world’s “Best City” according to Travel and Leisure. I first learned about San Miguel de Allende from my parents several years ago.
A Stint Abroad 