A first-time guide to San Miguel de Allende

03.01.2025 - 18:19 / lonelyplanet.com / Jack Kerouac

Jan 3, 2025 • 7 min read

San Miguel de Allende seems lifted right out of a storybook, complete with cobblestone streets, impressive Spanish colonial architecture and even a pink-stone church. Artists and expats have been seduced by its charms since the 1960s, including literary icons like Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady.

These days, San Miguel de Allende is often named one of the best towns in the world to visit, thanks to its unique blend of robust Mexican flavor and a dash of international character. You’ll find it in traditional elements like the vibrant markets, the paper-mâché mojiganga puppets at festivals and colorful papel picado draped across the streets coexisting with modern touches like international art galleries, upscale fusion restaurants and boutique hotels run by expats – a true cosmopolitan brew. 

With English widely spoken here, San Miguel de Allende is the ideal base for first-time travelers to Mexico who want to explore the country’s interior, from historic towns to picturesque wineries.

The best time to visit San Miguel de Allende is from November to April, when temperatures are in the 70s and 80s ℉ (21 to 26 ℃). Bear in mind that nighttime can get chilly around this time of year, so ensure you pack warm layers of clothing.

The summer months are warmer, but they’re also the wettest. June to September tend to see regular – but short-lived – showers. If you brave the rain, you’ll also be rewarded with a busy festival calendar, including the Guanajuato International Film Festival.

Semana Santa (Holy Week) can get busy, as do the Christmas holidays, and accommodation prices surge in consequence. The Day of the Dead is a good time to see mojigangas, larger-than-life traditional puppets that have become popular during wedding celebrations.

All in all, there is no bad time to visit San Miguel de Allende, with its spring-like weather holding up most of the year.

San Miguel de Allende is small enough to explore on foot, but it’s also packed with art galleries and interesting shops that you’ll want to browse at leisure. Three days will give you enough time to get lost in its cobblestone streets, visit the Fábrica La Aurora art complex and go on a day trip to a nearby winery.

You won’t regret a single moment here, though, so stay longer if you have the chance. Many first-time visitors end up being long-term residents!

San Miguel de Allende is a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Mexico City. If you’re flying from the US or Canada, the two closest airports are in Querétaro (an hour and 15 minutes away) and León (an hour and a half away). You can arrange a transfer through your hotel or take a taxi from the airport.

Once in San Miguel de Allende, you can get to most places on foot. To visit the botanical