Traveling to Mexico can be a little overwhelming, especially for fist timers or parents traveling with children. I put together this San Miguel de Allende travel guide in hopes to help anyone traveling alone, with friends, or with kids to make the trip planning process easier. If it’s your first trip to San Miguel de Allende you’re probably wondering about airports, things to do, etc. I answered those question and more below.
For our trip to SAM we planned a vacation and cultural immersion experience for our kids. I did extensive research for our three week stay. I read trip guides, advisories, tips, books. I even contacted a woman who was there with her children for their own cultural immersion experience. Meeting her was like having my own personal tour guide.
Travel Facts You Need to Know When Traveling to San Miguel de Allende
1. San Miguel de Allende is the Best City in the World. I picked San Miguel on a fluke. I literally looked at a map to find different states to travel to. We didn’t want a beach town or a tourist area. We wanted to blend in with the locals and eat like the locals. I stumbled across this town where Americans were known for visiting and then returning home to pack up their homes and relocate. The little town was San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. If you like history, architecture, and a place where restaurants and grocery stores are owned by the neighbors, then San Miguel is it.
San Miguel de Allende was named the Best City in the World in 2013 by Condé Nast Traveler. The reasons, its “great atmosphere, excellent restaurants, culture and ambiance galore.” The “lack of [traffic] lights and billboards” makes the region “romantically and historically beautiful, and the city itself offers a “traditional feeling of a small town in the heart of Mexico.” After your first stroll in the town you’ll understand why Conde Naste calls it “an amazing place to be.”
My family and I were spent 3 weeks in San Miguel a few years ago and we fell in love with the people, the food, the culture, and the buildings. I’ll never forget the family adventures we had in San Miguel and our first grocery shopping trip. My children were old enough to remember the trip and I’m praying we can go again soon for another few weeks.
2. Airports to San Miguel de Allende. Located in Central Mexico, about 180 miles north west of Mexico City, San Miguel de Allende is in the state of Guanajuato. There is not a commercial airport in San Miguel. You’ll have to pick one of three nearby airports – Leon (BJX), Queretaro (QRO), or Mexico City (MEX). Leon and Queretaro are 75 miles and 45 miles away. We chose to fly into Mexico City to make the most of our trip to Mexico. You can spend a few days there, then take a coach bus (with Wi-Fi!) to San Miguel. It’s a beautiful trip and the buses are very comfortable and safe I think it was $25.00 USD per adult and even less for the kids.
3. What to pack for your trip. The weather in San Miguel, even in the summer time, can be cool. We traveled in July and where we woke up to temps in the 50s. By midday temps would reach mid-70s to low 80s. Plenty of sunshine on most days. We packed light sweaters and wore one every day and again at dinner time. Since the town has not changed much in 250 years the roads are narrow and made of cobblestone. Your best friends will be flat shoes with thick soles. I love to wear wedges in the summer but those shoes were impossible because of the cobblestone.
4. Transportation in San Miguel. You don’t need a car to get around in San Miguel. Most of the town center can be explored on foot. Locals and visitors rely heavily on the green taxis that charge a flat fee of 25 pesos per trip so long as you stay in town. Be careful though, if you aren’t smart, a driver may take advantage of your first ride and charge you much higher than that. Most are honest and will not overcharge you. (They know you’ll likely see them again!)
5. Speaking Spanish in San Miguel. Many of the locals know a little bit if English however be prepared to communicate in Spanish. About 10% of the residents in San Miguel (10,000 people) are ex patriots that have relocated to San Miguel for retirement or other reasons. You’ll likely find a fellow American nearby to assist you with translation if you find yourself needing some help.
6. What to do In San Miguel de Allende. San Miguel is a historic, colonial town surrounded by mountains on all sides. Although it is a small town (about 110,000 residents), it is full of life, culture, and good food. Every morning we got up and just walked around to take it all in. We would often stop by the local park called Parque Juárez. There are basket ball courts, walking/running trails, Yoga, and of course, swings and slides for children. The children’s area was in need of renovations when we visited but I understand money was raised to improve the monkey jungle and slides.
7. El Jardin is the square in the center of town. It is full of activity. You can enjoy some espresso, have a glass of wine, meet new friends, or listen to live music. There is always something going on at the square. It is surrounded by great restaurants and shops. The only “chain” restaurant in the historic center of town is the Starbucks located right in the square.
On any afternoon, you’ll arrive to the square to see a clown doing all kinds of fun stuff for the kids. On the day we saw him, the clown had balloons, games, tricks and jokes. My kids loved the show.
8. La Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel. The historic church in the center of El Jardin can be seen from almost any where in the town. On Friday and Saturday nights the historic church does a beautiful light show that is set to music. The show is displayed across the facade of the historic Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel.
Although there are many wonderful places to visit in Mexico, your Mexican travels are not complete until you can spend a few days San Miguel de Allende. Hopefully this guide made planning your trip a little easier! Enjoy!
Read more of our trip to San Miguel de Allende and around Mexico below.
Family adventures in San Miguel
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