Just an hour away from San Miguel de Allende is Guanajuato City, the capital of Guanajuato state and another vibrant place to explore. Like San Miguel, it’s a colorful mountain town with narrow stone streets and views of the surrounding hills. Guanajuato is slightly larger, has a large university and overall feels less touristy. It’s known for its maze of one-way streets and underground tunnels.
For 260 pesos round trip (~$12), Primera Plus offers a comfortable bus with a direct route from San Miguel to Guanajuato. A friend and I took a 3:30pm bus and were walking the streets of Guanajuato by 6pm. We started exploring while the sky was still lit, made our way through the lively main square – Plaza de la Paz, past the 17th century church – Basilica of our Lady of Guanajuato, to the beautiful Jardin de la Union. The Jardin is a good starting point day or night, from which it’s easy to follow the connecting streets to nearby shops and restaurants.
Eat breakfast in Plaza Batallo
Go to Plaza Batallo to find made-to-order gorditas and quesadillas along with tamales, baked goods and fresh squeezed juices. This small square has a handful of food carts positioned around it, making it all-too-easy to try one thing after another.
Visit the Diego Rivera museum
Museo Casa Diego Rivera is museum set in the house where Rivera was born and lived with his family until he was 6 years old. It’s a small museum but interesting nonetheless to see early work and smaller sketches made while still honing his style.
Ride the funicular to see the vista
Buy a round trip ticket at the bottom of the hill and ride the funicular to the top, from where there is a spectacular view. Take your time at the lookout point, possibly posted on a bench with a cerveza in hand.
Have a meal at Santo Cafe
Santo Cafe is an inviting place to have a meal and observe the street below, as it’s perched above a main walkway. They have a large menu featuring more than Mexican food if you’re looking for something different. Although, the Agua de Mango and Enchiladas Verdes were both delish.
Shop for ceramics by Javier Servin
If you can spot the shop through its modest doorway, you will find a treasure trove of handmade ceramics that have been intricately painted with colorful patterns. Each piece is designed by the ceramicist the store is named after, though it’s now a large scale production outside of Guanajuato.
Explore Mercado Hidalgo
If you love markets, you must visit this one. The ground floor features everything from pinatas to fresh produce to household items. The second floor is mostly filled with souvenirs. There’s also a section of the market that sells prepared foods with much to choose from if you’re brave enough to give it a shot.
Visit galleries on Posito Street
On the way to the galleries on Posito Street take a look at the university and it’s massive entrance – you won’t miss it. Stroll along Posito to find an assortment of galleries including my favorite of the bunch – Taller de Grabado which sells various sizes and styles of prints.
Sip a coffee at Cafe Conquistador
There are only 2 tables in this tiny coffee shop because the coffee roaster takes up the rest of the space. Beans are roasted here to use in-house and to sell for take-away. It smells amazing. Be prepared for an extra strong cup of joe compared to what most other cafes serve.
Walk around Jardin de la Union
The design of this garden is fascinating. The trees are grown and shaped in a way to both create the walls of the square and the shade within it. There are many things to observe from the Jardin including the beautiful Teatro Juarez across the street.
Night tour of Guanajuato
If you see people in black velvet costumes selling tickets – buy them! They are from a performance group that hosts a night tour through the historic streets of the city center. Be prepared for an entertaining hour of skits and songs, all in Spanish of course. Even if you can’t understand any of it, it will be a fun and memorable evening in Guanajuato.
Excellent post! Very informative and helpful with beautiful pictures.