Guanajuato is a beautiful hillside town with energizing street life, leafy plazas, and colorful colonial architecture. Formerly a center for silver mining, the artistic city is now best known for being a university town and the capital of Guanajuato state. You’ll find a delightful ambiance in its meandering streets, streetside cafes, and pretty squares. Things to do in Guanajuato include visiting the Diego Rivera Museum and Mummy Museum, seeing a performance at the Teatro Juarez, shopping at the Mercado Hidalgo, and exploring the Alley of the Kiss.
Central Mexico enjoys a temperate climate year-round, with seasonal rains in June through August. The most pleasant weather falls between September and March. Crowds come in mid-October for the International Cervantino Festival for music, theater and art, followed by Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) in early November. For fewer crowds, consider visiting January through May.
The dense city center of Guanajuato is perfect for pedestrians, with several cobblestone streets dedicated to those on foot. One-way streets and dead ends are common, making it easy to get lost, which can be part of the joy of exploring the city. The public buses are also affordable and easy to use. If using taxis, agree on a price before you take a trip or ask your hotel to arrange one for you, as they’re not generally metered.
Guanajuato is known for its whimsical city planning, marked by one-way streets, dead ends, underground tunnels, and countless alleys. Meandering and getting lost is simply part of exploring this delightful colonial town. Some streetside spots to see include the Alley of the Kiss, the city tunnels of El Pípila, El Minero, and La Galereña, and Miguel Hidalgo, one of the city’s famous underground streets.
Local Currency Mexican Peso (MX$) | Time Zone CST (UTC -6) | Country Code +52 | Language(s) Spanish | Attractions 3 | Tours 204 | Reviews 5,315 |
Guanajuato is a former mining town known for its charming ambiance, manicured plazas, colorful colonial facades, ornate churches, and meandering cobblestone streets. The unique street design of the city features underground tunnels and enchanting alleyways. The local hero, El Pípila, is memorialized at a local monument.
...MoreTwo to three days is enough to get a feel for this beautiful hillside city. You’ll want to see some museums, explore the streetlife, take a historical walking or food tour, and visit markets, cafes, and squares. Outdoorsy types might want to try mountain biking or hiking in the mountains.
...MoreConsider a morning historical walking or food tour in Guanajuato’s city center and use the afternoon to explore the city’s colorful alleyways, as well as the Diego Rivera Museum or Mummy Museum. End the day with a drink on a rooftop bar and a night-time tour through Guanajuato's historic center.
...MoreGuanajuato has the feel of a medieval city thanks to its underground passageways, narrow alleys, and meandering cobblestone streets. One of the most famous streets is El Callejón del Beso (Alley of the Kiss), while Miguel Hidalgo is the well known underground street.
...MoreGuanajuato’s Alley of the Kiss (El Callejón del Beso) is the location of a tragic Shakespearan love story. To get there, head to the Plaza de Los Angeles south of the city center. The alley lies to the southeast of the plaza between Venado and Patrocinio streets.
...MoreTwo cities stand out in the state of Guanajuato: the university town of the same name and San Miguel de Allende. Both offer colorful colonial architecture, historic and lively cores, and plenty of places to eat, shop, and stroll. While San Miguel de Allende is very popular for tourists and expats, Guanajuato remains a hidden gem.
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