Is Guanajuato one of the most beautiful towns in the World?
I love Guanajuato, it’s one of the most beautiful cities I’ve seen anywhere. I was here a few years ago and had my visit ruined when I got terribly sick. So this time around I had a mission – to come back to Guanajuato and spend the day exploring and taking photos.
So I did.
Have a look at these photos. Imagine if Guanajuato was in Italy instead of Mexico – there would be thousands upon thousands of tourists walking these streets. Luckily it’s not.
Accommodation recommendations: Villa Sueño Azul B&B or Casa de Pita. Budget: Casa Lupita Hostel.
.Below: More scenes from around Guanajuato
Practical Information on Guanajuato
I walked around the historical center for about 4 hours, retracing my steps a couple of times. Guanajuato is not a big place and can be explored in a day.
It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site– just like nearby San Miguel de Allende.
– Guanajuato is a 4 ½ hr bus ride from Mexico City, 1 hr from San Miguel de Allende, 3 ½ hrs from Guadalajara. Our preferred bus line in Mexico is Primera Plus (if you’re a newbie in Mexico you’ll be amazed by the bus service).
– Accommodation. I’ve included a few hotel recommendations up above. If you’re still looking for accommodation have a look at some more options here.
– Tours. A few tours that you might find interesting: The Mummies, Mines and Tunnels tour, this walking tour of the city.
Have you been to Guanajuato?
Related: A roadtrip through Mexico’s most beautiful towns and cities (by bus)
Related: The Highlights of San Miguel de Allende (and the best of the best)
Related: 11 Unforgettable Off-the-beaten path adventures in Mexico
PS. Looking to book flights, hotels, tours, or rent a car? Have a look at our Travel Resources page.
Hi There! Beautiful photos of Guanajuato! If you have not been to “La presa dela Olla” that’s a beautiful & colorful place to visit in Guanajuato City. I have found it hidden from Tourists, even Mexican tourists. It might be a 30-minute walk from the Statue of ‘El Quijote”.
You can google “Paseo de la presa, Guanajuato” & see the images. The architecture of some buildings there are quite different than what you can find in downtown.
Being from Mexico, I first came to Guanajuato in my 20s, and decided that this would be the place where I would retire. I’m in my 40s and here I am in Guanajuato….
Thank you for the comment Pablo. Yes I found “La presa dela Olla”, a nice looking lake.
You found a very nice place to retire 🙂
Hi Frank, What a great post and amazing photos. Me and my sister have the first week of April off and was thinking of visiting either Guanajuato or Oaxaca. Your blog posts on both have been very helpful to me. I am just wondering, since you said Guanajuato is a small city and can be walked in 1 day, is 5-6 days too much for Guanajuato?
Hi Niloo,
Thanks for the kind words. Yes, 5-6 days I think is too much. I think 1 or 2 is fine, lots of time to see everything.
Oaxaca’s a bigger place and worth more days. If you go to Oaxaca make sure to see Monte Alban.
Guanajuato is a magical town for me. I was there once with my parents who are both gone now. We spent a magical day there. I still remember my parents glee and happiness as we walked the streets and let the colors take their hold. The merchants and their wares, the food, the sights, the sounds. Its so magical, I plan on going back this year, I know I will not only feel this town, I’ll feel my parents joy all over again.
That’s a very sweet comment. I hope you enjoy your return trip, I’m sure your parents will be with you in spirit.
Thanks for sharing these incredible pictures, I live in México and try to visit Guanajuato every year. I love it and I just want to say thank you for sharing images from a gem: Guanajuato city, a magic place.
Best wishes from México.
Thank you very much Jesus. You are very right – it’s one of the most beautiful places anywhere.
I’m planning to visit San Miguel and Guanajuato this summer. It’ll be my wife’s and my first time. It’s going to be an exploratory visit to see if we like either one as a possible home once we retire. Sometimes I lean toward San Miguel and other times toward Guanajuato. Your posts have me leaning toward the latter! lol Keep up the great writing and awesome pics!
Thank you Ralph.
I’ve been to both several times now and my mom has also lived in both. I think for visiting Guanajuato is more spectacular…but for living long term San Miguel is probably best suited – it just has more for the expat.
Thanks for the kind words 🙂
Hi Frank!
I found your blog when searching for images on google, I’m from Mexico City and I found your pictures and your blog amazing, I just wanted to point out that although Guanajuato is indeed not part of most American/Canadian tourists’ schedules, it’s actually a tourist destination for Mexican, Latin American and Spanish visitors, specially during the Festival Cervantino, a cultural event that takes place in October commemorating Miguel de Cervantes, the famous Spanish author, at that time of the year, the city is so full of tourists that you could barely walk, everybody has a great time and you’ll find drunk students everywhere (most of the times on a nice mood)… There are concerts, movies, plays, art expositions, etc.. I’m too old for that (late 30s) but when I was young I spent some of the best days of my life there. Oh, and there are many places with awesome salads in Mexico (although I’m not sure about Guanajuato to be honest).
Hello Alfredo! Thank you so much for the informative comment. I did not know that and I will make sure to never go in October. Like you say, fun if you’re young but I’m at the point where I can’t stand crowds anymore.
I come to Mexico once a year and have become quite a fan of Mexico City 🙂
Thanks again for your comment!
Frank
We’ve also visited Guanajuato – and like you, found it extremely pretty! It’s a university town, and we found it very authentic. Far fewer American (or other) tourists visit Guanajuato than the better-known colonial Mexican town of San Miguel de Allende (and we enjoyed that non-touristy feel). The Mummy Museum there was riveting (our story on that was published in NUVO magazine; we also have a post on it). And we also enjoyed the Diego Rivera Museum. Love your photos! They bring back pleasant memories of our visit to Guanajuato :-).
Thanks for the comment Janice – I didn’t go to either the Mummy musuem or the Diego Rivera Museum. I did however walk through some of those underground tunnels…isn’t that the most unique entrance to a town?
I am madly in love with the vibrant colors of Mexico – they just scream life is good!
I pinned one of your photos, the 5th one up from the bottom, to my Window Garden board. I’ve been dragging my feet to start a Pinterest account, because I mean, just how many social media accounts does one have time for and still have a life, but I did and now (don’t tell anyone) I’m kinda liking it.
Patti, if there’s any advice I’ve got – get a Pinterest account and spend less time on the other stuff.
Yes, I also love the colors of Mexico.
Yes, beautiful and colorful town if I ever go to Mexico will make sure to include it in my plans, but also that is because of your great pictures as always.
Take care.
Thank you Carlos 🙂
I remember reading about Guanajuato when we were living in the Yucatan area of Mexico and thinking that both its history and beauty were incredible. And then there were the fascinating (call me macabre!) stories about its cemetery and the mummies that really grabbed my interest. I’m hoping that we’ll get a chance in the future to explore more of central Mexico sometime and Gunajuato will be right at the top of our list. Gorgeous photos and I imagine you spent your whole time there with a HUGE smile on your face!
You’re right Anita! Just getting into the old town is quite something – you have to drive through these underground tunnels which were originally dug for the excavation of silver. And people actually park their cars down there. A bit weird. But you can walk down from street level right into the tunnels. Really is an incredible place and I’d come back again to spend a night and enjoy the views in the evening.
I hope you get a chance to visit one day!
Incredible colours – almost like a kids’ candy cake fantasy ! It seems most of the Central Mexican inland towns are v different and way ahead of most Chiapas + Yucatan towns (St Cristobal and Campeche were the closest ) “décor” wise – must be a regional thing ? And don’t worry too much about too much orange (I don’t regret having a wall in my room in solid “Mexican orange”. Yes the central inland highland climate in Mexico is about as close as you can get to perfect . Reminds me very much of the Highland (Highveld) climate in South Africa – warm sunny days even in winter, coolish invigorating nights in summer (nights can be a bit chilly in winter…) low humidity year round – even after the set-your-watch-by-them summer rain storms – which are short lived and followed by glorious cleansed sunshine ! Guess its the altitude (around 2.000 metres) at the right latitude… Impossible to beat .
Totally agree Tony, clear cool days are perfect in my books!
The trip through Mexico was very ‘last century’! I left Australia in December 1999, bought an old Subaru in Oregon and trotted across and down the States, all the way to El Salvador. Fabulous driving through Mexico, no hassles apart from the car being broken into and everything nicked…but I left in on a street in a big city, could have happened anywhere. Made for lighter travelling! Didn’t have a digital camera back then…
Oh wow, impressive Jane!
Good to hear they treated you right with the margaritas Frank – almost took away your man card with the other 😉 Just by your post I know it’s my kind of place. I’ve been to Cancun area and on the west coast San Carlos, Sonora, but not inland. It seems I need to make a point to do just that. As always…looking fwd to your next post 🙂
You know what I love about inland? In addition to all these beautiful towns, the weather is PERFECT. Never hot, actually cool in the shade, and almost always sunny. Last year I went there from Montreal and it was a relief from Montreal’s humidity. This year I went there from Split which is also a hotbox. It’s the perfect climate, I never sweat in that area.