The Best Things to do In Guanajuato City
The Best Things to do In Guanajuato City
Table of Contents
Join a Callejoneada
Ride the Funnicular up to Mirador Pipila
This viewpoint is one of my favorites in all of Mexico. You can either walk up the hill or take the funicular ride for 30 pesos each way. Once you arrive at the viewpoint, you get an incredible view of the colorful city down below. You can sit, relax, and have a snack while up there. You can also take a look at Pipila statue.
Kiss at Callejon del Beso
Marvel at Teatro Juarez
The architecture of Teatro Juarez is gorgeous! It is the main spot that reminded me of Italy. People come here to sit on the steps and eat a snack.
It is one of the most photographed spots in the city center. For 30 MXN pesos, you can explore inside the theater and marvel at its beauty, or on the weekend, you can go to a show.
Check out the Architecture of the University of Guanajuato
Guanajuato is a major university town. There are a lot of young people here, and therefore it has a vibrant nightlife. I loved how beautiful the university is. Make sure to stop by and admire it.
Visit the Mummies
El Museo de las Momias de Guanajuato is well known in Mexico and if you go to Guanajuato, it’s a must-visit place. This museum holds actual mummified remains and is one of the largest in the world. This collection is quite interesting to check out. You can take a 25-minute walk there or a short Uber ride. The price to see all the collections is 85 MXN pesos.
Explore Museums and Galleries
Despite being so small, Guanajuato has a lot of museums and galleries to explore. Although I’m not the biggest fan of museums, I enjoyed checking out the ones in this city. Here are some of the museums I checked out during my stay.
The Alhóndiga de Granaditas
Alhóndiga, which signifies a place for grain storage in Arabic, is a museum where you learn about the historical society of the past. It has been grain storage, a jail, a school, and now a museum. I mostly enjoyed the architecture of the building but also was able to go into many rooms to learn about the history of the place. The price is only 60 MXN pesos.
Museo de Cera de Guanajuato
This wax museum is tiny and has no Madame Tussauds, but for only 30 MXN pesos, you can see wax figures important to Guanajuato and Mexico itself.
Museo Casa de Diego Rivera
As an important figure of Mexico, it’s obvious Diego Rivera’s childhood house would become a museum. Although he didn’t live in Guanajuato, he was born and lived here as a young child.
The house was restored and depicts what his house looked like growing up. On the other floors, you can explore some of his art and other art of important Mexican figures. The entrance is only 25 MXN pesos.
Wander at the Tunnels
One of the coolest things I saw in Guanajuato was all the underground tunnels built in the city for the cars to drive through. Although this series of wide channels were first made to divert the Guanajuato River to prevent flooding, they are now used to redirect traffic from the city center. Honestly, I was pretty amazed by the whole system!
Wander the Streets
Guanajuato is one of the cities I most enjoyed turning off my GPS to simply get lost in its beauty. At every turn, there are colorful buildings and decorative flags. There are pretty balconies and doors and so much to see. I couldn’t put my camera down!
Catch a Street Performance
Guanajuato is absolutely alive! Just strolling around, you can catch events going on. Make sure to stop and observe. The day I was there, kids were dancing on the streets.
There was a telenovela being filmed in a different spot. I saw mariachi singers on the streets playing music. There is always something to watch if you stop for a second to take in the culture.
Hang out at el Jardin de la Union
Union Garden is the main spot in the city. It is where all the best restaurants are and where people gather to hang out. The nightclubs are nearby, callejoneada tours leave from close by, and it’s where you can admire Teatro Juarez. It is the place to be! I hung out in this area to listen to mariachi and banda music playing.
Drink Some Coffee
Where are my coffee lovers? If you enjoy visiting coffee shops, you can check out Cafe Tal. You can find deserts, warm coffee, cold coffees, and frappes.
Have Some Ice-Cream
I’m not sure if it’s a thing in the city, but I saw everyone I passed having ice cream. So I did what I do best, I ate ice cream, my favorite dessert. Walking around can get hot, so this is the best way to refresh.
Marvel at the Basílica Colegiata de Nuestra Señora
If you like marveling at beautiful architecture, make sure to pass by the Basilica and check it out from outside and inside. In front of it, there are many restaurants you could grab food from. Sometimes street performances will happen in front of it. Make sure to check it out.
Eat at Plaza de San Fernando
It sounds like something I keep saying, but Plaza de San Fernando is another place to grab food. I liked this spot primarily for breakfast, where you can grab meals for less than 100 MXN pesos.
This area is more economical than those closer to the Jardin de La Union. In the afternoon, you can grab dinner and watch mariachis sing to those having dinner.
What to Eat
Every region in Mexico is known for different dishes. In Guanajuato, a popular dish is enchiladas mineras (Miner Enchiladas). The flavor of the sauce is a bit different from the traditional enchiladas but still very delicious.
Where to Stay
Staying anywhere near the center of Guanajuato is perfect. The city is so tiny you can easily walk to the main spots. I stayed in two different places and enjoyed both very much. The first one was Hospederia del Truco 7.
It is a small family-owned hotel, and it is near the main Jardin de La Union. The tour of Callejoneadas passed by every night, and I felt I was getting serenaded daily.
I then switched to a hostel called Casa Lupita Hostel. The price was great for a private room, and it has a kitchen to cook your own meals. I moved here to make friends. However, the hostel was quite empty when I stayed.
How to Get There
If you arrive at the airport in the state of Guanajuato, it is located in Silao, closer to the city of Leon. Therefore, you can explore Leon first, and from Leon, you can take a bus to Guanajuato for less than 100 MXN pesos.
But the best option is to arrive at Silao airport and then make the journey from there. If you prefer to skip Leon, you can take a taxi from Silao to Guanajuato city for about 500 MXN pesos.
What to Pack
Here are some items you can pack throughout your travels in Mexico.
Travel Booking Resources
Book Your Flight:
To find cheap flights, check Skyscanner and Google Flights. These search engines check airlines to find you the best deals. The more flexibility you have, the better flight deals available.
Book Your Accommodation:
Booking.com is my favorite booking site for hotels but it also shows great deals on hostels and apartments. Plus, when you reach Genius Level, you get special discounts, included breakfasts, and upgrades on some hotel rooms. Hostelworld is specifically for budget travelers who enjoy hostels. This is the best place for finding great options.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance and Visa Applications:
Travel insurance will protect you against theft, injury, illness, and cancellations. Sometimes unexpected things happen during a trip and protections will keep you covered. Two great options are: Safety Wing and World Nomads. Also, iVisa can help you get a visa if you need one.
Book Tours:
Sometimes the best way to see a place is through tours. I recommend checking out Get Your Guide for some fun and unique adventures wherever you go.
Check out my other travel resources to help you book your trip!
Disclaimer: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and purchase a product, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Please note I only recommend products and brands that I personally use or have used and believe in.
The Best Things to do in Guanajuato City
