Last Updated on 27th February 2023 by Sophie Nadeau
Bright yellow buildings, surrounding mountains, whispers of how the city helped Mexico become a country and the tantalising scent of street food on virtually every corner – Guanajuato is one of the most beautiful and fascinating cities in Mexico. Here’s an insider’s guide to the best things to do in Guanajuato, as well as what to know before visiting.
Sitting around three hours north of Mexico city, in the country’s central mountainous region, the state of Guanajuato is where the idea of Mexican independence was first put forward.
It has a rich history in all senses of the word; the surrounding countryside was once one of the most important areas globally for silver mining, and the city itself has been a haven for arts and music throughout the ages.
If you’re planning a trip to Central Mexico, here are all of the best things to do in Guanajuato! If you’re looking for even more inspiration for your next Mexico trip, check out our suggestions for how to spend 2 weeks in Mexico.
Best things to do in Guanajuato
Explore the laneways of the city centre
The first thing that you should do when you get to Guanajuato is to simply walk around the colorful laneways of the city center.
You could easily spend an hour or two getting lost in these pedestrian roads, either by going on a walking tour (which will educate you about the fascinating history of the city) or by walking around independently.
Don’t miss Callejon del Beso, which translates to the alley of the kiss. One of the narrowest in the country, this alleyway has a tragic love story attached to it. Stretching over just 20 metres and ascending up steep steps, the balconies at the top of the alleyway almost touch each other.
Legend has it that lovers need to kiss on the third step of the alleyway to secure happiness; if they kiss on any other step of the alleyway then their relationship is doomed!
The third step is apparently where a young man once fell to his death, and nowadays there are said to be spirits watching over the step and ensuring any subsequent kissing couples find love!
See the Guanajuato Museums
Being a culturally-rich city, there are lots of museums to take in while you’re exploring Guanajuato’s city centre! So whether you love learning about history or prefer to head to an art gallery, there’s something for everyone. Don’t miss the following:
- Guanajuato Mummy Museum: This one’s a little morbid, but it’s worth visiting for its uniqueness! It’s a display of Mexican mummies, most of them bodies from victims of a cholera outbreak in the city in 1833.
- Diego Rivera Museum: This museum is situated in the house where Diego Rivera, a famous Mexican artist and husband of Frida Kahlo, once lived. It’s a small exhibition with paintings and other artworks, along with some information about Rivera’s life.
- Museo Iconográfico del Quijote: This small but interesting museum is dedicated to Don Quixote, which was written by Miguel de Cervantes and is often considered to be the first modern novel.
See the Basilica of Our Lady of Guanajuato
The most iconic landmark of Guanajuato, the Basilica of Our Lady of Guanajuato is a bright yellow church that dates back to 1671 and showcases some of the region’s wealth (there was lots of silver mining in the area, and Guanajuato was in fact the largest exporter of silver at the end of the 18th century).
You can stand outside and enjoy the baroque architecture, or venture indoors and see the jewelled figure of the Virgin Mary – legend has it that this statue was once hidden in a cave for 800 years, but it now stands proudly in the church for all to enjoy!
Walk through the Jardín de la Unión
The leafy Jardín de la Unión is a cool oasis in the heart of the city. Lined by Indian Laurel trees, the garden sits in front of the basilica and is the perfect place to enjoy local life, listen to music by mariachi bands or purchase some tasty local street food.
There are also a few restaurants and bars surrounding the Jardín de la Unión, but these are generally the most overpriced in the city.
Monumento el Pipla
For some of the best views in the city, head up to Monumento el Pipla. Pipla is the nickname for a local miner who fought the Spanish bravely during the wars of independence. Nowadays, a statue of him stands proudly on top of one of Guanajuato’s hills, looking down on the city spread out beneath him.
While it’s a bit of a climb to reach this monument, the views make it undoubtedly worth it! However, if you can’t or don’t want to climb up all of the stairs, there is a funicular that provides an easy and beautiful journey to reach the Monumento el Pipla and take in the incredible views from the top.
Try street food at Mercado Higaldo
Mercado Hidalgo is one of the best street food markets in Guanajuato; loved by locals, but becoming increasingly popular with tourists! Take a walk around the market and soak in its atmosphere, and definitely come hungry – there are lots of regional specialties to try.
Don’t miss the Enchiladas Mineras (named after the miners who used to work in Guanajuato!), stuffed chiles and tamales.
Most dishes are usually prepared with meat (often pork), but if you don’t eat meat, it’s usually easy to either get or ask for a dish without any meat (ask for it sin carne or vegetarian).
It is, however, quite difficult to guarantee that street food will definitely be made without animal fat.
Visit La Valenciana Mine
As Guanajuato has such a rich mining history, you might want to add a mine tour to your visit.
La Valenciana Mine is open to visitors, providing tourists with an interesting look at how the industry grew and how Guanajuato ultimately prospered thanks to silver mining.
You can also visit Bocamina San Ramón and descend 60 metres into the mine shaft and San Cayetano where you can take a tour with former miners!
See San Miguel de Allende
It’s worth seeing some of the other famous cities of Central Mexico while you’re here, and the beautiful San Miguel de Allende is definitely worth a few hours of your time.
Sitting just an hour away from Guanajuato, this mesmerising city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site a few years ago. Nowadays, you can enjoy strolling around leafy streets, exploring traditional Mexican churches and charming cafes.
Visit Dolores Hidalgo
Do you want to see the place where Mexico was founded? Dolores Hidalgo is a short journey from Guanajuato, and although it’s way off the tourist trail, it was here where Mexican independence was first proclaimed.
In 1810, Miguel Hidalgo stood from one of the church balconies in Dolores Hidalgo (which at the time, was just called “Dolores”!) and cried for independence.
It took Mexico a while to actually achieve independence, and Miguel Hidalgo and many others died for their cause, but the nation finally became independent in September 1821.
You can visit Dolores Hidalgo independently or take part in a tour that includes a stop here and in San Miguel de Allende. Tours are Spanish-only, so this option is best if at least one person in your group speaks the language! You can book tours from most hotel receptions.
Ruta de Vino
After all that sightseeing, it’s time for some wine! The Ruta de Vino is a selection of vineyards planted at high altitude, providing delicious local Mexican grapes that are ultimately used to make wine.
This route is closer to San Miguel de Allende, but you could just visit one while spending a day in Guanajuato’s neighbouring city.
For example, Bodega Dos Búhos sits less than 20 minutes from San Miguel de Allende. I visited this winery when we were in town and took an Uber there and asked the winery owners to book a taxi back; it cost about $10 each way.
You can do a tour of Bodega Dos Búhos (which may be in Spanish only) and learn about the wine creation process and how the grapes thrive at altitude.
Then, it’s time for tasting! Bottles of wine are fairly affordable, and the bodega has an outdoor seating area, so you could easily while away an afternoon here before you return to city life.
There are a few other vineyards to visit on the route, but if you want to enjoy your drinks at a slower pace, I recommend just visiting Bodega Dos Búhos.
Is Guanajuato safe?
Guanajuato state does frequently make headlines for being a more violent part of Mexico; but is the city safe for tourists?
While cartels do operate in the surrounding countryside, they generally don’t cause too much of a problem in the city – and if they do, it’s nearly always targeted at specific people (usually of rival cartels).
So generally, the city of Guanajuato is a safe place to visit, but of course, it’s always important to stay aware of your surroundings and take common precautions.
Are you ready to visit Guanajuato?
There’s so much to love about Guanajuato! Its mining history and being a forerunner for Mexican independence have given the city fascinating cultures and ideas. There’s so much to do here, but as it’s still a little of the tourist trail, you’ll find plenty of local experiences here. Just get here before the word gets out!
Enjoyed reading about the best things to do in Guanajuato? Pin this article now, read it again later:
Claire Martin is a travel blogger and freelance writer who specialises in overland adventures. She’s drove around Australia, travelled from Bali to London without flying, lived in Mexico and has spent many months exploring Europe. You can follow her adventures on her blog, Claire’s Footsteps.