Guanajuato City, Mexico – A Weekend in the State’s Colorful Capital City

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Guanajuato City is the state capital of Guanajuato, Mexico. SMACK DAB in the middle of the country.

Now imma be honest, I had no idea Guanajuato existed. Mexico is a BIG country okay? With 30 states (+ Mexico City), I feel like there is sooo much of Mexico that is still a huge mystery to me. Well, clearly. And while Guanajuato is still off the radar for a lot of Westerners, it is a very popular tourist destination for Mexican citizens! And also…Japanese tourists. So the town is never really EMPTY.

I first heard of Guanajuato because my friend is currently living there. After correcting me like 50 million times (“no, NOT Guadalajara”), she invited me to come visit and see her adopted home for myself.

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That was pretty much all the convincing needed for me to buy a ticket. But, you may have heard of Guanajuato before, or have seen images of this colorful state without even knowing! In fact, if you’ve seen Disney’s Coco, the design of the Land of the Dead was based on Guanajuato City! And if you haven’t, I highly recommend watching it before your trip to Mexico!

What’s good, Guanajuato ??

So what should you know about good ol’ Guanajuato? Well first of all, don’t expect the warm humidity found on Mexico’s Caribbean coast. Or the dry arid deserts of Baja California.

The state of Guanajuato is (literally) centrally located in Mexico, among the high altitude mountains. Not high enough to get altitude sickness, but the air is definitely cooler in the mornings and at night, but warms up during the middle of the day. If you’ve been to Mexico City, it’s similar. The air is also dry, but more crisp and clean than the north’s desert vibes.

I also want to point out that Guanajuato is NOT very wheelchair friendly, and all the hills and steps make it difficult for people with mobility restrictions.

When to Visit?

In terms of “when is the best time to go,” I would probably lean towards mid-Spring. April, ideally, as it is usually one of the warmer months but still technically in the “dry season,” with May being in the shoulder between wet and dry.

The second best time is probably winter. November-March has very pleasant temperatures, high 60s-high 70s F (20-25 C). It is also the dry season, so you can expect clear skies!

The summer months are technicallyyy the hottest, but also the wettest. So its a no for me, but there would be lower prices so yay!

Special Events in Guanajuato

Aside from general weather, it might also be a good idea to visit during one of Guanajuato’s many festivals! Here are just some of them!

Baile de las Flores / Dance of the Flowers

It’s a local annual tradition where young men and women dress up and exchange flowers! Then the town opens the mines for celebrations and they decorate the altars for the patron of miners, La Virgen de los Dolores (Our Lady of Sorrows).

March or April; Thursday before Holy Week

Festival Titerías / International Puppet Theater Festival

It’s literally a puppet festival. There are activities for all ages, and there are a ton of performances, workshops, events, and exhibitions!

May

Expresión en Corto / International Short Film Festival

It is an international film festival, which also takes place in San Miguel de Allende (about an hour away). All the big-wigs in the Mexican industry are there, from actors and directors, to producers, screenwriters, and designers. There are discussions, workshops, and presentations, as well as viewings of short films!

July

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Día de la Cueva / Cave Day

It is an annual festival in honor of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, who played a major role in the building of Guanajuato. There are picnics, a fair, and traditional songs and dances!

July 31st

Día de la Toma de la Alhóndiga / Day of the Taking of the Alhóndiga

It is a special day for Guanajuato, one which remembers when Miguel Hidalgo won the first victory in the fight for Mexican independence from Spain! And it happened right here in Guanajuato! There is a festive parade!

September 28th

Festival International Cervantino / International Cervantino Festival

This is my friend’s FAVORITE festival in Guanajuato! I’m so sad I didn’t visit during it! Basically, it’s a HUGE international cultural fair! Music, dance, art, story telling -you name it! It features both modern Mexican and Indigenous cultures, as well as artists and performers from nearly 30 other countries as well! It’s Latin America’s biggest culture exchange and it sounds MAD DOPE.

October

Day of the Dead / Día de los Muertos

You’ve seen Disney’s Coco, right? Did you know the Land of the Dead was based on the streets of Guanajuato?? So, you best believe Guanajuato gets pretty lit for Día de los Muertos! it is a celebration to honor passed loved ones. Though it’s roots are in the indigenous communities in Central and Southern Mexico, it is now a national holiday throughout the country. That said, each city and state has its own local customs with the holiday, (and even different names for it), while others do not big city events at all. But – Guanajuato does. Fun fact, before colonization, Día de los Muertos was actually celebrated at the beginning of summer!

November 2nd

México en Globo / Hot-Air Balloon Festival

There’s tons of hot air balloons. ‘Nuff said.

November

What’s so special about Guanajuato?

Well, it was once one of the richest states in Mexico.

The second the Spanish found out that there was silver in them-there mines, you best believe the exploited THE CRAP out of it. Guanajuato City once produced 40% of the ENTIRE WORLD’s silver – on the backs of the aboriginal peoples of the area of Guanajuato and the surrounding areas (Chichimeca Jonaz, Otomí,  Náhuatl, Mazahua, Purépecha, Mixteco, and Zapoteco).

Some the silver mines are actually STILL operational to this day!

However, the actual name GUANAJUATO comes from the Purépecha word Cuanaxhuato, which means the “mountainous place of frogs.” By frogs though, they were referencing the hills that resemble frogs, not…actual frogs.

Sorry to all of my frog enthusiast subscribers.

Where to Stay in Guanajuato

Okay so full disclosure, I actually stayed with my friend (fo’ free heyyoooo!), but since Guanajuato has such a strong presence in Mexican tourism, there are plenty of good options! There are plenty of hostels and hotels to choose from, but alas, I do not have any specific recommendations. THOUGH, if you are a light sleeper, I do advise against staying near the callejon de beso and theater area because there’s a nightly singing group that goes by (more on that later), but maybe you like being in the center of the action!

Luckily, it’s pretty easy to get around Guanajuato City, so it doesn’t matter TOOOOO much about location. There are plenty of taxis and even Uber that can easily transport you where you need to go!

What to Do in Guanajuato

Depending on the days you visit, I feel like if you have at least 4 full days in Guanajuato City, you can easily fit in the following activities!

Museo de las Momias

I’m just going to start with the -potentially- most squeamish thing to do in Guanajuato. Visit the mummy museum. No joke, it is THE MOST VISITED tourist attraction in the entire city. And I just want to say, Guanajuato has a lot of mummies. But there’s a story behind this!

Long ago, a plague swept through the region, as plagues do. Which resulted in a lot of burials in a short time frame. Fast forward a couple of decades, and the local government passes a burial tax. Any corpse’s tax that isn’t paid for would be exhumed. And…well, a lot of burial taxes weren’t paid. So the bodies were dug up and found to be…completely intact?

The ground had the perfect concentration of natural mummification stuff that even without coffins or bindings, their hair, skin, and ligaments fossilized instead of decomposing. And it was weird to just…get rid of a bunch on intact corpses, so they did what anyone else would do. They were put in an empty room.

There’s a bit of debate on how it became a museum, but the most common one is that one day, someone asked to see the room full of mummies. And then another person. And then handfuls of people. Although it is the most visited, most people (including locals) only visit once, so I didn’t feel it was too busy! But I also went on a weekday. Fun fact: the museum actually holds the most complete mummy IN THE WORLD.

Callejonada

Imagine an interactive musical mixed with a walking tour. The callejonada groups are usually made up of university students wearing  ‘estudiantina’ outfits, telling jokes, explaining local legends, and playing traditional songs as they guide you through the narrow alleys of Guanajuato. If you don’t speak Spanish, you will probably be very lost. But even if you don’t speak Spanish, it’s a fun atmosphere. It is a nightly occurrence, but only lasts about an hour or two. That said, there are no bathroom breaks, so make sure you’re all good before it starts!

Callejon de Beso

Imagine the classic story of Romeo and Juliet…but err…with a bit more toxic masculinity. As the local legend tells it, this alley was largely funded by a wealthy family. The daughter’s bedroom window looked out onto the alley. So of course, right across the alley was a handsome young man that just happened to be her age. The only problem – he was from a “bad side of town” and renting the room out. Since they could not be seen in public, the two would lean out of their balconies to kiss. One day, the daughter’s father found out and he was so enraged that he stabbed his daughter to death. Some say the young man was so heartbroken that he threw himself from the balcony.

Dark, right? BUT AT LEAST THE ALLEY IS CUTE. In any case, there’s a gift shop and for one peso each, you can go up to the balcony for your own cute kissing picture. If you kiss here, supposedly your relationship will have 7 years of good luck. But…I mean, we all know what happened to the original couple so….

Cristo Rey del Cubilete

You thought Brazil was the only country with a giant Jesus? Think again.

Located about an hour or so outside of Guanajuato City, the 72ft statue (22m for all you non-Americans) is mounted atop the highest peak in the region. It is actually the second biggest in the world, behind Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. AND, it marks the EXACT CENTER of the country of Mexico. You can easily reach it by taxi (~ $150-$250 pesos/$8-$13 USD) or by bus $20 pesos/~$1 USD. Note, that if you DO take a taxi, make sure you buddy up because they won’t take solo passengers. You will have insane panoramic views over the entire state!

Fun fact, Cristo Rey actually faces the city of Leon, and NOT Guanajuato City (the state’s capital). It is a pilgrimage site for Catholic Mexicans, so be respectful if you see anyone climbing the final sections on their hands and knees.

Explore the campus

This one is more of a laid back activity, but Guanajuato’s young vibe can be attributed to its renowned university! That and…all the hills. But I digress. You definitely feel the youthful spirit of the town as you stroll through the streets near the university! The school itself is beautiful, but there is a staircase outside that all the cool kids, locals, and tourists like to sit on and chat the day away. Plus, at the top, you get a great view of the city! I don’t have pictures from the actual stairs because, 1) they were renovating them so they weren’t very attractive, and 2) my low-cut jeans kept showing off my brightly colored underwear UGH.

El Pipila

AAANNNDDD – cue the most iconic shot you can get from Guanajuato. El Pipila! The great statue stands tall over the city, and from the top, it offers the best viewpoint of the city! But who is this man?

-insert mini history lesson-

Well, his name was Juan Amaro and he was born with a walking disability. He was tormented by his community, and while working in the silver mines, he was given the derogatory nickname El Pipila (in Spanish “the turkey”). During the onset of the Mexican Revolution, the Spaniards feared an uprising from the citizens of Guanajuato. Thus, they barricaded themselves in the strongest building in the city, Alhondiga de Granaditas (which you can also visit, though not much of a view).

Though it seemed impossible to breakdown to everyone else, El Pipila strapped a giant stone to his back and charged straight at the fort’s only weakness. One sole wooden door. The stone protected him from the arrows of the Spaniards, and El Pipila was able to coat the door in tar and lit it aflame. The citizens then rushed the door a killed all of the Spanish troops within.

It was the FIRST victory in the Mexican independence movement. El Pipila’s courageous acts of heroism especially inspired others to revolt as well. Nearly a decade later, the Spanish were driven out of Mexico entirely. That said…the Silver Barons were then free to further exploit the silver mines…but I’ll leave that convo for another blog post.

-end history lesson-

BACK TO THE STATUE. Once you’re at the top, there are a few gift shops and restaurants. The best time of day, in my opinion, would be an hour or so before sunset, and then watch the sun descend behind the hills. That way, you get a view of the city during the day, at it’s most beautiful during Golden Hour (the cathedral Bastila is especially breathtaking at this time), and experience the view at night!

My suggestion would be to take a fun ride up the funicular (a little mini tram) to the top, then take your time walking down the hill. Be warned though, it’s a bit steep so watch your knees! If you’re not about that walking life, or the funicular is down -like it was during my trip- there are plenty of taxis that can take you up and down!

Inscribed at the bottom of the statue, is one phrase that still gives me chills:

“there are still other “alhondigas” to burn”

La Presa de la Olla

This is something that I didn’t do, but I wish I had! It’s basically a huge lake surrounded by gardens and nature. Absolutely beautiful. BUT, I visited during the winter and like the genius I am, I forgot to pack a warm jacket. SO, I didn’t enjoy too many strolls without a warm drink in my hand, but I’d recommend checking this little spot out! You can even rent a row-boat and paddle out on the lake. This entire city is like a romance novel, fo real.

Baseball

If you visit on a weekend – I didn’t – you can catch a baseball game for only a few pesos. Don’t worry about showing up early to queue, there are plenty of tickets, and you can specify if you want a sea in the sun or shade! The best part, or so I hear, are the snacks! A bit different from American baseball snacks, you can buy pumpkin seeds, fresh churros, beer, and Doritos with extra hot sauce heyyoooo!

Teatro Juarez

You literally can’t miss this theater. Its located in a huge plaza, and the building itself is quite grand! it is a functioning theater, so you should definitely check the box office for any musicals, shows, or performances happening during your visit! It’s a nice chance to rest your feet after roaming around the city all day (and quads after all those hills)!

If there aren’t any shows, you can still take a tour of the inside of the theater, which is pretty rad!

Jardin de la Union

Right next to the theater, you will find this garden! It’s more of a…beautified plaza, with lots of shops and restaurants. On weeknights, there is even sometimes dancing in the middle of the plaza! It’s so freaking cute.

This is also where the callejonada groups meet! But the real drama comes in the form of battling mariachi bands. Yes, you heard me. BATTLING. The bands will serenade diners at neighboring restaurants and then sing over each other. It’s pretty intense!

Basílica

Iconic Guanajuato! This beautiful cathedral is just down the street from the theater. It’s…a cathedral. You can go inside if you want (I was not dressed properly lol), but I enjoyed appreciating it from the outside.

Shopping

My absolute favorite activity to do while traveling! Luckily, Guanajuato is an amazing city to do just that!

The Mercado Hidalgo is basically the heavy lifter when it comes to shopping. It is a two-story market inside of an old repurposed train station. It looks pretty cool, but that said, it is a bit overhyped. The bottom floor has pretty average stall food and the top is all knick-knacks and trinkets. So perfect if you’re looking for a magnet or souvenir! But not as perfect if you want something with a bit more personal touch.

I do want to point out that I bought the most beautifullll blanket from a woman who set up a stall JUST OUTSIDE of the mercado, to the right side. I don’t know if she is always there, but I’d recommend buying from her because they are very high quality for a good price!

There are a TON of cute shoe shops! Like literally at least 3 on every street! If you are a fan of fun airy sandals and colorful wedges, Guanajuato is definitely the place to pick them up!

Shop Indigenous!

Last but not least, you will find a lot of beaded jewelry at various stall vendors, especially around the theater. BUT, they are mass produced. I strongly recommend buying these beaded jewelry pieces from an actual indigenous jewelry maker! The difference in quality is astounding and so visibly noticeable! Plus, you are supporting indigenous artists that keep their culture and traditions going strong, despite the knock offs that attempt to undercut them.

I don’t know of many by name, but my friend took me to one run by a local Huichol family. It’s around the corner from Estación Gelato! Look for a shop with beaded jewelry and artwork! Usually, their son is in the store, since the older folks don’t speak much Spanish (or English), but everything has a price tag so it’s easy to shop! I bought two pieces that totaled about ~400-500 ($26 USD) pesos I think.

Museums

There’s like a ton of museums, but here are the top 4 I recommend! I’m not the biggest museum person, so I’ll just bullet point them real quick. All of the following museums cost between $30-50 pesos / ~$1.50-3 USD.

• Don Quixote : the entire city is obsessed with Don Quixote. The museum is a collection of art surrounding Don Quixote and other characters from the novel.
• Alhondiga de Granaditas : You can visit the site of the first Mexican victory against Spain! It may seem plain from the outside, but inside it tells the heroes of the Mexican Revolution.
• Museo de Pueblo de Guanajuato : If you’re an art person, this one is for you. It features local and regional artists, mostly contemporary. Plus, the building itself is beautiful.
• Museo Casa Diego Rivera : This museum is the birthplace and home to one of Mexico’s most famous painters, Diego Rivera. The other famous painter, his wife, Frida Kahlo. It’s a super small museum, featuring some of his art and period furniture.

Silver Mines

You know that thing Guanajuato is famous for? Yah, the silver mines? Guess what. You can visit them! I didn’t though because I literally forgot until my plane was leaving the state, but they are about an hour to 2 hours long and you get a hard hat and learn about the mining industry! Sounds pretty fun! Most people visit either the El Nopal Mina or the Valenciana Mina.

Tours for Guanajuato

If you’re looking for some tours or context behind all the cool stuff you are seeing, here are a few on Airbnb Experiences!

• Historic Walking Tour
• Folklore Dance Performance

Where to Eat in Guanajuato

Okay, y’all should know by now that I am, unfortunately, not a food blogger. So with that said, I’ll just list some good restaurants for you to choose from!

• Oajillo: breakfast/lunch
• Santo Cafe: breakfast/lunch

• Los Huacales: lunch
• Escarola: lunch, healthy, vegetarian
• La Vela: lunch
• Taqueria Chela & Chuchita: lunch

• Amatxi: dinner
• Teresita Restaurant: dinner
• Anywhere the tacos smell bomb

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• Babu Te Bar: boba
• Manzana Verde: juice
• La Ingrata: candy store
• Estacion Gelato: dessert
• Tutti gelati Gelato & Churro Bar: dessert
• El Felino Pastelero: dessert
• La Michoacan: ice cream
• Universo de pays: cheesecake
• Any random corn vendor: Mexican street corn – get everything on it
  

Day Trips from Guanajuato City

I said this earlier, but you can pretty much do all of the above activities in four days, easy. So, if you’re staying a little longer in the area, consider venturing outside of GTO!

San Miguel de Allende

Hands down, the most popular day trip destination from the city of Guanajuato! In fact, that’s what I did! I took a Primera Plus bus over, and they were VERY nice. Picture your average tour bus, with plush seats and TVs. And it was only ~8USD! They even give you a little cookie snack and water bottle for the 1.5 hour ride. Driving a car or taking a taxi won’t get you there any faster, so I’d recommend the bus. SMA gave me the impression of a Mexican Palm Springs. It’s a popular retirement destination, especially for Americans. There are a bit less hills, but even more shopping!

León

Although I haven’t visited León, I heard it’s a tiny bit more wheelchair accessible than the other cities in the state of Guanajuato. León is also the most populated! Primera Plus buses run about every 20 minutes, and it takes about an hour.

Dolores Hidalgo

This is another city that I’ve heard great things about but did not get a chance to visit yet. Dolores Hidalgo is classified as one of Mexico’s “Magic Town.” It looks EXTREMELY beautiful. And, it’s also only an hour away! Someone told me that the bus was in front of the Office Depot in Dos Rios, near the Alhondiga.

Have fun in Guanajuato!

Hopefully my post got you all prepped for your upcoming trip! Or maybe even inspired you to visit! If you have any other questions, drop them in the comments below!

If you’re headed to other parts of Mexico, check out my posts on clubbing in Cancun, or the unfortunate time I was attacked by a grasshopper.

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