Post review
To increase honesty, reviews are anonymous. You can only add one review per city or it replaces/edits your old one. Reviews with URLs or emails are removed. If you're writing about data being wrong, please don't do it here as it'll be removed here.town
fantastic
long
night
cute
stay
options
day
center
horseback
riding
shop
balcony
weather
cold
humidity
San Miguel de Allende is a visually charming town with colorful architecture, cobblestone streets, and European-style buildings. Many travelers find it a great short-term destination due to its scenic views, walkability, and abundance of cafes and bakeries. There are also outdoor activities like hiking and horseback riding outside the city center. Safety is generally not an issue, and health-conscious food options like vegan and organic fare are widely available.
The biggest downsides mentioned by multiple reviewers include the intense tourist presence, especially on weekends, and high noise levels from frequent church bells and late-night fireworks. Prices are also higher compared to places like Mexico City. Weather-wise, despite warm days, it gets cold at night—so staying in accommodations with heating is recommended. Overall, San Miguel is ideal for a short, scenic getaway but may not be the best for long-term stays or those seeking nightlife and a quiet atmosphere.
AI-generated summary of reviews
3 months ago
San Miguel de Allende is a very cute town. The colors and architecture of the buildings really give a European vibe, not to mention the cobblestone roads. It’s a fantastic place to stay for one week max! Also, there are A LOT of old, wealthy gringo retirees here that were once hippies, so a lot of organic and vegan options are here. It’s in the low 80’s each day and sunny. Once the sun sets, the temp drops and feels amazing outside. Long sleeves or light jacket is plenty.
Pros:
-beautiful surroundings just walking around
-walkable as long as you don’t have limitations
-a lot of cute hidden gems within the buildings
-outside the city center there are options for horseback riding and hiking
- Feels safe
Cons (city center):
- not a lot to do other than shop and eat
- Overrun by tourists on the weekends
- Church bells ring every 15 minutes (not exaggerating) all day and night
- Random firecrackers and fireworks in the middle of the night
- More expensive than CDMX
3 years ago
This is a very charming old town with really beautiful infrastracture and bakeries. I stayed in one of the traditional villas with a balcony overlooking the entire town. I love hanging around in the coffee shop, and even starbucks looks artesanal. The weather can get really cold at night so best make sure that you have a heater in the accomodation you are in. It is actually quite cold that you really cant stay at the balcony to enjoy the view too long. Internet is okay, safety is okay.
4 years ago
I live in San Miguel de Allende, and have for about 10 months. I've found it very family-friendly, with a lot to do: horseback riding, fantastic restaurants, bars and dancing, hot springs, art shows, yoga meet-ups, etc. As well, the hospitals in nearby (1 hr away) Queretero are fantastic -- if you go private. There are a LOT of expats here, though most of the younger people are from Mexico City. The weather is the closest I've ever come to being perfect all year: low humidity, and highs of 25-30C. The only thing I miss is being near the ocean -- but I can catch a cheap short-haul flight and be in Cancun or Puerto Vallarta very quickly -- and then leave the humidity when I tire of it.
5 years ago