On November 04, 2016, author and travel expert Leslie Patrick posted on Fodor’s Travel this useful and practical guide on how to spend 3 fantastic days in San Miguel de Allende.
Fodor’s Travel is a widely known and trusted digital resource which offers expert travel advice for every stage of a traveler’s trip.
San Miguel de Allende is a stunning Spanish Colonial gem in the arid mountains of central Mexico, just three hours north of the capital. Its colorful history is a vivid mixture of Spanish and Mexican culture, as evidenced in the city’s architecture, food, and lively plazas. Although San Miguel has been wowing visitors for decades with its pretty cobbled streets and confectionary-colored cathedral, a crop of new restaurants, bars, and boutiques means that even if you’ve visited before, there’s plenty more to experience in this buzzing south-of-the-border destination.
(Image: fodors.com)
DAY 1
After checking into the chic, art-filled Hotel Nena (rooms from $135), walk nine minutes through bright, cobbled streets to the Jardín Allende, the city’s central main square. The tree-lined gardens offer shade from the perennial sunshine, and wrought-iron benches provide the perfect spot to sip a café con leche while watching street vendors hawk hand-stitched dolls and balloons. The jardín is also the best place to admire the magnificent Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel, the city’s iconic pink cathedral. After snapping a few Instagrammable shots, walk two minutes to Café San Agustín (21 San Francisco, Zona Centro), purported to have the best hot chocolate and churros in all of San Miguel.
After breakfast, get lost amid the hillside streets lined with bougainvillea-draped houses, then pop into the Mercado de Artesanias (Lucas Balderas S/N, Plaza Lanaton), a buzzing artisan market where you can bargain for everything from textiles and jewelry to shoes and souvenirs. After your sartorial needs have been met, walk 10 minutes to Ten Ten Pie (average main: $6, 21 Cuna de Allende, Zona Centro) a restaurant with outdoor patio seating that occupies a bustling corner square. Margaritas and tacos are always a good choice, and with any luck, you’ll see a wedding party pass by, replete with flower-laden donkeys.
After people-watching over a slow lunch, walk two minutes to Mixta, a boho-chic boutique filled with housewares, accessories, and clothing that may quickly consume your entire shopping budget. Wander past scores of tempting shops as you continue south toward peaceful Parque Juárez. Turn right on Calle Nemesio Diez and you’ll end up back at Hotel Nena, where the open-air rooftop Sky Bar—complete with plunge pool—is the perfect stop for a late-afternoon cocktail as you watch the sun set over distant mountains.
(Image: fodors.com)
Click here for days 2 and 3 …
Source: http://www.fodors.com/
