San Miguel de Allende Mexico Travel Guide

San Miguel de Allende sits 275 kilometres north of Mexico City. The city is named after two people, a 16th-century friar named Juan de San Miguel, and a martyr of Mexican Independence, Ignacio Allende, who was born in the city.

San Miguel de Allende played an important role during the Chichimeca War (1540–1590) where the Chichimeca Confederation defeated the Spanish Empire in the first colonization war.

In the early 20th century San Miguel de Allende was devastated by an influenza outbreak and the towns population dwindled. The city was later ‘discovered’ by western artists and it became a popular artists colony. It is still a popular destination for artists to live and visit.

Today, an old section of the town is part of a proclaimed World Heritage Site, attracting thousands of tourists and new residents from abroad every year.

Getting to San Miguel de Allende

Buses run regularily from Mexico Norte Bus Terminal.

The closest airports are Del Bajío International Airport in Guanajuato (BJX) and Querétaro Intercontinental Airport in Querétaro (QRO). Both are about 90 minutes for San Miguel de Allende.