Guanajuato
Discover Guanajuato
Guanajuato is a city in the Bajio region of central Mexico and is the capital city of the state bearing the same name. It is 390 km (about 250 miles) northwest of Mexico City. The name of the city means "Place of Frogs" in the local indigenous language and therefore the frog is the city's official pet. Guanajuato is a beautiful mountain colonial town. Many tourists and locals consider this city to be the most beautiful in Mexico. It used to be a major silver mining town, and many of the mines are still active. The city is built on very hilly ground, so virtually every point in the city is on a slant. The city has a network of underground tunnels that serve as roads making this place unique in the world. In 2020, it was home to 195,000 people.
Taste of Guanajuato...
In Guanajuato a popular local dish is "miner's enchiladas" (enchiladas mineras), served almost everywhere. The nightlife is very active in Guanajuato, especially on weekends. Look for people passing out flyers during the day for drink specials and sometimes free drink coupons. If you walk around the city center, you'll find plenty to do – music spills out of the bars and clubs into the streets and many establishments have outdoor areas. To start the night off, stop by one of the little cafes in the Jardín, for dinner and drinks and mariachi band ambiance. It is a great place to people watch. And definitely try Sol – a popular Mexican beer similar to Corona. Guanajuato is a really safe city – police are always around, and people are very friendly to tourists. Most of the city is safe during daylight hours, and as long as you stay in the downtown area, walking around alone or in small groups at night is safe as well. (Anyplace you'd want to go out at night is downtown.) The rougher neighborhoods are on the slopes of the eastern side of the city, as well as in the vicinity of the Pípila monument. Generally the city is far safer than the average American college campus and doesn't have much crime directed at tourists. There is however one caveat: do not ever go running or walking around the Panorámica (the beautiful road around the edge of the city in the mountains) in the evening or early mornings.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsMost flights offered are domestic, with limited international services to and from the U.S. Scheduled flights are available with: Alternatively if you're flying from Europe, Canada, Caribbean or South America you can fly through Mexico City located 319 km to the southeast and take a bus or a flight from there. Primera Plus operates direct buses from Mexico City's airport to Queretaro where passengers transfer to another bus to continue to Guanajuato City or to San Miguel de Allende. Public transport to downtown Guanajuato from the Airport As of January 2024, there are no buses from the airport itself to Guanajuato city, only to Leon. You can take a bus into Leon, then catch another one to Guanajuato, but this is rather indirect. There's a ticket window and waiting room in a small building just outside of the airport terminal, which you'll see to your right when you exit into the parking lot....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
One of the unique features of the city is its extensive tunnel network. The first tunnels were constructed during the Spanish colonial period to for flood control, with additional tunnels built in the late 1800s. After dam construction was completed in the 1960s, many tunnels were converted to roadways to speed up car traffic. The last tunnel to be built was around 1990. The tunnels are an integral part of Guanajuato's transportation infrastructure, increasing the carrying capacity of the city's street network while reducing traffic on city streets. Using the tunnels is unavoidable if you spend any time at all exploring the city. City buses run along the tunnels and is safe to take them, embarking and disembarking at designated underground stops. Taxis and ubers will also stop to let you off in the tunnels, expecting that you will use the designated walkways and stairways to pop up on the surface at your destination.
Where to Stay
Guanajuato is a really safe city – police are always around, and people are very friendly to tourists. Most of the city is safe during daylight hours, and as long as you stay in the downtown area, walking around alone or in small groups at night is safe as well. (Anyplace you'd want to go out at night is downtown.) The rougher neighborhoods are on the slopes of the eastern side of the city, as well as in the vicinity of the Pípila monument. Generally the city is far safer than the average American college campus and doesn't have much crime directed at tourists. There is however one caveat: do not ever go running or walking around the Panorámica (the beautiful road around the edge of the city in the mountains) in the evening or early mornings. Many rapes, assaults, and muggings of foreigners have occurred in this area and some of the victims were out running with friends. Groups of men may be OK, but even several women together will not be safe.
Money & Budget
You can find ATMs from several banks around the city center. For buying fruits and vegetables, go to a fruteria. Not all fruterias are shown on online maps such as Google Maps – just ask a local if there is one around. In Guanajuato a popular local dish is "miner's enchiladas" (enchiladas mineras), served almost everywhere. The nightlife is very active in Guanajuato, especially on weekends. Look for people passing out flyers during the day for drink specials and sometimes free drink coupons. If you walk around the city center, you'll find plenty to do – music spills out of the bars and clubs into the streets and many establishments have outdoor areas. To start the night off, stop by one of the little cafes in the Jardín, for dinner and drinks and mariachi band ambiance.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Guanajuato is a really safe city – police are always around, and people are very friendly to tourists. Most of the city is safe during daylight hours, and as long as you stay in the downtown area, walking around alone or in small groups at night is safe as well. (Anyplace you'd want to go out at night is downtown.) The rougher neighborhoods are on the slopes of the eastern side of the city, as well as in the vicinity of the Pípila monument. Generally the city is far safer than the average American college campus and doesn't have much crime directed at tourists. There is however one caveat: do not ever go running or walking around the Panorámica (the beautiful road around the edge of the city in the mountains) in the evening or early mornings. Many rapes, assaults, and muggings of foreigners have occurred in this area and some of the victims were out running with friends. Groups of men may be OK, but even several women together will not be safe.