San Luis Potosi
Discover San Luis Potosi
San Luis Potosí is the state capital of the San Luis Potosí state in the Bajío in Mexico. Its position along the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, one of the "royal" roads that led all the way up to Santa Fe, New Mexico, has given the city UNESCO World Heritage status. The city has colonial architecture, churches, government buildings, modern museums and attractions to explore. San Luis Potosi's name is derived from the combination of its patron saint, Louis IX of France, and Potosi, in reference to the silver city of Bolivia, because of San Luis Potosi's own silver lode in nearby Cerro de San Pedro. It was founded in 1592 by Miguel Caldera and the conquistador Juan Onate, after the Spanish crown gave the indigenous peoples like the Otomi and Chichimeca the boot (after about 100 years).
What to Experience in San Luis Potosi
Taste of San Luis Potosi...
San Luis Potosí has many good restaurants in the downtown area. Walk up Venustiano Carranza and you will find many of the city's top culinary gems. One of the entrees the city is uniquely known for is its enchiladas potosinas, which are enchiladas made with ancho peppers and corn dough. San Luis Potosí has some street-food, either bicycles, small carts, or even trucks. There is 22.151656-100.9728213 street food every day on the north-western spot of the Alameda park. In Google Maps one of the stalls is shown with its name Antojitos Mexicanos "Doña Mary". Offered are: • enchiladas potosinas • tacos rojos • chalupas • quesadillas • flautas • tostadas It's typical to order 5 pieces for M$50 altogether (April 2022). Included are potatoes and a salad on your dish. Other offers are: • pambazos for M$30 (April 2022) • pollo frito • gorditas 22.148778-100.9752624 Tamales Oaxaqueños – They are offered in the center in front of the Farmacia Guadalajara Ignacio Zaragoza 515. They cost M$20 (March 2022) and the street cart is there until 9:30pm. In other parts of the city this street food is typically offered: Be sure to find La Calle San Francisco (near the church by the same name) in the city's downtown sector. There are some outstanding cafes and clubs in this area. Look for those with the rooftop locations. They have the charm of brick-covered alleys and spectacular starlit views in the evening. Some also feature live music. Inexpensive independent hotels are mostly downtown.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsSan Luis Potosí has a small airport with a handful of routes. If you can't find a direct flight, consider flying to a nearby city and taking an intercity bus to San Luis Potosi. Nearby cities within several hours by bus include Querétaro, León, Aguascalientes, and possibly even Mexico City. There are shared rides offered on Blablacar, which are about 30-50% cheaper than intercity buses. Some examples with the approximate price (as of March 2022): • Querétaro: M$180 • León: M$160 • Guanajuato: M$160 • Zacatecas: M$170 • Ciudad Valles: M$250 • Aguascalientes: M$150 The 22.146772-100.9520212 Bus station (Terminal Terrestre Potosína) is fairly large with frequent service to major destinations, including Mexico City to the south and Monterrey to the north, both about 5 hours away. Inside the bus station is a Banorte ATM opposite of the taxi counter. There is a 22.146155-100.9512191 local simple restaurant right next to the entrance of Building B (Edificio B)....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
You can get around a great portion of the city on foot. To go from A to B, Moovit covers the city. Most of the city bus lines are yellow, the other ones are blue (operated by Transporte Tangamanga). Buses must be flaged down at dedicated bus stops. Moovit don't always show the correct position of the bus stops. Have a look where other people wait for the bus or ask a local nearby. Only a few city bus lines go inside the centro historico, others go around it. The price is M$13.50 (March 2026) and is paid to the driver when entering the bus. The buses operate until 10pm. Stroll through the Centro Histórico while the sun is fading and you will be able to take amazing photos of the beautiful architecture. During holiday periods (Christmas and Easter) there are twilight light shows in Plaza de Armas and Plaza de los Fundadores. It is a festival atmosphere with lots of people mingling in the plazas and surrounding streets.
Where to Stay
Inexpensive independent hotels are mostly downtown. For true budget travellers the area between the cathedral and the Train museum (museo del ferrocarril) has many cheap hotels. For example the basic Hotel Alameda is for M$300 (March 2022). To get from Alameda to the bus station catch a city bus marked 'Central TTP' running east along Av. Universidad. Or use Moovit to find a connection from any place in town. From the west and north of the historical center (along the street Reforma) go the bus lines 17 and 19 to the central bus station.
Money & Budget
ATMs with low withdrawal fees in the center are: • Caja Popular Mexicana • BanCoppel in the north of the center • BanBajío • Banco Azteca in the electra stores, one is in the south of the center • citibanamex in the middle of the center • Santander in the middle of the center For buying groceries in the center there are Oxxo, minimarkets (tiendas), the Farmacias Guadalajara, the Mercado Hidalgo and Waldo's around. A bigger choice of bread have the Expendido Bimbo stores. A bigger variety of groceries has the Bodega Aurrera in the north of the center. Somewhat more far away are the large supermarkets Soriana and Chedraui. Centro Histórico SLP has many shops and markets where you can buy Mexican handicrafts, fresh produce and pretty much anything else.
Language & Talk
A conversational understanding of Spanish will aid you greatly during your visit, as few SLP citizens will fluently speak English. Indeed, it is a very chic city for learning the Spanish language without being distracted by the English of tourists. San Luis Potosí has a small airport with a handful of routes. If you can't find a direct flight, consider flying to a nearby city and taking an intercity bus to San Luis Potosi. Nearby cities within several hours by bus include Querétaro, León, Aguascalientes, and possibly even Mexico City. There are shared rides offered on Blablacar, which are about 30-50% cheaper than intercity buses.
Safety Information
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of San Luis Potosi
a large waterfall is in the middle of a river
a body of water surrounded by lush green trees
pechirojo, pajaro, rojo, naturaleza
a couple of people facing each other
a couple of people hugging
a body of water with rocks and plants on the side
a view of a city at sunset from a rooftop
a tree filled with lots of fruit under a blue sky
the sun is setting over a city with tall buildings
Soccerr Fan - Queretaro
a large waterfall is in the middle of a river
a body of water surrounded by lush green trees
pechirojo, pajaro, rojo, naturaleza