7 Iconic Things to Do in Guanajuato, Mexico You Can’t-Miss
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Last updated on June 26, 2025
Planning a trip to Guanajuato, Mexico, and wondering what the top things to do in Guanajuato are? You’ve come to the right place!
Guanajuato is the capital city of the state of Guanajuato. It’s revered for being Mexico’s most colorful city thanks to its brightly colored homes that sprinkle the hillsides. Unlike the more tourist-focused San Miguel de Allende an hour and a half drive away, Guanajuato is a mix of authenticity and charm.
The city boomed in the 1500s after the Spanish discovered silver in the nearby mountains. Guanajuato remained an important silver mining town for several centuries and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site for its colorful buildings and unique history.
Our week trip to Guanajuato started off rocky, but it quickly became one of our favorite cities in our year and a half of traveling in Mexico. This guide will help you discover the magic of Guanajuato and make the most of your trip here by sharing the 7 iconic things to do in Guanajuato, Mexico.
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Top things to do in Guanajuato
Below are 7 essential things to do in Guanajuato, Mexico to help you make the most of this wonderful city.
1. Go to Hidalgo Market
Mercados are the heart of most Mexican towns and Guanajuato is no exception. Hidalgo Market (Mercado Hidalgo) has everything. Whether you are hunting for souvenirs, new clothing, fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, or incredible food – this market has it.
Mercado Hidalgo is not just a tourist hot spot, but a common stop for locals because of its delicious food. This market is most famous for carnitas, a slow-roasted pork finely chopped and served with fresh made tortillas.
Many people come here to enjoy delicious carnitas tacos with nopales (cactus) salad. It will sell out during the lunch rush hour (around 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm), so try to get there around 1:00 at the latest. We aren’t able to share the exact carnitas stall we went to (you’ll have to go on a tequila and food tour for that secret).
However, look for the stall that has the most people patronizing it. That’s typically a good hint to which one has the best food.
2. Walk or ride up to El Pipila
Guanajuato played an important role in the Mexican Revolution and the start of independence from Spanish rule in the 1800’s. One of the things you’ll first notice when arriving in the city is a large statue of a man on the top of the hill, El Pipila.
El Pipila is the supposed hero of the War of Independence for Mexico and helped burn the gate of Alhóndiga de Granaditas which began the start of the war.
While the story of how he burnt the door to the ground is somewhat of a legend, many believe el Pipila was a real person, Juan José de los Reyes Martínez. However, there is little evidence confirming El Pipila’s existence.
Whatever the truth is, this figure stands tall and proud above the city offering the best views of Guanajuato. One of the most common things to do in Guanajuato is to ride the funicular to the top of El Pipila ($60 pesos roundtrip). If you prefer to get some exercise in, take the stairs to the top but be ready for a long uphill walk!
No matter which method you choose, the view is worth it!
3. Relax in the Jardin de La Union
I’m a sucker for gorgeous parks. The Jardin de La Union in the center of Guanajuato is stunning. This incredible square is perfect for a relaxing break under the tree-lined streets. There’s often live music, fountains, great restaurants, and gorgeous views. It just feels right to stop and enjoy.
Check to see if the Theatre, which adjoins the plaza is having a symphony while you’re visiting. Tickets are affordable and seats are issued on a first come first serve basis. Unfortunately, we tried to get our tickets a day too late and it was sold out.
Jardin de La Union is adjacent to the Plaza de la Paz, the largest square in Guanajuato. It’s also where you’ll find the Basílica Colegiata de Nuestra Señora de Guanajuato, the largest in Guanajuato and is a center point of the city.
4. Walk the cobblestone streets
One of the best things to do in Guanajuato is walk around its colorful streets. Guanajuato gained it’s UNESCO World Heritage Site title thanks to its rich history and unique beauty.
Most homes were originally white. However, as tourism increased the city started offering incentives to make the area more attractive to visitors. The government continues to offer monetary incentives for the most brightly colored homes.
Nearly every home in Guanajuato is painted a bright color giving it the title of being one of Mexico’s most colorful cities. There are endless windy streets to explore with bright colored doors adorned with beautiful flowers and intricate doors.
5. Go on a history and food tour
The best way to appreciate Guanajuato’s unique history, vibrant culture, and incredible cuisine is on a food and history tour. We took our tour with GTO walking tours. Our guide was so knowledgeable and passionate about Guanajuato and gave us a really great overview of Guanajuato’s fascinating history. If you’re looking for things to do in Guanajuato this should be at the top of your list!
Until the 1970s, much of the city did not have running water, electricity, or sewage. This is especially true for the homes on the hills. You’ll see small fountains along every street where the residents would get their water for the day.
Guanajuato uses a unique series of tunnels to navigate the city. Its mountainous terrain means there is only one way in and out. The Spanish developed the city in the 1600s because of its location along the river. They used this river for drinking water, irrigation, navigation, bathing, and more. Eventually, a dam was built to redirect the river below and allowed roads to be built instead.
Many of the oldest homes in Guanajuato have small rooms that jut out over the cobblestone roads. These rooms were originally bathrooms where the waste would be dumped directly below into the river.
These tunnels are fun to drive or walk through. However, be warned – if you are RVing through Mexico you want to avoid the tunnels at all costs. We hit our RV on one of the tunnel walls and some tunnels are in-passable in large vehicles. 🫣
6. Visit Kissing Alley
Kissing Alley, or El Callejon del Beso is one of the most famous things to do in Guanajuato. This narrow alley is located just off of the Plaza de Los Angeles up a narrow alley between two beautiful painted buildings. The story behind the Kissing Alley is part romance, part tragedy.
Supposedly, the daughter of a wealthy family lived in this alley. She fell in love with a young man her family did not approve of. The young man rented a room across from this alley so they could meet in secret and kiss across the alley. When the father discovered their secret romance, he stabbed his daughter to death. No one knows if this story is true, but many come here to relive the folktale and take a photo kissing from the two balconies.
📸 Get here early or be prepared to wait in line for your iconic photo. This is one of the top things to do in Guanajuato.
7. Attend the International Festival Cervantino
Every October visitors can attend the world-famous International Festival Cervantino. The festival is a celebration of culture and art. It commemorates the history of live theatre, which was performed by Miguel de Cervantes in Plazas around the city for entertainment.
This event attracts tens of thousands of visitors from 30-plus countries each year. If you enjoy art, theatre, music, or dance this is one of the top things to do in Guanajuato.
Popular things to do in Guanajuato (that we don’t recommend)
One of the most popular things to do in Guanajuato is to visit the Mummy Museum. The name sounds super intriguing, but it’s less of a mummy museum and more of a corpse museum. The city relocated dozens of bodies previously buried in a cemetery for city development and now showcases these unnamed bodies in the museum.
We didn’t personally go but had friends who did and they said it was a weird experience. Most reviews about it aren’t great, and while it’s often a recommended thing to do in Guanajuato, we recommend skipping it (unless weird corpse museums sound intriguing to you).
The best time to visit Guanajuato, Mexico
There isn’t a bad time to visit Guanajuato. Its favorable year-round weather makes it a nice place to visit in the hot summer months and cooler winters. Cultural events, like the Cervantes festival happen in October, making fall to early winter a popular time to visit.
April through October is Mexico’s rainy season where daily showers are common. If you don’t want the weather to rain on your parade (pun intended) visit in the dry season from fall to winter.
Where to stay in Guanajuato, Mexico
We recommend staying in or near the historic center of Guanajuato. It’s the most beautiful area and close to most major tourist sites, markets, and charming colorful streets.
Budget < $45
Hostal Encounter Guanajuato
Hostal Encounter Guanajuato is our top hostal pick because it has private king and shared dorm rooms giving any budget traveler the space they need. It’s slightly out of the historic center but not a far walk to the main attractions and under $45 the price is hard to beat!
Mid-Range < $100
Casa Rofo
Casa Rofo is the perfect blend of old meets new and budget meets amenities. It has comfortable furnishings and is a 5-minute walk to the historic center. Its breakfast is included and is consistently a top highlight. Plus, it has a gorgeous rooftop view!
Luxury > $100
Casa del Rector Hotel Boutique
This 5-star hotel on the outskirts of Guanajuato is pure bliss. Picture luxury rooms with exposed stones, wood beam ceilings, a pool, and a gorgeous rooftop restaurant and bar. It’s expensive, but worth every dollar for a luxury experience.
Above are three of our recommendations by budget, but you can also explore other stays using the map below.
Helpful tips for visiting Guanajuato, Mexico
Here are some helpful travel tips and answers to common questions we receive from readers as they plan a trip to Guanajuato, Mexico.
🩻 Should you get travel insurance for traveling to Guanajuato, Mexico?
Yes! We always have travel health insurance when we go abroad. Healthcare is extremely affordable in Mexico, we visited the doctors multiple times and each trip was $100 or less. However, if something serious happens it’s great to have a more thorough plan to cover expenses. Plus, SafetyWing‘s travel insurance also covers trip interruption, theft, and other issues that can arise when traveling to Mexico.
💳 Have a travel credit card that doesn’t charge international fees. Many restaurants and shops in Guanajuato will accept credit or debit cards. We use a travel credit card to earn miles and points that we can redeem for future travel. Just make sure your credit card doesn’t charge international fees. Take a look at the best travel cards here.
💸 Exchange your money before arriving in Mexico
Mexico is a cash country, make sure you have plenty of Mexican pesos with you before you arrive. Exchange your money at your local bank (normally free). Do not exchange it at the airport or an exchange service in Mexico. If you need more pesos, pull money out from an ATM with a debit card. I use a Revolut card to pay no ATM or bank fees when traveling abroad.
🗣️ Do you need to know Spanish to travel to Mexico?
Yes and no. Knowing Spanish will certainly make it a more enjoyable experience. But if you’re visiting popular tourist destinations like Cabo, Cancun, or Tulum you won’t need to speak Spanish to enjoy your trip. If you do want to practice some Spanish before you go (highly recommended) here is a detailed guide with our favorite language learning resources.
✈️ How can I find cheap flights to Guanajuato, Mexico?
I love to use Google Flights to compare the best time to travel to Mexico. However, Skyscanner is another great tool to find cheap flight deals to Guanajuato, Mexico, and beyond.
🚗 Should I rent a car when visiting Guanajuato?
No. We do not recommend renting a car. The tunnel system is extremely confusing and there really is no need. You can walk to most places or take an Uber or Didi. If you are doing a larger road trip to other parts of Mexico like San Miguel de Allende, San Luis Potosi, or other places nearby then book your rental car with DiscoverCars.
🪇 How do I find fun activities and cultural tours in Mexico?
We use GetYourGuide or Viator to book our tours in Mexico when possible. Viator has more tours than GetYourGuide in Mexico, but we always check both. Many tour companies aren’t on these platforms, so you may book with a local company directly (over the phone or in the office, it’s rarely done over the computer).
Hopefully, this guide has helped you understand the iconic things to do in Guanajuato, Mexico along with where to stay and what to bring. If you’re looking for other amazing Mexico destinations check out our other Mexico blog posts.
