Since it was first “discovered” by American Stirling Dickinson in the 1930’s, San Miguel de Allende has changed and grown immensely, but its beauty is still radiant and its flavor still delicious.  From art, culture, tequilas and margaritas, to shopping, dancing and music, there’s so much to love.  Keep reading to find out why both expats and nationals enjoy it so much, and check out the Newcomer’s Guide for details on making San Miguel your home.

HONORS

One of the World’s Best Cities - Over and Over again!

For years now San Miguel de Allende has garnered “best city” status, and received the following recognitions in 2024 alone:

• Travel + Leisure awarded San Miguel two winning spots, first as #1 among the World’s Best Cities Overall, and first in the list of 5 Favorite Cities in Mexico 

• It was among Architectural Digest’s 20 Most Beautiful Cities in the World

• Tripadvisor named it the Best Destination in Mexico

A UNESCO World Heritage City

San Miguel and the Sanctuary of Jesús Nazareno de Atotonilco, located 14 km from the center of San Miguel, received World Heritage status in 2008. This status represents international recognition of San Miguel’s unique cultural features, and guarantees that its historical buildings, streets, and churches will be preserved for generations to come.

Home of Award Winning Hotels

In 2023, the Rosewood San Miguel de Allende earned 5 stars in Forbes Travel Guide, and according to Travel & Leisure was the #1 Favorite  City Hotel in Mexico.  Also in 2023, Hotel Matilda earned the #1 spot among hotels in Mexico, as per Condé Nast Traveler.

A Favorite Among News and Fashion Publications

T,  the New York Times style magazine, featured the home of tequila distiller Bertha González Nieves in 2023, praising its design and decor.  In 2022, New York magazine followed cookbook author Andy Baraghani for his long weekend in town, highlighting hotels, cafes, restaurants and mercados along the way.   Vogue has also showcased San Miguel numerous times, the most recent in 2024 when fashion designer Silvia Tcherassi created four wedding dresses for her future daughter-in-law, who was married here.  

Named a Top Retirement Destination

Because of its mild climate, relative safety and large foreign community, San Miguel is considered one of the best places in Mexico to retire, and was mentioned again in 2024 by U.S. News and World Report.

Fun Fact

For you bibliophiles, San Miguel is home to the second largest bilingual library in all of Mexico. The library is a cultural hub of the city, and includes a theater, bookstore and cafe.  It also holds weekly used book sales.

EVENTS

Retirees who live in San Miguel de Allende often “complain” that the problem isn’t finding something to do, but finding the time to do it all! The opportunities for volunteering are endless, as are clubs and classes of all kinds - bridge, kayaking, sculpting, Spanish language, choir, writing, painting, yoga, dance, etc. There’s also plenty of “night life” at restaurants, clubs and bars. 

Then there are the annual events and various cultural celebrations that seem to be happening on a daily basis; you can read all about events like the parades and altars of the Day of the Dead, the Guanajuato International Film Festival (GIFF), the Grito of Independence Day, the Jazz Festival, the Writer’s Conference and many others in our Event Calendar.