Comparison · Antigua vs San Miguel de Allende · Guatemala / Mexico
Antigua vs San Miguel de Allende
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Juan Francisco, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Choose Antigua for Colonial ruins, Santa Catalina Arch and lower day-to-day costs; choose San Miguel de Allende for Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, Cobbled colonial streets and free sights. Antigua is generally less expensive, and the two are about 1,274 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,274 km
- Less expensive
- Antigua
- Best time for Antigua
- November–March
- Best time for San Miguel de Allende
- February–April and October–November
Side by side
| Antigua | San Miguel de Allende | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Guatemala | Mexico |
| Known for | Colonial ruins, Santa Catalina Arch and Volcano views | Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, Cobbled colonial streets and Art galleries |
| Best time to visit | November–March | February–April and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $80–$150 | $130–$250 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | April, 27°C (81°F) | May, 31°C (88°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 23°C (73°F) | January, 23°C (73°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 5 | 12 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | GUA | BJX, QRO |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Antigua for…
Colonial ruins, Santa Catalina Arch and lower day-to-day costs. Antigua was the capital of Spain's Kingdom of Guatemala until the 1773 Santa Marta earthquakes, and its grid of cobbled streets still holds dozens of baroque churches, convents and ruins. The town sits at about 1,500 metres in a valley ringed by the Agua…
Choose San Miguel de Allende for…
Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, Cobbled colonial streets and free sights. San Miguel de Allende is a hillside colonial town at about 1,900 metres in the state of Guanajuato, built around the pink stone spires of the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel and the laurel-shaded Jardín. Its cobbled streets of ochre and terracotta houses…
Top sights compared
| # | Antigua | San Miguel de Allende |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parque Central | Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel |
| 2 | Antigua Cathedral | El Jardín |
| 3 | Santa Catalina Arch | Museo Histórico Casa de Allende |
| 4 | Iglesia de La Merced | Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramírez (Bellas Artes) |
| 5 | Cerro de la Cruz | Templo de la Concepción (Las Monjas) |
Food compared
| Antigua | San Miguel de Allende |
|---|---|
| Pepián | Enchiladas mineras |
| Jocón | Gorditas |
| Kak'ik | Tacos al pastor |
| Desayuno chapín | Carnitas |
Which is cheaper?
Antigua is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $80–$150 per person there, against $130–$250 in San Miguel de Allende (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Antigua on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,274 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 9 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Antigua or San Miguel de Allende cheaper?
Antigua is usually less expensive: about $80–$150 a day mid-range against $130–$250 (estimates).
+Is Antigua or San Miguel de Allende better for a first trip?
Pick Antigua for Colonial ruins, Santa Catalina Arch and lower day-to-day costs, or San Miguel de Allende for Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, Cobbled colonial streets and free sights.
+How far is Antigua from San Miguel de Allende?
About 1,274 km in a straight line.