Free things to do · San Miguel de Allende · Mexico
12 free things to do in San Miguel de Allende
San Miguel de Allende without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Microstar, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 4 days in San Miguel de Allende without paying an entry fee: Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, El Jardín, Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramírez (Bellas Artes) and Templo de la Concepción (Las Monjas) are all free. Eat lunch at the Mercado Ignacio Ramírez or in the San Antonio barrio for much lower prices than the centre.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 12
- Low-cost extras
- 2
- Cost level
- Moderately priced
- Lowest hotel prices
- May–August
Free sights and experiences
Religious site · Centro
1.Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel
See it twice: in early-morning light from Calle Aldama, and after dark when the façade is floodlit above the Jardín.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Free
- Photo spot
- After dark
Landmark · Centro
2.El Jardín
Grab a bench in the late afternoon, then watch the Parroquia light up as mariachis start playing around the square.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- After dark
- Couples
Gallery · Centro
3.Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramírez (Bellas Artes)
Look into the Siqueiros room off the cloister, then sit in the courtyard; it is one of the calmest spaces in the centre.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- History
- Free
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Religious site · Centro
4.Templo de la Concepción (Las Monjas)
The best view of the dome is from a rooftop terrace nearby at sunset rather than from the street below.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- Free
- Photo spot
Religious site · Centro
5.Templo de San Francisco
Pair it with the nearby Oratorio de San Felipe Neri and its Santa Casa de Loreto chapel for a short church walk.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Free
Street · Centro
6.Calle Aldama
Come early in the morning, before the street fills with cars and wedding shoots, for the clearest view of the spires.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Photo spot
- Architecture
- Couples
Viewpoint · Atascadero
7.El Mirador
Take a taxi up for sunset and walk down through the stairways towards El Chorro and the centre.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Free
- Couples
- Photo spot
Gallery · Colonia Guadalupe
8.Fábrica La Aurora
Allow time to visit the open studios, where artists are often at work and happy to talk.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Shopping
- Rainy day
- Free
Market · Centro
9.Mercado de Artesanías
Buy punched-tin mirrors and lanterns here, which are a local craft, and compare a few stalls before choosing.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Free
- Food
Historic site · San Antonio
10.Instituto Allende
Walk through the courtyards on the way to or from the San Antonio barrio, and check the notice boards for short art workshops.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- History
- Free
- Architecture
Park · Guadiana
11.Parque Juárez
Combine it with El Chorro and the lavaderos just above the park for a gentle loop from the Jardín.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Free
- Nature
Historic site · Guadiana
12.El Chorro and the lavaderos
Ask before taking photographs of people at the basins; they are still in everyday use.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Off the beaten path
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Centro | Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, El Jardín, Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramírez (Bellas Artes), Templo de la Concepción (Las Monjas), Templo de San Francisco, Calle Aldama and Mercado de Artesanías | 30–45 minutes + 1 hour + 45 minutes + 20–30 minutes + 20–30 minutes + 20 minutes + 1 hour |
| Atascadero | El Mirador | 30–45 minutes |
| Colonia Guadalupe | Fábrica La Aurora | 1.5–2 hours |
| San Antonio | Instituto Allende | 30–45 minutes |
| Guadiana | Parque Juárez and El Chorro and the lavaderos | 1 hour + 30 minutes |
Worth a small ticket
Museum · Centro
Museo Histórico Casa de Allende
Visit before a day trip to Dolores Hidalgo or Atotonilco to understand their role in the independence movement.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes–1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
Garden · Atascadero
El Charco del Ingenio
Walk the canyon trail in the morning, when it is cool and birds are active; wear sturdy shoes for the rocky paths.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Views
More ways to save
- Eat lunch at the Mercado Ignacio Ramírez or in the San Antonio barrio for much lower prices than the centre.
- Use first-class buses to Guanajuato and Querétaro instead of private transfers.
- Many churches, the Bellas Artes cloister, Fábrica La Aurora and the Instituto Allende are free to visit.
- Avoid the Christmas–New Year period and late September if you want lower hotel rates.
- Shared airport shuttles cost far less than private transfers for solo travellers and couples.
- Look for weekday menus del día at restaurants outside the immediate Jardín area.
Questions travellers ask
+Is San Miguel de Allende expensive to visit?
San Miguel de Allende is moderately priced for most visitors, but 12 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in San Miguel de Allende?
Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel: See it twice: in early-morning light from Calle Aldama, and after dark when the façade is floodlit above the Jardín.