Guanajuato walking tour & city guide
A colorful silver town of tunnels and alleys.
Video by World Wanderings: 4K Walking Tours on YouTube. All rights belong to the creator. Like or comment on YouTube ↗
Guanajuato is a former silver-mining city squeezed into a narrow ravine in central Mexico. Its brightly painted houses climb the hillsides, its streets run partly underground through old tunnels, and its tiny alleys and lively plazas make it one of the most enchanting towns in Mexico.
The historic center
The Jardín de la Unión, a small triangular plaza shaded by laurel trees, is the heart of the city, next to the grand Teatro Juárez. The yellow Basilica of Our Lady of Guanajuato and the University of Guanajuato, with its tall white staircase, are close by.
The city's alleys are so narrow that in the Callejón del Beso, the 'Alley of the Kiss', balconies on opposite sides almost touch. Legend says that couples who kiss on the third step will have years of happiness.
Tunnels and viewpoints
Traffic in Guanajuato largely runs through a network of tunnels, some of them old river channels and mining tunnels, which free the surface streets for pedestrians. The funicular climbs to the Pípila monument, from where there's a spectacular view over the colorful city.
The Alhóndiga de Granaditas, a former granary, was the site of the first major battle of the Mexican War of Independence and is now a museum. The house where painter Diego Rivera was born is also a museum.
Visiting tips
Guanajuato hosts the Festival Internacional Cervantino in October, one of the largest arts festivals in Latin America. In the evenings, students in Renaissance costume lead 'callejoneadas', musical walks through the alleys. It combines well with nearby San Miguel de Allende.
Top sights in Guanajuato
- 1
Jardín de la Unión
The main plaza and the Teatro Juárez.
- 2
Callejón del Beso
The famous 'Alley of the Kiss'.
- 3
Monumento al Pípila
A viewpoint reached by funicular.
- 4
Basilica of Our Lady of Guanajuato
A yellow baroque basilica.
- 5
Alhóndiga de Granaditas
A historic granary turned museum.
- 6
Underground streets
Tunnels running beneath the city.
Food markets & where to eat in Guanajuato
Mercado Hidalgo
An iron market hall with food stalls.
Plaza San Fernando
A quiet square with café terraces.
Jardín de la Unión
Restaurants and street musicians.
Plazuela de los Ángeles
Small local eateries near the alleys.
Food to try in Guanajuato
Enchiladas mineras
'Miners' enchiladas' with potatoes and carrots.
Guacamayas
A bread roll with pork crackling and salsa.
Charamuscas
Twisted candy figures, a local sweet.
Fresh fruit with chili
Sold in cups by street vendors.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
Plan your trip to Guanajuato
Enjoyed the walk? Here is everything you need to see it for real.
- Hotels in GuanajuatoCompare places to stay and prices.
- Tours & ticketsWalking tours, museums and day trips in Guanajuato.
- eSIM for MexicoStay online from the moment you land.
Some links may be affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
More cities in Mexico
▶ 6 videosMexico City
Aztec ruins, colonial palaces and world-class street food.
▶ 6 videosCancún
White sand and turquoise Caribbean water.
▶ 6 videosTulum
Mayan ruins on a cliff above the Caribbean.
▶ 6 videosPlaya del Carmen
A beach town with a famous walking street.
▶ 6 videosOaxaca
Colorful streets, indigenous culture and Mexico's best food.
▶ 6 videosSan Miguel de Allende
A pink gothic church and colorful colonial streets.
▶ 6 videosGuadalajara
The home of mariachi and tequila.
▶ 6 videosMérida
The 'White City', capital of Yucatán culture.
▶ 6 videosPuerto Vallarta
A Pacific beach town between jungle hills and the bay.