San Miguel de Allende
Cobblestone streets, art, design and Mexico's most photographed parish church. The best city in the world according to Travel + Leisure.
CENTRAL Mexico
Mexico's colonial heartland
Central Mexico is where the country we know today was born. Colonial cities built of cantera stone, Pueblos Mágicos, centuries-old haciendas, vineyards and a cuisine recognized as World Heritage. Here you will find Mexico's greatest concentration of World Heritage cities, and the city named the best in the world.
Accolades
- San Miguel de Allende: best city in the world, Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards 2026 (also 2025).
- UNESCO World Heritage: San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Querétaro, Morelia and Puebla.
Destinations
Guanajuato
A World Heritage city of alleyways, tunnels and colorful houses; home of the International Cervantino Festival.
Dolores Hidalgo
The cradle of Mexican Independence, famous for its talavera and its ice creams in unexpected flavors.
Querétaro
A World Heritage historic center, its monumental aqueduct and the Art, Cheese and Wine Route, just a step away from Peña de Bernal.
Aguascalientes
Home of the San Marcos National Fair, one of the largest in the country.
Morelia
A historic center of pink cantera stone, a World Heritage Site.
Pátzcuaro
A lakeside Pueblo Mágico, setting for Mexico's most emblematic Night of the Dead.
Puebla
A World Heritage city, birthplace of mole poblano and talavera; minutes from the Great Pyramid of Cholula.
Pachuca
Mining heritage, pastes and the gateway to Real del Monte.
Cuernavaca
The city of eternal spring, with gardens and historic mansions.
Tepoztlán
A Pueblo Mágico among the mountains, crowned by the Tepozteco pyramid.
Tlaxcala
The pre-Hispanic murals of Cacaxtla and the tradition of the pulque haciendas.
What to experience
- Private tours of colonial cities with expert guides.
- Vineyards and cheesemakers along Querétaro's Art, Cheese and Wine Route.
- Workshops with talavera artisans in Puebla and Dolores Hidalgo.
- Stays and celebrations at historic haciendas.
- The monarch butterfly sanctuaries in Michoacán (November to March).
- The firefly forest of Nanacamilpa, Tlaxcala (June to early August).
Ideal for
- FIT
- Groups
- MICE
- Weddings
Best time to visit
A temperate climate all year round. From October to May, sunny days and cool nights. From June to September, afternoon rains bring green landscapes and fewer visitors.
Events in the region
Cultural festival
October 30 – November 8, 2026
Festival de Calaveras
Aguascalientes
Aguascalientes' Day of the Dead festival, centered on Isla San Marcos, with activities in the historic center.
NatureSeason · Nov–MarFeatured
November 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027
Monarch butterfly sanctuaries
Ocampo (El Rosario) · Angangueo (Sierra Chincua)
The monarch butterfly's overwintering season in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve; in Michoacán, visitors can go to the El Rosario, Sierra Chincua and Senguio sanctuaries.
Cultural festivalFeatured
November 1 – 2, 2026
Night of the Dead
Pátzcuaro · Janitzio
Candlelit vigils in the cemeteries around Lake Pátzcuaro, including the island of Janitzio, as part of Michoacán's state Night of the Dead program.
Public holiday
November 1 – 2, 2026
Day of the Dead
Nationwide
Celebrated throughout Mexico on November 1 and 2, with offerings in homes and visits to cemeteries; it is recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Cultural festivalFeatured
November 13 – 16, 2026
International Balloon Festival
León
A hot-air balloon festival at León's Parque Metropolitano in Guanajuato, with sunrise launches and concerts.
Religious
December 12, 2026
Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe
Mexico City · Nationwide
Every December 12, millions of pilgrims arrive at the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City to commemorate the apparition of the Virgin. The celebration includes the midnight Mañanitas on the 11th, masses and Concheros dances in the atrium.