A World Heritage-listed city, Guanajuato is brimming with history, culture and colonial charm. It was founded in 1559 and quickly boomed thanks to its rich deposits of gold and silver. Today, it's famous for a flourishing arts scene, world-class museums and top-notch restaurants.

Things to do

Guanajuato is anchored by a characterful downtown core filled with lavish colonial buildings, tree-shaded plazas and cobblestone streets. Spend your days relaxing at trendy coffee shops, exploring tapas restaurants and sipping your way through craft cocktail bars. Foodies should head to Las Mercedes, a coveted restaurant serving traditional Mexican cuisine with a gourmet twist.

Guanajuato boasts some of Mexico's best museums, including the Museo y Casa de Diego Rivera. It celebrates the legacy of Diego Rivera, one of the country's most famous artists. The museum is housed in Rivera's old family home and is filled with antiques, photographs and some of his original works.

For a taste of Guanajuato's flourishing arts and cultural scene, catch a show at Teatro Juarez. More than a century old, it's adorned with gleaming carved wood pillars, colourful stained-glass windows and plush red-and-gold furnishings.

Perched high above the city, Templo La Valenciana is one of Mexico's most magnificent churches. It dazzles you with its ornate facade, gilded altars and larger-than-life paintings. Canary-yellow Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Guanajuato is another city icon, famous for its jewel-embellished image of the Virgin Mary.

Getting around

Guanajuato’s historic centre is easy to navigate on foot, while the rest of the city is well-serviced by a network of local buses and taxis. Aeropuerto Internacional del Bajio is the closest airport, located 30 minutes from the city centre.