When it comes down to crowning the best destination in Mexico, we wouldn’t blame you for gravitating towards the usual tourism hotspots of Cancun, Cabo, or Puerto Vallarta: with their endless miles of sandy coast and world-class resorts, they are some of America’s favorite sunny getaways.
Surprisingly, incredible as they may be, none one of them have snatched the crown this year:
At Condé Nast Traveler’s 37th edition of the Reader’s Choice Award, a much smaller, far more laid-back historic city has come out on top, ranking not only as the best destination south of the border, but third worldwide:
Culture And Peaceful Green Oases
San Miguel de Allende is a mid-size city in the Central Highlands of Mexico, around 174,000 people call home, distinguished by its high concentration of Spanish-era monuments, colorful markets, and traditional eateries.
The main church in town is a Gothic-inspired, pink-washed marvel that features among Mexico’s most beautiful, and from an adjacent El Jardín, a number of pedestrian-friendly streets start trailing upward, leading to hidden plazas and picturesque courtyards.
Nearby, the 18th-century Templo de San Francisco is a richly decorated church with a churrigueresque facade, while a leafy Parque Juárez is a peaceful urban oasis with winding paths lined by romantic benches and exotic flowers.
In case you’re wondering, San Miguel’s streets are laden with cobblestones, exactly like they are in Europe, and besides its obvious aesthetic value, it has a multitude of lively markets selling everything from delectable street food to handmade craft:
Lively Street Markets And Great Food
The most famous of them, Mercado Ignacio Ramírez is where you’ll find all the best eats in town, from generously-stuffed tamales, to slender, chocolate-filled churros, whereas Mercado de Artesanías is your go-to spot for buying hand-embroidered shawls and decorative tableware.
After sampling local delicacies and browsing through the quirky souvenir stalls, take a detour to Mercado de San Juan de Dios, where San Miguel natives are frequently shop for fruit and fresh produce, and if you love antiques, add a little side visit to the Tianguis Flea Market, open only on Tuesdays.
If you’re here primarily for the food, however, rest assured you won’t be disappointed:
San Miguel is hundreds of miles away from the coast, but that’s not to say there isn’t seafood available: Baja Fish Taquito serves delicious fish tacos for under $6, and El Puerto is highly sought-after for its tostadas and shrimp cocktails, with prices ranging from $3 to $13.
Now, if you’re hoping for an authentic Mexican barbecue experience, both El Pato––and their heavenly lamb tacos––and Don Lupe Grill, with its tiki lounge garden and no-frills environment, should be on your restaurant list.
Why Are Travelers Drawn To San Miguel?
San Miguel has been voted the best destination in Mexico for the fifth year in a row, with over half a million votes cast from Condé Nast readers.
It’s scored near-excellent, to excellent scores across a wide range of different categories, including, but not limited to restaurants, mobility, events, and tourist offer, despite not being on the Mexican coast, nor particularly big for all-inclusive vacations.
San Miguel is also known for its higher levels of safety compared to the average Mexican city, with lower levels of crime, violence and gang activity reported within its postcard-ready historic center, where tourists will commonly stay.
This proves a growing number of travelers is favoring more meaningful experiences, as opposed to just beaches, and this time, it even came close to topping the main list altogether, charting inside the top three, above Florence in Italy, Porto in Portugal, and Mexico’s own Puerto Vallarta.
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