Amazing, colonial Guanajuato: how to see it all in just 2 days

Make the most out of your next visit to this colonial city. Read about how we visited the top attractions in Guanajuato in just two days.

---

Guanajuato is an amazing city which I’d recommend you enjoy in a full week. However, you don’t always have the option to stay that long. Here is how we made the most out of our 2 days in this amazing colonial Mexican city.

About Guanajuato

The town of Guanajuato was founded in the late 1550’s when gold and silver was found in the region. In fact, you can visit some mines to learn more about the mining past of the region.

Although this colonial city is a bit large, its narrow alleys (or callejones) and multiple tunnels give it a small-town feel. Traditions like the callejoneadas have a personal feel to them and the locals are friendly.

Although technically not a pueblo mágico, Guanajuato has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage city, and it is in my list of most magical places in Mexico.

Itinerary

Day 1:

• Casa de Diego Rivera
• Funicular & city view from the El Pípila monument
• Lunch @ Centro Histórico
• Museum of the Mummies of Guanajuato
• Dinner @ Jardín de la Unión
• Callejoneada

Day 2:

• El Callejón del Beso
• Breakfast @ the mercado
• Alhóndigada de Granaditas
• Teatro Benito Juárez
• Quijote Museum
• La Valenciana Church
• Bocamina San Ramón
• Centro Histórico, again 😃

Ready to start your tour through Guanajuato? Lets get started!

Day 1

Casa de Diego Rivera

Start the day with a good breakfast, and enter the home of Diego Rivera. Diego Rivera is a prominent Mexican artist known for his paintings, sculptures, murals, and for being married to Frida Kahlo. His work is displayed in many cities, such as San Francisco, Detroit, New York City and Mexico City.

You want to get here early so you can enjoy it with less crowds. Also, hallways and rooms are not very big, so getting there when it opens is the best way get the most out of the experience.

Funicular & City View from the El Pípila Monument

Walk over to the Teatro Juárez. Behind it, you will find the starting point to El Funicular, which is an incline railway that will take you up to the El Pípila monument. Here, you will get the amazing views of the entire city of Guanajuato that you see in many publications. Enjoy the view!

Who is El Pípila?

El Pípila is a hero during the beginnings of the war of independence. While the insurgent army was trying to take over the Spanish-occupied Alhóndigada de Granaditas, he put a flat rock on his back to fend off the attack and set the door on fire to allow penetration into the building.

Centro Histórico

Because you bought a 2-way ticket for the Funicular, now you’re back down by the Teatro Juarez. Enjoy a stroll through Guanajuato’s historic downtown streets. Here you will be very close to El Jardin de la Union (where you can have lunch with mariachi music), and the Parroquia de Basilica Colegiata de Nuestra Señora de Guanajuato, which is the iconic yellow church you see in most pictures.

Museum of the Mummies of Guanajuato

Be mindful of the time you spend at the Centro Histórico because you need to make sure you have enough time to grab an Uber or a taxi over to the Mummy Museum. Here you will find naturally mummified bodies buried in the 1800’s. You simply cannot miss this museum. It is one of the top attractions in Guanajuato. Locals in all of Mexico always connect Guanajuato with its mummies.

The museum is about 10 minutes by Uber/taxi. However, keep in mind that you’ll have to walk to a street where you can be picked up since cars do not have access to several spots in downtown. Behind the Teatro Juárez could be a good spot to grab a taxi or get your Uber.

Callejoneada & Jardín de la Unión

After you’re done at the museum, call your Uber or grab a taxi to take you back to historic downtown. You can also simply go back to your hotel to get some rest so you’re ready to close the day strong with a callejoneada—another of top attractions in Guanajuato.

What is a callejoneada?

A callejoneada is a performance by the estudiantina through the most important alleys (callejones) in the city. The performance includes songs, singing, story-telling, humor and dancing.

The Callejoneadas usually start at the church next to the Teatro Juárez, right next to the Jardin de la Unión. There’s people selling the tickets all day long in that same area.

Day 2

We start the day by going directly to the Callejón del Beso. This is an extremely popular spot and one of the top attractions in Guanajuato. It is usually filled with tons of tourists. However, you’re the smart traveler who is getting there to enjoy it in the morning (we got there around 9:00 am), so you get it all to yourself without the time pressure of the line of people who want to take pictures there.

The legend of the callejón del beso

Legend tells that you must kiss your lover from the third step so that it lasts forever. Doña Carmen, the daughter of a successful business man, falls in love with Don Luis, a humble miner, who would frequent each other from the balconies of their home. One night, when the lovers were locked in a kiss, her raging father saw them and stabbed her daughter with a dagger. Don Luis, deeply saddened, killed himself at the Valenciana mine. Mexican Romeo & Juliet?

Breakfast at el Mercado

Day 2 is packed, so we planned breakfast at the mercado to immerse in the experience and make the most of our time there. The Mercado is a short walk from the Callejon del Beso. The Mercado is a great view and visit itself. Don’t miss it!

Alhóndiga de Granaditas

You walk a couple of blocks from the mercado to reach the Alhóndiga de Granaditas. This historical building hosted the Grain Exchange in the 1800’s during the start of the Mexican independence. Miguel Hidalgo’s army threatened to take over this city, and the Spanish army took refuge at the Alhóndiga. During the battle, the Pípila enabled the insurgent army to penetrate the building by burning its door.

Today, the building hosts a museum. You will get to learn about the story of México, and enjoy some of the murals and art there.

Teatro Benito Juárez

You have to go more than once to the centro historico! This time, heads there to buy a ticket to get into the Teatro Juárez and take pictures there.

This theater was built between 1872 and 1903 and, at its peak, it hosted some of the most eminent artists of the time.

Quijote Museum

The Quijote Museum is a collection of art related to Don Quixote, the character immortalized by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra’s Spanish novel. Guanajuato is known as the “Capital Cervantina de América.” Each year, the city hosts the “Festival Internacional Cervantino.” It has grown to become one of the largest cultural events in Mexico.

What’s best, is that this is located a couple of blocks from Teatro Juárez.

La Valenciana Church

We grabbed a tour van for this stop, but I would equally recommend an Uber or taxi. This church is about 15 minutes away on car from the Teatro Juárez. It’s worth a quick stop! It is an impressive, 18th century Churrigueresque-style church near the Valenciana mine.

Bocamina San Ramón

Just 300 meters away from La Valenciana Church, you will find Bocamina San Ramon. This is a former hacienda that also hosts a mine. 

Remember that Guanajuato is a mining town. If you have more days to explore, you should venture into some of the other mines in the region. Nevertheless, for its location, the Bocamina San Ramón will give you a good taste.

Note that you need to catch a guided tour, so make sure to get there early enough to catch one!

Centro Histórico

I then recommend you take  your taxi or Uber back to historic downtown to finish the evening people watching, listening to mariachi, and eating some great food!

---

As you can see there is plenty to see and do in this colonial city, but you can cover a lot of the top attractions in Guanajuato just 2 days with some careful planning. I hope you find this sample itinerary useful during your next trip to this marvelous city.

If you are planning a trip to Mexico, be sure to check out my list of itineraries to other amazing destinations.