If you typically plan your trips around immersive cultural experiences, and you’re a History aficionado, chances are you’re already making plans to cross the pond—again—this winter, no matter how gray and awfully-cold Europe may be at the minute.
Hold your horses.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to embark on a Transatlantic journey to hit the jackpot. Sometimes, all that Old World charm you seek is a much shorter 2 to 3-hour flight away.
Known for its timeless colonial architecture and undeniable European feel, the city of Guanajuato in Mexico has seen a sharp rise in visitors this year, and let’s just say, people aren’t exactly coming here for all-inclusives and beaches:
A Picture-Perfect Historic Center
A UNESCO-listed city in central Mexico revolving around a picture-perfect colonial center, Guanajuato is one of the trendiest destinations south of the border right now.
Though it is primarily known for its mining history, having provided the Spanish Empire with vast riches, today it charms visitors with a timeless skyline, still perfectly preserved from the colonial era, and a wealth of architectural landmarks.
In 2025 alone, the León/Bajio International Airport, which serves Guanajuato and other cities in the vicinity, registered over 2.7 million passengers, a 2.5% increase over 2024.
These aren’t just people passing through, either: at this point, Guanajuato has already positioned itself as one of the top 10 most popular tourist destinations in Mexico, and when we narrow it down to city breaks, it’s up there with Mexico City, Guadalajara, Oaxaca and the like.
Beautiful Architecture All Around
Gorgeous as other Mexican colonial cities may be, they don’t quite capture that warm-tone, Iberian essence the way Guanajuato does. We mean, have you seen how actually huge the local Historic Center is?
We’re not talking a single picture-perfect plaza with a solitary cathedral and a handful of signorial manors scattered hither and thither: the whole of downtown looks like it’s frozen in the Golden Age of navigation.
A good place to start is Plaza de la Paz, the local ‘zócalo‘, home to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guanajuato: dating back to the late 1600s, this striking Baroque church has a bold-yellow facade and a lavish interior that would make Spain’s medieval cathedrals blush.
If you’re looking for a European castle look-alike, look no further than the Alhóndiga de Granaditas: it’s not exactly a fortress, but it largely resembles one, and it hosted a decisive battle during the Mexican War of Independence.
Reach Out And Kiss
Guanajuato is filled with gorgeous edifices, and though we could dedicate an entire article to those alone, let’s just keep it short and say that, if you only have time for one more church visit on your trip, make sure it’s La Valenciana.
Built in the 18th century in Mexico’s typical Churrigueresque style, with an opulent interior attributed to the precious stones extracted from the namesake mine, it is considered one of the ‘richest’ churches in colonial Mexico.
Of course, no visit to Guanajuato is complete without a photo spot on the grand staircase that leads to the main building of the University of Guanajuato, which ranks among the oldest and most prestigious in the country, and let’s not forget Callejón del Beso:
An Instagram-worthy alley lined with pastel-hue townhouses, so narrow lovers can stand on opposite balconies to reach out and kiss, it’s that one touristy cliche actually worth ticking off the list.
Affordable & Cheap To Visit
It may look like it belongs somewhere in Spain, not in the skyscraper-dominated New World, but Guanajuato is nowhere nearly as expensive as its parent country of Spain:
As per Numbeo estimates, meals in no-frills cantinas frequented by locals average $11.67, or the equivalent in Mexican pesos, and according to Budget Your Trip, the average cost of a 3-night stay in the city is an acceptable $184.
Besides its affordability, Guanajuato has safety levels comparable to major European cities.
Its Historic Center is particularly well-patrolled, and places like the Basilica and its adjacent square, the Alhóndiga, and the Alley of the Kiss are well-lit and safe to visit even at night. That said, pickpocketing can still happen, so make sure you watch your belongings in crowded sites.
As a rule of thumb, stick to well-lit streets near the main plazas at night and avoid non-touristy suburban areas, and you should be just fine.
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