Rated the “Best City in the World” by Travel and Leisure in 2025, San Miguel de Allende is gaining international fame for its charming, colorful streets, artisan markets, and romantic squares.
While the city is gorgeous and worth a visit, the states of Guanajuato, where San Miguel is located, and Querétaro, its neighboring state, are dotted with quintessential towns known as pueblitos mágicos that make you feel as though you’ve stepped into the Pixar animated film Coco. As perfect weekend spots to stroll, enjoy delicious sweet breads, and relax with friends and relatives, these are among my favorite activities while living in Mexico.
1. Bernal
With a towering megalith overlooking the city, the colonial town of Bernal exudes joy and culture through its brightly colored buildings and vibrant traditional artistry. Strolling through the city’s main cobblestone streets, you’ll see buildings painted in different shades, from bright yellows to pastel blues and deep oranges. Even the church at its center is decked out in colorful paint, from the courtyard entrance to the tip of the cross on its dome.
Just an hour outside of Queretaro, Bernal is a fairytale town to walk through. I love arriving early morning, searching for bakeries whose scents of sweet bread linger through the streets, and drinking micheladas out of plastic cups, rimmed with spicy chili sauce, lime, and salt.
Strolling higher and higher on the hill that rises to the peña, the town is always alive with local families from neighboring regions coming to enjoy the fresh air and eat the pan de queso, a traditional bread that put this town on the culinary map. Standing at the base of the peña, you can see the ranches and hotels extending in the distance, dotted with vineyards and rolling hills that make this region known as the Tuscany of Mexico.
2. Queretaro
Walking through Querétaro’s historic pedestrian center, lined with trees, trendy cafes, and elegant restaurants, it is easy to see why it holds a special place in the hearts of people who live in the region.
The city’s famous aqueduct cuts across the skyline, stretching from one high point to another, while the colorful churches and buildings remind visitors of the centuries of history and legacy embedded in the city’s streets.
As a UNESCO World Heritage site, the city played an important role in Mexican history, being the home to “El Grito,” the cry of independence that launched the revolution.
Exploring the Zocalo, I love seeing people relaxing on the metal benches that line the patterned bushes and grass, with mariachi bands and musicians playing for passing families and at outdoor restaurants. When the sun sets, a festive feeling emerges: tamale stands pop up, street vendors sell esquites, tacos, and bunelos, and families come out to see the beautiful streets under golden streetlights. Art galleries, museums, and cultural centers are hidden in the inner courtyards of historic buildings, making every visit a new experience, no matter how many times I return.
3. Guanajuato
Driving towards the city of Guanajuato, the maze of streets climbs and twists up the hills in every direction, each building painted in a different vibrant color, the city’s alleyways and corners creating a mosaic of shades.
Located an hour and a half from San Miguel de Allende, the city fascinates me every time I visit, home to rare mummies, local legends, and singing walking tours called callejoneadas.
Every time I visit, I discover a new street or corner, the once mining town now transformed into a cultural hub for photoshoots and tours to experience the narrow street that is only 68 cm wide. Standing at the Callejon del Beso, local couples in well-planned outfits pose for pictures, kissing in the street, where legend has it that it is good luck for love.
The mood in the streets of Guanajuato is upbeat, whether it is the medieval-dressed singers for the callejoneadas, belting ballads as though they were court jesters of another time, or hungry visitors savoring rich sauces in the Plazuela de San Fernando.
4. Amealco
This sleepy town is known for its muñecas – handmade ragdolls with colorful ribbons, embroidered dresses, and layered skirts. These dolls are deeply rooted in traditions of the Otomi people, and are sold today on every corner and in every shop.
The first time I set foot in the main square, I couldn’t help but notice the large ragdoll statue in front of the church, greeting every visitor. Indigenous women sit on sidewalks selling their dolls, while nearby candy vendors stand behind tables piled high with sugary treats, and restaurants sell tacos in every variation.
In the outskirts of town, the workshops where the dolls are made produce every kind of variation, from Dia de Muertos styled ones to different patterns representing various traditions and places. What I love about this quaint town is how it welcomes visitors into another world of crafts and artistry, home to an emblem of Mexican culture that has now spread around the world. There is magic in walking through the streets and witnessing the pride on locals’ faces in their craft.
Where Magic Lives
As more travelers and explorers seek to discover this country’s rich history and traditions, these pueblitos magicos offer the perfect jumping-off point to understand the enchantment and joy these towns hold.
The longer I spend in the country, the more I come to understand that its charm lies not only in the grand cathedrals and archaeological ruins, but also in its villages, which offer glimpses of life past and present, and in the colorful touches of culture that make it unlike anywhere else in the world.
