Things to Do in Guanajuato

Guanajuato is built in a narrow ravine in the Sierra Gorda highlands — which is why most of its traffic runs through tunnels carved from former silver mine shafts beneath the city. The colonial centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a tangle of coloured buildings, alleyways, and plazas that can only be navigated on foot. It’s one of the most visually distinctive cities in Mexico.

The underground tunnels

The city’s road network runs mostly underground. Buses and taxis use the subterranean tunnel system — visitors can walk or drive through for the novelty, but the more interesting experience is simply navigating the streets above. The tunnels start at Subterráneo Miguel Hidalgo, visible from street level near the centre.

Alhóndiga de Granaditas

Built as a grain warehouse in 1809 and immediately pressed into service as a fortress during the War of Independence, the Alhóndiga de Granaditas is where a pivotal early battle of Mexican independence took place. The building is now a regional museum with pre-Hispanic artefacts, mining history, and murals by Chávez Morado. Entry ~MXN 70.

Juárez Theatre

The Teatro Juárez (1903) is one of the finest examples of Porfirian architecture in Mexico — a neoclassical exterior with Moorish interior. Tours are available when no performance is scheduled; it’s the main venue for the Festival Internacional Cervantino each October, one of the largest arts festivals in Latin America.

Museo de las Momias

Guanajuato’s most famous — and most unsettling — attraction. The mummy museum displays around 100 naturally mummified bodies exhumed from the municipal cemetery in the 19th and 20th centuries when families couldn’t pay burial taxes. The preservation is the result of the local soil and dry climate. Entry ~MXN 100; it’s genuinely disturbing so consider whether it’s appropriate for children.

Callejón del Beso

The “Alley of the Kiss” is so narrow (68 cm at its narrowest) that the balconies of opposing houses nearly touch. Local legend holds that couples who kiss on the third step receive seven years of happiness. It’s busy with tourists but the surrounding callejones (alleyways) are worth exploring regardless.

Silver mine at Valencia

The Mina de Valencia in the neighbouring town of Valencia operated from 1558 to 1810 and produced an estimated 40% of the world’s silver during its peak. The mine is open for tours — you go 45 metres underground in a cage elevator. It’s about 10 minutes from the city centre by bus or taxi.

Cerro del Cubilete

On a clear day, the hill above the city offers good views over the ravine and rooftops. The walk up takes about 30 minutes from the centre, or take a taxi. A large monument to Christ the King (Cristo Rey) stands at the summit — visible from much of the city.

Getting around

The city is small enough to walk entirely. The underground callejones require maps (available free at the tourist office on Plaza de la Paz) or just willingness to get slightly lost. Taxis are metered; Uber doesn’t operate in Guanajuato.