San Miguel de Allende: Why This UNESCO Mexican City Has Been Voted #1 Small City in the World 7 Times

Voted the #1 small city in the world seven times by Condé Nast Traveler. Spring-like weather 365 days a year. A Waldorf Astoria moving in next door. This isn't a fantasy — it's San Miguel de Allende, and today's guest has lived there for 17 years. Greg is a real estate broker and owner of the first Berkshire Hathaway Home Services franchise in all of Mexico. He moved to San Miguel at 50, intending to semi-retire — and never looked back. In this episode he gives us the full insider's guide: where to eat, what to do, when to go, and everything you need to know before you arrive. Love Mexico? We have two more episodes you'll enjoy — Mexico Off the Tourist Trail: An Aussie Expat's Local Guide and Mérida Travel Guide: Cenotes, Flamingos & Hidden Gems in the Yucatán. Mexico Off the Tourist Trail: An Aussie Expat’s Local Guide In This Episode Why San Miguel de Allende keeps beating out cities worldwide for the #1 small city title Where to eat — including the world's #1 rooftop restaurant and a chef covered in tattoos who's held the #1 spot for 18 years The one dish you must try (and you'll never find it in Australia or the US) How to get there, get around, and why you should leave the hire car at home Festivals: Day of the Dead, the Katrina Parade, the world's largest bilingual film festival, and 150 other celebrations a year The "random Aztec parade factor" — and what mañana really means Greg's top tips for planning your visit About San Miguel de Allende Location: Central Mexico, inland at 6,400 feet altitude — no humidity, no beach crowds Climate: Spring-like year-round; 40°F diurnal swing in winter, never snows Population: ~175,000 — compact, walkable, European village feel Closest airports: Querétaro (QRO) and León (BJX) — both ~75 minutes away Where to Eat The Restaurant — Greg's top pick for foodies; the chef (a tattooed local legend) has held the #1 spot for 18 years Quince — voted #1 rooftop restaurant in the entire world; stunning views of 26 of the city's 28 cathedrals Centro — the central neighbourhood where 90% of the city's 650 restaurants are concentrated; start here The dish to try: Chiles en Nogada — a green chile stuffed with ground beef, raisins and nuts, topped with white sauce and pomegranate seeds (red, white and green = the Mexican flag). Available September through Christmas. Things to Do Walking tour with Patronato Pro Niños — a nonprofit that provides free healthcare for Mexican children; runs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in Centro. No booking required. Covers history, architecture and culture. Day trip to Nirvana — a boutique resort 10 minutes outside town. Day pass ($120 USD) includes a three-course lunch, massage, pool access and natural hot springs (water comes out of the ground at 104°F). Atotonilco — the "Sistine Chapel of Mexico," a short drive north. Full of UNESCO-refurbished murals. You can tour it in 20 minutes. Vineyard tours — 20–30 vineyards in the area; San Miguel is the second-largest wine district in Mexico. Food-paired wine tastings make for a great half day. Natural hot springs — scattered around the region; water surfaces at hot-tub temperatures Hot air balloon rides — a popular way to see the city and surrounds from above ATV tours — for something more active Local pyramid — uncovered about 12 years ago; a fun add-on if you've never seen one  Want a private guide? Then click here to book your one day private tour of San Miguel De Allende from Mexico. Getting There & Getting Around Fly into: Querétaro (QRO) or León (BJX) — both ~75 minutes from the city From Mexico City: 3.5–4 hour luxury bus or shuttle Airport transfers: Book a shuttle in advance (roughly $30 USD per person); they meet you with a name sign In the city: Don't rent a car. You won't need it. Walk, take a taxi (~200 cabs in town), or use Uber/Lyft (both reliable, ~3 minutes wait. Get in Touch with Greg Gunter Website: DreamProHomesLuxury.com  Instagram: Greghunterrealestate Youtube: San Miguel Dream Pro Homes This post contains affiliate links. If you book through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — it helps keep the podcast going. Thank you! Send us Fan Mail Find me on: Website: Truly Expat Travel  Facebook: Truly Expat Instagram: Truly Expat Travel  TikTok: Truly Expat Travel  Running this podcast takes a lot of coffee (and countless hours exploring every destination!). If you found this helpful and want to support more honest, detailed travel guides and itineraries, you can buy me a coffee. No pressure though – I'm just happy you're here and hope you have an incredible adventure! 🙂