Have you heard about Callejon del Beso, Pípila, Mercado Hidalgo, Mummy museum or La Bufa? If not, you will learn more about the 5 things to do in Guanajuato.
5 Things to do in Guanajuato
Callejon del Beso
One thing to do in Guanajuato is the so-called Callejon del Beso. Located around 40m behind Plaza de Los Angeles, you can find a narrow alley where the balconies of two houses almost touch each other and the legend of two lovers continues to live.
Similar to the story of Romeo and Juliet did Ana and Carlos fall in love. They secretly met as they were forbidden to date. Ana was supposed to be married to a rich man and not Carlos, a simple miner. Carlos then rented a room opposite of Ana’s house.
Since the balconies were so close, they were able to just lean over and kiss each other. Once Ana’s father found out, he got furious and stabbed his own daughter in the chest, who died right away.
According to tradition, every couple who kisses each other standing on the third step (painted red) will have 15 years of happiness, while couples who don’t, will have 7 years of bad luck.
Mummy Museum
Another thing to do in Guanajuato is the Mummy Museum. For about $55 (2-3€) or $36 (if you are a student) you get yourself entrance to this famous attraction.
The Mummy Museum exhibits mummified bodies. I promise it will be a unique experience as every mummy is presented differently and tells an interesting story.
You will find around 50 mummies, including men, women and even babies (smallest mummy is a few months old). Each room has very dimmed light which makes it a bit “scary”.
The fact that the Mummy museum is located next to a cemetery probably does not make the whole thing any better.
In the end, everyone has to decide for themselves if they want to go but I was just too curious not to go.
Pípila Statue
One fun thing to do in Guanajuato is the famous Pípila statue. He was a simple miner who became a local hero.
He was the forerunner of the revolution of freedom and independence of Mexico from the Spanish. No wonder that this huge statue of Pípila counts as one of the most popular sights in Guanajuato.
Upon the hill, where the statue is located, you will have the most gorgeous view over beautiful Guanajuato and its colorful buildings. So, make sure not to skip this one during your Guanajuato sightseeing tour.
You have multiple ways to get up there:
- Take a funicular tram
- Walk up the narrow stairs
- Take a taxi
- Walk up the roads
I personally took the funicular. For only $30 (1,50€) I got a single ride which did not take long. On the way back I walked down.
I would recommend not to take a taxi as you will miss half of the experience but this is, of course, up to you to decide.
Mercado Hidalgo
One thing to do in Guanajuato you should not miss out on is the very lively and colorful indoor market, Hidalgo. Here you can find many goods, starting with fresh food, drinks, flowers, clothes, school supplies, and souvenirs.
The market itself has two floors to rummage around. Buy some souvenirs for your family or treat yourself with some local sweets.
The building itself is pretty cool as well because it used to be a train station where goods from Europe were imported.
La Bufa
For outdoor adventurers and hiking lovers we also have a thing to do in Guanajuato. “La Bufa” is the perfect place. It is a mountain and another popular sight in Guanajuato.
When I climbed up the hill with my friends, I didn’t even know what I got myself into. I only knew we were going for a BBQ but not where.
You can hike up all the way to the very top. Some parts are very steep and slippery, others straight and even. It took us around 1-2 hours to get all the way up.
On our way up we passed a cave and lots of cactus plants, of which we ate the fruits as a snack for further strength and energy.
Once we arrived at the top, we had the most beautiful view. When screaming out loud, we could hear our own echo coming back to us. I thought that was pretty cool since I only knew it from movies.
Then we prepared our BBQ up there and spend another 2 hours before making our way back down again.
You will definitely enjoy this trip, no matter if you are a nature lover or not. The feeling of freedom and happiness you experience while being in this place, you won’t forget.
I hope you enjoyed those 5 things to do in Guanajuato and get to do some of them during your travels to Mexico. Also, check out those 12 fun facts about Mexico that you should know before visiting.
