El Jardín is San Miguel's main plaza, located in the heart of the city. At the Zocalo, as El Jardín is often called, you can spend time people-watching, perusing the nearby shops and restaurants and reorienting yourself should the town's winding roads lead you astray.

Early evenings and weekend afternoons are particularly busy times in the plaza; this is when you'll find expats and locals catching up with friends or simply relaxing on the wrought-iron benches.

Admission is free.

Intricate, pink pinnacles poking through the skyline will help you locate the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, a towering parish church overlooking El Jardin from the southern side of the plaza. The prominent church's neo-Gothic design is the vision of the self-taught stonemason and architect Zeferino Gutiérrez, who is rumored to have used European lithographs of Belgian and German churches for artistic inspiration.

You may even get the chance to peek into the church's crypt, where several Mexican war heroes have been laid to rest.

Entry into the church is free.

What was once a textile mill from 1902 to 1991 has now become the embodiment of everything San Miguel has to offer for art lovers. Fabrica La Aurora, just a short walk from the Parish, has left traces of its past to set the scene - think oil-stained floors - but is very much all about the present day art scene in San Miguel de Allende.

Peruse the jewelry, furniture, and contemporary art stores, but be sure to leave time to have a bite to eat at the on-site Food Factory or Cafe de la Aurora. But La Aurora is so much more than just an art gallery. It's a place for the community to come together. Here, visitors can actually watch artists at work, converse with local artisans during one of the many events, or even take a class themselves.

Admission is free.

When the buzz of the city's nearly countless cafes and shops leaves you in need of some quiet time, travel 7 miles northwest from San Miguel's center to Escondido Place. This retreat boasts 10 indoor and outdoor thermal pools fed by natural hot springs, and lush vegetation and colorful flowers surround the grounds. Decompress in grottos containing water that reaches up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Recent travelers suggest adjusting to the water temperatures by working your way from the least warm pools to the warmest and then back again when you're ready to leave.

When you work up an appetite, you'll find a restaurant on site and picnic areas with grills for use by guests. Bathrooms and changing rooms are also available. Escondido Place is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

General admission is 100 MXN (about $8 USD) per person.

Much of San Miguel's splendor can be discovered in its abundance of manmade beauty, but at El Charco del Ingenio, nature is the aesthetic draw. At this more than 170-acre botanical garden set in an ecological preserve, you'll have the chance to spot wildlife, walk along greenery-lined trails and learn about various species of local cacti. Meanwhile, the San Miguel community often gathers in the garden to watch performances, partake in ceremonies and attend environmental education programs. Recent travelers recommend enjoying a hike through the park, picnicking alongside the waterfalls or spending an evening at a concert in the outdoor amphitheater.

Located just a mile northeast of central San Miguel, El Charco del Ingenio can be reached on foot (it's about a 30-minute walk from the municipal market) or by taxi. The reserve is open daily from sunrise to sunset.

Led by English-speaking guides, two-hour tours of the conservation area operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m.; tours cost 80 MXN (about $6 USD). If you'd like to forego a tour, entry is 40 MXN (about $3 USD); children younger than 10 can enter for free.

Home to a 40-acre archaeological site, Cañada de La Virgen is a sprawling nature preserve located just 15 miles west of San Miguel de Allende. Explore the site and you'll find seven pyramid structures across four complexes: House of the Thirteen Heavens, House of the Longest Night, House of the Wind, and a fourth complex that has yet to be excavated. These complexes at the basin of the Laja River were occupied by the Otomí and Toltec Indians from 540 to 1050 A.D. Cañada's archaeological zone is preserved by the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (Mexico's National Institute of History and Anthropology).

Although visitors can tour the sites without a guide, travelers recommend booking a tour of the archaeological site with Coyote Canyon Adventures, which offers several pyramid tour options Tuesday through Sunday. Pyramid tour prices start at $50 USD per person and can last from four to eight hours. The cost of your tour includes transportation to and from Cañada from San Miguel provided by Coyote Canyon (you will meet your guide at the intersection of Hidalgo and Canal streets in San Miguel's city center).