Last Updated on January 21, 2024 by Soumya
If you’re looking for the best ways to travel from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende (SMA), then you’re at the right place.
In this epic transport guide, I have not one or two but seven different ways of getting to San Miguel de Allende from Mexico City.
Not all of these 7 options are equally efficient and one of them may work better for you than the others.
For example, an intercity bus to get to San Miguel is the best choice if you’re traveling on a budget.
However, if you’re looking for hotel pickup and drop, then booking a private shuttle from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende is the way to go.
If you’re strapped for time, a full-day guided tour from Mexico City will work best.
Therefore, I urge you to read through all the San Miguel de Allende transportation options from Mexico City and decide what works best for you.
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Best Transportation from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende
In my opinion, the cheapest and the most convenient method of traveling from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende is by bus.
The bus is the best way to travel from Mexico City and San Miguel if you have time on your hands. I am talking about spending at least 2 days in San Miguel de Allende or more.
However, if you’re short on time and looking for a quick and hassle-free day trip from Mexico City, I would recommend getting a private shuttle or booking a guided tour that includes round-trip transportation.
✦ Pro Tip: One quick thing to note here is that the distance between Mexico City and San Miguel de Allende is not small. The two cities are 170 miles away from each other and the journey takes at least 3.5 hours one-way or more, depending on the traffic. So, if you’re planning for a day trip, be prepared for a long day.
Let’s explore all the seven options of getting from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende and see what works for you.
Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende by Bus
Getting to San Miguel de Allende from Mexico City by bus is cheap, easy, and comfortable.
In fact, one of my best bus trips in Mexico was from Mexico City to San Miguel.
Why? Because I rode on the luxurious ETN bus!
The journey was so smooth that I slept like a log while my 10-year-old son enjoyed his video games on his private ETN screen.
Types of Buses from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende
Futura is a budget bus service that connects the two cities.
There are a couple of luxury bus lines, ETN and Primera Plus, that also operate between Mexico City and San Miguel.
A luxury bus from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende will typically have plush seating and spacious legroom. They also have onboard amenities like Wi-Fi and individual screens.
ETN, in my opinion, is the best bus from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende.
Practical information for booking your bus
Where? Buses from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende depart from the Central de Autobuses del Norte Terminal (Google Maps). They’ll drop you at the San Miguel de Allende Bus Terminal (Google Maps).
When? The Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende bus schedule is pretty full with buses running throughout the day.
ETN buses are more frequent than Primera Plus. Check out their schedules here.
For Futura buses, check here.
Unfortunately, there is no ADO bus from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende. At least, I don’t know of one. Tell me if you do.
How to book? To book a ticket, either visit the bus ticket counter at Central de Autobuses del Norte or purchase online here.
How much? A one-way bus ticket from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende costs between USD 20 to USD 40, depending on the bus service that you use.
✦ Pro Tip: If you’re visiting San Miguel, do not forget to check out our detailed 3-day San Miguel de Allende itinerary.
Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende Shuttle
Taking a shuttle from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende is another great way to get to SMA.
Shuttle services offer a convenient and comfortable way of traveling, especially if you’re looking for a more personalized experience.
Here are the 3 main reasons why shuttles score above buses.
- Shuttles pick you up directly from your hotel in Mexico City and drop you at your hotel in San Miguel. That saves you the headache of maneuvering through Mexico City’s public transportation to get to the Norte Bus Terminal.
- Taking a shuttle is, no doubt, more expensive than riding the bus. But if you have a big group, the per-person costs go down. For example, when booking this private transfer from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende, one-way for 5 people turns out to be pretty affordable.
- A private shuttle gives you the flexibility to plan your day. That means you can take make stops and check out other attractions on the way such as the Archeological Site of Tula and Queretaro City.
Practical information for booking your shuttle for San Miguel de Allende
How to book? Book a private shuttle from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende here.
If you’re looking for a shuttle from Mexico City Airport to San Miguel de Allende, check out this private shuttle service which has rave reviews.
BajioGo Shuttles is another shuttle company that has great reviews. Read BajioGo reviews on TripAdvisor here.
Make sure to book your San Miguel de Allende shuttle in advance as seats can fill up quickly, especially during peak tourist season.
Drive a Private Car from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende
Of course, you can drive from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende. It’s an excellent way to enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the Mexican countryside at your own pace.
The journey is about 170 miles and typically takes around 3 to 4 hours, depending on the traffic.
Note that the city of San Miguel de Allende is hilly and has narrow, cobbly lanes. This makes it difficult to drive within the city and find a convenient parking spot. If you’re okay with that go ahead and rent a car in Mexico City and enjoy your drive to San Miguel de Allende.
But you may want to rethink if you want to have a car in San Miguel. You don’t really need a car to explore the Historic Center of San Miguel de Allende. It is entirely walkable. However, a car comes in handy if you’re planning to do some day trips from San Miguel.
DiDi or Uber from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende
It is possible to take a DiDi or Uber from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende although I don’t really recommend it.
I have heard of instances where DiDi/Uber drivers have canceled trips at the last minute. Sometimes, they demand double charges because they have to come back to Mexico City.
It happened to us once when planning our last-minute trip from Mexico City to Puebla. We decided to chuck Uber and stick to the intercity bus instead.
Also, Uber can be very expensive, considerably more than other modes of transport, even luxury buses from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende.
Prices for an Uber can vary greatly based on the time of day and current demand. Expect to pay anywhere from USD 200 to 250 for the trip, oneway.
The journey itself takes approximately 3 to 4 hours, depending on traffic and the route.
I highly recommend booking private transportation from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende instead of relying on Uber.
Private Transportation from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende
I quite enjoy private transfers for the sheer comfort, ease, and safety that they offer.
With a private transfer, you don’t need to navigate, deal with traffic, or worry about finding parking once you’ve arrived.
A private transfer also allows you to customize your experience. You can choose when you want to start your journey and even stop at interesting places along the way. Some of them include the Tula Pyramids and the City of Queretaro.
With a private driver, Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende trip becomes more insightful and enjoyable than on any other means of transportation. Don’t you agree with that?
Flight from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende
Wondering if you can take a flight from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende? The short answer is yes.
The city of San Miguel de Allende does not have an airport.
However, you can fly to the closest airport that is the Queretaro Intercontinental Airport (QRO). It is located approximately 55 miles from San Miguel de Allende.
Aeromexico runs non-stop flights between Mexico City and Queretaro. The flight duration from Mexico City Airport to Queretaro Airport is usually around 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Upon arrival at the Queretaro Airport, you can take a taxi or arrange for a private transfer to San Miguel de Allende. The drive from the airport to the historic center takes about an hour.
Alternatively, you can fly to the Guanajuato International Airport or the Bajio International Airport (BJX) in Leon. This airport is approximately 60 miles from San Miguel.
Aeromexico runs non-stop flights between Mexico City and Leon. The flight duration is around 1 hour 17 mins.
From the Leon Airport, you can take a taxi or book a private transfer to San Miguel de Allende. The journey takes about 1.5 hours.
Day Trip to San Miguel de Allende from Mexico City
Is a day trip from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende possible? Yes, it is.
If you’re strapped for time, then doing a day trip from Mexico City is the best way to see the city of San Miguel.
You can travel to San Miguel de Allende by bus early in the morning, see the best attractions, and get back to Mexico City in the evening.
Or book a private, round-trip transfer with an English-speaking driver from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende. This comes highly recommended but is also the most expensive option.
Or book a small-group, full-day, guided tour like this one that’ll allow you to see the highlights of San Miguel with a knowledgeable local guide. It is hassle-free and doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket.
How to get to Mexico City from San Miguel de Allende?
Wondering how to get from San Miguel de Allende to Mexico City instead? Use any one of the options above except the day trip one.
Mexico City is huge and it doesn’t really make sense to visit Mexico City on a day trip.
To get to Mexico City from San Miguel de Allende you can use the bus, book a private transfer, or rent a car.
The same bus lines such as ETN and Primera Plus operate from San Miguel de Allende to Mexico City. Be sure to book your bus tickets here.
Book your private transfer from San Miguel de Allende to Mexico City here.
📖 Related Read: Visiting San Miguel de Allende and looking for the best things to do? Check our post on the best day trips from San Miguel de Allende for exciting options.
Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende Travel FAQ
The best way of getting from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende is by bus (if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option) or by private transfer (if you’re looking for comfort and convenience). You can also rent a car and drive to San Miguel de Allende on your own.
The travel time from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende is 3.5 – 4.5 hours depending on the traffic that you encounter on the way.
The best way to travel from Mexico City Airport to San Miguel de Allende is by booking a private transfer. With this private transfer, you can request for an English-speaking driver to pick you up at your time of arrival and that can be in the middle of the night. You can also rent a car and drive to San Miguel. Taking the bus from Mexico City Airport to San Miguel is not such a great idea because there are no direct buses between the two places. You’ll first need to get to the Autobuses del Norte Bus Terminal in Mexico City and then take a San Miguel de Allende bus from there.
Yes, you can do a trip from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende. Going with a full-day guided tour is the best and the most efficient way to do it.
Unfortunately, no. There’s no train service between Mexico City and San Miguel de Allende.
The distance between San Miguel de Allende and Mexico is around 170 miles or 270 km. The journey between Mexico City and San Miguel de Allende can take anywhere between 3.5 – 4.5 hours depending on the traffic and your departure and arrival points.
The best bus from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende is the ETN bus which is a luxury bus service between the two cities. The journey takes about 4 hours and costs approx USD 45 but is well worth it.
Yes, there are several direct buses from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende including luxury bus services such as ETN and Primera Plus. Futura is a budget-friendly bus service that operates between the two cities.
Fares for traveling on the bus from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende can range between USD 20 and USD 45 depending on the bus service that you choose (Fares on ETN tend to be higher).
An Uber from Mexico City Airport to San Miguel de Allende typically costs around USD 200 – 250.
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