Almost always overshadowed by the colorful cities of Guanajuato or San Miguel de Allende, León, Guanajuato, Mexico is a much bigger, more industrial, and less touristic city. It is best known for being the shoe and leather capital of Mexico, with 70% of all shoes coming from here! León probably shouldn’t top your Mexico bucket list (especially if you are limited on time!) but it has some incredible gems that you can see on a day trip….. to me, the center of León almost feels like a small Guadalajara without all the travelers, maintaining a real authentic charm.
*** Guanajuato is among the most dangerous states of Mexico, though most of the crime is centered in the corridor between Celaya and Irapuato. If you are ever unsure, try to get a word from other travelers or locals who have been in these areas! Here on my blog, we don’t blindly subscribe to the State Department’s suggestions and do our own research. Leon is super safe and livable, and with common sense, you should be completely fine. ***
GETTING THERE:
We did a half day trip to Leon from Guanajuato city by hopping on a 1 hour bus each way for about 100 pesos. The bus makes one stop halfway at Silao, another small city. Leon is also reachable from Guadalajara or San Miguel de Allende, in the smack dab middle of Mexico's Bajío region.
And so, if you are looking to sightsee for a few hours on foot, here are my top spots I recommend. We walked to the following sights from the bus station, and took an Uber back.
1. Stroll through Calzada de Los Heroes, a pedestrian strip ending in a big arch.
Here you will find the iconic LEON letters and a beautiful walkway which we found adorned with cempasuchil (marigold) at the time, for Día de los Muertos. León is also considered one of the most environmentally-friendly cities in México, which is highlighted on a Sunday as this whole street closes to car traffic and fills with bikers and runners. This part of the city felt so calm, clean, and active which just made it refreshing compared to other large Mexican cities.
2. Admire the Templo Expiatorio from inside and out.
This huge cathedral took almost a century to build, but it is easy to see why! The gorgeous pastel shades and intricate gothic architecture are an absolute wonder to look at. You can take a look inside this huge church, but I think the outside is really the most mesmerizing part and a must-see when you're in León.
3. Walk a couple kilometers down Calle Madero.
This is the main strip to find hip restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. That being said, on a sleepy Sunday morning, there were mostly just bikers and joggers out here and most the businesses were closed! Regardless, we had my fancy DSLR camera so we had fun capturing the colorful street blocks. Walking down Calle Madero you eventually dead-end into the Centro which makes for a natural next stop.
4. See the Centro.
Within just a few street blocks, you will find the municipal palace, so many churches, colonial buildings, and restaurants and street food. Once again, the place is most alive on a Sunday as it feels like local families all gather here to enjoy the charming ambiance. We didn't stick around for too long, but really enjoyed how calm and clean this place felt, probably our main takeaway from Leon as a whole.
If we had more time, I would have also liked to see Antigua Plaza de Gallos and pop into some of the museums all within a few blocks.
5. Shop around the leather and shoe markets in the afternoon.
Learn from our mistake and don't come first thing in the morning, since nothing is open yet! If you have a look on Google Maps, there is a whole commercial area surrounding the bus terminal where you will found leather and shoes, but try to get there after 11 AM. I can't direct you to one place in particular because there is stuff to buy everywhere, so just wander in the neighborhood until you find what you're looking for.
They had incredibly well-made and affordable leather satchels, huaraches, boots, and more. I already have a great pair of boots and huaraches, but I didn't have any luck finding leather sandals because I was looking for something really particular. Although this area is great for wandering, you will want to use caution to avoid pickpocketing, and don't hang around after hours to stay out of trouble.
All in all, León was a bit underwhelming to us, but we have a high bar after visiting some of the most beautiful colonial towns in Latin America all right around the area. If you want to get off the beaten path and see a different side of Mexico, I think León is a great place to start, especially if you are looking for a one-night stay.
Let me know if you have more Leon tips or questions in the comments below! Happy travels :)
