Total San Miguel de Allende Airport Guide: How To Pick Your Port

Last Updated on April 17, 2024 by Ashlea J. Russell

San Miguel de Allende Airports

There are five main airports that are used by travellers visiting San Miguel de Allende. Here they are listed in order of distance (closest to furthest) and you can also find them marked in the map below.

Each of these airports offer international and domestic flight options and are the most convenient when visiting San Miguel de Allende.

Best Airport For San Miguel de Allende

The best airport for San Miguel de Allende usually depends on where you’re coming from and what your priorities are, which is obviously different for everyone.

Some people just want to land as close as possible to San Miguel de Allende, others want the cheapest option, and others want the most direct route. In order to find the best airport for your trip you’ll need to first decide what is most important to you.

My personal preference is Querétaro airport because it is small, friendly and convenient but that may not be what you’re looking for.

I’ve delved deeper into each of the five airport options below but first, here are some quick facts to get you started:

Now that you’ve got an idea of which airports might work for you, you can find more detailed information below.

Querétaro: The Closest & Smallest Airport

When I visited San Miguel de Allende in 2023 I used Querétaro International Airport. This airport is the closest to San Miguel de Allende at only 1hr20mins [86km/53 miles].

Querétaro International Airport is a small, single terminal airport located about 30mins from the city of Santiago de Querétaro. It currently serves direct flights from the following international locations as well as nine domestic routes:

Things To Consider When Choosing Querétaro

Querétaro International Airport is the closest airport to San Miguel de Allende which also makes it the cheapest in terms of getting from the airport to the city.

Querétaro International Airport is also the smallest airport. This is great because the airport is really manageable but it also operates fewer flights and has less staff.

When my flight arrived there was one immigration officer and it took a very long time to get the whole flight through immigration.

When I was flying home through Querétaro International Airport my flight was delayed and because they operate fewer flights there was no other option for me to switch to. I ended up being delayed overnight in Querétaro.

The are no hotels near this airport. If you need a hotel you will need to stay in the city 30mins away. Querétaro is a beautiful and safe city with so much to do and see so it’s worth spending a night or two if you have time.

Getting From Querétaro Airport to San Miguel de Allende

There are five main ways to get from Querétaro Airport to San Miguel de Allende:

My recommendation for the best way to get to San Miguel de Allende from Querétaro Airport is either by Private Transfer or BajioGo Shuttle.

For Private Transfers I recommend Heros Transportation, my go-to private transfer company in the Querétaro area. They have fair prices, speak excellent English, are friendly, professional and have brand new vehicles.

You can quote and book with Heros via WhatsApp.

BajioGo is the most trusted and reliable shuttle service in the area. They are a local company based in San Miguel de Allende and offer regular, affordable shuttles that are clean and comfortable with English-speaking service

You purchase seats in a shuttle which means you may need to wait up to 20 minutes other other passengers before departing.

Bajío/Guanajuato: The Most Popular Airport

Bajío, also known as Guanajuato International Airport located in León is the second closest airport to San Miguel de Allende and is the most popular option for people visiting the area.

Travellers love Bajío airport because it’s located 1hr40mins [94km/58 miles] from San Miguel de Allende and offers more international flights than Querétaro airport.

Bajío currently operates direct international flights from the following cities as well as 9 domestic routes:

Things To Consider When Choosing Bajío

Bajío Airport is larger than Querétaro Airport and serves almost 3 million passengers a year so the experience here is much busier.

This airport has more food and shopping options than Querétaro but it can be difficult to find somewhere to sit without purchasing food or drink.

While it’s always luck of the draw, the security at Bajío Airport is known to be quite strict and very thorough. It’s a good idea to leave extra time in case of additional screening.

Getting From Bajío Airport to San Miguel de Allende

There are five main ways to get from Bajío Airport to San Miguel de Allende:

While the cheapest option is bus, I recommend using BajíoGo Shuttle.

The bus service is operated through Unebus and can take between 2.5 – 3.5 hours to make the journey to San Miguel de Allende including stops. Once you reach San Miguel de Allende you’ll need to take another local bus or taxi to your accommodation.

BajioGo is the most trusted and reliable shuttle service in the area and is even recommended by the airport themselves. They are a local company based in San Miguel de Allende and offer regular, affordable shuttles that are clean and comfortable with English-speaking service

NLU: The Closest Mexico City Airport

NLU is known by a lot of different name. Felipe Ángeles International Airport, AIFA, Mexico City Santa Lucia or simply called by its IATA airport code NLU.

This is the newest airport in Mexico. It opened in 2022 and is located on the Northern outskirts of Mexico City, 2hrs50mins [240km/150 miles] from San Miguel de Allende.

NLU currently operates direct international flights from the following cities as well as 14 domestic routes:

Things To Consider When Choosing NLU

NLU is the newest airport in the country and supporting infrastructure is still being completed. This means that while the airport is large and modern it is mostly empty and services are limited.

Because the airport is so new and quiet, many of the shop and restaurant spaces are still for rent and haven’t been filled by businesses yet. It’s a good idea to bring some snacks!

Getting From NLU Airport to San Miguel de Allende

There are five main ways to get from NLU Airport to San Miguel de Allende:

My only recommendation for getting from NLU Airport to San Miguel de Allende is definitely by using BajíoGo Shuttle. They are a local company based in San Miguel de Allende and offer regular, affordable shuttles that are clean and comfortable with English-speaking service.

While there are other options none of them make as much sense as BajíoGo. They will either take much, much longer or cost dramatically more money.

Mexico City: The Airport with the Most Flights

Mexico City International Airport is one of the furthest airports from San Miguel de Allende at 3hr30mins [270km/168 miles].

This is the largest and busiest airport in the country and offers the most flights including direct international flights from 25 countries around the world as well as 46 domestic routes.

Things To Consider When Choosing Mexico City

Mexico City is a large and busy airport but they are prepared for volume. There are several immigration officers and customs officers moving passengers through at a fast pace. Every time I have used this airport the line continuously moves and I’ve been pushed through immigration in a matter of seconds.

The airport is full of lots of shopping, restaurants, bars and lounges. There are also very comfortable nearby hotels.

While Mexico City is one of the farthest airports from San Miguel de Allende it’s worth considering the time commitment of indirect flights to closer airports such as Bajío and Querétaro. Arriving into Mexico City and taking a bus to San Miguel de Allende from the airport may end up working out better for you.

Getting From Mexico City Airport to San Miguel de Allende

There are four main ways to get from Mexico City Airport to San Miguel de Allende:

My top recommendation for getting from Mexico City Airport to San Miguel de Allende is by first class bus service like ETN.

The ETN buses in Mexico are the nicest buses I have ever been on, anywhere in the world. They are incredibly comfortable, spacious, prompt, and affordable. They also have amazing amenities such as toilets on board, air conditioning, and WiFi. Some even have snack bars and seat-back entertainment like on airplanes!

The ETN bus service from Mexico City leaves from the airport and makes a stop in Querétaro before continuing on to San Miguel de Allende. The service is super affordable and safe, and the journey takes 4.5 hours.

The alternative option to this would be booking a shuttle with BajioGo. While I think BajioGo are an excellent company, I still think first class bus is the better choice. The first class buses are cheaper, more comfortable, and take the same amount of time as the shuttle service so to me it’s a no-brainer.

Guadalajara: The Last Resort

Guadalajara International Airport is the furthest airport from San Miguel de Allende at 4hr15mins [337km/210 miles].

This is the third largest and busiest airport in Mexico after Mexico City and Cancún. It offers direct international flights from 25 cities in the United States as well as the following international cities, along with 29 domestic routes:

Things To Consider When Choosing Guadalajara

Guadalajara Airport is a very large and busy airport that offers a lot of different flight options but it is located far away from San Miguel de Allende. I would only recommend using this airport if you intend on visiting other places on your way to San Miguel de Allende or if there is a significant savings to be had in flight prices.

The airport is full of lots of shopping, restaurants, bars and lounges. There are also comfortable nearby hotels.

Getting From Guadalajara Airport to San Miguel de Allende

There are four main ways to get from Guadalajara Airport to San Miguel de Allende:

My top recommendation for getting from Guadalajara to San Miguel de Allende is by using BajioGo Shuttle. The shuttle service takes between 4 – 5 hours which is 2 -3 hours less than using a regular bus service.

BajioGo are a local company based in San Miguel de Allende and offer regular, affordable shuttles that are clean and comfortable with English-speaking service.

Summary: San Miguel de Allende Airport

While it may seem like a bit of a trek to reach it, San Miguel de Allende is a safe city and magical place that is bursting with charm and beauty.

From hot springs to galleries and many excellent day trips, San Miguel de Allende is well worth the effort to get to.

For most people, when it comes to choosing an airport for San Miguel de Allende, Querétaro or Bajío will be the best choice. But, every savvy traveller should explore their options before taking the leap because you just never know what perfect solution might be hiding.