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León is a city of 1,114,000 people in Guanajuato, Mexico, known for its leather goods.

Understand

Get in

Map
Map of León (Mexico)

By plane

  • You can take a plane from Mexico City (around $300USD), it's just a 45 minute flight with some scenery, nothing otherwordly. The taxi from the airport to central León will be around $30 USD, and a 40 minute drive. It is a relatively modern airport that was built in anticipation of increased traffic as Mexico City de-industrialized due to the toxic smog levels in the 80's.

By train

By car

By bus

  • 2 Bus station (Central de Camiones), Hilario Medina 222, +52 477 763 1243.

By boat

Get around

See

Martyrs Square (Plaza de los Mártires)

Near León you can find the archaeological zone of Ibarillo, of Tarasco-Chupicuaro origin. Twenty-three Km. east of Leon city you can visit Los Tanques and La Granja Spas.

  • 1 Catedral Basílica de León (Catedral Metropolitana de León), Álvaro Obregón s/n, +52 477 716-1038. M-Sa 10:00-14:00, 17:00-19:00; Su 10:00-14:00. This cathedral dates back to 1975 and has interior chapels and a baroque style facade. The Virgin of Light, patron saint of León since 1849 is worshipped here.
  • 2 Our Lady of Angeles Church (Templo de Nuestra Señora de los Angeles), Calle 20 de Enero 237, +52 477 713 2048. This church was built at the end of the 18th Century and is churrigueresque in design.
  • 3 Martyrs Square (Plaza de los Mártires). The name of this square commemorates a local power struggle between different political factions which took place in 1946. The square is surrounded on three sides by beautiful neoclassic archways.
  • 4 Triumphal Arch (Arco de la Calzada de los Héroes). Built in 1893 to commemorate the 83rd anniversary of the Mexican Independence. The centerpiece of this neoclassic arch is a bronze lion which was donated by local bullfighter Antonio Valdez.
  • 5 San Juan de Dios Church and Garden (Templo y Jardin San Juan de Dios). This age-old romantic spot is regularly visited by local residents.
  • Botanic Gardens (Jardín Botánico Leones). The gardens contain a variety of plants, orchid garden, greenhouse and orchards.

Museums

  • 6 Explora Science Center Museum (Explora Centro de Ciencias), Francisco Villa 202, +52 477 711 6711. M-F 09:00-18:00, Sa Su and holidays 10:00-19:00. This interactive Science Center and park is 9,500 m², and contains four large halls (Man, Water, Communication and Movement), IMAX theater science classroom, workshops and temporary exhibits.
  • 7 Museum of Art and History (Museo de Arte e Historia de Guanajuato), Calz de Los Niños Heroes 908 (Vasco de Quiroga), +52 477 104 1100, . Tu-F 10-17:00, Sa-Su 11:00-19:00. Opened in 2008, this museum is dedicated to the history of the state of Guanajuato, and hosts rotating temporary exhibits. $20 MXN (adults), free (students/teachers).
  • 9 Museum of Religious Art (Museo de Arte Sacro), Calle Hidalgo (behind the cathedral), +52 477 713 6076. Tu-F 10:00-14:00, 16:00-18:30; Sa 10:00-18:30; Su 10:00-14:00. $15 MXN (adults).
  • 10 Bullfighting Museum (Museo Panteón Taurino), Calzada de los Heroes 404 (Universitario De La Salle), +52 477 713 4969. This restaurant and bar is distinguished by is tables which are the headstones of bullfighter who died in the bullring. It is considered a museum as it contains a large collection of bullfighting history and memorabilia.

Do

Hot Air Balloon Festival (Festival del Globo) in the Metropolitan Park)
World Rally Championship

While this is not a capital city, so there is enough to do such as catching a game of their two professional baseball teams, their top-flight soccer team and a nascent professional basketball team.

  • 1 Metropolitan Park (Parque Metropolitano). Daily 06:00-20:00. Over 260 hectares for recreation, sports and enjoying nature. The park has a pier, bicycle paths, train, rose garden, orchards, vegetable gardens, picnic tables and camp grounds. Also available are bicycle and boat rentals along with children's games.
  • 2 León Zoo (Parque Zoológico de León), Camino a Ibarrilla, +52 477 764 3143, . Daily 09:00-17:00. Over 2,000 animals are on display in this attractive park, such as polar bears, panthers, pumas, tigers and lions. There is also a lake with aquatic birds an a miniature train ride. $40 MXN (adults), $60 MXN (children).
  • Bowl Leon: This bowling alley also contains a domino room, pool tables, ping pong, foosball and coffee shop.

Buy

León is known as 'the shoe capital of the world', and is a great place for discounted top footwear. Every major brand from Nike to Steve Madden shoes is outsourced to León.

There are lots of cheap places to buy shoes and leather in general, some outlets on the sides of the manufacturers. There are also retail outlets of leather goods that are relatively cheap when compared to Mexico City or Guadalajara.

  • 2 Plaza Piel, Hilario Medina 101 (across from Plaza del Zapato), +52 477 763 4150. Another shopping center, with shops selling locally-made leather goods.
  • SAPICA (Salón de la Piel y del Calzado), Boulevard Adolfo López Mateos 3401, +52 477 152 9000, toll-free: +1 800 522 4234. A bi-annual, four-day shoe festival occurring every March/April and August/September.

Eat

Street food in el Centro

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

Drink

Sleep

  • 2 Hotel Suites Mexico Plaza, Libramiento José Ma Morelos Pte 1502, +52 477 788 4970. Somewhat distant from the main city (around 20-25 minutes on a cab). Taxis from the airport are by no way cheap, around 20 USD, and transportation to downtown is around $5USD. Free wi-fi. $940+ MXN.

Connect

Stay safe

Cope

Go next

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