León (Mexico)

• León Tourist Office

  phone: +52 477 763 4400
  address: Calle Madero 517

By plane

• Aeropuerto Internacional del Bajíois the major airport for Guanauato state serving Guanajuato, Irapuato, Leon & Silao. The airport is located at KM 5.5 along the Carretera Silao-León (Hwy 45), half way between Leon & Silao in the Silao municipality and is 27.5 km southeast of the Plaza Principal in El Centro de Leon. If booking a ticket or researching the fare on an airline or an aggregate site be sure to look for "Leon" or "Leon/Bajio" instead of "Guanajuato" as you will not find it under "Guanajuato". Most flights offered are domestic and limited international services to/from the U.S. Scheduled flights are available with:

• Aeromexico & Aeromexico Connect from Atlanta, Mexico City, Los Angeles, Monterrey & Tijuana
• American Eagle to Dallas Ft Worth.
• Interjet Mexico City, Monterrey, Puerto Vallarta & Tijuana
• MagniCharters Cancun
• TAR Puerto Vallarta
• United Express Houston & Chicago
• Viva Aerobus Cancún, Cd Juarez, Monterrey & Tijuana
• Volaris Chicago Midway, Ciudad Juárez, Cancún, Los Angeles, Mérida, Mexicali, Oakland, Puerto Vallarta, Sacramento, San Jose CA, San Jose del Cabo and Tijuana

As of August 2018 state sponsored, Unebus Guanajuato operates buses from the airport to Leon, Guanajuato and San Miguel Allende. The stop is right turn when coming out from the airport, past the building in front of the taxi stand.
Alternatively if you're flying from Europe, Canada, Caribbean or South America you can fly through Mexico City located 319km to the SE and take a bus or a flight from there. Primera Plus operates a direct bus from Mexico City's airport to Queretaro where passengers transfer to another bus to continue to Leon or Guanajuato City.

By car

By bus

• Bus station

  phone: +52 477 763 1243
  address: Hilario Medina 222
  The station is served by:

• Greup Estrella Blanca

  phone: +52 55 5729-0807
  They also operate the Americanos, Elite, Elite Plus, Oriente, Chihuahuanese, TNS (Transportes Norte de Sonora) and the Pacifico brands.

• ETN (Enlances Terrestre Nacionales); Turistar

  phone: +52 473 733-0289

• Primera Plus

  phone: +52 447 710-0001
  address: Blvd. Hilario Medina 222; Col. Killian 1ª sección C.P.37260 León, Gto.
  The major bus line for the region which also include the Coordinados and the Flecha Armarilla lines for travel in the state and to adjacent states.

• Omnibus de Mexico

  phone: +52 55 5141-4300
  Also include the Noreste and the Omnibus Plus brands.

Unebus Guanajuato

address: (mini-stations/estaciones) Chedraui Poliforum, Mega Centro Max, Puerta del Milenio

State operated bus that connects San Francisco del Rincón, Purísima del Rincón, León, Silao and Guanajuato and from Leon Bajio International Airport to Leon, Guanajuato and San Miguel Allende.

Near León you can find the archaeological zone of Ibarillo, of Tarasco-Chupicuaro origin. 23 km east of Leon city you can visit Los Tanques and La Granja Spas.

• Catedral Basílica de León

  phone: +52 477 716-1038
  address: Álvaro Obregón s/n
  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.

• Our Lady of Angeles Church

  phone: +52 477 713 2048
  address: Calle 20 de Enero 237
  This church was built at the end of the 18th century and is churrigueresque in design.

• Martyrs SquareThe 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.

• Triumphal ArchBuilt 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.

• San Juan de Dios Church and GardenThis age-old romantic spot is regularly visited by local residents.

• Botanic GardensThe gardens contain a variety of plants, orchid garden, greenhouse and orchards.

Museums

• Explora Science Center Museum

  phone: +52 477 711 6711
  address: Francisco Villa 202
  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.

• Museum of Art and History

  phone: +52 477 104 1100
  address: Calz de Los Niños Heroes 908
  Opened in 2008, this museum is dedicated to the history of the state of Guanajuato, and hosts rotating temporary exhibits.

• Museum of the City of León

  phone: +52 477 714 5022
  address: Hermanos Aldama 136
  Devoted to the history of the city of León.

• Museum of Religious Art

  phone: +52 477 713 6076
  address: Calle Hidalgo

• Bullfighting Museum

  phone: +52 477 713 4969
  address: Calzada de los Heroes 404
  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.

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.

• Metropolitan ParkOver 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.

• León Zoo

  phone: +52 477 764 3143
  address: Camino a Ibarrilla
  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.

• World Rally Championship

  phone: +52 55 5259 6904
  León and nearby Guanajuato host the Mexican round of the World Rally Championship.

• International Balloon Festival

  phone: +52 477 779 0998
  address: Metropolitan Park
  A three-day festival held annually in November, featuring balloon rides, food, and musical entertainment.
• Bowl Leon: This bowling alley also contains a domino room, pool tables, ping pong, foosball and coffee shop.

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.

• Plaza del Zapato

  phone: +52 477 764 0276
  address: Hilario Medina 100
  A large shopping center with a multitude of shoe shops, offering a large range of footwear for all tastes.

• Plaza Piel

  phone: +52 477 763 4150
  address: Hilario Medina 101
  Another shopping center, with shops selling locally-made leather goods.

• SAPICA

  phone: +52 477 152 9000
  address: Boulevard Adolfo López Mateos 3401
  A bi-annual, four-day shoe festival occurring every March/April and August/September.

Budget

Mid-range

• Frascati León

  phone: +52 477 773 7154
  address: Avenida Cerro Gordo 201a
  A popular Italian restaurant.

Splurge

• Aromas Restaurante

  phone: +52 477 718 2316
  address: Av Cerro Gordo del Campestre 1101
  Great food, great wine, great people.

• Real Azteca Hotel

  phone: +52 477 764 1111
  address: Blvd Adolfo López Mateos 1701 Ote
  Seems quite nice, reasonably clean, air, wifi, restaurant.

• Hotel Suites Mexico Plaza Campestre

  phone: +52 477 788 4970
  address: Blvd Morelos 1758-2
  Somewhat distant from the main city (around 20-25 minutes on a cab). Taxis from the airport are by no way cheap, around US$20, and transportation to downtown is around US$5. Free wi-fi, outdoor pool, and gym, with an onsite restaurant.