Guanajuato · Mexico
Where to stay in Celaya
Celaya is a city in Guanajuato, Mexico, home to about 378,000 people.
- Best months
- October to March
- Nearest airport
- QRO66 km · Querétaro Intercontinental Airport
- Currency
- MXNpeso
- Time zone
- America/Mexico City
- Language
- Nahuatl, Spanish, Yucatec Maya
About
About Celaya
Celaya is a city and its surrounding municipality in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, located in the southeast quadrant of the state. It is the third most populous city in the state, with a 2005 census population of 310,413.
The main economic activities are the manufacturing industry (52% of the local GDP), the services sector (26%) and commerce (17%). The main manufacturing industries are related to the manufacture of electrical appliances, power generators, pharmaceutical products, household appliances, auto parts and cardboard packaging. The major agronomic activities are made up of the cultivation of corn, alfalfa and sorghum, and the rearing of cattle and goats.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Celaya
See
- Temple of the Virgen del Carmen
- Municipal Pantheon and Museum of Mummies of Celaya
- House of Tithe
- Temple of San Agustín
- House of Culture of Celaya
- Convent and Temple of San Francisco
- Ball of Water reservoir
- Column of Independence
- Museum of Celaya, Regional History
Do
- Xochipilli Park
- Parque Malecón Bicentenario Celaya
- Christmas Fair
- Club Celaya (football/soccer)
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Celaya
10 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Casa Inn Business Hotel Celaya | 1.5 km | |
| Casa Inn Galerias Celaya | 3.2 km | |
| City Express Celaya Galerias | 4.0 km | |
| City Express Celaya Parque | 3.4 km | |
| DoubleTree by Hilton Celaya | 2.4 km | |
| Hampton Inn by Hilton Celaya | 3.9 km | |
| Holiday Inn Express & Suites Celaya | 4.0 km | |
| Hotel St. George | 2.5 km | |
| Memora Hotel | 3.2 km | |
| Real Inn Celaya | 2.8 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Celaya
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Celaya are October to March. May is the warmest month, with average highs of 31 °C; July is the wettest, with about 128 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Celaya: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Querétaro Intercontinental Airport (QRO), about 66 km from the city centre in a straight line; General Francisco J. Mujica International Airport (MLM, 79 km) and Guanajuato International Airport (BJX, 86 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
It is 50 km west of the city of Santiago de Querétaro and 260 km from Mexico City. BJX airport and QRO airports are nearby. From Queretaro, it is a fast, easy drive to Celaya on a modern divided highway. Head west on federal highway MEX-45D for 45 minutes and you will be in Celaya. The highway has tolls. Coming from Guadalajara you can catch ETN the Executive class service with an option of single seats and WiFi with lunch for around M$350 (pesos) (US$25) one way or a lower class first class service from for M$333 where you get just a free soda and cookie.
Getting around
Walking is the easiest way to get around in the core downtown area of el centro. Uber is available in Celaya and taxis are easy to find. You can ask your hotel front desk staff to call a taxi for you.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
QRO · Querétaro Intercontinental Airport
MLM · General Francisco J. Mujica International Airport
BJX · Guanajuato International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Celaya
Eat
Celaya is known for its cajeta, a typical sweet made in an artisanal way. It is prepared with goat's milk in copper saucepans. There is a great variety of flavors: envinada, pine nut, vanilla, burnt, walnut, among others. In the same way, other delicious sweets are made such as ham, caramelized peanuts, covered fruits, almond cheese, custards, alfeñiques, wafers, cocadas; and in general, the sweets made with milk, even in the water ball it was believed that inside it there was a cajeta and not water. Other typical foods are Celaya-style tostadas, gorditas de queso y migajas from the Tierras Negras neighborhood, and pacharelas.
Stay safe
Celaya has become one of the 50 most violent cities in the world. In 2020, Celaya had the highest homicide rate in the country with a total of 699 homicides and a rate of 109, per 100,000 inhabitants. Being outside at night is not recommended and many stores will close early before midnight to avoid the danger. Some streets also block themselves off with only residents being allowed in. The Cartel de Santa Rose de Lima used to control the city however their presence has become limited to non-existence. There are many municipal police and national guard patrolling the city usually around the centro.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Celaya: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Celaya?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Celaya are October to March. May is the warmest month, with average highs of 31 °C; July is the wettest, with about 128 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Celaya?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Querétaro Intercontinental Airport (QRO), about 66 km from the city centre in a straight line; General Francisco J. Mujica International Airport (MLM, 79 km) and Guanajuato International Airport (BJX, 86 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Celaya?
peso (MXN).
Nearby
Destinations near Celaya
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.