The 113-step staircase that defines Guanajuato's skyline: its history, whether you can go inside, the festivals it hosts, and what to see on the same street.
The building and its steps
The institution traces back to a Jesuit college founded in 1732; the dramatic staircase and the white façade above it are a 1940s–50s addition, designed to give the university a monumental presence in a city with no flat ground to spare. The result is Guanajuato's most recognisable civic image after the Pípila. Locals use the steps constantly — as a shortcut, a meeting point, a place to sit and eat, and an impromptu grandstand.
Photography note: shoot from the bottom of Lascuráin de Retana for the full sweep, or from the top step for the rooftops and the Basilica dome. Early morning is empty; late afternoon gives warm light on the façade.
Can you go inside?
Usually yes, in the public areas, during weekday academic hours — the entrance hall and courtyard are the main draw, and there is often an exhibition on. Access can be restricted during exams, ceremonies or festival build-ups, and there is no formal visitor circuit or ticket. Treat it as visiting a working institution: quiet voices, no wandering into classrooms.
The festivals that use it
The staircase and the adjoining halls host a serious share of the city's cultural life: Festival Internacional Cervantino performances and open-air staging in October, the FILUG university book fair, and the Aurora film festival among them. During Día de Muertos the steps become a display space and a viewing platform for the processions below. Our best time to visit guide maps the calendar month by month if you are choosing dates around events.
Fit it into a Positos walk
The staircase sits at the top of the same slope as Museo Casa Diego Rivera, the Museo del Pueblo, and, a little lower, the Alhóndiga de Granaditas and Mercado Hidalgo. Do all four in a morning, ending with the Mirador del Pípila in the evening for a complete first day.
Nearby: bookshops Nympha Librería and Librería Los Pósitos, crafts at ARTLALLI — Tierra de Arte and Casa de las Artesanías de Guanajuato, coffee at La Vie en Rose or Santo Café, and lunch at Mestizo. Student-priced eating and drinking around the university is the cheapest in Centro — the nightlife guide covers where that goes after dark.
Frequently asked questions
How many steps does the Universidad de Guanajuato staircase have? 113 steps from the street to the main façade.
Can tourists go inside the University of Guanajuato? Generally yes, in the public entrance hall and courtyard during weekday academic hours, and for exhibitions or performances. There is no ticketed visitor route, and access may be closed during exams or events.
Is it free to visit? Yes. The staircase is a public street-level space at all hours, and public areas of the building do not charge admission.
Where do you get the best photo of the staircase? From the bottom of Calle Lascuráin de Retana for the whole sweep, ideally early morning before the steps fill, or from the top step looking back over the rooftops.
What events happen at the university? Cervantino performances in October, the FILUG book fair, the Aurora film festival, graduation ceremonies and Día de Muertos displays, among a continuous programme of exhibitions and concerts.
Keep exploring
Grab coffee from the Centro food and café directory or add a guided city tour.
