Things to do in Guadalajara
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Guadalajara
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Best months: rains ended, days dry and warm, evenings cool, and the festival calendar is at its richest. November may be the single best month.
Dry and warming and still very good; jacaranda in early spring, Semana Santa quieter, and May is the hottest month with 30C plus afternoons.
Rainy season: clear mornings then heavy afternoon and evening downpours. Do sights in the morning and keep museums and long lunches for afternoons.
Worst window honestly: late May into June combines peak heat, first heavy rains and the muddiest trails.
Mid September can be wet and holiday disrupted around Independence Day closures on 16 September.
What's on
- International Mariachi and Charrería Festival late August to early September
The city flagship cultural event: mariachi ensembles, charro horsemanship, gala concerts at the Degollado and a parade.
- Fiestas de Octubre October
Jalisco big state fair in Zapopan with concerts, regional food, exhibitions and family fairground energy.
- Romería de Zapopan 12 October
Annual pilgrimage carrying the Virgin of Zapopan back to her basilica, drawing enormous crowds; plan logistics around it.
- Día de Muertos 1-2 November
Cemeteries, ofrendas and community altars across the city and in Tlaquepaque; respectful visitors are welcome at public displays.
- Guadalajara International Book Fair late November to early December
The largest Spanish language book fair in the world at Expo Guadalajara; the city fills and hotels book early.
- Guadalajara International Film Festival usually March
Mexico premier film festival, centred on university and city venues and a good reason to pick March specifically.
Best things to do in Guadalajara
Instituto Cultural Cabañas
UNESCO listed hospice turned cultural institute holding Orozco frescoes, including the Man of Fire in the chapel dome.
Centro Histórico
One compact morning walk links the Cathedral, Rotonda, Plaza de la Liberacion, Teatro Degollado and Plaza Tapatia.
Tlaquepaque
Artisan town of ceramics, glass and folk art galleries, with courtyard restaurants and mariachi around El Parian at night.
Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
Tuesday Martes de Glamour lucha libre is masked wrestling as popular theatre, and the show first timers are steered to.
Mercado Libertad
Huge indoor market whose food floors are the cheapest way to graze birria, tortas ahogadas, tacos and jericalla in one hour.
Colonia Americana
Mansion streets holding the city best run of restaurants, bars, galleries, bookshops and cafes, with no single sight to chase.
Teatro Degollado
See the gilded neoclassical theatre from inside at a Jalisco Philharmonic, opera or ballet performance rather than just its facade.
Estadio Akron
A Chivas home match is the city biggest regular sporting event, loudest and best for a Clasico Tapatio against Atlas.
Where to stay in Guadalajara
Colonia Americana
first trip, food and drink base
Tree lined mansion streets at the restaurant and bar centre of gravity, walkable day and night and close to Centro by Uber.
Centro Histórico
first time sightseeing value
Cathedral, Cabanas and Degollado on the doorstep and the cheapest good rooms, but quieter and rougher at night, so Uber back.
Providencia
quiet, families and a residential feel
Leafy upscale streets, Los Colomos park and excellent untouristy restaurants, with more Ubers and almost no nightlife noise.
Andares, Zapopan
modern luxury and total ease
Polished wealthy northwest with malls, the basilica and Estadio Akron, but the least distinctively Guadalajara base and Uber dependent.
Tlaquepaque
a slow, pretty overnight
Charming walkable gallery core, calm at night with evenings in El Parian, traded against distance from Americana restaurants.
Think twice about
- East and southeast Centro
The San Juan de Dios, old bus station and Arena Coliseo fringe empties early and is rough at night. Visit by day, do not base there.
- Oblatos
Residential district on local no go lists for visitors, with a real crime reputation and no visitor infrastructure.
- Santa Cecilia
Residential district on local no go lists for visitors, with a real crime reputation and no reason to base there.
- Miravalle
Residential district on local no go lists for visitors, with a real crime reputation and no visitor infrastructure.
Best restaurants in Guadalajara
Alcalde
The city flagship tasting menu: seasonal Jalisco ingredients with European technique in a calm room on Avenida Mexico.
Xokol
A tasting menu built on native maize, nixtamal, smoke and pre Hispanic technique at a communal dark stone table.
Hueso
Nose to tail modern Mexican cooking in a bone lined single room, known for short rib with bone marrow.
Bruna
Garden room modern Mexican plates and serious cocktails, the fashionable group night out that is not a tasting menu.
PalReal
Daytime star for specialty coffee, brunch and inventive Mexican cantina cooking, with a wait at weekend brunch.
La Docena
The city best known oyster bar: raw oysters, clams, aguachile, grilled octopus and whole fish in a lively room.
Karne Garibaldi
Institution serving essentially one dish, carne en su jugo with beans and tortillas, famously fast and an essential taste.
Birriería Las 9 Esquinas
The classic city address for birria, slow cooked goat in rich chilli broth on the nine cornered plaza in Centro.
Best bars in Guadalajara
El Gallo Altanero
Agave spirits cocktail bar in Americana focused on small producer tequila and raicilla, on every serious drinking list here.
Cantina La Fuente
The classic no frills cantina near Centro, the traditional counterpoint to Americana cocktail bars.
Outdoor things to do in Guadalajara
José Cuervo Express
The splurge way to Tequila: tourist train, La Rojena distillery, agave field demonstrations, tastings and a folkloric show.
Destilería Los Tres Toños
Small traditional distillery used on artisanal tours where the tequila process is explained at human scale, plus fields and lunch.
Tequila
Do Tequila cheaply by bus, walking to distillery tours in town, lunch in the market and the town museum at your own pace.
Guachimontones
The only major circular pyramid complex in Mexico, with stepped round pyramids, ball courts and valley views an hour away.
Barranca de Huentitán
A 600 metre canyon at the city edge: an easy cobbled descent and a serious climb back out, or just the rim mirador view.
Bosque Los Colomos
Protected urban forest with shaded 3km and 5km running loops, tall trees and a much loved Japanese garden for calm mornings.
Bosque La Primavera
A 30000 hectare volcanic forest of pine and oak trails for hiking and biking, leading to the geothermally warmed Rio Caliente.
Lake Chapala
Mexico largest lake: Chapala pier and malecon, a short boat ride, lakeside seafood, then mural covered Ajijic and its malecon.
Best hotels in Guadalajara
Villa Ganz Boutique Hotel
Converted mansion described as the city first luxury boutique hotel, with garden calm a block from the Americana action.
Hotel Demetria
Design forward boutique with pool, rooftop and art and bookshop presence, the fashionable address at the Lafayette edge.
Gala Hotel Boutique
Smaller, characterful mid band boutique in Americana, priced well below the district two luxury names.
Ramé Hotel Boutique
Characterful mid band boutique option in Americana, in the district local lists name alongside Gala.
Hostal Hospedarte Chapultepec
Social hostel atop the Chapultepec strip with dorms, privates, a communal kitchen and staff run walks and Tequila trips.
Casa Pedro Loza
An 1848 former archbishop palace turned boutique hotel near the Cathedral, with breakfast in a museum like courtyard.
Hotel Morales
Classic early 20th century historic centre hotel, central and dependable at a true mid band price.
Hotel Fénix
Long running, basic and clean budget hotel in Centro, among the cheapest good private rooms in the city.
Is Guadalajara expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | MX$950 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | MX$2,600 a person |
| Splurge | MX$6,000 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Teatro Degollado: a few days ahead
- Estadio Akron: a few days ahead
- José Cuervo Express: weeks ahead
- Destilería Los Tres Toños: weeks ahead
- Guachimontones: a few days ahead
- Lake Chapala: a few days ahead
- Guadalajara Country Club: weeks ahead
- Club de Golf Santa Anita: weeks ahead
- Alcalde and Xokol: reserve when flights are set, weeks not days for weekends.
- Jose Cuervo Express weekends sell out; book the premium carriage early and paid Tequila versions at least a week ahead in season.
- Book rooms early for the Book Fair in late November to early December and Fiestas de Octubre, when mid range supply compresses.
- Lucha libre: buy at the Arena Coliseo box office on the night and Uber both ways. Cabanas, museums and Tlaquepaque are walk up friendly.
Is Guadalajara safe?
- Base west, enjoy Centro by day and return by car at night, and keep phones out of sight in markets and busy streets.
- Do not wander on foot around Arena Coliseo after lucha libre; order your car from inside and Uber door to door.
- Never drive the Tequila day yourself: altitude, sun and tastings are the most predictable way to ruin an evening.
- Check current news in the week you travel, and hydrate and pace drinks at 1566 metres.
Guadalajara travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Plaza de los Mariachis is overpriced and down at heel; hear mariachi at El Parian or Las 9 Esquinas instead.
- The big house Tequila tour can feel like a production line; weight the day toward a small artisanal producer.
- Mercado Libertad craft prices start optimistic, so compare stalls and negotiate politely; food counter prices are posted and local.
- Neither the zoo nor the aquarium should displace Cabanas, Tlaquepaque or a food day on a short trip.
Getting around Guadalajara: public transport and more
- Uber and DiDi are the default: cheap, plentiful in the west and recommended after dark and for the arena, Xokol and the stadium.
- Light rail Line 3 links Zapopan, Centro and Tlaquepaque and is the line visitors actually use.
- From the airport allow 30 to 50 minutes to Americana or Centro and use the authorised taxi desk or directed rideshare pickup.
- Do not rent a car for a city stay; hire a driver only for multi stop countryside days beyond the standard tours.
Who Guadalajara suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Great |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | Great |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | Great |
Make Guadalajara your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
Get Swearby on the App Store