Visit Guadalajara

Arcaded squares linked by long pedestrian esplanades, Orozco's painted flames under the dome of the Hospicio Cabañas, cantinas where mariachis play and blue agave fields an hour's drive away: the capital of Jalisco gathers a large share of Mexico's best-known symbols in one place.

Why visit Guadalajara?

Guadalajara, capital of Jalisco state and the second-largest metropolitan area in Mexico, is the birthplace of mariachi and the gateway to the UNESCO-listed agave landscape of Tequila. It offers a monumental colonial centre, the Hospicio Cabañas and its murals, and a mild climate thanks to its altitude of around 1,500 metres.

Guadalajara highlights

Monuments, markets, music and spirits: nine reasons to stay more than one night.

Hospicio Cabañas

A 19th-century former orphanage listed by UNESCO, whose chapel is covered in murals by José Clemente Orozco, including the Man of Fire under the dome.

Guadalajara Cathedral

The city's main church, begun in the 16th century, recognisable by its two yellow spires rebuilt after the 19th-century earthquakes.

Teatro Degollado

A neoclassical theatre with a colonnade opened in the 19th century, home to the Jalisco Philharmonic and the university folk ballet.

Government Palace

Seat of the Jalisco government, open to the public, whose main staircase is dominated by a striking Orozco mural devoted to the priest Hidalgo.

San Juan de Dios market

A huge covered market on three levels: fresh produce, birria and torta ahogada counters, electronics, leather and souvenirs.

El Parián de Tlaquepaque

A vast courtyard surrounded by cantinas, where mariachis play in the afternoon and evening, at the heart of the pedestrian craft district.

Plaza de los Mariachis

A small square downtown, near the market, where mariachi bands offer songs to the terrace tables, especially in the evening.

Zapopan Basilica

A Franciscan sanctuary holding a small revered statue of the Virgin, the end point of the great Romería procession every 12 October.

Barranca de Huentitán

A spectacular canyon north of the city, reached by a steep paved trail dropping several hundred metres, best tackled early in the morning.

What to discover in Guadalajara, neighbourhood by neighbourhood?

The historic centre and Plaza Tapatía

The heart of the city forms a cross of squares around the cathedral, whose two yellow spires are Guadalajara's emblem. To the east, Plaza Tapatía, a pedestrian esplanade around 500 metres long, links the Teatro Degollado to the Hospicio Cabañas. The San Juan de Dios market, one of the largest covered markets in Latin America, stands right next to it. A full day is enough for the centre; on Sunday mornings several avenues close to cars for the Vía RecreActiva, ideal by bike.

Colonia Americana and Avenida Chapultepec

West of the centre, Colonia Americana lines up early 20th-century mansions, specialty coffee shops, chef-driven restaurants and mezcal bars. Avenida Chapultepec, with its pedestrian central strip, is where young tapatíos go out, especially from Thursday to Saturday night. The Templo Expiatorio, a neo-Gothic church whose clock sets off a procession of mechanical apostles several times a day, marks its eastern edge. It is the most pleasant area to stay, 10 to 15 minutes by taxi from the historic centre.

Tlaquepaque and Tonalá, the craft villages

Swallowed by the metropolis, these two former villages remain Jalisco's capitals of ceramics and crafts. San Pedro Tlaquepaque, about 8 km south-east of the centre, unfolds pedestrian streets of galleries and homeware shops, and its Parián, a large courtyard lined with cantinas, hosts mariachis every afternoon. Tonalá, a little further out, is more down-to-earth: its huge street market runs on Thursdays and Sundays. Allow half a day for Tlaquepaque, more if you combine both.

Zapopan and the west of the city

A neighbouring municipality now merged into the metropolis, Zapopan is home to the Basilica of the Virgin of Zapopan, where every 12 October the Romería procession ends, drawing more than a million pilgrims over a few kilometres. Its main square and pedestrian streets take two hours to explore. Further west, Avenida Patria and the Andares district concentrate shopping malls and modern business hotels. On a first visit, Zapopan deserves half a day, ideally with lunch on its square.

Tequila and the agave landscape

The town of Tequila lies about 60 km north-west, an hour to an hour and a half by road. The agave landscape and the old industrial facilities around it have been on the UNESCO list since 2006. Distilleries offer guided tours with tastings, the best known being in the village centre. Avoid driving back: tour buses, a private driver or the tourist train from Guadalajara are safer. A full day is needed, leaving early to see the fields in the morning light.

Lake Chapala and Ajijic

Lake Chapala, Mexico's largest natural lake, lies about 50 km south, an hour's drive. On its northern shore, Chapala and above all Ajijic, a village of colourful lanes and murals, are home to a large community of North American retirees drawn by the climate. Ajijic's malecón is perfect for a sunset stroll. There is no swimming or white sand here as in Cancún: people come for the calm and the light. A day trip is enough, or one night to slow down.

Frequently asked questions about Guadalajara

How many days should you spend in Guadalajara?
Three days cover the historic centre, Tlaquepaque and Colonia Americana. Add a day for Tequila and another for Lake Chapala and Ajijic. Five days in total give a complete picture of the city and its surroundings.
How do you get from Guadalajara to Tequila?
Regular buses leave the old bus station for Tequila in about two hours. Organised tours often include a distillery visit. A tourist train also links Guadalajara to Amatitán and Tequila, more expensive but with tastings on board.
Where can you hear mariachis in Guadalajara?
El Parián in Tlaquepaque is the best-known spot, with bands in the afternoon and evening. Plaza de los Mariachis, downtown, is more down-to-earth. In late August, the International Mariachi Gathering schedules concerts across the city, some of them free.
What is a torta ahogada and where can you try one?
It is a birote bread roll filled with pork carnitas and drowned in tomato sauce, spiced to taste with chile de árbol. A city speciality, it is eaten at breakfast or lunch at counters downtown and in the San Juan de Dios market.
Can you combine Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta on one trip?
Yes, about five to six hours by bus or a short flight separate the two Jalisco cities. First-class bus companies run several departures a day. The drive crosses the sierra: travel by day and check the current advisories.
What are the Guachimontones and how do you get there from Guadalajara?
This archaeological site, near the village of Teuchitlán about an hour's drive west, preserves unique circular pyramids of the so-called Teuchitlán tradition. A visitor centre explains the site. Public transport is scarce, so plan on a car or an organised tour.
Is Lake Chapala good for swimming?
Not really: the water is murky and its quality varies. People come to Chapala and Ajijic to stroll along the malecones, eat lake fish and enjoy the climate, rather than for the beach.
When does the Romería de Zapopan take place?
Every 12 October, the statue of the Virgin of Zapopan leaves Guadalajara Cathedral at dawn to return to her basilica, accompanied by a huge crowd of pilgrims and dancers. Streets along the route are closed, so plan your journeys accordingly.

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