Guadalajara

Travel Guide

Palacio de Gobierno showing an administrative buidling, a square or plaza and a city
Metropolitan Cathedral showing night scenes, religious aspects and heritage architecture
Degollado Theater featuring interior views, theater scenes and art
Downtown Guadalajara
Guadalajara featuring street scenes and a city

Intriguing architecture, mariachi music and mouthwatering food will have you falling in love with one of Mexico’s largest cities.

Many praise Mexico’s second-largest city for having produced mariachi and tequila, for being a modern, cultural city with malls and urban parks and for its grand historical buildings.

Guadalajara is the capital of the central Mexican state of Jalisco and the sprawling metropole is home to about 4.5 million people. The highly developed city has wide avenues and modern offices, but also reveals a rich cultural identity.

Many of the city’s historic plazas and cathedrals have been preserved and can be found in the Centro Histórico and surroundings. A small metro network connects the major sites. Visit the 17th-century Catedral Metropolitana (Catedral Basílica de la Asunción de María Santísima), adorned with neo-Gothic towers.

Take a seat on the Plaza de Armas just to the south of the cathedral or admire the Rotonda de los Jaliscienses Illustres on the opposite side of the cathedral. To the east is the Plaza de la Liberación, where you can see the statue of Miguel Hidalgo, commemorating the abolishment of slavery. Don’t miss the plaza’s neoclassical Teatro Degollado, where folk dancing is still performed today.

The huge, covered Mercado Libertad (Liberty Market) is a good place to try authentic Mexican food. Snack on tamales stuffed with meat and cheese or sit down for a bowl of birria stew, a local delicacy. To see the contemporary side of the city, admire the artistic fountain on Plaza Tapatia or shop at the Plaza del Sol.

Use one of Guadalajara’s many affordable buses to explore the edges of the city. Don‘t miss the expansive Zoológico Guadalajara and its rare Mexican wolves.

Guadalajara’s climate is relatively mild due to its location at 5,200 feet (1,585 meters) above sea level. The days are mostly sunny and evenings are cool. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit.

Guadalajara sits between central Mexico City and Puerto Vallarta on the west coast. Guadalajara’s international airport is 9.9 miles (16km) south of the city center from where regional buses can take you all around Mexico.

Where to stay in Guadalajara

Downtown Guadalajara

Downtown Guadalajara

4/5(1,327 area reviews)

Consider a visit to Plaza de Armas and take some time to enjoy the abundant dining options during your time in Downtown Guadalajara. If you want to see more of the city, jump on the metro at Plaza Universidad Station or San Juan de Dios Station.

Downtown Guadalajara
Degollado Theater featuring theater scenes, heritage architecture and interior views

Guadalajara Centro

4.5/5(66 area reviews)

Architecture, historic sites, and shopping highlight some notable features of Guadalajara Centro. Make a stop by Plaza de Armas or Guadalajara Cathedral while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Plaza Universidad Station or Juarez Station to get around town.

Guadalajara Centro
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Zona Expo

4/5(307 area reviews)

Travelers come to Zona Expo for its abundant dining options, and you can see top attractions like Plaza del Sol and Galleries Theater while you're in town.

Zona Expo
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Colonia Americana

While you're in Colonia Americana, take in top sights like Avienda Chapultepec or Templo Expiatorio del Santisimo Sacramento, and hop on the metro to see more the city at Juarez Station or Mexicaltzingo Station.

Colonia Americana
Escamoles are the edible larvae and pupae of ants that are harvested from the roots of the Agave

Providencia

4.5/5(209 area reviews)

Providencia is known for its ample dining options, and you can make a stop by Punto Sao Paulo Shopping Center and Guadalajara Country Club while in the area.

Providencia
La Minerva showing a hotel, a statue or sculpture and a pond

Zona Minerva

Travelers come to Zona Minerva for its abundant dining options, and you can see top attractions like Applicant Service Center and Avienda Chapultepec while you're in town.

Zona Minerva
Hotel Riu Plaza Guadalajara
Hotel Riu Plaza Guadalajara
5 out of 5
Av. Lopez Mateos 830 Col. Chapalita, Guadalajara, JAL
The price is NT$3,165 per night from Aug 3 to Aug 4
NT$3,165
NT$3,799 total
Aug 3 - Aug 4
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Guadalajara. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the breakfast and the bar in our reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (3,840 reviews)
"Service was great"

Reviewed on 2025/7/7

Hotel Riu Plaza Guadalajara
Hotel Plaza Genova Centro
Hotel Plaza Genova Centro
3.5 out of 5
Av. Juarez 123 Zona Centro, Guadalajara, JAL
The price is NT$1,049 per night from Jul 22 to Jul 23
NT$1,049
NT$1,259 total
Jul 22 - Jul 23
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly hotel in Guadalajara. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 24-hour room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff in ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,341 reviews)
"Everything was excellent"

Reviewed on 2025/7/5

Hotel Plaza Genova Centro
Hotel Antré Chapultepec
Hotel Antré Chapultepec
3.5 out of 5
1390 Avenida Ignacio L Vallarta, Guadalajara, Jalisco
The price is NT$1,745 per night from Jul 21 to Jul 22
NT$1,745
NT$2,094 total
Jul 21 - Jul 22
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in Guadalajara. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (1,777 reviews)
"La atención desde la llegada es muy amable, todo el personal muy atento. El hotel está en excelentes condiciones y muy limpio. Me encantó."

Reviewed on 2025/7/8

Hotel Antré Chapultepec
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Hotel Mutuo Vive
Hotel Mutuo Vive
3.5 out of 5
2600 C. Justo Sierra Arcos Vallarta, Guadalajara, Jal.
Stay at this 3.5-star aparthotel in Guadalajara. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a rooftop terrace. Popular attractions Andares Shopping Center and Minerva ...
9/10 Wonderful! (159 reviews)
"Excelente ubicacion y condiciones de la habitacion."

Reviewed on 2025/7/3

Hotel Mutuo Vive
European Life Style Executive Suites & Gallery
European Life Style Executive Suites & Gallery
3 out of 5
Av Guadalupe 4885, Zapopan, JAL
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly aparthotel in Zapopan. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,931 reviews)
"El personal Muy amable . El hotell ocupa un poco de retoques"

Reviewed on 2025/6/10

European Life Style Executive Suites & Gallery
Demetria Bungalows
Demetria Bungalows
3.5 out of 5
General San Martin No. 177, Col. Lafayette, Guadalajara, JAL
Stay at this 3.5-star spa aparthotel in Guadalajara. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Popular attractions Andares Shopping Center and Avienda ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (342 reviews)
"the privacy of the bungalows is optimal, the size of the rooms/suites are big, the ambience is serene, the space is memorable. the best in Guadalajara!"

Reviewed on 2025/6/23

Demetria Bungalows
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Reviews of Guadalajara

4.5
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
1253
5 - Excellent 63%
4 - Good
596
4 - Good 30%
3 - Okay
106
3 - Okay 5%
2 - Disappointing
13
2 - Disappointing 1%
1 - Terrible
21
1 - Terrible 1%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Beautiful

2/5 - Disappointing

Verified traveler

City is dirty with lots of homeless on the streets. We had just visited Mazatlan which was WONDERFUL.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Guadalajara is a perfect city for enjoying relaxing or party , I really recommend The weather there is perfect .

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Is a big City, if you been to Rome it feel like that. Like every big city has everything your very elite nice areas and the not so nice. Everyone is very welcoming . The best Restaurants are in Plaza Andares delicious  nice. Instagram photo options

4/5 - Good

MarioFelix

I like the shopping, the tasty food, the friendly communication with people.

5/5 - Excellent

Amalia

Recommend to go, do tequila tours, see the churches and do some shopping

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