Typically ignored by travellers, Guadalajara is a captivating metropolis with a wealth of cultural sights, mouth-watering delicacies, and a few unbelievable nightlife — there are limitless issues to do right here to maintain you busy!
Mexico’s 2nd largest metropolis is positioned within the state of Jalisco, which is dwelling to 2 of the nation’s most well-known exports — tequila and mariachi.
Whereas it most positively lives within the shadow of the capital, Mexico Metropolis, there’s so much happening in Guadalajara so as to add a cease right here in your Mexico travels.
In only a few days right here, I took within the sights of the historic metropolis centre, visited the nation’s largest lake, and joined the raucous crowd for a soccer sport! These are only a few of the numerous issues to do in Guadalajara, one of many prime locations to go to in Mexico.
Profit from your journey to the town by trying out this record of prime 21 issues to do in Guadalajara.
1. Discover the Historic Centre
The easiest way to get launched to Guadalajara is with a stroll by way of the Centro Historico (Historic Centre). This tour with skilled information, Diego, is a superb possibility and can cowl the entire spots.
Right here you’ll discover tree-lined plazas, beautiful cathedrals, necessary cultural establishments, bustling markets, and plenty extra. It’s a terrific place for an informal stroll, as there are a number of pedestrian-only streets.
For those who determine to go by yourself, begin your exploration off within the Plaza de Armas, which is surrounded by the double-spired Guadalajara Cathedral and the historic Governor’s Workplace.
Make sure you stroll by way of the close by Liberation Sq. to snap a photograph with the Guadalajara signal. Wandering round this sq. is likely one of the greatest free issues to do within the metropolis.
From right here you’ve got easy accessibility to a number of museums, such because the Regional Museum of Guadalajara. You might additionally simply seize a espresso and watch the town go about its day.
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2. Go on a Free Strolling Tour
Whereas the historic centre is well visited by yourself, it’s all the time extra useful to get a neighborhood’s perspective on the town. Each morning at 10AM, you’ll be able to be a part of the free strolling tour to soak up the sights together with insights from a neighborhood information.
For those who’re questioning what to do in Guadalajara whenever you first arrive, that is it.
Excursions meet on the gazebo within the Plaza de Armas and final about two hours. Along with studying concerning the historical past and tradition of Guadalajara, you’ll get strong suggestions from somebody who is aware of the town and also you’ll in all probability find yourself making just a few new mates.
Happening a strolling tour is likely one of the greatest issues to do in Guadalajara to get your bearings within the metropolis.
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3. Feast on Tortas Ahogadas
All that strolling round is certain to make you hungry. When in Guadalajara, you’ll be able to’t miss out on the native favorite generally known as tortas ahogadas. The identify actually means “drowned sandwiches,” and also you’ll know why as quickly as you see one.
These native specialties are sometimes made with birote bread and chopped fried pork. The sandwich is then fully drenched in a sauce made primarily from dried chili peppers.
They’re then served up with some slices of white onion, radishes, and the standard array of salsas and scorching sauces you’ll discover on any Mexican desk.
Grabbing certainly one of these sandwiches is likely one of the greatest issues to do in Guadalajara when you’ve got a hangover — the locals think about it the perfect remedy (and I’ve to say, I agree).
Take a look at Tremendous Tortas Ahogadas and Tortas Ahogadas Don Jose…or, ask your strolling tour information, Airbnb host or buddy the place the perfect sandwiches in Guadalajara will be discovered! Consuming superb meals is certainly one of many prime issues to do in Mexico.
I extremely suggest becoming a member of a meals tour like this one to not solely style the meals, however have an skilled native information inform concerning the historical past and significance of every dish. Discover out extra about the perfect meals tour in Guadalajara right here.
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4. Go to the Authorities Palace
This 18th-century constructing appears very unassuming from the surface, however when you enter, you’ll be rewarded with beautiful murals from the artist Jose Clemente Orozco.
The scale of the work is unbelievable, particularly the certainly one of Hidalgo which is positioned on the primary staircase.
The Authorities Palace is free to enter, making it a prime exercise for many who are backpacking Mexico on a funds. Be aware that it’s not open on weekends.
Be part of a strolling tour extremely rated one so you’ll be able to have a neighborhood information present you the sights and clarify the historical past and tales behind the points of interest. This strolling tour could be very extremely rated with a pleasant and educated information. Click on right here to study extra.
5. Hearken to Stay Mariachi Bands
Maybe no kind of Mexican music is extra well-known than mariachi. It even made the UNESCO record of Intangible Cultural Heritage just a few years in the past.
All over the place you go in Mexico, the sounds of mariachi music observe, whether or not it’s a roaming band on the seaside or the presidential inauguration ceremony.
Take a look at this tour the place you’ll get to see the unbelievable Mexican conventional Charro cowboys, full with a Charreada (rodeo) and a few drinks whereas being serenaded with Mariachi. Click on Right here to study extra about this expertise.
It’s believed that modern-day mariachi music originated in Jalisco, the Mexican state the place Guadalajara is the capital. As such, there’s no higher place to dive into this conventional Mexican music than proper right here in GDL.
Head to the Plaza de los Mariachis within the night and rent a band to serenade you. Simply be sure you come ready with just a few songs aside from “La Cucaracha.”
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6. Go Purchasing in Tlaquepaque
For those who’re seeking to take dwelling some distinctive souvenirs out of your journey to Mexico, you’ll need to be sure you embrace a visit to close by Tlaquepaque (attempt saying that one thrice quick).
This tremendous cool day journey tour will take you to Tlaquepaque and Tonala, two of the perfect villages for procuring round Guadalajara. Click on Right here to study extra about this tour.
As soon as its personal metropolis, Tlaquepaque was absorbed by the city sprawl of Guadalajara and have become a municipality.
Tlaquepaque is known for its stunning, hand-painted pottery. Within the Nahuatl language, the identify truly means “place above clay land.”
You can begin off within the Mercado de Artesanías to get a really feel for what’s on provide, after which department out and go to extra of the person retailers on the town if you wish to see extra. Don’t really feel like determining transportation and the logistics for a visit to Tlaquepaque? Take a look at today tour.
7. Go to the Cultural Institute Cabañas
One of the vital fascinating issues to do in Guadalajara is to go to the Cultural Institute Cabañas. It was based in 1791 as a hospital/orphanage by the Bishop of Guadalajara and finally turned a cultural establishment. It’s a wonderful neo-classical constructing with a number of courtyards and galleries to discover.
This cool strolling tour with a pleasant information will actually enable you to make a visit to the Cultural Institute of Cabañas in addition to many different sights across the metropolis. Click on Right here to study extra about this tour.
The spotlight of visiting is certainly seeing the superb frescoes by Mexican artist Jose Clemente Orozco, together with his well-known work Hombre de Fuego (The Man of Fireplace).
It’s closed on Mondays however free to go to on Tuesdays. In any other case, it prices about $2 to get in and one other $1 if you wish to use your digicam. Click on right here to seek out it on the map.
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8. Drink Tequila in Tequila
Do you know that Mexico’s most well-known beverage comes from a city of the identical identify?
Not removed from Guadalajara, you’ll certainly discover the Mexican city of Tequila. Taking a visit up there to go to the agave fields and some of the distilleries is undoubtedly one of many coolest issues to do in Guadalajara, Mexico.
You could have a number of choices for visiting Tequila, from merely catching a neighborhood bus and doing it your self to taking a trip on the famed Tequila Specific prepare. It’s a bit dear, however it’s definitely an superior expertise that’s price splurging on.
For those who don’t need to take the prepare, this enjoyable tour consists of transport there and again, tequila tastings, snacks, a pleasant and educated information, and a go to to a distillery. Click on Right here to study extra.
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9. See a Lucha Libre Struggle
One of the vital enjoyable issues to do in Guadalajara is seeing a Lucha Libre match. This was a spotlight of my journey to Guadalajara for certain.
On Tuesday evening, head to Area Coliseo to soak up the high-flying Mexican wrestling. The expertise consists of round-trip transportation, your ticket to the matches, data out of your native information about what is definitely happening, and drinks.
Even in the event you’re not an enormous wrestling fan like me, an evening of lucha libre is tons of enjoyable. My spouse always rags on me for my love of American professional wrestling, however she loves going to lucha libre and has already seen three reveals.
We even put collectively a handy-dandy information to seeing lucha libre in Mexico for you, so test it out and add it to your itinerary in GDL. Don’t miss this reasonably priced, enjoyable exercise in Guadalajara! Click on right here for particulars.
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10. Pattern Craft Beers
Overlook about Corona and Modelo whenever you’re in Guadalajara and check out among the metropolis’s superior cervezas artesenales (craft beers). The craft beer scene is quickly increasing right here, that means you’ve got a number of selections for the place to seize a pint.
You may be a part of this distinctive tour that can embrace strolling round and trying out a few of Guadalajara’s cool structure, adopted off by a brewery tour and sure… some scrumptious native beers. Click on right here to study extra.
One among my private favorite spots to sip on a tasty craft beer in Guadalajara is the Patan Ale Home. They’ve tons of superior native beers on faucet, a strong menu of artistic bar meals, and so they even have DJs spinning on the weekend. Salud!
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11. Wander Round Mercado Libertad
Mercado Libertad is a sprawling indoor market positioned within the historic centre of Guadalajara. For an all-out assault in your senses, wander across the maze-like stalls of this big market that appears to be promoting nearly the whole lot underneath the solar.
This highly-rated strolling and meals tour is led by a really skilled information who has spent many years procuring, consuming and guiding vacationers across the market. Extremely really helpful! Click on right here to study extra.
There’s contemporary produce, bootleg DVDs, leather-based merchandise, and even pets on the market right here.
It’s greatest to come back to the market hungry, as there’s a big meals courtroom right here cooking up a number of native specialties, such because the aforementioned tortas ahogadas and scrumptious bowls of pozole. It’s quick, low cost, and tremendous native – a successful mixture. Discover the market on the map, right here.
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12. Take Half in a Native Pageant (one of the vital cultural issues to do in Guadalajara)
There are totally different festivals happening all all year long in Guadalajara, so be sure you verify the calendar earlier than planning your journey.
You would possibly find yourself on the town throughout a literary, movie, or music pageant. In Mexico’s 2nd largest metropolis, there’s all the time one thing happening. Click on right here to seek out out what’s on throughout your journey.
One of the vital well-known and necessary occasions of the 12 months in GDL is the Worldwide Mariachi Pageant, which takes place on the finish of August.
There are parades, free concert events within the sq., and gala reveals with world-class mariachi musicians within the theatre. Talking of the theatre, that brings us to the following level in our record of greatest issues to do in Guadalajara.
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13. See a Present at Teatro Degallado
One of the vital stunning buildings in Guadalajara, Teatro Degallado is a neo-classical theatre within the historic centre of the town. To really admire the constructing, you’ll should go inside and see the unbelievable murals. It’s free to enter when there isn’t a present on.
There are common performances within the theatre, together with operas and symphony orchestras. For those who’re fortunate, you’ll be able to rating tickets to one of many gala performances throughout the mariachi pageant.
I attended one this 12 months and extremely suggest it in the event you get the possibility. Click on right here to buy tickets to the theatre, or just cease in whenever you’re visiting Guadalajara to see if there’s a last-minute present you’ll be able to attend. Discover the theatre on the map, right here.
14. Have Dinner at Birreria las 9 Esquinas
One other dish that Guadalajara is known for is birria – a spicy stew normally made out of goat or lamb. Though, generally it may be made with beef, mutton, and even rooster. The meat is completely seasoned and extremely tender and is a must-try when within the metropolis. It’s among the best dishes, I adore it!
Whereas there are tons of locations cooking up birria in Guadalajara, few locations do it higher than Birreria las 9 Esquinas. You may need to attend for a desk right here, however it’s positively price it to do this native specialty.
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15. Go to the Gardens in Parque Colomos
Parque Colomos is a big inexperienced area within the northwest a part of the town. It’s filled with strolling paths and picnic areas, making for a terrific place to spend a leisurely afternoon open air.
A visit here’s a good break from the hustle and bustle of downtown and is likely one of the extra enjoyable locations to go to in Guadalajara.
One of the best half about taking a stroll by way of Parque Colomos is having the ability to see the beautiful Japanese gardens. For those who can ignore the man blasting reggaeton by way of his cellular phone, it’s virtually such as you’re truly in Japan. Click on right here for instructions to the park, it’s among the best free issues to do in Guadalajara.
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16. Go to the Guachimontones
Not removed from Guadalajara (a couple of 45-minute drive), you’ll discover the superb archaeological web site generally known as Los Guachimontones. It dates again to the Teuchitlan custom, a pre-Columbian society that existed from round 300 BCE to 900 CE.
This web site is notable for its round stepped pyramids, which aren’t discovered wherever else on the earth.
Exploring this archaeological surprise is likely one of the most fascinating issues to do in Guadalajara and effectively definitely worth the day-trip. It prices 30 pesos to enter, or you’ll be able to rent a information on web site for 200 pesos. For those who’d want, you’ll be able to be a part of a tour.
Soccer is a big a part of Mexican tradition, whether or not it’s cheering on the nationwide staff throughout the World Cup or watching native groups compete within the Liga MX. Guadalajara is dwelling to two soccer groups – Chivas and Atlas. The previous performs at Estadio Akron whereas the latter hosts its video games at Estadio Jalisco.
The dynamic between the 2 groups is form of like that between the Yankees and Mets. One wins on a regular basis and the opposite, effectively, doesn’t.
If you wish to watch among the best groups within the league, leap on the Chivas bandwagon. For those who’d slightly root for the underdog, give your help to the fledgling Atlas squad. Both method, you’re assured a beer-soaked celebration if the native heroes win.
18. Celebration on Avenida Chapultepec
Guadalajara is a metropolis that likes to social gathering, and among the best locations to take action is Avenida Chapultepec. This fashionable road is filled with eating places, bars, and golf equipment and is enjoyable any evening of the week.
On the weekend, you’ll additionally discover a bustling market on the island in the course of the avenue. Native retailers peddle all types of wares right here, and it’s a extremely vibrant, vibrant scene. You could find the road right here.
19. Take pleasure in Automotive Free Sundays
For those who’re questioning what to do in Guadalajara on a Sunday, that is it. Whereas the social gathering goes actually late on Saturday evening, Avenida Chapultepec transforms come Sunday morning.
Each week from 8AM-2PM, half of the road is shut all the way down to all motorized automobiles. Joggers, cyclists, dog-walkers, and skaters all take to the streets to get pleasure from just a few hours freed from the grid-locked site visitors that normally plagues the town.
You’ll additionally discover pick-up volleyball video games, group health lessons, and varied non-revenue organizations arrange alongside the street. For those who’re visiting Guadalajara on a Sunday, be sure you test it out.
20. Go on a Hike in Parque Mirador
For some nice views of the canyon and a few contemporary air, head as much as Parque Mirador for a brief hike. After strolling as much as the point of view, you’ll be able to sit all the way down to lunch on the Restaurant El Mirador.
This makes for a straightforward and enjoyable half-day journey out of the town. It’s powerful to get your self on the market on public transportation, so that you’re higher off ordering an Uber. Attempt to prepare for them to come back again and get you just a few hours later.
21. Take a Day Journey to Lake Chapala
Positioned about an hour’s drive south of the town is Lake Chapala, the largest freshwater lake in all of Mexico.
There are a number of totally different cities alongside the lakeshore you’ll be able to go to, corresponding to Chapala and Ajijic. Because of its average local weather and exquisite environment, Lake Chapala can also be a favorite of expats, snowbirds, and retirees. Take a look at this tour from Guadalajara which takes in Lake Chapala and Ajijic.
The lake is a very talked-about place for locals to go to on weekends and holidays. As such, it’s higher to go to throughout the week if attainable.
Take pleasure in a stroll alongside the lakefront Malecon or go on a brief boat journey out to the small islands. In case you have just a few days to spare, I extremely suggest staying for an evening or two. It is a chilled out place that we actually loved visiting. In case you have the time, be sure to take a look at Lake Chapala.
Visiting Guadalajara: FAQs
Guadalajara is certainly price a go to. It’s smaller and extra manageable than Mexico Metropolis, and presents a terrific metropolis break from coastal Puerto Vallarta. Guadalajara has numerous festivals and occasions happening, nice eating places and bars, and lots of enjoyable day journeys as effectively.
The town of Guadalajara is thought for tequila, mariachi, historical past and traditions. That is the second largest metropolis in Mexico, and is a superb place to go to.
I like to recommend spending every week within the metropolis of Guadalajara in case you have the time. In fact, you can spend longer, or you can even go to on a weekend. However, with every week, you’ll be capable to catch a soccer match, discover the historic heart, go to among the parks, possibly catch an occasion or two, and naturally, do a day journey to Tequila, Tlaquepaque and Lake Chapala.
Guadalajara is mostly secure for vacationers, however regular precautions for a giant metropolis apply. Don’t depart your belongings unattended, don’t flash your valuables, keep away from darkish streets at evening, and stroll with mates in the event you can. It’s greatest to stay to the touristy, energetic downtown heart, and it’s suggested to keep away from the east aspect of the Calaza de la Independencia, particularly after darkish. As with wherever, ask your lodge or Airbnb host the place to go and the place to keep away from throughout your keep.
Now You Know What To Do in Guadalajara
As you’ll be able to see, Guadalajara is a metropolis that has so much to supply potential travellers. It has all of the perks of a giant metropolis minus lots of the downfalls.
As an example, whereas there are unbelievable issues to do in Mexico Metropolis that you simply shouldn’t miss, Guadalajara is way smaller and simpler to get round than the capital.
There’s sufficient to see within the historic centre to maintain you busy for a day or two, loads of superior day-trips to scenic places, and wonderful culinary and nightlife scenes to come back dwelling to.
For those who’re planning a journey to Mexico, be sure you add Guadalajara to your itinerary. It’s the right place to cease for just a few days on an extended journey round Mexico.
I visited the town between travelling round Guanajuato and having fun with the entire superior issues to do in Puerto Vallarta. Nevertheless you get right here, you’re certain to have a good time having fun with all the highest issues to do in Guadalajara.
Photographs on this article are courtesy of Shutterstock.com.
