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Jalisco, Mexico

Guadalajara

Stay 3 nights for the historic centre, Tlaquepaque and the city's food. This guide pulls together 4 sights, 2 places to eat and 1 bar or café from our curated routes.

Plan Guadalajara with friendsBrowse 9 places
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Places
9

4 See · 2 Eat · 1 Drink · 2 Shop

Curated routes
1

Guadalajara, Tequila & Puerto Vallarta

Best season
Nov – Apr

from our route notes

Warmest month
May

33°C / 92°F avg high

Coolest month
January

24°C / 75°F avg high

Wettest month
July

about 205 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Guadalajara

9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

4 sights worth building a day around across Centro Histórico and Teuchitlán.

  • Hospicio Cabañas in GuadalajaraPhoto: Museo Cabañas · Google
    See

    Hospicio Cabañas

    UNESCO-listed 19th-century orphanage holding José Clemente Orozco's fire-themed murals.

    Tip Borrow a mat and lie down to see the dome mural.

    • Centro Histórico
    • $
    • 1.5 hr
    • Morning
  • Guadalajara Cathedral in GuadalajaraPhoto: Isacdaavid · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Guadalajara Cathedral

    Twin-spired cathedral at the heart of a ring of plazas in the historic centre.

    • Centro Histórico
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • Morning
  • Teatro Degollado in GuadalajaraPhoto: Alejandro Basan · Google
    See

    Teatro Degollado

    Neoclassical theatre and home of the Jalisco Philharmonic, with a painted ceiling.

    Tip Sunday morning folkloric ballet shows are a good way in.

    • Centro Histórico
    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Evening
  • Guachimontones in GuadalajaraPhoto: Alvaro Antulio · Google
    See

    Guachimontones

    Circular stepped pyramids of the Teuchitlán culture, unique in Mesoamerica.

    • Teuchitlán
    • $
    • 2 hr
    • Morning

Eat

Where we would book a table in Guadalajara across Santa Teresita and Vallarta Norte.

  • Karne Garibaldi in GuadalajaraPhoto: Marcos Martínez · Google
    Eat

    Karne Garibaldi

    Fast-service institution for carne en su jugo, beef stewed in its own broth with beans.

    • Santa Teresita
    • $
    • 45 min
    • Lunch
  • Alcalde in GuadalajaraPhoto: kaart_1 @ Mapillary · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Eat

    Alcalde

    Chef Paco Ruano's modern Mexican tasting menus, ranked among Latin America's best.

    • Vallarta Norte
    • $$$$
    • 2.5 hr
    • Dinner

Drink

Our picks for a drink in Guadalajara in Centro Histórico.

  • La Fuente in GuadalajaraPhoto: Nima Honarbakhsh · Google
    Drink

    La Fuente

    Cantina open since 1921, with old regulars and live music, steps from the cathedral.

    • Centro Histórico
    • $
    • 1.5 hr
    • Evening

Shop

Markets and shops worth the detour across Centro Histórico and Tlaquepaque.

  • Mercado San Juan de Dios in GuadalajaraPhoto: Roy Winemiller · Google
    Shop

    Mercado San Juan de Dios

    Three-storey market of food stalls, leather and crafts, also called Mercado Libertad.

    Tip Eat birria on the upper food floor.

    • Centro Histórico
    • $
    • 1.5 hr
    • Midday
  • Tlaquepaque in GuadalajaraPhoto: Antonio Renteria Navarro · CC BY-SA 3.0
    Shop

    Tlaquepaque

    Former village of galleries and ceramics shops, with mariachi at El Parián plaza.

    • Tlaquepaque
    • $
    • 3 hr
    • Evening

How to fit Guadalajara into a trip

Guadalajara is stop 1 of 3 on our Guadalajara, Tequila & Puerto Vallarta route. Follow it as-is or lift Guadalajara into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Guadalajara month by month

Average daily highs run from 24°C / 75°F in January to 33°C / 92°F in May. July is the wettest month, with about 205 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Guadalajara weather and the best time to visit →

Near Guadalajara

2 other destinations from our guides within about 200 km (124 mi), measured in a straight line.

Guadalajara questions, answered

How many days do you need in Guadalajara?

Our route notes suggest 3 nights in Guadalajara. On our Guadalajara, Tequila & Puerto Vallarta route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 8-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 15 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Guadalajara best known for?

Stay 3 nights for the historic centre, Tlaquepaque and the city's food. Standouts on our list: Hospicio Cabañas (UNESCO-listed 19th-century orphanage holding José Clemente Orozco's fire-themed murals); Guadalajara Cathedral (Twin-spired cathedral at the heart of a ring of plazas in the historic centre); Teatro Degollado (Neoclassical theatre and home of the Jalisco Philharmonic, with a painted ceiling).

When is the best time to visit Guadalajara?

Our Guadalajara, Tequila & Puerto Vallarta route is best Nov – Apr. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in May (33°C / 92°F), the coolest in January (24°C / 75°F) and the most rain in July (about 205 mm).

What are the best things to do in Guadalajara?

Start with Hospicio Cabañas, Guadalajara Cathedral, Teatro Degollado and Guachimontones. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 4 sights, 2 places to eat, 1 bar or café and 2 shops.

Where should a group eat in Guadalajara?

Our picks: Karne Garibaldi (Santa Teresita); Alcalde (Vallarta Norte).

What is near Guadalajara?

The closest destinations in our guides are Tequila (about 56 km / 35 mi) and Puerto Vallarta (about 195 km / 121 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Guadalajara with your crew

Open the Guadalajara, Tequila & Puerto Vallarta route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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