Guadalajara



Guadalajara is the capital of the central state of Jalisco in Mexico, and the second-largest city in the country, with about a million and a half citizens (known as "Tapatíos"). It is considered a colonial city, though much of its architecture dates from the independence period. Although it has a far more relaxed feel than Mexico City, the city center can still seem a bit stuffy and dusty, especially during rush hour when the sun is out. All in all, however, it is a lovely city and contains many nice areas for walking, not just in the center.

Understand
Guadalajara is Mexico's second largest city, and one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the country. This growth has been driven in part by the booming electronics industry in the industrial outskirts of the city. Other important and growing industries are pharmaceuticals, food processing, and fashion.

Orientation
Guadalajara proper is divided into four districts corresponding approximately to the northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast quarters of the city. At the center of everything is the main area of interest to tourists, the Centro Histórico, or the historic downtown. Most of your time will probably be spent here. It is filled with colonial-era buildings and, famously, also boasts several important mural paintings by Jalisco-born José Clemente Orozco, one of Mexico's most important artists.

Outside the Centro Histórico are:


 * Sector Hidalgo— in northwest of the Centro Histórico, Hidalgo is a largely residential sector encompassing the financial district and the Country Club Guadalajara.
 * Sector Libertad— northeast of the Centro Histórico, Sector Libertad is mostly given over to industrial use. However, the southwest part of the sector, close to the Centro Histórico, boasts a traditional market (Mercado Libertad) and the Plaza de los Mariachis.
 * Sector Juárez— southwest of the Centro Histórico, Sector Juárez is a shoppers' paradise: it boasts two shopping malls (Centro Magno and Galerias), as well as the popular Minerva, Chapultepec, and Zona Rosa shopping areas.
 * Sector Reforma— southeast of the Centro Histórico, Reforma is also a mostly industrial sector, but visitors will no doubt be interested in the pleasant, tree-filled Parque Agua Azul, as well as the Tianguis Cultural de Guadalajara, a street market where alternative clothing and articles such as spiked belts, black trenchcoats, military uniforms, used books and trading cards are for sale at good prices.



Still further from central Guadalajara are several suburbs (municipios) that are cities in their own right. Several of these are also of interest to visitors, including:


 * Tlaquepaque — about 30 minutes by car southeast of the Centro Histórico, downtown Tlaquepaque is a charming streetscape redolent of old Mexico. An important arts and crafts center, Tlaquepaque has a vibrant shopping district where you can buy local pottery and handicrafts, as well as many lovely restaurants, art galleries, and a regional ceramics museum.
 * Tonalá — immediately east of Tlaquepaque, Tonalá contains Guadalajara's main bus station, handicraft shops and markets, and the large Parque Solidaridad.
 * Zapopan — a large, busy suburb southwest of Guadalajara, is famous for the old-fashioned charm of its downtown, its active nightlife fueled by the three large private universities within the city limits (Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, Tecnológico de Monterrey and Universidad del Valle de Atemajac), its proliferation of modern shopping malls that will make American suburbanites feel right at home, and—by contrast—also large expanses of pristine nature, such as the Bosque de Colomos and the gargantuan Bosque La Primavera.

The 275-diagonal bus route runs from Tlaquepaque through the Centro to Zapopan, providing convenient access to all of these outer districts.

History
The co-founders of Guadalajara were Doña Beatriz de Hernández and Governor Cristobal de Oñate. In the Plaza de los Fundadores there is a monument in honor of both of them.

Guadalajara, and Jalisco in general, were the epicenter of the Cristero Wars (1926-1929) — a rebellion by Catholic guerrillas against the secularizing reforms of President Plutarco Calles. One of the first armed conflicts of the rebellion took place in Guadalajara in the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe on August 3, 1926, where a group of several hundred Cristeros engaged in a shootout with federal troops. Guadalajara was attacked (unsuccessfully) by the Cristero armies in March 1929.

In the 1950s, Avenida Juárez was widened to create today's arterial road of Juárez-Vallarta which you see today. A famous part of that work was the moving of the central telephone exchange without the disruption of service. Pictures of this feat of engineering can be seen in the City Museum (Museo de la Ciudad).

In April 1992, Sector Reforma was rocked by a huge explosion of gasoline, when a gasoline pipeline leaked into the sewers over a period of days until the fumes finally detonated. Some 200 Tapatíos were killed and several thousand injured. The explosion affected mostly the working-class and industrial areas on the south side of the city.

In May 1993, Cardinal Juan Jesús Posadas Ocampo of Guadalajara was killed at the Guadalajara airport. Though at the time the murder was thought to have been some sort of politically motivated assassination, subsequent investigations favor the theory that the cardinal was caught by mistake in drug-related violence, his motorcade having been mistaken for that of a drug lord. Cardinal Ocampo is buried beneath the high altar of the Catedral de Guadalajara, probably because it was first suspected that the motives for his murder were political, rather than accidental.

By plane
At the airport, always buy the taxi chit from the booth before exiting the terminal, then present it to the licensed driver. Many hotels offer airport pickups that can be cheaper.

Uber drivers are not allowed to pick up passengers at the airport. A common way to get around this limitation is to walk outside the airport a few minutes away to the nearby UPS distribution center (labeled as "Centro de Envios UPS" on Google maps). Set your Uber pick up location at this UPS center, which is outside the airport's restrictions and a driver will pick you up there.

The app Moovit finds a better bus connection from the airport to your accommodation than Google Maps (as of Dec 2021). The bus stops at the bottom of Terminal 1 and goes to the Old Bus Station close to the Centro Histórico and costs M$9.50 (Dec 2021). To get to the bus station of the airport, take a right upon exiting the airport building and follow the signs to the "Terminal Terrestre." Walk past the police station and FedEx building. Pay when getting on the bus.

By bus
Guadalajara has two bus stations:


 * – This is the new main bus station in the suburb of Tonalá, which serves all long-distance routes (generally those which leave the state of Jalisco). From this bus station to the Centro Histórico it's convenient by the subway or e-hailing.


 * (Antigua Estación Central de Autotransporte) – Just south of downtown and is served by bus lines to nearby pueblos such as Tequila and Chapala. The buses themselves are very comfortable.

If you come from León and want to take a second-class van to Guadalajara: Roll&bits has daily rides for about M$200 (May 2022). Just book your ticket online on their website. The vans have a big trunk for luggage.

By carpooling
From and to Puerto Vallarta it's around M$300 (Nov 2021) on Blablacar.

By car

 * Federal Highway 15 (Carretera Federal 15) connects Guadalajara with Mexico City to the east.

Get around
The Centro (downtown) is best accessible by walking. Most attractions lie within an area of about 1 km long by 350 m wide. For longer trips, or to get in and out of the Centro, use the bus, subway or a taxi. There are also horse-drawn carriages (calandrias), which are more expensive and touristy.

By e-hailing
Uber, Cabify and Didi cover the city.

By bus
For finding connections, Moovit and Google Maps cover the city including the subway. Regular buses cost M$9.50 (Dec 2021). You can pay with the public transport card or in cash. You don't get change. If paying with a bill, you can fold it and push it through the coin slot inside the bus.

The bus stops are shown in Google Maps or when calculating a route with Moovit. Not all bus stops have a signpost with a blue sign and a picture of a bus as well as triangular markings on the road with the word parada (bus stop).

Some bus lines show a different bus line number on their destination screen. When you wait for a bus, check the destination screen, the windshield and on the left of the front door, whether it's your bus line. It might be good to always ask the bus driver if he goes to your destination.

Dozens of bus routes provide transportation around the city. There are also luxury buses (Turquesa, Tour and Cardenal). Look on the front window of the bus to determine its destination, and ask the driver if you're uncertain.

Riding the bus also provides a good chance to see different parts of the city and get your bearings. Bus drivers will give you change within limits, though after even a day in Guadalajara you might find more 10-peso pieces in your pocket than you can dispose of.

Metropolitan Area Mass Transit System (Sistema de Transporte Colectivo de la Zona Metropolitana). Alternatively, try Busca Tu Ruta (Search for Your Route). One particularly useful method for getting back and forth between the Centro Histórico and the Zona Rosa/Minerva area is the Guadalajara Trolley Bus (Trolebús de Guadalajara). Westbound trolleys travel along Avenida Vallarta; eastbound trolleys along Avenida Hidalgo. Just look overhead for the pair of electrical power cables. In the Centro Histórico you can catch the Trolebús on Avenida Hidalgo up to the east side of the Plaza de la Liberación, where it makes the turn to head up to Calzada Independencia and back west.

There is also an open-top double-decker tourist bus (TuriBus) that leaves from the Rotunda and will take you past all the main sites in Guadalajara, Tlaquepaque and Zapopan. Riders can get on and off the bus at will all day long, for a flat rate.

By taxi
Taxis are another option if you don't want to try to figure out the buses. You can either agree on a price with the cab driver or ask him to turn the meter on. Using the latter option, there is a risk that the driver won't the take the shortest possible route if he thinks you don't know it yourself. The meter will normally be a better price than the price the hotel will tell you to pay if they call you a cab. As always, be sure to ask the fare before you get in. Cabs cost more at night or when they have to cross the outer ring (Anillo Periférico) of the city. At night, the prices are doubled. If the driver is using a meter, there's also a starting price.

Fares to and from the airport are set. If arriving at the Guadalajara airport, a taxi monopoly provides the service from the airport. Pay for your taxi ride at the booths outside of the arrival halls. You can take a normal taxi to the airport, though.

By subway
There is a light-rail subway system (the Tren Ligero) that can be useful for travelers who are headed where the trains go. There are two lines that meet at the western edge of the Centro Histórico, and a third line that runs diagonally across the city. One runs north-to-south beneath Avenida Federalismo to the edges of the city in both directions. The second runs west-to-east through the Centro Histórico to the eastern suburbs, and the third runs diagonally across the city from Zapopan in the northwest to Tlaquepaque in the southeast.

The fare is M$9.50 (Dec 2021). You can pay with the public transport card or by cash at the machine: For the latter just push on the blue button on the screen. The machine does not give you change. The subway closes at 23:00.

A public transport card costs M$30 (Dec 2021) and can be purchased e.g. at a ticket machine of a subway station. It can be used for the metro, bus and bikesharing.

A new bus service named Pre-Tren ("Pre-Train") extends from the main subway station (Juárez) through the Zona Rosa to the west Anillo Periférico at a 50% discounted fare for subway card users. Pre-Trenes provide a good service with air-conditioned, red-colored units. The service is better than the smaller buses (camiones).

By car
You may also rent a car from airport, most major car rental companies such Avis, National Car Rental, City Car Rental,Hertz and Europcar have booths at the baggage claim area. There are also some local car rentals such as Veico Car Rental and Mobix Car Rental just outside the airport that also have good cars and often lower prices.

Centro Histórico and nearby




Tlaquepaque and Tonala
The municipalities of Tlaquepaque and Tonala to the southeast of Guadalajara are essentially suburbs, though they retain muc of their small-town charm. They had similar origins in originally being settlements of indigenous tribes with a pottery industry and were overtaken by the Spanish conquistador Nuño de Guzmán in 1530. Tlaquepaque also hosted Miguel Hidalgo on his way to Guadalajara in the Mexican War of Independence. Today the hallmark feature of these places is still pottery, though shops with furniture, textiles and other handicrafts are plentiful. In Tonala, don't miss the Thursday and Sunday street market revolving around handicrafts in front of the main church.



Huentitán




City tour
You can make a sightseeing tour in a very economically and animal friendly carriage. These are not powered by a horse, instead by a battery like an electric car. The start is at the cathedral. Prices are M$300 for half an hour, M$400-500 for a whole hour (Dec 2021).

Sports
Guadalajara's sports culture is one of the most vibrant in Mexico, with a well-developed infrastructure of stadiums and facilities, achievements under its belt such as its successful turn as the host of the 2011 Pan-American Games, world-class athletes such as professional golfer Lorena Ochoa calling the city home, and big plans for the future. Guadalajara is also home to many ballet schools surrounding the metropolitan area.

Football
Of course, one would be remiss in talking about Guadalajara sports without mentioning the three professional football (futbol, i.e. what Americans call soccer) teams based there: Estudiantes, Atlas, and of course, Chivas. Chivas, more properly known as Club Deportivo Guadalajara, is, according to FIFA, the most popular football team in Mexico. Chivas has won 11 first-division titles and holds the longest-ever season-opening winning streak: 8 back-to-back wins. Chivas is also the only football team in Mexico with exclusively Mexican players, whereas other teams have players of varying nationalities. The team colors are red, white, and blue, signifying "Fraternity, Union, and Sports". The new stadium, Estadio Akron, with a capacity of 49,850, was inaugurated in 2010.







Baseball
Guadalajara hosts teams in both of Mexico's major professional leagues. Both play in the Estadio los Charros de Jalisco in the suburban municipality of Zapopan. The stadium was built in 2011 for the Panamerican Games and is often referred to as Estadio Panamericana, though it was purchased by the Charros.



Out of town trips

 * – 65km in the west. Situated in a picturesque countryside setting, it's perhaps the quintessential Guadalajara side trip, and is the best place to sample Mexico's favorite liquor. The Jose Cuervo distillery has a packaged tour that will pick you up from your hotel, take you to an agave farm, then to the distillery for a tour with free samples and a gift shop, then gift you with vouchers for a free margarita and 10% off at a local restaurant. The city itself is also quaint and worth exploring. Tequila is easily accessible by bus (about 90 minutes one-way), and many hotels organize excursions there for their guests. However, perhaps the most charming way of getting to Tequila is the Tequila Express, a charming tourist railroad complete with tequila shots and roving mariachis. The train leaves Guadalajara's train station Sa & Su 10:00, returning the same evening.}}
 * – 50 km in the south. It's the main regional vacation spot, a lovely lake surrounded by picturesque towns such as Chapala and Ajijic (the latter of which has a sizeable gringo expat community). To Chapala goes a direct bus from the Old Bus Station (Antigua). The 'directo' bus has A/C and takes 1 hour. It costs M$58 (Dec 2021) and departs every full hour from Guadalajara. On the way back the bus departs hourly 15 min after the full hour from Chapala.

Learn
The Universidad de Guadalajara, often referred to simply as "U de G", is the most important institution of higher learning in western Mexico, and the second most important in the country after Mexico City's mammoth UNAM. The University also serves as a center of cultural activity enjoyed by residents and visitors alike, such as the Ballet Folclórico and the.

Guadalajara offers many language schools for the fast growing need for learning Spanish.



Buy
In the centro are ATMs of BanCoppel, Banjercito, BanBajio and Citibanamex.

In the Americana district are an Banca Inbursa ATM inside the Sanborns, BanBajio, Banca Mifel and Santander.

In the centro and Americana neighborhood are some stores of Oxxo and 7eleven as well as some minimarkets. On the Av Juárez is the.

The shopping scene in Guadalajara is centered around two opposing faces of Latin American culture: traditional open-air markets (tianguis) and the modern shopping plazas and malls that, more and more, are sprouting up around the outskirts of town. The latter can be found in particular proliferation southwest of the Centro Histórico in Sector Juárez, as well as in suburban municipios such as Zapopan.

A refreshing exception to this rule is the historic downtown district of Tlaquepaque, southeast of Guadalajara proper. This area is characterized by a lively collection of shops centered on the pedestrian-only streets, Calle Independencia and Avenida Juárez. Emphasized in these charming shops are arts and handicrafts of all kinds: one-of-a-kind handmade furniture, textiles, jewelry, paintings, sculptures, glassware, home decor, and even chocolate.

Tianguis
These temporary open-air street markets or bazaars are a Mexican tradition dating back to the Aztec days, and are a great way to get up close and personal with local culture at its most real—and score some bargains in the process. Some of the biggest tianguis in Guadalajara include:



Eat
In rare cases this may happen towards foreign tourists: For example, when trying to get some tacos or a burger or something from a street food vendor, the vendor will tell you not to worry about the price, and when it's time to pay you will get an inflated bill. Be sure to ask for the price before you order. If the vendor tells you not to worry about the price, say "necesito saber" (I need to know). Of course, do this with a smile and you will not be ripped off.

Local specialties
Birria, tortas ahogadas, and chilaquiles are some of the most traditional Tapatío dishes.

– The food court is a good place to sample the variety of local specialties. You can go eat here multiple times, as there is a big variety of cooked meals. You can also find Chinese and Japanese dishes. The majority of the food stalls has price tags. Most vendors let you walk through the food court without disturbing you. The prices are low. It's open daily from 8:00-20:00.


 * Birria is a savory stew made of roast chiles, spices and traditionally goat meat, though you will usually be given other meat options like mutton or beef depending on the restaurant. For birria, the restaurants in the Nueve Esquinas area (a few blocks south of Templo San Francisco) are popular and reliably good.
 * Tortas ahogadas (literally "drowned sandwiches") are elongated sandwiches on birote bread, akin to submarines or po' boys, smothered in a savory chile and tomato sauce. Numerous restaurants in the Centro Histórico specialize in these.
 * Pozole is a hearty soup of pork and hominy topped with fresh cabbage, radish, onion and cilantro. There are some very good pozole stands in the food court of the Mercado Libertad.
 * Mollete. Popular for breakfast among locals, this is a French-style roll split and covered with refried beans, then topped with ham or chorizo and cheese and toasted.
 * Tamales consist of pockets of masa (a starchy dough of corn flour) filled with mole (a sauce or gravy made from any of an infinite combination of chili peppers, spices, and chocolate) and the choice of chicken or pork. Most people make tamales for holidays such as Christmas, the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), Independence Day, or New Year's Day.
 * Enchiladas are a corn or flour tortilla rolled around and filled with meat, cheese, vegetables and/or potatoes and covered with spicy chile sauce, dressed variously in sour cream and/or cheese.

Restaurants
In addition to traditional Mexican specialties, Tapatíos seem to be especially fond of Italian food—a considerable number of restaurants of that type can be found around Guadalajara. If you miss American fast food, worry not: in addition to the restaurants listed here, Guadalajara has 14 McDonald's outlets.

Budget
In the centro and Americana district you find several low priced restaurants and eateries, even more in the streets around the eatery El Vegano Urbano (in the west of the Centro and in the east of Americana). To find a low priced place to eat near your accommodation, you can search in Google Maps for "cheap restaurant" and filter by price ('$' symbol).

Between centro and the Americana neighborhood




Drink
Guadalajara has a vibrant nightlife that's spread out all over the city, from the touristy places in the Centro Histórico (Plaza de la Liberación is a good place to start your search) to the college bars in Zapopan. However, perhaps the most active bar district in Guadalajara is centered along Avenida Chapultepec between Hidalgo and Niños Héroes, about 2 km west of the Centro Histórico. This is the place where GDL's hipster crowd makes the scene, with bar after bar lining the sides of the streets. Many of these places double as popular live music venues.

A good suggestion is to search out a bar with a large collection of tequilas and taste a great blanca, reposada and añejo. If you ask for a traditional tequila from Los Altos, you will almost certainly get something good. Los Altos is the region northeast of Guadalajara where the best tequila in the world is made, bringing up images of tradition, patriotism and individualism.

Sleep
If you plan to spend much time downtown, don't get a hotel farther away—it's much more convenient to be within walking distance of your daytime activities.

Budget
There are many inexpensive hotels available in the city center, especially around the old bus station (Central Vieja / Antigua).

around the Old Bus Station (Antigua) south of the Centro Histórico:
The stated prices here are as of December 2021 for two persons per night and only when reserved directly at the hotel. All listed hotel rooms are with private bathroom, hot water and without A/C.

Stay safe
Guadalajara is known as one of the safest cities in Mexico. Nonetheless, as in any large city, the usual precautions should be taken. Crimes against tourists and foreign students are quite infrequent and mostly take the form of purse-snatching. Criminals usually work in teams and target travelers in outdoor restaurants, bars and other busy places. Should anyone spill something on you, be alert to your surroundings and step away—accidental spills are a common method of distracting their marks.

Never carry illegal substances with you; Mexican police are very strict regarding these cases.

Football
Due to the intense rivalry between local club Chivas and Mexico City-based Club América, you should avoid wearing Club América jerseys in Guadalajara unless you want to risk getting singled out for harassment or worse by local fans.

Emergency numbers

 * Emergency: 066
 * Police: +52 (33) 3668 0800
 * Fire: +52 (33) 3619 5155 or +52 (33) 3691 0510
 * Air and Land Ambulance: +52 (33) 3616 9616
 * Green Angels (road assistance): +52 (33) 3668-1800 ext. 31489

In an emergency, it's also a good idea to get in contact with the embassy or consulate of your country of origin.

Consulates

 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Go next
Your next destination for staying can be...:

To the east

 * Guanajuato – 275 km. A beautiful mountain colonial town and an UNESCO World Heritage Site. A variety of mines are there to be visited. In the evening you can join traditionally dressed Mexicans singing and walking through the old-town.
 * San Miguel de Allende – 340 km. A city known for relaxing. There are thermal pools just outside the city. The old town is also an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
 * Querétaro – 360 km. Capital of the state Quéretaro. A big aqueduct goes through the city. You can taste a Gordita Queretana. The old town is – you guess it – an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

To the north-east

 * San Juan de los Lagos – 145 km. The second-most visited pilgrimage site in Mexico (after the Basílica de Guadalupe in Mexico City).
 * San Luis Potosí – 330 km. The capital of the state of San Luis Potosí. The historic center displays a great mixture of different artistic styles and is a major example of colonial architecture in Mexico. The historical center is an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

To the west

 * Puerto Vallarta – 330 km. Nearby are the coastal villages Bucerias, Sayulita and San Francisco (Mexico)

To the north-west

 * Tepic – 205 km. The capital of Nayarit
 * Mazatlan – It's recommended to take a flight into and out of the city.

By air
Guadalajara has low-cost flights for example to:
 * Cabo San Lucas and La Paz on the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula.
 * Oaxaca
 * Tuxtla in Chiapas
 * Puerto Vallarta and Puerto Escondido at the Pacific coast
 * Cancún and Mérida on the Yucatan peninsula
 * Mexico City