Looking for a fun and vibrant city to explore in Mexico? Look no further than Guadalajara! This city is home to some of the best food, attractions, and culture in the country. In this article, we will provide you with a quick guide to everything you need to know before visiting Guadalajara. From where to stay, to what to eat, and everything in between – we have you covered!
Disclaimer: This blog post is sponsored by Guadalajara Tourism. Thanks for having me!
Planning a trip right now? Check out my go-to websites for flights, hotels, tours, and so much more!
- Booking.com to score hotel deals
- Skyscanner for flight deals
- Scott’s Cheap Flights to get emails about flight deals and error fares (100% worth it, I promise)
- Viator for day tours around the world
- RVShare for campervan/RV rentals
Table of Contents
The Best Things to Do in Guadalajara
Visit Lienzo Charro de Jalisco
Charrería is a traditional Mexican rodeo and is a great opportunity to see some of Mexico’s rich culture and heritage. It’s even a UNESCO-designated Intangible Cultural Heritage! Charrería originated from Mexico’s herdsmen culture of the 1500s when the riders competed between haciendas. After the Mexican Revolution, these riders, called charros, formed the National Charros Association in 1920 in order to keep charrería culture alive.
We visited on a Sunday, which meant we got to see the men and women each compete. The men’s competitions were more like classic rodeo fare, such as using a lasso to catch a bull, whereas the women’s were about riding skills (think ballet on horseback).
Since we went with a tour guide (which you can book here), we also got to see a bit behind the scenes of everything. Our guide told us of the history of Charreria that led it to become Mexico’s national sport and then offered us the chance to be charros ourselves. I tried my hand at the lassos (and managed to get it going, just saying!). He offered to let us ride horses too, but I declined since I was wearing a dress.
Plan Your Trip Around a Festival
We were lucky enough to get to visit during the annual Mariachi Festival (which occurs in late August), which is an amazing event to attend! There are mariachi shows all across the city, and we even got to catch the grand opening night show at the beautiful Teatro Degollado featuring the best mariachi groups in all of Jalisco.
Besides mariachi though, Guadalajara has other epic events that would spice up any trip itinerary. For example, you could come during Día de los Muertos (aka Day of the Dead) in late October/early November. This is when the city really comes alive to celebrate those who have passed on. You’ll see calaveras (sugar skulls), altars, and more all around town.
Or, if you’re looking for something different, Guadalajara also hosts events like the Guadalajara International Book Fair in November, Jalisco Jazz Festival in July, Tequila Festival in March, and Guadalajara International Film Festival also in March.
Explore Guadalajara’s Street Art
From sculptures to graffiti and murals, Guadalajara has a large street art scene. In fact, did you know that in the 1990s, Guadalajara held the Guinness World Record for the world’s most graffiti-covered city?
If you’re looking to spend a day exploring the city’s street art, here’s a cool guide I found that maps out a lot of different art and their artists. So bookmark this for when you’re planning your own trip!
One of my favorite pieces I saw was this public sculpture (pictured below) in Zona Centro of a giant head. There’s even a staircase on the back so you can climb up to the top for a fun photo!
Tour the Guadalajara Cathedral
Located in the Plaza de Armas (aka the main square of Guadalajara), the cathedral is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city and is considered to be its most iconic building (and it’s free to enter!). The original structure, built in the Spanish Renaissance style during the 16th and 17th centuries, has a neoclassical facade and 19th-century neo-Gothic bell towers. The previous bell towers were damaged by an earthquake, resulting in an integrated blend of architectural styles that incorporates baroque, neoclassical, and Gothic features.
It’s also worth visiting the church next door, El Sagrario Metropolitano de Guadalajara (translated as Metropolitan Tabernacle of Guadalajara). It’s also done in a neoclassical style, but the inside is pink! So if you’re on the hunt for an Instagrammable pink church, you’ll definitely want to save this one for later.
Wander Tlaquepaque, One of the Pueblo Mágicos of Mexico
Tlaquepaque (pronounced tlah-keh-PAH-keh) is a town just outside of Guadalajara that’s famous for its traditional Mexican art and handicrafts. It has a really cute, small-town feel with cobblestone streets and colorful buildings. And since it’s only about 15 minutes away from Guadalajara by car, it makes for the perfect day trip!
There are plenty of things to see and do in Tlaquepaque, but some of my favorite activities include shopping for ceramics and blown glass, visiting the candy workshop, and grabbing a bite to eat at one of the many delicious restaurants (like Casa Luna, where we had lunch).
A few quick tips for exploring Tlaquepaque:
- Visit Sergio Bustamante’s gallery to see some really cool art and sculptures
- Go to El Parian for a unique dining experience – it’s a bunch of restaurants with a central gazebo where mariachi bands play
- Dine at the very photogenic Casa Luna
- Take a cool photo on the rooftop of El Refugio de Tlaquepaque and tour the museum
- Try the local candies and treats at Nuestros Dulces workshop – definitely don’t miss the dulce de leche
- Take photos at the umbrella street of Tlaquepaque – Calle Independencia
READ MORE OF MY MEXICO GUIDES
THE MOST INSTAGRAMMABLE SPOTS IN MEXICO CITY
WHAT TO DO IN MEXICO CITY FOR DAY OF THE DEAD
Take a Quick Trip from Guadalajara to Tequila
Just an hour outside of Guadalajara, Tequila is the perfect day or weekend trip if you’re looking to learn more about Mexico’s national drink and most famous spirit. The town is actually responsible for 65% of the world’s tequila production!
Stay in One of the Most Unique Hotels in Mexico and Sleep Inside a Tequila Barrel
Is this the coolest place to stay in Mexico? Located outside of the town of Tequila, Matices Hotel de Barricas is a boutique hotel located amongst the agave fields where all the rooms are shaped like giant tequila barrels.
They offer onsite activities such as horseback riding through the agave fields or try your hand at painting a tequila bottle. I also really enjoyed dining in their restaurant, located underground in a cave!
If you’re looking for the best glamping spot near Guadalajara, this is where you should go.
Ride the Jose Cuervo Express aka the Tequila Train
This is a must-do for anyone visiting Tequila! The Jose Cuervo Express takes you on a scenic ride from Guadalajara through the agave fields to the town of Tequila. What’s important to note though is the train only runs on Saturdays and books out far in advance because of its popularity, so buy your tickets and plan your trip to go over a Saturday.
Tour a Tequila Distillery and the Agave Fields
Once you’re in Tequila, you have to visit the Jose Cuervo distillery which is the oldest in Latin America. If you want to take a guided tour of Fábrica La Rojeña, it includes a walkthrough of the distillery as well as a tasting experience. The whole tour lasts about an hour and is the most popular thing to do in Tequila.
If you want to visit a smaller distillery, I really enjoyed my tour of Cava de Oro. The tour showed us how agave grows and is harvested and every step of the tequila-making process. Then at the end, we tasted a wide range of their tequila products.
We also learned how to properly sip tequila! Step one, you smell it and then take a small sip. Next, you swirl it in your mouth for a few seconds, breathe in through your nose, swallow, then breathe out through your mouth. And that’s how you drink tequila the proper way!
Visiting the agave fields was also one of my favorite parts of Tequila. We went on a tour with Panoramex (they actually led us around the whole day including Cava de Oro and Casa Sauza for lunch). As part of the tour, our guide took us to the agave fields of Jose Cuervo, and we met with a man who is a master agave farmer for them. Our guide translated his Spanish for us as the agave farmer showed us how agave is planted and harvested and all its uses. I even got to try taking a machete to the agave myself! It’s also a great spot for photos, so I highly recommend visiting an agave field while in Tequila.
Dine at Casa Sauza
Casa Sauze has been making tequila since 1873. While we didn’t get to tour the distillery, we did dine at La Cueva de Don Cenobio Restaurant at Quinta Sauza and it was probably my favorite meal of the whole trip. Not only is the food super delicious, but the Quinta Sauza is also super photogenic, especially if you’re into pink architecture and gardens.
Where to Stay in Guadalajara
Looking for some suggestions on where to stay in Guadalajara? I’ve got you covered!
- JW Marriott Hotel Guadalajara
- NH Collection Guadalajara Providencia
- AC Hotel by Marriott Guadalajara Mexico
- Quinta Real Guadalajara
- Matices Hotel de Barricas (in Tequila)
- La Villa del Ensueno Boutique Hotel (in Tlaquepaque)
Was this post helpful? Then make sure to pin it for later and let me know in the comments!
