Guadalajara Travelers Recommend

Guadalajara is at the heart of the state of Jalisco, Mexico’s principal producer of tequila. The surrounding countryside is blue with agave and dotted with historic distilleries. On the weekend, two trains leave Guadalajara on day trips to tequila country. The luxe Jose Cuervo Express offers weekend tours and a night train, both of which will take you to the Jose Cuervo distillery and the town of Tequila. Known to be rowdy, the tour includes gallons of sugary margaritas, mariachis, and a buffet. Tours begin at 10 am or 6pm at the train station in Guadalajara and cost 1,300-1,800 pesos per person, depending on package.

The Tequila Express takes visitors to the arguably better Herradura distillery in the town of Amatitán. Similar to Cuervo’s offering, the tour includes a “mariachi welcome,” a Mexican buffet, a distillery tour, and performances, including ballet folklórico and charras. The train departs from the Guadalajara train station at 9 am on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets cost1,200 pesos per person and are all-inclusive.

If you’re looking for a less hokey experience, consider renting a car or booking a driver to travel to the town of Tequila on your own, where you can visit the National Tequila Museum, Mundo Cuervo, and the Sauza Museum. You can drop in at historic distilleries, but may want to consider hiring a knowledgeable local guide. Of the town-based tour companies, we like Mexico Tequila Tours, a reputable mom-and-pop operation.

If you’ve got time, several companies offer package tours that are laidback yet informative. The three day Spirit of Jalisco tour includes tequila tasting in a cave, four distillery visits, a poolside “agave orientation” with a tequila expert, and a visit to the historic cantina, La Capilla. Serious tequila aficionados may want to consider booking with a higher end company such as Experience Tequila, which offers private customized tours that last up to a week and include luxury accommodations and dining, optional side trips to ruined haciendas, and VIP visits to artisanal distilleries in the company of a certified tequila expert. Salud!

If you have three days to dedicate to Guadalajara, you can see the best of the city center and explore surrounding natural landscapes. Explore the Old Town, spend time tasting tequila in the countryside, and get off-the-beaten path in Zacoalco. Here’s how to make the most of a 3-day visit.

Day 1: Guadalajara Highlights

Tick off the highlights of Guadalajara on your first day in the Jalisco capital. Art and architecture buffs should head straight for the city’s downtown in the morning, to avoid the midday heat. There, explore the Cathedral, Cabañas Orphanage, and Degollado Theater on foot. In order to get both your bearings and local insight, take a walking tour that introduces you to places you might otherwise have missed.

In the evening, dine at one of Guadalajara’s top restaurants; grab drinks in a downtown cantina or craft beer bar; or sip cocktails on the lively, nightlife-centric Chapultepec Avenue. Pub crawls, which often include free drinks, are a great way to orient yourself in Guadalajara after dark. Alternatively, test your logic, reasoning, and patience at one of the city’s escape rooms.

Day 2: Food Fiesta

Dedicate day two to Guadalajara’s culinary scene. If you’re a food lover, take a half- or full-day excursion that reveals lesser-known local delicacies. Many food-filled trips include staple Guadalajara dishes such as tortas ahogadas (drowned pork sandwiches) and birria, a rich stew.

Alternatively, if spirits are more your thing, take advantage of being in the birthplace of tequila. Ride the José Cuervo Express right through the heart of tequila country on an all-inclusive excursion or opt for a less extravagant but equally comprehensive tour of Tequila. There, visit different distilleries and explore the quaint town before sampling some tequila.

Day 3: Get Off-The-Beaten Path

On your final day in Guadalajara, visit the artisan towns of Sayula and Zacoalco, which few visitors in Guadalajara get the chance to explore. There, you can wander craft markets and learn about the manufacturing processes behind leather furniture before browsing for souvenirs. Taking a private tour allows you to customize your schedule according to your needs, ideal if you have a flight to get back for.

If you prefer architecture to artisanal products, spend your third day on an excursion to San Juan de los Lagos and Santo Toribio. Marvel at the Roman Catholic appeal of both places, and enjoy free time to explore at your own pace, while also benefiting from your guide’s insight into these lesser-visited towns. Or, stay closer to the city on a visit to Zapopan and the Huichol Museum, both of which are within the Guadalajara Metropolitan Zone.

With two days in the capital of Jalisco, you can enjoy the main sights and sounds of Guadalajara proper before venturing beyond the city for a tequila tour or a Tlaquepaque day trip. Whether you like food, art, or history, here’s how to get the most out of two days in Guadalajara.

Day 1: See the Best of Guadalajara

**Morning:**Take advantage of the cool Guadalajara morning to do some sightseeing on foot. Center your exploration around Guadalajara’s four central plazas and take traveler-free photos of highlights such as Guadalajara Cathedral and the neoclassical Degollado Theatre. Alternatively, explore the city’s principal buildings during a guided mural tour.

**Afternoon:**In the afternoon, dive deep into the Guadalajara dining and street-food scene during a guided, introductory walking tour of some of the city’s best dishes. Foodies may prefer a full-day gastronomic experience instead, while budget travelers can explore independently at the Santa Tere Market.

**Night:**Take it easy on your first night in Guadalajara with a fun escape-room challenge, although if you’re still itching to explore the city, stop by a traditional cantina in the historic center for a beer and botana (bar snacks).

Day 2: Take a Day Trip

**Morning:**Wake up early for an out-of-city excursion on your second day in Guadalajara. Tequila lovers can’t miss the opportunity to tour the town of Tequila. Choose a full- of half-day visit to suit you. Meanwhile, history buffs should venture to Guachimontones to marvel at circular, concentric pyramids.  

**Afternoon:**If you opted for a half-day excursion in the morning, spend the afternoon at Guadalajara Zoo or the Selva Mágica theme park. Buy your tickets in advance to save time on the day. Alternatively, take a taxi to nearby Tlaquepaque and explore the center independently for a couple of hours.

**Night:**Celebrate your final night in the city with an exploration of Guadalajara’s nightlife. Whether you want cocktails or dive bars, there’s likely something to suit you near lively Chapultepec Avenue. If you find Guadalajara overwhelming after dark, join a pub crawl instead and take advantage of complimentary drinks.

From cool cocktail bars and a fantastic culinary scene to colonial architecture and a wealth of museums, Guadalajara combines culture and cuisine with ease. Here’s how to see plenty of Guadalajara’s star attractions, even if you only have one day to dedicate to Mexico’s walkable second city.

Morning: Explore the Historic Center

After a typical breakfast at one of the many cafés, restaurants, or markets in Guadalajara, dedicate your morning to the historic center and explore on foot before the sun reaches its peak in the city of eternal spring. Visit the yellow-spired cathedral and other sights independently, or—to learn more than you could alone—take a private guided city tour. Art fans can even opt for a tailored murals tour, with stops at the Degollado Theatre and Cabañas Orphanage, among others. Skip-the-line entry at the Cabañas Orphanage will speed up your morning of sightseeing, which is ideal when you have limited time in the city.

Afternoon: Get Back to Nature

In the afternoon, get back to nature, go for lunch, or both. Explore the culinary heritage of Guadalajara during a guided food tour, some of which include tastings and drinks. Then, once it gets too hot in the city center, escape to the wooded outskirts. Pay a visit to Los Colomos Forest, explore the Japanese Gardens, and feed the squirrels. Alternatively, take a detour to the Guadalajara Zoo or visit the neighboring Selva Mágica theme park. Buy your admission tickets for both in advance so you don’t waste time waiting in line.

Night: Try Some Tequila

It wouldn’t be a trip to Guadalajara—an hour from the town of Tequila—without a taste of the city’s nightlife. Head for popular Chapultepec Avenue, lined by clusters of bars, or opt for a structured bar crawl if you’re not sure where to begin. Perfect for solo travelers looking to make friends, most pub crawls also include complimentary drinks. Alternatively, if drinking isn’t your thing, try your hand at an escape-room experience instead. Booking tickets in advance will guarantee you a slot at a time that fits your schedule.  

As the state capital of Jalisco—a renowned tequila-producing region of Mexico and the home of mariachi music—Guadalajara has a party-loving reputation, but it’s also fast earning its stripes as one of Mexico’s top foodie destinations. Here are your options for Guadalajara food and tequila tours.

Must-Try Dishes

Guadalajara restaurants offer a plentiful selection of classic local dishes, making it a good place to discover Mexico’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed cuisine. You won’t have to look far to find tamales, tacos, and quesadillas.

For the more adventurous, Guadalajaran specialties include torta ahogada (a sandwich “drowned” in chili pepper sauce) and the birote (a crusty bread roll stuffed with onions and succulent shredded pork, then doused in a spicy tomato sauce). Other popular local dishes include birria (lamb or goat stew in a spicy tomato sauce, served with corn tortillas), carne en su jugo (beef in broth, served with sides of rice, onions, and tortilla), and pozole rojo (chicken soup). Wash it down with a glass of traditional agua de Jamaica (hibiscus flower juice) or agua de tamarindo (tamarind juice).

Must-Do Experiences

• Find where to buy the best torta ahogada in the city on a Guadalajara food tour.

• Experience local life in Jalisco on a Tlaquepaque food tour and sample Mexican food, enjoy a tequila tasting, and tuck into Mexican candies.

• Enjoy a food-themed walking tour of Guadalajara’s historic center or the atmospheric Chapultepec neighborhood.Discover the secrets behind Mexico’s world-famous tequila during a guided tour of a distillery.

With spangled costumes and romantic flair, mariachi is at the heart of Guadalajara culture. The music, now recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage, rings from local bars, balconies, and plazas in the vibrant city, where modern mariachi music evolved. Here are the best places to listen to mariachi music in Guadalajara.

El Parián de Tlaquepaque

Restaurants and cantinas line this historic plaza, where traditional dancers and mariachi musicians keep the party going in front of shady arcades and a gazebo. If you stop by, don’t miss the plaza’s characteristic drink, cazuelas de tequila, a blend of citrus, soda, and tequila.

El Plaza de los Mariachis

This pedestrian-only street is appealing for a daytime stroll, but the music kicks off after dark, when locals sip beer at sidewalk bars under garlands of colorful papel picado (perforated tissue paper). Bring plenty of small bills for tipping bands and making special requests: You can hear your favorite mariachi tunes starting at roughly 100 pesos.

Nueve Esquinas

More low-key than Guadalajara’s famous mariachi plazas, this spot is great for taking in some tunes if you’re not ready to dive into the party scene. Some of the local restaurants that surround Nueve Esquinas specialize in birria, a spicy goat stew from Jalisco. Spend an evening lingering over a bowl, and you’re likely to see a succession of mariachi crooners strike up a tune.