10 Fun and Easy Things to Do in Guadalajara Mexico

Last Updated:

If visiting Guadalajara is not on your list of best places to visit in Mexico, then you’d better add it to the top. This city encompasses an intense diversity that will satisfy every desire you have while on vacation, from culinary dreams to fantastical views, from exclusive shopping experiences to historical sightseeing.

For me, this city also represents a personal connection. I must have been four years old at the time, and all I remember from my first trip there are bright colors and watching a hummingbird from my aunt’s kitchen window. Even now it still seems like a magical moment.

After my last trip, I have so much more to report on about Guadalajara than my aunt’s kitchen. We visited my great-grandmother’s house, where my mom lived for a few years with her sisters. We sat in their classrooms of the 14 de Enero, where my mom and her siblings went to primary school. We got way too many scoops of ice cream at Bing, where they used to get ice cream after school.

traffic on Guadalajara street.

Guadalajara has so many things to do!

While these outings had particular sentimental value to myself, we also experienced everything we could in the city. Guadalajara easily makes the top of the list of my favorite cities in the world; it has everything you could ever want out of a city, if not within city limits, then only a short drive away.

Among the more interesting facts about Mexico is that Guadalajara is the country’s second largest city and is ranked as the 8th best city to visit in South America. 

Mexico is popular with backpackers, but taking a trip to Guadalajara will prove that Mexico is so much more than poor villages and beach resorts. During a week here, we spent each day in what seemed like a different realm, each ranging from metropolitan dreamscape to mountainous getaway.

Here’s a list of the things you absolutely cannot miss out on when you go to Guadalajara.

1. Visit the Centro Historico

Located in the heart of Guadalajara, the Historical Center preserves some of the foundational buildings of the city that house historic, cultural, and political artifacts. Here, we walked through City Hall, where we sat in one of the courtrooms as my aunt, who’s an actress and history teacher, theatrically recounted Mexico’s foundational history.

The Centro Historico is the first place to go to if you are looking for culture and history, as you can roam through building after building that has stood there since the Mexican Revolution.

Large domed building fronted by park and tree in Guadalajara Mexico

2. See a show in the Teatro Degollado

At the Centro Historico, we also had the chance to go to a folkloric dance show, where they showcased the different music, costumes, and dances of all the states of Mexico. The recital was held at El Teatro Degollado, a famous theatre built in the mid 1800s.

Built with pillars and carved statues on the outside, it mirrors the depiction of upscale theatres in books and movies on the inside with gold painted pillars and red velvet tapestry.

Facade of Guadalajara's Degollado Theater has carvings above its pillars. Fountain in front.

3. Go shopping

In Guadalajara, you will find many malls much like the ones you will find in the United States. However, you might be surprised to know that one if its shopping centers is luxurious enough to rival the shopping experience you can find in Europe.

Andares is a modern, outdoor, and upscale mall landscaped with palm trees, tropical flowers, and koi ponds. It features stores ranging from common to exclusively expensive. Before you go, make sure your credit card is accepted in Mexico as it would be awful to get there and not be able to buy anything … though I myself mostly just stuck to window shopping.

4. Spend an afternoon at the park

Guadalajara has an amazing outdoor culture. We spent half a day at the Metropolitan Park — Parque Metropolitano de Guadalajara — and it was lovely. It was green everywhere; the park was covered in umbrella-shaped trees and tropical flowers. There were runners out, and families spending the day at the park together. The park includes a walking route, a biking route, a playground, and more.

Of course, any of the many other parks in Guadalajara are also worth visiting, like Technology Park and Blue Water Park.

Children on a playground in Guadalajara's Metropolitan Park

5. Eat Mexican food

As a member of a Mexican family, I am critical of Mexican food to the point of being a snob. I have taken trips to Mexican beaches where, while turquoise ocean was met with pristine white sand, the food was touristic and more American than anything else. So take me seriously when I say that I had some of the best Mexican food I have ever had in my life in Guadalajara.

Postres Mexicanos

Though I spent a lot of the trip thinking about tacos, it was hard to miss them too much because every place we went to had amazing food — especially the desserts. Everywhere you go, you find Mexican ice cream or raspados, which are essentially snow cones saturated with natural flavors.

Not only will you find familiar flavors like strawberry and mango, but you will also find tropical fruits like tamarind. Personally, my favorite is mango topped with a salty and spicy mix called chamoy, but I highly recommend trying new flavors.

While we were out at fancier restaurants, we mostly had flan, a traditional Mexican custard. However, at one restaurant, we found jericalla, which I had never heard of. This dessert is essentially the Jalisco version of flan, and it is to die for.

Jericalla flan with toasted top, in cup on plate with spoon

Snacking around

The thing about our stay in Guadalajara is that we were always eating. Between the restaurants, food stands, and ice cream carts all over the city, there was always the temptation, and since we were only there for a week, we could not say no.

Of course, apart from the incessant portions of Mexican ice cream, it wasn’t all unhealthy. In fact, in Guadalajara, you will find many fruit and vegetable carts that will keep you satisfied until your next meal. These carts come with your basic watermelon, pineapple, berries, but also include guayavana, limas, papayas, and more.

The vegetables include corn (even better with cream, chile, and queso fresco on top!) and other traditional vegetables, but you can also try something a bit more unique. Personally, I was surprised to learn that cactus (nopal) is not only edible, but is a very healthy and typical staple in Mexico.

Are you enjoying this article? Pin it!
Fountain in Guadalajara with text overlay that says 10 top things you absolutely must do in guadalajara.

6. Eat at the best restaurants in Guadalajara

Clearly, the food experience is an important part of the experience. We went to so many great restaurants that it was hard for me to keep track of them all. However, I asked a native to list the best restaurants in Guadalajara. According to my cousin who lives there, the following are the best restaurants in Guadalajara:

La Tequila

Tequila is not technically from Guadalajara, but from the nearby town of Tequila (day trips are popular, by the way). Still, many people attribute it to Guadalajara, as the plant that’s used to make the alcoholic drink is also grown there. La Tequila serves gourmet Mexican food that features their take on traditional dishes found in Guadalajara.

To be sure, their namesake isn’t for naught, as they have a wall of tequila that, according to my cousin, is the most tequila you can ever imagine: “thousands and thousands and thousands of bottles of tequila.”

Tip: If you’re a fan of tequila, you can take a day trip to Tequila. Visit a farm and distillery and learn about the history of this infamous drink. Tastings are included, of course. 

Karnes Garibaldi

Karnes Garibaldi holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest food service, but it is equally famous for its delicious food. Their featured dish is carne en su jugo, or meat in its juice. It’s a traditional Mexican dish made in most households in Mexico, and most locals would consider it comfort food.

Tortas y Tostadas La Morenita del Santuario

La Morenita del Santuario has achieved a place within the gastronomy of Guadalajara. My cousin emphasized the fact that you should not leave Guadalajara without trying a torta ahogada. This Mexican sandwich, whose name means “drowned sandwich,” is a staple of Guadalajara. As you might guess from its name, the specialty of that sandwich is that it is covered in salsa, typically made out of chile de arbol. Be cautious when trying it, though, because it is spicy!

El Abajeño

According to the restaurant, El Abajeño is “the right place to enjoy the perfect mix of atmosphere, flavor, and company.” They serve a wide variety of traditional and grilled dishes, as well as homemade drinks.

Casa Antigua

Casa Antigua is located in a classic house built in the 1800’s. Here, you can appreciate the classic Mexican architecture and enjoy a traditional Mexican meal while being serenaded by a mariachi. Eating here will give you an authentic Mexican experience.

7. Tour Tlaquepaque

Tlaquepaque, an artisan area that used to be its own town, but has been engulfed into Guadalajara as the city grew. Here, you can find handmade art, antique houses, and great food. This is a great place to buy souvenirs to remember your trip or to bring back to your friends.

In Tlaquepaque, you will find everything from handmade pipes to expensive artwork. You will also find the above-mentioned El Abajeño and Casa Antigua restaurants here.

Related tour: Guadalajara & Tlaquepaque Half-Day Tour

Pedestrians on shopping street in Tlaquepaque

8. Tour Chapala

If you head an hour southeast of Guadalajara, you can go to Chapala. Chapala is a town nestled between rolling hills and covered in tropical greenery on the edge of a great lake.

Here, we went on a boat ride around the harbor as my mom recounted the times she came here with her siblings, parents, and grandparents on the weekends. It is also one of the many places we got ice cream; three cones from two different carts, the second purchased before the first had melted.

Related tour: From Guadalajara: Lake Chapala and Ajijic Tour

Small motorboats on lake with beach, shops and wooded hills in the background.

9. Tour Tapalpa

Tapalpa is a bit of a further drive, about two and half hours southwest, but it will lead you to pine-covered mountains that you would expect to see in Switzerland, not Mexico.

Here, you can go ziplining through the forest, horseback riding through the hills, walk through the old brick buildings, and look over a gorgeous view of the valley.

Small house in field with fence and stream in foreground and wooded hill in background.

10. Go to the beach

If you hadn’t noticed, Guadalajara is in the perfect location because it is close to everything, and the beaches are no exception. There are beaches there where locals often head to for a weekend away, such as Manzanillo, Acapulco, and Colima. We drove a bit farther, all the way to Puerto Vallarta, my favorite beach.

Here, the sea meets the jungle in a perfectly humid climate in which tropical flowers thrive. We went on a Banana Boat — an inflatable banana-shaped raft where passengers sit on top and hold on tight while being pulled by a jet ski — swam with dolphins, got kissed by a sea lion at the pool in our hotel, and went on a pirate ship excursion that lead us to a hidden beach where we snorkeled for a few hours. The tourist options are as plentiful in Puerto Vallarta as the authentic ones.

Calm ocean waves with puerto vallarta cityscape in background, as seen fron the esplanade.

To me, Guadalajara is not only a beautiful place to visit, but it is an ideal place to live. This trip has left me dreaming about going back and fantasizing about moving there for good.

With its diverse attractions, both historic and new, tropical and mountainous, folkloric and modern, you will never be bored here. Visiting Guadalajara will leave you questioning everything you’ve ever learned about Mexico, as well as experiencing everything you ever wanted to.

Guadalajara travel resources

Here are some useful links to help you plan your own trip.

  • Tourism authority: Mexico’s tourism website has many useful trip planning resources. Another good site is Go-Mexico.
  • Airports. Mexico City’s international airport is Benito Juárez International Airport. Airport code MEX. Other international airports include Cancun International Airport (CUN) and Guadalaja International Airport (GDL).
  • Airport to hotel. Taxis are available, as is Uber.
  • Visas. Project Visa is an easy-to-use tool that will tell you if you are eligible for Visa on Arrival (VOA).
  • Currency. We use xe.com to calculate currency exchange values.
  • Travel insurance. You’d be surprised at how cheap it is and how much it covers. Trust us, when an airline misplaces your suitcase for a week, you’ll be glad you have it. Learn more here.

Getting around

We agree: Sometimes it’s not practical to take a taxi or walk.

  • Uber. Having been scammed once too often by taxi drivers, we now use Uber whenever we can. If you aren’t using the app yet, download the app now. Register with the code danb2984 to get up to $5 off your first ride.
  • Rental car. Click here to find and book a rental car.
  • Public transportation. This website will help you plan a route by plane, train, bus, ferry and car.

Where to stay

We recommend using HotelsCombined to make your lodging arrangements. Search across multiple booking sites from one website. Compare prices, amenities, and ratings before you book. Easy.

Book a guided tour

Tours are perfect solution when you’d rather have someone else manage all the arrangements.

Organized tours

G Adventures offers insanely affordable small group tours on all 7 continents. 100% guaranteed departures, even if you’re the only traveler. Expect local accommodation, cuisine, and transport to connect you with the planet’s people, cultures, landscapes and wildlife. Click here to look at their itineraries.

Day trips and excursions

When we travel, we use Get Your Guide a lot. It’s our go-to for food tours, attractions and activities. Click here to see what’s available in Guadalajara.

Tipping guidelines in Mexico

It is customary to tip between10% to 20% in Mexico.

  • Tour guides (good ones) – 10% to 20%.
  • Bartenders / waiters – $1 per drink or 10% to 15% of the total bar tab.
  • Wait staff – 10% of the total bill, more if you have received good service. BUT some restaurants add a 10% service charge, so check your bill before automatically leaving your tip.
  • Hotel porters / taxi drivers – 10 pesos per bag.

Read more

Online

Other relevant articles include:

On Amazon

If you’re traveling to Mexico, you may be interested in:

Save this for later

  • Pin this to your Pinterest travel board.
  • Share it with your friends on Facebook.
Did you enjoy this article? pin it to pinterest!
Guadalajara fountain with overlay 10 things you must do in Guadalajara Meico

Share this story with others

Written by Geo Sique

Geo Sique is a writer from Boise, ID with bachelor’s’ degrees in Communication and French and a background in journalism. When she’s not travelling outside Idaho, she loves rock climbing, hot springs, camping, and exploring the world around her.

You may also like...

As We Saw It