15 Best Things To Do in Guadalajara, Mexico [2025 Guide]

Far from Mexico’s always-appealing beaches, Guadalajara might not seem like the most obvious choice of destination for travelers. However, the savviest of travelers know that this city – home to tequila, mariachi, and some of the best cuisine in the country – is the next biggest thing when it comes to travel in Mexico.

Handpicked by locals and travel experts who know the city well, the attractions and activities on this list of the best things to do in Guadalajara are guaranteed to become the highlights of your time in one of Mexico’s most well-rounded destinations. Read on for all the details you’ll need to enjoy your own experience.

Best Things To Do in Guadalajara

Guadalajara has it all. Food lovers flock here, history buffs and art lovers find plenty of treasures to gawk at, and the cool kids love exploring what was named the world’s coolest neighborhood by Time Out. As impossible as it sounds, there really is a little something for everyone in Guadalajara. Here are the things you won’t want to miss ~

Not included on our can’t-miss list – but for many, one of the motivating reasons for visiting Guadalajara in the first place – is visiting the town of Tequila. Just over an hour outside of central Guadalajara, this small town has a high-low mix of rowdy bar stalls and thoughtful, upscale distilleries, and even some cool boutique hotels in the mix. If tequila is your thing, this is another one of those can’t-miss things to do in Guadalajara to add to your itinerary.

1. Explore Guadalajara’s Growing Food Scene

Mexico City and Oaxaca aren’t the country’s only destinations for delicious cuisine. Guadalajara is a foodie destination that still far too few travelers have heard of, making this the perfect time to visit for a culinary-centric vacation. We have an entire article focused on where to eat (and drink!) in Guadalajara, but these are our top recommendations~

• Best Bar in Guadalajara: El Gallo Altanero
• Best Restaurant in Guadalajara: Allium
• Best Cafe in Guadalajara: Biolento
• Best Street Food in Guadalajara: Birreria Las 9 Esquinas

A growing number of Guadalajara restaurants and bars have garnered international attention, grabbing spots on numerous “best in the world” lists. El Gallo Altanero, a bar in Colonia Americana, was even named as one of the top 50 bars in the world this year. However you eat your way across the city, make sure to go for a mix of street food and fine dining; Guadalajara does it all well!

Read More: 15 Best Places to Eat + Drink in Guadalajara, Mexico

2. Take a Historic Center Walking Tour

Guadalajara’s historic center isn’t as well-preserved or extensive as those in San Miguel de Allende or Mexico’s other storied cities, but it holds some of the city’s must-visit attractions and is well worth a visit. Make sure to check out the Catedral de Guadalajara with its gorgeous tiled domes, Degollado Theatre for live music and theater, and San Juan de Dios Market, which is the largest of its kind in Latin America. Hospital Cabañas and its famous Orozco murals are, without question, unmissable.

The downtown center of Guadalajara is highly walkable, making it quite easy to explore on your own with a self-guided walking tour. However, if you’re looking for even more historical and cultural context, join a free walking tour (FYI, reservations are required!) or a more extensive yet still affordable tour of downtown and Tlaquepaque.

3. See the Orozco Murals at Hospicio Cabañas

If you just have time to take in one major highlight from the historic center of Guadalajara, it has to be the Hospicio Cabanas. Hidden behind an impressive and imposing historic facade, this institution got its start as an orphanage, shelter, and hospital complex, but is now most famous for being home to works by one of Mexico’s most famous muralists, Jose Clemente Orozco.

Spend at least half an hour contemplating and exploring the main gallery where Orozco’s murals climb the walls and adorn the domes, taking advantage of the frequent guided tours offered in English and Spanish, if you can. Those particularly interested in art will also enjoy wandering the complex’s other galleries and exploring rotating exhibitions. The institution’s frequent events may also be worth adding to your itinerary.

4. Visit Colonia Americana

Time Out named Guadalajara’s Colonia Americana the coolest neighborhood in the world in 2022. It’s a high honor, that’s for sure, but it tracks – Colonia Americana is packed with the city’s coolest cafes, restaurants, bars, and hotels that will enchant even the most well-traveled visitor.

Start a day in Colonia Americana with breakfast on the shady patio at Biolento, one of our favorite spots in the city. Then, head to Chapultepec Avenue to check out artisan vendors on Saturdays, MUSA if you’re an art lover, and what feels like an endless lineup of shops and galleries to keep you exploring the rest of the day.

We highly recommend staying in this part of town unless you’re a business traveler. The area is highly walkable; its location in the heart of the city makes it even more convenient, though its tree-lined streets give a deliciously laid-back feel.

Where To Stay in Colonia Americana

• Bohostel Guadalajara Chapultepec | ($ – $$)
• Krystal Urban Guadalajara | ($$)
• Casa Habita | ($$ – $$$)

Read More: Where To Stay in Guadalajara: Neighborhoods + Accommodations

5. Visit Tequila

If you’re even remotely interested in tequila – or just looking for a fun, unique experience – paying a visit to the town that gave Mexico’s most famous spirit its name is absolutely one of the best things to do in Guadalajara. Plan a visit to one of the area’s distilleries, visit the agave plantations, and taste-test your way across town.

As you can probably imagine, there’s a degree of tequila-fueled craziness that can go on in Tequila. Think bachelor and bachelorettes and tequila-barrel-shaped “booze cruise” buses ferrying visitors from distillery to distillery. However, by avoiding the town’s main square – where stands sell a variety of boozy beverages – you can skip the revelry for a more refined experience well worth the one-hour drive from Guadalajara.

6. Explore Tlaquepaque

Once a small village on the outskirts of Guadalajara, Tlaquepaque is now surrounded by city sprawl. However, Tlaquepaque maintains all the charm of a small village and truly feels a world away, despite being just 20 minutes from the center of town. It is an area you won’t want to skip when visiting the city.

Tlaquepaque is most well-known for its rich artisan traditions, especially its pottery. There are tons of galleries in town filled with pottery, painting, and crafts, which makes part of the fun exploring and shopping, stumbling upon the town’s treasures. Finish a day spent exploring the town’s cobblestone streets with a late lunch or dinner at Casa Luna, one of the best restaurants in Guadalajara, nestled right in the heart of Tlaquepaque.

7. Paint Pottery with Paco Padilla

Tlaquepaque is much more than just its historic charm. The town originally earned recognition as a hub for artisans, and in particular, those working with ceramics. Today, the tradition lives on in the work of locals like Paco Padilla, who is among the town’s most famous and gifted craftsmen.

A visit to Paco’s workshop is itself enough of a reason to get to Tlaquepaque. It bursts with mountains of ceramic delicately formed using traditional techniques and thoughtfully handpainted in both traditional and modern styles. Stop by for a pottery painting experience or a tour of the workshop, and make sure to grab some pieces on sale in his gallery, which are perfect for treasured souvenirs or gifts.

8. Drink at El Gallo Altanero

With its proximity to Tequila, Guadalajara has just as enviable of a bar scene as you would expect. But just how enviable? One of the city’s coolest watering holes, El Gallo Altanero, was recently named to the list of the World’s 50 Best Bars. Hidden away on the second floor of a nondescript building in Colonia Americana, it’s just as cool of a spot as you’d imagine, and a must on any Guadalajara itinerary.

The menu here reads like an encyclopedia of tequila and other agave-based beverages, from popular mezcal to more under-the-radar spirits like sotol and raicilla. But El Gallo Altanero is much more than just a temple to tequila. On my most recent visit, there was a pop-up experience with a bar from Spain, and the small space was packed with locals and visitors alike. Event or not, come early – especially on the weekend! – to grab a spot at the bar.

9. Take a Cantina Tour

El Gallo Altanero is a highlight for any food and drink-minded visitor to Guadalajara, but it is really just the start of a blooming bar scene that makes the heart of the city the perfect destination for a good old self-guided bar crawl. We also recommend checking out the following spots in town:

• Cantina La Fuente: For more than a century, Cantina La Fuente hole has been the place to be in the heart of downtown Guadalajara for those looking for a cold beer and a friendly, fuss-free place to unwind with friends after a long day. Zero points for style, but a solid ten for the authentic, locals-only feel and live music.
• De la O Cantina: What do you get when you mix a tiki bar with central Mexico? De la O Cantina, apparently, and it works. This elevated but accessible bar has killer cocktails and a small but impressive menu of food, enough to earn it a spot on the 50 Best Discovery list.
• Mecenas: A newcomer on the scene, Mecenas is a moody, modern bar that makes all its own spirits from scratch, taking the craft cocktail concept to the next level.

Read More: 15 Best Places to Eat + Drink in Guadalajara

10. Visit Zapopan

What was once its own independent city, Zapopan has been practically engulfed by growing Guadalajara and now feels like an extension of the city itself. This city’s undeniable claim to fame is its most famous monument: the Virgin of Zapopan, an image of the Virgin Mary dating back to the 16th century that is housed inside the oversized  Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan.

As one of the most important religious sites and pilgrimage destinations in Mexico, you’re sure to see some fanfare around the church, though it remains easily accessible and offers a fascinating peek at what is a unique mix of history and culture. The surrounding area is also known for its parks and green spaces, making it an excellent place to stay or spend a day if you want to get a bit outside of town.

11. Listen to Mariachi

Did you know that Mexico’s famous Mariachi music and culture actually got its start in Guadalajara? That means that no trip to Guadalajara is complete without experiencing it firsthand. You’re sure to spot mariachi bands in the street, especially in plazas in the historic center like the appropriately-named Plaza de Los Mariachis, but stopping by Casa Bariachi for a drink and show is worth it if you’re seeking out the full, authentic experience.

If you’re interested in getting particularly up close and personal with mariachi, plan your visit to the city for late August. Guadalajara welcomes the annual festival known as the Encuentro Internacional del Mariachi y la Charrería, hosting dozens, if not hundreds, of events with mariachi groups from around the world to celebrate. The mariachi balls held in the historic Teatro Degollado in the heart of town are truly special.

12. Take in the View from Mirador Independencia Park

Just look at that view! Would you guess it can be found just on the edge of one of Mexico’s biggest and busiest cities? Located on the northern edge of Guadalajara, Mirador Independencia Park is a breath of fresh air from the heart of town, and an excellent and easy escape that rewards visitors with breathtaking views towards the agave-coated hillsides of Jalisco.

Mirador Independencia Park is more than just a viewpoint, though this particular wheelchair-accessible viewpoint is a great choice for everyone. More active visitors can also explore nearby hiking trails that stretch down into the surrounding canyon and towards the riverside to commune with nature.

13. Try Torta Ahogadas

Guadalajara’s food scene is much more than just award-winning restaurants and bars. The city is also where some of Mexico’s most famous dishes got their start, including most famously the torta ahogada, which is a sandwich “drowned” in a delicious tomato salsa.

You’ll find tortas ahogadas at plenty of local food stands throughout the city, though if you’re searching for the source, try Tortas Ahogadas – Jose El de la Bicicleta. This is one of the original spots, which now has a number of outposts around the city. No style here, just flavor and tradition.

Once you’ve crossed the torta ahogada off your list, try other local favorites like birria, a rich goat stew slow-cooked ranch style, or carne en sus jugos. You’ll find them at plenty of local restaurants and markets around Guadalajara.

Read More: 15 Best Places To Eat + Drink in Guadalajara

14. Visit Lake Chapala

South of Guadalajara is Lake Chapala, Mexico’s largest freshwater lake and a gorgeous gem beckoning city-weary visitors to more relaxed shores for an easy-going day trip or more extended stays. But other than lakeside views and laid-back vibes, why make the one-hour drive from the city? Waterfall hikes and thermal springs, adventures on the lake, nearby towns to explore… there is plenty to do near Lake Chapala that will tempt you to spend at least one night here.

Surprisingly enough, I read that Lake Chapala is home to more expats than any other place on Earth; in popular lakeside towns like Ajijic come prepared to meet a new type of local. While this makes for a unique cultural mix that isn’t devoid of problems, it also means you’re sure to find plenty of cool local restaurants and cafes and expat-owned Airbnbs and boutique hotels to visit.

15. Marvel at Guachimontones

The archeological sites of this part of Mexico aren’t as famous as the soaring pyramids of the Mayas on the Yucatan or Teotihuacán outside of Mexico City. However, for many visitors, they’re no less impressive, and certainly no less interesting. Guachimontones is now part of the region’s UNESCO World Heritage designation, a unique site created by the Teuchitlán culture in the valleys near Tequila.

The dramatic circular pyramid shapes at Guachimontones are impressive and are located just an hour outside of Guadalajara. The archeological museum at the site and the well-informed guides who bring visitors around the ruins make the entire visit experience a memorable one from start to finish.

Reviews and Bookings: Guachimontones Archaeological Tour from Guadalajara