Ten Things To Do In Guadalajara

Guadalajara’s historic center conceals most of the city’s attractions, with numerous well-preserved buildings attesting to the city’s colonial heritage. Among the other sites and palaces, we recommend you pay a visit to the Instituto Cultural Cabañas, also known as Hospicio Cabañas. Originally designated as a shelter for orphans and terminally ill people, this imponent building is one of the most emblematic landmarks in Guadalajara. Its interiors include more than 100 rooms, two chapels, numerous hallways and patios, and amazing frescos by local artist José Clemente Orozco. Plaza de Los Mariachis (Mariachis Square) is another unmissable stop on your city tour. Located in the old neighborhood of San Juan de Dios, it is one of Guadalajara’s most folkloristic sites, where groups of musicians perform every day the mariachi traditional Mexican music. The square is guarded by the three Neoclassical-style quarry sculptures of The Lady of Dolores, San Antonio, and San José, and regularly hosts cultural, artistic, and gastronomic events. Guadalajara’s historic center offers a wide variety of restaurants and drinking venues where you can stop for a taste of the exquisite local cuisine or a glass of tequila while enjoying the enthralling live music coming from every alley.

If you are into football, attending a match at the Akron Stadium is among the top things to do in Guadalajara. The city is home to two football teams, Club Deportivo Guadalajara, or Chivas and Atlas, and has a long soccer tradition. The Estadio Akron, formerly known as Estadio Omnilife and Estadio Chivas, was built in 2007 as a multifunction stadium and has hosted most local football matches ever since. The Estadio Akron is part of the JVC complex and is the home of Liga MX side C.D. Guadalajara. When you travel to Guadalajara, this is an excellent option to visit and learn about its history. The first major international event at the stadium took place with the first leg of the 2010 Finals of the Copa Libertadores and hosted the 2011 Pan-American Games opening and closing ceremonies. With very low ticket prices, you cannot help but attend a Chivas football match and cheer the team with the local supporters.

Between the historic center’s avenues of Fray Antonio Alcalde, Miguel Hidalgo, and the streets Liceo and Independencia, you will come across the Rotonda de Los Jaliscienses Ilustres (originally named Rotonda de Los Hombres Ilustres). One of the most iconic monuments in Guadalajara, the rotunda pays honor to the memory of Jalisco’s most influential people, whose contribution to progress and culture has transcended through the centuries. The monument was realized in 1952 by the Mexican architect Vicente Mendiola and includes 17 fluted columns supporting a quarry ring. The Rotonda de Los Jaliscienses Ilustres is also a mausoleum housing the remains of some of Jalisco’s most notable people, whose bronze statues are displayed in the surrounding garden.

The Museo de las Artes Universidad de Guadalajara is among the most interesting things to do in town if you are into culture and arts. This museum, which is part of the city’s university, was inaugurated in 1994 and has become a hub meant to promote the education and cultural development of society. The MUSA regularly hosts international exhibitions and also houses a large collection of sculptures and paintings by Mexican artists and two amazing frescos by the local artist José Clemente Orozco. Located just 20 minutes from Guadalajara’s center, the MUSA offers free entrance and guided tours on arrival and is a prime choice for an afternoon delving into Jalisco’s cultural scene.

The imposing Teatro Degollado is another iconic landmark you cannot miss while visiting Guadalajara. This Neoclassical-style architectural masterpiece dates back to the 19th century and is one of the city’s main cultural venues hosting different artistic performances and events. The theatre is home to the city’s opera and orchestra and offers a rich concert and ballet agenda. When no performances or rehearsals are planned, you can visit it and admire its sumptuous interiors and the magnificently painted vault depicting some passages of Dante’s Divine Comedy.

The central square Plaza de la Liberación deserves a visit just for its typical setting and lively atmosphere. Located between Guadalajara’s Cathedral and the Teatro Degollado, the square is nicknamed la Plaza de Los Tres Poderes (Square of the Three Powers) or Plaza de Las Dos Copas (Square of the Two Cups) by the locals. Its wide surface makes it an ideal venue for hosting exhibitions, fairs, and cultural and gastronomic events. In the plaza, you can admire the two elegant cup-shaped fountains that earned the square its nickname and the bronze statue dedicated to Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla symbolizing Mexico’s Independence. Plaza de la Liberación also hosts a quaint flea market where you can find many handicrafts and ítems including hand-made clothes, decorated ceramics, pottery, traditional masks, souvenirs, and many art objects.

A visit to Guadalajara Cathedral cannot miss in your ‘’things to in Guadalajara'' list. Known as the Basilica de la Asunción de María Santísima (Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady), it is located in Guadalajara’s historic center. Its eclectic architecture encompasses several styles that range from Baroque, to Neoclassical and Gothic, which reflects the different reconstructions it went through. Its sumptuous interiors display the influence of European arts, with Tuscan-style white pillars and French-made stained glass Windows, and impressive Gothic vaults. The cathedral houses the relics of St Innocent and those of Guadalajara’s cardinals and bishops and is open for free to the public.

During your stay in Guadalajara, make sure you pay a visit to Tequila, one of Jalisco’s most popular Pueblos Mágicos. Considered the birthplace of the eponymous spirit, this quaint village surrounded by agave fields is the ideal destination for an alternative day trip. The peaceful atmosphere of its historic center will bring you back in time while you admire the characteristic colonial buildings and relax in the many dining and drinking venues. Join a tour of the agave haciendas and learn more about the history and production of Mexico’s most famous drink. Tequila’s agave landscape designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO can be accessed by the town of El Arenal, where you can admire the still preserved vestiges of the ancient haciendas and tequila factories. From Guadalajara, you can reach both Tequila and El Arenal by traveling on the highway to Nogales.

Among the things you can do in Guadalajara, we suggest you a trip to the nearby city of Zapopan. Mainly renowned for its Baroque-style Franciscan sanctuary Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Zapopan (Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan), this young and thriving town makes it a great destination for a sightseeing and shopping afternoon. In the heart of the city, you will find many modern shops and restaurants; one popular site among Guadalajara’s shopping enthusiasts is the Andares outdoor and indoor shopping center. This extensive mall offers a range of centralized structures and proposes a unique shopping and lifestyle experience by combining the largest shopping center in western Mexico, apartment towers, two corporate business towers, and a polyfunctional tower. Other landmarks in Zapopan include the Arco de Ingreso a Zapopan (Entrance Arch), the Municipal Palace and the Museo de Arte de Zapopan (Zapopan Art Museum).

Located less than 15 minutes by car from Guadalajara’s center, the fascinating Pueblo Mágico of Tlaquepaque is a perfect destination to discover more about Jalisco’s artisanal tradition. Renowned for its fine traditional pottery and ceramics, Tlaquepaque enjoys a relaxed atmosphere that beckons you to explore its cobblestone alleys and quaint colonial buildings. On the central walkway Indipendencia you will find endless handicrafts shops and workshops, and iconic landmarks such as the Museo Regional de la Cerámica de Tlaquepaque (Regional Museum of Ceramics of Tlaquepaque) or the Hidalgo Garden, the Tlaquepaque’s green lung and a perfect spot to unwind after exploring the town. A visit to El Parián, Tlaquepaque’s most emblematic square, is an unmissable stop in your city tour. Renowned for its picturesque beauty and vibrant atmosphere, El Parián houses a wide range of restaurants, bars, and live music venues, offering countless chances for a fun night or a traditional Mexican culinary experience. The square hosts an elegant kiosk from where you can enjoy folkloristic live performances of mariachi music and the delicacies and drinks from the many surrounding traditional canteens.