15 Best Things to do in Guadalajara (Mexico)

Here’s a list of the 15 best things to do in Guadalajara (Mexico), along with famous landmarks, museums, and other points of interest.

Guadalajara is one of the largest cities in Mexico with a population of 1,38 million people according to the latest national census made in 2020.

Bosque Colomos

Bosque Colomos is an urban park, located in the northeast of Guadalajara. The space was a forest, many of whose trees were used in the early building of the city.

The area began to be developed at the end of the 19^th century, with an eye to providing the city with much-needed water service.

The park is made up of loads of green space, ducks, a Japanese garden, running tracks, and the Cultural Center Casa Colomos, located in the Castillo building, the city’s former waterworks. In the culture center, you can take classes, watch movies and visit different exhibits.

Lake Chapala

Lake Chapala, Mexico’s largest freshwater lake, sits at just under 30 miles from Guadalajara. The average depth of the lake is 23 feet. The water comes from three different rivers, and it is drained out by the Rio Grande de Santiago into the Pacific Ocean.

The lake has three islands, one of which holds an old Spanish fort and a prison. It’s a gorgeous backdrop, surrounded by mountains and sierras. Currently the lake is threatened by pollution and decreasing water levels.

Jose Cuervo Express

The name might sound hokey, but this experience is a must-do for tequila lovers. A little over 30 miles from Guadalajara is the town of Tequila. The village dates back to 1530, and it has always had a long tradition of tequila making.

One of the world’s most famous brands of tequila, Jose Cuervo, is made there, and in 2012 they opened a train that takes visitors straight to their factory. The gorgeous, elegant train runs in the mornings and the evenings, with a capacity for 375 people.

It rides past the town, and the agave fields, all while riders can enjoy private tables, a bartender, and gorgeous vintage surroundings.

Jose Cuervo Express — Photo: T photography / Shutterstock.com

Teatro Degollado

This lovely theater dates back to the 1800s when it was designed and built by architect Jacobo Galvez.

The building’s neoclassical style was influenced by Italy, and the dome has ornate frescos that allude to Dante’s Divine Comedy done by Mexican artists Jacobo Galvez and Gerardo Suarez.

You can visit the theater during the day or catch a performance of an opera, a folkloric dance, or other events in the theater, which seats 1,015.

Panteon de Belen

The Panteón de Belen, also known as Santa Paula Cemetery, is located in Guadalajara and is quite a popular place to visit. Constructed in 1848 to house the dead from cholera epidemics, it quickly filled and closed in 1896.

Many of the visitors come for night tours of the cemetery, which feature the purported ghosts and legends around the cemetery’s dead. However, during the daytime, it’s also worth a visit for the historic architecture and the famous people buried there.

Instituto Cultural Cabanas

The Cabanas Cultural Institute is a UNESCO World Heritage site, thanks in part to the history of its building. Built by the Spaniards between 1805 and 1810, it was used as an orphanage.

It holds some of José Clemente Orozco’s best work in the form of murals. Today, it houses many more of his works, as well as pieces from Mexico’s contemporary art scene.

Parque Mirador Independencia Amphitheater

The Parque Mirador Independencia Amphitheater is a striking amphitheater that overlooks the Oblatos-Huentitán Canyon, whose 1968-foot depth was carved out by the Rio Grande.

Located in a national park, the amphitheater ends dramatically in a drop-off over the cliff, gorgeous sierra in the distance. You can visit the amphitheater just to see it or attend one of its many concerts or movie showing.

Museo Regional de la Cerámica

Located in Tlaquepaque, the Regional Ceramics Museum is a must-visit for anyone making a day trip to the village. The name of the city itself means ‘atop clay hills’, so it’s no surprise that many interesting ceramics have been made and discovered around the area.

The museum has been open since 1954, in a colonial-era hacienda. In this museum, an extensive collection is great for viewing a range of techniques and styles from the last four centuries.

Try some Tortas Ahogadas

Torta ahogada is a Mexican street food dish native to Guadalajara, and when visiting its birthplace I can warmly recommend you to try it.

The definition of a torta ahogada sounds simple: a sandwich stuffed with tender pork and covered (‘drowned’, as the name suggests) in tomato sauce.

However, the sandwich varies widely across the city. It is eaten at all hours, though some have it for breakfast to cure a hangover. You can find them in the streets everywhere, although locals’ favorite is the stand behind the SEARS.

Listen to live Mariachi Bands

Guadalajara and Jalisco are the birthplaces of emotional mariachi music. This music style, known the world over, is even recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

It evolved as a combination of various music types across the highlands in Jalisco and surrounding states. The arrival of the Spaniards saw string instruments incorporated, and the mariachi reached its full potential.

Be sure to catch some mariachi players in their charro suits in the Plaza de Los Mariachis or in Casa Bariachi.

Mariachi band guadalajara — Photo: Kobby Dagan / Shutterstock.com

Tlaquepaque

Just seven miles outside of Guadalajara, Tiaquepaque is a center for handicrafts and artisan products, famous in all of Jalisco. Due to its proximity to the capital, it is quite large, but it also has a lot of agricultural business.

It makes a great day trip from Guadalajara—be sure to stroll around El Parián, the city’s large, buzzing plaza with a statue of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the main figure in Mexico’s independence.

If you can, catch a show by a mariachi band—Tiaquepaque is famous for them!

Palacio de Gobierno

The headquarters of Jalisco’s government is a grand palace, dating back to the 1700s. It was the location of the Mexican government for many years, and the most important changes in Mexico’s laws and nation were made within its walls.

The baroque building features murals by the famous artist José Clemente Orozco. You can tour the building to admire its important art collection and its beautiful interior plaza, and there are even English-speaking guides to show you through the Palace.

Basilica de Zapopan

The Basilica of Zapopan, which began construction in 1689, is one of Guadalajara’s most important religious buildings and a symbol of Christianity. The statue of the Virgin Mary, called Our Lady of Zapopan, is carried every October 12 from the city’s cathedral to the basilica.

The wooden statue is a relic from medieval Spain. One of the best times to see the church is Friday and Saturday evenings, when a light and sound display are projected onto the church’s front, and you can watch a fascinating 3D show on its history.

MUSA Museo de las Artes

The building of MUSA was built in 1914 by Alfredo Navarra Branca, a well-known local engineer. It was taken over by the University of Guadalajara in 1937 and used for school purposes until 1994, when it was founded as a space for art and culture by the University.

The permanent exhibit is accompanied by several temporary ones, and it is a great place to see art by some of Mexico’s finest, including Gabriel Mariscal, Martha Pacheco, and Lucía Maya.

MUSa guadalajara — Photo: eskystudio / Shutterstock.com

Guachimontones

A visit to the most important pre-Columbian archaeological site in this region of Mexico should be mandatory! Dating back to 500 BC, Guachimontones is an impressive sight, a grass-covered complex of circular pyramids that was once an important area for the Teuchitlán.

About two hours from Guadalajara, the area is a UNESCO world heritage site and has a museum that, while small, is quite interesting for finding out more about the people who lived in the area.