Here’s a list of the 15 best things to do in Tijuana (Mexico), along with famous landmarks, museums, and other points of interest.
Tijuana is one of the largest cities in Mexico with a population of 1,8 million people according to the latest national census made in 2020.
It’s also one of the most visited places in Mexico with millions of Americans coming here every year.
Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe Cathedral in Tijuana is the most important church in the city and a symbol of Christianity. Opened in 1902, the original building was wood and adobe clay.
The new building is the result of a renovation mid-century, a fine example of colonial and Neoclassical architecture. A statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe adorns the namesake church. Located in the heart of the city, it is considered a Historic Monument and an emblem of the city.
El Popo Market
This covered market is one of Tijuana’s most pleasant attractions, while also remaining an important stop for locals. This market pops with color. Rows of stalls offer up everything from cheeses to sweets, candles to wooden cutlery.
The market is a manageable size to just stroll around and enjoy the day. This alley market is still very much a local’s spot, so visit and be ready to mingle with the locals.
The locals of Tijuana go there for food, candy, tortilla makers, religious items, and pretty much anything else you can think of. Remember to bring Mexican Pesos, which is the local currency in Mexico.
Tijuana Cultural Center (CECUT)
This cultural center, which gets more than a million visitors a year, is only about two miles across the border. It bears the name cultural center because it doesn’t stop at traditional gallery spaces and art exhibits.
CECUT’s facilities, built in 1982, also include stages for plays and concerts, a botanical garden, an aquarium, and an IMAX theater, which gives the building an interesting ball shape.
The exhibits focus on Baja California’s history, from indigenous people, passing through the Mexican Revolution, on to modern times.
Mullme
MULLME, the Mexican Lucha Libre Museum, is the only museum of its kind in Mexico. Despite the fact that Lucha Libra, a wild combination of wrestling and showmanship, is the second most important sport in Mexico,
MULLME is the only spot that has collected original pieces and fascinating legends in one place for fans and spectators. The museum was the idea of a super fan and collector named Mauricio Limón.
It holds nearly 7,000 pieces, ranging from magazines, figurines, masks and even a recreation of the holding room fighters occupy before they go out to the ring.
Avenida Revolución
Revolution Avenue, as it translates to in English, is Tijuana’s most famous street and the center of tourist activity in the city. Located in the historic area, the Zona Centro, it was the first street in Tijuana to be paved.
It became a popular destination for Americans during prohibition, and even claims the title of the invention of the Caesar salad, at the Hotel Caesar run by Italian-American Caesar Cardini.
Today, a visit to Avenida Revolución can take you to cantinas, dance clubs, art galleries, handicraft shops and other outlets.
Experience the Nightlife
Nightlife in Tijuana is bustling. Five million people travel between Tijuana and the USA every day, and many of them make a stop to enjoy the varied nightlife, making it a happening scene almost any day of the week.
Nightlife centers around the Avenida Revolución and the Plaza del Zapator. Stop in to Cerveza Funes for a great beer selection, or Cervecería Norte for beer and views.
Try the Telefonica Gastro Park if you’re looking for a more laid-back drink in cool surroundings. Dandy del Sur is an institution, with reasonably priced drinks and a fun crowd.
Playas de Tijuana
Playas de Tijuana, which means beaches of Tijuana, is actually a neighborhood on the west side of Tijuana, which goes from Rosarito Beach all the way up to the US border. The area began to be demarcated and built up in 1959.
The Bullring by the Sea, Plaza Monumental, was opened in 1960. It is a popular area to visit—meet up with friends and locals on the Paseo Ensenada, or stop into Plaza Coronado, an entertainment center.
Casa de la Cultura
The Tijuana Culture House is where art, music, and more come together for locals and visitors to enjoy. The center is located in a Neoclassical building that dates back to 1929 and was once a primary school.
The 410-person-capacity theater hosts new talent as well as already famous musicians and actors. The Casa de la Cultura also holds a library and a café. Those in the know go up to the rooftop of the building for a great view of the city and on to California.
El Foro Antiguo Palacio Jai Alai
As its name suggests, this historic building once served as a grandiose frontón for playing and watching the Basque handball sport, jai alai. Today, this gorgeous mid-century building serves as a concert venue with a capacity of over 3,000 people.
In 1947, when the building was inaugurated, it was equally packed with spectators obsessed with Basque ‘pelota’, a fast-paced sport similar to racquetball but played with hands or huge wicker baskets attached to players’ arms.
It closed in 2002 and reopened in 2005 as a concert venue.
Estadio Caliente Xoloitzcuintles
Tijuana’s first division soccer club, Xoloitzcuintles, calls Caliente Stadium home. Built in 2006, the stadium can hold 27,333 spectators. Overseen by architect Héctor Troncoso-Parraga, it was commissioned by owner Jorge Hank Rhon, who wanted a professional soccer team in the city.
The turf is artificial, due to the hot springs below ground, which don’t allow grass to grow naturally. The stadium also holds dormitories for teams and staff, and recreational areas as well as Mexican food and beverage outlets.
Museo del Trompo
El Trompo is a great museum for those traveling with kids. It is a child-oriented science museum, although in its six exhibition halls, there are plenty of things to keep adults interested, too.
Try the local food of Tijuana
Tijuana’s position as a border town means it has people flowing in and out constantly, and for the food of Tijuana, this has meant a cross-pollination that makes it possibly one of the best spots to eat right now in Mexico.
From taco vendors to more modern restaurants, Tijuana has an embarrassment of riches. Don’t miss the birria de res, or stewed beef, taco, the Sonora-style burritos, the torta ahogada, and the baja-mediterranean cuisine.
The Caesar salad is from Tijuana, and can still be tasted in its original spot. The Chinese-Mexican fusion food in Tijuana is also excellent.
Glorieta Cuauhtémoc
A monument to Cuauhtémoc, the last ruler of Tenochtitlan, sits in the middle of the Glorieta Cuauhtémoc roundabout. The structure, at over 5 meters tall, is the most representative image of Tijuana. The sculpture by Alfonso Casarrubias was erected in 1975.
Make a day trip to Ensenada
Ensenada is an hour-and-a-half from Tijuana, so it makes a nice daytrip for tourists based in Tijuana. As the third-largest city in Baja California, it has plenty to attract visitors, starting with its beautiful town.
The boardwalk along the water is where you should start the day, strolling along the water, boat and people watching. At the end of the boardwalk is Ensenada’s Mercado Negro, a fresh-fish market.
From the Plaza Cívica and its historic surroundings to the oldest bar in Baja California (Hussong’s Cantina), there is something for everyone in Ensenada.
Plaza Santa Cecilia
The Plaza Santa Cecilia is one of the most-visited areas of Tijuana. What was once the Avenida Argüello, this area began as a place for musicians to congregate, which is how it received its name.
Santa Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians. Today, the plaza is filled with handicrafts, musicians, traditional dress, and bars and restaurants.
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