Experience the best of Guadalajara
Guadalajara, capital of Jalisco, is a big Mexican city of colonial plazas, murals, mariachi and tequila, in the highlands of the west.
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Guadalajara sits in the western highlands, at around 1,500 metres, and calls itself the cradle of mariachi and tequila. The historic centre is arranged around a cross of plazas, with the twin spires of the cathedral, the Palacio de Gobierno, which has a huge mural of Miguel Hidalgo by José Clemente Orozco, and the neoclassical Degollado Theatre. The Hospicio Cabañas, a former orphanage, is a UNESCO site with more Orozco murals.
The Mercado San Juan de Dios, a vast market hall, sells food, crafts and leather. Tlaquepaque and Tonalá, craft towns on the edge of the city, are known for ceramics, blown glass and furniture. The town of Tequila, with the agave fields and distilleries listed by UNESCO, is about an hour to the north-west, and Lake Chapala, Mexico's largest freshwater lake, is under an hour south, with the lakeside village of Ajijic.
Birria, a goat or beef stew in a chilli broth, tortas ahogadas, 'drowned' pork rolls soaked in a spicy sauce, and carne en su jugo are the city's dishes, with tejuino, a cold fermented-corn drink, as the street refresher. Mariachi bands play in the Plaza de los Mariachis. The rains come between June and September, often as short afternoon storms.
- 4 skip-the-line tickets
- Free cancellation on 80% of experiences
- 4.7 across the top 15
Top 10 attractions in Guadalajara
Number 1Amatitan
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Number 2Guadalajara Cathedral
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Number 3Teatro Degollado
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Number 4Governor's Palace (Palacio de Gobierno)
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Number 5Rotonda de los Jaliscienses Ilustres
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Number 6Plaza de Armas
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Number 7Guachimontones
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Number 8Guadalajara Historic Center (Centro Histórico)
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Number 9Hospicio Cabañas
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Number 10Jose Cuervo Distillery (Fábrica La Rojeña)
Go beyond Guadalajara
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Puerto Vallarta · 196 kmBanderas Bay (Bahía de Banderas)
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Puerto Vallarta · 196 kmEl Malecon
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Sayulita · 219 kmPlaya de los Muertos
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San Miguel de Allende · 272 kmParroquia de San Miguel Arcangel
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San Miguel de Allende · 272 kmFábrica La Aurora
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Ixtapa · 382 kmXihuacan Museum and Archaeological Site (Museo Xihuacan)
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Zihuatanejo · 386 kmPlaya Las Gatas
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Zihuatanejo · 386 kmBahia de Zihuatanejo
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Mazatlán · 425 kmGolden Zone (Zona Dorada)
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Mazatlán · 425 kmPlazuela Machado
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Mexico City · 462 kmTeotihuacán
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Mexico City · 462 kmBasilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Questions about Guadalajara
- What is there to do in Guadalajara?
- We list 400 experiences in Guadalajara. The largest groups are day trips (171), city tours (18), hop-on hop-off (5).
- What are the top attractions in Guadalajara?
- Ranked by the experiences that visit them, the top attractions in Guadalajara are Amatitan, Guadalajara Cathedral, Teatro Degollado, Governor's Palace (Palacio de Gobierno).
- What is the most popular experience in Guadalajara?
- By number of traveller reviews it is "Full Day Tour to Tequila and Amatitán with Fun and Culture", rated 4.9 out of 5 from 748 reviews.
- How long do tours and tickets in Guadalajara take?
- The typical experience in Guadalajara lasts about 6 hours; the middle half run between 3 hours and 8 hours.
- Can I cancel a booking in Guadalajara?
- The operator lists free cancellation on 80% of the 400 experiences we hold for Guadalajara. The cut-off differs by experience and is shown on each product page before you choose a date.
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