My family and took a trip to Guadalajara back in the summer 2022 and this is beyond a delayed post for it but if you have a trip planned or are considering going to Guadalajara here are all the things I think you should do.
- Walk the plaza and neighboring towns– One of my favorite ways to explore a new town is to just walk around and stumble upon markets, restaurants, shops, etc. I recommend doing this in Guadalajara but especially the Plaza/El Centro. This is in their “downtown” and you will find a big church that you can walk into, street vendors selling goods for treats and overall be able to experience how it is a socializing spot are for locals. Plazas have always been my go to spot to grab a paleta or ice cream, sit down and just take everything in.
*One thing that was a little surprising to me when arriving to El Centro in Guadalajara was that as you walk around there is a bit of graffiti on some of the building and some were historical ones which is always sad to see.
- Eat & drink– Guadalajara is known for birria, torta ahogada, tequila and more. What I have learned is that as you plan your days accordingly to what you may be doing and where you may be. As it is important to have a few spots picked out so that you’re not searching for a place to eat while you’re hangry. I will make a post of some of the spots we ate at but while we were in Guadalajara we found ourselves heading to the neighborhood Colonia Americana the most because they had more restaurants, bars and cafes that we enjoyed than in El Centro. Overall they are known for having the best restaurants in town.
- Visit museums and the churches– There are a handful of museums and churches that offer admission or tours. We only had time to do Hospicio Canbanas and it was short and sweet. Overall there are a few that you can look to tour at different times if you wanted to learn more about them.
- Take day trips– This was honestly my favorite part of the trip because each town was different and it was a new experience in each one. These are also smaller towns so you get away from the hustle and bustle in Guadalajara as it can be a busy city at times.
Tlaquepaque-A well-known suburb of Guadalajara. It’s buildings are colorful, streets cobblestone and overall has a nice charm to it. Here you can shop pottery, artesian goods, visit galleries and find some good food spots to grab a bite.
Tonala- Right outside of the city and a smaller town than Tlaquepaque, Tonala is known for it’s ceramics and open air market where it is sold. There is all kinds of cermaics from items for your home to your garden, you can find it all and sometimes buy at a wholesale price. Be sure to bring cash!
Tequila- Embark on a tasting tour of the Tequila region near Guadalajara, visiting distilleries, agave fields, and tequila museums. Learn about the production process of Mexico’s most famous spirit and sample different varieties of tequila.
Lake Chapala- This was on our list but it rained the day we wanted to go visit. It is about 30 miles to the south of the city and is the largest in Mexico.
*Guadalajara’s Mariachi Culture: Explore the vibrant mariachi culture of Guadalajara, including its music, traditions, and festivals. Attend a live mariachi performance, visit the Plaza de los Mariachis, and learn about the history of this iconic Mexican art form. Though the Plaza de Los Mariachis is small, I would recommend walking through it during the day to see. It has about 3 restaurants next to it and I would say you can learn more about mariachi throughout the city while you’re visiting.
*Side note for the day trips or even to grab a bite in a different part of town you’ll want to look into their public transportation system, taxis or an Uber. I found that using an Uber was very cheap and reliable, making this our go to choice when going anywhere while in Guadalajara. Though if you are traveling to Tequila I recommend staying the night or grabbing an Uber before the evening gets busy as we struggled to grab one on the way back and relied on a local service in Tequila to take us back.
If you’re looking to visit Guadalajara I hope this helps you in finding things to do while you’re there!
PS- here are some of my must haves when traveling
