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    Guadalajara

    Mexico

    Guadalajara

    CityCulture

    Guadalajara is the capital of Jalisco and was founded in 1542 at its current location.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Mexico
    7. Jalisco
    9. Guadalajara
    Guadalajara is the capital of Jalisco and was founded in 1542 at its current location. In the Centro Histórico, the Cathedral, Government Palace, Teatro Degollado, and Hospicio Cabañas with murals by José Clemente Orozco are located close together. West of that, Colonia Americana and Avenida Chapultepec reveal the city's younger face with cafes, bars, and buildings by Luis Barragán.

    Sights in Guadalajara

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Cathedral of Guadalajara
    Church

    1Cathedral of Guadalajara

    The cathedral was built from 1561 according to plans by Martín Casillas and completed in 1618. Its Neo-Gothic towers with yellow and blue tiles were constructed from 1851 to 1854, after earthquakes in 1818 and 1849 had destroyed the previous towers. Inside, you'll see the marble and silver altar in the nave and the relic of Saint Inocencia.
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    Expiatory Temple of the Most Holy Sacrament
    Church

    2Expiatory Temple of the Most Holy Sacrament

    The Neo-Gothic Templo Expiatorio was built between 1897 and 1972, with final construction management by architect Ignacio Díaz Morales. The stained-glass windows hail from Orléans in France, and the tower clock from Germany. When the carillon with its 25 bells plays, figures of the twelve apostles parade through the tower.
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    Museum

    3MUSA Museo de las Artes

    The Art Museum of the University of Guadalajara on Avenida Juárez has occupied a 1914 building since 1994, which was previously the university's seat. Main works include the murals “El hombre, creador y rebelde” and “El pueblo y sus falsos líderes” by José Clemente Orozco, and it also hosts temporary exhibitions.
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    Museum

    4Museo del Ejército y Fuerza Aérea

    The Military Museum occupies the former Cuartel Colorado, a barracks that served as a prison during the Revolution. On display are weapons, uniforms, flags, and maps; cannons stand in the garden.
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    Museum

    5Casa ITESO Clavigero

    Luis Barragán designed the 1928 house for lawyer Efraín González Luna, his first major work. Since 1999, ITESO University has used the Colonia Americana house as a cultural center with café, becoming a National Monument in 2006. Tours by appointment.
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    Attraction

    6Palace of Government of Jalisco

    The 18th-century Government Palace stands on the Plaza de Armas. In the stairwell, José Clemente Orozco painted his mural of Miguel Hidalgo with a raised torch in 1937. Here, Hidalgo signed his decree abolishing slavery in December 1810.
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    City walks in Guadalajara

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    Colonial Splendor & Market Flair: Discovering Guadalajara's Old Town

    Experience the fascinating mix of colonial architecture, art and lively Mexican everyday life on this roughly two-hour walk through Guadalajara's old town. From majestic cathedrals to vibrant markets, immerse yourself in the rich heritage of Jalisco.

    ~2 Std. 15 Min.
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    Stops (6)

    Essen & Trinken

    1

    Suehiro

    Japanese restaurant with sushi on Avenida de la Paz, west of the city center.
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    2

    CafeLand

    Café on Calle Santa Mónica in the Centro Histórico, with coffee and Mexican breakfast.
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    3

    La Pulkata

    Cultural spot on Calle Pedro Loza in the northern Centro Histórico, featuring simple Mexican cuisine, art on the walls, and live music.
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    4

    Rosticerías Rizo

    A simple rosticería located at Mercado Corona downtown, specializing in roasted chicken and sides.
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    5

    El Sacromonte

    Restaurant with Mexican cuisine on Calle Pedro Moreno, west of the center in Colonia Americana.
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    6

    Teté Cocina de Barrio

    Neighborhood restaurant with Mexican cuisine on Calle Rayón, in the south of Colonia Americana.
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    7

    Karne Garibaldi Santa Tere

    Flagship restaurant of the Karne Garibaldi chain in the Santa Tere neighborhood, featuring Mexican meat cuisine. The establishment is known for its extremely fast service and is considered one of the fastest restaurants in the world.
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    Food and Drink in Guadalajara

    The cuisine of Guadalajara is hearty and often served at markets and in small eateries.

    Torta ahogada

    A crispy bun with pork, smothered with tomato and spicy chili sauce. Considered Guadalajara's signature dish.

    Birria

    Braised goat or beef in spicy broth, typical for Jalisco and often eaten for breakfast.

    Beef in juice

    Finely sliced beef in broth with beans and bacon, popular in restaurants like Karne Garibaldi.

    Tejuino

    A cool drink made from fermented corn dough with lime and salt, sold at street stalls.

    History and Culture

    HistoryFounded on February 14, 1542, after several relocations, Guadalajara was established in its present location and served as the capital of the Kingdom of Nueva Galicia during the colonial era. In December 1810, Miguel Hidalgo proclaimed his decree for the abolition of slavery in the Government Palace. The Hospicio Cabañas, a building by Manuel Tolsá from the early 19th century, long served as an orphanage and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997. In its chapel, Orozco painted the “Hombre de fuego” in the late 1930s.ExcursionsTlaquepaque: Handicrafts, galleries, and mariachi at the Parián, directly southeast of the city.Tequila: Approx. 60 km northwest, with agave fields and distilleries; the drive takes about an hour.Lago de Chapala: Mexico’s largest freshwater lake with the towns of Chapala and Ajijic, south of the city.

    Nightlife

    The nightlife in Guadalajara's Centro Histórico offers a mix of traditional cantinas and modern bars. Here you'll find authentic spots like the Bar Cantina Don Cruz, but also dance clubs like the Babel Club, which stay open until the early morning hours.
    1

    Mascusia República

    Bar with Mexican cuisine on Avenida República, east of the Centro Histórico.
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    2

    Babel Club

    LGBTQ-friendly dance club on Calle Morelos, west of the Cathedral.
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    3

    Bar Cantina Don Cruz

    Cantina on Avenida Hidalgo in the eastern Centro Histórico, near Plaza Tapatía.
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    4

    Porter Bar

    Bar on Calle José Guadalupe Zuno in Colonia Americana, just steps from Casa ITESO Clavigero.
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    5

    Cantina La Fuente

    Time-honored cantina on Calle Pino Suárez in the Centro Histórico, one of the old town's classic old cantinas, serving beer and tequila rather than cocktails.
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    On the go in Guadalajara

    In the Centro Histórico, most attractions are reachable on foot; many streets around the Cathedral are pedestrian zones. The Mi Tren light rail system has four lines: Line 3 has connected Zapopan via the city center to Tlaquepaque since 2020, and Line 4 runs to Tlajomulco from December 2025. The Mi Macro Calzada express bus line runs along Calzada Independencia.The airport is located approximately 17 km southeast of the city center in Tlajomulco. For evening journeys, taxis from designated stands or ride-hailing apps are practical.

    Accommodations in Guadalajara

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    Nearby

    Jalisco

    Jalisco

    Jalisco is located in western Mexico and stretches from the highlands around Guadalajara to 342 km of Pacific coast near Puerto Vallarta. The state is home to Tequila and Mariachi: The agave landscape around the city of Tequila has been on UNESCO's World Heritage list since 2006. Additionally, there are Lago de Chapala, the country's largest freshwater lake, and the pottery and glass-blowing towns of Tlaquepaque and Tonalá.
    Tlaquepaque

    Tlaquepaque

    San Pedro Tlaquepaque borders Guadalajara directly to the southeast, known for its ceramics, glass, and galleries. Its center, including the pedestrian Calle Independencia, Jardín Hidalgo, and the Parián, has been a Pueblo Mágico since 2018. Evenings, Mariachis play in the Parián; by day, you can browse shops and workshops.
    Tequila (Stadt)

    Tequila (Stadt)

    The small town of Tequila lies about 60 km northwest of Guadalajara at the foot of the extinct volcano of the same name. Here, the major distilleries of José Cuervo and Sauza stand directly on the main square, with blue agave fields stretching to the town's edge all around. The Agave Landscape with its ancient distilleries was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2006, and since 2003, the town has held the title of Pueblo Mágico.
    Puerto Vallarta

    Puerto Vallarta

    Puerto Vallarta is a port and resort city of around 220,000 residents on Jalisco's Pacific coast, on Bahía de Banderas at the foot of the Sierra Madre Occidental. You come for the beaches, the Malecón boardwalk with its sculptures, and the Old Town, its whitewashed houses ascending the hillside around the Church of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. South of the Río Cuale is the Zona Romántica, home to Playa Los Muertos, the city's largest public beach.
    Lo de Marcos

    Lo de Marcos

    Lo de Marcos is a traditional fishing village on the Riviera Nayarit, north of San Pancho. Unlike Sayulita, the village is hardly geared towards tourism: You'll find a long sandy beach, simple fish restaurants and a quiet village life.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Pexels, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI