Ah, Jalisco – the birthplace of mariachi music, tequila, sombreros, rodeos, and The Mexican Hat Dance (…you know the song!)
Considering just how many Mexican cultural icons have originated from this state, it’s no wonder that the saying “Jalisco is Mexico” has become well-known across the country.
And while the seaside city of Puerto Vallarta may be the most well-known getaway destination in Jalisco, there’s a better option if you’re looking to experience the true heart, soul, and culture of this region: Guadalajara.
With a population of more than 4 million, Guadalajara is the second-largest city in Mexico, just after Mexico City. And much like the capital, Guadalajara was quick to capture my interest and my affection.
As is true of many of the large cities found in Central and South America, Guadalajara is made up of a fascinating combination of historic colonial buildings and sprawling new constructions. It has an incredibly strong economy (in fact, it’s known as the Silicon Valley of Mexico) and an array of spirited neighborhoods and districts to appeal to every personality.
But perhaps the most important thing for travelers to know about Guadalajara is that it’s a world-class destination for lovers of food and art. And that reputation is growing with every passing day!
While there’s certainly enough to do here to keep any traveler entertained for a while, the good news is that you can experience the best of Guadalajara within a limited timeframe – even just one day.
Here’s what I recommend seeing, doing, and eating (the most important part, duh) with One Day in Guadalajara:
One Day in Guadalajara: Itinerary At-a-Glance
- Breakfast at La Gorda
- Guadalajara Cathedral & the Cross of Plazas (Plaza de Armas, Plaza Guadalajara, Rotunda of Illustrious Jaliscienses, Plaza de la Liberación)
- Teatro Degollado
- Palacio de Gobierno (Governor’s Office)
- Lunch at Mercado Libertad
- Hospicio Cabañas
- Templo Expiatorio del Santísimo Sacramento
- Drinks at an Authentic Cantina
- Dinner at La Chata
Overview: Best Neighborhood to Stay in Guadalajara
There are several excellent neighborhoods where you could base yourself in Guadalajara, but for ease of exploring and walkability to major sights and attractions I kept it simple and chose to stay in the Centro Historico.
I stayed in a private room at Hostel Hospedarte Centro. It was actually located across the street from the main hostel area (including the dorms), so while it was clean, private and quiet, it did lack the traditional social ambience of a hostel. Which was just fine for me, but something to keep in mind if you decide to book a private room here!
With a bit more time in the city (or if you’re more interested in proximity to nightlife, and less so in proximity to historic and cultural sights) the trendy Chapultepec area would be another great choice.
Breakfast at La Gorda
Based on the excellent reviews this spot receives online (as well as its extremely close proximity to my hostel) stopping in at La Gorda for a meal was a no-brainer.
They have a decent selection of breakfast items, including classics like huevos rancheros. If you want to try a local speciality, order a torta ahogada – a sandwich on thick, crusty bread “drowned” in a spicy tomato and chili sauce.
La Gorda also offers a number of coffees, smoothies, and refreshing fruit juices to accompany your breakfast. It’s the type of place where anyone should be able to find something they’ll enjoy!
Guadalajara Cathedral & the Cross of Plazas
Also known as the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady, this historic icon of the city was originally built in the mid-1500s, although repairs were made to the towers in the 1800s. The cathedral is a perfect example of Spanish Renaissance style, aside from a few Neo-Gothic features (like the dramatic spires).
As beautiful as the cathedral is from the outside, don’t miss viewing the inside, too. It’s truly breathtaking, and rivals the architecture and design you’ll find in Europe!
Surrounding the cathedral are four separate plazas, known collectively as the Cross of Plazas. These include:
Plaza de Armas (South): Features a wrought-iron bandstand where free evening concerts are occasionally held.
Plaza Guadalajara (West): Faces the front of the cathedral, and has a large round fountain where children play and young lovers sit and hold hands. D’aww!
Rotunda of Illustrious Jaliscienses (North): Less of a plaza, and more small, lush park. Features a lot of bronze statues, and a grand Neoclassical rotunda right smack dab in the center.
Plaza de la Liberación (East): The most spacious plaza, which also has a massive sculpture of Miguel Hidalgo, the man who led the Mexican War of Independence. I loved how bustling this particular plaza was!
Each of the four plazas surrounding the Guadalajara Cathedral are distinct in appearance and design, but all offer a lively atmosphere and excellent people-watching opportunities.
There are food vendors in several of the plazas as well, if you fancy a snack and a rest on one of the many iron benches (highly recommended, for the record).
Teatro Degollado
On the opposite side of Plaza de la Liberación from the Guadalajara Cathedral you’ll find the magnificent Teatro Degollado. This neoclassical theater sports grand columns and an ornate marble portico…truly a sight to behold!
The gorgeous interior is open to visitors (for free) Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 2pm. But whether you make it inside or not, it’s definitely worth stopping by to at least see the stunning exterior.
Palacio de Gobierno (Governor’s Office)
To the southeast of the Guadalajara Cathedral and visible from the Plaza de Armas sits the main government building for the state of Jalisco. While a governor’s office may not sound like the most exciting attraction, housed inside are two larger-than-life murals by José Clemente Orozco, one of Mexico’s most renowned painters.
Truth be told, I wish I had known a little bit more about Orozco before viewing his work. Ominous and otherworldly, his murals tell stories about human suffering as it relates to politics, slavery, nature and machines – especially within the context of the Mexican Revolution.
The first mural you’ll see here is located on the ceiling of the interior staircase. It depicts Miguel Hidalgo, who launched the Mexican War of Independence in 1810.
The second mural can be found in the congressional meeting hall, and features prominent political figures from Mexico’s history (including Miguel Hildago again…can you spot him below?).
The Palacio de Gobierno is free to visit; there will likely be a guard outside, but just let them know you’d like to go in to see the murals. You can also see a small sliver of the Guadalajara Cathedral from the second floor!
Lunch at Mercado Libertad
Known by locals as the Mercado San Juan de Dios, this sprawling marketplace contains an overwhelming number of vendors selling shoes, clothes, jewelry, DVDs, accessories, and more. It’s actually the largest indoor marketplace in all of Latin America!
It’s definitely worth spending a little bit of time here shopping the wares, but ultimately I came to Mercado Libertad to find one thing, and one thing only: cheap, fresh, authentic Mexican street food.
Believe me when I say that this is THE spot to be come lunchtime. The food court area is absolutely massive, and by the time I settled into a seat at one of the many stands I was practically high off of the incredible smells wafting through the market.
If you’re a bit wary of enjoying the street food in Mexico, my advice is to start with something easy and familiar…like tacos!
I decided to keep it simple and ordered three chorizo tacos; they were greasy, saucy, and piping hot – just like street food should be.
I watched as the meat was cooked and the tortillas were made by hand right in front of me. Then, I topped the tacos off with a little bit of salsa verde and cilantro. Perfecto!
…and for just $3.40, including the Coca Cola. Not too shabby, eh?
Some other local dishes that you might want to consider ordering include birrira, a savory and spicy stew that’s typically made with goat; and pozole, a hearty hominy and pork stew, which can be topped with a variety of vegetables and other ingredients. Enchiladas and tamales are almost always available as options, too.
Hospicio Cabañas
Alright guys, here’s the big one. According to the guidebooks (and me), if you only have time to do ONE thing in Guadalajara, it had better be this.
The Hospicio Cabañas was one of the oldest and largest hospital complexes in the Americas, originally founded in 1791.
During the early 1900s, famed Mexican muralist José Clemente Orozco (remember him from the Palacio de Gobierno?) decorated the main chapel with a series of murals, including the imposing Man of Fire which adorns the chapel’s dome.
This eerie mural represents the submission of humans to machines, and has earned recognition as the “Sistine Chapel of the Americas.”
In 1980, the Instituto Cultural Cabañas converted the entire hospital complex into an arts center and museum.
It now showcases works from both Mexican and international artists, and visitors can explore various themes and subject matters as they move from room to room.
I’m not incredibly educated when it comes to art or art history, but I really loved this museum. The art was diverse and unusual, and several pieces really captured my attention and triggered an emotional response.
The amazing architecture and gorgeous open courtyards certainly play a role in the whole experience as well.
I got lucky with my timing and visited on a Tuesday, when entry to the museum is free! That said, I would have happily paid full price to view the artwork here (the normal entry fee is only 70 pesos).
Even if you’re not much of an art aficionado, you’ll likely want to spend at least an hour or two here checking out the various exhibits and the architecture. If you’re super into the art itself, you may spend even longer!
Templo Expiatorio del Santísimo Sacramento
So far, this entire itinerary has consisted of sights and attractions that are within easy walking distance of each other; you’ll log just over 1 mile in total, between all of the sights combined.
…until now!
To get to the Templo Expiatorio del Santísimo Sacramento, you’ll need to walk about a mile and half from Hospico Cabañas, backtracking past the Guadalajara Cathedral along the way.
Not too bad, but you might consider taking an Uber or taxi at this point. They’re everyone in Guadalajara, and easy to flag down.
Either way, it’s well worth visiting this incredible Neo-gothic cathedral on the western edge of the historic center. Constructed in the late 1890s using imported materials from Europe, the Templo Expiatorio is hands down one of the most gorgeous cathedrals I’ve seen anywhere…not just in Latin America, but in the world.
Drinks at an Authentic Cantina
Guadalajara is known for its youthful energy and happenin’ nightlife. And while there are a variety of bars to choose from in this sprawling urban city, I highly recommend getting cozy in a traditional Mexican cantina.
These laid-back, casual watering holes are perfect for people-watching, enjoying some classic jukebox tunes, and sipping on an ice cold cerveza or michelada.
A few solid options within walking distance of the Guadalajara Cathedral are Catina la Fuente, La Cava, and Catina la Iberia.
Dinner at La Chata
Once you’ve worked up enough of an appetite for dinner, head down the road to La Chata, one of the most highly recommended restaurants in Guadalajara’s Centro Historio.
La Chata has a cozy, no-frills atmosphere that will make you feel right at home. There may be a line depending on what time you arrive, but it should move quickly.
They’ve got a massive menu with just about anything you could want; I ordered the enchiladas de pollo (topped with red sauce, served with a side of potatoes, PLUS three types of salsa with chips) and a big ole mug of creamy, delicious horchata. ¡Buen provecho!
And that’s a wrap on my One Day in Guadalajara Guide! Have a second day to spend in Guadalajara? Use it to venture to the nearby town of Tequila, where – you guessed it – everyone’s favorite spirit comes from 😉 My guide to Tequila is coming soon, so stay tuned!
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Have you ever visited the city of Guadalajara? If so, were you surprised by the European influences and focus on food and art, like I was? If not, would you like to visit someday?
Gosh I bet the food was unbeatable! Those tacos look so good.
I do have to say, the dudes on the ceiling in the meeting hall are a liiiittle creepy haha.
Emily recently posted…August Reads | “Out of the Easy”
Hahah I know what you mean! Not sure I’d want to have a meeting in there…
My home town in South Texas has several taquerias in it and most of the people who opened them are from Guadalajara! Their food is always SO good and a must when I head that way! This just made my need to visit Mexico soon a little bit stronger.
Oooh that’s interesting! Well I can see why, the food there was seriously SO GOOD. Mmm, and now I’m craving tacos hahah
Oh wow, all your posts about Mexico are so inspiring! I keep beating myself up I haven’t visited the country yet! Although I would probably focus on visiting Yucatan first, but the rest of Mexico is certainly on my list. How often did you visit Mexico?