10 Best Things to Do in Guadalajara

Guadalajara Cathedral – also referred to as the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady – stands majestically at the heart of the city with its Spanish Renaissance architecture. This unmissable landmark is over 4 centuries old, built back in 1541 and completed in 1618. Among its relics are the remains of Santa Innocencia (Saint Innocent) alongside several cardinals and bishops.

The sight of the cathedral with its twin spires is most impressive from Plaza Guadalajara, just to the west across Avenida Fray Antonio Alcalde. The plaza has a central fountain and many bars and cafés lining its perimeter, from where you can enjoy coffee or a meal with among the city’s most iconic views. Evenings are extra splendid when the cathedral gets illuminated.

Plaza de Armas is one of the most charming urban squares in Guadalajara, and it’s also considered the oldest traditional Mexican plaza in the heart of the city. The square is bordered by the majestic Guadalajara Cathedral to its north and the Palacio de Gobierno (Government Palace) to its east.

Rows of trees providing ample shade and small pockets of well-manicured greenery dot the square, with well-placed benches for you to relax and take in the view from after your strolls through Guadalajara’s historic centre. Oftentimes, you can enjoy occasional mariachi bands playing live from the large Art Nouveau bandstand in the centre. At night, Plaza de Armas and its ornate lampposts offer a nice touch for couples on a romantic stroll.

Fiestas de Octubre or October Festival is an unmissable month-long celebration in Guadalajara filled with Mexican culture, food, and music. The festivals have taken place since 1965, and showcase the best of the state of Jalisco in its capital, Guadalajara.

The festival kicks off with a traditional parade featuring colourful floats along Avenida 16 de Septiembre-Alcalde, from the Niños Héroes roundabout towards the Glorieta de la Normal plaza. Some years have even featured night parades. Ballets and contemporary dance, film screenings, art exhibitions, and food workshops – among many other things – fill the agenda.

Tequila is the town from which the famous Mexican beverage got its name. Its surrounding area, with red volcanic soils well-suited for the blue agave plant from which tequila is made, got its UNESCO World Heritage site designation back in 2006 for its significance.

You can get to know how tequila is made and how the blue agaves give it the special herbaceous fragrance and flavour through tours of legendary distilleries like La Rojena. Tequila is an hour’s drive west from Guadalajara. A great way to get there is the Jose Cuervo Express, which features luxurious wood-panelled cars and onboard bars to take passengers back in time. Also in Tequila are the Museo Nacional del Tequila and the Museo Los Abuelos that feature exhibits on the iconic beverage.

Plaza De Los Mariachis is a public square at the western corner beside the San Juan de Dios church in Guadalajara. Stretching from Calz Independencia to Calz Álvaro Obregón with collonaded buildings on both sides, the long ‘square’ is dotted with bronze statues and various café tables with parasols.

This charming square has a big bandstand at the northwestern corner that regularly features live mariachi bands. Sometimes, different bands perform at open spaces along the pedestrianised plaza or beside the plaza’s iconic statue of Vicente Fernandez riding horseback, serenading souvenir shoppers and passersby.

Parque Morelos (Morelos Park) is one of Guadalajara’s public parks that is most notable for hosting the Day of the Dead festivities. The festivities usually take place from late October through early November each year, with the traditional Dia de los Muertos street market held at the park.

During the celebrations, Parque Morelos features everything from skulls and skeletal decorations to various other ‘spooky’ features. You can browse all sorts of Mexican knick-knacks at the various local stalls – pan de muerto (Bread of the Dead), sugar candies, and scented candles are among the top buys. On any other day, Parque Morelos is a great place to either relax and enjoy the greenery or let the kids go out and play.

Bosque Los Colomos is one of the greenest city parks in Guadalajara that features an actual forest with picnic spaces and walking paths through well-manicured gardens. The park is right on the limits of Guadalajara and Zapopan and serves as a green lung for both metropolitan areas.

You can walk or go for a pleasant jog through the park with several attractions within for whenever you need a breather. There are duck lakes, a beautiful Japanese garden with ornate bridges over streams, picnic areas, and even a cultural centre.

Hospicio Cabañas is one of the largest hospital complexes in the Americas, located just to the east of Guadalajara’s landmark cathedral. Built in 1791, this UNESCO-listed complex is also considered the oldest of its kind. Besides facilities built for caring for patients, it also used to house an orphanage and an almshouse, among other things.

Today, this 18th-century complex is a cultural institute that focuses heavily on arts and culture. The exterior, with its impressive architecture and sculptures by Mexican artist Alejandro Colunga, is a sight to behold. And inside, check out the series of monumental frescoes by notable Mexican painter, José Clemente Orozco. Among his highlighted works is Hombre de Fuego (The Man of Fire) inside the dome.

The Guachimontones are a series of unusual conical pyramid structures an hour’s drive west of Guadalajara. The archaeological site features among the greatest remnants of the Teuchitlán people, who built the structures over 2,000 years ago. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a top highlight within the Tequila Valley.

The conical, bull's-eye-shaped mounds are shaft tombs. Past discoveries here have included ancient ceramics and shell ornaments, among other mortuary items. A visit to the grounds treats you to beautiful natural valley landscapes. The conical mounds look like UFOs that have landed or crashed and eventually became overgrown with greenery.

Arena Coliseo is one of the most popular venues for lucha libre wrestling matches in Guadalajara. Masked and colourfully costumed luchadores (wrestlers) enter the ring to duke it out, all to the cheers of a fun crowd. The Mexican form of theatrical freestyle wrestling is thrilling to watch, especially with all sorts of unexpected antics thrown in alongside the blaring rock music.

Why the masks, you ask? Luchadores use masks to keep their private lives secret from wrestling fans. The gimmicks surely enhance their superhero-like personas. Oftentimes, fans honour their idols or favourite trio tag team by throwing money into the ring after a spectacular match. You can expect great fights at Arena Coliseo every Tuesday from 8 pm, with shows lasting about 2.5 hours.