Guadalajara itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Guadalajara, day by day: the San Juan de Dios Market, the Hospicio Cabañas, Plaza Tapatía, the Teatro Degollado, the cathedral, the Palacio de Gobierno and the Templo Expiatorio first, then Tlaquepaque's ceramics museum, the old churches of the centre, the Statue of Minerva and the Basilica of Zapopan as you add a day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Guadalajara in 1 day
Day 1
San Juan de Dios Market
One of Latin America's largest indoor markets, with three floors of food stalls, clothes, crafts and everyday goods.
Hospicio Cabañas
Early 19th-century orphanage and World Heritage Site, now a museum famous for José Clemente Orozco's murals in its chapel.
Plaza Tapatía
Long pedestrian plaza linking the cathedral area to the Hospicio Cabañas, lined with fountains and sculptures.
Teatro Degollado
Neoclassical 19th-century theatre on Plaza de la Liberación, home of the Jalisco Philharmonic, with a painted ceiling inspired by Dante.
Rotonda de los Jaliscienses Ilustres
Circular monument of columns beside the cathedral honouring famous people of Jalisco, surrounded by statues.
Guadalajara Cathedral Must see
The city's cathedral, begun in the 16th century, with twin yellow-tiled spires that are a symbol of Guadalajara.
Palacio de Gobierno de Jalisco
Baroque government palace on the main square, with Orozco's powerful mural of Miguel Hidalgo over the staircase.
Templo Expiatorio del Santísimo Sacramento
Neo-Gothic church in the Americana district with stained glass and a mechanical clock with moving apostle figures.
Arcos de Guadalajara
Triumphal arch over Avenida Vallarta, built for the city's 400th anniversary, with a viewing deck on top.
Guadalajara in 2 days
Day 1
Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque Must see
Museum in Tlaquepaque showing Jalisco's traditional pottery, masks and toys, in a town known for its crafts.
Hospicio Cabañas
Early 19th-century orphanage and World Heritage Site, now a museum famous for José Clemente Orozco's murals in its chapel.
San Juan de Dios Market
One of Latin America's largest indoor markets, with three floors of food stalls, clothes, crafts and everyday goods.
Plaza Tapatía
Long pedestrian plaza linking the cathedral area to the Hospicio Cabañas, lined with fountains and sculptures.
Teatro Degollado
Neoclassical 19th-century theatre on Plaza de la Liberación, home of the Jalisco Philharmonic, with a painted ceiling inspired by Dante.
Templo de San Francisco de Asís
One of the oldest churches in Guadalajara, with an ornate baroque stone façade, south of the cathedral.
Templo de Santa Teresa de Jesús
Colonial church of a former Carmelite convent in the historic centre, among the oldest in the city.
Day 2
Guadalajara Cathedral Must see
The city's cathedral, begun in the 16th century, with twin yellow-tiled spires that are a symbol of Guadalajara.
Rotonda de los Jaliscienses Ilustres
Circular monument of columns beside the cathedral honouring famous people of Jalisco, surrounded by statues.
Palacio de Gobierno de Jalisco
Baroque government palace on the main square, with Orozco's powerful mural of Miguel Hidalgo over the staircase.
Templo Expiatorio del Santísimo Sacramento
Neo-Gothic church in the Americana district with stained glass and a mechanical clock with moving apostle figures.
Arcos de Guadalajara
Triumphal arch over Avenida Vallarta, built for the city's 400th anniversary, with a viewing deck on top.
Statue of Minerva
Statue of the Roman goddess of wisdom on a fountain at a busy roundabout, a well-known symbol of the city.
Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan
17th-century Franciscan basilica in Zapopan, home of the revered image of the Virgin of Zapopan.
Watch: Guadalajara
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Guadalajara
October to May is dry and sunny, with warm days and cool nights; spring, especially April and May, is the hottest. June to September is the rainy season, with afternoon storms. The International Mariachi Festival is held in late summer or early autumn, and the Virgin of Zapopan's procession, La Romería, fills the streets on 12 October.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Guadalajara on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Guadalajara on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Guadalajara on GetYourGuide or on Viator
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Mexico from Airalo
- Last day: leave your bags in Guadalajara with Radical Storage and keep sightseeing
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Guadalajara
- The Hospicio Cabañas holds José Clemente Orozco's murals; allow time for the chapel ceiling, and check its closing day before going.
- The historic centre is best seen on foot; the plazas around the cathedral and Plaza Tapatía link most of the sights.
- Tlaquepaque and Zapopan are separate towns in the metro area; take a taxi, ride-hailing car or light rail between them and the centre.
- Cover shoulders when visiting the cathedral, the basilica and the city's many churches.
- Free guided tours of the Palacio de Gobierno show Orozco's mural of Miguel Hidalgo over the main staircase.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Arcos de Guadalajara: México en Fotos, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan: Andum, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Guadalajara Cathedral: Elias Garcia-Ortiz from Guadalajara, Mexico, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Hospicio Cabañas: ProtoplasmaKid, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque: Thelmadatter, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Palacio de Gobierno de Jalisco: Aurora Uribe Flores, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Plaza Tapatía: Kapela, CC BY 2.0
- Rotonda de los Jaliscienses Ilustres: Carlos E. Sáinz, CC BY-SA 2.5
- San Juan de Dios Market: Luke Bales Stodola, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Statue of Minerva: Losvi GP, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Teatro Degollado: Adrián Cerón, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Templo Expiatorio del Santísimo Sacramento: Isacdaavid, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Templo de San Francisco de Asís: SergioYalu, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Templo de Santa Teresa de Jesús: Luisalvaz, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
