Free things to do · Guadalajara · Mexico
9 free things to do in Guadalajara
Guadalajara without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Adrián Cerón, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 3 days in Guadalajara without paying an entry fee: Guadalajara Cathedral, Palacio de Gobierno, Plaza Tapatía and Tlaquepaque and El Parián are all free. Street food and market fondas are excellent and very cheap; a full meal can cost a few dollars.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 9
- Low-cost extras
- 7
- Cost level
- Affordable
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February and May–July
Free sights and experiences
Religious site · Centro Histórico
1.Guadalajara Cathedral
Walk around all four sides of the cathedral; each plaza frames the spires differently, and the Rotonda side is quietest.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
- Free
Palace · Centro Histórico
2.Palacio de Gobierno
Climb to the top of the staircase and look back down; the mural is designed to be seen from below and above.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- History
- Free
- Rainy day
Landmark · Centro Histórico
3.Plaza Tapatía
Walk it from the cathedral end towards Cabañas in the late afternoon, when families and street performers fill the plaza.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
Neighbourhood · Tlaquepaque
4.Tlaquepaque and El Parián
Visit on a weekend afternoon to browse the galleries, then stay for drinks and mariachi at El Parián as the evening begins.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Art
- Couples
- After dark
- Free
Market · Tonalá
5.Tonalá street market
Go on Thursday or Sunday for the street market, and bring cash and space in your luggage for ceramics.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Art
- Free
Street · Colonia Americana and Lafayette
6.Avenida Chapultepec
Explore the side streets, such as Calle Libertad and Calle Morelos, where many of the best small bars and coffee shops are.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- After dark
- Food
- Free
- Couples
Religious site · Colonia Americana and Lafayette
7.Templo Expiatorio
Ask locally or check the times posted at the church for the apostles' procession, and stay for the food stalls on the plaza in the evening.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- Free
- Kids
- Photo spot
Nature · Huentitán
8.Barranca de Huentitán
Start early in the morning, carry plenty of water and go with company; even the viewpoint at the top is worth the trip if you skip the hike.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Active
- Views
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Free
Religious site · Zapopan and Andares
9.Basílica de Zapopan
Walk the pedestrian street in front of the basilica for snacks and cafés, and visit the Wixárika museum next door.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Architecture
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Centro Histórico | Guadalajara Cathedral, Palacio de Gobierno and Plaza Tapatía | 45 minutes + 30–45 minutes + 30–45 minutes |
| Tlaquepaque | Tlaquepaque and El Parián | Half a day |
| Tonalá | Tonalá street market | Half a day |
| Colonia Americana and Lafayette | Avenida Chapultepec and Templo Expiatorio | 2–3 hours + 30–45 minutes |
| Huentitán | Barranca de Huentitán | 3–4 hours |
| Zapopan and Andares | Basílica de Zapopan | 1 hour |
Worth a small ticket
Museum · Centro Histórico
Hospicio Cabañas
Lie back on the benches provided in the chapel to look up at the dome; it is the intended way to see the Man of Fire.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Landmark · Centro Histórico
Plaza de los Mariachis
Agree the price per song before the band plays, and visit in the early evening rather than late at night.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- After dark
- History
- Iconic
Experience · Centro Histórico
Lucha libre at Arena Coliseo
Buy a cheap mask from the sellers outside and sit in the middle sections, where the atmosphere is loud but family-friendly.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- After dark
- Kids
- Iconic
Museum · Centro Histórico
Museo Regional de Guadalajara
Start with the ground-floor palaeontology and shaft-tomb figures, the museum's most distinctive rooms.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Market · Centro Histórico
Mercado San Juan de Dios
Head straight to the top-floor food court for lunch, then try a cup of tejuino from the vendors around the ground floor.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Shopping
- Rainy day
Gallery · Centro Histórico
MUSA – Museo de las Artes
Combine it with the Templo Expiatorio, about ten minutes' walk away, to see more Orozco without the Cabañas crowds.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Park · Providencia
Bosque Los Colomos
Visit the Japanese garden first, then follow the trails towards El Castillo; weekday mornings are calmest.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Nature
More ways to save
- Street food and market fondas are excellent and very cheap; a full meal can cost a few dollars.
- Use the light rail to reach Tlaquepaque rather than a taxi.
- Take the bus to Tequila and visit a distillery independently instead of a full-day tour if you are comfortable organising it.
- Book hotels early for the FIL book fair in late November and the Fiestas de Octubre, when prices rise.
- Many murals, plazas and churches in the centre are free to visit.
- Buy ceramics in Tonalá on market days for the lowest prices.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Guadalajara expensive to visit?
Guadalajara is affordable for most visitors, but 9 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Guadalajara?
Guadalajara Cathedral: Walk around all four sides of the cathedral; each plaza frames the spires differently, and the Rotonda side is quietest.