History · Guadalajara · Mexico
7 historic sites to see in Guadalajara
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Talton12, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Guadalajara Cathedral, Hospicio Cabañas and Plaza de los Mariachis. Together the 7 picks below take roughly 7–9 hours across 2 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 7
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 7–9 hours
- Areas
- Centro Histórico and Zapopan and Andares
Historic sites in Guadalajara
Religious site · Centro Histórico
1.Guadalajara Cathedral
Inside are many side altars and a much-venerated figure of the Virgin. Four plazas surround it, including the Plaza de Armas with its French-made bandstand and the Rotonda of illustrious Jaliscans.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
- Free
Museum · Centro Histórico
2.Hospicio Cabañas
Its chapel is covered with José Clemente Orozco's murals of the conquest and modern Mexico, culminating in the Man of Fire in the dome.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Landmark · Centro Histórico
3.Plaza de los Mariachis
It is a historic gathering place for musicians rather than a polished venue.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- After dark
- History
- Iconic
Palace · Centro Histórico
4.Palacio de Gobierno
Orozco's mural of Hidalgo, torch raised over a scene of struggle, fills the main staircase, and a second Orozco mural decorates the former congress chamber upstairs.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- History
- Free
- Rainy day
Architecture · Centro Histórico
5.Teatro Degollado
It is home to the Jalisco Philharmonic and hosts opera, ballet and folkloric dance.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- History
- After dark
- Couples
Museum · Centro Histórico
6.Museo Regional de Guadalajara
In an 18th-century seminary beside the cathedral, the regional museum covers Jalisco from prehistory onwards, with a mammoth skeleton, shaft-tomb ceramics from western Mexico, colonial paintings and ethnographic rooms on the Wixárika (Huichol) people, all arranged around a cloistered courtyard.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Religious site · Zapopan and Andares
7.Basílica de Zapopan
Beside it, a small museum displays Wixárika (Huichol) beadwork and yarn paintings.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Architecture
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Centro Histórico | Guadalajara Cathedral, Hospicio Cabañas, Plaza de los Mariachis, Palacio de Gobierno, Teatro Degollado and Museo Regional de Guadalajara | 45 minutes + 1.5–2 hours + 1 hour + 30–45 minutes + 1–2 hours + 1–1.5 hours |
| Zapopan and Andares | Basílica de Zapopan | 1 hour |
Booking and timing
Of these 7, 3 free, 3 low cost, 1 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Hospicio Cabañas; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 2 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Centro Histórico): Guadalajara Cathedral → Hospicio Cabañas → Plaza de los Mariachis → Palacio de Gobierno, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Centro Histórico and Zapopan and Andares): Teatro Degollado → Museo Regional de Guadalajara → Basílica de Zapopan, at least 3 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- February: highs of 27°C (81°F), about 1 rainy days, quiet crowds. Warm and dry with clear skies; comfortable for walking in the centre.
- January: highs of 25°C (77°F), about 2 rainy days, quiet crowds. Dry, sunny days and cold nights; a quiet month for sightseeing after the New Year holiday.
- May: highs of 33°C (91°F), about 3 rainy days, quiet crowds. The hottest month, with dry heat before the rains; plan sightseeing for mornings and evenings.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Centro Histórico — Cathedral plazas, murals and the big covered market
- Zapopan and Andares — Business hotels, malls and the old Zapopan basilica
More of Guadalajara
All things to do in Guadalajara · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Guadalajara?
Guadalajara Cathedral. The cathedral was begun in the 16th century, and its pair of yellow-tiled spires, rebuilt in the 19th century after earthquakes, are the emblem of the city.
+Which of these are free in Guadalajara?
Guadalajara Cathedral, Palacio de Gobierno and Basílica de Zapopan.