How to Spend 3 Days in Guadalajara

If you have three days to dedicate to Guadalajara, you can see the best of the city center and explore surrounding natural landscapes. Explore the Old Town, spend time tasting tequila in the countryside, and get off-the-beaten path in Zacoalco. Here’s how to make the most of a 3-day visit.

Day 1: Guadalajara Highlights

Tick off the highlights of Guadalajara on your first day in the Jalisco capital. Art and architecture buffs should head straight for the city’s downtown in the morning, to avoid the midday heat. There, explore the Cathedral, Cabañas Orphanage, and Degollado Theater on foot. In order to get both your bearings and local insight, take a walking tour that introduces you to places you might otherwise have missed.

In the evening, dine at one of Guadalajara’s top restaurants; grab drinks in a downtown cantina or craft beer bar; or sip cocktails on the lively, nightlife-centric Chapultepec Avenue. Pub crawls, which often include free drinks, are a great way to orient yourself in Guadalajara after dark. Alternatively, test your logic, reasoning, and patience at one of the city’s escape rooms.

Day 2: Food Fiesta

Dedicate day two to Guadalajara’s culinary scene. If you’re a food lover, take a half- or full-day excursion that reveals lesser-known local delicacies. Many food-filled trips include staple Guadalajara dishes such as tortas ahogadas (drowned pork sandwiches) and birria, a rich stew.

Alternatively, if spirits are more your thing, take advantage of being in the birthplace of tequila. Ride the José Cuervo Express right through the heart of tequila country on an all-inclusive excursion or opt for a less extravagant but equally comprehensive tour of Tequila. There, visit different distilleries and explore the quaint town before sampling some tequila.

Day 3: Get Off-The-Beaten Path

On your final day in Guadalajara, visit the artisan towns of Sayula and Zacoalco, which few visitors in Guadalajara get the chance to explore. There, you can wander craft markets and learn about the manufacturing processes behind leather furniture before browsing for souvenirs. Taking a private tour allows you to customize your schedule according to your needs, ideal if you have a flight to get back for.

If you prefer architecture to artisanal products, spend your third day on an excursion to San Juan de los Lagos and Santo Toribio. Marvel at the Roman Catholic appeal of both places, and enjoy free time to explore at your own pace, while also benefiting from your guide’s insight into these lesser-visited towns. Or, stay closer to the city on a visit to Zapopan and the Huichol Museum, both of which are within the Guadalajara Metropolitan Zone.