If you plan a trip to Mexico, you might wonder where to stay in Guadalajara. In this article, I’m sharing everything about the best area to stay in Guadalajara, and my picks for the best hotels Guadalajara is home to.
Guadalajara is a great city—my second favorite in the country after Mexico City. I’ve spent much time in Guadalajara during the past few years, as it’s my husband’s home city.
I’ve broken down where to stay in Guadalajara depending on your travel preferences and plans. I’ve also added recommendations for the best places to stay in Guadalajara, from budget Airbnb options to luxury hotels. If you want to find the best hotel in Guadalajara, you’ve come to the right place!
Did You Get Travel Insurance Yet?
The Insurance companies I recommend are Hey Mondo and Safety Wing
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Read my full travel insurance post here, where I go into detail about all companies.
Best Area to Stay in Guadalajara
Are you wondering where to stay in Guadalajara?
- Short-term: Colonia Americana for trendy restaurants and nightlife, or Centro Historic for sightseeing.
- Long-term: If you prefer somewhere a bit more green with many lovely cafes, coworking spaces, and trendy restaurants, I recommend Providencia.
Colonia Americana
Colonia Americana is a hip and modern neighborhood near the city’s heart, making it one of the best places to stay in Guadalajara. The neighborhood’s main street is called Avenida Chapultepec. Here, you will find bars and restaurants offering every kind of food that your heart may desire. Another highlight of Colonia Americana is that it is also the perfect place to visit my favorite areas, Tlaquepaque and Zapopan.
Quick Tip: Book accommodation, tours, and transport ahead of time online to save money and stress.
Best Guadalajara Tours: Click here to check out the top Guadalajara tours
Best Guadalajara Accommodation: Click here to check out the best accommodation in Guadalajara
Best Guadalajara Transport: Click here to book a bus, ferry, or train in Guadalajara
Best Hotels Guadalajara: Colonia Americana
Centro Historico (Downtown)
Many consider Centro Historico the best area to stay in Guadalajara. You must visit even if you don’t find lodging in this area.
For shorter stays and to avoid unnecessary travel (traffic can be a nightmare), Centro Historico is home to some of the best hotels in Guadalajara for first-timers. You’ll be close to museums, restaurants, bars, art galleries, and all the main Guadalajara sights.
[mailerlite_form form_id=32]Best Hotels Guadalajara: Centro Historico
Hotel Morales Historical & Colonial Downtown Core
Providencia
For a luxurious experience, Providencia is for you. It offers casinos, spas, restaurants, bars, and an aquarium. Providencia is great for young professionals and young families and is also known as a romantic destination near downtown.
Best Hotels Guadalajara: ProvidIf
NH Collection Guadalajara Providencia
Tlaquepaque
Tlaquepaque is where you will find the cheerful and colorful Mexican culture you see on the postcards—it’s a true hidden gem. You will find mariachi bands singing every afternoon, pottery, and many vibrant colors. Here, you can also see colonial architecture, the fantastic church of San Pedro Apostol, and many Instagrammable sights.
Best Hotels Guadalajara: Tlaquepaque
Quinta Don Jose Boutique Hotel
Zapopan
Zapopan is a small city with everything you need, making it an immersive destination. If you spend several days on a business trip or family vacation, this is the best area to stay in Guadalajara. It has a welcoming, home-away-from-home feeling and is very close to downtown.
Best Hotels Guadalajara: Zapopan
Hyatt Regency Andares Guadalajara
[mailerlite_form form_id=33]Zona Expo
Zona Expo is another excellent place for a business professional to stay in Guadalajara. It has great hotels and a lively restaurant and nightlife scene. This area is also home to the Expo Guadalajara Convention Center.
Best Hotels Guadalajara: Zona Expo
Holiday Inn Guadalajara Expo Plaza del Sol, an IHG Hotel
Financial District
Guadalajara’s Financial District is a part of Zapopan. Over the last few years, many tall buildings have been popping up in this area, giving it a modern look.
Best Hotels Guadalajara: Financial District
Grand Fiesta Americana Guadalajara Country Club
Chapalita
Chapalita is one of the best places to stay in Guadalajara for ample greenery. This area has endless green spaces, art vendors, and mariachi music. It is also a part of Zapopan, so it’s a nice place to relax and experience the local culture.
Best Hotels Guadalajara: Chapalita
Baruk Guadalajara Hotelande Autor
AreasAvoid in Guadalajara
Guadalajara is generally safe, but as with any international destination, you should take precautions. My best advice is to avoid the east side of the Calzada and Oblatos. Also, be careful in the Tonala and El Salto areas and around the city’s central bus station.
Where to Stay in Guadalajara: Apartments
If you are staying in Guadalajara for more than a month, you should consider apartments in Guadalajara rather than hotels. While Airbnbs might seem like an easy option for Guadalajara, they will cost significantly more if you want to stay for a few months.
The best place to look for apartments to rent in Guadalajara is Facebook! Several Facebook groups are dedicated to long and short-term apartment rentals in Guadalajara. You will likely need to utilize Google Translate to find suitable accommodation, but your bank account will thank you!
My Favorite Guadalajara Apartment Facebook Groups
Renta de Casas Zapopan
Guadalajara Renta
Rentas Baratas Casas Depas y Locales Guadalajara y ZMG
SE RENTA CASA EN GUADALAJARA
RENTA DE CASAS EN GUADALAJARA
Roomies y Cuartos en Renta en Guadalajara
Renta en Guadalajara – Casas, Locales, Oficinas, Departamentos, etc
Best Hotels Guadalajara
Luxury Hotels in Guadalajara Mexico
Quinta Real Guadalajara
While this hotel isn’t in the center of Guadalajara, it’s 20 minutes by car, located inside a gated community. This is a bonus for anyone wanting to escape the buzz of the city—we all know big cities are noisy and busy with people running around all the time. This Guadalajara luxury hotel lets you escape the hustle and bustle. It is a peaceful place with colonial and modern touches, making you feel like you’re staying in a museum.
This Guadalajara hotel has a restaurant, gym, bar, and pool. Of course, the spacious rooms and numerous amenities are also noteworthy.
Location: Between Colonia Americana and Zapopan
Demetria Hotel
This is the best hotel in Guadalajara for luxurious accommodations near the city center. You’ll be only a 15-minute walk from Guadalajara University. One of my favorite things about this place is the gorgeous room lighting. There are huge glass windows with stunning city views and a rooftop with a pool, a restaurant, a bar, a gym, and a spa. Plus, you’ll be close enough to walk to the city’s best restaurants.
Location: Downtown
Boutique Hotels in Guadalajara Mexico
Casa Pedro Loza
Located inside an old building in Guadalajara’s historic center, this boutique hotel is a gem! Everything from the location and decoration to the rooms is excellent, but my highlights are the beautiful rooftop and the food. It is tough not to fall in love with a place like this.
Location: In the heart of downtown
Villa Ganz Boutique Hotel
When you think of a romantic getaway, this quiet and private boutique hotel is exactly what comes to mind. Located inside an old restored mansion with a lovely garden, this hotel is within walking distance of downtown if you fancy exploring the city and its attractions.
The hotel staff will also spoil you with a welcome beverage and a bottle of wine on arrival. From 18:00 to 20:00 every day, wine and canapes are available in the restaurant if you want to connect with other guests.
Location: Downtown
Mid-Range Hotels in Guadalajara Mexico
Real Del Sol – Zona Expo e Industrial
Clean, spacious, and modern accommodations at an affordable price with a complimentary breakfast buffet? That sounds like a good deal to me! The only downside of this Guadalajara hotel is that it’s a bit far from the city center: eight kilometers, to be exact. If you are traveling in a rental car, this is a great home base to explore Guadalajara.
Location: Zona Expo
Hotel Real de Castilla
Hotel Reala de Castilla is one of the best hotels Guadalajara offers for mid-range travelers. This is the perfect choice for somewhere comfortable, not too fancy, affordable, conveniently located, and with free WiFi. Book your stay as soon as possible because vacancies fly fast! This place is perfect for solo travelers or families eager to walk to Guadalajara’s central attractions.
Location: In the heart of downtown
Hostels in Guadalajara Mexico
BOHOSTEL
This Guadalajara hostel is located in a modern building with a terrace, perfect for hanging out with other guests or a morning yoga session in the sun. It has bunk beds and options for a girls’ only or mixed dorm, private double rooms, or a family suite. Plus, there is a kitchen—always a bonus to save money on dining out. In terms of location, it’s an easy walk into downtown Guadalajara.
Location: Downtown
Hostal Nacional By Rotamundos
This is an adults-only hostel in Guadalajara with a game room, TV area, and shared kitchen. Ask the front desk for recommendations on upcoming events and activities to fill your time. Some of these will be free, while others have a booking fee. Hostal Nacional is a comfortable and convenient option in the city.
Location: Colonia Americana
Hostel Hospedarte Centro
I consider this the best hostel in Guadalajara if you only stay for several days. It is in the historic city center and is a lovely home base for your adventures. The price of accommodation includes breakfast, and there is a kitchen guests can use. Plus, the front desk can help you find tours to Tequila and Chapala. This hostel offers a great ambiance to chill, explore, and meet new people.
Location: In the heart of downtown
Olga Querida B&B Hostal
Last but not least, this small Guadalajara hostel offers everything necessary for a good night’s sleep close to the city center. There are spacious private rooms and dorms and a kitchen you can use.
Location: In the heart of downtown
[mailerlite_form form_id=23]Quick Tip: View my full Mexico packing guide here including a downloadable checklist. And check out my Mexico Essentials shopping list here.
Guadalajara Travel Guide Planning
🧳 Any recommendations on what I should pack for Guadalajara?
Yes! I have created a whole packing guide to Mexico which you can read here and you can also check out my packing list for Mexico on Amazon here.
🚗 Where can I book bus or private transportation while I’m in Guadalajara?
I strongly recommend using GottoGo. You can book almost all transport in the major Mexican tourist destinations through them online. They don’t just cover buses they also cover shuttles, ferries, and private drivers.
🎫 Where can I buy tickets for museums, attractions, and tours in Guadalajara?
First and foremost check out all of the amazing Mexico tours Where Sidewalks End has. They are a small local company and they have some really special experiences.
For everything else I recommend either Viator or GetYour Guide.
If you are traveling to Cancun you can use GoCity and save up to 55% of the initial cost of entrance tickets to various museums, tours, and attractions!
If you are traveling to Playa del Carmen then I recommend booking through my friend Vanessa at Turismo Channel. You can check out their tours by clicking here and using the following discount codes for the best prices clairecaroff (car rental), claire10off (for 10% off group tours), claireprivate (for a discount on private tours). You can also send her a WhatsApp message quoting the above codes to receive the discount.
👩⚕️ What is the best insurance to have while traveling?
I recommend using Heymondo for a great value policy. The app also offers you 24/7 Dr Chat. For Digital Nomads check out SafetyWing digital nomad insurance.
I have also written a blog post covering all my recommended travel insurance here
✈️ Any flight recommendations?
WayAWay offers you cheap flights with cashback. You can use this code CLAIRE22 to get 10% off. Otherwise Skyscanner or Expedia are my go-to flight searching platforms.
📱What do you use for internet connection while traveling?
I’m a big fan of personal WiFi devices and they have saved my ass so many times when traveling. I wrote a full review of the top travel WiFi devices you can read here. I personally use GlocalMe as I can either pop in a physical sim card or use their local carrier.
With regards to my phone connection, I use e-sims while traveling, so rather than having to swap out my regular sim card I can download the app and buy a virtual sim card. I recommend using eitherAirhub or Alosim. Both have great coverage of multiple countries and are very easy to use.
🛏️ What is the best platform to use for booking accommodation?
The 3 best platforms that I normally use are Booking.com, Hotels.com, and Expedia They offer great deals and multiple options. I always check all three to be sure of the best deals.
🛅 Do you have any luggage recommendations for traveling?
I do have a complete list of the best packing and luggage products that I recommend, you can check the list here. I’m currently traveling with this suitcase and this backpack.
Where to Stay in Guadalajara: Final Thoughts
Guadalajara is a must-visit Mexico destination, and there are many fantastic options for where to stay in Guadalajara. I hope this roundup of the best places to stay in Guadalajara helps you find the perfect lodging for your trip. There are many excellent hotels in Guadalajara Mexico, so you’ll have no issue finding somewhere comfortable, safe, and clean to stay.
