Thanks to its importance in Mexico and its location, the “Pearl of the West” is one of the best-connected cities in the country. Getting to Guadalajara is easy, wherever you are coming from and however you choose to travel.
If you prefer the speed and convenience of flying, a relaxing bus ride with views of the countryside, or driving at your own pace, here you will find the information you need to plan your trip to Guadalajara.
See also our Guadalajara Travel Tips for information on weather, safety, accessibility and more.
Driving to Guadalajara
As Mexico’s second-largest city, Guadalajara has excellent road connections. Toll highways (autopistas de cuota) link the capital of Jalisco with other cities in the region. To the west, a modern highway runs to Tepic. You can take the same road to Puerto Vallarta, although the last stretch is a free (non-toll) road. If you are traveling to or from Colima or Manzanillo, there is a modern four-lane highway. Guadalajara is also connected by highway with central Mexico, including León, Aguascalientes and Morelia to the east.
For all of these destinations there is also a free road option, although these roads are not always in the best condition.
Getting to Guadalajara by bus
The main bus station is in Tonalá, a municipality on the east side of the metro area, although buses that arrive there show “Guadalajara” as their destination.
This bus station handles routes longer than 100 km (62 miles) and those to and from other states. Buses that leave from here for destinations to the west, such as Puerto Vallarta, stop at the Zapopan terminal. If you live or are staying on the west side of the city and are heading west, it makes sense to board in Zapopan. That way you save about an hour of city traffic.
If you are traveling south, to Colima or Manzanillo for example, there is a similar alternative: board the bus at the Tlaquepaque terminal on Periférico Sur and Avenida Colón, 100 m (330 ft) from the “Periférico Sur” light rail station.
If you are traveling to or from towns near the metro area, such as Chapala or Tequila, you will need the Central Suburbana (suburban bus station). Locals call it the “central vieja” (old station); it is located south of downtown Guadalajara.
Flying to Guadalajara
Guadalajara International Airport is 16 km (10 miles) south of downtown Guadalajara, in the municipality of Tlajomulco de Zúñiga. It is the third-busiest airport in Mexico (after Mexico City and Cancún), with direct flights to many Mexican cities, including Mexico City, Monterrey, Tijuana, Cancún, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and many more.
From the United States there are nonstop flights from Atlanta, Dallas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Jose, Houston, Ontario, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Oakland, San Francisco and San Antonio, among others. Many smaller US cities have connecting flights to Guadalajara.
To and from the main capitals of Europe and Latin America, there are flights with one or two connections via Mexico City, Panama City and several US cities.
For more information on airlines at Guadalajara Airport, their destinations, schedules, fares and contact numbers, we suggest visiting their websites or calling them.
Getting to and from Guadalajara Airport
Airport taxis
At the airport you can take a taxi to anywhere in the city; the average fare is MXN $400.00, and you must buy a ticket at the booths inside the terminal. There used to be a shuttle between the airport and the Minerva area, but it has not run since 2019. See our full guide on how to get from Guadalajara Airport to downtown.
Uber and Didi
Ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Didi are available both to and from the airport. There is a designated pickup area on the main road just outside the domestic arrivals exit. There have been occasional reports of the Federal Police and airport security stopping ride-hailing drivers, but this is rare. When it happens, passengers have to get out of the car and find another way to travel.
Car rental
Another good way to get downtown is to rent a car at Guadalajara Airport. Depending on the season, you can find attractive rates that are often cheaper than a taxi, given the airport taxi stand’s high fares. Renting a car can even cost less than Uber or Didi. Consider this option if you have to make more than one trip around the city or return to the airport. Book ahead and make sure the rate includes insurance to avoid surprises. A good choice is Veico Car Rental Guadalajara, which offers competitive prices and late-model cars.
See our pick of the 10 best car rental companies in Guadalajara and explore the city and its surroundings
Public transportation
If you prefer public transportation, there is also a city bus that stops inside the airport, in front of the FedEx offices. For only MXN $15 it takes you to Guadalajara’s old bus station (Central Suburbana) or to Chapala. Although it is the cheapest option, it is also the slowest, at around one hour. Keep in mind that the bus fills up at rush hour, which makes it hard to travel with luggage.
Intercity buses to Guadalajara Airport
If your trip starts outside Guadalajara, intercity bus services connect some nearby cities with Guadalajara Airport, including Colima, Manzanillo and Tepic. The bus lines that offer this service are La Linea, ETN and Primera Plus. The service only runs to the airport; you cannot board these buses at the airport to travel to another city.