There are several ways to get around the city. Depending on your time, where you are going and your budget, you can choose between buses, taxis, light rail and, for the active and eco-minded, bicycles. Here is the information you need to move around the city like a true tapatío (a Guadalajara local).
Dozens of routes provide transportation across the city. Regular buses cost MXN $9.50; there are also premium buses (Turquesa, Tur and Cardenal) that cost MXN $10.00. In both cases you pay the driver in cash. To plan your trip and see the available routes, check the RutasGDL website or look for the destination on the bus windshield; if in doubt, ask the driver.
A particularly useful route for travel between downtown and the Minerva area is the Par Vial. Heading west it runs along Av. Vallarta, and heading east along Av. Hidalgo; just look for the pair of overhead electric cables it runs on. Downtown you can catch it on Av. Hidalgo on the west side of Plaza de la Liberación, where it turns onto Calzada Independencia and then takes Av. Vallarta west.
Planning your trip to Guadalajara? Read our essential travel information for Guadalajara and how to get to the Pearl of the West
Taxis in Guadalajara
Taxis are an option if you do not want to figure out which bus route to take. You can agree on a price with the driver before getting in or ask them to use the meter. With the meter there is a risk that the driver will not take the shortest route if they think you do not know it; even so, using the meter usually costs less than a taxi from your hotel’s taxi stand. Taxis cost more at night (double) or when they cross the Periférico ring road. Daytime fares should not exceed MXN $200.00 between any two points in the city, and the price is almost always under MXN $150.00. As a rule of thumb, the daytime rate is MXN $3-4 per kilometer and the nighttime rate MXN $8-9, plus a flag-drop fee of MXN $5-10.
Uber in Guadalajara
Mobile technology has brought new ways of getting around, such as Uber, which has operated in Guadalajara since July 2014. Its cars are usually newer and in better condition than taxis, drivers are trained and well presented, and you can pay by credit card. Keep in mind that if you cancel a ride you will pay the minimum fare, which ranges from $35 to $85 depending on the type of car. The service runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. To request an Uber, use its mobile app; if you do not have it yet, download it for free from your app store. It is available for iOS, Android and Windows Phone.
Renting a car can be a great way to get around the city. See our pick of the best car rental companies in Guadalajara
Guadalajara light rail (Tren Ligero)
The light rail network is very handy if you are going to an area served by its two lines, which intersect at the western edge of the historic center. Line 1 runs north to south beneath Av. Federalismo, reaching the Periférico ring road at both ends. Line 2 runs from the historic center to the east side of the city. A ride costs MXN $9.50 and service runs until 11:00 p.m. There are discounted fares for riders who transfer to the Macrobús using an electronic fare card.
Plan your trip with hotels near Guadalajara Airport, a convenient choice for early-morning flights.
Macrobús (bus rapid transit)
Guadalajara’s BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) system opened in 2009 and currently has one line that crosses the city from south to north along Calzada Independencia, continuing along Av. Gobernador Curiel. It is 16 kilometers (10 miles) long and has 27 stations. At San Juan de Dios station you can transfer to light rail Line 2. There is also an express service that stops at only 12 of the 27 stations. Service runs 365 days a year from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and a single fare is $9.50. There are discounted fares for riders who transfer to the light rail using an electronic fare card.